School is out! You may all be wondering "Hey, what are they gonna do with all their free time now?" Well, let me tell you, we are staying busy!
Well, actually the first week of break the girls and I took a break. Jerry cleaned out his classroom, as the summer plans are to paint and refinish the floor in the classrooms. He moved most of the furniture of the classroom that he used and took down the white board and all wall hangings in preparation for the refurbishment.
On Wednesday, Jerry and I took the opportunity to drive Miss Springer to the airport in Phoenix. It was so nice to be able to spend some "quality" time with her in the car and to get to see her safely off to visit her family for a few weeks. We had planned to make a mini vacation. Phoenix is about 3 1/2 hours from the mission. We booked a hotel and spent the next three days swimming in the pool, reading by the pool and relaxing with Abby & Kelcy. It was very nice. We actually stayed in the same hotel as last time, so each night we got to spend time in the hammock and view the ducks and hummingbirds and rabbits that inhabited this area. It was great!
Now that we are back, I am working in the office generally between the hours of 9AM-11:30AM. Jerry is working all around, working in the church, the school and everywhere and also helping out our friend Jim at his house. Jim spends countless hours at the mission doing all kinds of maintenance and repair work! So, we are continuing to work and serve during the summer days!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Graduation & the Last Day of 2008-09 School Year!
The school kids began to finish subjects and books during this period. They were working hard, but also having a little more free time.
Monday, May 18th
The Hope in Transit teachers, Dave & Lisa Sprinkles came and brought Pizza for lunch. We all enjoyed the pizza and the fellowship. Afterward, they brought in a lot of instruments for the kids to try out during the afternoon session. I can not even tell you how many instruments the Sprinkles brought. There was a banjo, two violins, a flute, drums, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, a dulcimer, and a lot of exotic instruments for which I can not even remember the names. The school kids all had a great time trying them out. I think the favorite was the violin. Gracie from Murray Christian Fellowship played the violin while she was here and I think that inspired a lot of the ladies to try it out! At the end of the class session, the group gave away some instruments to the children so that they could continue to learn on their own throughout the summer. The Sprinkles also brought groceries for the kids to take home to their families. They provided a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, spaghetti sauce, and fruit to each child. I'm probably forgetting something that was included in the food package. This was a wonderful gift to all the families, including ours!
The Sprinkles also plan to offer a new opportunity to the kids next fall. The Sprinkles will be providing the music classes that they now provide, which are already great. They also plan to provide individual lessons to any school student wishing to pursue a better knowledge of music and musical instruments! Dave & Lisa do an awesome job loving and teaching the children. The Navajo children are extremely drawn to the music. This ministry helps to provide the children with a source of pride in themselves and feelings of accomplishment that can combat the negative peer pressure, worthlessness and hopelessness that often pervades their environments. I can't say enough about how important this ministry is to the Navajo children. Thank you Dave & Lisa for your service to the Lord and Thank you to all the supporters of Hope in Transit that have brought this amazing opportunity to the children of the Navajo people.
The work group from Tyro Christian School in Tyro Kansas arrived late on Saturday, May 23rd. The Tyro group was our largest group since I've been here, at 25 people (I think). This group had amazing organization. They got their supplies, the ladies provided amazing home-cooked meals for the group almost every meal. I am told they had homemade biscuits and gravy one morning. I saw them making home made pizza crust for the pizza they served at lunch. The ladies were just awesome! We were invited to dine with the group at every meal! I got a chance to talk to some of the ladies and I really enjoyed getting to know them.
The Tyro group worked hard! They really achieved a lot of things in their time at the mission. They painted and painted everything that wasn't moving. They mudded walls and painted walls and painted the exterior of one entire house! The house was transformed from a rustic cabin look to a lovely sea-side villa look under their skilled labor.
They also managed to minister to the local children on top of all of their other duties! The group went out on Sunday afternoon and passed out fliers in Leupp about a Soccer camp that they were going to host the next two nights. On Monday night, Mr. Bill drove the bus out to the reservation and picked up fifteen kids for the camp! The weather was rather inclement (it was REALLY cold for the desert) that first night! The Tyro group opened with some Christian singing led by the Tyro youth! This group also has a wonderful God-given musical talent that they shared with us and with the Navajo children. Next, they allowed the kids to create a craft project. Next was the exercise and soccer part of the evening. I know that the Navajo kids really enjoyed the opportunity, many of them continuing to play soccer in sleeveless shirts in spite of the cold, cold wind. Tuesday evening the Tyro workers presented another Soccer Camp/VBS to the kids. They added basketball to the Tuesday night program instead of Soccer. The Navajo kids (and my kids) all had a great time and went home tired from all the fun and exercise!
Oh, many of you know that the mission was searching for a new vehicle. The Lord provided one to us! Miss Springer received an email from a local gentleman who had just purchased a 12 passenger van at an auction and wanted to know if any church group local to Winslow would be interested in purchasing it. Mr. Bill and I went to check it out and purchased the van. While it is not new by any means (1995) it is in great shape and has very low miles. We should get five or six years out of it and that will give us time to save in our van fund for a new van. The man from Winslow only asked us to pay him back what he had paid for it at auction, which had to be a fraction of the cost. Thank you, Lord!
Thursday, May 28th
Tonight is the Kindergarten and Eight Grade graduations, as well as the Schools 2008-09 closing program. We are so excited! The kids are ready! The school purchased Bibles for each of the graduates. Kindergarten graduates: Abby & Jessica. Eighth Grade graduate: Merritza. The kids all did great. Miss Springer started the program as we start each school day, with the pledges to the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Bible. The parents and visitors were asked to join us. Next, we all joined in singing two Christian Worship songs: "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" and "Here I am to Worship." Next the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades made a vacation pledge to remember all that they have learned while they are on summer break. Nate recited a Bible memory verse. We joined together and sang "God of Wonders". Merritza recited a Bible memory verse. The Kindergarten class read a story. We recognized the Hope in Transit and Dave & Lisa Sprinkles and brought them a rose bush for appreciation of all they have done this year and so that they remember us! Mr. Bill provided the devotional message. Next were the graduations! Miss Springer said a few words about each of her students and Jerry said some words about Merritza. He mentioned how "You've heard of the show "Smarter than a fifth grader? Well, I had to be smarter than an eighth grader this year and it wasn't easy!"
After the graduations Mr. Bill had a surprise. He and Mr. Larson presented Miss Springer with a Certificate recognizing her 17 years of service here at Red Sands! Yes, seventeen years! Isn't that wonderful! She does an amazing job at all that she does (and boy does she do A LOT!). Afterward, we all shared in refreshments and fellowship together! It was a wonderful night!
Friday morning, the group from Tyro Christian School took their leave. They said goodbye and were gone by early to the Grand Canyon, then headed back for Kansas. It was sad to see them go and we are so appreciative of all that they accomplished! Thank you all for your service for the mission and the Lord!
Friday was the LAST DAY of SCHOOL for 2008-09!
All the kids got to school excited. Today they cleaned out (and up) their desks! We are having a water fight and cook-out! Mr. Bill cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch, then the fight was on! I have to say that Odin surprised me the most. He soaked me to the bone and was still following me around with the squirt gun! I had a whole lot of fun! I got to squirt the kids and Jerry with the water guns I had purchased for just this occasion. (I'm afraid that Miss Springer did all of the cleaning up from lunch while I was playing. Sorry about that!) Of course, Jerry always won the fights because he had the water hose! He was in charge of refilling the water guns during the fight. Next, Jerry had filled up a bag of water balloons that we got to throw at each other! We were almost all soaked through. It was really sad to see the kids go that day!
Monday, May 18th
The Hope in Transit teachers, Dave & Lisa Sprinkles came and brought Pizza for lunch. We all enjoyed the pizza and the fellowship. Afterward, they brought in a lot of instruments for the kids to try out during the afternoon session. I can not even tell you how many instruments the Sprinkles brought. There was a banjo, two violins, a flute, drums, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, a dulcimer, and a lot of exotic instruments for which I can not even remember the names. The school kids all had a great time trying them out. I think the favorite was the violin. Gracie from Murray Christian Fellowship played the violin while she was here and I think that inspired a lot of the ladies to try it out! At the end of the class session, the group gave away some instruments to the children so that they could continue to learn on their own throughout the summer. The Sprinkles also brought groceries for the kids to take home to their families. They provided a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, spaghetti sauce, and fruit to each child. I'm probably forgetting something that was included in the food package. This was a wonderful gift to all the families, including ours!
The Sprinkles also plan to offer a new opportunity to the kids next fall. The Sprinkles will be providing the music classes that they now provide, which are already great. They also plan to provide individual lessons to any school student wishing to pursue a better knowledge of music and musical instruments! Dave & Lisa do an awesome job loving and teaching the children. The Navajo children are extremely drawn to the music. This ministry helps to provide the children with a source of pride in themselves and feelings of accomplishment that can combat the negative peer pressure, worthlessness and hopelessness that often pervades their environments. I can't say enough about how important this ministry is to the Navajo children. Thank you Dave & Lisa for your service to the Lord and Thank you to all the supporters of Hope in Transit that have brought this amazing opportunity to the children of the Navajo people.
The work group from Tyro Christian School in Tyro Kansas arrived late on Saturday, May 23rd. The Tyro group was our largest group since I've been here, at 25 people (I think). This group had amazing organization. They got their supplies, the ladies provided amazing home-cooked meals for the group almost every meal. I am told they had homemade biscuits and gravy one morning. I saw them making home made pizza crust for the pizza they served at lunch. The ladies were just awesome! We were invited to dine with the group at every meal! I got a chance to talk to some of the ladies and I really enjoyed getting to know them.
The Tyro group worked hard! They really achieved a lot of things in their time at the mission. They painted and painted everything that wasn't moving. They mudded walls and painted walls and painted the exterior of one entire house! The house was transformed from a rustic cabin look to a lovely sea-side villa look under their skilled labor.
They also managed to minister to the local children on top of all of their other duties! The group went out on Sunday afternoon and passed out fliers in Leupp about a Soccer camp that they were going to host the next two nights. On Monday night, Mr. Bill drove the bus out to the reservation and picked up fifteen kids for the camp! The weather was rather inclement (it was REALLY cold for the desert) that first night! The Tyro group opened with some Christian singing led by the Tyro youth! This group also has a wonderful God-given musical talent that they shared with us and with the Navajo children. Next, they allowed the kids to create a craft project. Next was the exercise and soccer part of the evening. I know that the Navajo kids really enjoyed the opportunity, many of them continuing to play soccer in sleeveless shirts in spite of the cold, cold wind. Tuesday evening the Tyro workers presented another Soccer Camp/VBS to the kids. They added basketball to the Tuesday night program instead of Soccer. The Navajo kids (and my kids) all had a great time and went home tired from all the fun and exercise!
Oh, many of you know that the mission was searching for a new vehicle. The Lord provided one to us! Miss Springer received an email from a local gentleman who had just purchased a 12 passenger van at an auction and wanted to know if any church group local to Winslow would be interested in purchasing it. Mr. Bill and I went to check it out and purchased the van. While it is not new by any means (1995) it is in great shape and has very low miles. We should get five or six years out of it and that will give us time to save in our van fund for a new van. The man from Winslow only asked us to pay him back what he had paid for it at auction, which had to be a fraction of the cost. Thank you, Lord!
Thursday, May 28th
Tonight is the Kindergarten and Eight Grade graduations, as well as the Schools 2008-09 closing program. We are so excited! The kids are ready! The school purchased Bibles for each of the graduates. Kindergarten graduates: Abby & Jessica. Eighth Grade graduate: Merritza. The kids all did great. Miss Springer started the program as we start each school day, with the pledges to the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Bible. The parents and visitors were asked to join us. Next, we all joined in singing two Christian Worship songs: "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" and "Here I am to Worship." Next the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades made a vacation pledge to remember all that they have learned while they are on summer break. Nate recited a Bible memory verse. We joined together and sang "God of Wonders". Merritza recited a Bible memory verse. The Kindergarten class read a story. We recognized the Hope in Transit and Dave & Lisa Sprinkles and brought them a rose bush for appreciation of all they have done this year and so that they remember us! Mr. Bill provided the devotional message. Next were the graduations! Miss Springer said a few words about each of her students and Jerry said some words about Merritza. He mentioned how "You've heard of the show "Smarter than a fifth grader? Well, I had to be smarter than an eighth grader this year and it wasn't easy!"
After the graduations Mr. Bill had a surprise. He and Mr. Larson presented Miss Springer with a Certificate recognizing her 17 years of service here at Red Sands! Yes, seventeen years! Isn't that wonderful! She does an amazing job at all that she does (and boy does she do A LOT!). Afterward, we all shared in refreshments and fellowship together! It was a wonderful night!
Friday morning, the group from Tyro Christian School took their leave. They said goodbye and were gone by early to the Grand Canyon, then headed back for Kansas. It was sad to see them go and we are so appreciative of all that they accomplished! Thank you all for your service for the mission and the Lord!
Friday was the LAST DAY of SCHOOL for 2008-09!
All the kids got to school excited. Today they cleaned out (and up) their desks! We are having a water fight and cook-out! Mr. Bill cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch, then the fight was on! I have to say that Odin surprised me the most. He soaked me to the bone and was still following me around with the squirt gun! I had a whole lot of fun! I got to squirt the kids and Jerry with the water guns I had purchased for just this occasion. (I'm afraid that Miss Springer did all of the cleaning up from lunch while I was playing. Sorry about that!) Of course, Jerry always won the fights because he had the water hose! He was in charge of refilling the water guns during the fight. Next, Jerry had filled up a bag of water balloons that we got to throw at each other! We were almost all soaked through. It was really sad to see the kids go that day!
The Mission Update April 22 through May 18th
April 22 through May 18th
Miss Springer, Mr. Bill, Mr. Diehl and the school kids planted a tree in the playground for Earth Day, April 22nd. The school celebrated the National Day of Prayer by having a prayer circle after the morning opening exercises, May 1st. The girls and I were sick the week of April 27th, pretty much all week. Saturday May 2nd was my birthday! I spent the morning and afternoon in Flagstaff with Ms. Stephanie, a friend I have made here. We did some errands and some shopping and then had lunch. It was a nice time to get to know Stephanie better!
The month of May just flew by! Murray Christian Fellowship, who is due to arrive this month with a work group, has also sent a wonderful surprise. In partnership with a local book distributor (local to Murray), they have assembled almost 1,000 books to donate to the school library! Some of the books arrived by freight carrier! It was like Christmas here. We got to check out the new books and see what a wonderful gift the Lord had provided! The school kids, especially the older ones, immediately began checking out the new books. I love books and it was very exciting to see so many books, most of which I had never read!
On May 12th, the work group from Murray Christian Fellowship arrived. They were a great group that worked hard! Some of the group built shelving in the library to hold all the new books and the books we already had in our library! By the time the group left, the shelves were built, the books were organized and re-shelved in the proper places! I have to say, it was very exciting for me to see the finished product. I sometimes just go over there to admire the new library room! Other members of the work group painted the exterior trim of the church building and the library building, scraped the trim on the school building to prepare it for painting, and did various other jobs throughout the mission that needed to be accomplished! The Murray group invited us to go with them to the Grand Canyon on Saturday, May 16th. We had a wonderful time! Abby & Kelcy clung to Andrea & Stephanie like they were new family members. We all finally got to see the Grand Canyon. I hope that everyone else enjoyed it, in spite of the fact that I was constantly reminding my two girls to stay away from the EDGE! Abby, Kelcy and I all managed to conquer our fear of heights (mine and Abby's) to get to the top of the Watch Tower at the canyon. I didn't stay very long, but I did make it up there and look out for a second!
On Sunday morning, Gracie rode with Jerry out to the reservation to pick up the church goers. She made fast friends with the kids in my class. Gracie stayed in class with us and spent some more time with the kids and I was very grateful. I could tell that meeting Gracie had really made a difference in their day and probably their life! Next, the group from Murray led the worship services at Red Sands Christian Church. They did an excellent job. The church building rocking and the people inside were enjoying the modern style worship songs and the instruments! The group had such a wonderful, God-given musical talent. It was very enjoyable. After the worship, the Murray group leader, Mike, delivered the sermon to the congregation. He did a great job and we really appreciated his willingness to share the Lord's message with us!
The Murray group traveled to Dilkon Christian Church that Sunday night. They took part in the worship service and did a great attempt at following the Navajo singing, even without having Navajo hymnals! A few of the Navajo ladies had prepared Mexican food for the pot luck that night. We had a feast of taco salad, enchiladas and chips and dip. We all enjoyed the fun and fellowship, and (as always) the spectacular scenery views that Dilkon provides.
The Murray group said their goodbyes on Monday morning and left for home. The school kids missed them, as did the staff! Thank you all for your work and your encouragement!
Miss Springer, Mr. Bill, Mr. Diehl and the school kids planted a tree in the playground for Earth Day, April 22nd. The school celebrated the National Day of Prayer by having a prayer circle after the morning opening exercises, May 1st. The girls and I were sick the week of April 27th, pretty much all week. Saturday May 2nd was my birthday! I spent the morning and afternoon in Flagstaff with Ms. Stephanie, a friend I have made here. We did some errands and some shopping and then had lunch. It was a nice time to get to know Stephanie better!
The month of May just flew by! Murray Christian Fellowship, who is due to arrive this month with a work group, has also sent a wonderful surprise. In partnership with a local book distributor (local to Murray), they have assembled almost 1,000 books to donate to the school library! Some of the books arrived by freight carrier! It was like Christmas here. We got to check out the new books and see what a wonderful gift the Lord had provided! The school kids, especially the older ones, immediately began checking out the new books. I love books and it was very exciting to see so many books, most of which I had never read!
