January 12, 1998 Fleming Family Newsletter
John and Susan Fleming
1997 Year in Review
Winter
January 1997 began very positively. John had been working for the City of Corona several weeks and had gotten to know everyone in the department. Susan continued the school year at San Pasqual Academy (SPA). We still found the separation during the week difficult (John stayed Monday through Wednesday nights in his condo in Colton) and began to do a mental countdown until June when they could both live in Corona.
Sometime during January and February it began to be apparent that the conference would close SPA after the end of the school year. Personally, this was not difficult because Susan was planning to quit anyway, but the emotional stress in watching other faculty and students anguish over where they would go next year was difficult.
In February John found out he would have a California Economic Development (CALED) Conference in Monterey near the end of March. Susan was very excited to discover that it fell on the same week as her spring break. This was also the time of their one year anniversary.
We drove to Monterey on March 24 and registered at the Marriott where John's conference would be held. Susan had all kinds of plans for a literary and historic tour week. So while John sat in meetings, Susan toured the many historic sites in Monterey with side trips to Salinas for Steinbeck's house, etc., and Carmel for shopping. In the evening she would share all her adventures with John over dinner and a walk along the oceanfront or a soak in the jacuzzi. They both enjoyed the week immensely and John had the opportunity to meet quite a few other economic development people from all over California.
Spring
During April Susan was kept very busy with preparation to do a WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) evaluation for a Lutheran school near LA. Because it was a first time experience, the preparatory work took longer than usual. Near the end of April Susan left her students in the hands of substitutes and joined the other two members of her WASC team for several days of intense work preparing an evaluation document at the school site. It was a great learning experience, but not something one would want to do too often, considering the amount of work involved.
The final long weekend leave for the students fell at the beginning of May. Susan went as usual up to Colton and this time did some searching through advertisements looking at houses for rent in the Corona area. The search led to the realization that housing in Corona would be expensive. John began exploring the option of buying a house. He figured that if rent and a mortgage would be about the same, then it would be better to buy. This, however, wouldn't be the first choice because the condo hadn't sold and it would be better not to get too tied down with property, making a move more difficult. Housing became a matter of prayer every day.
As the school year at SPA drew to a close, things became very hectic for Susan because she was a Senior class sponsor. She was also trying to pack up the house and classroom. At least all the busy-ness made time go by more quickly and soon the school year was over. In the meantime John had contacted the SDA churches in the Corona area and asked to have a notice put in their newsletters regarding our housing. Immediately, we had a response. The house was in a nice neighborhood and in very nice condition with reasonable rent--a terrific answer to prayer!
Susan completed her graduate program requisites for an Administrative Master's Degree in Education, and marched with the graduating class of 1997 at La Sierra University. John was probably more pleased than Susan on this watershed life event; initially she hadn't planned to march in the end-of-year ceremony!
The Tuesday after graduation was the last day of work for Susan. John thought they should wait to move until Friday because he would be off work that day and could help. But Susan insisted on moving Wednesday; she didn't want to get everything to a new house and have to be unpacking on Sabbath. Fortunately, John's father was visiting from Massachusetts and offered to help with the move. Susan was very grateful for all his hard work.
Summer
In July the easy routine of living in one house together and working to get completely settled was abruptly disrupted. Susan was pregnant and at about 6 2 weeks became extremely ill. Many days it was with great difficulty that she walked from one end of the house to another. She was completely unprepared for the severe nausea and weakness which lasted about three and a half months. During those months John once again did the grocery shopping, made all his meals and did the housework.
John's grandmother died in July and Grandfather Follansbee flew out to visit the family several weeks after the funeral. He was excited to meet Susan for the first time.
Fall
Slowly Susan began to feel a little energy returning and the nausea easing. Unfortunately, the nausea never completely disappeared, but at least she began to be able to do quite a bit around the house again.
On October 31 a sonogram revealed that the baby was a boy! Soon a name had been chosen, (most of you will have to wait for the birth announcement to know what it is) and Susan began to do research on baby items. She also began to watch the classifieds for a crib and changing table. She found a set that had been in a model home, complete with bedding and decorations for only $100. It was such a blessing to have complete new set for such an affordable price. Also, John's mom paid half of the price as an early baby gift. Susan's found a few other necessities at yard sales and will continue searching in the remaining months until the baby's due (March 21).
Winter, 1997
November was a very busy month. Susan now had the energy to make quite a few home presentations for Learning Wonders (a company that makes children's felt products), a business she had started in the summer before getting so sick. John's routine had also changed drastically, as he had begun an MA program in management with the University of Redlands. He went to class every Thursday night and studied all the other nights of the week except Friday (TGIF!). Fortunately, the program is only 14 months long, but the intensity is very difficult at times.
In December Susan's paperwork with the Corona/Norco school district finally went through and she began to substitute a little and obtained one home/hospital student. She was very excited to be back involved with teaching again and loved the challenge of teaching her special ed. home student.
Also during December, John received his one year evaluation. He and Susan breathed a sigh of relief to find it positive. John has really enjoyed his work in Corona and was glad to know they'd want him to stay a while.
January 1997 began very positively. John had been working for the City of Corona several weeks and had gotten to know everyone in the department. Susan continued the school year at San Pasqual Academy (SPA). We still found the separation during the week difficult (John stayed Monday through Wednesday nights in his condo in Colton) and began to do a mental countdown until June when they could both live in Corona.
