Reunited!

 Four days ago, after nearly 3 months apart, I was reunited with my eternal companion, and it has been very sweet!  

Frank has been in the Holy Land since August with the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies (locally know as "Mormon University" or BYU Study Abroad).  He is currently filling the role as the Near Eastern Studies instructor who teaches history and geography as well as orienting the students for what they will see on each field trip.  He is enjoying this role and has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the extensive preparation involved in teaching a new class.  

Meanwhile, I have been student teaching in a first grade classroom in Saratoga Springs, Utah.  This has been the capstone experience for my masters degree in elementary education through Western Governors University, an online program accredited in Utah.  This has been a great experience and  added elementary certification to my original secondary license.  It has also given me a lot of confidence in teaching my own classroom n the future.  I have a lot of experience with small group literacy instruction, but whole class teaching has always felt out of reach before.  Back in January, after much thought and prayer, we committed to the student teaching experience, all the while knowing that the opportunity of serving at the Jerusalem Center could also be a possibility if several miracles happened to stabilize the political crisis here.  

So looking back on this tough separation, I am grateful that we were able to talk almost every day despite the distance and 9 hour time difference.  My very long 30 minute commute to work proved to be an excellent time to catch up with Frank during my morning hours and his afternoon hours.  I am grateful to have spend a few more months with my kids in college and beyond.  I was able to visit my daughter in Tacoma right after Halloween, and we celebrated "Thanksmas" with all the others last week.  Thanksmas has become a tradition for any time we know we'll be apart for those huge, family centered holidays.  This time we ate the traditional turkey dinner with all our favorite sides, wore plaids and flannels, listened to Christmas carols, and put a crackling fire video on the tv.   The evening ended with folded paper games and opening stockings.