its so hard to believe.
Saturday marked a month since I've been here, and it does not even feel close to that.
It feels alot longer, but it has absolutely flown by.
A week ago, Saturday, at the update of my last blog..
We had a really long staff meeting for the next two weeks.
It wasn't the most pleasant thing I've ever sat through, but we had alot to get ready for.
We took it easy that night after getting 2 weeks of lesson plans ready, as we're coming to appreciate our weekends and every free moment more and more the longer we stay here.
Sunday was Fathers Day, and we helped with the luncheon after church,
and enjoyed fellowshipping with the people of the church that I am coming to love more and more the longer we are here.
After a bike ride that afternoon, we went to one of our kids houses for the night.
THIS WAS SUCH GREAT RELAXATION.
The family was gone for the week, and since we were dogsitting, we were invited to come and spend the night away from our crowded dorm rooms, and enjoy their hottub :)
This was just a little bit of heaven, Im pretty sure. haha.
After a wonderful, wonderful night there with a few of the girls..
we got up Monday early to get ready to go out on the lake with one of the men who comes to bible study at the church. He is a recovering alcoholic with a lot to learn, but a lot of fun also.
He took us out on the boat on our day off that day, and we had a BLAST. to say the least.
I attempted wakeboarding, but in water that felt like negative ten degrees, didn't have too much luck, even though i did get up once!
We ate lunch lakeside at a nice restaurant, and got a chance to drive BRAND SPANKIN NEW sea-doos out on Lake Tahoe after that. The boat owner knew some locals that had sea doos that were going to rented out that needed hours on them. Needless to say, we were more than happy to help. This was probably one of the funnest moments since I've been here.
We finished up that day, completely relaxed, by laying out on the beach by Lake Tahoe, about a mile from our church. The weather has been PERFECT the past week or so. About 75 degrees during the day with the prettiest, clearest skies I've ever seen. DEFINITELY YET ANOTHER BLESSING ABOUT THIS PLACE.
Tuesday began another day at Big A.
Although it was kinda chaotic getting back in the swing of things, it ended up going pretty good.
A HUGE blessing I witnessed this day was when a little boy who wasn't too excited to be at Big A the week before showed up with a smile on his face this day, and his mom told me he had been singing the songs from our musical that we were learning, at home. PRAISE GOD.
Sometimes I think that I have less of an opportunity to share Christ because my children have such young minds. BOY, IS THAT WRONG OR WHAT?!
Wednesday. our first field trip with my class!
We went to the fire department down the street for a tour, and lunch on the beach.
Even though my three year olds were worn out from the walk over, and pretty fussy, it ended up being a pretty good day.
Thursday. CARNIVAL DAY!
The biggest expected day of Big A for the summer was a hit!
I ran the penny toss station, and enjoyed playing along with each and every kid there, and being able to encourage them along the way.
We had 171 kids that day which is 5 short of the most that they've ever had.
YET ANOTHER REASON TO PRAISE GOD, LOOKING ON THE PAST WEEK.
Friday. Hello another 14 hour day!
My three year olds were angels this day. I was talking with the other teacher and we were overcome with thanksgiving. Our kids behaved so well, and it really hit both of us really how happy we are to be teaching the children that we are this summer. I really really really don't know what I'm going to do when I have to tell them bye, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment.
A specific prayer request for my class.
Most of the children's families that come to our program are not Christians.
However, one boy in particular has won my heart for sure already in the little time that I've been there. Seth Rosen. He wasn't at Big A all last week, and Friday when he showed up, Im pretty positive that my face lit up the room. He is absolutely precious, and I've already bonded with him so much. I was informed last week that his family is Jewish. It has been such a blessing to get to know my kids parents, and build relationships with them. I met his dad Friday and after getting to tell him how much I adored his son just sat and talked for a minute. Pray that I am able to show Christ to this family who has come to mean SO much to me.
After a long night that ended at 10 pm after Parents Night Out,
we packed our bags, and crashed, only to wake up at 430 AM to head to San Francisco!
We had all been excited about this weekend, and it was a ton of fun to be able to see so many places in just two days. I cant wait to go back with my parents in about a week and a half!
We got to visit the Full House houses, Alcatraz prison, Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and just the whole San Francisco bay. It was wonderful to get away and bond more and more with the girls.
One of the coolest experiences of this trip was the fact that Sarah and I rode in the Captains deck on the ferry on the way back from Alcatraz, and actually drove the ferry into the bay. Its a long story, but we wound up getting connections. This summer has provided so many firsts for me, and I absolutely love it!
One of the not so cool experiences of this trip. Sarah. the girl who has become my bestfriend out here pretty much, who I spend ALOT of my time with wound up in the emergency room Sunday night. She was having extremely sharp pains in her stomach, so we stopped on the way home and took her in. The diagnosis was never really clear, but I enjoyed being able to be there for her, and take care of her when she needed it SO much. She has been resting all day today getting ready for the week, trying to get better. Continue to pray for her as we all need 100 percent health to survive the weeks out here. Our God is the ultimate healer.
Because of that, we got home at 330 this morning, and we all enjoyed sleeping in today on our day off. We spent the afternoon laying on the beach, and came home with a pretty good sunburn. Im determined to get sun while Im out here! haha.
God moments this week:
Little David's mom telling me he came home singing our songs.
In other words. God knows what he's up to here. I do not.
Reading through the story of Abraham and Genesis still..
I was reading about Lot's wife and how when she looked back she became a pillar of salt.
I NEED TO FOCUS ON THE HERE AND NOW.
I seriously dread telling the people of Tahoe bye, and there are probably some things I could've wanted to change since I've been here. BUT none of that matters. What matters is right here, right now. and being all that I can be for my purpose here.
Im going to end this with Debbies infamous quote.
"LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME. LIFE IS ABOUT GOD. LIFE IS ABOUT GIVING MYSELF AWAY DAILY TO THE HIGH GLORY OF GOD."
Will I ever be able to completely grasp that?
MANNN. Im doing my best.
HERES TO ANOTHER WEEK OF BIG A.
Was there someone on Alcatraz saying "welcome to the rock" like in the movie?
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