Yesterday we did what ended up being one of our favorite activities of the summer. Too bad we didn't do it earlier! I got a plastic tablecloth, put it in my front yard, covered it in shaving cream, and stuck the girls on it! If I did it again I would not use the tablecloth. Every time the girls moved it moved with them. Even rocks in the corners didn't keep it still for long. I'd prefer a tarp well strapped to the ground. You can see that didn't stop their fun!
This year I decided I wanted to do a little something for the girls' special ed teachers as a welcome back to school gift. I only chose the two teachers because I know them well and truly, truly appreciate all that they have done for our girls. I would have loved to have done more, but I just don't have the money, and this allowed me to make their gift a little nicer. I did a little kit that has all kinds of things in it that they may need during the school year but won't have on hand. I got a small Rubbermaid container and filled it with a tissue pack, hand sanitizer, sharpies, a tide stain stick, tic tacs, post it notes, clips, Airborne vitamin c thingy (I'm sure that's not it's official name), a lint roller, protein bar, wet ones, and tape. I think they turned out really cute!
In other news, Evan got an incredible opportunity last week. He has such a passion for riding and jumping horses. He's been riding for 3 years now and he is at the point where in order to progress he just needs to be on a horse more. I talked to his instructor about options to move him forward in this sport. Two of the three options involved money we just do not have. I emailed his instructor and the owner of the barn to tell them that we do not have the money to do some of what they were suggesting. We live on a ministry salary and are in quite a bit of debt from Anya's adoption. The last option they gave us was for him to volunteer at the barn on Saturday mornings in order to earn ride time. That we could do! Every Saturday Evan heads to the barn for a few hours where he grooms horses, helps beginner classes tack and untack for their lessons, and really any thing else they might possibly need him to do. In exchange he gets to spend time riding a horse that needs to be ridden that day. He absolutely loves it. However, that isn't the incredible opportunity. We got a call a couple of weeks ago telling us that they had an extra spot in one of their horse camps. They would love for Evan to join them for free!!! This is almost a $500 camp! We were so excited. They said he is one of their favorites and they know that he would benefit greatly from coming. I was so touched! Here is a video I took of him riding just this week at his lesson.
Don't leave me yet! I have more tidbits :). In a last minute opportunity, Larry and Clayton will be traveling to Honduras on a mission trip! They are leaving August 23 and they will be gone for a week. This is the ministry they will be working with is called Project Manuelito, www.projectmanuelito.org. Calvary has had a partnership with Project Manuelito for many years now. Their team will be doing a variety of construction projects, ministering to the kids, and the main reason these two are going is because Larry is going to do a video project for Project Manuelito and Clayton will help him. This is WAAAAYYY outside of Clayton's comfort zone, but I know it will be an incredible experience. We got his passport and he is currently raising the $1500 needed to go on the trip. He is at $1000! This has also been a great experience for him to see God's faithfulness to provide for his needs :).
I wanted to give a quick update on my last post about the woman I met through my dental hygienist. We met for dinner on Friday and had a wonderful time! We talked non stop for 4 hours straight! We are hoping to do this on a regular basis. That meeting was a wonderful gift from God that I've been praying about for a year now!
Last thing, and this is totally random but kind of fun, I am making the girls' Halloween costumes this year. Let me start this by saying that the amount of craftiness in my body could fit in my pinky toe and still have room left over! Here's the thing. Anya especially, but also Oksana, is on a BIG Frozen kick. It took a little longer than most kids but Let it Go is now being sung in my house like it is in millions of other homes around the world! As I started looking around I realized that anything Frozen is flying off of shelves before the stores can even get them all out! I had no desire to run to 500 different stores trying to find an overpriced and cheaply made Elsa costume this year. The problem is I can't sew. As I was looking around thinking that maybe I could get someone else to make me one I found a no sew option that I think will be so cute! I've been pricing materials, and watching tutorials like crazy. As soon as I have everything together I'm going to jump in and pray this works! Here is a basic idea of what I am doing but it will be slightly different because there are things I saw on other dresses that I want to change or add to it.
OK I think that might finally be all I have to say. If I don't update before next week I will let you know how the first day of school goes for sure. If you remember, last year was awful. It was a huge adjustment for Anya and the day that Oksana had one of her most severe outbursts ever. Anya is 100% ready to go back. She loves her class, she loves her teachers and paras, and very little is changing for her at all. This is going to be a huge year of growth for her. I have high hopes for Oksana as well. Last year she had a new teacher and a new classroom, not to mention the fact that she was very unstable. With the overall stability of the summer (minus the summer school incidents), and the fact that she is also going into a very familiar situation with little changes I think she should transition much better. I'm meeting with her teacher on Friday to discuss what happened at summer school so she can be aware of what I believe caused that to be unsuccessful for her. My dad and step mom are visiting next week too so it should be a full and fun week!
1 comment:
School already? Our schools don't start until September 2. I don't like to think it is almost time for school to start -- I'm not ready.
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