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we made it through the course and really enjoyed teaching it. I loved it actually. the kids did very well with their babysitters - we were sure grateful for all the helpful volunteers we had to watch the kids.
friday was very hectic. We taught class, had lunch at school, went home to pack, off to the airport, sat on our plane for maybe an hour waiting.... flew with Eva screaming full force - for sure 15minutes, maybe half an hour... arrived in Vancouver, drove home to abbotsford.
today was full too. Went to my friend Bel's wedding - pictures and words to come, then this evening Lance was a part of Pacific Theatre's "Christmas Presence" - music and readings. Mom, Dad and I took shifts watching the kids in the foyer so we all got to enjoy some of the show.
As I was looking through the kids' cloths today I realized that in my haste to pack I only packed two pairs of pants total. Oh dear. Tonnes of shirts and sweaters, a few sleepers, but only two pairs of pants! So a request goes out to you my readers - anyone have some pants (6 month size) to loan Eva and Elijah for the two weeks we are here? It just doesn't make sense for us to buy some when we have plenty at home.
I better go to sleep - both of the lovely little ones are sleeping. ahh.
hope you are well.
Aimee
ps. it is great being here. |
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| quick update |
yesterday went very well. I was able to be fully present while I was teaching - actually didn't even think of the babies - wow. the class went well and the babies were just fine with the babysitters. I am really enjoying teaching.
please pray that as the students hear the truths in the class that they will apply them to their own lives, see their own stories in the stories we share. not think the stuff doesn't apply to them. pray for sober introspection. for growth and freedom.
on the homefront we are still fighting mice. arggh. they are driving us crazy. Lance went out and got some more traps yesterday. I hope to come home to some dead mice. yuck.
better go.
aimee
ps. yesterday elijah rolled from his tummy to his back - now he can roll across the floor. |
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| joy and stress |
have had some really rich times with friends this weekend - haven't had this for a long time. I have felt refreshed by this.
i have also been feeling very stressed about this coming week. teaching and being a mom. a big load. Lance has arranged babysitters for each morning. class runs 8:30-10, then 11:15-12:30. I will feed the kids between class sessions, and maybe catch a nap - for sure have a snack. The kids will be at the school, so if I'm needed the sitters will just come and get me. Please pray that Eva and Elijah will be in good moods and easy going about being around new people for a good chunk of each day. Pray too that they would eat well in the mornings before class so I can feel confident that their little tummies are full when I leave them with the babysitters. Pray that somehow I would be able to be fully present wherever I am at a given moment -- whether that be teaching or caring for the babies. I can see myself feeling needlessly worried while teaching - or while Lance is teaching.
Thanks for your prayers and care. thanks too for all the comments regarding the course and the mice -- the mice situation is another stressor, like we have extra time to be dealing with mice.
aimee
ps. we have a christmas tree up. I am enjoying the lights |
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| Friendship, Dating, Marriage and Sex |
Lance and I are teaching the relationships next week at CLBI. This will be our third time teaching this class. I'm spending all my free moments this week looking over our material from previous years and reading articles/books to add new stuff. The class has gone fairly well the past two years, but yesterday Lance had some keen insights. He said he realized that this is an absolutely huge undertaking. The material we are teaching is completely countercultural - as most of God's ways are. Not only are we coming up against the entire culture, but also principalities and powers of darkness. This is something that we do not take lightly, and so we are asking for your prayers.
Why did I even consider and actually agree to teaching a weeklong course when I have 6 month old twins? Because this issue - particularly of sexuality -- is very important to me and close to my heart. When I first volunteered us to teach this course I was in tears because of deep passion for people to be in healthy relationships with each other. The course addresses friendship but spends the majority of time on dating/sex/marriage. There is such deep brokeness in the area of sexuality. Every year we have students with major wounds and much healing needed in this area. Culture has sold them a faulty view of what love and sex are and mean.
I remember talking with a student and, to our great joy, finding out that God used the course to help change her view of sex. From something tainted and of little importance, to something that is sacred and meant to be beautiful. Wow.
I know quite a few alumni are readers of this blog -- I'd like to know what you found important from our course (or if you didn't take it from us, then from the relationships course you took) and also what you would've appreciated more emphasis on. If you are shy, just comment annonomously or email - aimeeodegard@canada.com. Thanks.
Well, these are far from all my thoughts on the topic, but the little ones are awake and I want to get a snack before they demand theirs!
Aimee
ps. Lance saw a mouse in our house. yuck. |
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