all yellow

October’s here.    

We went for a quick stroll around Battleground Park and admired the leaves  that were certainly fading into yellow.  Fall is my favourite season.  It’s so fun dressing up for the cool weather (yes fresh and cool, not wintry freezing cold).  The trees frocked in gold, scarlet and delicious shades of brown. (Coffee, chocolate, caramel: pick your drink!)  Change is in the air. 

We were ushers for the newsboys concert at church.  The band was pumping full of energy, and it was fun singing along to old favourites.  The band had, of course,  announced earlier in the year that Michael Tait was now its lead singer.  Confusing for some since Tait will mostly be recognised for being a third of another much loved band, dc Talk.  Honestly, I didn’t mind one bit.  In the two decades of newsboys history, you will find that the band continuously had line up changes anyway.  Band members were fairly fluid, eg Peter Furler was playing drums before replacing John James as the lead singer.  Duncan Phillips played keyboard then shifted to the drums.  Jody Davis took time off  but is once again on the guitar for the team.  It may seem chaotic and unstable at first glance but something of greater significance is clear to me.  The total sum of the band is greater than any one member.  Sure I’ll miss the aussie accent in future newsboys albums but the music they play and the message they bring shines greater than any of its individual member.  Changes are part of growing. 

This week, we also received word that our dear Papo has passed away.  My great-grandmother was less than two years shy from being a centenarian.  She was living in America for most of my life but I remember whenever she visited the Philippines.  She used to make clothes and send them to us.  She would send us birthday cards and there was always a one-dollar bill tucked inside.  It was lovely having her live with us in Australia for a little while – to see Mama caring for her mum and reminiscing about all that was once part of their lives.  In this frail shell is a strong, determined woman, full of joy and laughter inspite of all the hurdles she had to face.  She was full of hope in her Creator, who has sustained her over the many changes she has gone through in her life.  Papo, you are very dear to our hearts, and we will miss you. 

 

October also marks the end of the first quarter at school.  There were some hesitation and apprehension moving from high school to middle school, but as it turns out, life on middle earth is going well. This week has been particularly eventful for my class.  The kids had been working on a research project in the last couple of weeks – researching on sea animals, learning about water, creating their sea diorama in Art, and watching “Finding Nemo” of course.  They presented to several teachers and classes on Monday afternoon and were heaped praises on their creativity and effort. 

 

 

 

The next couple of days we were on field trips – the 7th graders attended a symphony concert, and the whole class enjoyed a day out at the Natural Science Center. 

And as much as I am enjoying teaching here in America, we are also counting the few months till we head back to Australia again.  I cannot begin to describe how torn our hearts are… you feel the push and pull of both places and the growing whisper of more changes yet to come. 

[Jowanna with Papo in Baguio last September; Newsboys with their new lead singer, Michael Tait at Westover, and snaps of Ms K's class, October 2009 ]

 

crested butte

[While you ooh and aah over the gorgeous pictures of Colorado, I contemplate on our first American summer vacation.  That is to say, we have been in the country for the whole stinking and muggy duration of it.  At the beginning of the holidays I whined to Craig about having nothing to do for three  whole months.

It was difficult to stay enthusiastic about relaxing when I had already cleaned and disinfected and organised our apartment to my heart's content, in just the first few days of the break.  Fortunately, I could also teach summer school for a total of ten days.  This was very rewarding - foremost financially, but also, for the interaction and connections I have made with students and my co-teachers.  The lunch table became a place to feed on juicy morsels of  (harmless) gossip and trivial personal stories.

My summer reading list never waned.  Apart from seeking new titles promising exciting and enriching reading, I revisited old stories that had once enchanted me.  I also joined a book reading club I kept forgetting to attend.  And although I have not mastered all of the pieces on the only three piano books I own, playing the same old songs became wearisome.  My repertoire clearly needed to expand.

There were also the customary trips outside of  our little known territory in North Carolina.  This summer, we explored both the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Gunnison County of Colorado.  Both offered the perfect chance for Craig and I to recoup from all the hoo-hah of the previous months.  There were a few times we got together with friends, including a memorable Coldplay concert one balmy evening in Raleigh.

Truth be told, I would much rather a "short" summer  - the usual fare in Australian schools, or what is called a year round schedule here in the US.  I love having just enough holidays in the summer, six weeks sparked by Christmas and New Year festivities, and the two-week break in between each term is a very welcome sanity saver.  But this was how my American summer vacation unfolded and how a compulsive, task-driven, workaholic of a teacher, decided to reflect and rest.

Ah, the luxury of time.

Crested Butte, Colorado, July 2009]