November

Update on us:

We are going to Charlotte for Christmas! We are excited about being in NC again. We have only really had 24 hours total in Charlotte in the last year. I can't believe it's been a year and yet we feel like we have been here for a very long time. We have had a lot happen in the last year, moved twice (sort of 3 times actually!), job changes, life changes, school changes, man! Anyway, we are having a great time living so close to campus in our little townhouse.

Some new things to consider. I had Megan's first parent teacher meeting which went very well. Her teacher recommended that Megan go into kindergarden next year. SUPRISE! She said she thought Megan would be bored in pre-school, I happen to agree. Megan has asked me "when are you going to teach me how to read?" almost everyday for over a week now. So I researched some books and ordered "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons". She checks the mail everyday now in antisipation of the book getting here. "Hungry to learn" is also something her teacher expressed. Anyway, we have now started the task of figuring out where she should go to school next year. Public school in this area are really bad so that is out, private schools are super expensive, and I don't think I am ready to homeschool right now. We have found a school called Christian Life Preparatory that is a university style school. Basicly it is a private school/homeschool hybrid. They go to class 2 days a week and are sent home with lots of homework for the other days, and it's about 1/3 the cost of full time private school. I really want this school to work out. We know that if it's Gods will for us He will make it work.

Jacob is turning 3 years old next week. I can't believe that my baby is going to be 3. He doesn't like me to call him my baby anymore, he insists that he is a big boy. Of course he is, but he is still MY baby!!! Anyway, he is having a Thomas the Train Birthday party tomorrow, he has been planning it since Megans Birthday in June. He knows exactly what he wants, presents and all. He has been asking for a Thomas the Train laptop for months now (Grandma Cherry is making sure he gets it!) and even had the guest list set all up. We are going to do our best to make sure his day is very special. Grandma Donna is even making him a Thomas the Train cake! He is going to be so excited.

I have applied for a job at a local pre-school as a sub teacher while Megan is at her school. Jacob will get to go for free and I will get to make some extra income for us. I have registered for classes for next semester, 7 hours this time! We shall see if I can do it. God keeps providing for us even when we think we can't make it work. It's almost like going back to when we first got married, except we have 2 kids along for the ride. Makes life fun! Today when I went to the free food line here on campus they were giving away frozen turkeys and all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner. Never would have thought a year ago that I would have even been in a free food line, but most of all that I would be so incredibly greatful for a free turkey and fixings for Thanksgiving. God has changed our perspectives on a lot of things.

This week we went through everything in our storage unit to attempt to move into a smaller less expensive one. We ended up taking about 5 big boxes of clothes, toys, household goods and some furniture home with us to give away. We set all the stuff out in front of our townhouse and put signs up letting everyone know that it was all free. There were so many people looking through everything and thanking me for giving it all away. I want to thank those of you who have given us so much. There are now lots of little Korean and American seminary kids running around with clothes that say "Greek" on the tag, or with things from various Charlotte,NC botiques, the Schuler exer-saucer (a little worn out now but still usable) went to a Chinese family across the street, my parents old kitchen table went to a family with 5 kids to use as a homechool desk, it really is so much fun to give it all away. The rest went to the seminary ministry called the Helping Hands House. Seminary students can go there and get any thing they want for free. Lots of international students have nothing when they get here and are able to furnish their appartments for free.

Okay, I will stop rambling now! I hope you all have an incredible Thanksgiving Holiday. We are Thankful for all of you, Rebecca

Keeping busy

So, with my classes (2 papers due soon), Megan's school events, teaching jake and keeping track of all Michael's stuff I am keeping very busy. Today Michael is going to the race with his brothers and I have the entire morning to chill out at home before the day starts rolling. We have a class get together for Megan at Chuck-E-Cheese then it's off to N. Richland for Dinner with my Grandpa who is in from Charlotte for a few days. Yesterday we had a Birthday party at the Zoo in the morning and one 30 minutes away after lunch. I know it is my choice to go or not, or to pick one but I have a hard time with that. But I was exhausted by the time 4pm came around. I had been accidentally bitten, Jake fell from who knows where at the playground at party #2 and got a huge welt on his head (the debate on whether or not to go to urgent care ensued), and Megan had scraped both knees and bumped her head. Good things though were that I met a new friend and have playdates with her and her son to look forward to, Jake ended up being okay (I was up several time during the night to check on him though), and the kids were just as tired as I was and went to bed without a fight. I have to keep perspective!

Here's a fun note, we are going to Charlotte for Christmas! We will be flying in on the 21st, Michael will be going home on the 26th and I will go home with the kids on the 28th. We are excited to see family and friends and check out what's new in town. It's been a year almost since we moved and we have only been back one time for about 24 hours. If anyone wants to schedule a get together let me know.