Cory's college contemplations

Funny how things happen! After several years of being determined to go to the Naval Academy and become a Marine aviator, Cory has begun to consider other options! He's thinking of majoring in some type of engineering (aerospace? aeronautical?), but he really doesn't know yet. He's liking the looks of UC San Diego, for one.

So.

It's off to the races! Wow. Time to research colleges. Time to start applying for scholarships! Cory is getting some good advice from Uncle Chris, who "really is a rocket scientist," about good engineering schools, summer internships, tips to prepare, etc. Thanks, Chris!

Who knows what the future holds? It's amazing how fast this time has arrived! When the boys were little, people would say, "Enjoy this time, because it goes by so fast!" At the time, in the busy-ness of raising little kids, I thought, "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure it's true." But I really had no idea. You blink your eyes, and they're all grown up! The other day as I sat waiting for a check-up at the ob/gyn, I watched all the young pregnant girls coming in to hear that little heartbeat and check out that ultrasound, and I thought it seemed like just yesterday that I was one of them!

Every day is precious.

Blogger insecurities

I do like this blogging thing, really. But I don't know what to think. What's with the "zero comments?" Is no one reading it? Do they find it boring? Is it not worthy of comment? Are they just too busy? Are they mad at me? Hmmm.

Well, I could keep doing it as a resource for the annual Christmas letter that we're two years behind on. Or I could keep doing it as a way to avoid housework. Or I could keep doing it in the hopes that there are at least some blog-lurkers out there who look without commenting.

Don't I have any friends or relatives out there who want to jump on the blog bandwagon and be my blog buddies? It's easy! Just click "Create Blog" in the upper right-hand corner, and go from there! Anyone? Share your life and your thoughts!

American Idol

We finally found time to watch the selection of the Top 24 on TIVO last night. I felt sorry for Josiah, but I think they made the right decision in cutting him. I just wanted to cry when they first showed him living in his car. He said his parents thought he was staying with friends! I can't imagine how they feel! He just looked so young and vulnerable when he cried, talking about how it gets lonely sometimes. Anyway, he does need to grow up some before he's ready for American Idol.

David A. and Syesha are my picks for the top guy and top girl at this point. I reserve the right to change my mind as the season progresses, though! :) What do you guys think?

Renee Bondi

A wonderful book that I finished recently is The Last Dance but Not the Last Song by Renee Bondi. In the 70s, I was in The Young Americans, and Renee was a "New Kid" with me. We did a lot of shows together, and spent a summer in Petoskey, MI with the American Music Theater. I always remembered Renee as a rambunctious, outgoing and friendly girl with a gorgeous soprano voice. Unfortunately, after I moved on from the YAs, I lost touch with everyone over the years.

During the holidays, Dave and I took our moms to Tibbie's on the Queen Mary. If you haven't been there, you must go!!! It's a song-and-dance revue type of dinner theater where the waiters/waitresses are also the performers. The show is incredible, as is the food. Originally, Tibbie's was associated with The Young Americans, and many alumni of the group have performed there (they've changed locations several times over the years).

Our waiter that particular night was a recent YA alumni, and of course my mom told him that I was also an alumni, so we got to talking. He told me about an alumni website (a Yahoo group) where we could reconnect with old friends. I joined the group immediately when I got home. It was there that I saw a post by Renee Bondi, who was Renee Lacuague when I knew her. She had a link to her website with her post. My jaw dropped to the floor when I went there and read about her story, which is both heartbreaking and inspirational. http://www.reneebondi.com/

Renee is a popular Christian speaker, singer and author. It is impossible to read her book without crying. It's all about her inspiring story of how, when she was the vocal music director at San Clemente High School, the night she got her engagement ring, a freak accident left her quadriplegic, and how her faith and special relationship with Jesus helped her through the heartbreaking ordeal. I ordered her CDs, and continue to be moved by her songs and her beautiful voice. She's the one singing "He Who Began a Good Work in You" on the middle video on my blog's video bar (this is a video of my mom's ordination as an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church).

I hope someday we can get her to speak at a the women's Christmas luncheon at FCC. She's touched so many people--what an amazing woman of faith, courage and strength!

My Valentine

MY VALENTINE...

M: My Man
Y: Yoga Master

V: Volunteer
A: Accommodating
L: Loving
E: Enthusiastic, Eager, Ebullient
N: Near
T: Talkative Techie
I: Idol fan
N: Nice
E: Essential

Dave is My Man. He's everything I always dreamed My Man would be. He loves me, and he tells me so. He makes me feel safe and secure, and he's a great dad to our sons. He's a wonderful leader of our family spiritually, emotionally, financially and physically. He's handsome, sexy, and he's a great cook, to boot!

Dave is a Yoga Master. Well, okay, maybe not a master, but he's pretty good at it! I gave him a yoga DVD once, not knowing what he'd think, and he actually liked it! I love that he takes good care of his body and sets a good example for me and for the boys. He has persisted in trying to convince me to jump on the yoga bandwagon, and I stubbornly resisted for a long time (I thought it was boring). But because of his encouragement, I actually do it occasionally, and Cory does it, too, when he has a break from running. I'm grateful for the example he sets for us to be physically fit. He started doing spinning classes at the gym, and due to his gentle prodding, now Wes, Connor and I enjoy spinning twice a week!

