Hello Everyone- It has been awhile since an update:) With so much going on in our lives right now, I feel like we could write one everyday and have something to share...well, let's see... Last week was my spring break from student teaching. I filled it with working on my distance ed class from Bemidji State-I wrote so many papers, you wouldn't believe it! I felt like a paper dispenser. Jason and I also got to have a little romantic weekend the last weekend in March. It was wonderful! We had received a gift certificate to the Hyatt Regency downtown Minneapolis from Tom and Judy-dear friends and the family that I nannied for the last two years-- (So thoughtful--they thought we could use a little getaway before the baby arrived, and they were right!) It was so much fun...we went swimming (a favorite of mine now that most other activities are a little too strenuous) and then ate dinner at Ichibon Japanese Steak House...for you Rockfordians, it's like JMK or Shogun but a little more fancy and expensive:) The food was yummy-I loved the cucumber salad and the chicken the most...something about cooking it fresh right in front of you makes it taste better! Jason wasn't a huge fan of the liver appetizer, but at least he was a trooper and ate it:) We slept in and enjoyed the view from the 23rd floor...and then got up in time for the sermon at church:) The next few days were filled with homework and spending time together. Honestly some of the best days I have had in a long time...we have so much fun when we actually get to be together--imagine that!
I then headed to Rockford for some quality time with the parents--which was wonderful too--I miss them so much and as it seems like we only get home for holidays, life is pretty chaotic with everyone back, so it was nice to be the only child home:) I get spoiled that way:) The weather was warm on Friday and Saturday, and I even got to do a little gardening; actually, it was more of cleaning out dead leaves around the daffodils and early bloomers--snowdrops and day lilies, but it was so encouraging to see green life emerging from the cold, hard ground!!! Spring is here, though Minnesota seems to be taking its precious time remembering!! I even got to see Lisa (not Den Hartog for long:) on Saturday!! We met halfway at a truck stop in Marengo, and it was so amazing to catch up , hear about wedding and baby plans, celebrate her birthday, and just laugh and pray together. I miss my women so much!!!! Can't wait for the Big Day in August when we'll all be together:)
School is going well. I started the research paper unit this week, and I am already in the full swing of teaching full-time...at Andover I had more transition time with team-teaching, but since we don't know when this baby is going to arrive, my cooperating teacher and I both agreed that it would probably be best if I just started right away. What a learning experience it has been. 7th graders have so many more questions and so much more energy than 11th graders!! I am learning to love working with them, though, and after some chaotic library days, can even see myself as a junior high English teacher....though I think my heart is really with the older ones:)
Jason is working hard these days at Lydia West and at his classes. He is starting to write lesson plans now too, so we are quite the lesson plan team...it has been fun sharing ideas and helping each other out, though; I do a significant amount of editing for him, and he lets me know if my activities would actually be fun and engaging:) He didn't have the best experience with English teachers as a kid--he said he never felt like he connected with any of them, and they were not very good at making class interesting (he always wanted to read his own books:), so I like to ask him how I can better reach my reluctant writers and students that just don't seem to engage in classwork. It is possible to reach them: that I know and believe with all of my heart. You just need to get creative and try to give them options that they are actually interested in! When they find that perfect book, it's hard to get them to stop reading!!
Good News!!! We are moving to a 2 bedroom at the end of May (oh my word...three weeks and then baby and then .... who knows??) This year is flying by--I didn't think that in February, but now I do...we are running out of time to get everything done! I am so excited to get things settled and ready for Baby...he will have his own room, so my mom and I have been swapping ideas for the decor...sea turtles or a north woods theme?? hmmmm....
I am headed to a job fair on Monday, so wish me luck...hopefully something will come of this, and if not, I know I just need to trust that God is in control and has our future in his hands. Jason is even thinking about applying for teaching jobs this fall as some inner city districts are so needy that they are hiring Special Ed teachers pre-licensure while enrolled in a program to attain one, so we'll see if that works out:)
Thanks for all of your prayers....until next time, we rest in Him and praise Him for His steadfast love. Thank you Lord that You do not change like my feelings!! I was so challenged by the sermon this week! It was like he was talking straight at me...so many feelings (up and down) sometimes make me question God's sovereignty, but feelings should never dictate theology. God remains unchanged though we may waver daily. He is our Anchor.
Have a great week!
-Claire, Jase, and Baby Olson (still working on the name...:)