a complete history...

a complete history.....of my year. ::wry grin:: not really. but i do want to backlog a bit, and let you in on some of the highlights and day-to-day stuff of my year in va.

one thing i've learned with teaching is that priorities must change, out of necessity. sometimes the things we love (such as blogging) simply cease to be.

i'd like to begin with a tribute to someone,

to my grandfather, paul olson.

he went to be with the Lord last february,

and the example of his life,

the story he lived,

the family he left behind,

have blessed me abundantly.

i was glad to be home for the funeral and family times.

a man of prayer with a clear testimony.

a reverent and reserved person

with a deep love of God's word.

i wish to be like him.

over easter vacation, another great surprise...

my family drove, (yes, all twelve of them in our 15-passenger van!)

to virginia to spend time with me and meet my world and see my haunts,

sneaking in a tour of dc on the side.

they arrived in harrisonburg, getting the better of spring by about 2 weeks,

so we had some rainy, dreary days to work with.

a couple from church offered their basement, and we had great times,

talking, touring, meeting people.

a picnic on skyline drive was a highlight.

and then the rush of end of school was upon me,

and i began to feel like the old woman who lived in a shoe,

not knowing what to do with my 'children'...

beings as they were as ready for vacation as i.

but we stuck it out, spending time on reports and displays for the openhouse,

doing a few book reports,

plowing through chemistry,

and taking a picnic to hillendale park.

that 'twas a fun day and produced a relatively nice class photo...

as nice as this non-photographer could coax from camera and class.

school ended on may 21st, leaving me weary, satisfied,

and somewhat more ready to see august come again...

after a long vacation, of course.

a chorus tour with the shenandoah valley chorus was the next thing on my calendar, so off we rolled to philadelphia, lancaster and ohio.

good to enjoy the values of singing, hospitality and friends.

below, a five dollar ride in this carriage around the olde city of philadelphia.

not soon enough, and yet long before i was ready,

the morning came to begin the trek home to minnesota.

it was a journey, and i was so thankful to have ruth to share the wheel

and keep me from too many inner musings.

we made a single stop on our way, in michigan,

where i was privileged to attend the wedding of

william hoover and rebecca gingerich.

in the words of jane austin,

'it's such a happiness when good people get together-and they always do.'

i have now been home for three weeks, and find myself in the midst of writing, sewing, reconnecting with my sisters and brothers, and relaxing thoroughly.

a good place to be.