Snow, Contingency Training, Pretzels and Testing

SNOW - We've had a winter storm that lasted from around 1:00 p.m. yesterday until a few hours ago this a.m. (around 8:00 ish). During my grade school years, I lived in Great Falls, Montana. This puts me in the mind of those days. This is not a light dusting, it's official snow and lots of it! Our classes have been canceled for our group because our kids teachers can't make it into "the farm" as they call it here. The roads are pretty impassable. However, I love this weather! The campus here is beautiful anyway, but with the snow it's just breath-taking. I told the girls this morning this is such a wonderful reminder of how God is the author of the weather! It's been fun to see how others are reacting to it!

Contingency Training is in full swing. I have no idea what that means for us ... another group will be experiencing it today through Wednesday and then our group has it Thursday through Saturday. In a nutshell, the word is that they run you through possible scenarios like: what to do when you can't make a flight at the airport, what do you do if you are put in jail, what do you do if you need to get out of your country etc. It's very hush, hush ... kind of CIA"ish" and very exciting!

"Utz" Pretzels ... our new favorite thing! Chris and I love the "mack Daddy" ones (that means they so big it looks like a normal pretzel on steroids) but the girls love the normal sourdough ones. Anyway, the Wal-mart here (and no, I haven't caved and become a fan of Wal-mart) carries this "Utz" brand and I'm just here to tell you they are wonderful!!!!!

Testing ... Ok; on to more important things. Our precious Parker is having some difficulties. We've known that when she started school in Austria we'd repeat her current grade. However, some recent tests have shown there me a specific learning disability we need to address. This comes as a huge blessing. One thing we've already discussed with the staff here is she is very, very, VERY right brained. This makes so much sense! She learns in a very different way than others ... and school systems are not generally directed at right brain learners. So, we make adjustments. This week the staff at the Children's Education Resource Center is having a specialist come in to test her. We meet with her this Tuesday, March 3 and again on Friday, March 5th. Our Parker is such a tender soul. I believe us gaining as much information on how she learns will really help her understand why she has troubles in certain areas ... kinda freeing!

Nutshell: we are ready to get to Austria but really have taken in all the "stuff" of this place. Rockville, VA will always hold a special place in our hearts. We've met God in a new way here. Pray for our van to sell. Pray for Parker to embrace this new way of learning. Pray for our team mate, Carrie, as she continues to receive treatment for her tongue cancer, Pray for God to begin to prepare our landlord and neighbors to engage in spiritual conversations.

Signing off ... me for all!