On May 12th, the work group from Murray Christian Fellowship arrived. They were a great group that worked hard! Some of the group built shelving in the library to hold all the new books and the books we already had in our library! By the time the group left, the shelves were built, the books were organized and re-shelved in the proper places! I have to say, it was very exciting for me to see the finished product. I sometimes just go over there to admire the new library room! Other members of the work group painted the exterior trim of the church building and the library building, scraped the trim on the school building to prepare it for painting, and did various other jobs throughout the mission that needed to be accomplished! The Murray group invited us to go with them to the Grand Canyon on Saturday, May 16th. We had a wonderful time! Abby & Kelcy clung to Andrea & Stephanie like they were new family members. We all finally got to see the Grand Canyon. I hope that everyone else enjoyed it, in spite of the fact that I was constantly reminding my two girls to stay away from the EDGE! Abby, Kelcy and I all managed to conquer our fear of heights (mine and Abby's) to get to the top of the Watch Tower at the canyon. I didn't stay very long, but I did make it up there and look out for a second!
On Sunday morning, Gracie rode with Jerry out to the reservation to pick up the church goers. She made fast friends with the kids in my class. Gracie stayed in class with us and spent some more time with the kids and I was very grateful. I could tell that meeting Gracie had really made a difference in their day and probably their life! Next, the group from Murray led the worship services at Red Sands Christian Church. They did an excellent job. The church building rocking and the people inside were enjoying the modern style worship songs and the instruments! The group had such a wonderful, God-given musical talent. It was very enjoyable. After the worship, the Murray group leader, Mike, delivered the sermon to the congregation. He did a great job and we really appreciated his willingness to share the Lord's message with us!
The Murray group traveled to Dilkon Christian Church that Sunday night. They took part in the worship service and did a great attempt at following the Navajo singing, even without having Navajo hymnals! A few of the Navajo ladies had prepared Mexican food for the pot luck that night. We had a feast of taco salad, enchiladas and chips and dip. We all enjoyed the fun and fellowship, and (as always) the spectacular scenery views that Dilkon provides.
The Murray group said their goodbyes on Monday morning and left for home. The school kids missed them, as did the staff! Thank you all for your work and your encouragement!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Mission Update
April 19th through May 26th
The school went on a field trip to Tuba City on the Rez and visited the Navajo Cultural Museum and then went to see the fossilized Dinosaur footprints located just outside of Tuba City. I didn't go with them, so I don't have a lot of details about the trip. The museum appeared to be an interactive one, where the kids got to small models of hogans out of sticks and to use a weaving loom and different cultural activities. There was an exhibit about the Navajo creation story. It is a very interesting story if you want to read it. Jerry and I borrowed it from the library here. It is called "Dine bahane". Apparently there was a dust storm while they were viewing the dinosaur tracks. They made a quick tour of it outside and then headed back to the buses.
While the school was on the field trip, I went to Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation and the seat of the government. It was a very nice drive. I traveled there to attend an orientation for the Navajo Tribal Clothing program. Each year, the Navajo Government provides articles of clothing for every child who has a Navajo census number and is enrolled in school. This year, the clothes provided were a coat, jeans and a pair of sneakers. This is a wonderful program and a blessing to the Navajo families that are eligible to received the clothing. The orientation was very informative! I have to say, it was one of the only times I have felt conspicuous because of my ethnicity. I was not the only Caucasian person at the meeting, but I was one of three that I could see.
The school went on a field trip to Tuba City on the Rez and visited the Navajo Cultural Museum and then went to see the fossilized Dinosaur footprints located just outside of Tuba City. I didn't go with them, so I don't have a lot of details about the trip. The museum appeared to be an interactive one, where the kids got to small models of hogans out of sticks and to use a weaving loom and different cultural activities. There was an exhibit about the Navajo creation story. It is a very interesting story if you want to read it. Jerry and I borrowed it from the library here. It is called "Dine bahane". Apparently there was a dust storm while they were viewing the dinosaur tracks. They made a quick tour of it outside and then headed back to the buses.
While the school was on the field trip, I went to Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation and the seat of the government. It was a very nice drive. I traveled there to attend an orientation for the Navajo Tribal Clothing program. Each year, the Navajo Government provides articles of clothing for every child who has a Navajo census number and is enrolled in school. This year, the clothes provided were a coat, jeans and a pair of sneakers. This is a wonderful program and a blessing to the Navajo families that are eligible to received the clothing. The orientation was very informative! I have to say, it was one of the only times I have felt conspicuous because of my ethnicity. I was not the only Caucasian person at the meeting, but I was one of three that I could see.
Kelcy's Update
April 19th through May 27th
Kelcy had a rough couple of weeks during this time period. She had what turned out to be a really bad virus which lasted three weeks. She would get better and then worse again. She ended up at the doctor one day and then two days later in the ER getting IV fluids. She finally got better! She celebrated Abby's birthday and received some gifts of her own from our friends and family. Thank you all for remembering her! She really appreciated it! Kelcy was very brave at the ER and told Abby when she saw her that it hurt, but not too much. Miss Springer is teaching Kelcy to write her name pretty well and to write some other letters and number. Kelcy still goes to class one day a week and she loves it! She is so proud to show me her work when the day is over.
Kelcy enjoyed the work group from Murray Christian Fellowship as well. Stephanie and Andrea had another big fan! She loved all of the girls!
Kelcy is getting very sophisticated in her imaginary play, assuming all kinds of roles and writing in roles for me. It is so cute to hear the girls say that Barbie is going back to her hogan (instead of house). They have an all new vocabulary of "dust storms", "hogans" and the Navajo words that they have learned.
Kelcy loves to sing and she is getting really good at it. Some of her favorites are: "God of Wonders", "Above All", "Here I Am to Worship", and of course "Wheels on the Bus.". She learned to use Jerry's Ipod touch really quickly and picks out music using the menu (of course she can't read, so she uses the pictures).
Kelcy is so funny. Some of the things she says are just hilarious. She is just like her Daddy in a lot of ways. Miss Springer says that Abby looks like Jerry, but has my personality and that Kelcy looks like me but has Jerry's personality. She walks to the beat of her own drum. She seldom lets what other people say or do influence what she is doing. She told me the other day "It doesn't bother me when other kids don't want to play with me." This is because while Abby and Jessica were together, ocassionally one of the two would come to me and say "No one will play with me." Kelcy was looking at the situation and saying "What's the big deal? Go play by yourself". Big concept for a three year old!
I could also mention that Kelcy has begun to discover the power of words. She hears words that she knows that we don't approved of and likes to say them by saying "_______, that is not a nice word." Thankfully, they are not REALLY bad words yet. Just things like "fart" (as opposed to passing gas), "stupid-head" (thank you, Lilo and Stitch movie), and butt (instead of bottom, which I prefer).
Kelcy had a rough couple of weeks during this time period. She had what turned out to be a really bad virus which lasted three weeks. She would get better and then worse again. She ended up at the doctor one day and then two days later in the ER getting IV fluids. She finally got better! She celebrated Abby's birthday and received some gifts of her own from our friends and family. Thank you all for remembering her! She really appreciated it! Kelcy was very brave at the ER and told Abby when she saw her that it hurt, but not too much. Miss Springer is teaching Kelcy to write her name pretty well and to write some other letters and number. Kelcy still goes to class one day a week and she loves it! She is so proud to show me her work when the day is over.
Kelcy enjoyed the work group from Murray Christian Fellowship as well. Stephanie and Andrea had another big fan! She loved all of the girls!
Kelcy is getting very sophisticated in her imaginary play, assuming all kinds of roles and writing in roles for me. It is so cute to hear the girls say that Barbie is going back to her hogan (instead of house). They have an all new vocabulary of "dust storms", "hogans" and the Navajo words that they have learned.
Kelcy loves to sing and she is getting really good at it. Some of her favorites are: "God of Wonders", "Above All", "Here I Am to Worship", and of course "Wheels on the Bus.". She learned to use Jerry's Ipod touch really quickly and picks out music using the menu (of course she can't read, so she uses the pictures).
Kelcy is so funny. Some of the things she says are just hilarious. She is just like her Daddy in a lot of ways. Miss Springer says that Abby looks like Jerry, but has my personality and that Kelcy looks like me but has Jerry's personality. She walks to the beat of her own drum. She seldom lets what other people say or do influence what she is doing. She told me the other day "It doesn't bother me when other kids don't want to play with me." This is because while Abby and Jessica were together, ocassionally one of the two would come to me and say "No one will play with me." Kelcy was looking at the situation and saying "What's the big deal? Go play by yourself". Big concept for a three year old!
I could also mention that Kelcy has begun to discover the power of words. She hears words that she knows that we don't approved of and likes to say them by saying "_______, that is not a nice word." Thankfully, they are not REALLY bad words yet. Just things like "fart" (as opposed to passing gas), "stupid-head" (thank you, Lilo and Stitch movie), and butt (instead of bottom, which I prefer).
Abby's Update
April 19th through May 27th
Birthday!
Abby turned 5 years old! We celebrated with the cake she requested: pink cake (strawberry) with pink candles and Dora on top. She really enjoyed the idea of getting older this year. She also enjoyed all the cards and gifts that she received! Thank you all for remembering her! It really helps her to know that you all remember her!
Losing Teeth!!!!
All year long Abby has asked "When am I gonna lose teeth like Jessica?" Of course, Jessica is over a year older than Abby. I kept telling Abby that sometime after she turned 5 years old she would being to lose teeth. I didn't realize how quickly that would be! It less than a week after her birthday when I noticed one of her bottom teeth "wiggling". She was so excited! The tooth hung in there for about a week and a half. It kept tilting farther and farther forward. Finally, we realized that it was being pushed forward by the tooth coming in underneath, which we could already see! That little tooth was hanging on by a long root in the front of the tooth. So, Jerry decides it is time for the tooth to come out. He reaches for the first likely thing he can find, which is yarn. If you have never tried to use yarn to remove a tooth, I can tell you that it didn't work for us. It kept slipping off the tooth. Next, Jerry tried floss and it worked like a charm. Abby didn't even know her tooth was gone until we showed it to her. It bled just a little bit, but didn't hurt at all. Abby had learned from school (Miss Springer always tells them the truth, which I love!) that there is no tooth fairy, so we didn't have to have that conversation. However, she still wanted to put her tooth under her pillow. Instead of money under her pillow, she asked for a doughnut (Could she BE more like me?)
A work group from Murray Christian Fellowship came during the second week of May. Abby really became attached to two of the girls, Stephanie and Andrea. I guess I would call it "hero-worship". She really loved spending time with them and I appreciate how kind they were! I am sure that she really wore them out at times, but they insisted that she was fine.
Abby had her friends Jessica and Shyla spend the night at our house over the Memorial Day weekend. They had a great time and got along very well!
Abby has changed so much this year! She has grown taller and looks more like a young lady. She has learned to read and write very well! She has learned some games and their rules, like soccer and T-ball. She has lost her first tooth! She has learned to tie her shoes! It is so amazing. I think that this is her biggest year of accomplishments so far (not counting her first year of life, of course).
Abby is getting a little nervous about the end of the school year. She has never experienced this before and she always has a hard time with transitions at first.
Just the other day Abby said "I wish that we lived in the hogans". My thought is that she thinks it would be funner to live there, or that she would get to spend more time with the work group members while they are here. I asked her "Why do you want to live in the hogans?" Her response, "Because those people get to go home."
My heart was effectively broken.
Birthday!
Abby turned 5 years old! We celebrated with the cake she requested: pink cake (strawberry) with pink candles and Dora on top. She really enjoyed the idea of getting older this year. She also enjoyed all the cards and gifts that she received! Thank you all for remembering her! It really helps her to know that you all remember her!
Losing Teeth!!!!
All year long Abby has asked "When am I gonna lose teeth like Jessica?" Of course, Jessica is over a year older than Abby. I kept telling Abby that sometime after she turned 5 years old she would being to lose teeth. I didn't realize how quickly that would be! It less than a week after her birthday when I noticed one of her bottom teeth "wiggling". She was so excited! The tooth hung in there for about a week and a half. It kept tilting farther and farther forward. Finally, we realized that it was being pushed forward by the tooth coming in underneath, which we could already see! That little tooth was hanging on by a long root in the front of the tooth. So, Jerry decides it is time for the tooth to come out. He reaches for the first likely thing he can find, which is yarn. If you have never tried to use yarn to remove a tooth, I can tell you that it didn't work for us. It kept slipping off the tooth. Next, Jerry tried floss and it worked like a charm. Abby didn't even know her tooth was gone until we showed it to her. It bled just a little bit, but didn't hurt at all. Abby had learned from school (Miss Springer always tells them the truth, which I love!) that there is no tooth fairy, so we didn't have to have that conversation. However, she still wanted to put her tooth under her pillow. Instead of money under her pillow, she asked for a doughnut (Could she BE more like me?)
A work group from Murray Christian Fellowship came during the second week of May. Abby really became attached to two of the girls, Stephanie and Andrea. I guess I would call it "hero-worship". She really loved spending time with them and I appreciate how kind they were! I am sure that she really wore them out at times, but they insisted that she was fine.
Abby had her friends Jessica and Shyla spend the night at our house over the Memorial Day weekend. They had a great time and got along very well!
Abby has changed so much this year! She has grown taller and looks more like a young lady. She has learned to read and write very well! She has learned some games and their rules, like soccer and T-ball. She has lost her first tooth! She has learned to tie her shoes! It is so amazing. I think that this is her biggest year of accomplishments so far (not counting her first year of life, of course).
Abby is getting a little nervous about the end of the school year. She has never experienced this before and she always has a hard time with transitions at first.
Just the other day Abby said "I wish that we lived in the hogans". My thought is that she thinks it would be funner to live there, or that she would get to spend more time with the work group members while they are here. I asked her "Why do you want to live in the hogans?" Her response, "Because those people get to go home."
My heart was effectively broken.
Monday, May 4, 2009
April 6th - Apirl 18th
Who thought it would be a month since I last updated this blog? I guess all of you who are checking frequently for updates! Time seems to by flying by.
The highlights
Mr. Bill started a Tuesday night Bible Study at Red Sands Christian Church! Yea! We have had three sessions so far, and I am really enjoying being in an adult Bible Study class again. We have covered the “Beautitudes” in Matthew so far. We run no bus for this service. We have had eight at each night. Abby & Kelcy do not have a “class” of their own, so they usually play or watch a DVD while we have class. Of course, that now means that Mr. Bill is the Director of the Mission, is teaching the third grade during the week, and he is creating/teaching lessons on Sunday morning (twice: Dilkon & Red Sands), Sunday night (Dilkon), Tuesday night (Red Sands) and Wednesday night (Dilkon). Yes, he is a busy man.
Resurrection Sunday
We had a lovely Easter service at Red Sands Christian Church. We had a low turn out for Sunday School Class, but ended up with 25 people at church without running the buses (everyone came in their own vehicle). We had a potluck meal today, with one of the families providing the ham for the meal. It was one of their own pigs that they had had slaughtered. It was so kind of them to do that! Mr. Bill brought baked beans, Miss Springer brought scalloped potatoes and rolls, I brought vegetables and dip and some drinks. We also had large submarine sandwiches, chips and cake provided by other members of the congregation. After lunch, Mr. Bill got to hide the colored and plastic eggs for the kids. I think we had eleven kids to hunt eggs. They had a great time. Abby’s friend Jessica was there and her sisters and brother. It was a little windy, but I think they all had a great time!
Mission Board Meeting
The Navajo Trails Mission Board Meeting was the weekend after Resurrection Sunday. It was wonderful to see Mr. Doug and Mr. Keith and all of the board members. We had a great meeting Friday night at the local Mexican restaurant. We all got to know one another a little better and talked about what the future could hold for the mission. Everyone was full of ideas. We made notes of contacts people have that might help in the recruitment of additional staff members. Abby & Kelcy played in the floor of the restaurant with their Barbie dolls and colored in their coloring books. They behaved very well, I thought. On Saturday morning, Mr. Bill and some of the other board members made breakfast for everyone. The menu included: pancakes, sausage, bacon, toast, scrambled eggs, milk, orange juice or coffee. The men had also began the lunch preparations by starting the beef roast and vegetables cooking prior to the meeting.
We had a great meeting. There was a lot of information exchanged. Everyone was very positive and the board made a lot of unanimous decisions. After the meeting, the board members went down to the school to see the building and to see the new equipment purchased with the Labels for Education program. It is well worth the effort to clip those labels and send them in. The students have seen a great benefit from the program!
Sunday morning Mr. Keith preached at Dilkon and at Red Sands. Mr. Jack, one of the board members, was still here for the service. I had my “usual” four in Sunday School class. We have been doing a series on Elijah and Elisha. They are really remembering the Bible stories and are beginning to memorize scripture. I taught “Wee Worship” this Sunday, so I did not hear Mr. Keith’s preaching. The kids had a great lesson about helping others and how they can help people in their families. After church, Keith headed over to the Grand Canyon and we went home to rest until church at Dilkon that night. The pot luck meal at Dilkon was this Sunday night and Mr. Bill was making pork roast with vegetables. We headed out about 4:30 for the 6PM Dilkon service. I needed to stop at the store and pick-up some rolls for the meal, so we left about 15 minutes early. We enjoyed the message from Mr. Bill about what it means to be saved and how we are saved. Then we enjoyed a fellowship meal afterward.
The highlights
Mr. Bill started a Tuesday night Bible Study at Red Sands Christian Church! Yea! We have had three sessions so far, and I am really enjoying being in an adult Bible Study class again. We have covered the “Beautitudes” in Matthew so far. We run no bus for this service. We have had eight at each night. Abby & Kelcy do not have a “class” of their own, so they usually play or watch a DVD while we have class. Of course, that now means that Mr. Bill is the Director of the Mission, is teaching the third grade during the week, and he is creating/teaching lessons on Sunday morning (twice: Dilkon & Red Sands), Sunday night (Dilkon), Tuesday night (Red Sands) and Wednesday night (Dilkon). Yes, he is a busy man.
Resurrection Sunday
We had a lovely Easter service at Red Sands Christian Church. We had a low turn out for Sunday School Class, but ended up with 25 people at church without running the buses (everyone came in their own vehicle). We had a potluck meal today, with one of the families providing the ham for the meal. It was one of their own pigs that they had had slaughtered. It was so kind of them to do that! Mr. Bill brought baked beans, Miss Springer brought scalloped potatoes and rolls, I brought vegetables and dip and some drinks. We also had large submarine sandwiches, chips and cake provided by other members of the congregation. After lunch, Mr. Bill got to hide the colored and plastic eggs for the kids. I think we had eleven kids to hunt eggs. They had a great time. Abby’s friend Jessica was there and her sisters and brother. It was a little windy, but I think they all had a great time!
