Well, folks, it´s FRIDAY! What relief!
I´ve gone through two days of school orientation and several more days of preparation for school to begin. I´m one tired lady. I got home at about 4:00 this afternoon, and I'm tuckered! The good news is that my classroom is decorated -- other than the bulletin board OUTSIDE my classroom -- and my lesson plans and course summaries are done. I've also got my photocopies run off for next week. So, all in all, I think I'm as prepared as I'm going to be! I still have to do seating charts, but I can do that at the last minute -- even with the kids in the room. I'm not too concerned about that!
Thanks for all your prayers this week. In many ways, it's been LONG. In other ways, it has flown by. I've missed my husband and I'm ready for him to come home! His sister, Cathy, came over yesterday and pampered me. I cooked tacos for us for supper (Thanks to Liz M. for giving me a packet of taco seasoning! She saved a pregnant lady from tears!) and then Cathy gave me a manicure and pedicure. Just what the doctor ordered!
Gerson is supposed to get home tomorrow night from Argentina. Please be in prayer for him as he travels through the night tonight and all day tomorrow by bus. Tonight he is attending a major league Argentine soccer game which is going to be televised. His dad is coming over to watch the game with me -- we're hoping to spot Gerson in the crowd!!! One never knows, although it is unlikely we'll spot him. We're still going to be on the lookout! After the game, he's going to rest a few hours before hopping on a bus to head back.
You know what that means, right? SOON there will be more picture posts!!!
Have a great weekend, y'all. I'm going to rest up tomorrow and then enjoy having my husband home with me on Sunday! Monday it's off to school. I plan to enjoy my last two days of "summer vacation"!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Another Picture
Keetha seems to think people may not be looking at my blog due to lack of pictures these days. SOOOO, since I got another darling picture of my nephew, I decided to post it!! I mean, who can resist a face like THIS ONE!? All I have to say is that I can't wait to kiss this little face when we return "home" in February. Get ready for Aunt Betsy, Joshua!!School Stuff
Yesterday I got up at 5:00 AM to go to the airport to say goodbye to yet another missionary. Crystal Kirk, our treasurer for the last 3 years, headed home to Indiana yesterday. It was a sad day for us all. The Bolivian missionaries can't help but hope she comes back at some point!
That got me off to an early start. When I returned home, I decided to go to school and try to be productive. I packed myself a classic school lunch - ham and cheese sandwich with potato chips -and off I went! ! It's been a long time since I've had that kind of lunch! I have to admit, I DID enjoy it!
My goal yesterday was to get my room mostly set up. Thankfully, I had some people help me track down posters to use. It's a little different decorating an elementary classroom versus a jr. high and high school classroom - especially when the subjects I will be teaching don't lend themselves to much decor! I did use my 6th grade writing posters. Then I went to the high school social studies room and pilfered (is that a word?) posters for my world geography class. Lastly, I got online and began looking for smaller writing posters, found them, printed them off, and decorated them! I have to wait for them to be laminated before putting them up. Once that is done, my classroom will be complete.
Now, Emily Barlow, if you are reading this, YOUR classroom is MY classroom this year! Let me tell you, it no longer resembles your classroom at all! I'm a little nervous about what the kids will say, but they might as well know right away that I AM NOT MISS BARLOW!!! (Although you wouldn't be a bad person to be! :) ) Anyway, I think I will enjoy using your classroom in your absence. (By the way, once Gerson gets back with our camera, I'll try to remember to take pictures of the classroom and post them for all to see!)
Today is a Bolivian holiday --- their Independence Day. So, the school is "officially" closed. Thank the Lord we all have keys to get in! I' m not feeling too festive today and I have way too much to do before Monday to take the day off! I'm going to head in today and work on my parent letters, semester overview, lesson plans, and organizing my files. None of it is terribly difficult, but it is all time-consuming.
