Hot and Bothered

Julie's car has an overheating problem! I just helped her limp it home. We would drive for about 5 minutes and then stop to let it cool for 20 to 30 minutes. After 3 stops, we finally completed what should have been a 20 minute drive. It took us about 2 hours. But now it's home, where it can be fixed at some point. Until then, we'll have to play musical cars and see who winds up walking!

We also have a broken AC at home. Open windows and fans help some. Just about the time we can't stand it anymore, it turns cooler for a day or two. I think it's time to call the AC guy, though. We have a slow leak that requires a refill of refrigerant every year or two. Mind you, if I can't handle this, I have no business in Haiti. I'm just not acclimated.

It's after midnight, and I'm waiting on the washer and dryer to finish so I can pack for a retreat this weekend. I also have to prep for a Haiti Team meeting, which will be Sunday afternoon. Maybe I'll take my laptop and work on it at the retreat. I hope I get some rest this weekend!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Tomorrow is Resurrection Day or, as most know it, Easter. This is the day we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in order to redeem us from our sin. I pray you will have a blessed day as you remember Christ's sacrifice for us.

In the morning, Mark will be assisting with sound for the Sunrise Outdoor service. I'll be singing with a small ensemble for our three indoor services. With 10 voices plus a soloist, four horns, and the usual guitar, bass, piano & drums, we'll be putting out a wall of sound! It's nice to get the opportunity to lead in worship again! May God be glorified!

Please pray for Agape Flights. Their new plane, a Beechcraft King Air which has been named "Grace," had engine failure in one of the engines on April 1. With a full cargo load, they made a safe emergency landing in the Bahamas, using the one remaining engine. Using a borrowed plane, the pilots were able to deliver the load to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The pilots then went home and the mechanics went down to begin the process of replacing the engine. Since the mechanics are both pilots, they will bring home the plane when finished. They will have to bring their own tools and work on the tarmac as a hangar isn't available. Please pray for financial provision for this added expense.

Sliding into Spring Break

I'm glad Spring Break has arrived! It's nice to have some time off the merry-go-round life has become. Not that I regret any of it. It's just nice to have a break!

Unfortunately, my Spring Break started off with a bang. Or, rather, a crash. On my Friday afternoon bus run, I topped a wet, slick hill to discover a small SUV waiting to turn left. Slick road, full bus, not enough stopping distance. You get the picture. Fortunately, no one was injured. The bus sustained a slightly bent bumper that you have to look closely to detect. Unfortunately, the SUV did not fare so well. The back window shattered and the back of the vehicle was pushed in. They were able to drive it away, but I know it will probably be a hardship for them. It was a young couple with a baby and a toddler. After all the paperwork was done, I finished my route without incident. One of my kind fellow teachers even waited around to greet me with a hug! He figured I'd need it, and I did!

This weekend, we finally finished our "New Year's" letter to mail off. We were too far into it to change it from winter to spring! It was a big project that we undertook in preparation for announcement letters about going into missions. Now, to get it to the post office!

Yesterday we met with the wedding photographer for our daughter. They are taking engagement photos as we speak. We are praising the Lord we had the funds to pay his down payment. Now we only need figure out how to pay for the flowers, the church, the cake, and the second half of the photography! Aren't weddings grand! Don't get me wrong. We're very excited about it and know it will be worth every penny!

Yesterday we also got a new foster pet. A family from my school is moving and could not take their dog at this point. We now have a 2-year-old black lab named Fezzik (from the Princess Bride) living with us. He and Emma are still getting used to one another. We have a few habits we need to break, but he should do fine.

My focus for Spring Break is to do some house cleaning/decluttering. I'm focusing on Will's stuff and the living room. I'm finding myself enjoying some relaxing time, too! It's so easy for time to get away, though.

I hope you are enjoying your Spring Break, if you get one. If not, just enjoy spring!

Vicious Cycle

This picture seemed so fitting! How appropriate that the "bike" is yellow! Sometimes my bus is so sluggish (no turbocharger) that I wish I had a bumper sticker that says, "I'm pedaling as fast as I can!"

Life seems like a vicious cycle lately. Drive the bus, teach, drive the bus, finish any test grading or paperwork, go home, eat something, fall in bed, start over the next day! Also, I've had the challenge of fighting off viruses and allergies! But God keeps sustaining me! Praise to Him!

I try to carve out time to do a few mundane tasks like laundry or dishes when I can. It seems something always eats up the spare time! This weekend, I'm hoping to squeeze in time for cutting the guys' hair and maybe making soap. We'll see!

