Lots has been going on in our life....so much that I hardly have time to sit and blog. But it's Friday, I'm without a vehicle today and Chelsea and I just came back from our walk to Costco. Here's what's been going on.....

• We had the privilege of hosting two girls and a chaperone from the African Children's Choir. Maria and Stella touched our hearts in the short time we knew them. The girls really enjoyed having playmates. Maria loved Polly Pockets and Stella preferred the dress up box. They also loved the park and we indulged them with a chocolate covered cone at Dairy Queen....a first for them.
• I had the rare opportunity to be by myself for a whole day. The girls had a day camp for Sparks at Crescent Beach. Mike had to work and I decided that it would be a long way and a lot of gas $ to drive home. So, I walked on the beach, read a book, went shopping, did some more walking, some more reading on the beach and more shopping. It was so much fun. Mike felt bad that he couldn't come on Mother's Day weekend and all, but I assured him I had a wonderful day.
• I read a great book called "Blue like Jazz". I've been wanting to read it for quite some time now, but just never had the opportunity. I learned some really important spiritual truths from that book, and in some ways it was life changing for me. The author, Donald Miller, really made me think about my Christian walk. His writing is so unconventional that it forced me out of my comfort zone a little and made me reevaluate what I truly believe. I would highly recommend it. I wouldn't say his writing is extraordinary, but his thoughts are.
• I had a great Mother's Day. It was Chelsea's first opportunity to sing in the Children's Choir. Their presentation was so sweet and included some personal writing each of them had done about their moms. After church, we went to the VSO for our last kids concert of the season. It was a great concert about composers. I always love the sound of that orchestra in the orpheum.
• My job for next year seems to be working out. I was a bit worried, but God has put the pieces together amazingly well. Why should I doubt that He would? Anyway, it turns out that my teaching partner is going to take a short term medical leave so that she will work two days and I will work three. She has some problems related to a bout with sinus cancer in her early 20s. The treatment affected her voice box so she is needing to figure out how she can save her voice and continue teaching. She also had a car accident this year that has really done a number on her neck muscles, which were already problematic because of her cancer treatments. I feel bad that she is in this position, but she is seeing it as a positive way to take care of herself now so that she can continue teaching. I can probably easily pick up another day at our school, and if not, I may make myself available to sub that extra day.

Well, that's about it. Life is about to get busy with report card and end of the school year season. I can hardly wait until summer!!