Do you ever feel like you are too busy to keep up with all the things you need to keep up with, or all the people you would like connect with?  I feel that way.  In fact, I've been feeling that way for a long time.  I feel like I am too busy to connect with people and am too busy to keep up with things going on in my life.  I also know, however, that this is not entirely accurate!  I was talking with my daughter, Elleah, the other night before bedtime prayers and she was frustrated with me because we didn't go shopping for the school supplies she needed for her Velveteen Rabbit project.  It was 9:30pm and she wanted to go shopping right then and there and was upset with my decision to do it a different day.  Part of my response to her was that she chose to do other things with friends and to stay busy instead of remind me to go shopping for the materials ... and that's when it hit me.  I also have the time to connect with the people I want to connect with and to complete the tasks I need to complete if I make them a priority.  I have made other things my priority instead and then complain when relationships fall to the wayside.

I do want to be a better communicator.  I also concede that I suck at communication (evidenced by my previous post date of 2012).  Here's to better blogging and communicating! 

Wow, almost the entire school year has gone by and no blog updates - you can't really call that blogging.

Some reflections are in order, I guess.  Reading the beginning of the last post is kind of funny because it expresses excitement for school.  Right now we are counting down the days for school to be over and so the excitement for school has subsided considerably, but the excitement for summer has taken over!  It is always positive to look back in time and reflect on the things that have happened, how you have grown or responded to difficulty, and how God has been forming you.  This year is no different - while I may not like it in the midst of a trial, looking back always reveals God.   I want to take this time to be sure that God gets the glory for the work that is being done in my life.

School has had its challenges this year but there are some great teacher who challenge me to grow professionally and spiritually.  I have had the opportunity to speak to our local church congregation of expat missionaries.  That, I must admit, is quite intimidating ... to preach to a bunch of missionaries!  Then I realize that I also am a missionary and if the other missionaries are half as weird as I am then I'll be alright.  The point is, we are all sinners!

The kids are growing up and getting big.  It has been a few years since we have been to Canada and so this summer we are going to spend 3 months visiting friends and family.  Our kids are looking forward to camping, camp fires, roasting marshmallows whenever they want, wiener roasts, and seeing cousins.  Karen and I also are looking forward to those same things, but if we just say that its for the kids!!

A few last thoughts... keep reading the bible, even when you don't really want to.  Don't let too much time slip away between reads.  Keep praying, even when you don't really want to.  Keep them short and simple - one liners are okay.  Just don't stop talking to God. 

Thanks for listening ...


Paul

Back to the 'ol grind!

We had a terrific summer, but the teacher in me always enjoys the excitement of a new school year!  We started our school year on August 10th and it felt really good to be back in the saddle!  I worked on restructuring some of my class materials over the summer and so far everything is working out smoothly!  

The first week of every school year the entire high school does a unity building and spiritual emphasis weekend as a way of welcoming the freshmen and new students and bonding as a high school.  We travel to a nearby beach and camp on the sand and enjoy each other, the sun, and the ocean!  I am one of the teachers responsible for planning this excursion! Part of the weekend includes worship times and listening to the guest speaker.  I truly believe that this is a spiritually renewing time for our high school students and also a great bonding experience.  You can see the difference in the atmosphere of the school from before beach trip to after beach trip.  

I would like to share some pictures of my beach trip experience.

This is our group during a morning meeting. We meet under tarps to sing and pray!

Relaxation mode!

Our make-shift kitchen.

I would also like to draw your attention to our new email address: pjuneau@maf.org.  Please make this change so that we can effectively stay in contact!  Thanks for reading!

Paul