He's Here!!!

Cason Lovic Dasher

8lbs 15 oz

21 inches

born yesterday afternoon

He's pretty much the cutest thing ever!

Cam meeting baby brother.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the beautiful sunset.  We've just had Daylight Savings so the sun sets at 5 o'clock!

I'm also thankful that my newest nephew will be born any second now!  We cannot wait to meet Cason!!

I am thankful that my kids are really flexible, well adjusted, polite, good students, and interesting people.

I am so thankful for a husband who helps me.  It is extremely rare in the country for a man to do anything around the house.  Justin is always willing to help me- even more so now that I'm out of the house so much!

Finally I'm thankful for generous teammates who insisted on watching our kids and putting Justin and I up for a night in a nice hotel.  What a blessing to be working with them!

Still Rockin' It!

Two years ago when we were in the States Noah and I discovered my mom's old sweatshirt stash.  He quickly claimed the Georgia Tech sweatshirt that my brother wore when he was Noah's age.  I was reunited with my old soccer sweatshirt from high school.  I had to make a few alterations since I'm not really into shockingly tight bands around my wrists, neck, and waist anymore.  Yall, these shirts are 20 years old or more!  That's downright vintage.  So, I guess that makes Noah and me hipsters!

Republic Day

Today is a national holiday.  It's the 91st celebration of the formation of this country.  All the schools in our district met at one of the local schools bright and early this morning for a ceremony.

The band was getting in one last practice before they got on the bus.

Our adorable folk dancing group.
They didn't get to perform today because there was another mining accident yesterday.
During times of national mourning things stay very solemn.

But, our group looked adorable in their traditional costumes.

3 of my 10th graders

The local mayor, town dignitaries, and honored veterans arrived.
The two guys in the back were wearing fezes.

After several speeches the flag-bearers marched around the schoolyard.

Then the folk dance troupe led the students in marching around the schoolyard.

These are my ninth graders.

Some adorable kiddos from the local public school.

Some more precious cuties marching.

Finally, our marching band rounded out the festivities.

Rubbers!

I spend every waking hour pretending to be a mature adult.  But, so help me, when I point to a picture of an eraser and say, "What is this?" and thanks to our British curriculum, my students holler, "It's a rubber!" I just die.

I just lose it every time.

I absolutely cringe and crack up and revel in my own inside knowledge of how hilarious this situation is.

There is nothing weirder and therefore funnier than a pack of 9 year olds screaming out the word rubbers in a classroom setting!  It's just wrong.

Then we move on to prepositions...  the rubber is in my hand.  The rubber is on the table.

Yall!  It's just not fair!  How can I be expected to maintain professional decorum under such circumstances?!

RUBBERS!!

Foreigner Troubles

You know what... sometimes it is just ridiculously difficult to be a foreigner!!

Poor Noah has been working so hard at school and we finally found a great soccer program for him.  He is loving it.

Well... was loving it!

Today we found out that the TFF will not certify foreign minors to play soccer.  So, he can't play!  After a hard day, this was nearly a fatal blow!  Why can't kids just play some soccer?!

The soccer club's best solution was to use another child's identification to get Noah's TFF certification.  Of course, that's wrong and we won't go that route.  So, we're back at square one.  Scrambling to find a fun soccer opportunity for Noah.

Life is hard, but God is good!

*While we're on the topic of foreigner woes... please pray for my work permit to be approved.  We need the Lord to move in this area soon!  Thanks!

Do Not Fear

"Be strong and bold; 

have no fear or dread of them, 

because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; 

he will not fail you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

Sunday Sneak Peek: Mask Day

Which one of these says... I live in a sometimes unstable country where protests flare up and people are left to their own devices ...

If you guessed the last one- a homemade gas-mask- then you get an A.  Folks here use large plastic water bottles to make gas-masks to protect their faces from tear gas during riots.

Bonus points if you can spot my kid!

