More fun this summer

We returned from our two weeks of vacation and Joshua participated in a week-long Spanish Tae Kwon Do Camp. He loved it and I was glad to have him immersed in Spanish for a week. I don't want him to forget what he learned during the school year. The kids were supposed to speak Spanish to each other as well as to the teacher, although Joshua told me the trick was to whisper. If you didn't get caught speaking English, then you didn't get a time out. The time outs involved standing outside until the next student got caught speaking English. The day Joshua got a time out he told me that he hadn't even gotten to the door yet when someone else spoke in English, so he didn't have to take a time out. :)

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a Faith Academy 50th Celebration. Faith is one of the mission kid schools I attended while growing up in the Philippines. They celebrated their 50th anniversary by having small gatherings around the US and the world. We were honored to have 5 staff members who have worked at Faith over 25 years each. I connected with my 2nd grade teacher Miss Fox, who I haven't seen since 1969. I also saw my Home Ec teacher from 7th and 8th grades. No one from my class ('79) was there, but there were older friends and friends from my sisters class ('81) that I was able to reconnect with. It was awesome to hear and see what God has continued to do through that school. For more information on the school, check out their web site at http://www.faith.edu.ph/.

This week Joshua is with my brother Steve and family. Joshua is attending a sports camp with his cousin Evan and I am sure they are having a great time. When I took him down Sunday evening, I could barely get a "good bye, Mom," out of him before I left. It is such a nice gift from my sister-in-law Sandi who has three kids of her own and has to keep their house clean as they are trying to sell it. :(

I am getting various things done at home. I'm also having fun. Went to see "The Devil Wears Prada" yesterday and had a great, cool time. For those of you not in Southern California, it has been almost as hot at Iraq this past week. Our little mobile home does not have AC, so I have been finding other places to go to stay cool. Today I am meeting a friend at the Cheesecake Factory in Irvine for lunch and then a group of friends are going to Las Brisas in Laguna for dinner before viewing the Art-A-Fair.

Thursday evening I'll drive down to Escondido and meet Sandi and the kids. We'll take them to the Wild Animal Park and have a picnic dinner. It should be great to see the animals in the cool of the evening. Friday I'll get to hang out with my sister Sandy for a while as well.

The coming weekend is another Y Malawi Steering Team meeting which I am hosting at San Clemente Presbyterian. Fortunately I have a great team of volunteers helping me and plenty of time this week to prepare. I am looking forward to productive meetings.

Well, now you are caught up on Joshua and me. Of course the news that Jon will (probably) be coming home for his R&R soon, if very exciting. Although I must admit that part of me is wary -- you never know with the USMC.

Sheryl