it was meant to be

I found out yesterday that Franny's real name (i.e. the name given to her by our neighbors who are her real owners) is Luna.

really, could we be any more meant for each other?

September Update: Franny Cat and (Not) One Stop Shopping

Meet Franny…

Yes, she is eating corn, right off the cob. Amazing, isn’t she?

She’s my new bff. On a Sunday morning a couple weeks ago, she wandered into our front gate, and of course I couldn’t resist but to call her over. She was friendly and not too mangy so I felt comfortable enough letting her be around. Keith kindly suggested that I give her something to eat, how thoughtful of him. Little did he know what he was getting himself into… because when you give a mouse a cookie, or in this case, when you let your wife feed a passing-by feline…you get yourself a pet :)

Franny is not actually living with us, but any time we are home and our gate is open, she is in our yard. Franny is not allowed in the house (yet, according to me; ever, according to Keith), but she has become quite good company when I am outside, which is often enough. We read together, we hang laundry together, we eat together, we sit and stare together, we draw together, and we swat at bugs together. Franny is a great companion to my evening and weekend activities. And I must say, it’s a silly boost to the morale to have her run to you as you open the gate. Oh I’m so pitiful…

As for the part of my life here that is 85% of my time—my teaching job—I feel like I’m finally running at a steady pace. Granted it’s still a pretty fast pace, but at least it’s a pace right? Something rhythmic and consistent (for the most part). I’ve been struggling with learning how to connect to the littlest ones, mostly 1^st grade. It is just not my personality to work at their level; my patience is not up to par with what is necessary for an early elementary teacher. But I’m gradually getting advice from those that do have those skills. Last Monday I was about ready to walk out of the classroom in tears because they were basically acting like I was invisible. It could have been any number of things—the fact that they don’t understand some of my English, the crayons and glue were just THAT enthralling, or they just hate me.
My other classes are progressing well though. I’m excited by some (few) of my student’s enthusiasm to learn more about Art. Then I begin to feel like I can’t really give them all the guidance or knowledge I wish I could because I just don’t have it. Sometimes it’s great to be able to learn alongside your students, but sometimes I just want to know enough to feel like I am an adequate teacher.

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Gosh it’s hard to say anything really cool about my life right now. Haha, I think having Franny come around has been the highlight of my past couple weeks!
I am definitely pitiful…

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Paso a paso. That’s just how everything moves here—step by step. I was telling a friend the other day that the phrase, “one stop shopping”, has been running through my head recently. But not because it’s at all true here, but because things are just the opposite. There is definitely NO “one stop shopping” or “killing two birds with one stone” or anything of the like here. It’s more like 37 stones for one bird over the course of several afternoon trials, all while blindfolded. It’s frustrating. But really great at the same time. It forces us to wait things out, to not over-plan or rush through, and to have patience for goodness sakes! All things that I think everyone should try out.

Alright, until next time-- I’ll leave you, my few yet faithful readers, with this…

This is the small field next to our house.

Julie, this cow happened to be named after you. Then we discovered the perfectly-shaped heart on its utter. You are pretty lucky.