Sunday, August 22, 2010

4th Birthday, Teaching, Football & Exchange Student

Parker Reese is turning four so we celebrated Toy Story style. We had fun decorating Toy Story cupcakes, pigs (Hamm), 3 eyed aliens, and sprinkles. Just as the party started the door bell rang. It was Buzz Lightyear and Jessie the Cowgirl. Parker Reese had fun playing with his friends and wearing his Buzz custome all day.

I had asked two teenagers if they would be willing to dress up for the party. Well, I can't say enough good things about these two!! They went above and beyond what most teenagers would do for a four-year-old. They made their own costumes, Buzz pinned a special pin on the birthday boy, they played Toy Story "bowling" with all the little ones, and helped when it was time to open presents. I really admire kids like this who try to set a good example for little ones to look up too. I know that most teenagers would have laughed at the thought of dressing up for a four-year-olds birthday party and that many are caught up in some really terrible things. We are so blessed to know an awesome group of teenagers whose parents truly love them and have taught them how to show love to others.

A bit of change is coming our way this week. I've been staying home with Phillips, but I got a call from West Jackson Middle School to teach a Title Reading Program, which is what I got my Master's in, so I start on Monday. I'm really exciting to be teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade reading and connections. This is a just a long-term-subbing position. Phillips has been wearing his backpack around all weekend. He wants to go to school like his big brothers so he keeps getting his backpack on and saying, "Mommy, let's go bye-bye!" I don't have to the heart to be the one to leave him at "school" so daddy is going to have to do the dirty work of morning drop off!

Please continue to pray for my sweet friend, Sharon. She will be leaving for China this week to adopt her second Chinese daughter (her 5th daughter)! Shaylee Joy will be one lucky little girl to join the Ankerich family. Sharon and I used to teach together at Duncan Creek and she was such an inspiration to me. During my planning time, I would observe in her room and just soak up everything she had to offer. She taught me so much and has answered every single question I had about international adoption. Thank you, Sharon, for being an insipiration and we can't wait to introduce Phillips to Shaylee Joy!

Jeremiah is helping Coach Kirk again this year with highschool football. We went to the first scrimmage game last Friday. It's a little different this year, since a lot of the boys that Jeremiah mentored graduated and have already moved away to college, but some of his "Senior guys" (now college freshman) showed up and were so excited to fill us in all that is going on in their lives. We are really excited to see Tonya's son, Eric, play this year for the first time. Go panthers!

One of the highschool Math teachers that used to watch Preston when I was teaching in Gwinnett, introduced me to a family that is hosting a highschool student from Thailand. Her English is very good and we enjoyed visiting and sharing stories at the football game. It was nice to introduce her to some of the other girls and watch them swoop in and take her under their wings. They invited her to DQ after the game, but she had a early tennis match in Athens Saturday morning. Ma Fan was so excited to meet Phillips. She wanted to speak to him in Chinese, but he was too tired to cooperate. I'm really looking forward to getting to know Ma Fan better and helping her make some new friends in Jackson County.

2 comments:

  1. So praying for you through all the changes. God is right there with you!!! :) And thank you for you prayers as we go to get SJ!!! :) Love you and will get together when we are home.
    XO

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  2. Happy Birthday Parker Reese! Aiden has so missed you. Each Sunday we look for you in class.

    Good luck at WJMS Tracy!

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