So great to be in "touch"

Today as I was reading all the various blogs that I read I was thankful that this has been a great way to stay in touch with our family! Surprisingly enough we all don't live that far away from each other yet we really don't see each other as often as we would like to. It's wonderful to be able to add comments of support or otherwise to these blogs and to read the comments that are left for me. It really in many ways makes me feel closer to my family, and when we do get together we can spend less time on "catching up" and more time having wonderful conversation. I also love viewing all the pictures and to watch the kids grow and change. Also Colin has been reading up on the blogs that you all have and I feel that in many ways this cyberworld is definetly keeping our family closer! Sounds a little weird but I'm thankful for every update that is left because I feel closer to my family:)

Happy Easter!!!

He is Risen!!! He is Risen indeed!!!

Today is the day that we celebrate our risen Lord. We started the day off with Sunrise service (7:00 am). We enjoyed a full church and sang joyful praises to our Lord! We spent the morning with my family and enjoyed an easter egg hunt!! The kids love this (as well as my father, if you know him he is still a kid at heart!) Later in the day we visited with Colin's family. Jesus rising from the dead gives us such a wonderful reason to celebrate that we will have the reward of heaven one day!! Happy Easter!!!

What DOES Colin do??

Over the years that Colin has worked for WaterFurnace many people have asked me about the waterfurnaces' or what he does there. Well I have to admit I don't know much about this subject, which makes Colin laugh when I tell him about questions that I can't answer:) Anyway we were able to get a first hand look at PARTof what he does for WaterFurnace. He has to dig loops for pipe to run in the ground for waterfurnaces. So we took a field trip to one of his jobs close by and watched him in action. The kids thought this was really cool! Alex was very excited to show off his dirty hand. Colin asked him to get his shovel for him so he was able to help out a little. (you will see this helpfulness in the video!) I was amazed at what goes into and how long it takes to do this. Just to give you an idea if you watch the video you will be able to see three trenches that had been dug and this was about 11:00 am. I took Courtney back at 3:30 pm and they were starting there sixth trench. Colin didn't get home that night until 6:00 pm. I hope that you all find this as interesting as I did. (By the way we now have high speed internet so hopefully I will be able to share more pictures and video about our family in the future.)

Goodbye 20's....Hello 30's

I officially turned 30 yesterday! I have to admit that I was not looking forward to this day, but when it came I survived....imagine that:) Seriously though I really did alot of thinking about my life and came to the conclusion that I believe that my 30's are going to be good! I am done having children that's a plus for me:) Now it's raising them....that's why I said my 30's would be good not great:) (remember I will have deal with raising teenagers) I definetly feel more stable now than in say the last 8 years or so. We are settled into a community that we like alot and have found careers that we enjoy (or don't dread going to every day) I find that another plus! The Lord has seen me through some more difficult times and has brought me through to the "sunshine" of the life I have. Remarkably I ended up with a very positive outlook on this decade that lays before me....Thank you Lord!

Snow Days

Well I guess winter is really here:( We have had 2 snow days this week. Wednesday and today (friday) AHHH!!!! No, I can handle this really:) I have come to understand myself better and I understand that I like my schedule. When the kids have snowdays all our routine goes out the window. Thankfully today the temperature was not so cold, like on Wednesday, and the kids and myself were able to play outside for a while. My attitude is much better when I can get some fresh air and so are the kids:) I guess I would rather have the snow now as l0ng as mother nature doesn't send it in March or April! Everyone stay warm and cozy:) Happy Winter!!

Changes...

If you haven't already noticed I have made some changes to my blog:) I had to change the title because as of today it was inaccurate......I am no longer a student!!!! I turned in the last of my paperwork today and applied for graduation! It has been almost 5 yrs. since I started the Dental Assisting program, and today I completed it. It was a long journey getting to this point. With 2 kids when I started the program and adding a 3rd child during the process slowed me down a little bit, but persistence paid off and I'm done! What now you might ask:) Well in May I will sit for my Registerd Dental Assisting Boards and hopefully after that I will have the title Corin Ritter, RDA. It was a struggle at times, but there is almost nothing like the feeling of a sense of accomplishment!! Praise the Lord!!!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to all!!

As you can see here are the kids all dressed up Christmas eve! Christmas Eve and Christmas are a whirlwind of events surrounded by the most wonderful gift of all....Jesus!! Our church has multiple services on Christmas eve which Courtney and I were part of 2 of them. We attended the 3:30 song service where Courtney sang her first solo!! Courtney, my mom, and myself sang "Away in a Manger" and Courtney sang the 2nd verse all by herself and she did wonderfully using her God given talent. I was very proud of her (to say the least:) Then the children of the day school have a service where they learn recitation and songs and they present the Christmas story at 6:30. Both of these services were very good. Then we came home and spent the rest of the evening with my family. Of course the next morning found us up early, but not to early. The kids were very excited to open their presents and enjoy them. Then it was off to The Ritters' to enjoy more family time and more presents! Then after that off to my parents and more family time and more presents. It was an enjoyable day all around! Then it was time to celebrate the new year! We stayed up until midnight and rang in the new year! Both weeks were great since Colin took Christmas eve and New Years eve off so we had 4 days together!! New Years day found us with alot of snow so we were able to take the kids sledding and we all had a great time! Now we are back to are regular schedules and I'm happy about this. Both kids are back at school and we are preparing for a long winter.....since I'm getting older I think all our winters are long:)

I pray that all of you had a wonderful Christmas season and have a blessed 2008!!