School’s Out!

Often I meditate on Psalm 90 at the beginning of a new calendar year, and I echo the psalmist’s prayer. Today, at the end of what has perhaps been the most challenging academic year yet, these thoughts – penned by the psalmist centuries ago – seem especially fitting reminders...

“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that all our life we will sing with joy. For days and years you have afflicted us, you have made us suffer; give us back that time in joy now! Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to our children! May the favor of the Lord our God be upon us. Establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

(Psalm 90:14-17)

Although both E and DJ finished the academic year with top grades, the life lessons learned – those “extracurriculars” that were not specified in the scope and sequence way back in March and the ones we wouldn’t necessarily have chosen for our lives’ curricula – have become themes of our ongoing praise!

And we are humbly thankful...

Un dibujo escolar...

Ilustración de la vida de los indígenas del Uruguay... 🥰

[por un alumno de segundo que reside en mi casa]

Tokens of love...

From my elementary EFL students... 💛

[Not pictured: All the hugs I get every single time I teach...] 😊

[Also not recorded: The complaining from students who don’t yet appreciate my philosophy of immersing them in the language...] 😉

Birthday Season Snapshots

Happy Birthday Season to my two favorite men! 😉

Happy Birthday Eve to JM! We ❤ you!

Celebrating at the Acevedos’ in Totoral with the AK Team!

Celebrando con los estudiantes de hermenéutica...

🎉😋🎂

Happy Birthday Eve to DJ! We ❤ you!

Celebrating while we wait at the airport...

Celebrating with classmates at school...

🎉😋🎂

Still pending: “Moose Party” – in the plans since our visit to AK in mid-2018!

Paseo a la Granja

Disfrutamos un hermoso paseo didáctico con el colegio el lunes pasado.

Este simpático nos dio la bienvenida... 😉

Y fútbol… ¡Siempre fútbol! ⚽

¡Re-agradecidos por la oportunidad!

Beware of Fallacies!

I shared the following anecdote in September 2017:

Shortly after waking up this morning, DJ remarked to me:

Better late than never! is a false disjunction – because people could arrive on time! 😉

. . .

This year, I’m more thankful than ever that both keep thinking...

A recent opportunity for E occurred in the classroom, when a professor, talking about those who hold religious beliefs/convictions, said:

It’s one thing to believe. It’s another to think.

E later told me: That’s a false disjunction: I believe because I think. 😉

En clase hoy...

–Teacher, ya falta poco para que te vayas.–

–¡¿Eh?!–


Y con mucho drama le dibujé en la pizarra blanca: 💔

. . .

Al ratito empecé a sacar “mis trucos” de la mochila:

Y luego cuando sí me tenía que ir, el mismo alumno me dice:

–Ay, Teacher, no te vayas todavía.–

😊😎😉

#TeacherSmarts  #RainyDayTricks  #SpecialTreats  #LittleJoys  #EFL

Celebrating Mother’s Day...

I love these two (not-so-Little) People!

I love their creativity!

DJ and I both got to participate in his school program this year!

Look carefully to see DJ’s eyes peering over his letter card!

E and DJ both earned top grades on their first report cards for this 2019 school year, a fact we do not take lightly on our family’s multi-cultural educational journey!

I’m thankful – once again, more than ever – for my own dear mother and for treasured memories...

I’m thankful for the many ways her love still shines! 💛

Back again...

When I asked DJ tonight how his first day back to school went (after the scheduled 10-day break), he answered (quite matter-of-factly):

“It was good to be actually back to school.”

Then he added: “Because of the work. And the cursive writing.”

Those who have been following our family’s educational journey (and its specific challenges) can appreciate how wonderful it was (and is!) to hear these words!

Waiting at the second bus stop of the morning

Reading The Chronicles of Narnia, perennial favorites!

We ♥ School!

The academic year began on March 11. We’re thankful for our Loving Shepherd and His faithful guidance and provision during this first month of both teaching and learning, new locations, and additional opportunities for our family.

We leave the house shortly after 6:00 a.m. to catch the first of two or even three buses with DJ; on the other hand, most of E’s classes are in the afternoons, here in the neighborhood.

First day of school!

Watching DJ mature and love being at school has been nothing less than a hug from our Loving Shepherd!

Acting as chaperone on field trips has been a highlight for me!

