Day at the Farm Patch

Today felt truly like the first day of fall. A perfect way to spend a day at the Farm patch amidst pumpkin patches, gourds, and fall harvest. My kids especially loved the hay maze... they were convinced the rats were real and one even complained of them eating at her shoe (and she connected that to her foot pain)! My kids are so funny and inventive! Today Erich and I meet at one of our favorite spots- Blue Baker.

Day 1 in blogville

We are now on... Erich and I will post parts and fragments of our life. Enjoy!

The youts

It's a wed night habit. Erich is sorta like the preacher and I'm occasionaly the one to fill the worship leader role. Although I must admit I prefer kids... no doubt about that. However, I don't mind spending a little time on the side with the hormonal, crazy, selfish world of teenagerhood. Erich is great with them. I enjoy his preaching and I tend to be the "weird one" around. I've decided that my role is to just be me. I don't know if that is more egocentrical than the average teenager in our youth group- but I feel it's something unique that I have to offer. We don't try to be anything like anyone else. Our mission is not to have a typical youth group with tons of activities. In fact, we don't offer many organized activities, don't do much on the side with the youth, and aren't too involved in the rest of their lives (outside of wed eve). But the heart is there, and that is what counts. They are a super group of kids and oddly enough, most of them are homeschooled. That is another chapter in and of itself....

Alas! Erich is 30

Erich and I spent his birthday camping in Galveston. The day was a mixture of lots of things- stomach aches, salty water, ferry rides, steak dinner by the campfire, ups, downs, and in the end.... peace and quite by the beautiful fire. Someday, I too will know what it feels like to be 30. Camping in Galveston was a different kind of get-a-way. But we were on a budget. Erich just quit work to return and get his masters in Education (the idea was inspired in February) to be a high school english teacher. So... we were adjusting to this new world and Osa was adjusting the acid in her stomach with all the salt water. She really had some interesting blows out the bottom after a few swigs of the good 'ol gulf water. After our camping excursion I prepared for my third year of teaching at Carver and asisted in the training classes we host for new incoming teachers. There is something of a feeling of accomplishment in being in my third year as a teacher. I don't feel the complete oblivion and noviceness of a first year teacher, and the not-so-important sound of being a 2nd year teacher. It feels like I am legit, that I really have proved that I'm serious, I can do it, and that I will be coming back for more.

July- 2005

Viva mexico. This was such a treat from my uncle Tom.... A wonderful retreat after an exhausting month of teaching summer school. The only thing that would have made this trip sweeter would have been to have my love by my side. Erich stayed home and worked his final weeks before entering a new season of returning to school. Highlights of the trip include.... morning walk with dad, local bellydancers, reading on the beach, walking and collecting shells on the beach, making jewelry with Sierra, being awed by tyler's clay creations, hearing mom belly ache because she couldn't taste the food (what a shame- she had a cold), shopping in the mercado (talking with the Brother), treating everyone to mexican ice cream, eating in our condo, and soaking in the sun....