So who’s idea was this, anyway? Have kids in a preschool wear solid white shirts to school every day….
It was an early morning here as we got the kids ready for their first day of school. Uniforms on, backpacks ready, lunches packed, breakfasts eaten. I went out to the van – chilly morning, I could see my breath – and everyone got in and away we went.
 Nathanael emerges out of his school after the first day |
We successfully found Hannah’s school. Her classes start earlier than Nathanael’s, so we all went there for the welcome ceremonies, including a presentation of the flag, speeches and introductions of the teachers. Nathanael couldn’t stand still that long, so he and I missed the last bit. He did like the bathrooms there, though, which have a huge painted Superman for the boys and a Wonder Woman for the girls.
With Hannah safely at school, we headed over to Nathanael’s school. We got there just in time, and in he was whisked. Did I even say goodbye? It was all so sudden! These days are certainly more stressful for the parents than the kids, right?
After some time we picked up Nathanael. He was very happy and had lots to tell us – especially that he had eaten all his lunch (although he also told us he had "shared" some of it). He seems to really like his school, and is convinced it’s better than Hannah’s (where all they seem to do is give boring speeches).
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Shari went to pick up Hannah. The traffic was horrendous, so I think we may be looking for alternate routes! However, Hannah had a great day too. I missed the initial excitement, of course, since I didn’t pick her up.
We thought we were doing well getting everything ready for school until today. Hannah got a note home in her bag, telling us that they had forgotten some things that she needed to bring to school. Would we please buy them and have her bring them on Tuesday?
We also got Nathanael’s list of school supplies (they didn’t have a copy when we registered). 60-some-odd different items to buy. Not just one of each, either – several. Having been through this once, we know what most of them are. But there are a few… ! – – and where do we buy these? ! and …. we need them by when??
Well, we’re swamped as usual. But overall, the day went pretty well, everyone likes school, and no one lost a limb. So far so good.
And now that are the parents are rushing around trying to buy last minute school supplies, it’s time to get ready for Christmas! Here’s a photo I took of Nathanael today at WalMart…
I feel like I was put in jail and forced to make license plates all day. But actually, no one forced me, and it wasn’t license plates. And it wasn’t jail. It was school paperwork.
That’s right, paperwork for school registration for Nathanael and Hannah. Photos, medical information, vital statistics, legal stuff – these schools will soon know all there is to know about our kids, except maybe what they had for lunch today.
Anyway, we still don’t have all the paperwork they require, but we’re hoping they’ll be able to wait on the rest, and will be satisfied with the papers that they are about to get buried under.
We have to bring photos to the school, so I thought you’d enjoy seeing some of the shots I took yesterday. If you want to see a larger version, just click on the photo pile itself to go to our Photo Gallery.
To explain all the ins and outs of what happened around here yesterday would simply take too long. But let’s just say that some events really brought a lot of important issues together – family, ministry, eternity, culture.
Now let me say this up front – we don’t have children who walk around with halos, who look to heaven frequently and say profound spiritual missionaryish things in Old English. Of course we try to teach our kids intentionally and carefully (of course we often do less than we should), but sometimes we wonder how much is sinking in.
So how do you teach your children to have convictions about the truth, and yet to respect others who don’t share those convictions? Especially when the children are so young, and really can’t understand so many of the implications of what goes on around them?
I remember being around Hannah’s age (she’s 7), when I was really starting to sort out and interpret the world around me. At that age I really wanted to understand things on my own, and had to be gently corrected when I got the wrong idea from what I saw. Of course, that’s a process that goes on the rest of your life!
We’re proud of Nathanael and Hannah. We’ve seen them at various times show that they care about people, that they’re developing their own convictions, and that they really do want to share what they learn with their friends. They’re also beginning to understand how important they are in God’s eyes, and more key – how important God is.
So now, how do we teach them how to interact with the ideas of others? To learn from others, and yet be bold to share their own ideas? To share with "meekness" and not out of pride (1 Peter 3:15)? To observe the behaviour of others without imitating it when it’s inappropriate?
And how do we teach them when these are all things we’re still struggling with ourselves?
Yes, we’re fellow travellers with our children. And sometimes the children lead (Matthew 21:12-16)…
I think after about two weeks, this is the first day I’ve actually started feeling better rather than worse. Ok, not a LOT better, but any improvement is welcomed! For a while there I was waking up every day with a new and strange symptom. 😉
But you don’t want to hear about me. Shari is I think on the mend too, though she sounds worse then ever, having somewhat lost her voice. I think Nathanael is getting better too. We actually sent him to school today, and I think he was all right but he looked pretty exhausted when we got home. I think he’s in his bed now.
Shari reminded me that we were really sick back in October. We haven’t to my memory had infections like this before – probably a combination of having young kids in school (whose favourite game at recess is to pass around germs) and perhaps strange Mexican strains we’re not used to. (Maybe that last one isn’t valid in these days of frequent travel, but it sounds good to blame it on some mighty tropical bug!)
So we’re still trying to get the rest and recovery we need and pack at the same time. We’re working out other details such as finding movers, checking on details about Hannah’s home school (with the office in Canada), making sure the kids do their homework, figuring out when to cancel and start services in Cuernavaca and Ixtapaluca, and some other complex things that I won’t go into now. So I’d better run and get to it!
3 of us are sick. As usual, Super Hannah is the healthy one – may she remain so!
The rest of us have a real nasty infection. Nathanael and I went to the doctor on Saturday, and I’m glad we did. We almost didn’t . . . when we were all ready to go, the van didn’t start. Not sure why, but the battery was dead (totally). Toby was kind enough to give us a boost, and we did make it to the doctor. I almost didn’t bother to see him myself – we were going for Nathanael’s sake – but I did.
Anyway, we had some kind of weird infection here there and everywhere, including our ears, so we got some medicine. As I said, I’m glad we both saw him, since I’ve been generally getting worse (today included).
Today Shari got hit with (presumably) the same thing.
So, the state of affairs is this. I want to and need to sleep. Shari wants to and needs to sleep. Nathanael needs to sleep. And Hannah is healthy but tired – she could use some sleep too.
So if we all do what we want to, the kids will run wild! 😉
Anyway, we’d appreciate your prayers as we try to get everyone back to health, and keep Hannah healthy. We don’t want anyone to get any worse. And Mom and Dad have to keep running a household!