Friendship and the Army

So I've notice it more here in Fairbanks than I did around Fort Rucker. It seems that everyone is friendly, but they aren't really into making friends especially so with those of here for the Army. I understand, I sometimes have my reservations. Why bother making friends with people who live, seeing as how I'm just going to leave? But when God made me, He made me a people person. In fact, I need that relationship to thrive. There are people who are friendly we chat when our paths cross. However there is only a small handful of those people that I would call friends. We try to fit each other into our busy lives. I know that it may even be harder on them when I leave. As it is just James and I, when the time comes to say good bye, I can remind myself, that I will see these people again. Now it may not be on this side of heaven, but I will see them again. They have it a little harder because some of these friends, have children that I have spent time with and played with and laughed with. They will have to explain to their children why we are moving, but still they invest in me, and I in them. I think one reason is because when you have friends they can help carry some of the burden of life. I don't know why some people hold back in the friendship department with the Army. I know some of comes from not understanding, our lives are very different and sometimes they harder to keep shiny and pretty looking, somethings in our lives just can't be swept under the carpet when company is around. Good-bye is hard to say and not fun to deal with, but I however wouldn't want to miss out on that connection and a long the way as you make friends you find that some of these friends are connected. At each duty station I've been (both of them), one of friends has been friends with someone I know back in Phoenix. I could keep to myself and just the other Army people out there, but then I would miss out on a friendship with a lady who is wise, and friendly, and a great example of godly wife and mother. I would miss out painting with 2 small children and giving a little relief to migraine mother, who just wants to be a mother. I would have to find something else to do Sundays after church. I would have never had tons of fun golfing at 8:30pm. Will I miss these people? Yes, but once again I look at the cost and the enjoyment. The happiness these people have brought into my life, out way the small pain of good-bye. If I don't see them again in this life, I will get to see them again and then I will spend the rest of life as we know it with them too.

So... It's been awhile

Let me tell you living in Alaska can be hard. I know the last time I blogged was about South Africa, and I can tell you a lot has happened since South Africa and today. I'm no longer call myself a kindergarten teacher, and I'm just a teacher. So a little recap of the past year. After getting back from South Africa, I had an interview at Fairhill Christian School. I was hired to teach K-4. I had 7 of the most wonderful little children. I really enjoyed teaching and I was thrilled to be working with 9 really great people. It turned that enrollment didn't go up like they thought it would, and I really shouldn't of been hired. The 5th/6th grade teacher's husband got order to leave, so Walt (the principal) came to me and asked if would go teach 5th/6th grade. After much thought and prayer, I accepted the challenge God had placed before me. So right before thanksgiving I had 12 very different, very unique 5th/6th graders. Things didn't go as smoothly as what was wanted, but I plugged on. During the mess of moving from 5th/6th grade, James was promoted and he became a Staff Sargent. James and I took three weeks at Christmas time and went to see our family. His parents were thrilled, and my parents were surprised. They had no idea we were coming. We got to see lots of friends too. We were able to Jeff and Leona before we left California. We had good rest of the school year. I did the simulcast and had some struggles getting help, but on my end things went well. With the budget issues, James has been home a lot which is nice. Nothing to exciting going right now. We just had a trip to Valdez, and my aunt is coming in another week. I'm looking forward to enjoying the summer, and start back up in the fall teaching 5th/6th grade. I'm hoping to get back to blogging more. I'm also researching Esther and getting really into. I have plans of writing about it.