Tomorrow begins our orientation meetings. According to our director, we will only be in meetings half the day. Then they will provide lunch for us (that's always nice!), and then we will have the rest of the day for prep time. I hope to just tie up loose ends during the afternoon because I know how it is --- people will wonder in and out of the classroom both Thursday and Friday to catch up! I love those impromptu chats, but it doesn't lend itself to getting anything done! So, if I can advance today, I can enjoy my visiting on Thursday and Friday. Am I a sanguine or what?
Well, folks, that's the news for now. Oh, before I go, let me give you an update on Gerson. He's been emailing me every day just to keep me posted and let me know he's okay. In last night's email, he told me he's been able to witness for the Lord on many different occasions! He shared his testimony with several people on his long bus ride -- they wanted to hear it and he was glad to share! He's also shared his testimony with his soccer professor and his entire family. He was so excited! For him, this is much more than just a trip to learn about soccer. Gerson always takes any and every opportunity to share the hope he has in Christ!
He is also really enjoying his training. He's gone to at least one closed practice in what I believe is a major Argentine league team. He got invited back today. He was thrilled! The coach of that team took time to presonally talk with Gerson and invite him back for the second practice. These practices are closed to the press and in order to attend you have to get a personal invitation from the coach! He's also going to be able to go to one of the major league games! He's having the time of his life.
Thanks for your prayers. We stand amazed at what God is doing in our lives. As Gerson said in his email last night, "God is a BIG God!" He continues to open doors and surprise us with His many blessings. Continue to pray for Gerson as he travels around Argentina and soaks up soccer while at the same time proclaims God's Word to those around him. Also, pray for strength for me as I hit the road running with school starting tomorrow.
I'll continue to keep you posted on any new news!
That got me off to an early start. When I returned home, I decided to go to school and try to be productive. I packed myself a classic school lunch - ham and cheese sandwich with potato chips -and off I went! ! It's been a long time since I've had that kind of lunch! I have to admit, I DID enjoy it!
My goal yesterday was to get my room mostly set up. Thankfully, I had some people help me track down posters to use. It's a little different decorating an elementary classroom versus a jr. high and high school classroom - especially when the subjects I will be teaching don't lend themselves to much decor! I did use my 6th grade writing posters. Then I went to the high school social studies room and pilfered (is that a word?) posters for my world geography class. Lastly, I got online and began looking for smaller writing posters, found them, printed them off, and decorated them! I have to wait for them to be laminated before putting them up. Once that is done, my classroom will be complete.
Now, Emily Barlow, if you are reading this, YOUR classroom is MY classroom this year! Let me tell you, it no longer resembles your classroom at all! I'm a little nervous about what the kids will say, but they might as well know right away that I AM NOT MISS BARLOW!!! (Although you wouldn't be a bad person to be! :) ) Anyway, I think I will enjoy using your classroom in your absence. (By the way, once Gerson gets back with our camera, I'll try to remember to take pictures of the classroom and post them for all to see!)
Today is a Bolivian holiday --- their Independence Day. So, the school is "officially" closed. Thank the Lord we all have keys to get in! I' m not feeling too festive today and I have way too much to do before Monday to take the day off! I'm going to head in today and work on my parent letters, semester overview, lesson plans, and organizing my files. None of it is terribly difficult, but it is all time-consuming.
Tomorrow begins our orientation meetings. According to our director, we will only be in meetings half the day. Then they will provide lunch for us (that's always nice!), and then we will have the rest of the day for prep time. I hope to just tie up loose ends during the afternoon because I know how it is --- people will wonder in and out of the classroom both Thursday and Friday to catch up! I love those impromptu chats, but it doesn't lend itself to getting anything done! So, if I can advance today, I can enjoy my visiting on Thursday and Friday. Am I a sanguine or what?
