In the middle of September, I posted a simple request on Facebook. "Pray for us. This month is intense." In the middle of last week, Seth had two people independently ask us if we were all right. Apparently Facebook had recirculated my post and made me aware of how long it's been since I put out a general bulletin. We're still here, and life is good.
Last month, a convergence of things had us running and spinning and bumping into each other and learning all over again how to manage three schedules and the needs of a family. First of all, God provided a wonderful opportunity for me to cover a maternity leave for a third grade teacher. I was basically working full time from the middle of August to the end of September, the same time we were moving into our new house, setting up healthcare, finalizing our choice of Boogaloo's school, etc. Anyone in education will tell you that when a teacher works full time, that's not a 40 hour week. There's no way to do all that in 40 hours, especially not at the beginning of the year. So that was intense.
Then Seth and Boogaloo each started school. Seth is playing catch up for two years of online school by taking 5 graduate level courses and working out a 200 hour internship this semester. Intense, yes? He was also managing the home front, getting Boogaloo to school, groceries, dishes, and laundry. We found a wonderful school for Boogaloo -- Legacy Christian School. She's in a combined class of third and fourth graders, 22 kids, in a school that makes a point of building community around learning differences. They actually have a program for helping new students make friends. The only downside is that it's a 20 minute commute one way. So we were a little pushed about, if you follow me. Like I said on Facebook, it was intense.
Things were working out well. We found a wonderful church not two blocks from our house. (We walk there through the Michigan leaves. Next weekend, we might be walking through snow if the weather people are correct.) That church introduced us to a G.E.M.S. club nearby. We found a couple of great restaurants, though we are still looking for that one coffee shop that will be our go to date place. We started making friends and connections. But we were awfully busy. I, for one, have a tendency to withdraw from people when I get overwhelmed, so that I can get more done. We were all missing each other. We were all a little fried. There was one point when Seth looked at me and said, "If it keeps going like this, I don't think we're going to make it through seminary." And I knew what he meant. That's when I posted my prayer request. And you prayed. Thank you.
Since then, my full time job has ended. The regular teacher came back. I have worked a few days here and there, and as there is a general shortage of substitute teachers in our surrounding community, I have had principals approaching me, almost out of the blue, about coming to sub for them too. That's a relief.
But we are here to make connections. I've joined the seminary family group. Seth is making connections every where. The seminary put us in touch with a sponsoring family through their scholarship program. We keep looking for friends for Boogaloo, but that will come in time, and she stays busy with her little projects. She made her entire Halloween costume, and now she is learning to crochet.
So don't worry about us. We are falling into a nice routine, and we are starting to get invitations for the holidays. Life is busy, but we are well taken care of.
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