It's Crescendo Time for Fall Soccer

Well, our family has had a great time for the past six weeks enjoying soccer four nights a week, and then all day on Saturday. Our season is coming to a crescendo this weekend. All five children played three play-off games to see which teams would make it to the semifinals. We had nine different games today. David-2, Caleb-2, Christiana-2, Charity-2, and Zachary-1. We started the morning early with Beth taking the majority of the players at 8:15 A.M. Joel was added to the mix because he's refereeing. He did four games himself today. At 9:00 A.M., both Caleb and David had games. The party continued until just before 5:00 P.M. when Charity's last game ended. She and her teammates were awarded a trophy after that game because they did not qualify for the semifinals, and thus their season was complete.

That means that the other four DID make the semifinals. David's team got in after they won the third tie-breaker. We're happy that Nathan is coming home tonight, and will hopefully be able to see his siblings play a game or two before the end of the season comes this week.

A Night at the Golden Halo Awards

Beth and I had a wonderful time being part of the Golden Halo Awards. She and I were blessed to be able to be chauffeured to the event (note the picture above). We were able to sit with other families from FMCS, including the Collins. I did not win, but received a beautiful certificate, along with a very nice gift from the Christian Chamber of Commerce. Besides that, it's the first time in awhile we've been able to be all dressed up and have somewhere to go.

Glad to be at Fort Myers Christian School

These are pictures of a blessed event in my life. Lauren Collins and I were chosen as part of the top ten finalists for the Golden Halo Award, which is awarded to a teacher from a Christian or some other private school. We are pictured together at the Awards Banquet, which took place on November 15th.

I am thankful for the privilege to teach at FMCS. What a blessed change it has been teaching where Christ is exalted in the classroom rather than where Christ is excused from the classroom.

Some Unexpected Good News

While the news from the national front was not good for us personally, the news which came to me on Tuesday was totally unexpected and a cause for rejoicing. At Fort Myers Christian School (FMCS), we had an assembly where our Missions projects from each class were highlighted. At the end of the program our principal, Mr. Mitchell, announced there were special guests coming into our assembly to make a presentation. Five representatives entered the room from the Southwest Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce. They came to announce two of the top ten finalists for the Golden Halo Award. The Golden Halo Award is given to the top teacher in area Christian Schools. The Chamber included schools from Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Hendry Counties. To my total surprise, one of our Second Grade Teachers, Lauren Collins, and I were chosen as two of the finalists!

Mr. Mitchell wrote us a very nice e-mail afterwards. In it he included these words:

"I have much more to say, and want to say, but I will keep this short for now - we are very proud of you! All I could think of is the awesome way that God confirms things: two teachers, months ago, facing whether or not they would have jobs for next year...I think this would be a sign that you are in God's will!"

Post election blues

America, it seems, has done it again. Elected another unqualified person, this time though, he seems downright dangerous. I don't understand, when there is an abundance of sources that are shouting "from the rooftops" all the evil things that seem to surround this man, that people are so taken in by it all. I don't mind that my guy did not win so much as the wary feeling of the future for myself, my children and their children. It is time to pray that God would guide this new leader so that we may walk in the paths of righteousness. Blue is definitely the word for the day.
Beth