Life

We had a full summer, that has now flown right into a full autumn.  Most summers, it seems, we have some sort of break, a trip to another city, we take a vacation, or something.  This summer we decided it would be better to stay here and continue on with our regular schedule.  It was good, very good, however I sometimes find myself wishing for a summer break that never happened.

Outside with water balloons and squirt guns.

Squished on a train

In July Josiah began taekwando classes, at a gym a block away from our apartment.  It has been great, better than I even imagined, for him.  He is learning discipline, respect, and seeing the results of his hard work.  We are also thankful for this outlet, especially as he made a difficult transition between schools this past month.  After two months of searching for a public elementary school for Josiah, and being told numerous times "there is no way" he can attend (schools are full and they are only excepting local families), he was accepted into the school nearest our home.   He is going five days a week, part time, for all but about an hour and a half in the afternoon.  Many of the same classmates from his preschool are in his class and his teacher is kind and patient.  His only disappointment is that he doesn't get to go back after lunch!  Father worked out every detail of this situation, better than I could have even imagined, so thankful.

Jacob and Emma are still going to the same preschool as before and are doing well, Jacob five days a week and Emma three.  Judson gets to stay with me, while I run errands or meet with my language tutor.

Ready for Taekwando

Josiah's class being released for lunch.

Our afternoons are a MARATHON!!!!  It is going to take me a while to get used to the amount of stuff that we are trying to fit in.  Every weekday afternoon, Jacob, Emma and Judson take a nap, Josiah and Jacob have homeschool, Josiah meets with a language tutor, then Emma and Jacob meet with a language tutor, and two days a week Josiah has taekwando.  We have not been finishing with homeschool until well into dinnertime and sometimes after.  It is all happening, but it is crazy!  Jared and I are needing wisdom as to if we are trying to do too much.  We feel language and culture acquisition is super important for the kids, but not sure how to best fit it all in, along with U.S. homeschooling, and just letting our kids be kids.

Jacob's first day of Kindergarten homeschool

Finally, this summer we made the decision, after much prayer and consideration, to grow our family through adoption.  The past couple months we have been collecting paperwork and working through the process.  Our homestudy is scheduled for October.  Definitely will have more posts coming soon, on this adventure for our family!

I have been reading through Ephesians this past week.  Reminded in Ephesians 2:8 - 10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  Thankful for Father's grace, every day, as our family is living out a busy life.  It is not by works that we earn God's favor, it is an unmerited gift from Him.