June 13, 2010

Surprise! For those of you who haven't heard yet...I'm actually in the United States!!! I kept it a secret as my father didn't know I was coming home. We (the rest of the family and I) wanted to surprise him when I showed up in time for his retirement party last Friday. Therefore, we just decided to let all of you know...after the party was over so that there would be no chance in someone accidentally telling my father! Our hard work paid off! My dad was completely surprised! While my sisters walked up the driveway (surprising him a bit anyway as he didn't know my older sister and her husband were coming either)...I snuck in the back door and came back out the front onto the front porch where they were standing. I began talking and he responded as if it were nothing...then when he turned around and it registered that it was ME...he just couldn't believe it! So much fun!

This quick trip home is of multiple blessings...as if it weren't enough that I actually got to be here for all of the family activities celebrating my dad's life and his accomplishments...I also get to spend time with my adorable nephews (notice the plural...my sister, Emily, gave birth to her second child on June 2...Ian Christopher Marks...weighing 8 pounds, 21 inches)...and of course, I always enjoy the chance to get caught up with as many of you as possible! As I will only be able to stay in the states for about a month this time...I don't think I'll have time to travel outside of Virginia and North Carolina. However, if you happen to be in one of these two states, drop me an email or call my parents to track me down and I'll do my best to work you into my schedule! Of course...in general, I'd just enjoy a phone call as well since it doesn't cost as much as an international phone call would!


Tomorrow...I'll be going to the mountains with the family...we'll be spending the week there...then I'll be spending a few days in Abingdon, VA before making my way back towards Franklin. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers! I appreciate them so much...and for the great blessing of having a few quick weeks here with family and many of you! God is good...all the time!

June 2, 2010

Hello there friends and family! I apologize for not up-dating my blog recently...things have been a bit hectic here!!!

Last week, we finished the school year with a bang! There were cookouts to celebrate the end of the year, graduation, cleaning up classrooms, teacher luncheon...and to really end with a bang, I stepped into the Elementary Principal's position by leading a meeting for all of the rising 4th grade parents to hopefully begin resolving some of the MAJOR discipline issues that have occurred in that classroom so far. Obviously, it was a very full week!!!

This week hasn't been as full...although it still has plenty of action! My roommate, Chelsea, will be leaving on Friday morning...so we've had plenty of outings and activities planned (most of them including FOOD) for this week to help her to have a good send-off!!! I should also be working on packing up the house...as I need to have my things stored in one of the rooms next week when I move out so that the other family can begin moving in. I will leave my things store here in one of the bedrooms until the other house is fixed up and I can move into it (which will hopefully be in the middle of July)!!!

I also got some VERY exciting news yesterday!!! Allison Lee, one of the new teachers coming down who is going to move in with me...got permission from SAM yesterday to go ahead and buy her tickets to come down!!! She will arrive in the middle of July at the same time that I am moving into the new house!!! Praise the Lord for allowing her to take this next step!!! Please continue to pray for the rest of the financial support that she needs to be fully supported as well as the support that several other teachers still need. Speaking of teachers...we also need a couple of elementary teachers yet and some junior high/high school teachers. We would also appreciate your prayers for those specific needs!!!

Well, I have a full day planned, so I should keep this up-date short. Thank you so much for your interest and prayers in the work that God is doing here in Santa Cruz.