Kids started school over a week ago now. I'm just now scheduling up all of our chinese, piano, violin, etc. Can you believe Jacob is in 5th grade now and Maren in 2nd. I'm planning on sending Zach to chinese pre-school in Sept. a couple days a week.
I was released as YW pres and called as SEMINARY teacher! augghhhh I'm excited to teach New Testament, but I've been freaking out about how to do the schedule. Scott is gone about 1/3 of the time and I just didn't feel right about having Ah Hua (helper/babysitter) have to leave her 3 kids and come get 4 kids off to school/pre-school. So I decided to hold seminary Mon. early-morning, but then Tues. and Wed. evenings from 8:30-9:30pm. That way we can have it at my house and the kids will be in bed by then and I won't need a babysitter. Today was our first day (morning) and it was tough -- no one feels like talking or participating -- me included. We'll see how the evenings go -- I'm hoping a whole lot better.
UPDATE: yes evenings are WAY better! The kids are animated and talk so much more than mornings. This is going to be fun!
2nd UPDATE: well that didn’t last long! Two weeks into holding seminary I was called to be Primary President instead! Jane Farnsworth and I just switched spots. To be honest I cried. I was so pumped up to be digging into the New Testament with these teens. Primary pres means I have stewardship of over 50% of our branch. It’s a big calling in this branch and one that will take hard work. But of course I will throw myself into it.
3rd Update: I ended up serving for 1 year as primary president and was then called as the first functional District Primary President for the China International District. This covers all foreigner branches in China except for a few around Shanghai. Wow! It’s been a wonderful ride creating this calling out of nothing, meeting only by phone, and loving and supporting sisters that I never met in person. Their needs vary and they are so very glad to have someone to call for help. It’s been a joy to serve at the district level alongside Scott as counselor to Pres. Toronto.
