Quiet

It's been a little over a week since I've posted. That is partly because school has started back up and I've been busy, but also because so much has gone on that I wasn't sure I trusted my words enough to write...even here.

Well, school is back in. I have the best class I've ever had! I got some much needed positive words from parents after the first day....that has never happened. My dilemma now is that I teach very differently from the other teachers and I don't want to compromise how I teach, but I also don't want to create unnecessary conflict, either. As crazy as it may sound, God taught me so much this summer working with the church youth --- about just loving on them, meeting them where they are, looking for teachable moments --- that I see where it is already carrying over into how I approach my students and my class environment.

We are settling into our apartment wonderfully! As a matter of fact, we LOVE it! All that is left to do is organize some closets, hang some pictures and enjoy.....I watched my first movie here (since we just got cable on Wednesday) last night. Anyone seen Skeleton Key? Ron was working on the computers and couldn't believe that I was watching a semi-scary movie (it was more eerie, twist-ending than horror). Here is the funny thing, though. It was at this really eerie, intense point in the movie and the kid upstairs chooses that moment to bounce off the floor right over my head! I nearly went through the ceiling! That is apartment living for you!!

Now, for everything else....it was a faith-testing week this last week and there were definite times where I was, all I can say is, depressed. Between getting back into the school swing, church stuff, and just plain life, the devil really did attack our family. I've decided to read Job through, a chapter a day and study his faith in God's hand. I know that our family has grown exponentially in the spiritual arena over the last six months or so and satan is fighting it. I want to arm myself with God's word even deeper and I refuse to give up the fight. So, feel free to comment every now and then and hold me accountable for my reading.....

Ben started 2nd grade this week and he really likes his new teacher. He loves that he's made several new friends here at the apartment already and thoroughly enjoys that, since there is no traffic to worry about, he can go out in the courtyard/playground area and play. The other night Ron and I were walking (there is a mini-gym and walking trails so we're trying to use those daily...feel free to help me stay accountable here, too), Ben was playing baseball with one of the little boys and his dad. We were AMAZED! Ben has never played baseball and we just assumed that, like us, he has no athletic abilities. Boy do we stand corrected! Ben hit the ball every time like a pro and we also discovered that he has a pretty good throw, too. The other dad was stunned when we told him Ben had never played.

As for Clay, he started junior high....I still can't believe my child is half through with his K-12 education! He loves it and has friends in every single class. He's still playing trumpet in the band and he's going to play on the 7th grade football team. We're waiting on try-outs to see what position. He'll be leaving campus one day a week for a class period for "Release Time", a Christian-ed class and he's looking forward to that. Clay is at scout camp this weekend for his Order of the Arrow ordeal and he has gotten his approval for his Eagle project.

We are very excited that Ron's contract job was extended for another month. We're praying that God will continue to provide Ron with a job that will fit into his school schedule. As for school, he starts next week and cannot wait. He's taking three classes (two physiologies and a medical terminology) and will start actual nursing classes in the spring.

Well, that is a little update of what we've been up to!