Magenta Grace Privkar here.  

Sorry I haven't written in ages; just been busy with school, church, and stuff.  Like now.  Doing homework, but decided to take a break and write in my blog; it's been a while since I last did that.  So here I am.

I'm now fifteen years old and my brother, 12; as for my sister, she's now eight.  Ma is still taking care of us kids while Father works long hours as a thoracic surgeon; he works at one of the hospitals here and is very good at what he does.  He loves his job but he hates the fact that he's hardly ever home because the demands on him are so great.

I am now a sophomore in high school and am loving it.  I have many friends and I am doing well in all my classes; just the homework is starting to get old fast!  Barely into the school year and already I have two major projects, one in Social Studies (have to do a diorama about the Crimean War) and another assignment in Modern Literature; have to do a report on a Russian author.  UGH!!

Coral (sister, the eight-year-old) was in the hospital back in May when a rattlesnake bit her in the leg at the park; she was very sick but somehow recovered without incident.  It was a miracle she even survived; for a while she was so sick we were worried that she might die, but prayers (and a great staff at Chicago Children's Hospital) helped save her life.

I am very grateful.  I don't know what I would have done had Coral died.  That would have been one of the worst things I could have ever experienced!

We had a good summer: we kids spent a lot of time swimming (well, excepting for the month that Coral was in the hospital, that is), going to the museums and art galleries, and to the library where they had a summer reading program full of activities and fun for kids 4 to 16.  Ma was the one who took us to most of these places; Father was too busy with his work.  I'm glad summer is over; we had a long, hot summer and frankly, I am ready for fall and/or cooler weather!

Starting this week at church, we are going to start working on our Christmas music for the upcoming Christmas Cantata.  I don't know if I want to start singing Christmas music THIS early; it's not even October yet!  

I'm also trying to figure out what I want to dress for Hallowe'en.  I have been toying with the idea of being a zombie princess.  I plan on going to the school's Hallowe'en party that night; I hear it's one of the best ones around for miles!  I want to attend so I can see it for myself, to see if this is true .

Ma and Father have been talking about adding to the family.  They are thinking about adopting a child, probably from Africa or Korea.  I am not so sure about this; I've gotten used to not having babies around, especially now that Coral is an elementary school student.  It's been six years since we've worried about diapers, baby food or formula, or nursery school!  And Coral is a lot more pleasant to be around, now that she's no longer throwing temper tantrums like she did when she was a toddler!

I am happy that Father and Ma want to adopt a needy child, but I'm not ready for little feet pattering around the house or the energy levels that toddlers or infants are known to possess!  LOL  So I may have a new brother or sister by this time next year!  Hmmm ....

Well, I'm gonna get back to my homework; it's calling my name.  Sigh!  I wish I could just forget about it, but to no avail.  Oh, well ... as long as I get it done, then that will mean less homework for me in the long run (unless the teachers decide to be sadistic about it ...).  Take care and may God bless you always; this is Magenta Grace Privkar signing off!   See you all later!

~Magenta.  :)