I love Friday nights. The house is clean, surfaces shine, and Sabbath music plays comfortingly in the background. I love the slow setting of the sun, eating a special dinner, and having time to read and relax.
Tonight I got out my Bible, Prophets and Kings, and a book I brought from home on an impulse. I began writing in it, and then looked on the first page.
The inscription was from Aunt Meme for my 8th grade graduation, and I “got a little misty” as my mom would say. My great-aunt Meme (Wilma McClarty) was head of the English department at Southern and an outstanding woman. She passed away of cancer not long ago, and it was so cool to have something to remind me of her. The book is basically an autobiographical journal, and it is a fitting gift from one lover of English to another.
Parent-teacher conferences (PTC) were today. We had a half day Thursday to give us time to prepare, and by this morning my classroom was cleaned and ready. I was also spruced up and ready, although a little nervous. Everything went well, however, and I breathed a thank you as the last parent went out the door.
Three weeks have already gone by since the end of first quarter, and the time passes quickly. I am still working on disciplining lovingly, and each day I realize more clearly how flawed I am. Praise God that He still loves me.
Next week is our last full week before Thanksgiving. We only get Thursday off, which is a bummer. International Day is that Friday, which gives us a break from teaching on Friday at least. I am looking forward to the holidays approaching, although I am not sure that it will feel like a real Thanksgiving without chilly weather and fall colors.
Random things: *Cockroach count: Courtney, 20. Kaitlynn, 13. Brenda, 5. *Palau used to have about 50,000 residents before WWII. Since then, the population has stayed around 15,000. *The school gym is almost finished. The lighting has been going up this week, the music room is done, and the other two rooms are halfway finished. *Mrs. Yonathan, the 1A teacher, had her baby about 3 weeks ago. She and the baby are doing well, and another SM has taken over her class until after Christmas break. *The streets in Palau have red spots from people spitting beetlenut juice. It is an annoyance for shopkeepers, since the stains are hard to remove. *Palau is a man’s world, but the women chose the chiefs. *Men go first at potluck, followed by visitors and children. Pastor tells a story about a guy who tried to let the women go first only to be asked, “Are you woman?”