Sometime during January and February it began to be apparent that the conference would close SPA after the end of the school year. Personally, this was not difficult because Susan was planning to quit anyway, but the emotional stress in watching other faculty and students anguish over where they would go next year was difficult.
In February John found out he would have a California Economic Development (CALED) Conference in Monterey near the end of March. Susan was very excited to discover that it fell on the same week as her spring break. This was also the time of their one year anniversary.
We drove to Monterey on March 24 and registered at the Marriott where John's conference would be held. Susan had all kinds of plans for a literary and historic tour week. So while John sat in meetings, Susan toured the many historic sites in Monterey with side trips to Salinas for Steinbeck's house, etc., and Carmel for shopping. In the evening she would share all her adventures with John over dinner and a walk along the oceanfront or a soak in the jacuzzi. They both enjoyed the week immensely and John had the opportunity to meet quite a few other economic development people from all over California.
Spring
During April Susan was kept very busy with preparation to do a WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) evaluation for a Lutheran school near LA. Because it was a first time experience, the preparatory work took longer than usual. Near the end of April Susan left her students in the hands of substitutes and joined the other two members of her WASC team for several days of intense work preparing an evaluation document at the school site. It was a great learning experience, but not something one would want to do too often, considering the amount of work involved.
The final long weekend leave for the students fell at the beginning of May. Susan went as usual up to Colton and this time did some searching through advertisements looking at houses for rent in the Corona area. The search led to the realization that housing in Corona would be expensive. John began exploring the option of buying a house. He figured that if rent and a mortgage would be about the same, then it would be better to buy. This, however, wouldn't be the first choice because the condo hadn't sold and it would be better not to get too tied down with property, making a move more difficult. Housing became a matter of prayer every day.
As the school year at SPA drew to a close, things became very hectic for Susan because she was a Senior class sponsor. She was also trying to pack up the house and classroom. At least all the busy-ness made time go by more quickly and soon the school year was over. In the meantime John had contacted the SDA churches in the Corona area and asked to have a notice put in their newsletters regarding our housing. Immediately, we had a response. The house was in a nice neighborhood and in very nice condition with reasonable rent--a terrific answer to prayer!
Susan completed her graduate program requisites for an Administrative Master's Degree in Education, and marched with the graduating class of 1997 at La Sierra University. John was probably more pleased than Susan on this watershed life event; initially she hadn't planned to march in the end-of-year ceremony!
The Tuesday after graduation was the last day of work for Susan. John thought they should wait to move until Friday because he would be off work that day and could help. But Susan insisted on moving Wednesday; she didn't want to get everything to a new house and have to be unpacking on Sabbath. Fortunately, John's father was visiting from Massachusetts and offered to help with the move. Susan was very grateful for all his hard work.
Summer
In July the easy routine of living in one house together and working to get completely settled was abruptly disrupted. Susan was pregnant and at about 6 2 weeks became extremely ill. Many days it was with great difficulty that she walked from one end of the house to another. She was completely unprepared for the severe nausea and weakness which lasted about three and a half months. During those months John once again did the grocery shopping, made all his meals and did the housework.
John's grandmother died in July and Grandfather Follansbee flew out to visit the family several weeks after the funeral. He was excited to meet Susan for the first time.
Fall
Slowly Susan began to feel a little energy returning and the nausea easing. Unfortunately, the nausea never completely disappeared, but at least she began to be able to do quite a bit around the house again.
On October 31 a sonogram revealed that the baby was a boy! Soon a name had been chosen, (most of you will have to wait for the birth announcement to know what it is) and Susan began to do research on baby items. She also began to watch the classifieds for a crib and changing table. She found a set that had been in a model home, complete with bedding and decorations for only $100. It was such a blessing to have complete new set for such an affordable price. Also, John's mom paid half of the price as an early baby gift. Susan's found a few other necessities at yard sales and will continue searching in the remaining months until the baby's due (March 21).
Winter, 1997
November was a very busy month. Susan now had the energy to make quite a few home presentations for Learning Wonders (a company that makes children's felt products), a business she had started in the summer before getting so sick. John's routine had also changed drastically, as he had begun an MA program in management with the University of Redlands. He went to class every Thursday night and studied all the other nights of the week except Friday (TGIF!). Fortunately, the program is only 14 months long, but the intensity is very difficult at times.
In December Susan's paperwork with the Corona/Norco school district finally went through and she began to substitute a little and obtained one home/hospital student. She was very excited to be back involved with teaching again and loved the challenge of teaching her special ed. home student.
Also during December, John received his one year evaluation. He and Susan breathed a sigh of relief to find it positive. John has really enjoyed his work in Corona and was glad to know they'd want him to stay a while.
Countdown to Austin
Before long the year was over and John and Susan once again began a countdown to another goal--three more months until the family has an addition. There's much excitement in the Fleming house in anticipation. We hope you are having nearly as much fun.
Corona Fleming Address
Let us know how you are! Our new address is 2048 Bruin Drive, Corona, CA 91719, (909) 272-6221. Drop us a line by e-mail at susandpf@juno.com or johnultimate@juno.com, and make sure you visit John's Ultimate Web Site at www.freeyellow.com/lsuultimate/members/index.html.