I don't know if I mentioned that we had to drop Perspectives, the missions course we were taking. We thought that our paying for the online course would qualify us for a free class, but they are different organizations within the ministry. God knew best. Mark had started overtime at work & I'm busy enough without a class to attend.

I will be adding Haiti Team meetings to my schedule soon! We're trying to put together our first meeting. Right now, we have more interested parties than we have spots on the team. It's exciting to see so many people wanting to go! Mark may have to forfeit his spot so others can have an opportunity to go. The Mission Board and RMI decided it would be best for Will not to go this time. After some reflection, we agreed. Besides, we wouldn't want to keep an adult from going in order to take him. It will be better to take him to Port au Prince to visit the area we might be living in.

I've had some turnover in my class. Students leaving and new ones coming. It certainly keeps me on my toes! It is surprising how many parents will move their students all throughout the school year!

I guess I'd better see about some food and then fall in bed!

The latest

For those who wondered, now that I have my license, I have been driving the bus daily, morning and afternoon. The fun part is trying to keep the kids in their seats and the noise level to a dull roar. I have a whistle I use when necessary. I've rearranged their seating twice in an attempt to keep problems to a minimum. The second change goes into effect Monday, so we'll see how many complaints I get!

My hubby is working like crazy! He is working overtime into the evenings almost every day. The paychecks have been great, but we hardly see each other. Hopefully, this is just for a season.

We are quitting yoga. My daughter, who was paying about half of our monthly membership fee, decided to try a gym instead. We really can't afford it without her. Also, we haven't been as much since we've been so busy, so we probably weren't getting our money's worth. And we really need to apply our money elsewhere. We ARE trying to get out of debt and onto the mission field.

The wedding plans are coming together. We've met with a decorator friend who has items to rent out to brides. Soon she'll be meeting with a friend who does beautiful and delicious cakes. She is still planning to have her maid of honor do her flowers -- either on her own or through the store where she works.

My older son is working at Kroger now in the meat department. This is his first "real job." He worked for the church doing set-up, which was very few hours. He also worked for a landscape lighting company, but that was very infrequent. Now he is getting regular hours (and pay) and wearing the uniform. He looks pretty good in the uniform! Now, if he can just keep his car running!

My younger son has had ups and downs in school. We upped his ADHD medicine dose, and that has helped some. He's still lacking in the motivation department most days. I sure would like to see him get on a long streak of getting it done! Summer school is looming large, ready to smack us in the face before long! I'm still smarting from last summer! For our school, summer school is the opportunity to finish the curriculum so that you can promote to the next grade. And I just remembered that summer school will happen while we are gone to Haiti with our church team. Bummer! I'm not sure how we'll deal with that! Never a dull moment around here!

I passed!

Don't you love the picture! BTW, I'm not that old!

Due to bad weather, my bus driving test was postponed until Thursday. Despite the fog and lingering ice, I took my test and passed! My parallel parking wasn't the best, but I didn't hit the curb. That would have been an instant failure. I had practiced parallel parking one car width from the curb. They had me park from one parking place (car length) from the curb in an empty parking lot. I finally got it close enough to keep the examiner happy. I guess I didn't mess up too much on other stuff.

Our bus driver/content mastery teacher/reading lab teacher has his last day tomorrow. I'm not sure what we will do for content mastery and reading lab. I'm sure they will hire someone as soon as possible.

We had two days off from school -- Tuesday and Wednesday -- due to weather. Tuesday they were predicting ice as early as noon. It didn't hit until evening, but it hit with a vengeance! We had to pick up my son at work at 10:00 because his heater wasn't working and he couldn't keep the windshield deiced. Wednesday the roads didn't start clearing until around noon. There are still a few icy spots today, believe it or not. The areas in the shade take a long time to melt.

I'm off to enjoy my mac 'n cheese n' hot dogs with my younger son before minichurch!

Road Test

Our school bus driver gave his 2-week notice. He's moving to Missouri to run a horse farm. In the mean time, I'm hustling to get my CDL to be able to drive the bus. I've taken the written test and have been practicing driving the bus run. I'm scehduled for my road test on Tuesday morning. Prayer would be appreciated. I have to parallel park the thing! Yes! Parallel park a school bus! I've practiced, so hopefully I'll do O.K.

Pray for my hubby, too. He's contemplating a job change. It would mean less pay but also less stress. We're not sure less pay is the way to go if you're trying to get out of debt. I'm praying God will make it very clear which would be the better choice for him.