Fatime's best (girl)friend

I first met Lisa Leider in November of 1984. Her father accepted a Call to be pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. I gave Lisa a tour of "my" church. We quickly became the best of friends. As best friends, we have had good times, as well as bad times. There are a couple of years we would like to forget. After high school, our lives took different paths...Lisa went to UW, partied and got a degree in Linguistics. I went to Concordia College-WI and met my love, James. I became certified to teach pre-school and got married. Lisa went to Russia for a year. I had Logan. Lisa met Ryan Rupe,got married, and moved to St. Louis, MO. We lived in Rockford, IL. We moved to Detroit, MI and had Brett. Lisa and Ryan moved to Pearland, TX and had Kyle. They moved to Oceanside, CA. We moved to back to Milwaukee. I had Katherine. Lisa had Ella. They moved to Virginia Beach, VA.
It has been a very long time (20 years) since Lisa and I have lived in the same city. Lisa and her family moved here in August and will be Wisconsinites for three years, while her husband is stationed at the Coast Guard office. Ryan is a U.S. Navy Chaplain.
Her daughter, Ella, attends the same school as Brett and Katherine. We attend the same worship service each Sunday. Oh, the Lord is good to me! I thank God for my best friend, Lisa. She is beautiful, smart, talented (Katherine will learn to sew from her, not me.), and dedicated to her Lord and family.

9/23/08 Overwhelmed!

It has been a long time since our last post. We have been so overwhelmed with various activities. Mondays-Brett has play rehearsal while Logan and Katherine have soccer practices.
Tuesdays-Jim has either had to usher at Miller Park or had a Board of Christian Day School meeting at M.O., Brett, Katherine, and I go to Logan's soccer games. Katherine gets to be the ball-girl for the home games.
Wednesdays-see Mondays
Thursdays-I pick Katherine up after school. Jim gets Logan from soccer practice. Pastor Wangerin gets Brett after play rehearsal. We all sit down for a family meal together.
Fridays-Logan has soccer practice.
Although, this week Jim will be working at the ballpark.
Katherine would tell you that she is overwhelmed with homework. She struggles with her school work and needs extra one-on-one from Mom and Dad. Logan is overwhelmed with all his high school responsibilities....studying and reviewing for a Geometry test today, a Biology test tomorrow, new Latin words, and a World History paper. Brett is overwhelmed with nightly homework (something new for him this year). He is still done and busy reading a book before anyone else, though! Brett is on the new Chapel Worship Team at Mount Olive. He will be participating in a skit for tomorrow's Chapel service.
I am overwhelmed with the day-to-day activities of being a Mom who works part-time. I don't know how people work full-time or even part-time and still have time to have a well-cared-for house. I was able to wash the kitchen floor and have dinner on the table for Jim and the boys yesterday (a rare domesticated moment for me).
I was at soccer practice with Katherine. Work in the kitchen at MLHS is quite overwhelming at times, but I am adjusting to it. I thank God that we are able to send Logan to a Christian school, because of my part-time work. I am overwhelmed with joy for all the Lord's blessings that He sees fit to bestow on our family. We are healthy and adjusting to this new phase in our life; that being busy parents with active children.