Dave is a Volunteer. Not only does he volunteer to do all kinds of stuff around the house, but he is the Scoutmaster for the boys' troop. By doing that, he is showing his family how much he cares, and creating memories for all of us that will last a lifetime. It is a time-consuming and energy-draining job, and he is often taken for granted and taken advantage of, but also appreciated. When I watch him choke up with feeling while giving a "Scoutmaster Minute," I know I married a prince.

Dave is Accommodating. I know I am not the easiest person to live with. Okay, I'll admit it. I'm anal. And sometimes hormonal. But does my husband get irritated when I follow him around closing the cupboards he leaves open (while he's cooking dinner, I might add)? Does he get annoyed when I say there should be three scoops of coffee, not two (after he just went to the trouble of making the coffee, I might add)? No, he just laughs and teases me (in a sweet way, I might add), making me realize how ridiculous I'm being. He's accommodating, and loves me unconditionally, no matter what time of month it is.

Dave is Loving. I could go on forever on this one, because everything he does is loving. He works hard so that I can be at home with the family. In addition to his job and scouts, he takes care of the cars and the gardens and the bills and the leaky faucets and the computer problems and the taxes and the broken water heater and more than his fair share of the cooking and cleaning. He lights candles and puts on soft music and offers nice, long massages. Well, you get the idea...

Dave is Enthusiastic, Eager and Ebullient! Sorry, but one "E" word just wasn't enough! My guy is not one to sit around being boring! He's always planning the next vacation or outing, and is full of fun ideas. He lives life to the fullest, whether it's surfing at the crack of dawn, backpacking with a bunch of teenagers, planning scavenger hunts for my birthday, or taking me out to dinner and a show!

Dave is Near. I love that he's near! Not only physically, as he works right upstairs at home a lot of the time, but in every way, he's near. Whenever I want to talk about something, he's right there willing to listen. And even when he's traveling, he still feels near because I know he loves me. (And we can IM... :) )

Dave is a Talkative Techie. Okay, so that's not especially romantic, but I love techie stuff, too, and I'm so glad he's willing and able to take care of computer issues that drive most people nuts. I'm so impressed with his techie knowledge! Sometimes when I'm upstairs in the bathroom putting on makeup or something, I can hear him talking to a bunch of people on a conference call, and it's Greek to me! I love my handsome computer nerd!

Dave is an Idol Fan. That is, American Idol. I'm not so sure he'd go so far as to call himself that, but the point is that I love the time we spend together watching the show and talking about it. That, and Friday Night Lights, for sure!! I like that we can just relax at home and enjoy the time together watching these shows. It's a fun thing to share with my honey...

Dave is Nice. He is! He's just so nice! What can I say? When telemarketers or solicitors call our home, I know they're praying that Dave will answer! When someone calls with a survey, he patiently answers their questions. He's nice to the Boy Scouts, nice to their parents, nice to his customers, nice to his coworkers, nice to his sons, and nice to his wife, no matter what time of month it is! :)

Dave is Essential to me. I don't know what I would do without him. He's my rock. He's my hero. He's my VALENTINE!

Kobel birthdays

We have a wonderful tradition on Dave's side of the family where we all get together every two or three months to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. It's nice that Dave's mom and all his brothers and their families are local so that we're able to do it! I wish we could do it on my side of the family, too, but I guess it would be asking a lot for everyone drop everything and fly in from Texas, Colorado and Delaware. Anyway, I'm grateful for technology so that we can all stay in touch!

A New Life Scout!

Excitement abounds!! Connor passed his Board of Review tonight and is a brand new Life Scout!! He's excited to get started on an Eagle project, and with only two merit badges to go, he just may beat both his brothers to the ultimate prize!!

Winterfest and down the driving road...

What a weekend! Wes's team (14U "A" boys, Huntington Beach Water Polo Club) ended up with an impressive 4th place finish at the Winterfest Tournament in San Juan Capistrano. They really had to battle in several of the games--they were all really close! At the end of one period, with two seconds on the clock, Wes scored a goal for his team by throwing the ball all the way down the length of the pool from his goalie position into the opposite goal!! That was fun!

It was beautiful weather (felt like mid-80s), and Wes came home with a funny tan line where his cap was, and swimmer's ear along with it, unfortunately. We just got back from the doctor. Oh well, we caught it before it has a chance to get too painful.

Dave and Connor spent the weekend in Joshua Tree with the scout troop. They did a lot of bouldering (WITH helmets!), and came home with no injuries! Yea! Dave went off his blood thinners a week ago, and is happy to be back out there surfing, too.

The big news this week is that Cory is driving in traffic!!! Yikes! Sunday night I went to pick him and Wes up from their Venture meeting, and I told Cory he could drive home. This was his first time driving the minivan (and actually, his first day in actual traffic, out of a parking lot, where he'd been practicing in the Subaru). All his friends came out to watch him drive away. So he got in the minivan, started looking for the headlights, and turned on the windshield wipers!! We were all laughing so hard, mostly from watching his friends rolling on the floor laughing! Okay, I guess you had to be there...but it was pretty funny!

So anyway, pray for us! Pray that Cory learns quickly and drives safely, and that I don't have a nervous breakdown! :)