Bike Riding

While there are definitely some things to accomplish work-wise on my agenda this summer, that does not necessarily translate into "Oooh fun!" for Daniel. So in order to keep from watching endless hours of tv or griping at each other for whatever reason, I've been trying to figure out at least one activity/out of the house thing each day.

On our second Saturday, Daniel pretty much mastered riding a two-wheeler. This has been a great large motor activity to occupy our mornings, as the pool and playground at school are closed for summer repairs.

A bamboo history museum disguised as a flag in a park we found one afternoon.

 

 

Here's the first day and then a week later. Still working on the brake thing!

So far in June...and Court!

May 31 was our last day of the Faith Academy school year. We said goodbye to our preschool classes and then prepared for many other goodbyes in the coming days. This year we have had to say goodbye to some special people in our lives...its been a tough few days.

We headed out one evening last week with some friends as a thank you (from me) for watching Daniel after school all year. It was also a fun night out to say goodbye to some of our besties - the Quick family.

Our first stop was SlappyCakes, a new-to-us restaurant in Eastwood City, not too far from home. 

The big draw? Make-your-own pancakes, with an electric griddle in the middle of the table. Buy some bottles of batter, toppings and mix-ins and you're ready to go! Kids had a great time (the adults did too!).

Next we moved on to bowling. Hurrah for bumper lanes and excited kiddos! 

The fab three. So bummed they won't all be together this year...or the next...or the next. Being a missionary kid stinks sometime, especially when your parents and their friends are not all on the same furlough schedule.

One June 13, Daniel and I headed to the courthouse for our first (FINALLY!!!) court appointment. We were super blessed to be first on the docket. Unfortunately, we had to wait nearly an hour past start time before the judge even showed up. All 26 cases were announced, with lawyers popping up each time to give appropriate statements. After about 15 minutes of that, our case was presented. Our lawyer read a list of submitted documents, Daniel and I stood up, I signed a paper, we heard our next dates assigned...and onto case number 2! All of it took less than five minutes. Our next court date is Sept. 5, and then number three will be on Oct. 10. I'm hoping we will actually be finished with court at the end of the Oct 10 date. 

Thanks for all your prayers and support. I'm hoping to send a few more formal letters later in the summer, but if anyone wanted to join our financial & prayer support team, please check out the link on the right side. Its super easy to give online! 

Love,

Kim & Daniel

The Quotable Kid...

Daniel (In the car):  Mom, I'm going to talk to myself now.

Silence...

Me: Did you say anything to yourself?
Daniel: Yes!
Me: But I didn't hear you.
Daniel: I was talking to MYSELF!
Me: Well, what did you say?
Daniel: I can't tell you. It's a secret.

It's Hot...a poetic reflection on April & May in the PI

It's Hot  

It's hot! 

I can't get cool, 

I've drunk a quart of lemonade. 

I think I'll take my shoes off 

And sit around in the shade.

It's hot! 

My back is sticky, 

The sweat rolls down my chin.

I think I'll take my clothes off 

and sit around in my skin. 

It's hot!

I've tried with 'lectric fans 

And pools and ice cream cones. 

I think I'll take my skin off 

And sit around in my bones. 

It's still hot! 

-by Shel Silverstein

BIG DAY #1

Just a little update to let all you pray-ers out there know that June 13 will be our first court date for our adoption case. Unfortunately, I have a judge who traditionally processes cases very slowly, but the upside is she is pro-adoption and there shouldn't be any reason for the case to be held up or denied. Please pray that June 13 will be a very positive day all around, as we meet the judge and present our paper work. Pray for my nerves, as I've never actually been in a court room (that I can remember, anyway), and for Daniel and I as a family to make a great first impression on the judge.

Additionally, we are about to enter our last month of the school year. We've had a number of preschoolers leave early because of family plans/furloughs, so our numbers are low. Fear not though, excitement is still high, as the kids continue to learn, play, and mature. It is so fun to compare friendships, play choices, and the general feeling of each day to what it was like at the beginning of the year. These kids are really growing up! I will be very sad to pass on our older group to kindergarten next year, as they have been a delight. I look forward to our younger group moving up and to be able to continue to see growth and change in each of their little lives next year.

In PE, we have just finished one of four weeks of our second swimming unit. It really is my favorite unit to teach, because I love the water and love instilling that into the kids. It helps too, that its HOT season and its a great way to cool off! We do have a few that are quite nervous in the pool, so please pray that they would be comfortable enough to relax and learn some of the skills I am teaching. Most of our students love to learn in the pool and make things easy.

hanging out with some new friends

 

Best buddies: Daniel, Trina & Ezra

Meeting some of the "locals" (a carabao) at a recent fair.

Anyone looking for something to do this summer? We'd love some visitors! Come experience the beauty of the Philippines, the islands and it's people!

How can I be praying for you? Please email and let me know! Audblsmile@aol.com

Stress Levels @ Red Alert!

Friends, I could really use some prayer right now, on a lot of levels. School starts in 36 hours, where I will be teaching preschool (which I haven't done before) in the mornings, then switch to P.E. each afternoon. Although the first two days of preschool are basically ready, I haven't even started making decisions on PE yet. Add to that the fact that all of my PE equipment is in a new place and I haven't laid eyes on it yet, nor do I have the key to my new office.

