Idaho to Island: March 2019

This has been the most difficult semesters in many ways. It has also been one of the best.

Let’s get the nitty gritty over 1^st 😉

Some of the difficult things entail:

· Coming up to our 1 year mark being on the island, really missing church and the fellowship that brings.

· Another is the awkwardness with locals. I don’t know how to explain, or what more to say… other then I am just awkward and think I’m on a good page with so-and-so, just to find out the next day, I’m actually not. Gossip is the English.

· It’s been a challenge because of the stress and demands placed on Matthew with school (hardest semester school-wise), and me with the extra hours of "single-parenting mode".

(I make it look great don't I?! Ha. this is a good day..)

· We have really wanted our kids close together, and it saddens me that Sadie will be nearly or at least 3 years old whenever #4 decides to happen. Our others are only 18 months apart! But I know it’s all in the Lord’s hand, and lets face it, it’s much less complicated to not be pregnant out here… I guess. Haha

· We have had our fair share of sickness this semester. Every one in the family has been hit once, twice, and even some of us 3 times with nasty colds, flu’s or some other bug.

· No car for 3 months, and a mess getting it to a mechanic. No water for several days (running water, I should clarify. We had buckets). And no power on several occasions, for several hours.

· Hannah's Schooling….

It has been a struggle because we have always been very interested in homeschooling and I always thought I would homeschool my children. Yet here they have a compulsory education law (which they even celebrated this week!) that forces all children to start school the month after they turn 4! Can you believe that! So young! We knew this when moving out here though and so we accepted our fate.

Going to school has helped Hannah tremendously with social abilities and friendships. It is fun to be a part of the classroom and seeing her engage in what is going on. However, there have been a few things here and there that we have been unsettled about, including cussing. Also after Hannah’s finals report in December and her struggling in many area’s, I decided to do more homeschooling at home. Hannah loves these Learning activities but it has become a challenge to do them with her as she is at school all morning (which is the only time Sadie naps).

Thomas is flying in his learning activities and at one point knew more then Hannah!! When Hannah had a school break, she thrived in her home learning activities! In that short 7 days she learned her vowels, the 2 sounds they make, AND started sounding out 3 letter words on her own! But as soon as school started back up, I wasn’t able to work with her as much, and we have hardly been able to review what she worked on.

Hannah has started begging to not go to school, but to stay home and do learning activities. Instead I was staying as much as I could in Hannah’s class to help support her, and be involved. She loved it and some days that was the only way I could get her to go to school. It also gave us something to build upon and work on at home. Some days, me being there is the only way she will participate in the group activities especially at gym.

So just a little bit ago Matthew and I, met with the Truancy officer to see if there was any way she could go part time, half days, alternating days, or just plain and simple homeschool. It was very discouraging to learn how unlikely and a little chance we had to be able to pull her out of school and that part-time was not an option period. In order to be “exempt” from the “compulsory” education we had to have evidence that she was actively attending a school abroad, write letters, and appeal…knowing that in all the years the truancy officer has been with the school she has never seen an appeal go through. Nor did she think that online homeschool programs would suffice. Then after submitting the appeal, we would have to wait... for who knows how long… to maybe (not likely) get it granted. ☹ We felt powerless and discouraged. Since when do parents not have a say in their child’s education? Or what is best for the child?

Then to make matters worse, drama ensued! Someone told someone else that I told someone that someone did something. Basically. That’s all. Just Gossip. Let me define gossip for you.

“Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.”

It resulted in me being asked to not attend school with Hannah. I bawled! I seriously could not stop crying. So 1^st I’m forced to send my daughter to school, and then I’m not allowed to be with her!! When I said, I did not want any part of the gossip or any “he said/she said” conversations. They called a meeting. I wasn’t informed about the meeting… I heard about it through the grape vine... apparently I was supposed to be there. I had no idea what it was about. But I showed up prepared to make a mature, concise, clear statement on where I stood on the issue (of what was gossiped about). I don’t know whether it was successful or not. I think perhaps I just made more enemies. And quite frankly, now it’s just awkward seeing anyone at school. But I feel like I was true to myself, and was honest, firm, respectful and held my standards. So… what can I do?

[And just to clear the air. I have been “allowed” back to school with Hannah. We made our peace, and worked things out. I think. ]

On to the blessings! :D This is the fun part!

· Hannah decided she wanted bangs! So we cut them! Yay!

· The kids and I have had lots of fun cooking & baking and shopping together

· We are so so so so very grateful for a safe yard for the kids to play in every day, all day long! It has also been a great place for my morning exercise!