Well, folks, that's the news for now. Oh, before I go, let me give you an update on Gerson. He's been emailing me every day just to keep me posted and let me know he's okay. In last night's email, he told me he's been able to witness for the Lord on many different occasions! He shared his testimony with several people on his long bus ride -- they wanted to hear it and he was glad to share! He's also shared his testimony with his soccer professor and his entire family. He was so excited! For him, this is much more than just a trip to learn about soccer. Gerson always takes any and every opportunity to share the hope he has in Christ!
He is also really enjoying his training. He's gone to at least one closed practice in what I believe is a major Argentine league team. He got invited back today. He was thrilled! The coach of that team took time to presonally talk with Gerson and invite him back for the second practice. These practices are closed to the press and in order to attend you have to get a personal invitation from the coach! He's also going to be able to go to one of the major league games! He's having the time of his life.
Thanks for your prayers. We stand amazed at what God is doing in our lives. As Gerson said in his email last night, "God is a BIG God!" He continues to open doors and surprise us with His many blessings. Continue to pray for Gerson as he travels around Argentina and soaks up soccer while at the same time proclaims God's Word to those around him. Also, pray for strength for me as I hit the road running with school starting tomorrow.
I'll continue to keep you posted on any new news!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Happenings
Gerson got on a bus last night for Argentina. He is headed there for a week of soccer training! He's going to be eating, sleeping, drinking, watching, and dreaming soccer! Should be a great week for him!
He called this morning from the border. He was in a long line of buses waiting for paperwork to be processed to cross over into Argentina. I trust he got in! Please pray for him this week -- for safety, for learning to take place, and for him to be a light for Christ as he will be in a professional sports/atheltics environment.
He also took the digital camera with him, so I won't have any more RECENT picture posts until he gets back. I may go through the "archives" again, though, and post some "oldies, but goodies." We'll have to see!
I'm probably going to be spending a lot of time at school this week in preparation for next Monday, which is our first day with students. I was just informed that even though I'll be working part time, I MAY get my own classroom, so I can go ahead and start decorating it. I guess it's a pretty sure thing, eh? At least it will keep me occupied while Gerson is gone! I'll keep you "posted!"
He called this morning from the border. He was in a long line of buses waiting for paperwork to be processed to cross over into Argentina. I trust he got in! Please pray for him this week -- for safety, for learning to take place, and for him to be a light for Christ as he will be in a professional sports/atheltics environment.
He also took the digital camera with him, so I won't have any more RECENT picture posts until he gets back. I may go through the "archives" again, though, and post some "oldies, but goodies." We'll have to see!
I'm probably going to be spending a lot of time at school this week in preparation for next Monday, which is our first day with students. I was just informed that even though I'll be working part time, I MAY get my own classroom, so I can go ahead and start decorating it. I guess it's a pretty sure thing, eh? At least it will keep me occupied while Gerson is gone! I'll keep you "posted!"
Pracatice Makes Perfect?
On Saturday night Gerson and I had a treat! We got to babysit Cade Wolheter, the son of Evangelical Missionaries, James and Jenny. Jenny has been a huge support to me and I look forward to learning more about pregnancy and motherhood from her. Anyway, she and her husband wanted to take another couple out to eat, so she asked if we'd like to babysit Cade. We jumped at the chance!
When they got dropped Cade off at 7:30, I got my first lesson. They brought in a car seat, a pack and play, and a backpack. Jenny's first lesson for me: Where there is a baby, there is a lot of STUFF! The second lesson came shortly thereafter. As they were getting ready to leave, Jenny said, "His diaper if full. You can change that." Thankfully it wasn't that stinky kind!
Notice Cade's onesey. (Is that how you spell "onesey?") It says, "GOAL". Of course, Jenny did that in Gerson's honor. We took this picture when Cade was having a giggling fit. Gerson would make kissing sounds, and Cade would just giggle and giggle and giggle. Yup, he stole our hearts! It turned out to be a great evening. Cade is a sweet baby and he hardly cried at all. I even got to rock him to sleep! Gerson and I are super excited that in 5 more months we'll have our own little one!!
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