For the past year, I have been working with Wayland Baptist University translating academic, pastoral textbooks from English to Spanish. WBU has started a new pastoral certification program that is now offered in many sites accross Texas in both Spanish and English. I've been on a team that is helping to crank out the textbooks for the Spanish-only classes.
I have learned a TON. Not only have I improved my written Spanish dramatically in this past year, I also have techincally been through three seminary style classes. I also have worked with the nicest people at Wayland and have felt proud to be part of this ministry.
In February, I was contacted by a former principal of mine, who is now a Superintendent in west Texas, asking me about my interest in working as an online Spanish teacher. This past month I was officially hired and will now be transitioning to work for the Texas Virtual School Network in partnership with this particular west Texas school district.
Monday I started my official training course and in August I will make my debut as a part-time online teacher. I'm on a learning curve, but I have to say that I'm pretty excited about the job! It's crazy for me to think that I will be teaching students in west Texas even though I will (probably) never live in west Texas, and at least for another year, will be teaching them all the way from a different country. Technology is cool, huh? Now let's just hope my Guatemalan Internet connection consistently cooperates! :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Baby Chapin
This entry is dedicated to Baby Dove #3. Since finding out about my pregnancy, I’ve blogged about field trips, hair cuts, Holy Week, translation jobs, and travel, but not much mention about our little Chapin. For all of the adventure in the past 3 ½ months, I assure you Baby #3 has been along for the ride
It’s not something I say just to be dramatic, although I do have a tendency for the dramatic at times, but this will truly be the last of our children to come from my body. I don’t deny the possibility of having more children, but I will not birth them, I promise.
The pregnancy has been very hard physically and emotionally. Physically, I have been extremely exhausted and have had near daily bouts of vomiting. The night before I left San Antonio to return “home,” I had a night of vomiting, following by a day of travel and lots of airplane vomiting, followed by another full day of vomiting when I thought surely it couldn’t go on. It did and yeah, that was hard.
Emotionally, I’ve (only kind of) joked that I’ve suffered from a bit of pre-partum depression instead of the more common, well-known post-partum depression. I really, really, want to be excited about this baby’s arrival, but most days I feel so overwhelmed by my physical condition and the demands of my oldest two children, that I can’t muster the joy I know is there.
But then, you see, we go for a sonogram. And we see his (or her) tiny little hands and cute little feet all curled up under his cute little butt. And I feel it – a hint of the excitement, a splash of the peace that all will be wonderful, a needed dose of that joy.
And then, the doc gives me some medicine for my vomiting and I’ve had two nights vomit free, hallelujah. And tonight Sam kept calling the chop-sticks at the restaurant pork-chops and Ruth kept copying whatever the waiter would say (“¿Algo más?” “Ago ma?”). And I remembered again that Stephen and I make darn cute kids. I’m excited we get to have the blessing of another.
It’s not something I say just to be dramatic, although I do have a tendency for the dramatic at times, but this will truly be the last of our children to come from my body. I don’t deny the possibility of having more children, but I will not birth them, I promise.
The pregnancy has been very hard physically and emotionally. Physically, I have been extremely exhausted and have had near daily bouts of vomiting. The night before I left San Antonio to return “home,” I had a night of vomiting, following by a day of travel and lots of airplane vomiting, followed by another full day of vomiting when I thought surely it couldn’t go on. It did and yeah, that was hard.
Emotionally, I’ve (only kind of) joked that I’ve suffered from a bit of pre-partum depression instead of the more common, well-known post-partum depression. I really, really, want to be excited about this baby’s arrival, but most days I feel so overwhelmed by my physical condition and the demands of my oldest two children, that I can’t muster the joy I know is there.
But then, you see, we go for a sonogram. And we see his (or her) tiny little hands and cute little feet all curled up under his cute little butt. And I feel it – a hint of the excitement, a splash of the peace that all will be wonderful, a needed dose of that joy.
