Learning...

We survived the first week of school for the kids. And have successfully ushered them off to begin their second week.

We have all experienced a roller coaster of emotions and feelings as supplies were purchased, new book bags were filled, clothes were laid out and the alarm clock began ringing at an inhumane early hour of the morning. The morning routine is still being experimented with in the effort to find the quickest route to and from 3 different schools in a city I am not familiar with yet.

The first couple of days were rocky for Alex and Caroline especially. But by Friday things were looking up.
Laura and Jacquie seem to be getting along better than the older ones, but I expected that.


Laura came home the first day with, "4 new friends already!"

Jacquie is doing okay but says, "I feel so Small! 8th Graders are mean."


Caroline for two days said, "I didn't talk to a single person. I don't know anyone."
And Alex said, "It was weird to be at an assembly and not know any of the school cheers, so I just sat there."

Alex at an all school assembly just sitting there? .....
Perhaps a good thing since it could keep him out of trouble, but still a little bit sad for me to hear.
All the kids are doing their best to adjust and so am I.

Salem has a number of Habitat for Humanity build sites and this year they have a home that is primarily being built by youth. I got an e-mail the other day asking if I would be interested in helping lead the youth on the build site on Saturdays. I'm not sure Jeff and the kids want me to be gone every Saturday, but I am exploring this to see what is involved.

So for the time being we are all learning. Learning to adjust, learning to make new friends, learning and listening for where we are being called.