Mission Board Meeting
The Navajo Trails Mission Board Meeting was the weekend after Resurrection Sunday. It was wonderful to see Mr. Doug and Mr. Keith and all of the board members. We had a great meeting Friday night at the local Mexican restaurant. We all got to know one another a little better and talked about what the future could hold for the mission. Everyone was full of ideas. We made notes of contacts people have that might help in the recruitment of additional staff members. Abby & Kelcy played in the floor of the restaurant with their Barbie dolls and colored in their coloring books. They behaved very well, I thought. On Saturday morning, Mr. Bill and some of the other board members made breakfast for everyone. The menu included: pancakes, sausage, bacon, toast, scrambled eggs, milk, orange juice or coffee. The men had also began the lunch preparations by starting the beef roast and vegetables cooking prior to the meeting.
We had a great meeting. There was a lot of information exchanged. Everyone was very positive and the board made a lot of unanimous decisions. After the meeting, the board members went down to the school to see the building and to see the new equipment purchased with the Labels for Education program. It is well worth the effort to clip those labels and send them in. The students have seen a great benefit from the program!
Sunday morning Mr. Keith preached at Dilkon and at Red Sands. Mr. Jack, one of the board members, was still here for the service. I had my “usual” four in Sunday School class. We have been doing a series on Elijah and Elisha. They are really remembering the Bible stories and are beginning to memorize scripture. I taught “Wee Worship” this Sunday, so I did not hear Mr. Keith’s preaching. The kids had a great lesson about helping others and how they can help people in their families. After church, Keith headed over to the Grand Canyon and we went home to rest until church at Dilkon that night. The pot luck meal at Dilkon was this Sunday night and Mr. Bill was making pork roast with vegetables. We headed out about 4:30 for the 6PM Dilkon service. I needed to stop at the store and pick-up some rolls for the meal, so we left about 15 minutes early. We enjoyed the message from Mr. Bill about what it means to be saved and how we are saved. Then we enjoyed a fellowship meal afterward.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Spring Break 2009!
Monday Morning, March 30th
We load up the car and prepare to head out on another big adventure. We have a cooler full of food, an overnight bag (just in case) and our Indian Country Map (Miss Springer bought for Jerry). We are ready! We left about 8:45 AM. Our route went as follows: we headed into Winslow via Interstate 40, then we turned off onto the road to Dilkon, passed by Dilkon and onto to Indian Wells, Greasewood. We headed up to Ganado and visited the Hubble Trading Post there. Then we headed back north to Chinle, then West to Kayenta and then North to Monument Valley, UT. Wow, Monument Valley was really neat. We drove around the circle to explore the park. It is around 14 miles and a very bumpy dirt road. Once again, Jerry had a TOO much fun driving on these off-road roads. Navajo people still live inside the park. It was beautiful, there was snow on the ground there. We saw rock formations named: El Capitan, the Owl, the Mittens, the Three Sisters, the Elephant, the Chair, and others. It was beautiful. We ended up staying the night at a hotel, as it was past 5PM when we were done viewing the park. The girls swam in the indoor pool. The next day we packed up and headed back a different route. We turned right at Kayenta, and stopped at the Navajo National Monument, which is a Anasazi ruins that has been amazingly preserved. Then we drove on to Tuba City, where we turned left onto the Hopi reservation and went across the first and second Mesas and then back onto the Navajo reservation and drove right by Tolani Lake on our way home. I just have to say to the Hopi Nation: add some more road signs if you want to encourage people to visit your land.
When we returned to our home, Abby had learned something new. She and Kelcy immediately went outside and built a gate out of bricks. Then they were charging admission to get out and in our house! It was too funny!
Wednesday we were at the mission. I went into the office and did some work.
Thursday Morning
We headed out at about 8:45 to Phoenix. We were to pick-up Mr. Bill at the airport on Friday morning. As the drive to Phoenix is 3 1/2 to 4 hours, we thought that we would spend the night there. We went through Winslow down Route 87. We didn't see any Elk, but it is a very beautiful drive. We got to the hotel about 12:30, ate our lunch I had packed and then hit the swimming pool. It was 85 degrees in Phoenix! The girls had a great time in the pool. We just lazed around the relaxed and enjoyed the day by the pool. After dinner that evening, we all layed outside together in a hammock and looked at the stars and talked. When I asked Abby what her favorite things was that day, she didn't say swimming--she said lying in the hammock and talking. It was so sweet! We got up the next morning and let the girls swim before we had to leave for the airport. We picked up Mr. Bill and headed back up route 87 to Winslow. We stopped in Payson and had lunch, then headed on back to the mission. It was a lovely trip and we were very glad to see Mr. Bill was back.
About the weather. I know that I comment on the wind and the weather a lot in this blog. However, I am getting a lot more accustomed to the wind than I used to be. It took realizing a few things: I am not the only one being impacted by the wind today; Jesus WALKED around in the desert and lived in the desert his whole life. I am sure that he had to deal with sand storms; and I thought of our troops in harm's way in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. I know that the troops are impacted by sand storms much longer lasting than the ones we have here. I also realize that a whole lot of people are dealing with problems that are much more serious than a lot of wind and sand. So, when I report the sand storms, I am just astounded by their impact. I know that God is in control, even during the sand storm. And we do have beautiful days now ,too. I am human and I want to report what is fantastic, like a sandstorm, and not just that we had another beautiful day with clear skies and abundant sunshine. This area definitely has the most sunshine of anyplace that I have ever lived. I am also told that the wind this year is very unusual. So, if you are considering coming to work and live here, please don't let my reporting of the weather impact that decision.
We load up the car and prepare to head out on another big adventure. We have a cooler full of food, an overnight bag (just in case) and our Indian Country Map (Miss Springer bought for Jerry). We are ready! We left about 8:45 AM. Our route went as follows: we headed into Winslow via Interstate 40, then we turned off onto the road to Dilkon, passed by Dilkon and onto to Indian Wells, Greasewood. We headed up to Ganado and visited the Hubble Trading Post there. Then we headed back north to Chinle, then West to Kayenta and then North to Monument Valley, UT. Wow, Monument Valley was really neat. We drove around the circle to explore the park. It is around 14 miles and a very bumpy dirt road. Once again, Jerry had a TOO much fun driving on these off-road roads. Navajo people still live inside the park. It was beautiful, there was snow on the ground there. We saw rock formations named: El Capitan, the Owl, the Mittens, the Three Sisters, the Elephant, the Chair, and others. It was beautiful. We ended up staying the night at a hotel, as it was past 5PM when we were done viewing the park. The girls swam in the indoor pool. The next day we packed up and headed back a different route. We turned right at Kayenta, and stopped at the Navajo National Monument, which is a Anasazi ruins that has been amazingly preserved. Then we drove on to Tuba City, where we turned left onto the Hopi reservation and went across the first and second Mesas and then back onto the Navajo reservation and drove right by Tolani Lake on our way home. I just have to say to the Hopi Nation: add some more road signs if you want to encourage people to visit your land.
When we returned to our home, Abby had learned something new. She and Kelcy immediately went outside and built a gate out of bricks. Then they were charging admission to get out and in our house! It was too funny!
Wednesday we were at the mission. I went into the office and did some work.
Thursday Morning
We headed out at about 8:45 to Phoenix. We were to pick-up Mr. Bill at the airport on Friday morning. As the drive to Phoenix is 3 1/2 to 4 hours, we thought that we would spend the night there. We went through Winslow down Route 87. We didn't see any Elk, but it is a very beautiful drive. We got to the hotel about 12:30, ate our lunch I had packed and then hit the swimming pool. It was 85 degrees in Phoenix! The girls had a great time in the pool. We just lazed around the relaxed and enjoyed the day by the pool. After dinner that evening, we all layed outside together in a hammock and looked at the stars and talked. When I asked Abby what her favorite things was that day, she didn't say swimming--she said lying in the hammock and talking. It was so sweet! We got up the next morning and let the girls swim before we had to leave for the airport. We picked up Mr. Bill and headed back up route 87 to Winslow. We stopped in Payson and had lunch, then headed on back to the mission. It was a lovely trip and we were very glad to see Mr. Bill was back.
About the weather. I know that I comment on the wind and the weather a lot in this blog. However, I am getting a lot more accustomed to the wind than I used to be. It took realizing a few things: I am not the only one being impacted by the wind today; Jesus WALKED around in the desert and lived in the desert his whole life. I am sure that he had to deal with sand storms; and I thought of our troops in harm's way in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. I know that the troops are impacted by sand storms much longer lasting than the ones we have here. I also realize that a whole lot of people are dealing with problems that are much more serious than a lot of wind and sand. So, when I report the sand storms, I am just astounded by their impact. I know that God is in control, even during the sand storm. And we do have beautiful days now ,too. I am human and I want to report what is fantastic, like a sandstorm, and not just that we had another beautiful day with clear skies and abundant sunshine. This area definitely has the most sunshine of anyplace that I have ever lived. I am also told that the wind this year is very unusual. So, if you are considering coming to work and live here, please don't let my reporting of the weather impact that decision.
Monday, April 6, 2009
And the Winner of the Spring Art Show 2009 is...
Tuesday through Thursday were good days. Everyone, including the staff, had a little spring fever. We had fun and the kids worked hard.
Thursday, March 26
Today was a very interesting day. It started out fairly normal. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing steadily. The school children all gathered at the church for opening session. Then, each teacher and student departed to the school and their classrooms. Mr. Bill is leaving for Kentucky today. I think it is supposed to be a surprise that he is leaving so early, but he should be there by the time I post this on-line, so I am not spoiling anything, I hope. He left about 10AM. I had a Navajo lady and her husband show up to help clean the church today! It was wonderful to have their help and they do an exceptional job! Just before lunch, the wind started picking up some. The sand was blowing outside my window to the south. A steady stream of sand and top soil from Flagstaff and beyond sailed through the air past Leupp Road and on to parts unknown. Mr. Bill had asked me to go into town and pick up some dry wall, but I have to confess that I did not go. I was afraid it would have gotten blown out of the back of the truck!
I went down to the school about 1:30 PM to help my art students get their final work done before the art show tomorrow morning. This is where it gets interesting. During art class, a massive dust storm hits, this time blowing from the Northeast. We are blanketed with a red layer of sand, so much so that I could not see the trailer from the school. The dust began coming in the doors and windows of the art room, we could see the dust floating in the air inside and smell the smell that I have come to recognize as the dust. Our class moved to another classroom on the other side of the building to escape the dust as much as possible. This dust storm lasts for at least half an hour. Next, I see some raindrops fall. We look out the front of the school during a fairly clear moment and see that the white vans are spattered with a few raindrops and that wherever the rain drops hit, the sand stuck to the side of the vehicle. It is amusing to see. Next, I hear the younger kids in their classrooms exclaiming and we go to look outside again. Now it is snowing, along with the dust. Swirling, blowing snow and is hopefully settling the dust a little.
A parent arrives to pick up their child. She has just come from I-40 and said that there were four accidents on the interstate and that the traffic is very backed up. Miss Springer decides to drive the Ford truck instead of her van because the van is much harder to drive in the wind, which is still blowing quite ferociously. We decide that a trip into town would be a nice distraction, so we grab our library books to return and a snack and head out to town ourselves. As we approach the interstate, we see not four, but six accidents, one of which is a small vehicle that is turned upside down, with parts of the vehicle, including seats, lying in the middle of the interstate. Some of the other accidents involve semi trucks. These are all lined up right next to our exit on I-40. As we get on the interstate, we realize that it is apparently closed. It is eerie, seeing no other traffic for miles on this straight interstate. Jerry is driving slowly and carefully. We arrive into town without incident. We head to the post office and discover that the downtown area, including the post office, has no electricity. Next, we go to the library and spend some time there, reading books, playing with puzzles and picking out books to borrow. After this, we decide to have dinner in town. As we leave the restaurant, we begin to notice that the landscape looks like the version of nuclear winter depicted in that 1980s movie “The Day After”. There is a blanket of fine dust floating in the air. The dust is blocking out the sun. It looks a lot like a documentary we watched on the History Channel about the Dust Bowl years. When we are finished eating, we find that I-40 is still closed. Luckily, we just recently discovered that Route 2, while bumpy, will take us back to near the mission. We head back down the wash board road, joined by several cars on this trip. Jerry has a LITTLE too much fun driving on these off road-roads. We arrive safely back home to discover that the sand has blown inside our bedroom window, onto our bed and Josie’s (our dog) bed. I clean up the floor, change the sheets and prepare for another day, awaiting what this next day brings!
Firday
Friday brought the lovely Art show! All of the school children had entries into the show and Miss Springer had purchased a lovely gift for the Grand Champion, a satchel filled with art supplies! The children each got one vote for the best artist, as did the staff and the parents. There were water color paintings, chalk drawings, colored pencil drawings, crayon drawings, clay figurines, charcoal drawings and butterflies using crepe paper. They were all so lovely that I had a hard time deciding who deserved my vote! However, few people were surprised when Merritza won the Grand Prize! She worked very hard and did a great job!
School got out after lunchtime today for Spring Break!
Saturday
We (the Diehl family)packed a picnic lunch and lots of water and headed to Walnut Canyon, which is about 45 minutes from the mission. We spent the day here hiking down into the canyon and seeing the ruins/remains of the cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people. We had some very nice weather for our trip we took some great pictures and we all had a WONDERFUL time!
Sunday
Jerry preached today at church. He joked that he was taking our home church motto a little too seriously. The motto is “Bring them in, Build them up, Send them out”. Well, he drove the bus to pick up the church people, taught Sunday School, preached the message, and then drove the bus to take the people back home. I missed his sermon, so I can’t comment on it, although I am positive he did a wonderful job. One of the young ladies who rides the church bus was sick and I took her home right after Sunday School was over and I didn’t get back until after the church service was over. Jerry was pretty tired that afternoon. I went to town to get supplies and then later packed our things for our further adventures in the week.
Thursday, March 26
Today was a very interesting day. It started out fairly normal. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing steadily. The school children all gathered at the church for opening session. Then, each teacher and student departed to the school and their classrooms. Mr. Bill is leaving for Kentucky today. I think it is supposed to be a surprise that he is leaving so early, but he should be there by the time I post this on-line, so I am not spoiling anything, I hope. He left about 10AM. I had a Navajo lady and her husband show up to help clean the church today! It was wonderful to have their help and they do an exceptional job! Just before lunch, the wind started picking up some. The sand was blowing outside my window to the south. A steady stream of sand and top soil from Flagstaff and beyond sailed through the air past Leupp Road and on to parts unknown. Mr. Bill had asked me to go into town and pick up some dry wall, but I have to confess that I did not go. I was afraid it would have gotten blown out of the back of the truck!
I went down to the school about 1:30 PM to help my art students get their final work done before the art show tomorrow morning. This is where it gets interesting. During art class, a massive dust storm hits, this time blowing from the Northeast. We are blanketed with a red layer of sand, so much so that I could not see the trailer from the school. The dust began coming in the doors and windows of the art room, we could see the dust floating in the air inside and smell the smell that I have come to recognize as the dust. Our class moved to another classroom on the other side of the building to escape the dust as much as possible. This dust storm lasts for at least half an hour. Next, I see some raindrops fall. We look out the front of the school during a fairly clear moment and see that the white vans are spattered with a few raindrops and that wherever the rain drops hit, the sand stuck to the side of the vehicle. It is amusing to see. Next, I hear the younger kids in their classrooms exclaiming and we go to look outside again. Now it is snowing, along with the dust. Swirling, blowing snow and is hopefully settling the dust a little.
A parent arrives to pick up their child. She has just come from I-40 and said that there were four accidents on the interstate and that the traffic is very backed up. Miss Springer decides to drive the Ford truck instead of her van because the van is much harder to drive in the wind, which is still blowing quite ferociously. We decide that a trip into town would be a nice distraction, so we grab our library books to return and a snack and head out to town ourselves. As we approach the interstate, we see not four, but six accidents, one of which is a small vehicle that is turned upside down, with parts of the vehicle, including seats, lying in the middle of the interstate. Some of the other accidents involve semi trucks. These are all lined up right next to our exit on I-40. As we get on the interstate, we realize that it is apparently closed. It is eerie, seeing no other traffic for miles on this straight interstate. Jerry is driving slowly and carefully. We arrive into town without incident. We head to the post office and discover that the downtown area, including the post office, has no electricity. Next, we go to the library and spend some time there, reading books, playing with puzzles and picking out books to borrow. After this, we decide to have dinner in town. As we leave the restaurant, we begin to notice that the landscape looks like the version of nuclear winter depicted in that 1980s movie “The Day After”. There is a blanket of fine dust floating in the air. The dust is blocking out the sun. It looks a lot like a documentary we watched on the History Channel about the Dust Bowl years. When we are finished eating, we find that I-40 is still closed. Luckily, we just recently discovered that Route 2, while bumpy, will take us back to near the mission. We head back down the wash board road, joined by several cars on this trip. Jerry has a LITTLE too much fun driving on these off road-roads. We arrive safely back home to discover that the sand has blown inside our bedroom window, onto our bed and Josie’s (our dog) bed. I clean up the floor, change the sheets and prepare for another day, awaiting what this next day brings!
Firday
Friday brought the lovely Art show! All of the school children had entries into the show and Miss Springer had purchased a lovely gift for the Grand Champion, a satchel filled with art supplies! The children each got one vote for the best artist, as did the staff and the parents. There were water color paintings, chalk drawings, colored pencil drawings, crayon drawings, clay figurines, charcoal drawings and butterflies using crepe paper. They were all so lovely that I had a hard time deciding who deserved my vote! However, few people were surprised when Merritza won the Grand Prize! She worked very hard and did a great job!
School got out after lunchtime today for Spring Break!
