Third year Day 79 - Sunday March 2, 2014

There is some kind of bug going around, and most everyone felt sick today.  So, we stayed home from church today.  It's still wintery here and snowing quite a bit.  I think of the days when the kids were younger and it snowed on school days.  Since we homeschooled, we didn't have to go out to get the kids to school, and we liked to sit in front of the big windows and study, while being able to look out from time to time and watch the storm.  Of course, everyone loved to have a cup of hot chocolate and snug up in blankets too.  I am so very glad that I had the time and energy to home school the kids.  I believe that we are all so close because of that fact, and I did love spending time and getting to be so close to each of my kids through home school.  One of Arrianne's friends at college asked her the other day--what did your mom do so that you and she are such close friends?  I want to be close to my kids like that.  Far be it from me to tell anyone how to raise their kids--I have my hands full wondering how to raise mine.  However, days later I thought to myself, spending so much time with my kids and really getting to know them so much helped our relationship so much.  I guess other things as well, but that's what I'm thinking about today.  Many a time I have said to Mark, that the only drawback of home schooling is you get so close and that when your kids are ready to leave home, it's so hard to see them go, whereas so many people are just glad to see their kids finally leave and not have to deal so much with them.  I have heard so many people say that they are so glad their kids are 18 so that they aren't responsible any more or something like that.  I do want my kids to grow up and to have lives of their own--don't get me wrong.  Of course, right now it is hard for the kids to contemplate moving on in too big of a fashion.  Arrianne has talked to me before about having a conversation with Bridgett before the accident, where Bridgett said to her, promise me you won't get married before I do.  Even thought things are different and I know that Bridgett would understand (eventually), I do think subconsciously it is hard for Arrianne to think seriously of getting married right now.  Just one of those things we are all working through.  When someone in the family has a major accident, not only do they have lots to work though, but it of course affects everyone, even those not living at home.  I know my married kids have had lots to deal with as well.   Jenn and Bridgett have been really close over the years, and I know that Jenn really misses talking to Bridgett like they used to.  Oh, of course they can talk now, it's just totally different.