Harvest Fest

No pumpkin patch, cider mill, or hayrides for us.  But, the ecology teacher organized an adorable harvest festival for the elementary school.  They planted seeds, made different seasonal dishes, and had relay races.  The bummer about teaching was that I couldn’t go watch Lucy.  The blessing is that Callie is in my class so I sent her down in my place with my phone to take pictures.

Lucy showing off the vegetables that she cut up.

relay race

Lucy and her friend Nilsu.

sneaking a taste

making salad

showing off the salad and chicken dish that she made

I'll Be Watchin' You

It’s fun to be a fly on the wall at my kids’ school.  For so long a major part of their day was completely out of my sight.  By the time they got home all they had to say was, “fine.”  I have been shocked at the reminder of the roller coaster of things that kids go through during the school day only to come home and report that things are fine.

I think I’m doing a pretty good job at walking the fine line between mom who is a teacher and mom who is stalking her kids and inserting herself into every inch of their lives.  I try to hang back... way back.

But, you can be assured that I have my eye on them all the time.  I just love watching my kids interact and thrive in their surroundings.  

Here are a few pictures from recess.

It’s fun to be a fly on the wall at my kids’ school.  For so long a major part of their day was completely out of my sight.  By the time they got home all they had to say was, “fine.”  I have been shocked at the reminder of the roller coaster of things that kids go through during the school day only to come home and report that things are fine.

I think I’m doing a pretty good job at walking the fine line between mom who is a teacher and mom who is stalking her kids and inserting herself into every inch of their lives.  I try to hang back... way back.

But, you can be assured that I have my eye on them all the time.  I just love watching my kids interact and thrive in their surroundings.  

Here are a few pictures from recess.

Noah in the green shirt about to kick the ball.

Callie in the orange pants swinging with a friend.

Kids here have a 40 minute class and then a 10 minute recess.  They get a 20 minute breakfast break and a 50 minute lunch break.  They pretty much have free reign of the campus.  That has it advantages and disadvantages.  Its so good for them to get to get some of their energy out.  However, the ridiculous things that they come up with in order to do that never cease to amaze me!

Last time I was on duty, I had to stop the eighth graders several times from turning their chairs over backwards and scooting around the room in a horse race.  Last week my ninth graders had a dance party.  Can I just tell you that I didn’t stop it.  It was so weird and fascinating to watch them dance around like... well.... awkward ninth graders. 

These yahoos are quite entertaining!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for my job.  It’s not perfect, and I’ve probably struggled more than I’ve thrived thus far.  But, it has been a blessing and it is an avenue for providing a great education for my kids.  So I am thankful for it.

I am also thankful that the Lord has really changed our focus lately.  He has laid it on our hearts that prayer is our main job.  We are thankful for a renewed focus and call.  I have tried to take a second during each of my classes to pray for my students.  And I even have them saying, “God bless you!” when I sneeze!  Ha!

Finally, I am so tankful for fall weather.  It is so nice not to sweat to death constantly!  The bright blue sky, crashing waves, and colorful leaves are reminders or God’s goodness and His seasons in our lives.  

I have to admit that this season of moving and starting over has been hard.  But He promises new life and beauty after the winter, and I am clinging to that!

Just a Swangin'

Whatever it takes to stay sane! Today it's a trip to the playground!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Birthday Girl

Lucy has been dying for "big baby."  Her dreams finally came true!

Merida from Brave

Trying out her new rollerblades on the balcony.

Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is Lucy's 8th birthday!  Like all mothers, I cannot believe that my baby is so grown up!

Tomorrow our friends are coming from the next big town over for our small group.  I am so glad they are coming.  It will make Lucy's birthday a bit more special.

Tonight I got all the food ready for tomorrow.  To our surprise, Lucy requested steak for her birthday.  Well, that was a bit of a challenge because steak isn't a popular food choice here.  Also, what 8 year old chooses steak for her birthday dinner?!  I worked with the butcher to try to get a few small steak-like pieces of meat.  I also made our favorite soup, twice baked potatoes, spinach and cranberry salad, and green beans.  Callie made Lucy's birthday cake- chocolate with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting.  She used food coloring to dye some coconut green like grass.  Then Callie put some of Lucy's toy plastic horses on top.  It was so cute.

