Harvest Party Time

This weekend was jam packed full, whew.  Our Harvest party fell the same weekend as Independence Day.  

The winners of the 3 legged race were the most reluctant to do it, and then they ended up winning.

Sis Becky did line dancing with the students, they so loved it.

Last year's students won the bobbing for apples by an landslide, since they knew the tricks.  

This years pinning the nose on the pumpkin was crazy.  Some students were pinning on the opposite side of the room.

Our new addition was enjoying smores.  They were a hit!

Happy Independence Day, St. Vincent!

For preschool celebrating Independence, we wore no uniforms and asked the kids to wear yellow, blue, or green.

They loved making flags for party day!

A blurry, but sweet picture of them praying.  

We had cupcakes for the party, but it was also "P day.  So, the kids got homemade pizza and popcorn too!

Our adjuncts, Phil and Judy, took all staff and students to lunch at KFC.  What a treat!

And then the St. Vincent Parrot made the rounds.  AKA - our student Nikki.

Friendships

I had great, deep friendships with roommates and friends in college.  We encouraged one another, laughed a lot, and did life together.  

After Brice and I got married and we moved to CO, we had an amazing church family and the most incredible small group.  This group of couples our age taught us so much about marriage, friendships, and raising Godly children.  Even after leaving there to go on the mission field, those 5 couples and friends continue to be among who we count as close friends,  some of our biggest supporters in ministry, huge prayer warriors, and friends we so look forward to visiting.  

Then we arrived in Haiti, and God had so many loving ladies I grew with in those four years.  We had Bible studies together, taught together, and started families together.  Leaving them was really hard.  It was leaving family again.  

Coming to St. Vincent with 3 kids already demand lots of time and attention, I have not had as much time to develop deep relationships.  We were so busy those first 2 years here getting settled, meeting people, and teaching.  

This semester God surprised me.  I had gotten so used to people moving.  Whether us moving or temporary fill in help, I started unintentionally closing off my heart.  It was so nice to meet people, share a meal with them.  But really laughing, sharing pasts, and opening your heart made me realize that even people God has in your life for this semester or the next can be great friends.  I hope I never miss out on doing life again with short-term friends.  

I can't even tell you how encouraged I have been by having a friend volunteering here this semester.  She'll  paint with me, giggle with me, share tea with me, give advice, and is just there to talk with.  

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  - Hebrews 10:24-25

I hope and pray for you that you have friends to share life with.  To be encouraged and laugh with.  

I'm so thankful to God for this blessing.  Even though I know change will come, and God may bring a different time, I am thankful for this day.  

(stolen from Becky- fun in a rainstorm)

Staff ladies night out

One of our students on our way to church.  This student Andree has a son back home he has never met while he studies.  I know he misses his son so much, and here he is with his arm around Pax making sure he is safe in the back of the truck.

B-day month here

October should be we are all settling in from the start of school, but it is seeming to get busier.  We do have 5 b-days to celebrate this month here.  

Guestposting

A friend from college recently asked me to write on her blog.  It was a fun challenge.  She has a great blog full of mom stuff, schooling help, and so many other great ways to help grow your faith.  You can check it out below:

Have you ever wondered why we homeschool our children? Or how we make it work in a foreign country? Join me over at <a href="http://www.inallyoudo.net/2013/10/10/homeschooling-mission-field-guest-post" target="_blank">In All You Do</a>, where I'm sharing our journey to homeschooling, our daily schedule and how we make it work on the mission field.

 

Blessings,
Annette
Owner ~ In All You Do 

Rain Brings Sunshine to our House

It's hurricane season, so we are getting lots of rain.  I was late with school getting any laundry hung out to dry.  Finally got it out, and then forgot to bring it in once dry.  After work, we all came inside and A downpour of rain started that would continue for the next hour.  I was pretty frustrated.  First time all week I had been able to get 2 loads of laundry hung and dried.  Ran outside to just look at the already soaked clothes and vent.  

Then, I spotted our buddy O'Malley huddling under a tree to stay dry from the rain.  I called him in.  What a God moment.  O'Malley had been asking Brice to spend some special one on one time with him.  So we got to play games and snack with O'Malley.  

I Love how if you are looking for it, God's still working even when you get upset or frustrated.  But, we have to make sure we don't miss those times in our frustrations.  SO glad we didn't!