We’re keeping busy – and we’re thankful for these opportunities!

“El pizarrón y las flores”

Hace un mes empezó las clases; hace una semana creó este cuento solito en clase. Tenía que elegir entre escribir enunciados para cada una de las palabras siguientes o escribir un cuento.

pizarrón
sacapuntas
dientes
mesas
flores

(Los que conocen lo que ha sido su saga escolar, sabrán apreciar lo que significa esto para nosotros...)

♥♥♥

Beginning Another Academic Year!

So many emotions! A new academic year begins today with teaching and (hopefully!) learning opportunities on multiple levels, including bilingual primary and secondary as well as tertiary levels...

Hear my cry, O God;

Give heed to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a refuge for me,

A tower of strength against the enemy...

(Psalm 61)

Congrats, Grads!

Both were promoted to the next levels with the highest marks! ♥

My heart is full... There is so much I could say, given the ups and downs of our educational journey, especially during the past three years!

As I look back once again, noting how much both E and DJ have learned and grown and profited, I am thankful (once again and more than ever) for our Loving Shepherd and His guiding – even down paths we would not have chosen!

Especially thankful for extended family and (visiting) friends who have been like family – hugs to our souls!

SO thankful!

¡Gracias! ♥

En las últimas dos semanas, has tenido éxito en los exámenes de egreso de 6to de primaria, a pesar de estar exhausta.

Has ayudado a recaudar fondos para la Fundación Pérez Scremini, por la cura del cáncer infantil en Uruguay.

Y has alegrado (como siempre) nuestro espacio familiar con tu amor por el arte.

A veces una obra de arte aparece para embellecer

un rinconcito (incluyendo el espejo del baño).

Hace casi cuatro semanas “rescataste” (con tu sensibilidad creativa y emocional) el disfraz (de pez) de tu hermanito para el programa de él en la escuela.

Y ayudaste con múltiples detalles y “mandaditos” con los preparativos para el primer programa de graduación de FEBU.

Todo esto, con el telón del semestre más ocupado hasta ahora para nuestra familia.

Momentos pequeños que se hacen grandes al sumarse para aliviar pesares de la vida... ♥

¡Le doy gracias a Dios por bendecirnos de tan gran manera al hacernos el precioso “préstamo” que es tu vida!

¡Te queremos mucho! (¡Más que nunca!) ♥

¡Me encanta! ♥

Me encanta lo que representa este trabajo escolar. Ya me lo imagino a mi peque, concentrado, copiando cada detalle...

♥♥♥♥

“¡Feliz Día, Papá!”

“Father’s Day!” was last Sunday here in Uruguay. Life is crazier than usual right now, so we’ve celebrated in episodes.

E and DJ both (on their own initiative) gave gifts involving drawings that mirror aspects of our daily life as a family.

DJ’s reflect things that Daddy enjoys and/or that they enjoy together.

(You can enlarge the drawings by clicking on the collage!)

My favorites are riding the “103” (i.e. the crowded public bus!) to school, playing the piano (specifically “Milonga” as you can see if you look carefully at the next-to-last drawing), and soccer – of course!

E’s pictures are a good reflection of daily home life...

Crafts, computers, blocks, books, reading together...

(And “Abu Julia” enjoying the fireplace in winter!)

Our Little People amaze us constantly! The more I learn about cognitive psychology (especially as related to child development and education), the more I realize that our two are “normal” kids – who are being blessed with unusual opportunity!

As I read over and over again the crucial role that language development plays in cognitive development (and even in structuring the brain itself), I can’t help but wonder about the role that bilingualism is playing in these two!

I’m thankful! And humbled... Although there are educators who ignore, in practice, what they had to have been taught in theory, even those life experiences are part of the eclectic educational package that we are being gifted. The blessings include experiences that we would not have chosen ourselves but that are yielding advanced cognitive results beyond our expectations!

“Acto Escolar: 19 de Junio”

This year E and DJ got to participate together in “Flag Day” ceremonies at school.

E continues to form part of the “Honor Guard” for the National Flag,

and DJ very happily participated with his classmates.

We enjoyed the sunshine – and a few hours “off” (from school) –

in downtown Montevideo.

“Proyecto Turismo”

Trabajando en el proyecto de turismo con las compis... 😎

¡MONTEVIDEO!