Definitely time for an update!

So it seems that I've forgotten about blogging.  How have I been processing events, feelings, and other junk without a written outlet?  I haven't been journaling or blogging elsewhere.  Perhaps my Facebook page has gotten a few additional status updates.  Oh wait.  I remember.  I've been grouchy Gretchen.  I think a concerted effort to blog again may help me let off some steam.  I hereby vow that there will be more than one blog entry for 2012!  :)
  I've noticed that in all of 2011 I wrote ONE blog post.  Just ONE.  That's absolutely terrible.  So much has happened in 2012.  For one thing, I had a baby.  Beautiful baby Elanor joined our family on May 14, 2012.  Oh, how we love that little girl.  She makes everyone around her smile.  The baby factory is officially closed, so we are treasuring every moment of her babyhood.
Secondly, I quit my job.  That's right, I'm no longer a public school teacher.  I grew insanely tired of being the scapegoat for all that ails society, so I decided that I no longer wanted to play.  David was on board with my decision, so I resigned.  Life is still not perfect, but I really feel like I made the right decision.
Thirdly, we have had some additional additions to our family.  It's a long story, and I don't want to put their business out there for the world to see (or for the three people who may read this blog), but for a while this year we had a single mom and her son living with us.....then we had a 17 year old boy and his 18 year old sister.  We liked the two of them a lot, so we decided to keep them. :)  The 17 year old lives and works on a local horse ranch, but we still count him as one of ours!  The 18 year old is currently in basic training.  Boy, do we miss her!

I'm also now homeschooling other kids in my house.  (Not our kids, because that may be bad for their health!)  I'm homeschooling because I get to decide what they learn and how they learn it.  I get to make those decisions professionally based on what I see them doing (or not doing).  There is no pacing calendar, or terrible curriculum that I am forced to follow.  I call the shots, and I like it.  I'm the boss, and I have business cards and a business bank account to prove it.  So far I only have one student, but I have built my school, and they will come!