Three weeks into the school year

The school year is still going strong.

We have just finished our third week of school. And while it is still early on, the girls are still enthusiastic about the year and enjoying their time at school each day.

Sydaleigh and Marvelly both really like their teachers and are enjoying their classes. 

Sydaleigh even said last week at dinner that one of her favorite subjects is....math!

What?! Math?! Yeah girl!! Love seeing her have a good attitude about math right now and embracing numbers. She has such an artist mentality, she loves writing and drawing more than anything, so it's exciting to see her embrace a subject that does not come naturally and is a bit of a challenge for her. 

Marvelly is learning a lot! Last night I overheard her singing French songs to herself in her bed. Little stinker! She acts like she doesn't know any french, but it's because she doesn't feel like talking in anything but english most of the time. But it's there! I heard it. As is also a wealth of other information that she rarely feels like sharing..but she's storing it up! 

We also just had our first bout of back to school sickness. Me and Sydaleigh were sick with a most unpleasant stomach bug last week. It was bad, with terrible terrible stomach pain and other unpleasantries. Such is life here. It comes with the territory of living in Burkina...getting painfully sick with illnesses besides your run of the mill cold or annual flu. But we are recovered and feeling good and hoping that this year we won't be dogged down with as many sicknesses as we've had in the past. 

Steven has been working on learning the alphabet and his colors these three weeks. We have been sorting and making color patterns with his blocks and practicing his writing. We've also been reading a lot and he's finally starting to enjoy sitting down and listening to a story until completion. 

We're adjusting to the new schedules. I still hate that the girls are gone for over 8 hours every day (I miss my ladies!) and they come home exhausted, but we have a great easy going time in the mornings and our evenings are pretty relaxed so they're able to come home and rest. After their homework that is. Homework is done as soon as they step foot in the door, no exceptions. Yes, they are tired and just spent all day at school, but I find that it is easier for my girls to be cooperative and focus on their homework immediately upon returning home while they are still in "school mode" so that we can get it out of the way and they can enjoy the rest of their afternoon and evening without having to go back and think about homework again later on. Plus, I think it's instilling in them good work ethic and discipline to do their work before play so that they can enjoy their play time that much more!

The biggest challenge right now for me is being home all day alone with Steven. Reality-it's way harder taking care of one child than three kids! Having just one child at home is way more taxing on my energy and time than when the house is full of all the kids. One child demands my constant attention and it's up to me to entertain him for eight hours straight every day which is not easy sometimes. Especially here where I have such limited resources and means of entertainment and activities. But, we're settling into a routine, the two of us. And it's allowing for more bonding time between us. And even though it's challenging and I am emotionally and physically spent each day, I am determined to make this a really productive and valuable time for us.

Also, in the mornings due to the later start time, I'm able to get up early before everyone else so I can have my quiet time with the Lord, praying and reading his Word and get ready for the day before the house wakes up. And it's been so good for my heart each day to wake up quietly and have some time to myself and with the Lord. I need it!

So, I'd say we're off to a good start!