First ponytail
This week was a bit unique because it was culture week at the school. Culture week is an annual event in the elementary wing of the school, but as long as Tim and I have been in Togiak the middle and high school haven’t participated in culture week at all. Locals were asked to come up to the school and teach some skill throughout the week. Some of the activities included net mending, harpoon making, kuspuq sewing, knitting, beading, string stories, story knives, and native dancing. No regular classes were held. Instead the students signed up to do a few culture classes and spent the week working on those skills. I imagine it was probably nice for Tim not to have to worry about lesson planning after being gone last week, but it also sounds like it was a bit of a rough week behaviorally. Some of the presenters didn’t show up and there were no clear expectations made to the students. It was likely a record high in suspensions in one week. Tim did mention that the more suspensions there were the better the week got. I would have liked to participate in some of the classes.
Friday our adoption caseworker flew out to Togiak to do a home visit. The main purpose is for them to observe us with Kaylee in our own home to make sure that things are going well. This should be a last visit. Starting on Monday our paperwork for finalization should be underway. We’re hoping that things can be finalized within a month. Once the adoption is finalized, Tim and I can take Kaylee to the temple to be sealed to us. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with a sealing, it is the way that Kaylee is linked to Tim and I so that we will be a family for eternity, not only for this life. It is similar to the sealing that took place when Tim and I were married in the temple. We were linked together for eternity. We will be husband and wife in this life and the next. Kaylee will be our daughter in this life and the next.
This week was busy for me at home. Prior to going to Healy, I spent days packing as many boxes as I could. There was a bit of left of mess to clean up from that as well as the house cleaning to do that was neglected during that time. I also was busy packing a few more boxes to be sent over to Dillingham with some teachers midweek and some boxes to send with Tim today. On top of that I had primary packets to prepare, print, and mail out for teaching my Sunday lessons for the month of May and a talk to prepare for church today. Needless to say my daily exercise didn’t happen this week.
Friday our adoption caseworker flew out to Togiak to do a home visit. The main purpose is for them to observe us with Kaylee in our own home to make sure that things are going well. This should be a last visit. Starting on Monday our paperwork for finalization should be underway. We’re hoping that things can be finalized within a month. Once the adoption is finalized, Tim and I can take Kaylee to the temple to be sealed to us. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with a sealing, it is the way that Kaylee is linked to Tim and I so that we will be a family for eternity, not only for this life. It is similar to the sealing that took place when Tim and I were married in the temple. We were linked together for eternity. We will be husband and wife in this life and the next. Kaylee will be our daughter in this life and the next.
This week was busy for me at home. Prior to going to Healy, I spent days packing as many boxes as I could. There was a bit of left of mess to clean up from that as well as the house cleaning to do that was neglected during that time. I also was busy packing a few more boxes to be sent over to Dillingham with some teachers midweek and some boxes to send with Tim today. On top of that I had primary packets to prepare, print, and mail out for teaching my Sunday lessons for the month of May and a talk to prepare for church today. Needless to say my daily exercise didn’t happen this week.
Today Tim and I both spoke in church. We were the only speakers for our sacrament meeting. I had good intentions of preparing well in advance, but I ended up doing the bulk of my preparation yesterday. It went well though, I think. I guess we would have a more accurate idea by asking someone who was listening. I was assigned to speak on our relationship with the Savior. I was actually a little grateful for that topic because it has been something that has been on my mind the past few months. I’ve recognized that it is an area of great importance and that I should definitely be improving in that area.
Tim was off to Dillingham this afternoon once again. He has social studies meetings for the next two days. Hopefully he’ll be able to find some time to look at some houses and apartments while he is there.
Kaylee is doing really well, although I think she has come down with her first cold. She’s been a bit congested today but seems to be in relatively good spirits. In the past few days she has started playing with toys. Before she would stare at her toys and bat at them occasionally, but now she is actually grabbing and holding them. It’s fun to watch. She has also had several ponytails these past couple of weeks. Check out the picture.
Tim was off to Dillingham this afternoon once again. He has social studies meetings for the next two days. Hopefully he’ll be able to find some time to look at some houses and apartments while he is there.
Kaylee is doing really well, although I think she has come down with her first cold. She’s been a bit congested today but seems to be in relatively good spirits. In the past few days she has started playing with toys. Before she would stare at her toys and bat at them occasionally, but now she is actually grabbing and holding them. It’s fun to watch. She has also had several ponytails these past couple of weeks. Check out the picture.
