The ups and downs of the week...

 included lunch out with my K5 teaching buddy, trip to Walmart to purchase fish, and a stop at home to share a thank you gift.  Miss Jenn has taken another teacher aiding job at another school.  We miss her!

 included the news that the house we put an offer in and were waiting to close in 3 weeks...fell through!  Disappointed...but know God had a reason.  We stopped in at the storage unit and got our fall decorations!

included a Harvest Day party on Friday and this chick didn't get her feathers ruffled!  A big thank you to Miss Jenn for loaning me her costume.

included a lesson about the farmer and his pumpkin...he cleaned out the inside slime and pulp and gave the pumpkin a new look!  What a wonderful picture to show children!  God cleans up our heart and His light can then show through us to others.  There are so many grumpy Christians out there...we must shine the light of Jesus and share His love, peace, and joy!

The Kinders loved singing songs in the dark...

"This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine!"  

 A very special treat for me...Little Miss O came back to visit the States with her parents for a month. They asked if she could be enrolled in our school for the month!  She was with me in K3 and now...again in K5.  What a wonderful opportunity to share Jesus with her once again!

After a week of disappointments...

I was once again reminded that God always sends encouragement to balance everything out again!  These last few days are bright with all the colors of fall...and it is beautiful.  A reminder of God's hand in the beauty of His creation and His providence in the changing of the season.
Saturday held restful moments.  Sunday services were refreshing.  Monday was spent laughing with friends and comfort food.  I'm thankful that God is always in control of each situation in life and He is always working things for our good and for His glory!

Some election humor...

 I bought these Itty Bitty friends when Mari and I went on our sister outing.  "I am going to do an election in the K5 class!"  We do a unit on America in our History class.  We have been talking about many symbols, people, and places in the United States.  Our first vote was to choose a name for our elephant and donkey.  We are not promoting any one party.  We can't "for real" vote in K5!  We are voting for our favorite animal.  In the innocence of Kinders...these were the names that they gave me.  I laugh at the accuracy of a K5 child and what is happening in our nation.

Everyone got to vote once for the elephant name and once for the donkey name.  After we worked through "I don't like the donkey.  I just want to vote for the elephant."  We got an accurate count...we eliminated several names.  Mrs. T. and Kinders voted for these winning names.  Miss Jenn voted for two of the eliminated names.  All that to say...teachers weren't the swaying or deciding votes!
We will have an election on Nov. 8, and pray for our country!  There is a lot of crying and wrecking going on...and it is scary when I look at all the little Kinders...I wonder what the good 'ole USA will be like when they are old enough to vote...for real!

A chilly Saturday at our soccer invitational

 When Dad is in Mexico...Mom gets to be the parent rep at sports events!  I started out the day in the concession tent!

 The boys lost their first game...bummer.  They won the second game.  Teddy wanted a bigger lunch than concession options.

 It was a beautiful fall day!  I watched for number 22 and cheered for the team...but not obnoxiously...I've been informed of the right amount of cheering!

 Our pride and joy...wearing a rubber glove on his head...nice!

 Bundled up...and still got cold at the end after over-time and a shoot-out!  It made for a very long day!

 Always fun to sit and chat with friends and family...of course, in between watching and cheering!

Another year older...

 another year taller...

 in front of the maple tree in back of our trailer!  We're wondering if this will be the last fall picture in this yard...or not.  Still waiting for God's direction on the house...we have come up against a snag...and are still waiting for God's timing!

 It is a reminder to be thankful for what we have and faithful to what we are called to do!

Seasons change...and God is the master of each and every change!  We are thankful!

A fall walk...

What do you see?  "Leaves!  Wood chips!  Sidewalk!  A crack!"
What do you smell?  "I smell Grant.  Dead leaves.  Pumpkin pie!"
What do you taste?  "Apples!"  Um, we don't have any apples!  "Nothing!"
What do you feel?  "I feel cold!  The wind.  The cement."
What do you hear?  "Cars.  The leaves blowing.  The wind.  Noisy kids!"
And we hustled back inside to record their answers and feed them a gummy worm...as a reminder not to eat things you find outside...it could hurt you!  "Yeah, birds eat worms.  Kids don't!"  Good thing the Kinders were on top of it!  The teachers kept laughing to much to provide answers!