Saturday
We (the Diehl family)packed a picnic lunch and lots of water and headed to Walnut Canyon, which is about 45 minutes from the mission. We spent the day here hiking down into the canyon and seeing the ruins/remains of the cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people. We had some very nice weather for our trip we took some great pictures and we all had a WONDERFUL time!
Sunday
Jerry preached today at church. He joked that he was taking our home church motto a little too seriously. The motto is “Bring them in, Build them up, Send them out”. Well, he drove the bus to pick up the church people, taught Sunday School, preached the message, and then drove the bus to take the people back home. I missed his sermon, so I can’t comment on it, although I am positive he did a wonderful job. One of the young ladies who rides the church bus was sick and I took her home right after Sunday School was over and I didn’t get back until after the church service was over. Jerry was pretty tired that afternoon. I went to town to get supplies and then later packed our things for our further adventures in the week.
The Group from Tomoka Christian Church!
Tuesday Afternoon, March 16th
The work group from Tomoka Christian Church arrived this afternoon. There were so many people in the group that they pulled up in two vehicles. They had left from Orlando that morning and arrived at the mission at around 3:30PM Arizona time. Mr. Bill, Abby, Kelcy and I were there when they arrived, but Jerry & Miss Dawn were running the buses to take the school children home. We were introduced to them all. Abby was cute, she was shaking everyone’s hand and telling them her name. Kelcy was a bit shy and ran away after the meeting the first few people. But this will be a LONG story if I keep to all the detail that I want. I will try to condense it down the best I can.
The group all settled in and then went to get supplies in town for supper. They invited our family to eat with them and we enjoyed the company and the food!
Wednesday
The ladies worked together planning meals and taking care of the shopping for food and supplies for their mission work. In the afternoon, all the school kids gathered in the lunch room area and the ladies led us in making tie-dyed shirts with the children. The process was so much simpler than I had ever imagined it could be! All of the children did a wonderful job on their shirts. We could not admire them fully yet, as they had to dry and set the color.
Thursday
In the afternoon, the ladies from Tomoka set up chairs and did a very biblical thing. They took the ladies of the school children (and included Miss Springer and I) and they washed their feet. The ladies of Tomoka also gave all of us a pedicure and then a manicure. All of us ladies enjoyed this tremendously. Abby, Kelcy and Jessica were all receiving treatment from Ms. Bobbi and they just loved it! Merritza and Shyla thoroughly enjoyed the process as well. Miss Springer and I were also delighted to be included! We got to pick out our nail polish and even some decorations for our nails. The girls sat so still and were just enthralled with they whole process. They loved picking out the colors for their finger nails and toe nails. Abby & Jessica had to match each other, of course! Kelcy did her own thing, as usual. Merritza and Shyla were quieter than the younger girls, but I could tell that they really enjoyed it, by the looks on their faces. The Tomoka ladies even bought flip flops for the girls to wear home, so that they didn’t mess up their toe polish. During the manicure/pedicure process, one of the ladies read the scripture about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It was a very powerful lesson to hear, after having seen the ladies humble themselves and wash our feet.
The boys of the school children were given an opportunity to learn about hand tools and carpentry work. They really enjoyed their lessons as well.
Friday
Hope in Transit came this morning to work with the kids in their music classes. Dave & Lisa do such a great job and they kids REALLY enjoy learning to read music and play instruments. Ms. Venetta worked in the library with me today, organizing books and removing clutter. It was nice to get to know her better.
Today was kite day! After lunch the kids (and those of us adults who are still kids) went outside and flew kites! Winslow has generally the perfect weather for kite flying, and this was a beautiful day for it! We all had a wonderful time! Abby, Kelcy & Jessica each had a Barbie kite. Merritza had an Elmo kite. Shyla kept her kite up for the longest time. Abby & Kelcy kept getting their kites tangled up because they wanted to be close to other people and fly their kites at the same time. After kite time, we had popsicles. The children also got to inspect their lovely tie-dyed T-shirt designs. They all did a wonderful job.
This evening, there was a dedication and remembrance ceremony for Deb Pederson. She was a member of the mission group from Tomoka Christian Church that had been here several years. She lost her battle with cancer over the past year. Her husband is from Tomoka Christian Church and he worked most all day digging a hole in the ground so that a tree could be planted in memory of his wife. If you have been here, you realize what effort it must’ve taken for him to dig a hole in this ground large enough to plant a tree! The group had brought pictures of Ms. Deb taken with the children here at Red Sands and also at the Little Painted Desert. I was very honored to be included in the number of people who witnessed the dedication. A large number of the Navajo people gathered for the ceremony. Eva is a Navajo lady who had been asked to play a special at the ceremony on her harmonica. She performed a lovely song. Afterward, Eva decided to rededicate her life to the Lord. She made the confession of faith in front of all present and then we all joined together and prayed for her. Although I had never met Eva, we, as a church, had been praying for Eva because she was recuperating from knee surgery. After the ceremony, a fellowship meal was provided by one of the Navajo families. They grilled steak, made fry bread, and had Marilyn’s broccoli salad and watermelon. This was a wonderful chance to meet and talk with all of the Navajo people there. The ladies from Tomoka were even doing manicures for the Navajo ladies in attendance! It was a great and inspiring time.
Saturday
This morning, the group from Tomoka and Jerry went with Miss Springer to work with her “Least of These” mission. Miss Springer goes each week out into the city of Winslow and brings food, drink, toiletry supplies, socks, blankets and supplies to the homeless people of this area. There were several people with whom the group was able to minister on this day. I am sure that this was an amazing experience, and I apologize that I have no details to share as I was not in attendance. I know that Jerry was able to talk to a man who was just release from prison for about 10-15 minutes while he was with the group.
This evening, we all drove over to the Little Painted Desert to celebrate the life of Deb Pederson, as this was one of her favorite places on Earth. Several of the people, including Jerry and Abby, walked down into the Desert and explored. Kelcy and I stayed up at the top. After a time of remembrance of Ms. Deb, we returned to the church. The Tomoka ladies provided another fellowship meal and afterward, they had a communion service. I was very touched to be included in their group activities.
Abby spent the night with the ladies group from Tomoka in the Hogan. Abby had been invited by Paige, who was a young Navajo lady who was spending the night with the group as well. I was a little nervous about them falling asleep, but the ladies said they did okay.
Sunday
The church attendance was great this morning. I need to check with Mr. Bill to see the exact attendance, but I know it was more than usual. We had one Navajo gentleman there who was a traditionalist who had never been to church before! After church service, we loaded up and headed different directions. One group went to Show Low, AZ to visit at AICM (American Indian Christian Mission) and our group went to the Grand Canyon Park. Miss Springer assured us it would take about an hour, but we took over 2 hours to get there. I guess she either knows a short cut or drives faster! It was a lovely trip. Being in the car with people who had never been here before made me realize just how much I take the view for granted. It is a beautiful drive to Flagstaff, which I enjoyed the first time I went. I guess my enjoyment dimmed somewhat with each visit, as the view became “old hat”. The sense of awe was renewed as I saw the view through the eyes of those people who had never seen it before. They were taking pictures and exclaiming over how beautiful it was and they were right! The trip to the canyon was amazing. We drove to the South rim, come up from the East Side. When we got to the gate of the park, snow flurries started falling. When we got to the first stop, which was the Watchtower, it was all out snowing with big snow flakes. We were able to see the canyon pretty good at this first stop. After this, the snow and accompanying clouds made it all but impossible to see down into the canyon. The snow kept up for most of the time we were in the park. It was a unique sight to see at the Grand Canyon. We left the park and drove down into Flagstaff and had dinner together there, then back to the mission.
Monday morning March 23rd
Monday was a hard day for everyone. The Tomoka group had a chapel service for the school children, where they each shared a little about themselves and it was wonderful. We sand some songs and the ladies gave out prayer baskets to the children, with emblems in each basket reminding them to pray for different things (their country, family), along with a prayer journal, a photo album (that included a picture of Ms. Deb) and a book of Bible promises. This was such a great idea!
The group from Tomoka each made time to speak with me individually at some point during the week. I got to know each of them by their names, which is saying a lot for my memory. They repeatedly asked what they could do to help. They included me and my family in their supper meals. It was a wonderful week of encouragement and love for us, as staff, and all the school children. We all thank you each so much for giving of your time to the Lord and choosing to do that here, at Red Sands! We hope you keep in touch!
March 23rd is our wedding anniversary. Jerry and I were married 7 years ago today! If you have a weak stomach, you can look away. I love him even more today than I did when we were first married! I have enjoyed these seven years, though they were good and bad times in them. I have a wonderful God and a wonderful Christian husband, two wonderful, healthy children, wonderfully supportive friends and family, and I am very thankful!
The work group from Tomoka Christian Church arrived this afternoon. There were so many people in the group that they pulled up in two vehicles. They had left from Orlando that morning and arrived at the mission at around 3:30PM Arizona time. Mr. Bill, Abby, Kelcy and I were there when they arrived, but Jerry & Miss Dawn were running the buses to take the school children home. We were introduced to them all. Abby was cute, she was shaking everyone’s hand and telling them her name. Kelcy was a bit shy and ran away after the meeting the first few people. But this will be a LONG story if I keep to all the detail that I want. I will try to condense it down the best I can.
The group all settled in and then went to get supplies in town for supper. They invited our family to eat with them and we enjoyed the company and the food!
Wednesday
The ladies worked together planning meals and taking care of the shopping for food and supplies for their mission work. In the afternoon, all the school kids gathered in the lunch room area and the ladies led us in making tie-dyed shirts with the children. The process was so much simpler than I had ever imagined it could be! All of the children did a wonderful job on their shirts. We could not admire them fully yet, as they had to dry and set the color.
Thursday
In the afternoon, the ladies from Tomoka set up chairs and did a very biblical thing. They took the ladies of the school children (and included Miss Springer and I) and they washed their feet. The ladies of Tomoka also gave all of us a pedicure and then a manicure. All of us ladies enjoyed this tremendously. Abby, Kelcy and Jessica were all receiving treatment from Ms. Bobbi and they just loved it! Merritza and Shyla thoroughly enjoyed the process as well. Miss Springer and I were also delighted to be included! We got to pick out our nail polish and even some decorations for our nails. The girls sat so still and were just enthralled with they whole process. They loved picking out the colors for their finger nails and toe nails. Abby & Jessica had to match each other, of course! Kelcy did her own thing, as usual. Merritza and Shyla were quieter than the younger girls, but I could tell that they really enjoyed it, by the looks on their faces. The Tomoka ladies even bought flip flops for the girls to wear home, so that they didn’t mess up their toe polish. During the manicure/pedicure process, one of the ladies read the scripture about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It was a very powerful lesson to hear, after having seen the ladies humble themselves and wash our feet.
The boys of the school children were given an opportunity to learn about hand tools and carpentry work. They really enjoyed their lessons as well.
Friday
Hope in Transit came this morning to work with the kids in their music classes. Dave & Lisa do such a great job and they kids REALLY enjoy learning to read music and play instruments. Ms. Venetta worked in the library with me today, organizing books and removing clutter. It was nice to get to know her better.
Today was kite day! After lunch the kids (and those of us adults who are still kids) went outside and flew kites! Winslow has generally the perfect weather for kite flying, and this was a beautiful day for it! We all had a wonderful time! Abby, Kelcy & Jessica each had a Barbie kite. Merritza had an Elmo kite. Shyla kept her kite up for the longest time. Abby & Kelcy kept getting their kites tangled up because they wanted to be close to other people and fly their kites at the same time. After kite time, we had popsicles. The children also got to inspect their lovely tie-dyed T-shirt designs. They all did a wonderful job.
This evening, there was a dedication and remembrance ceremony for Deb Pederson. She was a member of the mission group from Tomoka Christian Church that had been here several years. She lost her battle with cancer over the past year. Her husband is from Tomoka Christian Church and he worked most all day digging a hole in the ground so that a tree could be planted in memory of his wife. If you have been here, you realize what effort it must’ve taken for him to dig a hole in this ground large enough to plant a tree! The group had brought pictures of Ms. Deb taken with the children here at Red Sands and also at the Little Painted Desert. I was very honored to be included in the number of people who witnessed the dedication. A large number of the Navajo people gathered for the ceremony. Eva is a Navajo lady who had been asked to play a special at the ceremony on her harmonica. She performed a lovely song. Afterward, Eva decided to rededicate her life to the Lord. She made the confession of faith in front of all present and then we all joined together and prayed for her. Although I had never met Eva, we, as a church, had been praying for Eva because she was recuperating from knee surgery. After the ceremony, a fellowship meal was provided by one of the Navajo families. They grilled steak, made fry bread, and had Marilyn’s broccoli salad and watermelon. This was a wonderful chance to meet and talk with all of the Navajo people there. The ladies from Tomoka were even doing manicures for the Navajo ladies in attendance! It was a great and inspiring time.
Saturday
This morning, the group from Tomoka and Jerry went with Miss Springer to work with her “Least of These” mission. Miss Springer goes each week out into the city of Winslow and brings food, drink, toiletry supplies, socks, blankets and supplies to the homeless people of this area. There were several people with whom the group was able to minister on this day. I am sure that this was an amazing experience, and I apologize that I have no details to share as I was not in attendance. I know that Jerry was able to talk to a man who was just release from prison for about 10-15 minutes while he was with the group.
This evening, we all drove over to the Little Painted Desert to celebrate the life of Deb Pederson, as this was one of her favorite places on Earth. Several of the people, including Jerry and Abby, walked down into the Desert and explored. Kelcy and I stayed up at the top. After a time of remembrance of Ms. Deb, we returned to the church. The Tomoka ladies provided another fellowship meal and afterward, they had a communion service. I was very touched to be included in their group activities.
Abby spent the night with the ladies group from Tomoka in the Hogan. Abby had been invited by Paige, who was a young Navajo lady who was spending the night with the group as well. I was a little nervous about them falling asleep, but the ladies said they did okay.
Sunday
The church attendance was great this morning. I need to check with Mr. Bill to see the exact attendance, but I know it was more than usual. We had one Navajo gentleman there who was a traditionalist who had never been to church before! After church service, we loaded up and headed different directions. One group went to Show Low, AZ to visit at AICM (American Indian Christian Mission) and our group went to the Grand Canyon Park. Miss Springer assured us it would take about an hour, but we took over 2 hours to get there. I guess she either knows a short cut or drives faster! It was a lovely trip. Being in the car with people who had never been here before made me realize just how much I take the view for granted. It is a beautiful drive to Flagstaff, which I enjoyed the first time I went. I guess my enjoyment dimmed somewhat with each visit, as the view became “old hat”. The sense of awe was renewed as I saw the view through the eyes of those people who had never seen it before. They were taking pictures and exclaiming over how beautiful it was and they were right! The trip to the canyon was amazing. We drove to the South rim, come up from the East Side. When we got to the gate of the park, snow flurries started falling. When we got to the first stop, which was the Watchtower, it was all out snowing with big snow flakes. We were able to see the canyon pretty good at this first stop. After this, the snow and accompanying clouds made it all but impossible to see down into the canyon. The snow kept up for most of the time we were in the park. It was a unique sight to see at the Grand Canyon. We left the park and drove down into Flagstaff and had dinner together there, then back to the mission.
Monday morning March 23rd
Monday was a hard day for everyone. The Tomoka group had a chapel service for the school children, where they each shared a little about themselves and it was wonderful. We sand some songs and the ladies gave out prayer baskets to the children, with emblems in each basket reminding them to pray for different things (their country, family), along with a prayer journal, a photo album (that included a picture of Ms. Deb) and a book of Bible promises. This was such a great idea!
The group from Tomoka each made time to speak with me individually at some point during the week. I got to know each of them by their names, which is saying a lot for my memory. They repeatedly asked what they could do to help. They included me and my family in their supper meals. It was a wonderful week of encouragement and love for us, as staff, and all the school children. We all thank you each so much for giving of your time to the Lord and choosing to do that here, at Red Sands! We hope you keep in touch!
March 23rd is our wedding anniversary. Jerry and I were married 7 years ago today! If you have a weak stomach, you can look away. I love him even more today than I did when we were first married! I have enjoyed these seven years, though they were good and bad times in them. I have a wonderful God and a wonderful Christian husband, two wonderful, healthy children, wonderfully supportive friends and family, and I am very thankful!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Brother can you spare a van?
Saturday, March 14th,
Parent Teacher conferences are today! The appointments are scheduled from 8AM till Noon. Jerry & I met with Miss Springer at 9:30 about Abby. She is doing well. She is struggling a little in her math work and more so in her penmanship. But I think that she has trouble with her small motor skills because she is younger. All in all, we are extremely happy with all that Abby has accomplished with Miss Springer's help!
Mr Bill, Miss Springer, Jerry & I also had meetings in between the conferences. We are reviewing and editing all of the admission materials and procedures, along with preparing information for the teacher training session scheduled for the first of August. After the conferences were over, we all went out to eat together to a Mexican restaurant in Winslow. Boy was the food good! After lunch, I went by the library to pick up a book I had on hold and then we went home.
Sunday, March 15th
This morning, the Lord was with Jerry especially close. He decided to take the cell phone with him on the church bus run. When Miss Springer got to the church this morning, there was a message. Jerry was on his way in, but the red van he was driving was having some severe problems. He was at mile marker 68 and needed someone to come pick up him and the people he had picked up for church. I drove out on the reservation and found the van sitting on the side of the road. The van's front passenger side tire was sitting at an awkward angle. The problem was diagnosed by one of the kids on board. Her dad was a mechanic and she said that the wheel bearing had gone out. There were four people on the bus transport with Jerry, so we all loaded into our pick-up truck and headed back to church. I don't think I mentioned it, but back before Christmas break, one of the white vans had broken down and it was STILL in the shop.
We had a great Sunday School session. We were so late getting back to class that we ate the muffins I had prepared for them and just talked about their lives and took prayer requests. They have really opened up about their families and the need for prayer for their loved ones. I enjoyed it! Jim and Anne have returned from Phoenix and it is very encouraging to see them here!
