Still here...Really Tired...

As we've now been chastised numerous times from regular Blog readers...we're coming out of the dark to say "HI" and we're alive!

Today was Day 3 of our new school year.

Today was Day 3 of yet another wild adventure that we feel a bit overwhelmed about.

Today was Day 3 of early bedtimes, early rising and totally programmed lives from 7 until 6. (For those of my dear homeschooling compatriats...you know I'm writhing under the structure...

Today was Day 3 and we already have a change in our classes to better acommodate the student's English capabilities.

Today was Day 3 and I actually made it up in enough time to fix eggs, bread and fruit for the kids AND make it to school on time!

We leave our home at 7:05 and walk about 5 minutes (8 with the short-legged ones)to our school. We have security every step of the way. Not only is our apartment community highly secure (ie. the guard followed the water vendor guy up to our 8th floor apartment and WAITED for him to exchange our bottled waters and THEN escorted him back out of the complex)...But, too...we have a security guard who walks us accross the little side road with very little traffic...until we're safely in to the school gate. It's certainly overkill. Perhaps they still think we're from the Kennedy family? Magpie, Safety Girl, absolutely LOVES IT!

I'm teaching English. Lots of my students in first grade are at a zero English level. Some are nearly at 1st grade level...same thing in my second grade classes. So...we're going to do some adjusting.

Dad spends much of his time with the sole 6th grader in our school. He is a VERY nice, VERY bright young man who basically will be mentored and taught by his private tutor for this year! Anyone think that major life discussions might take place? Remember Nick.

I have a darling little girl in my 1st grade class. Her daddy is a driver for the corporation...and he really wanted to send his girl to this new school but was short of the funds. We were so pleased to discover the generosity of the school that they "made it work" so that she could attend. She speaks no English but she communicates so much with her eyes. The first day, once I realized that she had no English name...I decided I had to name her. Mary. I named her Mary and by day two she said to me in beautiful English "Good Morning Teacher" to which I was able to reply "Good Morning Mary!" Remember Mary...she has a special place in my heart.

I had a little break down on Saturday. I hit a bit of that "culture stress" we've studied so academically. I was just weary. The real reason? I had planned for 4 days to go shopping at the big market and to "line the larder" as some in the US South might say. And when Saturday arrived, I arose full of expectation. Shortly after breakfast the phone rang and there was a need for Dad to go to the school for a "few minutes." Four and 1/2 hours later he returned. I was so tired. Had been sick for a week and just about totally lost my enthusiasm for breathing!

Magpie came into my room where I was lamenting my stress and said.."Okay Mom, it's going to be okay. The "book" says that He will not give you more than you can handle. You need to stop looking so far ahead. Just think about what's next. Now close your eyes and think about what heaven is going to be like and remember that's were you're going."

I was so thankful for her wisdom.

So we're good...and tired...please keep lifting us up. We're probably headed for some rough water long about the time the school stuff settles down and we realize we're really here to stay.

Please lift up Dad's father, Papa G. He and Grandma D. are soon to leave (if they haven't already) Rochester where they were at Mayo. Also, my Mom, Juice, had knee surgery a week ago and is supposed to travel here to The New Place on the 24th of this month. We need her visit and she needs some divine intervention for healing.

I promise, when we're a little better rested later this week...I'll try to bit a bit more "entertaining" in my writing!

Love to you all!