our latest newseses

Gary and I had planned a 20th anniversary trip this spring.  He has a conference to go to, and it was scheduled to be in Australia.  We have babysitters lined up and everything.  Yesterday I finally bought a travel book at the bookstore.  I think that's what did it.  Gary emailed me today to tell me that the venue was changed to Singapore!  Wow!  That will be very different.  Needless to say, I'm game for anything and this sounds very exciting.  I need to find out everything there is to know - because Gary will be working 9-5 the whole week.  It's one thing to wander around Sydney where at least they speak a semblance of English - but Singapore sounds so exotic!  I'll need to be able to get around, handle the money, eat, be a tourist (on my own).  Anyone has any help, I'm open to it!!

On other fronts, our school has graciously opened itself up to us having a Good News Club after school.  It has been a previously rejected idea.  I'm not going to be the teacher, but I will be a helper.  11 kids have signed up so far!!  This is very exciting!  My doubtful self was figuring maybe 3 or 4 kids, tops.  (including my 2)  Well I should have known better.  God opened the doors, so obviously he had plans.

One of my new year's  resolutions was to put what I learned about training for a marathon to use.  Lots of people say life is like a race, or like a marathon - but life is really like TRAINING for a marathon and the major events in your life are the races that you have been preparing for.  I've learned that in order to finish the race, with grace, you have to train.  Consistently.  The race itself is not the goal necessarily.  Many benefits come from what you gain in the training.  And you need to enjoy the training.  Make that effort to look for the joy.  Plus, some days you just have to make yourself do it.  And some days you just can't - but make those few and far between. 

So all that is leading up to my resolution.  I've resolved to do the read-the-bible-through-in-a-year program.  This is probably my 4th or 5th time in my life.  It's time. 

So far, so good.  Just wait till I get to Chronicles.  The begats.  That's a tough time.

One more tidbit of fun news.  I'm going to take surfing lessons.  On SuperBowl Sunday!  Yipee!  It'll be fun.  I can wear a rash guard (shirt) and board shorts over my bathing suit, so I won't be worrying about my belly and little boob.  I have a friend (from the vortex) that got lessons (certificate) as a Christmas gift.  She's going with a company called "Girls Who Surf".  It's girls, who teach the surfing lessons.  Takes you away from that shyness hump.  Plus, going with friends who are equally novice as you, makes it even more fun.  We just won't mention that I have lived here a year and a half and have not gone into the ocean deeper than my waist yet.  LOL!  And it's gonna be cold and jellyfish!  (these are my fears)  We just won't think about sharks and coral reef.