Batty

Received a hand-drawn gift today from a talented 9th grader who knows which
superhero stands above the rest.

Figuring Out Life

It's a shame you just can't appreciate how simple life is when you're this young.

Right now, my thoughts are on next year. I need to figure out where I'll be in the world.

All my experiences in Copan have been wonderful, and I'm happy here. There's just one problem.
CASH.

Having to fund trips to the U.S. twice a year with the budget of a missionary is no small feat!
ESL training helps me pick up a few extra bucks by teaching adults after work every day, but...
Losing afternoons/evenings to take ESL gigs limits available time for practicing Spanish. Not good.

Here We Go Again...

Recurring theme in my life:

• Feel drawn to a situation for some simple reason.

• End up adding that situation to my life.

• End up having that situation (unexpectedly) enrich my life beyond measure.

It has happened with guys and gals I met who eventually became pivotal people in my life... And with involvement in different art forms... And it has happened with towns I've chosen to drive to in a carefully-packed U-Haul in order to take up residence.

Now it's happening again and all because of the Texans I met in 1995 - native Spanish speakers whose language made me wish to become bilingual.

Why Not Now?

Spontaneously started feeling like now is the time for something new...
Specifically, what I mean is I think this is the day to take my life to another level.

I will tell you that this feeling and these thoughts are something I never saw coming.

But it's like my mind just up and concluded that frankly, I already know what results are likely if I continue the way I've been going for years. And having already lived that life - good, bad, and ugly - I am suddenly curious to find out what years of living in a different, better direction would produce.

I think I should find out what revolutions would emerge in key areas like faith, finances, and health & wellness.

Things could get interesting, folks...

This Stuff Is Everywhere!

Real life is dreamlike for me.

All around me, I see beauty in the things God made.
Creation has an interesting way of whispering messages to me about Him sometimes.
He, of course, expresses Himself through the work of His fingers.

Early last fall, I caught a glimpse of his handiwork that was unlike anything that came before it.
Later, He told me that what I had seen was actually a product of His favor and protection for me.

Surprise!

Quite honestly, the most epic surprise celebrations I've experienced firsthand are ones I myself have organized. What can I tell you - I love surprising people, and I go all out!

But today, it's my pleasure to give credit to another group of party planners.

Without help from adults, the 10th graders planned and executed a well-acted diversion to get me far enough away from my classroom door that they could slip inside with the birthday cake and Coca-Cola that are essential to birthday parties here.

Felt pretty darn good.

Look Up

This pic of the men's room ceiling at school is to illustrate the reality that geckos are a normal part of the indoors here in the town I love.

It Feels Good

Roll Tide!
All the way down here, it still feels good to become the best team in college football once again.

Coach Saban may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he's clearly effective leading staff and students.

Honduras, of course, could not care less about the National Championship that was won last night.
ESPN (in Spanish) showed the game, though, saving me from possible issues with video streaming.

Looking ahead to 7 months without my beloved sport will be easier as a fan of the reigning #1 team!

What's New With My Favorite English Girl

Ever since the new teachers arrived in August, I've tried my best to treat the English girl like she's no more important than the others.

But let's be real - her accent, plus all those cute words and phrases...
Not to mention the fact that Milly is a music lover and string player just like me. And since all this is topped off by her always-sunny personality, she and I clicked right from the start.

So wouldn't you know it, this week Milly had news I did not want to hear. She has decided to resign from her position at the bilingual school. This makes the second time one of my favorite foreign staff coworkers not only left the school but left before wrapping up a full year as a colleague and crony to me.

Saying goodbye to Milly won't be fun, but she has my support for the things she needs to go tend to elsewhere. And in keeping with the kind of person she's been all along, she is leaving with a bang:

She treated me to a beautiful evening the other night - dinner and quality time - and also decided she'd like to lighten her travel load by leaving one of her violins for me to have.

What a girl.