Rachel Writes

Shhh . Don't tell my students. I cannot grade. Thankfully, I only have two teaching days left and then I'm back to my simple, wonderful librarian job. It's not that I don't want to grade. Or that I don't think it is important. I really think that it is a matter of self confidence. I really doubt that I am an authority on poetry (that's what I've been grading lately). AND the other issue is that sometimes I start changing the student's work to say what I think it should say. Truly awful! It's just that I know how I would like it to sound when I read it, and I don't always have a reason why it should be changed. Now, it's not all horrible. There are sometimes tha t I feel like I'm really helping a student. That's a cheerful prospect. I think that if I had it my way, I would edit with the student, not just sit and read the paper by myself, but there is the great limiting factor of time-- so often my enemy. Anyways, since my teaching time...

Cool Kid Sweetie There's nothing like a good swing.

I just found an assignment that Micah developed for his British literature course. It's genius and, like him, funny, to the point, and deceptively instructive. Other news in Rachel world: I'm so tired that I can hardly sit up straight. I wrote a ridiculously long unit test because I forgot how to write good tests. Oops. And all three of us ( Sojo , Mic, and me) have colds. Even with that, I've been feeling the best I've felt in ages. Hoping to get some good sleep today because right now I am absolutely worthless.

We're taking our time and I'm hoping that we are using it well. There's a lot to be done since we have moved, and it's exciting and overwhelming at the same time. We will have to pay some late fees for being slow, but I'm guarding my sanity and not allowing myself to be too rushed. Sojourner is teething and adjusting to her new home. This means that she wants to be held a lot and sometimes is crying for no apparent reason. The majority of the time, though, she is quite happy. We're expecting a new baby in May or June. I have yet to have the ultrasound that will determine the due date. We're thrilled! So there's lots of change and lots of hope. When you think of me, hope that I am trusting in God and breathing deeply. These next few months are going to be fun!

Micah and I have spent the day packing and I'm happy to announce that we're over half way done. Wow. We're actually doing it! Tonight is a Christmas Eve service and then tomorrow it's lunch with the immediate family (minus the Baker 3). Saturday night is Sojo's birthday party. The rest of the days between now and January 6 th are packing days. Hip hip hooray! Then off to the Philippines to teach and live and grow in the sunshine. I'm especially sad for Sojo to leave both sets of grandparents behind, but I know that she'll get to know them. We'll just have to be creative.

Making Snow Angels with Mumbles

Last night to sleep as a guest. Tomorrow we will be traveling back to Greencastle for 2 weeks of rest. I don't have the equipment to upload pictures yet, but I am eager to let you see more of Sojo. She's growing so much. It's really snowing in the Boston area. I wonder how this will affect our morning travel plans. My throat is feeling a little bit scratchy today. Ick. No complaints, tho, because I've made it so long without a cold of any sort. It's been great to spend the past few days with Melissa and Paul. They are so generous letting us eat yummy chicken and pasta and watch Iron Man with them. Have to go rescue a crying baby now.