Sunday, April 15, 2012

Daybook: The 'Where Did the Sunshine Go?' Edition

Outside my window... It has been a gray and wet week.  It is supposed to be a gray and wet week again this week.  Where did our glorious spring disappear to?  Come back spring, come back...
::Listening to... Quiet.  I think 3 out of 5 are napping.   The other one is messing around in the entry-way catch-all drawer.  Hopefully not getting into anything she's not supposed to...

::Giving thanks for... Multiple, confidence boosting French language experiences this week, including a successful trip to the doctor with Michelle and understanding the main gist of a French sermon.  Special time with my little-boy-buddy as we started 'preschool' this past week.
::Pondering... OK, here is the coolest story in the world.   Way back a long, long time ago, in a far away land called California, I transferred into a new school in the 5th grade.  If you can imagine the shyest, awkwardest girl in your fifth grade class, then that will give you an idea of me at that age.  Needless to say, it was sort of a rough year for me.  Thankfully, I had a really kind and understanding teacher who I connected with really well.   She helped push me along the road towards having greater confidence.  Easily, she would be among the top 5 influential people in my life. Over the years, we kept in touch on and off.   She even came to my college graduation, and was naturally included on our update list when we moved into overseas missionary work.   Somewhere in between the time that I was a student in that classroom and now, this same teacher came to know the Lord (as wonderful as she was, she was not a believer when I was a student in her classroom).  Recently, she became one of our ministry partners.   In a note she sent us this past week, she shared that we were an inspiration to her.   Funny thing is, I probably wouldn't be here doing this at all if she hadn't first inspired me to take those first tentative steps out of my shell all those many years ago.   Isn't it interesting to see the way that the Lord works...the people who touch our lives in and out of years....such a rich tapestry, isn't it?
Okay, so I think this picture is from fourth grade, and not fifth.  That's because all the scanned childhood photos I happen to have on the computer are the ones I chose to use in our wedding slideshow.  They skip from 9 to 13 because there wasn't a single non-embarrassing picture in between those ages that I cared to show publically...

::Living the Educational Life... A little bit rough getting back into our school groove this week, but looking forward to things being a bit better in that department next week.   We added James into our school time with about 15-20 minutes preschool work while Michelle finishes her math paper (after we start it together) and does her copywork.   He LOVES it.  I am finding he knows more number-letter stuff than I thought he did, but that's OK.  It's really more about getting some focused one-on-one time in with him than anything else, so as long as he's happy, I'm happy. =)
Somebody's just a little excited about starting preschool!

::Preparing in the Kitchen... Nothin' interesting this week.  Had multiple nights that I was wishing for a Chick-Fil-A handy cuz I just didn't want to cook at all.

::Following These Links... This was an interesting read, something to think about.  This had some practical ideas for wiggly-ones.  And SCM has just released their latest history Module.  I had intended to start in Module 1 when Michelle is in third grade, but all the wonderful new resources for Modules 5 and 6 are making me want to start there....we shall see.

::Turning Pages... Just starting a new book I just downloaded to my Kindle called Redefining Home.  Written by an American living in China, I am enjoying it so far because I can so relate to that funny feeling of not knowing where to call home anymore...  Also got the last two World magazines in a package from my Mom this week...and when I am particularly inspired I am very slowly slogging my way through Little House on the Prairie in French.   I emphasize slowly.   As in I started it a week ago and am only just getting to the end of chapter one. 

::Finding Rhythm... Took time last weekend to evaluate our schedule and finding things to be generally going much more smoothly this week. Whew...perhaps there's hope...


::Kiddos this week... To the lady living in the apartment below us: I promise that we really are trying to train our kids to use soft feet in the house.  Really, truly, we ARE trying!

::Praying... For wisdom in evaluating my priorities and using my time well, and senstivity to the Lord's guidance as I go through each day. And that we will be able to make some French friends, so we will have more opportunities to practice speaking French outside of our class times.

::Planning the week ahead... Same, same, same. But, that's OK.

::Capturing a moment... See...they can be still!  They don't always run around like elephants!!

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