We have seen the future...

...and it looks good!

Today we went to the company, our employer, and met with the Chancellor of the school who has just arrived from our Initial port of Entry. She was a welcome sight to see and we met together for a tour of the new school building.

The property has been under construction for several months and is not yet complete. We expect, as a result of the constant reassurance of the dozen or so Engineer and Construction Managers who toured with us...that it will be ready for school to start on September 1!

Such a darling building! It looks like a castle you might find at Disneyland! Several turrets gracing the roof line and various bright shades of paint adorning the outside...cotton candy pink, lime green and periwinkle blue, to name a few! It is certainly the happiest school in appearance I've ever laid eyes upon!

The second floor of the building is "complete" and will be released to us for school to begin. There are several large rooms for classrooms, each with heat in the FLOOR! Wow! Radiant floor heat! This is going to be an amazing benefit when the COLD, COLD winter arrives...much of The New Place does NOT heat indoors! The floors are light wood colored laminate, each room with a children's bathroom in it. Although the H kids are going to have to get used to going potty in stalls without doors...

Even the sinks outside of the bathrooms are at graduated heights so that each child will be able to sidle up to a sink that is the perfect height for he/she...even Potato...no step stools in school for her!

Extra care has also been given to the railings inside the school on the staircases there is a high rail and a low rail for the slightest in height to be able to grab hold of ...Dad approves and is certain that the T's of H&L Alum would also! Well made...but he hopes to be able to bid on the next school they construct!

Lovely details in the tile work on the walls have also been attended to...hand painted tiles of zoo animals in funny poses in hammocks, lying on the beach, etc. Even an Elephant...which is very dear to Brownie...a Lady Bug on another...a symbol quite dear to The Bug and a Giraffe on still another just like the favorite stuffed animal of Potato...

So many things that will delight the Junior H family members...I think they are special "G-winks"...little encouragements from Him.

We finally know what we'll be teaching...Dad will teach English and Math to our sole 6th grader...he'll also be "Nick's" homeroom teacher, he'll have him and Magpie for Social Studies too and the whole school for Art and PE!

His mind was exploding with ideas for his classes...

But one of the funniest moments of the day...the local language character for PE looks a little like a man and woman dancing...Dad said as much...then the Chancellor suggested that Dad use some PE time to teach....

SQUARE DANCING!!!!

This made me laugh uproariously due to the fact that it was Square Dancing, so many years ago, that Dad elicited the help of his mother in writing a "conscientious objector" letter that dancing was against his religion!

Those reading our blog from our former Homeschool Co-op might remember how fine Dad cut the rug at the co-op get together where a professional Square Dancing Caller was present!

SQUARE DANCING!!!

I promise, I'll post pictures...Lots of them!

I will be teaching English to 1st & 2nd Graders, I'll be the 2nd Grade Homeroom teacher and I'll be teaching Music to the entire school!

This is so funny because years ago when I was a music major in college...I dropped the major because I proclaimed to everyone..."I'll never teach music!" Ha Ha! Doesn't He have a wonderful sense of humor!

I have had so many images from my own primary school years and those music classes...

I've heard it said by several other workers here in the New Place that He uses EVERYTHING from our past if we're willing...

I'm also going to be responsible for writing/producing/directing the combined Christmas musical program for the Kindergarten and Primary school! The expectations are HIGH...think BROADWAY...

...Glad I had so much practice putting on those dramas at GNF back in the day!

Everywhere we go we meet more fresh-faced and hopeful parents. They extend incredible hospitality to us, very often telling us that they want us to "stay long time!"

One father today told Dad that "we want this school to be the BEST in this city of 10million!"

This caused Dad to visibly perspire at a greater rate...

While we sipped on our steaming hot chrysanthemum tea after touring the school in 99 degree heat...we thought we might wilt under the pressure...

but then it's all for His glory...not ours...

And we're coming to a bit of understanding that this adventure is about obedience...simple obedience...that the work needing to be done is within us...

...everything else that happens around us is icing on the cake...

Do-si-do!