About three in the afternoon, there is a knock at our door. It is Alan Harrison and his family from Dayspring Christian Church in Colorado. His family is on spring break and they came to spend two nights here with us at the mission. It was inspiring to see his wife Susan and their four children (Michael, Lisa, Kelly and Matthew) giving up their vacation time to work here. After they settled in, they began preparing food for the potluck at Dilkon tonight. Alan was giving the devotion. They rested for a while then we set off for Dilkon Christian Church. We took two cars, because the van was broken down. Lisa and Kelly rode with me and the girls in the truck and Jerry rode in the van with the rest of the Harrison family. It was a beautiful ride to Dilkon, as always. We had an extra treat in store, because Genevieve led us in singing hymns in Navajo. That was really wonderful. I think that may be the key to my learning the Navajo language, using the music. Lisa and Kelly shared a song that went along with Alan's devotion. Alan present his devotion and it was right on target. It was wonderful to hear him speak! Then, we retired to the fellowship hall to enjoy the pork chops Mr Bill had prepared. There was also fry bread, pasta salad, vegetables and apple sauce. The Harrisons had brought Texas (or maybe southwestern?) caviar and some chips and cheese dip. The caviar contained some beans, olives and red onions and other ingredients that I do not recall, but it smelled and tasted wonderful, as did the queso dip. One of the ladies, Verna, was recovering from pneumonia. It seems a lot of people living on the resevation have contracted pneumonia. I hypothesize that the dust storms irritate their lungs and causes the pneumonia. We all traveled back to the mission and the Harrisons spent the night in the "first" hogan, next to the shower house.
Monday, March 16th
Ms. Susan, Lisa and Kelly worked in the library, organizing the non-fiction books and cleaning shelves and removing out dated textbooks. Michael & Alan worked around the property. I am not sure of what all they did, but I know that they fixed the exterior lighting around the hogans and loaded up some garbage to take to the garbage dump. They worked hard! And that night, the Harrison family watched Abby & Kelcy while Jerry and I went into town to have dinner by ourselves. It was such a strange thing, to be without the children. We had a hard time conversing. Ms. Susan told us that we couldn't talk about the mission or our children. It was wonderful to be out together. We REALLY appreciated the opportunity to go out without our children and be adults together. We hadn't done that since December. We kinda of looked at each other a whole lot, having a hard time making conversation, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely! Thank you, Harrison family, for your help of our family and mission on your spring break vacation!
Parent Teacher conferences are today! The appointments are scheduled from 8AM till Noon. Jerry & I met with Miss Springer at 9:30 about Abby. She is doing well. She is struggling a little in her math work and more so in her penmanship. But I think that she has trouble with her small motor skills because she is younger. All in all, we are extremely happy with all that Abby has accomplished with Miss Springer's help!
Mr Bill, Miss Springer, Jerry & I also had meetings in between the conferences. We are reviewing and editing all of the admission materials and procedures, along with preparing information for the teacher training session scheduled for the first of August. After the conferences were over, we all went out to eat together to a Mexican restaurant in Winslow. Boy was the food good! After lunch, I went by the library to pick up a book I had on hold and then we went home.
Sunday, March 15th
This morning, the Lord was with Jerry especially close. He decided to take the cell phone with him on the church bus run. When Miss Springer got to the church this morning, there was a message. Jerry was on his way in, but the red van he was driving was having some severe problems. He was at mile marker 68 and needed someone to come pick up him and the people he had picked up for church. I drove out on the reservation and found the van sitting on the side of the road. The van's front passenger side tire was sitting at an awkward angle. The problem was diagnosed by one of the kids on board. Her dad was a mechanic and she said that the wheel bearing had gone out. There were four people on the bus transport with Jerry, so we all loaded into our pick-up truck and headed back to church. I don't think I mentioned it, but back before Christmas break, one of the white vans had broken down and it was STILL in the shop.
We had a great Sunday School session. We were so late getting back to class that we ate the muffins I had prepared for them and just talked about their lives and took prayer requests. They have really opened up about their families and the need for prayer for their loved ones. I enjoyed it! Jim and Anne have returned from Phoenix and it is very encouraging to see them here!
About three in the afternoon, there is a knock at our door. It is Alan Harrison and his family from Dayspring Christian Church in Colorado. His family is on spring break and they came to spend two nights here with us at the mission. It was inspiring to see his wife Susan and their four children (Michael, Lisa, Kelly and Matthew) giving up their vacation time to work here. After they settled in, they began preparing food for the potluck at Dilkon tonight. Alan was giving the devotion. They rested for a while then we set off for Dilkon Christian Church. We took two cars, because the van was broken down. Lisa and Kelly rode with me and the girls in the truck and Jerry rode in the van with the rest of the Harrison family. It was a beautiful ride to Dilkon, as always. We had an extra treat in store, because Genevieve led us in singing hymns in Navajo. That was really wonderful. I think that may be the key to my learning the Navajo language, using the music. Lisa and Kelly shared a song that went along with Alan's devotion. Alan present his devotion and it was right on target. It was wonderful to hear him speak! Then, we retired to the fellowship hall to enjoy the pork chops Mr Bill had prepared. There was also fry bread, pasta salad, vegetables and apple sauce. The Harrisons had brought Texas (or maybe southwestern?) caviar and some chips and cheese dip. The caviar contained some beans, olives and red onions and other ingredients that I do not recall, but it smelled and tasted wonderful, as did the queso dip. One of the ladies, Verna, was recovering from pneumonia. It seems a lot of people living on the resevation have contracted pneumonia. I hypothesize that the dust storms irritate their lungs and causes the pneumonia. We all traveled back to the mission and the Harrisons spent the night in the "first" hogan, next to the shower house.
Monday, March 16th
Ms. Susan, Lisa and Kelly worked in the library, organizing the non-fiction books and cleaning shelves and removing out dated textbooks. Michael & Alan worked around the property. I am not sure of what all they did, but I know that they fixed the exterior lighting around the hogans and loaded up some garbage to take to the garbage dump. They worked hard! And that night, the Harrison family watched Abby & Kelcy while Jerry and I went into town to have dinner by ourselves. It was such a strange thing, to be without the children. We had a hard time conversing. Ms. Susan told us that we couldn't talk about the mission or our children. It was wonderful to be out together. We REALLY appreciated the opportunity to go out without our children and be adults together. We hadn't done that since December. We kinda of looked at each other a whole lot, having a hard time making conversation, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely! Thank you, Harrison family, for your help of our family and mission on your spring break vacation!
March 4th through March 12th
Thursday, March 5th
Kelcy goes to class with Miss Springer today! Miss Springer is teaching Kelcy the alphabet and the phonetics of the letters. Kelcy really enjoys getting to go to school with the other kids. She gets her backpack and heads right out on Thursday mornings to sit at her desk and learn. Miss Springer says that Kelcy also repeats the numbers with the Kindergarten when they are counting. The Kindergarten class recites their numbers from 10-100 by tens, and Kelcy does it too. She is three, going on six.
My art class is beginning to work on their projects for the art show. The school art show will be March 27th. We have worked on colors and value, pencil drawing, pencil shading, charcoal drawing, charcoal shading, pastel chalk drawing, and next week we work on watercolor painting. My kids are very artistically talented and it is so fun to help them practice and learn just how good they are!
Sunday, March 8th
The church service went well today. I have a steady class that includes at least 4 children each week, between the classes of first grade and 7th grade. They enjoy a challenge and I have to work hard to keep them busy sometimes. They all like to read the Bible scriptures and will volunteer to do so very quickly. We are finishing up a lesson set on Paul and will begin a new set in two weeks.
Mr. Bill and I created a bulletin for the church service today. He gave me his sermon notes and the song service order and I used Publisher to create a Bulletin and added in the prayer request and praise pages. It was fun. Jerry said that he needed to be my editor from now on. He thought that the font was not large enough!
Monday, March 9th
Music class is going very well. Nate is doing great on the drums and Merritza is doing great on the piano and guitar. Adam just passed his keyboard test and now is beginning to learn the guitar. The smaller children are all learning the keyboard and how to read music. It is amazing how quickly they can pick it up! The Navajo children seem to have a special affinity for the musical expression.
Tuesday, March 10th
We got rain today! I mention this, because the last time I remember getting rain at the mission was at the end of November.
Thursday, March 12th
We learned about watercolor painting in art class today. Nate did really well in the new medium. He is a little hesitant at expressing himself artistically, probably because he is a teenage young man and afraid to be ostracized by his peers. When he does work with the color, he does really well. Kelcy did pretty good too. I painted a tree trunk for her and she added some green leaves, a blue sky and some orange around the base (I think she was going for the sunset). It turned out really well.
After school today, Jerry decided we should go for a drive. He has been asking me to get him a Indian Country Map so that we can go exploring on the reservation for several months now. I have failed to obtain this for him and now he has given up. He said that we may get lost, but it would be my fault! He was kidding, I think. So, after school we set off. We drove down onto the reservation for a few miles, then turned off on Route 2. It is a washboard dirt road. If you any of you are not familiar with a washboard, it was/is used to wash clothes. The process was to get your clothes wet and soaped up, then scrub them on the washboard, then rinse. A washboard is not level and flat. It has grooves for scrubbing. This road was like that. Abby & Kelcy were making noises and hearing the sound vibrate with the vibrations of the vehicle. We discovered the Navajo reservation as Tony Hillerman describes it in his popular detective novels. There were small roads that went off into the desert where we could not see any habitation. There were also roads that led off into the desert where we COULD see the hogan that was FAR off the road. The sand changed as we traveled from hard baked earth with cracks in it to light sand that had blown into sand dunes. Next, there were rocky/sandy hills of the Painted Desert. Kelcy fell asleep on the washboard road. Perhaps it was the hum of the tires on the bumpy road, or the vibrations lulled her to sleep. Either way, I looked back to see her head leaning over to the side, asleep. Abby was worried, because she knew that we didn't know exactly where the road led. She kept asking if we were lost.
We saw lots of empty liquor bottles and beer bottles lying on the side of the road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. There were stripped cars and bags of garbage on the side of the road as well. At one point, there were large trees, just out of nowhere. I think they ran along the dry river bed where the Little Colorado runs at some times of the year. It was neat to see tall trees. I was delighted to see that a couple of houses had solar panels for electricity. There were no electric lines to these houses. They either had a windmill for water and electricity or they had solar panels, or they had no water or electricity. We came to a fork in the road, where the washboard continued on left and to the right was an asphalt highway. I chose the asphalt highway. We headed on this road at a faster pace. We were on the washboard for right at an hour. We soon reached Winslow. Jerry was right, the road did lead to Winslow eventually. When we go there, the weather turned violent. The truck was battered with first sleet, and then pretty large hail. That was an amazing sight! We drove on back home to find that there was no precipitation at the mission. Although, it did end up raining some later that evening.
Thursday, March 5th
Kelcy goes to class with Miss Springer today! Miss Springer is teaching Kelcy the alphabet and the phonetics of the letters. Kelcy really enjoys getting to go to school with the other kids. She gets her backpack and heads right out on Thursday mornings to sit at her desk and learn. Miss Springer says that Kelcy also repeats the numbers with the Kindergarten when they are counting. The Kindergarten class recites their numbers from 10-100 by tens, and Kelcy does it too. She is three, going on six.
My art class is beginning to work on their projects for the art show. The school art show will be March 27th. We have worked on colors and value, pencil drawing, pencil shading, charcoal drawing, charcoal shading, pastel chalk drawing, and next week we work on watercolor painting. My kids are very artistically talented and it is so fun to help them practice and learn just how good they are!
Sunday, March 8th
The church service went well today. I have a steady class that includes at least 4 children each week, between the classes of first grade and 7th grade. They enjoy a challenge and I have to work hard to keep them busy sometimes. They all like to read the Bible scriptures and will volunteer to do so very quickly. We are finishing up a lesson set on Paul and will begin a new set in two weeks.
Mr. Bill and I created a bulletin for the church service today. He gave me his sermon notes and the song service order and I used Publisher to create a Bulletin and added in the prayer request and praise pages. It was fun. Jerry said that he needed to be my editor from now on. He thought that the font was not large enough!
Monday, March 9th
Music class is going very well. Nate is doing great on the drums and Merritza is doing great on the piano and guitar. Adam just passed his keyboard test and now is beginning to learn the guitar. The smaller children are all learning the keyboard and how to read music. It is amazing how quickly they can pick it up! The Navajo children seem to have a special affinity for the musical expression.
Tuesday, March 10th
We got rain today! I mention this, because the last time I remember getting rain at the mission was at the end of November.
Thursday, March 12th
We learned about watercolor painting in art class today. Nate did really well in the new medium. He is a little hesitant at expressing himself artistically, probably because he is a teenage young man and afraid to be ostracized by his peers. When he does work with the color, he does really well. Kelcy did pretty good too. I painted a tree trunk for her and she added some green leaves, a blue sky and some orange around the base (I think she was going for the sunset). It turned out really well.
After school today, Jerry decided we should go for a drive. He has been asking me to get him a Indian Country Map so that we can go exploring on the reservation for several months now. I have failed to obtain this for him and now he has given up. He said that we may get lost, but it would be my fault! He was kidding, I think. So, after school we set off. We drove down onto the reservation for a few miles, then turned off on Route 2. It is a washboard dirt road. If you any of you are not familiar with a washboard, it was/is used to wash clothes. The process was to get your clothes wet and soaped up, then scrub them on the washboard, then rinse. A washboard is not level and flat. It has grooves for scrubbing. This road was like that. Abby & Kelcy were making noises and hearing the sound vibrate with the vibrations of the vehicle. We discovered the Navajo reservation as Tony Hillerman describes it in his popular detective novels. There were small roads that went off into the desert where we could not see any habitation. There were also roads that led off into the desert where we COULD see the hogan that was FAR off the road. The sand changed as we traveled from hard baked earth with cracks in it to light sand that had blown into sand dunes. Next, there were rocky/sandy hills of the Painted Desert. Kelcy fell asleep on the washboard road. Perhaps it was the hum of the tires on the bumpy road, or the vibrations lulled her to sleep. Either way, I looked back to see her head leaning over to the side, asleep. Abby was worried, because she knew that we didn't know exactly where the road led. She kept asking if we were lost.
We saw lots of empty liquor bottles and beer bottles lying on the side of the road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. There were stripped cars and bags of garbage on the side of the road as well. At one point, there were large trees, just out of nowhere. I think they ran along the dry river bed where the Little Colorado runs at some times of the year. It was neat to see tall trees. I was delighted to see that a couple of houses had solar panels for electricity. There were no electric lines to these houses. They either had a windmill for water and electricity or they had solar panels, or they had no water or electricity. We came to a fork in the road, where the washboard continued on left and to the right was an asphalt highway. I chose the asphalt highway. We headed on this road at a faster pace. We were on the washboard for right at an hour. We soon reached Winslow. Jerry was right, the road did lead to Winslow eventually. When we go there, the weather turned violent. The truck was battered with first sleet, and then pretty large hail. That was an amazing sight! We drove on back home to find that there was no precipitation at the mission. Although, it did end up raining some later that evening.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Two weeks and Two Abbys!
February 15th thru March 4th, 2009
I can’t believe it has been over two weeks since I updated this. Time really is flying here! Monday, February 16th school was closed in honor of President’s Day. If any kids are reading this, even the Winslow public schools were closed in honor of President’s Day. It was nice to see such a patriotic stance. The Post Office and Library were also closed. Our family drove into Flagstaff this day to do some shopping. Flag (as it is known here) had about 2 feet of snow on the ground? There were kids riding sleds all over the place. Jerry went to one of the teacher supply stores in Flag and purchased supplies for some science experiments that his classes will be doing. I went into the “Michael’s” store and purchased art supplies! Thank you, Ms. Alford, for the gift card from “Michael’s”! I purchased charcoal pencils and erasers, some canvas board, some watercolor paper and pastel chalk. I was very excited for my classes to begin using the new art supplies!
Upon our return from Flag, Mr. Bill was waiting for Jerry. They were planning to remove the furnace from the library building, as it was no longer functioning. They accomplished this goal very quickly! On February 21st Mr. Bill and Jerry installed the new furnace in the library and it works great! Thanks guys, it was a little cold in there during story hour!
After school on Friday, February 20th , we loaded up and drove over to a relatively local state park called “Homolovi Ruins State Park”. Jerry had heard that because of low funds this was one of eight state parks in Arizona that may be closing very soon, so we thought we would go to see it just in case.
We drove past Winslow and took the exit toward Second Mesa, then turned left. A short distance from the highway was the sign for the park, so we turned in. We drove past the camp grounds and to the “Homolovi Ruins I” site. We were all very excited. We went hiking up the trail, showing the girls how to follow the colored ribbons to stay on the path. The path was designed to allow visitors to walk among the ruins, but not ON them. These ruins were not very exciting at first glance, but when we got to the top of the hill and saw the view that the ancestors of the Hopis saw, we were impressed. The ruins is located at a bend in the Little Colorado river. The river bank is white and sandy and beautiful, it resembled a beautiful beach. I could see why these people had chosen to live in this area—availability of water, higher ground for scouting game and a beautiful view. Of course, there is a sign warning visitors not to walk on the river bank because of quicksand. Quicksand! I didn’t know we had that in the United States.
Next we went to the visitor’s center and met the ranger assigned to this park. He was very nice, even though it was quickly approaching closing time. The visitor’s center had a lot of Hopi art, including pottery and blankets. Next we drove back into the “Homolovi II” ruins. We all walked up a hill and enjoyed looking at the remaining signs of occupation. It was a beautiful area and one of the highest points in the area. Even though we were there for only two hours, it felt like we were on vacation!
Thursday, February 26th the Winslow Health Center was here and measured the Body Mass Index (BMI) for each of the school children. Abby was on the low side of normal and Kelcy was under-weight. The kids each got a sheet detailing the results of their BMI and a pamphlet promoting healthy eating and exercise. We really appreciate all the work that the Winslow Health Center does!
Today, my art class started using the pastel chalk. We were drawing a still life of fruit and then they were to color or finish it by using the pastel chalk. They were excited to use the chalk and they did a great job!