Here are Lucy's presents laid out on the couch.  Momma ain't got no time to wrap gifts!

When I went to bed, I found this note on my pillow...

"Dear Mom, Please wake me up by singing Happy Birthday."

So cute, right?  

I just had to laugh.  There isn't a chance in the world that I'll be up before the birthday girl!  I am betting that she'll be up and ready to celebrate at 5 am!

Thankful Thursday

In the busyness of life I've sort of let this slip a bit.  I'd really like to grow in the area of joy and thanksgiving, so I absolutely cannot let my Thankful Thursdays go!  Please hold me accountable, internet friends!!  If you see that I've missed it please remind me.

Anyhow, here's what I'm thankful for this week:

1. Jesus's sacrifice for us.  This week as everyone around us has been performing sacrifices we are particularly mindful of the spotless lamb who gave His life for us.

2. Our health.  Everyone around us has been fighting colds and flu but we have been so healthy.  I know that good health is a gift and am not taking it for granted!

3. A new song.  They changed my duty at school from the front gardens to the second floor.  Typically it's just a quick ten minute opportunity to yell at kids.  But, there are two different lunch shifts that sort of overlap.  Anyhow, that leaves almost an hour and a half where I am walking back and forth down the main middle school corridor.  There is an ebb and flow of students and when the hall is quiet, it can be quite boring.  Today, the Lord put a song on my heart and I found myself singing His praise over the middle school.  It totally changed my day and made my job awesome!  Thank you Lord!

4. October!  I am reading Anne of Green Gables and the other day I read the adorable quote, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."  Amen!  The weather is crisp.  I love fall clothes with lots of cute layers.  I can finally make yummy soups and stews, apple crisp, and pumpkin bread.  The leaves are starting to change and we are finally in a place where you can actually see leaves!  Yay!!

Ok... I can't stop myself.  Here are a few other adorable quotes from Anne... 

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”   

“Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.” 

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

5. Justin.  My sweet husband has really picked up the slack around the house.  He has taken over almost all of the household chores like laundry and cleaning.  He did an amazing job getting all of our residence permits, student visas, etc. figured out and processed.  He is the homework helper extraordinaire.  Justin is a blessing to us.  We love him so much and are so thankful for him!

Bless You!

In all the nervousness of starting school and stress of trying to get the job details and my work permit figured out I lost focus a little bit.  I was busy getting to know folks and sprinting through a major learning curve.  Then, BOOM!  On the second day of school the Lord set me straight again.

A kid in my class sneezed and I said, "God bless you!"

It was a completely thoughtless thing that I said out of habit.  But the Lord told me that that was what my job was here.  He told me that my job was to bless these kids at this school.  I am an ambassador of the Lord Himself and it is the first time such light has entered these halls.

Now, that will get your attention real fast!  I had gotten so caught up in just getting the job that I had forgotten the significance of it.  I am probably the only light that many of these kids will ever encounter.

Many of the older ones ask me questions about what I believe.  I have to be very careful, by law, about how I answer their questions and talk about my faith.  But there is no law that can stop me from praying for the kids... even the yahoos!... and over these kids and their families.  There is no law that can stop me from blessing them.  There is no law that can stop my light from shining.

I could care less if these kids ever really speak much English.  I want them to see Jesus in me and that is precisely why He's put me there.  May I be a beacon of light in a dark place.

Please pray for me in this difficult task!  I need wisdom, perseverance, and discernment.

Breakfast with a View

We are well-rested and ready to start back to school today after 5 glorious days off.  

Ok... that's an exaggeration.  We are going back to school but with slightly less kicking and screaming than usual.  We had a really laid-back restful holiday.

Last weekend our friends took us out to breakfast at one of their favorite places.  It was a buffet full of local favorites, some a bit on the weird side, that were mostly delicious.  The view was beautiful and we had a great time.

The weather has changed fairly quickly here.  Now it is chilly and overcast most days.  We get lots of rain and I have to be extra to only hang my laundry out when I am home.  I have to be ready to drag it back inside in an instant when a rain shower pops up.