Additionally, it looks like Arwyn (18 mos) who has been with me for about 4 1/2 weeks now will be staying for a while. Unfortunately, I do not have child care lined up and need to find something for the many hours I will be gone teaching each day! There is a plan, but we have yet to find a caregiver who will work out for me and the other family that will be sharing her.

Also, I do not have a housemate and the expenses of daily life are starting to weigh heavily on me as well. Not having a housemate for a few months was do-able, but looking ahead to the entire school year without someone to share expenses seems a bit tough.

Finally, the idea of being a full-time teacher and part-time parent is heavy on my heart as well, especially now with Arwyn in the picture (Daniel will actually be in preschool each morning with me). The physical side of things, like wondering if I will have enough energy at the end of each school day to be a mom that my kids want to be with, is a struggle too.

All of these are problems that can be solved easily by our very big God, so I ask that you join with me in prayer for the following:

• A good start to the school year. Both Thursday & Friday are "first" days for me -  I will teach 4 year olds, kinder, and grades 1 & 5 on Thursday; 3 year olds, kinder & grade 2 on Friday.
• A suitable, competent, loving househelper/nanny. We have an interview tomorrow afternoon - our fourth interview this month.
• Finances - for someone (even short-term) to share expenses and/or new supporters to come alongside to partner with me financially in what I am doing here in the Philippines.
• Physical strength for each day - I'm already a bit weary in the preparations and the school year hasn't actually started yet.

Thanks for praying!
~Kim

Summer, Babies, and More!

Yeah, ok, it's been nearly a year since I updated. Sigh...I'm SOOOO terrible at this stuff! Lots of things happen of course, in the day to day, and over the span of a year, but aside from facebook updates, I can't ever get my behind in gear to publish anywhere else. Seriously though, people, WHO is going to keep me accountable to at least monthly updates?!?!?

Hmm, so, what do you need to know...

First of all, let's start with the future. Not typical, I know, but perhaps it's what you want to know about most...the "what is she doing now" type of info. On August 2, 2012, the new school year at Faith Academy will begin, and I will be joining the ranks in PRESCHOOL!!! Yes, you heard/read correctly. From 5th grade all the way down to the wee-est ones! See, the deal is that with Daniel starting preschool this year, I can teach and be with him in the mornings (preschool classes are 7-11am), then continue teaching elementary PE in the afternoons (while Daniel goes to child care). And although his "class" only meets two mornings a week, I get a perk, as his teacher, that he gets to come to school with the 4-year old class the other three mornings too! It's totally win-win...aside from the fact that I don't really know how to teach preschool. But eh, I'll learn, right?

My super hero-adventurer!

Captain"Cook"

Last school year (which this blog skipped entirely - good one, Kim), I was full-time staff, teaching PE in the afternoons, but also coordinating all the volunteers. This meant processing applications of all volunteers around the school, as well as finding a substitute teacher anytime someone needed one. It was actually super stressful, and although I am very thankful for a job that I could do mostly from home which allowed me to spend time with Daniel, I am ALSO very thankful that I won't be doing it again next year!

Well, that's the future and the past (in the briefest version ever), so what's the present? Well, school ended on June 1, and that Sunday I picked up Baby C from Gentle Hands. She is (was?) 11 months old and the tiniest, cutest little thing! 

 

 Daniel was totally in love, calling her "my baby" and being totally protective.  We did a short 2-week foster, just to give her a different environment for a while, some special attention, and to give GH a little break. 

Week 3 of summer was spent baby-less, but at the start of week 4, we brought home Baby A. She is 17 months old, and WAAAY different than I thought she was going to be! See, she's not a big fan of people in general, and particularly white ones. Although I've known her since she was about a month old, and play with her weekly, she still cries when I (or any white person) come into the nursery. So it was time for "baby boot camp". Well, not really, but she also had been screaming pretty much for 2 weeks straight for whatever reason, so everyone at Gentle Hands kinda needed a break from her. I took her home with us on Sunday night, expecting to last maybe two days.

Serious face

Silly smiles!

But to my surprise, she has been so awesome! She toddles around, singing "Twinkle Twinkle" and other songs, chases Daniel around the house while shrieking in laughter, eats super well, signs lots of words, and even does some talking. She is so very happy most of the time when we are home, although new situations when we go out make her nervous. She is no extrovert like Daniel, but definitely has her own little personality! No idea how long I'll keep this one...

In Daniel-adoption news, we were officially "matched" in May, but have yet to get a court date. Currently, I need to get some papers to my lawyer, but that should be done next week. I'm praying (and you can pray too!) to be done by Christmas. Pray too, for "trial by commissioner". It's too much to explain here how the court process works, but if we got that, things would go MUCH more quickly.

Daniel is doing great - growing, learning, and having lots of fun. He's learning to recognize some sight words, with about 20 that he can identify most of the time. I love watching him grow up, but can't believe how little "baby" is left in him already! He's such a big boy (though still not quite tipping the scales at 30 pounds) and my little toddler has turned into a full-fledged 31/2 year old preschooler!

Ok, I could go on forever (this is the problem of not blogging for over a year), but I'll stop here. Maybe I'll write again soon...someone make me do this!

Love,

Kim 

(& Daniel too!)