The Dyrud's Great Adventure

We started school last week since we have lots of new activities coming up this semester. Justice is in 4th grade this year and will turn 10 at the end of September; Jaycee is in 2nd grade and turned 7 back in May. Both kids are very active in their Sunday School classes at church and they are excited to start back at AWANA this week. After Labor Day, we will be joining a homeschool co-op that will meet on Thursdays from 9:00am until 1:00pm. The kids will each be taking 3 classes this semester; Justice will have study hall for one period, then he'll be taking a karate class with an excellent karate master and then the last period will be a World War 2 history class! Jaycee will also have one period of study hall along with a science/health class and a Ladies and Gentleman Etiquette Class. I will be working two class periods in the nursery and then have a Moms Bible Study and Prayer Group during the last period before lunch. The kids will have lunch with their friends as well as a...

 I was reminded this week of something that happened while we were in French Language School in Quebec, Canada in 2009-2010 before heading to Africa. We had just arrived and were getting settled into our apartment for the school year when the power went out in our building. Since all of our candles and flashlights were still mostly packed, we turned on a small flashlight that Rodney had on his key ring and tried to locate a larger source of light, not knowing how long the power might be off. Just then, there was a knock at our door. We didn't know a soul in the apartment building so I didn't know who would be coming to our door. I opened the door and the woman from across the hall was standing there with a lit candle in her hand. She spoke only French and I spoke only English at that point, but through hand gestures I figured out that she had brought us this candle and wanted us to keep it until the power came back on. I think I managed a nod and a smile as she went back ...