The sea is different every day.  Some days its as still as glass and other days you could surf out there!  Last week we had a storm come in that caused huge waves.  It is so interesting how different the same body of water can be.  I am hoping that the beautiful sea will help to keep me sane and make up for the lack of sun this winter.   We'll see!

Well Armed

This area is known to be a great place to hunt.  So there are several shops like this one around:

Although, I'm not sure you need a big ole' assault rifle to bring down a wild boar.

Yikes!

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Rotten Day

Well, today was a crappy day.  We drove two hours down the coast to the nearest shopping mall.  We had been planning this trip for  a week and were looking forward to it.

However, it was just one of those days where nothing went right.  Callie got herself in a snit over something silly and was miserable.  The kids were fighting.  Justin and I were miserable about having to follow through with discipline.  It was just a total bomb and we were all completely bummed because it should have been awesome.

It our first trip to real civilization since moving here 3 months ago.  The mall had a McDonald's and a Starbucks.  It had all of our favorite shops and a huge sports store.  It should have been a great day full of American food and window shopping.  But the day got worse and worse as it went on.  Plus, I think everyone in the city decided to visit the mall that day and it was crowded.

After we walked all around in a grumpy stupor, we bought Lucy's birthday present and a Starbucks, and headed back to our little town.  I guess these country mice should stay away from the city.  What a total fail of a day!

Oh well, at least tomorrow is a new day!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Game Time!

Our town has a professional soccer team in one of the lower leagues.   They aren't very good, but the tickets are dirt cheap and the games are fun.  Justin and Noah have been to a few others.  Since Callie and Lucy have absolutely no interest in soccer I've usually stayed home with them.  However, today's game was early enough that we could leave the girls at home by themselves and I could tag along with Justin and Noah.

Pre-game selfie!  Once the game starts, you can forget doing stuff like this.  Noah is way too hard core!  He watches the matches with all his might!

Of course, I love soccer.  But I have a hard time watching the game because the fans are so interesting!  Our local team is pretty terrible.  Yet, if you just watched the fans, you'd think we were in the world cup.  They chant and sing and cuss at the refs with gusto.  There's always a few guys with drums and horns.  We counted two other women in the stands and maybe a handful of kids.  This is a man's game.

Guys stand at the front of the crowd and lead different chants and cheers.  look at this old guy:

He was not happy with our section's mildness so he took it upon himself to oust the cheer-leader (on the right) and get the crowd going himself.  I was just impressed that he could climb up on the wall and then lead us without falling back down!  Good on him!

It was such a fun day with my guys!

Sloth-Like

Today is the first day of the four day sacrifice holiday.  We had yesterday off of school because it was holiday eve, and we have Monday and Tuesday off, too.  Because folks here are still so closely tied to their villages inland, pretty much everyone does their sacrifice there.  Also, the older relatives tend to still live in the villages.  The younger generations always go to visit the older family members.  With everyone gone, our neighborhood is a bit like a ghost town again.  I guess this is how it will be for holidays.

Hopefully, in the future we'll have some close friends and be able to go to the village with them.  But, truthfully, this year we were relieved to just completely veg-out!  This first month of school has been exhausting for all of us.

I got my errands done yesterday and groceries bought.  We haven't even gotten dressed today.  We've played games, watched a few too many movies, read books, and been complete sloths!  It has been glorious!!

Salary Celebration!

Yes, I know that Noah looks like a total weirdo in this picture.  But, it's the only one that I took, so it will have to do.  

I got my very first paycheck... well, an envelope of cash, actually.  So, after school last night I treated the family to dinner out.  It was so fun to celebrate our survival in a new town at a new school.  I let the kids order whatever they wanted, including canned drinks, which are unusually expensive here.  What a treat!!

Noah ordered the "everything" pide.  It's like a pizza without sauce.  Pide are a lot like pizza but they don't have tomato sauce.  Most places ladle on the butter instead.  Um... yum-O!