Basketball Evaluations

Today we began our sixth year of Upward Basketball. Nadia will be playing on a 4th-6th grade girls' team for the second year, Ian will be playing on a 2nd/3rd grade (co-ed) team for the second year, and Oliver will be playing on a K/1st grade (co-ed) team. It's technically Oliver's second year, but his season was cut short last year due to his fractured skull. The uniforms this season will be maroon and silver. We ordered a youth small for Oliver (he was in XS last year), youth medium for Ian, and youth large for Nadia. They each were tested on their ability to dribble, make baskets, etc. Oliver is hoping that he'll be on the same team as Isaiah, and Ian would love to be on the same team as Micah. We shall see! What I'm really hoping is that their practices won't be on Thursday. I know they won't be on Wednesday because you're allowed to indicate ONE night that won't work for your family. I marked Wednesday because of AWANA, but the kids want to do ice skating lessons, which are on Thursdays. Since I will be teaching until 8:00pm on Tuesdays, I'm hoping their practices will be on Tuesday

nights, but Monday, Tuesday, or Fridays would be fine. The neighbors who live across the street from us signed up their kids for the first time. I'm sure Oliver would also enjoy being on the same team as Westyn, and Addy could end up on the same team as Ian.

After their evaluations we went to the library. We only planned to return and check out some books and DVDs, but it turned out they were hosting an international book reading event that included crafts and foods from various countries. We spent a little time at that event before having lunch and then spending two hours in the children's museum. Three science departments from Bucknell had set up activities in the science museum. The kids had fun doing a wide variety of things such as learning about the difference between absorption and adsorption in terms of cleaning up an oil spill, watching the leg of a cockroach continue to move for an hour even after it was severed from the cockroach, etc. I had originally signed up to have dinner at Panera with my small

group at ladies Bible study this evening, but I decided I didn't want to drive anywhere else today. It was tempting because eating a meal with another woman (or group of women) happens very rarely for me (sometimes not even once in an entire year), but with all the driving I do, driving 50 minutes (round trip) for dinner was too unappealing. I think it was partly due to the fact I don't really know them women yet, and I'm probably going to be dropping out of the group soon.

Today I'm thankful...

1. For those currently serving in our country's military and for veterans.

2. First Baptist offers the Upward basketball program for kids in grades K-6. It's a wonderful program and less than 15 minutes from our house!

3. For the Lewisburg Children's Museum and their partnerships with other organizations like Bucknell University.

4. I have only 6 days left of classes on campus. I will see

student teachers on each of those 6 days plus I have 5 additional dates I will be visiting them - so basically 11 days left of teaching or supervising (that's not counting all the days I will be grading and writing letters of recommendation and such but I can do that from home). The end is in sight!! December 11 should be my last day, and then I will have almost 6 weeks at home with my kiddos!!

5. We had the tiniest bit of snow today (a dusting only on surfaces like the deck, trampoline, etc.). Oliver was thrilled. It wasn't enough to excite Nadia or Ian. It reminded me of my mom, who loved snow. I personally am not a fan of snow because I'm not a fan of cold weather, but I know it brings joy to my children!

6. For Venarri's pizza. We hadn't had it in awhile, and it's by far my most favorite! YUM!!

7. For missionaries. We finished reading the biography of William Carey today. God used him in a mighty way in India in the late 1700's and early 1800's. It was perfect timing as we were learning about India during social studies (East India Company, etc.) this week. On the days Paul teaches the kids they are listening to Johnny Tremain (via Audible). In the van on Monday we're going to listen to Ben and Me by Robert Lawson. The next book I'm going to start reading them is about William Penn. We typically have more than 50 books checked out from the library at one time. I'm thankful for books and libraries!

8. The Steelers had a decisive win on Thursday night! I'm not a fan of games that start after 8pm, but we were winning by a huge margin when I went to bed. And we were playing a team that went into the game with a 6-2 record so it made the victory even sweeter! Go Steelers!!!