Un Día Loco

Today has been a slightly crazy, abnormal day.

Our Monday morning started by waking up extra early for a drive into the city…with (just about) all of our students. One driver. Three teachers. Twelve students. It was quite the morning.

Our school is now accredited which means that our students are able to take standardized tests and such, which is wonderful, but also comes with a few inconveniences. We have to participate in what are called “flag days” through our sister school (the school we are reporting to in order to help with our accreditation). For these days, we travel a little over an hour to the church we attend on Sundays where the school, Cornerstone, is housed. The flag ceremony lasted all of 15 minutes and then was over.

It wouldn’t be such a bad thing in and of itself, but when you have to wake up 12 tired children ages 4-11 extra early, load them in a van for a long drive to and from the city, and still have some school when you get back, it makes for a long day. However, we were able to make it a fun trip to the city because after attending the flag ceremony, we took the kids out to breakfast at Applebee’s!—Yes, breakfast at Applebee’s.—It was such a treat as I don’t think any of the kids with us had ever been to Applebee’s before! Each adult took three kids and we enjoyed our breakfasts small group style! Everyone at my table ordered something different and the kids all enjoyed getting to order their own meals.

Amber and Jenny were both able to talk to some of the waitresses we had and share a bit about what we do and why we do it. It was amazing to hear about their opportunity to be a “light in the world” after we had just had a talk in the van with our kids about that before going inside the restaurant. When we finished eating, our waitresses and other workers asked to get a picture with us. (Check it out below!) It was such a fun experience for the kids that turned into a great learning opportunity as well…Plus, it made our early morning worth it!

When we got back home, we went on with what was left of our morning as usual and then after lunch let the little kids nap and only brought up the older children for a revised afternoon schedule. We also got a school picture with all of the teachers and the kids that I’ll post below as well.

Thursday will be a bit of a different school day as well…I’ll be sure to give you the details on that after the fact! It’ll be a mix of a compliment party that the students earned and a Valentine’s Day celebration. I am pretty excited about it and I know the students are too! J

Another surprise of the day: I found out after school that one of the cats here gave birth to five kittens! I was not present to watch the miracle of the births, but the LA team documented it well, so I hear. However, I am quite content to just look at the kittens as they are now and not take a stroll into the past and see all the details J

I didn’t intend to post this close together, but I guess when there are things to tell, I’ll share them…

Me and the boys

Us and the Applebee's workers :)

School picture on the roof

Another school picture in the classroom :)