Monday, March 2nd
We found out that four of our students (one family) were transferring to another school. This was a hard day. Everyone, including the school kids, were disappointed to see them go. Two of the children were in Abby’s class and she has really been stressed about this situation. I think the way the children keep leaving really creates in her a sense of instability. I can’t imagine what it is like for the children who will be starting at different school for the third time this school year.
Tonight we had our staff meeting for March. We had a lot to talk about. There will be an art show at the end of March, complete with ribbons! We are also looking forward to our first visitors of this year. We have two groups set to arrive in March. Then at the end of March is Spring Break.
Tuesday, March 3rd Winslow Dental came out to the school with their rolling dentist’s office and cleaned and sealed all of the school kids teeth. It is so great to see this kind of service provided for the school! Thank you, Winslow Dental!
Most of you probably wonder about the weather here. We had the snow day a few weeks ago, but since then we have had abundant sunshine and warm weather, sometimes as high as 85 degrees already. However, the wind stays with us constantly. We have already had two sand storms this year and the Flint Boys are starting their mischief. Navajo legend says that the Blue Flint Boys are responsible for the Dust Devils. Today, March 4, I can feel the floor move in my office as the wind gusts outside. We are encircled by a sand storm, but the dust here is not blowing too badly. The sky to the east of us is red with the sand floating in the air. I guess March is coming in like a Lion.
Abby & Kelcy and I have been going into town on Saturdays to visit a local playground. The girls have made lots of new friends since we started going, but one in particular stands out. We were visiting the park and two young ladies came into the playground area. The older looked to be eight or nine years old and the younger looked about three or four years old. Abby practically ran over to the younger sister and, using her manners, asked the young ladies name. The young lady replied that her name was “Abby”. After that, they were inseparable. The look Abby’s face was so sweet! Kelcy came to tell me that there were two “Abbys” and that the new Abby was her friend. They played well together for quite a while. The time came for us to leave. As we told the new Abby that we had to go, she shared that her mother and father were both in jail. I told her that I was very sorry about that. We promised that we would try to return the next Saturday, if weather permitted. On the way home, the girls asked questions about why the girls parents would be in jail and I told them that it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that she is your friend. On the way home, Kelcy also said, "I wish there was two Abbys AND two Kelcys at the park today." We did return to the park the next Saturday, but found no sign of the new Abby or her sister. I hope you will all say a prayer for these two girls.
Church continues to do well. March 1st was the pot luck here at Red Sands and we had twenty-three in attendance, I think. Mr. Bill brought hams, Miss Springer brought rolls and banana bread and scalloped potatoes and I brought baked beans and salad. Some of the Navajo people brought fry bread, chips and salsa, drinks and cookies to share. I had a Sunday school class of six children today. They were a little rambunctious, but some of them were really paying attention to the lesson!
The pot luck at Dilkon has been moved this month, from the second Sunday to the third Sunday of the month. I look forward to traveling over there, as always! I also look forward to the return of our friends, Jim and Anne. They should arrive back here around March 15th.
I apologize for the rambling nature of this update, but I completed it very quickly, with no editing.
I can’t believe it has been over two weeks since I updated this. Time really is flying here! Monday, February 16th school was closed in honor of President’s Day. If any kids are reading this, even the Winslow public schools were closed in honor of President’s Day. It was nice to see such a patriotic stance. The Post Office and Library were also closed. Our family drove into Flagstaff this day to do some shopping. Flag (as it is known here) had about 2 feet of snow on the ground? There were kids riding sleds all over the place. Jerry went to one of the teacher supply stores in Flag and purchased supplies for some science experiments that his classes will be doing. I went into the “Michael’s” store and purchased art supplies! Thank you, Ms. Alford, for the gift card from “Michael’s”! I purchased charcoal pencils and erasers, some canvas board, some watercolor paper and pastel chalk. I was very excited for my classes to begin using the new art supplies!
Upon our return from Flag, Mr. Bill was waiting for Jerry. They were planning to remove the furnace from the library building, as it was no longer functioning. They accomplished this goal very quickly! On February 21st Mr. Bill and Jerry installed the new furnace in the library and it works great! Thanks guys, it was a little cold in there during story hour!
After school on Friday, February 20th , we loaded up and drove over to a relatively local state park called “Homolovi Ruins State Park”. Jerry had heard that because of low funds this was one of eight state parks in Arizona that may be closing very soon, so we thought we would go to see it just in case.
We drove past Winslow and took the exit toward Second Mesa, then turned left. A short distance from the highway was the sign for the park, so we turned in. We drove past the camp grounds and to the “Homolovi Ruins I” site. We were all very excited. We went hiking up the trail, showing the girls how to follow the colored ribbons to stay on the path. The path was designed to allow visitors to walk among the ruins, but not ON them. These ruins were not very exciting at first glance, but when we got to the top of the hill and saw the view that the ancestors of the Hopis saw, we were impressed. The ruins is located at a bend in the Little Colorado river. The river bank is white and sandy and beautiful, it resembled a beautiful beach. I could see why these people had chosen to live in this area—availability of water, higher ground for scouting game and a beautiful view. Of course, there is a sign warning visitors not to walk on the river bank because of quicksand. Quicksand! I didn’t know we had that in the United States.
Next we went to the visitor’s center and met the ranger assigned to this park. He was very nice, even though it was quickly approaching closing time. The visitor’s center had a lot of Hopi art, including pottery and blankets. Next we drove back into the “Homolovi II” ruins. We all walked up a hill and enjoyed looking at the remaining signs of occupation. It was a beautiful area and one of the highest points in the area. Even though we were there for only two hours, it felt like we were on vacation!
Thursday, February 26th the Winslow Health Center was here and measured the Body Mass Index (BMI) for each of the school children. Abby was on the low side of normal and Kelcy was under-weight. The kids each got a sheet detailing the results of their BMI and a pamphlet promoting healthy eating and exercise. We really appreciate all the work that the Winslow Health Center does!
Today, my art class started using the pastel chalk. We were drawing a still life of fruit and then they were to color or finish it by using the pastel chalk. They were excited to use the chalk and they did a great job!
Monday, March 2nd
We found out that four of our students (one family) were transferring to another school. This was a hard day. Everyone, including the school kids, were disappointed to see them go. Two of the children were in Abby’s class and she has really been stressed about this situation. I think the way the children keep leaving really creates in her a sense of instability. I can’t imagine what it is like for the children who will be starting at different school for the third time this school year.
Tonight we had our staff meeting for March. We had a lot to talk about. There will be an art show at the end of March, complete with ribbons! We are also looking forward to our first visitors of this year. We have two groups set to arrive in March. Then at the end of March is Spring Break.
Tuesday, March 3rd Winslow Dental came out to the school with their rolling dentist’s office and cleaned and sealed all of the school kids teeth. It is so great to see this kind of service provided for the school! Thank you, Winslow Dental!
Most of you probably wonder about the weather here. We had the snow day a few weeks ago, but since then we have had abundant sunshine and warm weather, sometimes as high as 85 degrees already. However, the wind stays with us constantly. We have already had two sand storms this year and the Flint Boys are starting their mischief. Navajo legend says that the Blue Flint Boys are responsible for the Dust Devils. Today, March 4, I can feel the floor move in my office as the wind gusts outside. We are encircled by a sand storm, but the dust here is not blowing too badly. The sky to the east of us is red with the sand floating in the air. I guess March is coming in like a Lion.
Abby & Kelcy and I have been going into town on Saturdays to visit a local playground. The girls have made lots of new friends since we started going, but one in particular stands out. We were visiting the park and two young ladies came into the playground area. The older looked to be eight or nine years old and the younger looked about three or four years old. Abby practically ran over to the younger sister and, using her manners, asked the young ladies name. The young lady replied that her name was “Abby”. After that, they were inseparable. The look Abby’s face was so sweet! Kelcy came to tell me that there were two “Abbys” and that the new Abby was her friend. They played well together for quite a while. The time came for us to leave. As we told the new Abby that we had to go, she shared that her mother and father were both in jail. I told her that I was very sorry about that. We promised that we would try to return the next Saturday, if weather permitted. On the way home, the girls asked questions about why the girls parents would be in jail and I told them that it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that she is your friend. On the way home, Kelcy also said, "I wish there was two Abbys AND two Kelcys at the park today." We did return to the park the next Saturday, but found no sign of the new Abby or her sister. I hope you will all say a prayer for these two girls.
Church continues to do well. March 1st was the pot luck here at Red Sands and we had twenty-three in attendance, I think. Mr. Bill brought hams, Miss Springer brought rolls and banana bread and scalloped potatoes and I brought baked beans and salad. Some of the Navajo people brought fry bread, chips and salsa, drinks and cookies to share. I had a Sunday school class of six children today. They were a little rambunctious, but some of them were really paying attention to the lesson!
The pot luck at Dilkon has been moved this month, from the second Sunday to the third Sunday of the month. I look forward to traveling over there, as always! I also look forward to the return of our friends, Jim and Anne. They should arrive back here around March 15th.
I apologize for the rambling nature of this update, but I completed it very quickly, with no editing.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, Feb 9th
A needy family came by today and we were able to provide food for them!
The Hope in Transit group came by today, they completed classes quickly and left in a hurry. The mountains near AICM were forecast to get anywhere from 6-20 inches of snow that day! All day we watched the snow go around us. We could watch it get within a few miles and then the storm would split and we could see snow to the North and South of us, then to the East of us. At one point, we got a sprinkling of rain, but that was all during the daylight hours.
The snow flurries started about 9PM. They were the biggest flakes I have ever seen in my entire life! I had always thought those giant snowflakes at the beginning of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" movie were exaggerated, but these flakes were very large, I would say two or three inches in diameter. Then, about ten o clock the wind started and we had a blizzard outside. We had snow blowing in through our closed front door! Fortunately, the wind didn't last too long and soon it was just snowing again.
Tuesday,
A snow storm blew in after dark last night and today school was canceled! Jerry is not very excited about it, because he is anxious to keep his lesson plans on schedule, but I enjoyed it. I came into the office for a while and worked. Jerry took the girls outside to play in the snow. When I got back, they had already had the required hot chocolate and proudly showed me their snow man they had made outside.
Thursday
Art class went very well again! We used pencils and drawing paper to practice identifying light sources and shading objects in a picture accordingly. There are some really talented kids in my class! I really enjoy it. And Kelcy did really well with the shading practice too.
Friday
Valentine's Party!
Kelcy went to Miss Springer's class for the first time today! Miss Springer had offered to teach her one day a week and she started today. Miss Springer said she did very well. The whole class was making mail boxes to receive their Valentine's in later that day. After lunch, we all went down to party! There was cupcakes and brownies and hot Cheetos and juice! The whole school watched "Space Buddies" and ate snacks and exchanged Valentine's. It was a very nice day! Thank you Miss Springer for the Valentine's party!
Saturday
The Diehl's went to town today! We drove into Winslow and went to the Post Office and then to the Library. The girl's picked out books to borrow and so did Jerry and I. Next, we all went out to lunch and ate at Denny's to celebrate the holiday. It was yummy! Then, (as if that wasn't enough) we drove to the local playground and let the girls play for an hour or so outside. They had a great time with the bumpy slide and twirly slide!
A needy family came by today and we were able to provide food for them!
The Hope in Transit group came by today, they completed classes quickly and left in a hurry. The mountains near AICM were forecast to get anywhere from 6-20 inches of snow that day! All day we watched the snow go around us. We could watch it get within a few miles and then the storm would split and we could see snow to the North and South of us, then to the East of us. At one point, we got a sprinkling of rain, but that was all during the daylight hours.
The snow flurries started about 9PM. They were the biggest flakes I have ever seen in my entire life! I had always thought those giant snowflakes at the beginning of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" movie were exaggerated, but these flakes were very large, I would say two or three inches in diameter. Then, about ten o clock the wind started and we had a blizzard outside. We had snow blowing in through our closed front door! Fortunately, the wind didn't last too long and soon it was just snowing again.
Tuesday,
A snow storm blew in after dark last night and today school was canceled! Jerry is not very excited about it, because he is anxious to keep his lesson plans on schedule, but I enjoyed it. I came into the office for a while and worked. Jerry took the girls outside to play in the snow. When I got back, they had already had the required hot chocolate and proudly showed me their snow man they had made outside.
Thursday
Art class went very well again! We used pencils and drawing paper to practice identifying light sources and shading objects in a picture accordingly. There are some really talented kids in my class! I really enjoy it. And Kelcy did really well with the shading practice too.
Friday
Valentine's Party!
Kelcy went to Miss Springer's class for the first time today! Miss Springer had offered to teach her one day a week and she started today. Miss Springer said she did very well. The whole class was making mail boxes to receive their Valentine's in later that day. After lunch, we all went down to party! There was cupcakes and brownies and hot Cheetos and juice! The whole school watched "Space Buddies" and ate snacks and exchanged Valentine's. It was a very nice day! Thank you Miss Springer for the Valentine's party!
Saturday
The Diehl's went to town today! We drove into Winslow and went to the Post Office and then to the Library. The girl's picked out books to borrow and so did Jerry and I. Next, we all went out to lunch and ate at Denny's to celebrate the holiday. It was yummy! Then, (as if that wasn't enough) we drove to the local playground and let the girls play for an hour or so outside. They had a great time with the bumpy slide and twirly slide!
Happy Birthday!
Feb 3
Jerry had a very nice birthday. He shared it with one of the school children. He said that he had never known anyone else who had his same birthday, so that was neat. The school kids sang to them both at lunch time. He didn't get his cake until Saturday, but he enjoyed a nice relaxing birthday.
Today, Miss Springer taught the Chapel lesson about not holding things inside. We stood outside in a circle and tossed around a can of soda until it burst and spewed everywhere. The point was that we need to communicate and not keep things inside, or we will blow up like that can of soda.
At lunch time, Miss Springer introduced the Marshmallow Wars. Now, I did not witness the spectacle, but Abby & Kelcy both participated along with all the school children present. Apparently, the children were armed with Marshmallows and they threw them at Mr. Diehl (Jerry)--at least that is how Abby described it to me. I did see the aftermath and the birds were having a meal of the few marshmallows left on the ground.
Wednesday, Feb 4th
After lunch today, the kids all lined up at one table for the hot Cheetos eating contest. The goal--see how many hot Cheetos you can eat without resorting to drinking water. If you have never tried the hot Cheetos, there are two types: the puffy and the crunchy. I find the puffy to be hotter than the puffy ones. Miss Springer had purchased the puff hot Cheetos for the contest. Needless to say, none of the teachers were participating. Neither did Abby or Kelcy or their friend Jessica, but everyone else did. I imagined the kids wolfing down the Cheetos quickly and then grabbing their drink. However, this was not the case. In the end, Miss Springer had to impose a time limit on eating the Cheetos to end the competition and I think last about 20 minutes, with several of the kids still eating Cheetos. Some even wanted to eat more after time was up! The champion was a young lady and she won the bragging rights and a prize. All of the participants were commended for their bravery and given a certificate or a prize. And a bag of hot Cheetos!
The Hope in Transit group that teaches music came on Thursday of this week. The kids all enjoyed the music class, as usual!
Friday night the girls and I made Jerry his birthday cake. He had requested a Lemon Bundt cake with a lemon glaze. Abby & Kelcy are both getting good at cracking eggs and are very interested in the baking process. The cake turned out wonderful and Daddy was delighted that all of his girls had made him a cake.
This Saturday, the wind blew most of the day, so we stayed inside and read and played the Dora Memory game.
Sunday, I got some new faces in my Sunday School class and they said that they would be back every week. I look forward to it! Church attendance is doing very well, I think. It is encouraging to see people returning each week to hear the word. Jerry has finished the "Facing the Giant" Sunday school program and is starting the "Oaks of Righteousness" series. Mr. Bill did a fine job with the message today! Tonight we had a pot luck at Dilkon. It was very encouraging to see some new faces there as well! Mr. Bill made us baked chicken, which was delicious. We had a nice visit to Dilkon and we look forward to the next one!
Jerry had a very nice birthday. He shared it with one of the school children. He said that he had never known anyone else who had his same birthday, so that was neat. The school kids sang to them both at lunch time. He didn't get his cake until Saturday, but he enjoyed a nice relaxing birthday.
Today, Miss Springer taught the Chapel lesson about not holding things inside. We stood outside in a circle and tossed around a can of soda until it burst and spewed everywhere. The point was that we need to communicate and not keep things inside, or we will blow up like that can of soda.
At lunch time, Miss Springer introduced the Marshmallow Wars. Now, I did not witness the spectacle, but Abby & Kelcy both participated along with all the school children present. Apparently, the children were armed with Marshmallows and they threw them at Mr. Diehl (Jerry)--at least that is how Abby described it to me. I did see the aftermath and the birds were having a meal of the few marshmallows left on the ground.
Wednesday, Feb 4th
After lunch today, the kids all lined up at one table for the hot Cheetos eating contest. The goal--see how many hot Cheetos you can eat without resorting to drinking water. If you have never tried the hot Cheetos, there are two types: the puffy and the crunchy. I find the puffy to be hotter than the puffy ones. Miss Springer had purchased the puff hot Cheetos for the contest. Needless to say, none of the teachers were participating. Neither did Abby or Kelcy or their friend Jessica, but everyone else did. I imagined the kids wolfing down the Cheetos quickly and then grabbing their drink. However, this was not the case. In the end, Miss Springer had to impose a time limit on eating the Cheetos to end the competition and I think last about 20 minutes, with several of the kids still eating Cheetos. Some even wanted to eat more after time was up! The champion was a young lady and she won the bragging rights and a prize. All of the participants were commended for their bravery and given a certificate or a prize. And a bag of hot Cheetos!
The Hope in Transit group that teaches music came on Thursday of this week. The kids all enjoyed the music class, as usual!
Friday night the girls and I made Jerry his birthday cake. He had requested a Lemon Bundt cake with a lemon glaze. Abby & Kelcy are both getting good at cracking eggs and are very interested in the baking process. The cake turned out wonderful and Daddy was delighted that all of his girls had made him a cake.
This Saturday, the wind blew most of the day, so we stayed inside and read and played the Dora Memory game.
