Rebecca's Joy

I feel I could write a long chapter or short sweet paragraph this month. Much has happened, and I have a feeling, much more will happen in the coming weeks and months (no, there is no adoption information on the horizon, at this point).

On July 1st, I traveled to Michigan. Spending time with friends and family was a rich and wonderful experience. I got a sleepover at my 95 & 93 year old grandparents house, nieces and nephews time, read some books, and had great conversations. Traveling home on the 10th, I knew that summer was coming to a close, and quickly!

On July 12th, we took most of Frank’s family and the dogs to the Cotopaxi Lavender Farm. We treasured a car ride with a stop at a gas station with a dog park, and a quick pit stop at the Royal Gorge. When we arrived at the Lavender Farm, we enjoyed browsing the store and picking up some favorite items as well as some new ones. For example, we bought some balsamic vinegar infused with lavender and I used it to roast some peaches and put over a sourdough dutch baby (a huge pancake baked in a cast iron pan). The day was sunny yet delightful, and we enjoyed a beautiful picnic lunch followed by a stroll through the lavender field. Tahlia thought she was in heaven, rolling in the grass, and we enjoyed the sensory delight of lavender wafting through the air, clear bright skies, and the tiny whir of butterflies and bees happily frolicking around the flowers.

The following Monday, I dropped off several classroom items and worked on my classroom. I also got the distinct privilege of working with my next door neighbor, and former coworker. We used to work together at my previous school, and now we are grade-level partners. We reunited at the job fair, followed by in-person interviews, and now are teaching partners. What a gift from God! It felt good to put together pieces of a classroom.

The next weekend, Frank and I took the dogs to the Craig Trail. We walked a beautiful trail with a small creek running alongside the trail, meadows with wisps of red, purple, white, and yellow flowers, and finally traversed a path to the overlook at the top. It was breathtaking. We climbed back down, and I fell close to the trailhead. We also got a parking violation for parking on the side of the road (with many other vehicles). In the end, we enjoyed a bbq dinner and a restful evening.

I started teacher training on Monday, July 21st, with the Spalding Method. It is a rigorous yet effective training method for teaching students of all levels and abilities how to read. For eight days, I studied diligently and ended the course with a demo lesson in front of my peers. I felt accomplished and have much to review and learn in the coming days.

On July 26th, I went to a church ladies retreat at Tarryall Ranch near Lake George. I was able to spend a lot of time with ladies from the church. I carpooled with two other ladies, and we enjoyed fellowship, stories, and camaraderie. At the ranch, we ate delectable food, enjoyed sweet fellowship and singing, hiked to Lizard Point, and finished with cookies before all heading home.

On Monday, Frank and I celebrated 18 years of marriage (July 28th). Frank surprised me and took the night off so we could enjoy dinner. We had a wonderful meal at Paravicini’s before heading over to our mentor’s house (Marta & Pepe) to pray for our marriages. It was a beautiful end to a rich and meaningful evening.

Takoda turned 5 on July 29th. It’s crazy to think we have had a chocolate lab for almost 5 years! He’s wonderfully sweet, cuddly, up for adventures, and a loyal companion. He keeps up with Frank and I, and we are so blessed to have him as our dog. Takoda celebrated by downing his slice of dog birthday cake in less than 5 seconds. He may have preferred the entire cake, but he was happy to eat his slice.

I have continued teacher training and will be learning for part of August before students begin on August 13.

We will continue to press on and look forward to what lies ahead.

Love,

Rebecca and Frank