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Showing posts from January, 2013

Empty Seats

This past Tuesday Kim and I got home from our respective places of work about the same time.  Knowing that Joanna is always starving when she gets home at the end of the day, especially now that she has track practice after school, I suggested we get dinner started as quickly as possible.  I think I was kind of looking forward to having dinner together—that is, all three of us.  With both Jonathan and Nathaniel back at their colleges as of Monday, a full dinner table is now Kim, Joanna, and I.  And, the night before, Joanna was out for the evening, so Kim and I had eaten dinner alone.  I guess I was really looking forward to having dinner with all three of us together.  As Kim and I were cooking and setting the table, I noticed it was getting close to 6 pm and began wondering why Joanna was somewhat late.  I found myself peaking towards the front window, waiting for her to drive up any moment, ready to inform her that dinner was just about ready. Ever

More Than Paint

I spent last week with a group of six people in Leon, Nicaragua.   One of our main objectives for being there was to help prepare our school, Promise International Academy, for their upcoming school year, which begins in February.   That meant painting and then cleaning as many classrooms and other parts of the school building as we could.   By the end of the week, with some of the teachers working alongside of us, we got five classrooms and two outdoors areas painted.   I’d say it was a pretty productive week.   I know for some, going to Nicaragua and spending much of our time painting and cleaning can seem a bit laborious, non-glamorous, and even mundane.  Most teams want to come back with stories of being with kids, traveling down dirt roads, or adventuring to the far corners of the nation.  Well, we did spend a day with our children from Promise Kids Foundation in some of the outlying communities—traveling some pretty awful roads.  And, we did minist