A Good Read?

Hi everyone! Hope this blog post finds you happy and healthy.

Today I penned an e-mail to our pastor back home in Mt. Vernon, Wa. After I got done sending it I thought that some of you might find parts of it an interesting read. So, I've copied below some of that message. I hope you enjoy.

Have a great day.

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Both A. and P. are doing 2 years worth of schooling at the same time. In Alex's case it is because she wants to leave for the US sometime before the end of the year (August). I'm none too keen on her leaving until after the end of this year as I want to spend 1 last Christmas, birthday, etc. w/ her. She is doing very well sticking with her work plan and I'm proud of her. Showing some real maturity. P. is doing the same thing because he, too, wants to go "home" but he's not as strongly committed to it as his sister. He's keeping his options open. But, he's also sticking to his work plan and doing well and is showing some real promise. I'm proud of him too. Very proud. If they do actually pull the trigger on their plans, either Janice or I will go with them. I imagine it would be a 2 to 4 week stay to get them settled in. At this point they have a standing offer to live with Janice's parents. We'll see. P. is also our resident linguist as he's picking up French quite well and really has no trouble at all carrying on a conversation with the natives. I'm so jealous.

G. is doing well. She's doing sort of 2 years of schooling too but mostly just to catch up after losing the year in France. She's carved out quite a reputation here (as she did in France) for childcare, and I'm not just talking about baby sitting. I think we all know she's received a special touch from the Lord when it comes to a caring and compassionate heart. Quite amazing really when you consider the old, cold heart that beats within my chest. Definitely takes after her mother. She is selfless and really amazingly mature. There isn't anything in our house or lives that I wouldn't trust her with. In fact, if she wanted to go to the States and start her life, while being so young, I don't think she'd have much trouble pulling it off. (I suppose, in many ways, she's like Chris was at her age. A child-adult.)

The twins are fine. E. is a pretty good linguist too. Get's mad at herself when she thinks "Man, dad's French is really horrible". I told her, "Why would you feel badly for thinking the truth?" She's still very serious and gets offended easily when folks do things that don't make sense. Can't handle things that don't compute, I guess.

K. is probably our most spiritually sensitive kid. You should read some of the things she writes in her journal. Truly amazing. She's got the spiritual age of somebody much older. Great relationship with the Lord and wants nothing more than to be used by Him. Quite inspiring really.

L. is the life of the party. Always is laughing and goofing off... many times at the wrong time! Has a few friends here in Sylvia and Tevi so she doesn't struggle as much as she did in France with being left out all the time. She's a ball of energy and really fun to be around. Doing well in school too as she's really started to read quite well. She's our latest (age wise) reader because we've been on the move so much over the last 3 years that her reading really suffered as Janice didn't have the time nor the means to teach her. But, she's doing great.

Big E. is really just a small version of P. but more serious. Says the craziest things sometimes that cause me to ask myself "And, how old is he anyway?" Loves to play outside by himself. Most mornings he's out there for an hour or more chasing the cats and dogs, building forts, or playing in the dirt. Pretty good life for a 6 year old. He's also learning to read a bit and enjoys school. He even reminds Janice that it is time to study.

T. and E. and H. are just learning the ropes. T. has a little "red hair" personality in that she can be quite stubborn. But, she's mostly sweet and highly attached to G.

E. (or "The Destroyer" as we call her) is quite a challenge. I could go on and on about her. Suffice it to say we are glad we've only got one child like her and that H. is so laid back and happy that he's no trouble at all to care for which leaves better time to attend to E.

Janice and I are doing well and we are focusing on improving our relationship with each and with the kids. Life is so hectic here that it is very easy to forget the most important people in our lives... each other. Thankfully, I've got a wife who's committed to our relationship and to our family. She's a real inspiration to me.

That's all that is fit to tell.