Well, we've now lived in Austin for almost two and a half months! We hit the ground here after about two weeks of moving in - and we were running full steam!
Charis & Joy started school on August 16th, the day before my birthday. I was so nervous and anxious that first day. And - I cried for a while after they left! I missed them so much. I had been with these girls for the last 16 and 13 years! I knew it was going to be very different for me this year.
I'm pleased to say - that after two and a half months of "real school"...both are getting very good grades and doing very well. Charis really loves it - when I thought she would be the one who might not like it so much. Not sure why - maybe because she's a little more shy and she kind of loves to do her own thing. But she has really enjoyed it. She loves the teachers and she loves, loves, loves, art, band, and choir! I think she would probably go just to have those things! But she also loves the classes and is learning a lot. I'm so proud of her!
Joy is loving school, too. She loves all the friends and people and especially the instruction. I have to say that for her, she just really needed teachers. She's getting 100% in algebra! Who would have thought?!! :) She really wanted to try out for cheerleading...but had to say no because it really was going to be time consuming. She is struggling some with practicing as much as she used to on her violin and really wants to make it her priority still.
Jonathan has settled in to our new home and found a job at Office Max. After about a month of being home and doing some online classes, we were so thankful this came up! It really was an answer to prayer, so we are thankful. Although - he's not too excited as I write because this week, he has to work 7 hours a day for five days! That's 35 hours! He was really hoping it would be more "part time" as in 20 to 30 hours a week. I"m sure it will all work out, but he's feeling a little bit like all his time is being taken by school and work. Imagine that!:)
Daniel and I are homeschooling still. It's going well this year! We're doing something called Classical Conversations. We go on Mondays where he has Foundations in the morning where they learn a bunch of facts in every subject. They memorize these facts over the year - it's pretty impressive! Then in the afternoon, he has Essentials where he's learning grammar and writing. It's a great writing program! I'm so thankful for this as it's given both of us a social outlet right from the start.
I actually have been asked to teach his Foundations class as the gal who was doing it got sick and couldn't keep up. So - now I have another part-time job!! I really love doing it!
I've been working a lot doing transcription, too. As soon as I was put back on the regular schedule - I have worked at least 3 days a week (nights or over the weekend) and then I have five piano students. It's been a lot - but it's all working out okay.
David's been doing a lot of volleyball officiating, so that has helped a lot! My money from transcription doesn't really come in until November - so for September and October - he's more than made up for what I would make!
David's also doing well at his job. Yesterday, he received an amazing "compliment" in the form of the head data architect for the company - the guy the recently brought in to run the data for the company - called him and told him he wanted David to come on with his team part-time and help them out with a big project they have. It was like he looked around at the data architects and picked David as the one he wanted! David was floored and excited! On that same day, he got a call from his friend from Wal-Mart saying that his name came up and the gal who interviewed him asked if he was "happy" in his new job! So, I'm excited for David.
We also have found a church and all of us have become involved. David and I are leading a small group, and we're excited because the people who have joined seem wonderful! We have had a couple of meetings and have really enjoyed it. Jon, Joy, & Charis have all enjoyed working in the children's ministry, too. And - the preaching has also been wonderful as well. So, it's been great so far.
Time to get back to work!!!
