I still live!

I know it has been a while since my last update. I must admit, these school year months are a bit difficult to write about, simply because I don't feel like any noteworthy events occur! Each day is much like the one before, and I certainly don't have any adventures. ;-)

I typically leave for school around 7am... sometimes a little before, more often a little bit after. Then I have a fairly uneventful 15 to 20 minute drive to school. Once there I settle in and putter around the classroom for 20 minutes or so before the kiddos arrive. Then my day is a whirlwind of teaching until 3:00. I work for a couple more hours before heading back home between 5 and 6. Then I read, cut things out for bulletin boards, or watch something on the Arts channel with the family I live with. Dinner is between 6:30 and 7:30 usually. After dinner we clean up and I head upstairs to read for a bit before heading to bed.

So that's it. :) That's my typical day.


So far this year has been quite a bit tougher than last year. I'm really not completely sure why... there are probably a ton of different reasons (most of which I'm hesitant to post on the web). I can speculate and try to figure it all out but when it comes down to it, this year is just plain harder. I feel really bad when parents ask how the year is going so far or if this year is easier... because my completely honest response would have to be, "No, this year is much harder. It really isn't going very smoothly at all." But I know that that probably isn't the wisest response. Please pray for me. I want to love this year as much I loved last year, but it is really difficult! Pray that no matter how difficult this year is, that I will love my students completely and that I will be an effective teacher who the Lord sees fit to use in my students' lives and in the lives of their families.

I'd love to hear from some of my midwest friends and family. I sure am missing you all painfully! God knew what a good thing relationships were when he created Eve for Adam. I am learning what a good thing relationships are as I seek to put down some little rootlets here in Washington. Pray for some good friends and relationships to grow as I settle in here.

Lots of prayer requests today, but I thank God when I remember you all, because I know that so many of you are faithful prayer warriors. As I remember your faith I am encouraged in this dark part of the country. I am encouraged because I can remember and know that God does have a people whom He has kept for Himself and who do love Him and seek after Him and the things of Heavenly nature instead of seeking fulfillment through the things of this world. May God bless each of you as you seek after Him and mature in righteousness and faith.

Identity: Who am I anyways? (Part 1)

Wow! I can't believe that on Saturday I will have been living in Washington for three months! It really does seem quite unreal to me! These three months have been a huge learning time for me in so many different ways. 

Just learning the new curriculum and being ready to teach from it has been huge. The spelling curriculum and grammar curriculum are really very rigorous... plus being prepared to teach Bible (the students always have excellent questions so I need to make sure I'm as ready as possible), immersing myself into ancient Egypt for the history curriculum (which is fascinating but time-consuming), figuring out how to incorporate the geography with history and add on the other skills, science and finding time for it and how to make it interactive (the students just have workbooks... no textbooks), and the math curriculum is brand new to the school, which means we are meeting about it, talking it over, and spending a lot of time preparing to teach it. But I love it. I love learning all of these new things and really gaining more of an appreciation for the world God has created and placed me in. It truly is awe-inspiring to study these things and then exhilarating to turn around and teach them to a group of children! 

But I haven't just been learning about the school and the curriculum. I've also been learning about the geography of Washington, specifically of Seattle. I've been amazed to realize that I have already started to get my bearings as far as where things are and in which general direction I need to go to get places. Now don't get me wrong, the street names are still EXTREMELY confusing! They all seem to be numbers with directions tacked on the beginning and end. Apparently that means something but I haven't figured that out yet. You can have a 128th St. N, and NE 128th St, and a NE 128th Pl. all meet in one intersection... talk about confusing! But overall, I feel like I'm getting the hang of where things are at and where the major Washington landmarks are located.

I think I'm finally starting to remember more names at church. It's really is difficult when I only see them once a week. I'm thankful for a ladies fellowship that one of the teachers invited me to with ladies from her church. We'll be reading through a book. And the ladies at my church are starting a monthly get together as well with talk of starting a Bible study as well. I'm so thankful. I have just been so hungry for good Christian fellowship where we are able to be a part of each other's lives and to spend time speaking truth into one another's lives. Sunday's are good for the beginnings of that, but Christian fellowship is meant to go so much further than the door of the church!

(To be continued)

I love my job. The End.

I don't want to make you envious, and I don't mean to brag, but I really, really, really, really, REALLY love my job!

The first week had the usual first week stresses and anxieties, especially the ones that come with being in a new place with new people and new procedures. But the kids are GREAT and the parents are AMAZING!

So many families stopped in before the first day of school just to introduce themselves and say hello. Several of the parents offered to come in and help get the classroom set up or make copies before school started, and several more sent me e-mails or made similar offers when I met them on the first day of school. In addition to that, many families sent me notes or emails last week just to let me know that they were praying for me and for the class.

I am feeling just so blessed. So thankful.

And at the end of Friday last week another parent dropped off some flowers and some coffee... so sweet and thoughtful!!!

One of the best parts about these flowers is that a certain dear friend in Plymouth gave me some of the exact same kind of flowers last year, and they lived just behind my desk the rest of the school year. Of course, I couldn't bring those flowers with me, so it's nice to have African Violets smiling at me on my desk again. :)

With so many people offering to help with copies and laminating, and cutting things out... with grading, and filing, and sorting, with organizing and helping out during the day, I have felt so much stress just roll away. I'm actually enjoying my prep times! It's the fourth day of school and I could probably go home right now! And it's only 5 o'clock!

And those little ideas for fun and engaging lessons that I had to suppress last year for lack of time and flexibility in teaching are starting to dance around in my head again. I just can't wait!

I didn't mind getting up at 5:30 this morning to come to school! I didn't feel stressed or rushed when the bell rang! And I'm starting to find my rhythm in teaching this group of students and they are starting to fall in place behind me as I pipe my merry tune. They are working so hard. Being so diligent. Getting so much done!

All that to say folks. All is well here in Seattle. God is good, as He always is and always will be. What a blessing to serve this kind God!