Where to start...

It has been too long since I last updated my blog.  This semester has been very busy.  Filled with work, students, grading, planning, basketball games, teacher’s conference, etc.  In many ways this semester has been easier in other ways it has been harder.  I now know my way around town, know a little more about BFA, know my students better, etc.  But the weariness of the last 7-8 months has set in in new ways as well.  Throughout it all though the Lord has truly been faithful.  Here is a brief overview of the last several weeks. 

We had two home basketball game weekends.  It was really fun to go and cheer on our students (being the stand in for their parents who are often not able to be there).  Our varsity girls went on to the European Dodds finals and lost by only one point in overtime.  They played hard and we are proud of them.  One of the music teachers here decided to start a pep band for the home games.  It included staff, students, teachers, RAs, etc.  After announcing it several days in a row and not having any students sign up they finally realized that the kids did not know what a pep band was. :)   So the next day they explained it and several joined. They did a great job cheering the teams on.  

On the train with my wonderful co-workers

In mid-February I was able to go with 5 other teachers to the Association of German International Schools Conference in Hannover, Germany.  It was a new experience for me to attend a teacher’s conference but it was helpful and educational (good thing at a teacher’s conference :)).  The US Ambassador to Germany spoke on the opening night which was interesting.  There were about 300 teachers there from international schools all over Germany. The teachers themselves were from all over the world (Australia, England, Ireland, France, the USA, Canada, etc.).  All in all it was a very good and helpful conference.   

My middle schoolers presented to their parents and to the 8^th grade French class a play that they have been working on memorizing, along with some songs and Bible verses.  They did a very good job and I was quite proud of them. 

My small group had a crêpe party thanks to the other French teacher who invited us over to her house.  She made us delicious crêpes and we celebrated Valentine’s Day and one of my girl’s birthdays.  Three of my girls had never had a crêpe before so it was fun to see them discover a new and delicious dessert (in my unbiased opinion).  

Nonnberg Chapel

I spent a wonderful rather spontaneous weekend in Salzburg, Austria with my cousin Katy Beth, and two other wonderful ladies.  It was a gift to me straight from Jesus.  We had a wonderful time exploring Salzburg.  One of my favorite things (pun intended) was visiting the convent where Maria Von Trapp was from and where she and the captain were married in real life.  This summer we were able to visit their lodge in Stowe, VT but to see where it all begin was pretty amazing.  One woman's obedience to do what God had asked her to do not only changed a family but is a story that we are still talking about today.  And getting to experience it with my cousin and two friends was just icing on the cake.  I truly felt spoiled. 

Dancing at the Sound of Music gazebo

What fun to be with my cousin Katy Beth