Packin' up...

Well... tomorrow's the day. All of the report cards, and cleaning, and saying good-bye, etc... is finished. Yesterday was our last work day at school. (The picture is of my students, at their 6th grade promotion, this past Thursday.)

Today I'm going to a soccer game in which two of my students will be playing... and then out to lunch... and then another good-bye.

After that all that remains will be to finish writing a massive paper for grad. school and to pack. I purposely got up early this morning to try and pack. It's not that I haven't started - there is lots of "stuff" in my suitcases. I've given away loads of other "things". I just know, though, that my suitcases are NOT going to be under the weight allotment. And so, here I sit, not wanting to part with most of what is in these suitcases!

Tomorrow, a van will come to pick seven of us up at 4:30 a.m.. We'll drive the 4-5 hours to San Pedro Sula. We'll check in via the "out the door" lines, pray our luggage isn't too heavy, and then wait for a couple of hours. We'll fly to Houston... then say more good-byes. I'll fly to Chicago, laugh hysterically with my mom, whilst trying to haul my huge, heavy suitcases the 3 miles to where she parked her car. Then we'll drive the 3 (or more - if we get lost!) hours home.

And so, here I sit. Having already said so many good-byes, I'm ready to leave - and yet still feeling overwhelmed by a small amount of fear about the unknown. I'm choosing to cling to promises given by the Lord.

Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid..."

Winding down...

Well ... Thursday was my last day with my students. It was a very pleasant morning! Here's a picture of my crazy kiddos, in our very empty classroom... sigh!

What, you might ask, am I doing now that school is out? Well.... report cards, cleaning and packing up my classroom, packing up my apartment, getting ready for the 6th grade promotion (graduation), spending time with students and friends, writing lots of thank you notes, and on and on the list goes!

It feels a bit surreal that I'm no longer responsible for 25 precious lives. It's definitely a bittersweet feeling. I'm claiming the Lord's peace, though, and choosing to trust Him as I anticipate moving back to the States.

Phillippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Birthday bash!

This is a picture of most of the students in my class at the "surprise" birthday party that they planned for me! They brought in lunch: chips, cookies, brownies, candies, rice krispy treats, and soda! :-) They were so sweet to plan a party for me! I felt very much loved. This was the start of a special birthday weekend. More details to come later!