The firsts of the school year!

We always start off the school year with the first day of school pictures! This is our first year to have 2 kids off to school. Nathan is now a junior in high school (wow, do I feel old!). This start of school was no big deal, except the bus came very early and Nathan missed it! Nathan usually squeaks out the door just a minute or two before the bus gets here, but not this time. Mike drove him to school on his way to work, so everything went OK. Nathan is excited about his classes this year, and only upset that he could not schedule Honors Physics because of a scheduling conflict. (Not a class I would be upset about missing!) Besides band, I think we have heard the most about his Mandarin class and his Space Tech class. Maybe we will have everyone speaking Chinese soon!

Molly's first day of school was August 29th. She started Kindergarden, and only half her class was there the first day, with the second half on the second day. Since she is attending the school where I work, she attended both days and got to meet all of her classmates. Her teacher says she is doing great so far. She is trying to repeat everything said and sing along with the songs. We read and read books this week - I think she understands that is what she will be learning. She is trying to follow along with her finger - a great start. She is writing her name and singing her alphabet and counting and writing her numbers to 10 so far. A great start for only a week and a few days here in the United States! I think she will be able to hold her own with the students. I heard her giving one little boy quite a talking to in Cantonese in the hall. He didn't have a clue what she was saying (and neither did I), but I don't think he was too ready to bother her again. Unfortunately, she was running a fever and missed Friday, but several students came to check on where she was.

Nathan's first football Friday was August 24th. Here is part of the drum line in their summer uniforms, as it was in the 80s at game time! We all attended the home game on the 31st. Molly was amazed! Faith absolutely loves the football games, watching the cheerleaders and jumping up and down when the drum line plays in the 4th quarter. Molly wasn't so sure what to think - but loved the popcorn! She finally figured out who Nathan was during the drum time in the 4th quarter, and kept her eyes glued to Nathan. She keeps referring to it every day and has been asking to see the video that Mike took.














We are having a great time here with Molly! The girls get along fine while they are playing, but if Molly wants attention from Mike or I, Faith is very jealous. We have had some real tearful moments and prolonged crying bouts. They are becoming fewer and farther as we are learning to step in and negotiate these times. Molly, I have to say, is really trying to be patient with Faith. Once she knows some more English, we may hear more though. We can't believe how well Molly is taking all of these changes. She certainly is very adaptable. We can thank the Lord for helping her through all these ups and downs. We love to hear her ask grace before meals - we will have to try and record it because it is something that will

pass very quickly. Mostly it is just a bunch of syllables then an "Amen". Probably how we sound to her! Enjoy the pictures of our two beauties with their parasols.