Details, Details...

As I interact with other people, I realize time and again what a detail person I am. Sometimes I am TOO detail oriented, too picky; I major on the minors and sweat the small stuff. But other times it is confirmed to me that God made me with an eye for details and that is a good thing! I have been reminded of this as I have read through Deuteronomy lately. What stuck out to me this time was how precise God was in his directions, particularly in making things for the tabernacle. He delineated exactly what He wanted made, what specific types of materials and colors to make things with, who was to make them, where each item was to be placed and used, who was to use each item and how, even who was to care for moving and carrying each item on the road. Now those are detailed instructions! I was reminded again that we have a VERY detailed God. He was glorified in the details. Another confirmation that my eye for details is God given has been my new job at the office. Though I have just recently started, I can already tell I will enjoy it. Why? I get to fine tune all the details: organize files, develop charts, keep records up to date, plus I am still in charge of arranging housing for newcomers which entails matching curtains and remembering to put everything from spoons to toilet paper in the house. I LOVE details! I glory in details. I am very happy when time allows me to fine tune the details. God has made me detailed, and it glorifies him. To misquote Eric Liddel, “when I organize I feel his pleasure!”

First Day!

Empty nesting has officially begun, for the mornings at least. Tom is officially a kindergartener, and very proud of it as you can tell by the big smile above!! In the school parking lot, on the way to the opening assembly, he told me he didn't need to hold my hand because he was a BIG boy now, but he consented to hold Daddy's hand saying, "because you will miss me right Dad?" Kay and Heidi are now in 2nd and 5th respectively. Kay has a big class for Sahel with 18 kids in her combined 1/2 class. 16 of them are girls!!! Heidi has entered the "big leagues" of 5th grade coming home with books to cover and homework to do on the first day. They all started on Wednesday with a half day and can't wait for the end of the weekend to get back again! We are so thankful for the many staff that God has provided this year. Not only do we have all the elementary positions filled, including Bible and French, but we have been blessed with a PE teacher, an art teacher, and a music teacher! Continue to pray for the secondary as they await a key English teacher, and have several more postions including someone for the computer lab that they would like to have on the ground.

Good, Clean Fun!

During a post-swim shower, the cousins all got in on the soaping and posing.

Summer goals: Heidi

Before vacation comes to an end, I have to get in a blog about Heidi's summer goals! We have had poor internet connection the last bit, so I'm not sure if pictures will come with this blog or not!
Heidi wanted to do a lot of projects this summer. She had made her kitchen debut this past school year, learning how to make meatloaf, and this summer she has expanded her repertoire enormously! She has made everything from lemon bars (her favorite) and brownies, to muffins and cakes, to beef stroganoff and sloppy joes! I am LOVING having her helpful hands around. This summer she has been in charge of planning and making dinner one night a week. I will miss that when school starts!!! Heidi is also very interested in creating right now, she has a sewing project, a crochet project, and a cross stitching project all underway. Her skills in all those areas continue to grow. She has worked on her watercolor painting a bit this summer too. I am proud of her creativity and desire to learn new things.

Mom's goals for Heidi this summer were to take advantage of her interest in the kitchen to show her some basic cooking and meal planning skills. We tried to give her some freedom to continue to emphasise the responsibility that comes with it. She has been shopping down the street for me, continues to take care of her bunny, and both bunnysat and "babysat" this summer. She is growing into quite a young lady!

(Oh well, pictures to come later! I give up! )