A few new friends in Kindergarten!

God gave me a friend this year in K5.  She was a great reminder to laugh at the small things!  This week is her last week with me, and we are both sad!  One thing she encouraged me to do was set up the aquarium that was donated to any teacher who was interested in it.  Our children wanted me to set it up too.  So...as a reward for good behavior...we set up the tank this week.  Today...we went and picked up 10 goldfish...bonus from the sales associate 2 extra.  We giggled all the way to check-out, "Well, at 28 cents a piece...let's see how long we can keep them alive!  We got food that is specifically for goldfish!  Here goes nothing...well, $2.80 plus the cost of food!  Maybe we should have a fish fund and have parents donate a $.25 each week."  They were acclimating to the water in their bag when I left. They will be freed this afternoon and we shall see how many are still alive when we go back for church tonight!  "Mom, you can teach subtraction with your fish tank...ha, ha, ha!" laughed Alisa.  Yep...pretty sure we will be covering new material in K5 this year...Life cycles.  "You could get a bigger fish and let it eat the little ones..." and daughter number one started singing the Circle of Life from the Lion King.  Thankful for humor and how it meets the needs of the heart!

"Nobody is naming the fish!!!"

"Mom, what will you do when they die?  If you flush them, I want to see what happens, so wait till after school, ok!?"

How do you spend your afternoon?

It has turned to fall in Michigan!!!  It is cold and some afternoons call for coffee...especially if your friend brings you your favorite donut from Cops and Doughnuts up north!

Passing on what was shared with them...

Our kiddos are in the high school band now!  This year, our new band/music/choir teacher is having some of the older students work with the younger students who play the same instrument.

Sometimes...it is not fun or cool to help younger students...but all these students enjoyed their time of practice!  It is so important to take what we know to help and encourage others!

I am so thankful for those who worked with our children...gave them instruments and lessons!  "To whom much is given...much is required!"  Praying that our children see the importance of this truth as they go throughout the rest of their teen years.  A wise man once said, "God doesn't give teenagers a pass through these years." God expects each of us to do right...all the time...and not waste the talents He has given us.  And so we encourage and hold our children accountable for the blessings that have been passed on to them!

Soccer season is coming to an end!

 Way to go 22!

Writing another chapter...

Ever since we moved to Michigan, we have known that our housing was temporary.  We have found that God's definition of temporary is not always the same as our definition.  We have started our fifth year in our trailer...and in the last three weeks...God has shown us a new possibility of a new address. In July, Ted's job title and responsibilities changed incurring more travel.  We have been praying for a house...with some certain specifics.  Ted was due to be home for three weeks straight, and Alisa made the statement, "God could bring a house tomorrow if He wanted!"  Monday morning, Ted called me with an address and asked me to drive by it, "It just hit the market this morning."  I drove by and called to tell him it was definitely worth a look!  We got in to see it on Tuesday after work...and made an offer.  It was accepted...and then the wait...for the inspection.  Then the addendum to the offer...the signing of papers.  The accepted addendum.  And now more waiting for paperwork and a closing date.  We are following each step and being careful to acknowledge God's timing for each phase...at the same time collectively holding our breath till we have signed on that final line!  I love this picture of my husband!  He is prepared and ready to see what the next chapter holds in our family story.  God answers prayer...and once again we have seen Him work all things for our good and His glory.  Soon...we will share the blessing that comes with waiting for His perfect time!

A week in pictures

Saturday morning coffee and muffins...I love the cool weather of fall!

 Tuesday evening soccer game...beautiful weather to sit outside...and play with friends and drink a cold coffee!

 See You At the Pole!  Neat pictures of our local police and firefighters joining our students!

Sunday dinner of swedish pancakes...as we prepared for a busy week of special meetings with the Galkin team.  Thursday night concert of various Irish music.

One busy week leads into another...and another...and...