You really can teach an "old dog" new tricks

Hey! Sorry it has been so long...we have had alot going on these last couple of weeks --PTL! No, you do not need to get your eyes checked or new glasses; the picture is me with a guitar. I am taking lessons to learn how to play. I love music and carrying around a piano is tough, so I thought I would try something a little lighter. I picked black b/c it will go with alot of my outfits :) --no seriously, my teacher, a fellow missionary says, I have potential.

School is humming right along. We finished our 1st 9 weeks and report cards go out this week. Victoria is going to do great - por su puesto! In Geography we are studying Europe, so our passports have a stamp in them for ancient Greece and Rome. Next, we travel to France. The guy who cuts my hair here is from France (he was on a trip to the jungle and loved it so much, he decided to stay and open a beauty shop), so he is coming to teach my students about the history and culture. We are going to dress up too. This past week we dressed in Renaissance outfits. It was fun!

I have also completed all of my training for the administration part of my position, so I am going full speed now. I am loving every minute of it, even the complaints (though few). I figure they are a good indicator that I am doing something right b/c I require a certain standard to be maintained. Several parents have given me the thumbs up and said, "It is about time." We hope to increase our enrollment next year by building confidence in our staff. So far, so good.

Homecoming is just around the corner, so I am busy with that too. It should be alot of fun. I wrote one of the skits this weekend with another parent. We (SAM center) are doing a funny portrayal of Snow White. Photos to follow in November. Hope this finds you and yours well. We love ya and miss ya.

Batter, batter, "bat"ter up!

Well, we have had another full week. This week brought a bat swooping over my head in the library and plopping down in front of me. I screamed of course. Shortly thereafter, I heard another scream coming from the next room; it was Victoria. They had 4 bats in their classroom. We are also accumulating some very undesirable bat poop in the library, so my next project this coming week is to find some brave soul to go into the roof area and kill the bats and clean out all the poop b/c it is being to drop through the ceilings--YUK. I did manage to get alot of areas organized this week though. Classes are going quite well too. We are studying Europe in Geography and reading A Father's Promise in Literature, so we are incorporating Poland into our studies as well. I taught the HS Lit class this week and helped them broaden their horizons with some interesting writing assignments.

Our "homecoming" event is beginning to shape up. We will honor our Senior on Nov. 7th and 8th; first with a semi-formal dinner and presentation and then on Sat. with tournaments, games, food, contests and a bonfire all with a Renaissance theme. I hope I have not taken on more than I can accomplish.

Victoria spent the afternoon playing dolls with one of the moms here whose daughter is all grown up and no longer wants to play. They had a fantastic afternoon. Minori (the mom) teachers Spanish and Japanese for SAM Academy. They also made brownies. I spent the afternoon going to town in search of a marker board. I found an older gentleman walking around with several hanging over his shoulders, so I popped out of the taxi and made a beeline for him. Moments later, I was the one walking through town with it draped over my shoulder. Ah...the simple life (no WalMart). I ended my successful town trip with a coconut shake which was welcomed as it was 100 degrees here today with very little breeze.

Just a reminder, we have a hammock waiting for the brave ones who want a jungle town experience...blessings.