Sunday, I got some new faces in my Sunday School class and they said that they would be back every week. I look forward to it! Church attendance is doing very well, I think. It is encouraging to see people returning each week to hear the word. Jerry has finished the "Facing the Giant" Sunday school program and is starting the "Oaks of Righteousness" series. Mr. Bill did a fine job with the message today! Tonight we had a pot luck at Dilkon. It was very encouraging to see some new faces there as well! Mr. Bill made us baked chicken, which was delicious. We had a nice visit to Dilkon and we look forward to the next one!
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Wing and a Prayer...
January 26 through Feb 2nd
We had a great week of school! The kids were again pretty well behaved. The physical education classes are doing great!
In art class, we made clay sculptures out of modeling clay. Two of the boys made army tanks out of clay and one made “Wall-E” from the Disney motion picture. I had assorted decorations available for use, including beads, feathers, sea shells, drinking straws, toothpicks, etc. We all had a good time. The winds were blowing this week, causing the electricity to go in and out. We continue to have warm weather, at least above 50 degrees in the daytime and about 10-20 degrees overnight (Fahrenheit of course).
Friday evening we learned that one of the school children had a little brother that was still born at nearly full term. I have never been so close to someone in this situation. It was really heartbreaking and I have prayed for this child and family a whole lot. I hope that you will, too.
Saturday started out okay. The girls woke at their usual early time, but they went to play in the living room, leaving Jerry and I to rest in bed for a little longer. Unfortunately, they made a bad decision, one that we had warned them about in the past. As soon as I sat up in bed, I noticed an odd smell. Then Jerry noticed and we both took off running. It was the smell of melting plastic. We found a total of seven Barbie dolls sitting on TOP OF THE GAS HEATER! The Barbie dolls were melting down into the stove. Among the dolls was Abby’s collector’s edition Barbie Cinderella doll. Cinderella’s dress was brown and smoldering! I was terrified. We had warned the girls not to put ANYTHING on top of the gas stove, even before we began using it for heat. Needless to say, they both got a stern lecture about what could have happened and we had to throw away four of the dolls, including Cinderella.
The rest of Saturday was good, we spent the day working around the mission as a family. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed being outside in January without hats and gloves.
Sunday was a great service at Red Sands Christian Church. I had three kids in my Sunday school class, which was good. Then, I had six kids in junior church with me, which was nice too. The kids used puppets and made a puppet show to illustrate using good manners. It was very cute. We had a good adult attendance and after church we had the pot luck meal. Mr. Bill made roast, we brought chess cake and broccoli casserole and Miss Springer brought green beans and rice krispy treats. Some of the other church members supplied drinks and large sub sandwiches to share, potato salad and macaroni salad. It was an excellent meal.
Sunday evening
We did not watch the Super Bowl. I wanted Arizona to win, for obvious reasons! We had plans. Some friends of ours from Corbin were visiting the area and they took us out for dinner on Sunday night. It was a wonderful meal and it was VERY wonderful to see our friends and hear about their travels and answer their questions about our work. Abby & Kelcy were pretty well behaved at the restaurant. Our friends were staying at the La Posada hotel in Winslow, so after dinner we visited their rooms. It is a very interesting older hotel with European styled rooms. They had rooms that were named after celebrities such as Mary Pickford and John Wayne.
Monday morning our friends came to visit us at the mission and brought juices and pastries for the children to share. The children really enjoyed the visit and appreciated the gift of food. I got the chance to show them that I was not exaggerating when I said that you can see 50 miles in any direction from the mission. It was a wonderful visit from our friends at home. They traveled onto their next destination, but the kindness of their visit will stay in our hearts here.
After we left the classrooms on Monday, Miss Springer’s class went outside with their cardboard ground hogs to see if they would see their shadow. They did lots of things with shadows that day.
Next week: Jerry gets older, Marshmallow Wars and a Hot Cheetos eating contests.
We had a great week of school! The kids were again pretty well behaved. The physical education classes are doing great!
In art class, we made clay sculptures out of modeling clay. Two of the boys made army tanks out of clay and one made “Wall-E” from the Disney motion picture. I had assorted decorations available for use, including beads, feathers, sea shells, drinking straws, toothpicks, etc. We all had a good time. The winds were blowing this week, causing the electricity to go in and out. We continue to have warm weather, at least above 50 degrees in the daytime and about 10-20 degrees overnight (Fahrenheit of course).
Friday evening we learned that one of the school children had a little brother that was still born at nearly full term. I have never been so close to someone in this situation. It was really heartbreaking and I have prayed for this child and family a whole lot. I hope that you will, too.
Saturday started out okay. The girls woke at their usual early time, but they went to play in the living room, leaving Jerry and I to rest in bed for a little longer. Unfortunately, they made a bad decision, one that we had warned them about in the past. As soon as I sat up in bed, I noticed an odd smell. Then Jerry noticed and we both took off running. It was the smell of melting plastic. We found a total of seven Barbie dolls sitting on TOP OF THE GAS HEATER! The Barbie dolls were melting down into the stove. Among the dolls was Abby’s collector’s edition Barbie Cinderella doll. Cinderella’s dress was brown and smoldering! I was terrified. We had warned the girls not to put ANYTHING on top of the gas stove, even before we began using it for heat. Needless to say, they both got a stern lecture about what could have happened and we had to throw away four of the dolls, including Cinderella.
The rest of Saturday was good, we spent the day working around the mission as a family. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed being outside in January without hats and gloves.
Sunday was a great service at Red Sands Christian Church. I had three kids in my Sunday school class, which was good. Then, I had six kids in junior church with me, which was nice too. The kids used puppets and made a puppet show to illustrate using good manners. It was very cute. We had a good adult attendance and after church we had the pot luck meal. Mr. Bill made roast, we brought chess cake and broccoli casserole and Miss Springer brought green beans and rice krispy treats. Some of the other church members supplied drinks and large sub sandwiches to share, potato salad and macaroni salad. It was an excellent meal.
Sunday evening
We did not watch the Super Bowl. I wanted Arizona to win, for obvious reasons! We had plans. Some friends of ours from Corbin were visiting the area and they took us out for dinner on Sunday night. It was a wonderful meal and it was VERY wonderful to see our friends and hear about their travels and answer their questions about our work. Abby & Kelcy were pretty well behaved at the restaurant. Our friends were staying at the La Posada hotel in Winslow, so after dinner we visited their rooms. It is a very interesting older hotel with European styled rooms. They had rooms that were named after celebrities such as Mary Pickford and John Wayne.
Monday morning our friends came to visit us at the mission and brought juices and pastries for the children to share. The children really enjoyed the visit and appreciated the gift of food. I got the chance to show them that I was not exaggerating when I said that you can see 50 miles in any direction from the mission. It was a wonderful visit from our friends at home. They traveled onto their next destination, but the kindness of their visit will stay in our hearts here.
After we left the classrooms on Monday, Miss Springer’s class went outside with their cardboard ground hogs to see if they would see their shadow. They did lots of things with shadows that day.
Next week: Jerry gets older, Marshmallow Wars and a Hot Cheetos eating contests.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Just to make myself clear...
I just wanted to make sure I was clear in my previous post. I put in there that I cry almost every day. Please don't think that I am miserable and crying all the time. I was afraid that I gave that impression, so I want to correct it. It is really just that I am emotional about some decisions we are preparing to make and THAT is making me more emotional. Things that would not ordinarily drive me to tears tend to do so right now. If I read a story about a lost dog or especially about the airplane crash landing last week, it always bothers me, but now I find myself crying. So, please don't worry about me and my family. We are all fine.
The other thing is that I want everyone to know that it was not my intention to complain about the work that I do here. I am happy to do what I can and always feel like I can never get enough done. All that I do is volunteered and not pressured by anyone. In fact, I am not nearly the busiest person who works here at the mission, much less the busiest person out there reading this post. So, if I gave any wrong impression there, please forgive me.
I am very blessed to be here at the mission and I am so blessed to have a healthy family and a comfortable home, plenty to eat and the opportunity to spend time with my children and husband during the work day.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We appreciate your interest and hope that I do not bore you too much with the details of our lives!
The other thing is that I want everyone to know that it was not my intention to complain about the work that I do here. I am happy to do what I can and always feel like I can never get enough done. All that I do is volunteered and not pressured by anyone. In fact, I am not nearly the busiest person who works here at the mission, much less the busiest person out there reading this post. So, if I gave any wrong impression there, please forgive me.
I am very blessed to be here at the mission and I am so blessed to have a healthy family and a comfortable home, plenty to eat and the opportunity to spend time with my children and husband during the work day.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We appreciate your interest and hope that I do not bore you too much with the details of our lives!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Now I understand what love is...
Monday, January 12 through January 18, 2009
Monday, I got to teach Art class again. The music teachers were not able to make it today, so they are re-scheduling music class for Thursday afternoon. Since that is when I teach art, I get tot each today! Today’s class was even better than the first class. We talked about shapes and identified shapes in our physical world. The class did great and we still had a lot of participation. I really enjoy it. Abby got her first homework assignment today. She is very excited. She is assigned to read in her reading books on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesday, we had library. I got the list of overdue books updated and prepared to story time this afternoon. I read two or three books, some poems and then we did some tongue twisters. The kids checked out books and I got to read some of them their new books. The guy came and replaced the windshield in our truck today. Abby got her report card today. She is doing very well. She needs to work on her handwriting, but otherwise she is doing well.
Wednesday, we dropped off our truck at the repair shop around lunch time. They called at 3PM and said they had the wrong part to fix the windows. We left the truck there until the next day, when we picked it up. The windows work fine. However, the passenger door cannot be opened from the inside now. So, another trip back to the shop on Monday.
Thursday, the Sprinkles came to teach music. Dave said that Abby is learning very well on the keyboard. He suggested that we do some hand exercises with her to help her be able to use her “ring” finger separately from her other fingers.
Friday, we went out to eat with Mr. Bill and Miss Springer. We finally got to try out the China Feast restaurant at the other end of town. It was very good The girls were well behaved and both ate pretty well. It was when we arrived at the restaurant that we realized that the door handle didn’t work. No one had ridden in the passenger seat prior to this time.
Saturday, we stayed home. It was a beautiful day for January. It was 70 degrees and sunny. The girls and I went for a walk out behind the trailer I felt pretty comfortable, as the rattlesnakes hibernate during the winter. We walked out a ways, back to the back fence of the property, then over to the fence corner behind the school. All of the tumbleweeds back there had been broken off and rolled away already. After that, I worked a little bit in my art room and the girls played on the playground. Abby is getting very good at starting the swing and swinging by herself. We got back to the house and I tried to get the girls settled for a nap, but they wouldn’t go for it. Jerry stayed with them, while I walked up to the church to get things ready for Sunday School class and to do a little straightening in the storage rooms. It was a nice relaxing day.
Sunday, we had church at Red Sands. I didn’t have any kids show up for my Sunday School class, so I got to sit in Jerry’s Sunday School class. Then, I did Wee Worship during the service so that Miss Springer (who teaches Abby’s Sunday School class) could come over for church service. We went home and had tacos for lunch. Mr. Bill drove the church bus to take the church members home. We had another lazy day, we all took a nap this time. Well, I guess Jerry did not nap because he was watching the Arizona Cardinals win the NFC Championship and get their place in the Super Bowl! We could have been at that game! Jerry argued that God would understand why we couldn’t go to church, but instead had to go to Glendale to see the Cardinals play. But I didn’t quite buy his argument. Jerry was kidding, of course.
As I sit writing this, dusk is falling over the desert. Another day is done.
I am having a hard time adjusting to life here again myself. I am feeling a little lost and lonely. I have been reading the Bible and that helps, but I really miss my friends and I am an adult. I can’t imagine the impact this is having on Abby & Kelcy. I am struggling with not crying almost every day. I am not sure why I am so emotional, but the decision we are making about whether to make another year’s commitment here weighs on my mind a lot.
I am trying my best to get things accomplished at the office, but Kelcy has been very needy and clingy. I haven’t been able to get nearly done what needs to be done. I feel like I get farther behind every day. I guess I have never really told what all I do, so here it goes. I do a little bit of church secretary work (trust me, not near what a real church secretary would do) and a little bit of school secretary work (again, not nearly what a school secretary does). I do a little bit of administrative assistant work with Mr. Bill, but he doesn’t ask for my help very often. I do the bookkeeping, paying the bills, the taxes, the salary and answer the telephones while watching my three year old daughter. I also try to do my part to keep the sanctuary clean by dusting furniture, vacuuming carpet and sweeping and mopping. I am not the only one who does this job, but I try to do my part. I am teaching the second grade through high school Sunday School class at church. I am acting as the librarian since Ms. Anne is in Phoenix for the winter. I keep track of the outstanding books and try to return the books to the shelves in their proper place. I also get to do story time with Miss Springer’s class. I am now teaching art on Thursday afternoons to the third through eighth grades. I get to lead the singing at Chapel every other week and to teach the Chapel lesson every fifth week. I try to keep up with the domestic chores as well, trying to keep the clothes washed, dinner cooked every night and the house straightened up. Life is pretty busy. I am not trying to impress anyone, just let you know a little about what I do in a week and why I might have a little trouble keeping up with everything. And I have yet to set up the ladies Bible study that I would like to start.
The title of the blog is a song lyric in an important song in my life, just in case you all are wondering.
Monday, I got to teach Art class again. The music teachers were not able to make it today, so they are re-scheduling music class for Thursday afternoon. Since that is when I teach art, I get tot each today! Today’s class was even better than the first class. We talked about shapes and identified shapes in our physical world. The class did great and we still had a lot of participation. I really enjoy it. Abby got her first homework assignment today. She is very excited. She is assigned to read in her reading books on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesday, we had library. I got the list of overdue books updated and prepared to story time this afternoon. I read two or three books, some poems and then we did some tongue twisters. The kids checked out books and I got to read some of them their new books. The guy came and replaced the windshield in our truck today. Abby got her report card today. She is doing very well. She needs to work on her handwriting, but otherwise she is doing well.
Wednesday, we dropped off our truck at the repair shop around lunch time. They called at 3PM and said they had the wrong part to fix the windows. We left the truck there until the next day, when we picked it up. The windows work fine. However, the passenger door cannot be opened from the inside now. So, another trip back to the shop on Monday.
Thursday, the Sprinkles came to teach music. Dave said that Abby is learning very well on the keyboard. He suggested that we do some hand exercises with her to help her be able to use her “ring” finger separately from her other fingers.
Friday, we went out to eat with Mr. Bill and Miss Springer. We finally got to try out the China Feast restaurant at the other end of town. It was very good The girls were well behaved and both ate pretty well. It was when we arrived at the restaurant that we realized that the door handle didn’t work. No one had ridden in the passenger seat prior to this time.
Saturday, we stayed home. It was a beautiful day for January. It was 70 degrees and sunny. The girls and I went for a walk out behind the trailer I felt pretty comfortable, as the rattlesnakes hibernate during the winter. We walked out a ways, back to the back fence of the property, then over to the fence corner behind the school. All of the tumbleweeds back there had been broken off and rolled away already. After that, I worked a little bit in my art room and the girls played on the playground. Abby is getting very good at starting the swing and swinging by herself. We got back to the house and I tried to get the girls settled for a nap, but they wouldn’t go for it. Jerry stayed with them, while I walked up to the church to get things ready for Sunday School class and to do a little straightening in the storage rooms. It was a nice relaxing day.
Sunday, we had church at Red Sands. I didn’t have any kids show up for my Sunday School class, so I got to sit in Jerry’s Sunday School class. Then, I did Wee Worship during the service so that Miss Springer (who teaches Abby’s Sunday School class) could come over for church service. We went home and had tacos for lunch. Mr. Bill drove the church bus to take the church members home. We had another lazy day, we all took a nap this time. Well, I guess Jerry did not nap because he was watching the Arizona Cardinals win the NFC Championship and get their place in the Super Bowl! We could have been at that game! Jerry argued that God would understand why we couldn’t go to church, but instead had to go to Glendale to see the Cardinals play. But I didn’t quite buy his argument. Jerry was kidding, of course.
As I sit writing this, dusk is falling over the desert. Another day is done.
I am having a hard time adjusting to life here again myself. I am feeling a little lost and lonely. I have been reading the Bible and that helps, but I really miss my friends and I am an adult. I can’t imagine the impact this is having on Abby & Kelcy. I am struggling with not crying almost every day. I am not sure why I am so emotional, but the decision we are making about whether to make another year’s commitment here weighs on my mind a lot.
I am trying my best to get things accomplished at the office, but Kelcy has been very needy and clingy. I haven’t been able to get nearly done what needs to be done. I feel like I get farther behind every day. I guess I have never really told what all I do, so here it goes. I do a little bit of church secretary work (trust me, not near what a real church secretary would do) and a little bit of school secretary work (again, not nearly what a school secretary does). I do a little bit of administrative assistant work with Mr. Bill, but he doesn’t ask for my help very often. I do the bookkeeping, paying the bills, the taxes, the salary and answer the telephones while watching my three year old daughter. I also try to do my part to keep the sanctuary clean by dusting furniture, vacuuming carpet and sweeping and mopping. I am not the only one who does this job, but I try to do my part. I am teaching the second grade through high school Sunday School class at church. I am acting as the librarian since Ms. Anne is in Phoenix for the winter. I keep track of the outstanding books and try to return the books to the shelves in their proper place. I also get to do story time with Miss Springer’s class. I am now teaching art on Thursday afternoons to the third through eighth grades. I get to lead the singing at Chapel every other week and to teach the Chapel lesson every fifth week. I try to keep up with the domestic chores as well, trying to keep the clothes washed, dinner cooked every night and the house straightened up. Life is pretty busy. I am not trying to impress anyone, just let you know a little about what I do in a week and why I might have a little trouble keeping up with everything. And I have yet to set up the ladies Bible study that I would like to start.
The title of the blog is a song lyric in an important song in my life, just in case you all are wondering.
Pained glass Part II
Sorry I didn’t finish my original story last time, Kelcy dumped a large glass of water all over the desk I was working on, so I was unavoidably delayed.
Back to our story: We had a snow day! School was canceled on January 4, the first day back from Christmas break. Jerry stayed home with the girls while I went into work.
