Easter pictures

Shay's letter

We had a meeting last Monday at work explaining why Oregon is being hit so hard with this recession. I guess Oregonians thought that we could slip though the cracks without being fazed. We were supposed to be safe because we are so close to California as well as our coast line being closest to China and Japan and the trade they bring in. We are also considered the "Green state" (not sure why that was supposed to help) Needless to say, we've been hit probably the hardest with the highest unemployment rate. Devin has been out of work since last August and still hasn't been able to start schooling. The school district that I work for lost 1+ million dollars and is closing the school four days early to save costs. We lost 15+ million for next year and it looks like I will be out of work as well.

My friends at work have been very worried about us. Devin is my rock and always reminds me that God is on our side. With his encouragement I try to tell everyone I work with that we trust in God and we will make it. They all know we have faith but I don't think they knew how deep it went until this week.

Shayli's teacher asked that the kids write a letter to another student or a school adult. Mrs. Reed read all the letters before they were sent on. When she read Shay's it made her cry. This is what it said,

Dear Mom,
I love you and I know our family is having a rough time but we will get through it with Jesus hand over us and help me get through it too. I hope you are glad to have me.
Love Shayli

Mrs. Reed shared it and after I received it, I brought it back and shared it with more. I saw more people get teary eyed that day than ever before! I told Shay that I was going to put her letter in our box of wisdom because it was so wise of her to be my encouragement. I love my girls and thank God for them every day.

Wow, check out that score!

Kami's citizenship award

Well, just like I promised, my once a month post is here and four days early, too!

So even though today is Thursday, it's our Friday. The girls don't have school tomorrow and that means I don't have to go to work, Yeah Me! Good thing too, the windows were iced over this morning and I was late to work. Would you believe it, but I don't think I've ever had to scrape my own windows. People my size aren't made to scrape windows. I worked and worked, got in the car and realized I still couldn't see. So I got out and scraped again, got back in and still had only cleared the bottom half of the windshield. By the third time I said forget it and just went to work leaning over in order to see out, which still isn't a good idea considering it takes all I got to see over the steering wheel as it is! When I FINALLY got to work (which is less than four blocks away, this is sounding worse as I type it) the gals I works with laughed and asked what I had done the entire winter. I said Devin had done it, of course! But that stinker was still sick this morning and wouldn't get up! He almost didn't even get up to make my coffee! Maybe I don't want to write this, it's making me sound really bad! Do I dare add that when Dev is feeling good, he makes my coffee, brushes out the girls hair and drives me to school (four blocks away) and comes and picks me up (yes, four blocks away!) Man, I love that guy!

Devin is helping Kami with her piano lessons which is kinda funny because Kami likes it better when I help her. (cause I don't know when she's doing it wrong :) Kami has that sickening Cabales musical gene. She has picked up the piano right away. She knew the notes after the first week and is already playing with her left hand! Devin says that's normal and that as long as you can find the middle C then you can find the rest the notes, I said, "the middle what?" I'm still impressed with her. The only problem is that like the rest of the Cabales family, she doesn't know how to slow down. So instead of "1 and 2 and 3 and 4" it's 1,2,3,4. Her teacher says that comes later but it drives Devin crazy! I think it's funny!

Last Friday Kami got the Citizenship award for her class, she got a medal and huge hug from me! Her daddy missed it because he was at Men's Retreat (where he had a good time, by the way) Today the school gave Kami a scholorship to play soccer. Shayli will be playing basketball again. She played Kids Sports for the last two months and she did great. If fact some of the parents decided to coach a team with YMCA and asked her to play. The parents wanted Shay on the team so bad that some even asked if they could help with costs. Shay is so much fun to have around even if she doesn't make all the baskets! My mom also stepped up and sent some money to help out.

The girls are staying the night at a friends house tonight so I better get them packed. That means date night for us. The last two times we had date night we drove all the way to Ihop, sat in the parking lot and talked ourselves out of staying and spending the money. Who knows, maybe tonight we'll stay!

Until next month. . .

First post!

Uh hum, (clearing my throat and looking around at all the strange faces, whispering to myself. . .every ones in their chonies, every ones in their chonies. . .)

I just want to send out a big thanks to Grace for helping me set up my second blog. If you continue to visit my page I promise to keep you in stitches and add funny pics of me and my fam at least once a month. I've always been a supporter of Lucy (I like it when Charlie falls down) and I will continue to avoid peanut butter and small finger foods like cucumber sandwiches. (never could figure out how they made a sandwich out of a cucumber.)

Oh, and by the way, Aunt K, Grace is doing fine.