Transitions

As we are looking forward to our permanent return to Minnesota in June, we are beginning to feel the strain of the getting ready for the big move. We have already began to decide what will be kept and what will be sold. I think this is often the hardest part to transitioning and moving. The kids are starting to talk about saying good bye to their friends and to PACA. Eliana doesn’t really have a clue, but Joshua is the most concerned about having a new school and new friends for the next school year. I have told several people that this move for us is more of a step of faith than our move down here. Partially because we are still looking for work. Nathaniel has had the opportunity to enter a competition with a Minnesota choir. He is hoping this comeption will be fruitful and bring an opportunity to have some input as he is beginning his pursuit towards publication. A goal before we leave that he has is to make a demo of all of the contemporary Christian songs that he has written so that he is ready to submit these to various recording companies. I have his songs often going through my mind encouraging me in this time of transition. Eliana is a handful. She has been enjoying the terrible twos and definitely giving us more of a work out that the two boys ever have given us. Whenever we hear silence even for a small amount of time we run to go check on her to make sure she is not up to any mischief. One such time we ended up having to give a haircut as we found her snipping away her locks. Sadly her hair looks more like a boy cut than a girl cut!

Gabriel is really blossoming as an almost kindergartener! He has really grown this year in the preschool program. Since his birthday he continues to ask when he will be turning six. He seems to want to outgrow Joshua, but we have reassured him that this won’t happen since Joshua is older. Gabriel is a bit confused about us moving back to Minnesota. He understands that we will be moving and has been sad as he relates this news to his teachers, but then in the next breath he says he will be back in Brazil shortly after he goes to Minnesota.

Joshua has really matured this year. He is reading much more fluently now. He has become a regular scientist as his teacher – the Marvelous Miss Mecham has amazed her 1st graders with science tricks and fun! Joshua has come home each day from school this semester sharing all that he has learned in science. It has been an obvious fascination and love as he has learned science vocabulary and shared with us (going all through the kitchen to show us the difference between a solid and a liquid).

We are doing well, a bit sad as we contemplate leaving yet another home after being in this home only a year, but we are very excited to be returning to Minnesota. Please be praying for us as we are making this transition. We especially would like prayer as we will try to sell the remainder of the items here. The proceeds on many items will go towards some important purchases that we will need to make in our return to Minnesota. Also, please pray that the kids make this transition well. Especially Joshua, he is at a more difficult age to be moving back and starting new friendships. Last please pray for the job search process. This has been tedious as I have applied to several districts.

We haven't taken a lot of photos recently, but here is a photo from February of Eliana and I one day before school (Before she cut her hair):