The first day back to school was good. All the kids were pretty well behaved. It was Tuesday and we had chapel that morning. Miss Springer had the lesson and led the singing. She taught about resolutions and how we could all resolve to be better people. Certainly something we all need to hear! We didn’t have library that Tuesday.
I taught my firs art class that Thursday afternoon. It was a lot of fun for me and I hope the whole class. The class consisted of all of the kids from third through eighth grade. We stated off learning about the kinds of lines and how to find them in our physical world. The kids all did really well and proved willing to answer questions and draw examples on the board for everyone to see.
Saturday we went to Flagstaff to do our semimonthly visit to Sam’s to stock up on lunch snacks and frozen foods. We also did some Christmas shopping for the girls with the Christmas money they received. We had a nice trip, no snow or scary wind this time. We also purchased a “Mad Lib” book. Jerry had asked me to find one. His class was beginning grammar and diagramming and he thought it would be a fun way to learn about the parts of speech.
Sunday morning, we had church at Red Sands and Dilkon . We had I think sixteen at church on Sunday? I had two in my Sunday School class. They were good kids and we learned about Daniel , Paul and Peter and where they found the strength to face the oppositions.
Sunday night we drove to Dilkon for the pot luck meal there. I took potato salad, Mr. Bill made hamburgers and hot dogs, Miss Springer brought dessert and the Navajo ladies brought fry bread and baked beans and a wonderful chocolate cake. While I was driving over to Dilkon, Jerry was doing the Mad Libs with Abby and Kelcy. At one point, I was laughing so hard I could not see to drive. Of course right after that, my window fell down inside the door. As you may recall, last week the passenger side window fell down in the door. Well, this time it was the driver’s side door. I was just driving along and “poof”, it disappeared down into the door. It was pretty cold outside. We stopped at the Little Painted Desert to see if we could get the window up, but we didn’t have tools with us, so we headed on to Dilkon—about 10 to 15 miles with the window down. It got pretty cold on the girls, but we didn’t have to worry about the potato salad getting too warm!
We got the Dilkon at dusk and Jerry and Mr. Bill were able to get the window back up. It was a little irritating, but I tried to keep it in perspective. It is not like someone is sick or something bad has happened, it is just going to take time and money to get it fixed. On top of our windows, the front windshield in our truck was going to be replaced on Tuesday. The truck windshield had been hit by a rock out on I-40 and the hit began to crack the windshield. Hence the name of the blog—the glass issue is getting a little crazy.
To get to more serious matter, we lost four students over Christmas break. Three students moved away. I talked to the mother of the three who moved away and I am sure that she is doing what is best for her family, but we sure will miss that whole family. One student transferred to another school. It is hard to adjust to so many changes. I started elementary school in one school system and completed high school in the same school system. It is very difficult for me to imagine changing school like that as a child
Abby and Kelcy have had a hard time adjusting to coming back to Arizona. They ask every day when we are going back to Kentucky. They miss their friends and their “red” house as they call it. I really didn’t think that leaving would be this hard on the kids.
Back to our story: We had a snow day! School was canceled on January 4, the first day back from Christmas break. Jerry stayed home with the girls while I went into work.
The first day back to school was good. All the kids were pretty well behaved. It was Tuesday and we had chapel that morning. Miss Springer had the lesson and led the singing. She taught about resolutions and how we could all resolve to be better people. Certainly something we all need to hear! We didn’t have library that Tuesday.
I taught my firs art class that Thursday afternoon. It was a lot of fun for me and I hope the whole class. The class consisted of all of the kids from third through eighth grade. We stated off learning about the kinds of lines and how to find them in our physical world. The kids all did really well and proved willing to answer questions and draw examples on the board for everyone to see.
Saturday we went to Flagstaff to do our semimonthly visit to Sam’s to stock up on lunch snacks and frozen foods. We also did some Christmas shopping for the girls with the Christmas money they received. We had a nice trip, no snow or scary wind this time. We also purchased a “Mad Lib” book. Jerry had asked me to find one. His class was beginning grammar and diagramming and he thought it would be a fun way to learn about the parts of speech.
Sunday morning, we had church at Red Sands and Dilkon . We had I think sixteen at church on Sunday? I had two in my Sunday School class. They were good kids and we learned about Daniel , Paul and Peter and where they found the strength to face the oppositions.
Sunday night we drove to Dilkon for the pot luck meal there. I took potato salad, Mr. Bill made hamburgers and hot dogs, Miss Springer brought dessert and the Navajo ladies brought fry bread and baked beans and a wonderful chocolate cake. While I was driving over to Dilkon, Jerry was doing the Mad Libs with Abby and Kelcy. At one point, I was laughing so hard I could not see to drive. Of course right after that, my window fell down inside the door. As you may recall, last week the passenger side window fell down in the door. Well, this time it was the driver’s side door. I was just driving along and “poof”, it disappeared down into the door. It was pretty cold outside. We stopped at the Little Painted Desert to see if we could get the window up, but we didn’t have tools with us, so we headed on to Dilkon—about 10 to 15 miles with the window down. It got pretty cold on the girls, but we didn’t have to worry about the potato salad getting too warm!
We got the Dilkon at dusk and Jerry and Mr. Bill were able to get the window back up. It was a little irritating, but I tried to keep it in perspective. It is not like someone is sick or something bad has happened, it is just going to take time and money to get it fixed. On top of our windows, the front windshield in our truck was going to be replaced on Tuesday. The truck windshield had been hit by a rock out on I-40 and the hit began to crack the windshield. Hence the name of the blog—the glass issue is getting a little crazy.
To get to more serious matter, we lost four students over Christmas break. Three students moved away. I talked to the mother of the three who moved away and I am sure that she is doing what is best for her family, but we sure will miss that whole family. One student transferred to another school. It is hard to adjust to so many changes. I started elementary school in one school system and completed high school in the same school system. It is very difficult for me to imagine changing school like that as a child
Abby and Kelcy have had a hard time adjusting to coming back to Arizona. They ask every day when we are going back to Kentucky. They miss their friends and their “red” house as they call it. I really didn’t think that leaving would be this hard on the kids.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Pained Glass Windows....
We returned to the mission on Saturday, January 3rd. We left Louisville at 9AM and arrived in Phoenix at 11:00 AM local time (15 minutes early!) Our friends Jim & Anne picked us up from the airport and then provided us with lunch at their home before we began the drive to Winslow. Thank you Jim & Anne! Your hospitality is truly inspiring!
It was 70 degrees in Phoenix. We headed up to Flagstaff, which is about 2 hours north of Phoenix. There, it was blizzard conditions! It was 31 degrees and pouring the snow! It was beautiful! We stopped for groceries in Flagstaff before heading back to Winslow. Here, one of our problems started. While I was inside the store, Jerry was outside, putting our luggage into garbage bags (the luggage was in the back of our pick-up and, as I said, it was pouring the snow). Jerry had the passenger side window down so that Abby & Kelcy could see the snow. Well, somehow the passenger side window fell down into the door! Yes, fell down into the door! As in, can't come back up with our cracking open the door and doing something. So, it is 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon. We just left the airport, our window is open, it is pouring the snow and we are still 50 miles from home with no tools to get into the car door. Needless to say, we were a little put out.
But, the Lord provided as usual. We drove down the street and we saw a business with its "OPEN" sign still lit. We pulled up and saw that the shop was supposed to close at 3PM. Jerry tried the door and there was still a man there. He came out and looked at the door and said that he could probably help us. We pulled it inside and after an hour, he gets the door apart and the window up. THANK YOU SIR! We gladly paid him and were on our way home again. The window was up, but it was not fixed.
We drove home to the mission to find no snow. Kelcy made the comment that maybe we would have snow in the morning.
We got up on Sunday morning and we had snow! Lots of it! Jerry, Mr. Bill and Miss Springer decided to cancel church because the roads are not cleared here on the weekends. So, we had our family Christmas gift exchange that Sunday. It was magical. Abby kept saying "I told you it snows on Christmas". I was sad that there was no church that day, but we had a wonderful family day. We got to play in the snow. The snow was too powdery to make snow men, but Abby and Kelcy played by jumping into the snow drifts. We have not idea how much snow actually fell because the wind whips it around so much. But there were drifts about two feet high here at the mission. The girls jumping into them on their hands and knees. And we made snow angels. Then, we came in and had hot chocolate. It was a wonderful day.
That next day was Monday and school was canceled because we got more snow that night. The roads would have been terrible at school time. However, by lunch time on Monday, all the snow was melting quickly. Jerry kept the girls at home while I went into the office and got a lot accomplished that day. We also had a staff meeting about 1PM, since Miss Springer & Bill had come into their classrooms to work.
Abby and Kelcy have had an extra hard time coming back here. I think Kelcy was glad to be home in her bed.
It was 70 degrees in Phoenix. We headed up to Flagstaff, which is about 2 hours north of Phoenix. There, it was blizzard conditions! It was 31 degrees and pouring the snow! It was beautiful! We stopped for groceries in Flagstaff before heading back to Winslow. Here, one of our problems started. While I was inside the store, Jerry was outside, putting our luggage into garbage bags (the luggage was in the back of our pick-up and, as I said, it was pouring the snow). Jerry had the passenger side window down so that Abby & Kelcy could see the snow. Well, somehow the passenger side window fell down into the door! Yes, fell down into the door! As in, can't come back up with our cracking open the door and doing something. So, it is 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon. We just left the airport, our window is open, it is pouring the snow and we are still 50 miles from home with no tools to get into the car door. Needless to say, we were a little put out.
But, the Lord provided as usual. We drove down the street and we saw a business with its "OPEN" sign still lit. We pulled up and saw that the shop was supposed to close at 3PM. Jerry tried the door and there was still a man there. He came out and looked at the door and said that he could probably help us. We pulled it inside and after an hour, he gets the door apart and the window up. THANK YOU SIR! We gladly paid him and were on our way home again. The window was up, but it was not fixed.
We drove home to the mission to find no snow. Kelcy made the comment that maybe we would have snow in the morning.
We got up on Sunday morning and we had snow! Lots of it! Jerry, Mr. Bill and Miss Springer decided to cancel church because the roads are not cleared here on the weekends. So, we had our family Christmas gift exchange that Sunday. It was magical. Abby kept saying "I told you it snows on Christmas". I was sad that there was no church that day, but we had a wonderful family day. We got to play in the snow. The snow was too powdery to make snow men, but Abby and Kelcy played by jumping into the snow drifts. We have not idea how much snow actually fell because the wind whips it around so much. But there were drifts about two feet high here at the mission. The girls jumping into them on their hands and knees. And we made snow angels. Then, we came in and had hot chocolate. It was a wonderful day.
That next day was Monday and school was canceled because we got more snow that night. The roads would have been terrible at school time. However, by lunch time on Monday, all the snow was melting quickly. Jerry kept the girls at home while I went into the office and got a lot accomplished that day. We also had a staff meeting about 1PM, since Miss Springer & Bill had come into their classrooms to work.
Abby and Kelcy have had an extra hard time coming back here. I think Kelcy was glad to be home in her bed.
Parting is such sweet sorrow...
Dec. 19th through January 3rd
We had an amazing trip home for the holidays! We had great flights to and from Kentucky (Thank you Southwest Airlines for doing a great job!) We traveled around to Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and then back to Kentucky for New Year's celebration. We got to see friends and family. We didn't get to see Jamie, Jerry's brother from Charlotte, NC. We missed you this year Jamie! We just had a wonderful time. It was wonderful to again be in the fellowship of our home church and to speak with everyone. I really had a great time. It was, if anything, too busy. I didn't get a whole lot of time to spend with any one person, but it was still wonderful.
It was great to speak to those of you who are supporting our mission. It was nice to have an interested audience to hear as we droned on about what it is like here and the work we do and what we have learned about the Navajo people. Thank you for letting us share!
The New Year brought a lot of decision times for us. We are deciding whether we will be renewing our commitment to Navajo Trails for another year. Please keep that in your prayers.
Thank you to Mark & Tammy and especially to Emily who let us sleep in her bed! And to Norma (Jerry's Mother) for having us into her home and for taking care of us, even though she was not feeling well! I hope you are feeling better now. Thank you to Johnny & Barbara for having us in their home. We are so thankful to have such a loving family, that we can crash there for days and not feel like we are in the way.
The night before we left to come, I admit that I broke down and cried. We had a gathering at Tammy's home and when all the people left, I realized I would not see them for another long while. I broke down and cried and Jerry held me and let me know that everything is okay. Abby & Kelcy had a hard time leaving as well. But more about that later...
We had an amazing trip home for the holidays! We had great flights to and from Kentucky (Thank you Southwest Airlines for doing a great job!) We traveled around to Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and then back to Kentucky for New Year's celebration. We got to see friends and family. We didn't get to see Jamie, Jerry's brother from Charlotte, NC. We missed you this year Jamie! We just had a wonderful time. It was wonderful to again be in the fellowship of our home church and to speak with everyone. I really had a great time. It was, if anything, too busy. I didn't get a whole lot of time to spend with any one person, but it was still wonderful.
It was great to speak to those of you who are supporting our mission. It was nice to have an interested audience to hear as we droned on about what it is like here and the work we do and what we have learned about the Navajo people. Thank you for letting us share!
The New Year brought a lot of decision times for us. We are deciding whether we will be renewing our commitment to Navajo Trails for another year. Please keep that in your prayers.
Thank you to Mark & Tammy and especially to Emily who let us sleep in her bed! And to Norma (Jerry's Mother) for having us into her home and for taking care of us, even though she was not feeling well! I hope you are feeling better now. Thank you to Johnny & Barbara for having us in their home. We are so thankful to have such a loving family, that we can crash there for days and not feel like we are in the way.
The night before we left to come, I admit that I broke down and cried. We had a gathering at Tammy's home and when all the people left, I realized I would not see them for another long while. I broke down and cried and Jerry held me and let me know that everything is okay. Abby & Kelcy had a hard time leaving as well. But more about that later...
Friday, January 9, 2009
Week of December 15th
Monday
Today was a great day at school. The Sprinkles,who teach music to the school children, brought pizza for lunch for the entire school! We celebrated and had a lovely afternoon. The Sprinkles had to hurry back to Show Low, as they were forecast to get between 6 and 24 inches of snow.
After school, we loaded up in the school van and drove to Flagstaff,AZ for our Staff Christmas dinner. We picked up Miss Dawn and Mr. John and Ms. Ruth in Winslow, then headed toward Flagstaff. The snow started about 6000 feet. We drove into a blizzard of beautiful snow. Mr. Bill drove us fearlessly to the restaurant (Outback Steakhouse). I would like to thank Bill & Norma Jean for sending a donation for us all to have Christmas dinner together. We had a great meal and all enjoyed it tremendously. Afterward, Mr. Bill drove us home in the heavy snow. The roads were all covered as we were getting on the interstate, but the snow stopped again about 6000 feet in elevation. When we returned to Winslow and Red Sands, there was no snow.
This was a party week! The school children had received gifts from churches all around the country. There were some from Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and Kentucky. The kids opened gifts each day, so that they could remember which church sent them and take them home one at a time. The kids got toothbrushes and toothpaste, candy, toys, clothing and shoes. Thank you so much to all of the churches who sent presents to the schoolchildren! It really made a nice Christmas for the kids who would not otherwise have received things that were needed and wanted.
Thursday night
The Christmas program was tonight! All of the kids were great! Mr. Diehl's class read the scripture of the birth of Christ, Mr. Bill's class furnished the backgrounds and Miss Springer's class performed the motions indicated in the scripture. Abby & Kelcy were angels. A stretch for them, if you all know them. This was Kelcy's debut in school programs and she did just fine. Abby had been in the Fall program, and she followed instructions well and performed her role well, too. All of the kids did great. Afterward, Mr. Bill gave a devotion about making Christmas and the spirit of Christmas last all year. Then, we had refreshments provided by the children. It was a wonderful night.
Friday
The school kids opened the last presents and then we provided lunch for all the kids and then we all watched a movie together. School was released early today. Then, we were on our way to Kentucky!
Monday
Today was a great day at school. The Sprinkles,who teach music to the school children, brought pizza for lunch for the entire school! We celebrated and had a lovely afternoon. The Sprinkles had to hurry back to Show Low, as they were forecast to get between 6 and 24 inches of snow.
After school, we loaded up in the school van and drove to Flagstaff,AZ for our Staff Christmas dinner. We picked up Miss Dawn and Mr. John and Ms. Ruth in Winslow, then headed toward Flagstaff. The snow started about 6000 feet. We drove into a blizzard of beautiful snow. Mr. Bill drove us fearlessly to the restaurant (Outback Steakhouse). I would like to thank Bill & Norma Jean for sending a donation for us all to have Christmas dinner together. We had a great meal and all enjoyed it tremendously. Afterward, Mr. Bill drove us home in the heavy snow. The roads were all covered as we were getting on the interstate, but the snow stopped again about 6000 feet in elevation. When we returned to Winslow and Red Sands, there was no snow.
This was a party week! The school children had received gifts from churches all around the country. There were some from Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and Kentucky. The kids opened gifts each day, so that they could remember which church sent them and take them home one at a time. The kids got toothbrushes and toothpaste, candy, toys, clothing and shoes. Thank you so much to all of the churches who sent presents to the schoolchildren! It really made a nice Christmas for the kids who would not otherwise have received things that were needed and wanted.
Thursday night
The Christmas program was tonight! All of the kids were great! Mr. Diehl's class read the scripture of the birth of Christ, Mr. Bill's class furnished the backgrounds and Miss Springer's class performed the motions indicated in the scripture. Abby & Kelcy were angels. A stretch for them, if you all know them. This was Kelcy's debut in school programs and she did just fine. Abby had been in the Fall program, and she followed instructions well and performed her role well, too. All of the kids did great. Afterward, Mr. Bill gave a devotion about making Christmas and the spirit of Christmas last all year. Then, we had refreshments provided by the children. It was a wonderful night.
Friday
The school kids opened the last presents and then we provided lunch for all the kids and then we all watched a movie together. School was released early today. Then, we were on our way to Kentucky!
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