e' pa' fuera q' vamo'

Tomorrow is our last day before Spring Break! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a few weeks, it's been busy trying to finish off the quarter before Semana Santa (Holy Week).

On Monday, me and 9 other muchachos are heading to Las Galeras...in the Samana Peninsula. Check out the map...it's on the North East coast and I hear it's beautiful. Jarabacoa's in the Central Mountain Region, we usually go to the north to Cabarete...but since we have a few days to explore, we're driving to Samana. I'm so excited to relax and enjoy my friends and to not think about school :).

Also, during my week off...I'm excited to read (we Warnes' have a lot in common :), check out Nick's blog). I've already started Sex God and am really enjoying it so far. Makes me miss Mars Hill, though :). I'm also bringing in my beach bag the new Anne Lammot book and the Bri Bri book below. I can't wait!

I hope you're all doing well...I'll post pics of my vacation when I get back. Please pray for our travels and for relaxation :)!

Kaskada Park

Spring fever is in the air; my kids and I are ready for a break! Last week we took all the 3 year olds through 2nd graders to Kaskada Park in Santiago, it was a great day out of the classroom for my kids and I. Now, I'm ready for Spring Break...just a few more weeks of the quarter, I can't believe how fast time is flying!


Here's Alberlin, one of my craziest boys that I usually want to put tape over his mouth and glue on his bum to stay focused...look what an angel he is when he's sleeping. Kaskada Park wore him out :)!!!

And then there were 6...we have a full house! My roommate, Maria Jose brought home Toby, this adorable Chow Chow/street dog mix a few weeks ago. Between Toby's whining and Moises' crying at night...I think the lack of sleep is catching up to me.

Moises is getting so chubby...look at his little smirk. Though he wakes me up at night, I can't help but love him!

My aunt sent me a quote from a Jesuit priest the other day that said, "Any job that requires your entire mind as well as your heart is the only job worth doing and it will bring you peace."

Please pray that my heart stays in it...some days I feel like my passion is being diminished by frustration. Please pray for my patience with my kids. Please pray especially for Fernando, Nickyan, Jorge and Alberlin as we're dealing with some major behavior problems. And finally, please pray for my peace! Cuidense mucho...hasta ma taide :).

vino, vio, se fue

Renee was here...she saw what my life is like, she relaxed with me on the beach, she got to see friends from our summer working at the camp, she helped in my classroom and fell in love with my kids, she met my friends, and most importantly, we got to be together and talk and laugh and cry and love.

Here we are at the beach with Shelly and Amanda...

Here we are at Salto Jimenoa...

Here she is with my kids :)...

Here she is getting a burrito with Natan from our favorite street corner burrito vendor...

It was obviously so good having her here, and really felt like she had been here the whole time. I'm praying that God lays it on her and Andy's heart to move down here...then life would be perfect :).

Thanks, Swiss for coming...and for anyone else that has the fever to get out of the cold, you're always welcome to my home here in the Dominican Republic.