Friday, September 19, 2008

Voelkel News in a Flash

So here is what we have been up to:

Ben is still working in tech-support at Express-Scripts. He is doing great there and enjoys what he does. He is in the Elders' Quorum Presidency at church. He recently earned his private pilot's license, and is continuing to study to obtain his instrument rating on his way to becoming a commercial pilot. He has been working out, lowering his percentage of body fat, lifting weights, and he is looking good (if I do say so myself). He will be starting a part-time job at Sprint (soon we think), and manages to keep everything operating in top form at home.






Linda is substituting for the Ritenour and Pattonville School Districts about 4 days a week. She is taking 4 graduate credits online through Missouri Baptist University. In about 4 weeks, she will have active teaching certification for Missouri. She is lined up to take on a long term sub position for a 4th grade teacher's maternity leave at the beginning of 2009. She is continuing her Polynesian dance lessons and has 4 luau performances under her belt so far. She is back in the Young Women's Presidency at church and busy raising 3 beautiful, strong, young women of her own.






Anna, Janae, and Daila are doing great. They aren't nearly as busy as their parents (or we would all go crazy!). They are so unique in personality and so fun to watch grow up. Anna and Janae are old enough, now, to stand up for what they think is right. (But that doesn't mean they are always right.) I will share more stories about each of them as time goes on. I am very proud of them. We are entering a new stage of parenting with them and we are adapting to new problems: instead of "not sharing" and "oops I spilled", we must face "why can't we wear bikinis" and "why were those teenagers kissing in the field". What's more, they know the answers--they want to know why that's the answer. And Daila is just a firecracker! She is so quiet and reserved away from home, but on her terf . . . baby, watch out. She is a lot like Ben in the way she teases. And when she does something naughty, she comes to get me, wearing a look that is a mixture of humor and timidity, to show me what she did--like she is proud of it, but knows it's wrong! So what's up with that? Boy she's got spunk, I tell ya.
Well, not much of a flash, but that's the Voelkel News.

NOT a Scrapbooking Ninja

Yeah, ok. So here's the story. Everyone seems to have a blog these days. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading my friends posts and looking at the photos. Ben caught wind of how great blogging is and so he thought it was time for us to blog. Ok, great. But I'm the chatter box, communicator, social ninja of the marriage duo. So that leaves me the task of updating the blogspot. Problem 1: I am so not good at scrapbooking. I forget to take my camera along with me to events. If I do bring it, I forget to take pictures. I haven't figured out how to make my blogspot look all cute and scrapbook-y, like all of yours. And I don't have a whole lote of extra time to play around with it. :( Feel sorry for me yet? Problem 2: I am also not so hot on journaling. Ok, yeah. So what is a blogspot? Cuz to me it is a journaling scrapbooking experience on the web. See my dilemma?


So I think I prefer Facebooking over blogging so far. I mean, the jury is still out. I'm gonna give blogging a fair trial run. But I like how the network on Facebook allows you to type just a sentence or two to update everyone. You can easily make quick, but sincere, comments to your friends to let them know you are thinking of them. And if no one is online with you, you can play a quick game to pass the time and unwind from the hectic day. All conveniently from the same website.


So I guess wish me luck with this blogging stuff. I know I will get the hang of it sooner or later. So stay-tuned . . . you never know when it will finally all click and then . . . WaTcH OuT! There will be exciting stuff happening at benlindavoelkel.blogspot.com!
(Ok. So this photo has nothing to do with this post. But it is a pretty cool pic of my parent's house from the sky--taken by Ben--while flying--and turning--with my babies in the back seat. Ahhhh! :D lol)

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Congratulations Ben!

Ben became a private pilot on August 19, 2008! We recently got to go on a flying excursion with him. Linda's family babysat the kids so Ben could take Linda on a picnic via a Cessna 172 single prop airplane. We flew to Carlisle Lake in Illinios, then over the Mississippi River, past the St. Louis Arch, then landing in Sullivan, Missouri. We met up with the family in Sullivan and Ben took Anna and Janae up for a short flight around town. We all had an amazing time! The weather was perfect and the views were breathtaking.

Entering the 21st Century

Welcome to the Voelkel's first blog post! Seems everyone we know has a blog so we thought we would try our hand at it. Check from time to time to see our family updates and adventures!