And then, the doc gives me some medicine for my vomiting and I’ve had two nights vomit free, hallelujah. And tonight Sam kept calling the chop-sticks at the restaurant pork-chops and Ruth kept copying whatever the waiter would say (“¿Algo más?” “Ago ma?”). And I remembered again that Stephen and I make darn cute kids. I’m excited we get to have the blessing of another.
Doves: May 9 - 15
The Girls…
In January my mom went in for a routine mammogram. In February, she had a biopsy and was diagnosed with ductile breast cancer. In March and April, we prayed and prepared as a family for what the journey might entail. On May 3rd, she had a full mastectomy and breast reconstruction. On May 12, all pathology reports came back clear and she was declared cancer free. Amen and amen.
Ruth and I were blessed to be in San Antonio the week my mom returned home from the hospital. Although I read about breast cancer, looked at pictures of what the reconstruction process was like, talked to my aunt, my mom, and my dad extensively about what would happen, I still was unsure about what to expect to see when we arrived in SA. The first moment I laid my eyes on my mom I truthfully told her, “Wow. You look beautifully normal.” I’m hoping she received it as the good compliment I meant, but I was so impressed that just six days post-major surgery, her face was bright, her skin was glowing, and she looked, well, beautifully normal.
It was nice to feel like I could serve and help her that week, since all my life she has been helping and serving me. She deserves the best care and my prayer was to provide even the smallest dose of TLC. She’s strong, courageous, and humble. I kept thinking all week that she should be complaining – hey, the woman has earned some complaining rights – but she never did.
Ruth was a trooper with the travel and the changes, but proved to be unfortunately fussy and super clingy to Mommy most of the week. I told my parents that she was acting like that all week so that they wouldn’t miss us too much when we left.
The Boys…
When we arrived back “home” (whenever I refer to Guatemala as “home,” I’ll always put that in quotes, since it’s hard to ever really consider a foreign land home), Stephen greeted me with a kiss and then said, “I’ll trade you a whiner for a why-er.” Apparently Samuel maximized his time with his dad by asking as many questions as possible in a one week time span. Hey, his dad is pretty darn smart, why not take advantage?
Stephen and Sam had the ultimate “boy week” while we were gone. Just minutes after we left on our departing flight out of Guatemala, Stephen and Sam lived it up at Chuck-E-Cheese and rode the indoor roller coaster not once, but twice. I’m glad they were able to have such a diversion so quickly after we left because Sam lost it at the airport when we had to say our good-byes.
“What? I really can’t go?” he cries.
“Sam, we’ve talked about this. We’re having a boy week and a girl week. Ruth and Mommy are going to help Nana. You’ll stay with Daddy.”
“Noooo,” he bawls, “I thought you were just joking. I really want to go!” Needless to say, while on the plane I started brainstorming ways to get that kid back to San Antonio before he turns five!
The next day, Stephen woke Samuel up with a big surprise – they were headed to the beach, just the two of them! Let’s just say, since we’ve been back “home”, now Sam is asking when Ruth and I will leave again so that he and Daddy can just have their boy time. Stephen is an awesome daddy and I’m so glad he used the week to make memories with his son.
Sam at the beach in Monterrico.
To get home, our car even road on the boat.
In January my mom went in for a routine mammogram. In February, she had a biopsy and was diagnosed with ductile breast cancer. In March and April, we prayed and prepared as a family for what the journey might entail. On May 3rd, she had a full mastectomy and breast reconstruction. On May 12, all pathology reports came back clear and she was declared cancer free. Amen and amen.
Ruth and I were blessed to be in San Antonio the week my mom returned home from the hospital. Although I read about breast cancer, looked at pictures of what the reconstruction process was like, talked to my aunt, my mom, and my dad extensively about what would happen, I still was unsure about what to expect to see when we arrived in SA. The first moment I laid my eyes on my mom I truthfully told her, “Wow. You look beautifully normal.” I’m hoping she received it as the good compliment I meant, but I was so impressed that just six days post-major surgery, her face was bright, her skin was glowing, and she looked, well, beautifully normal.
It was nice to feel like I could serve and help her that week, since all my life she has been helping and serving me. She deserves the best care and my prayer was to provide even the smallest dose of TLC. She’s strong, courageous, and humble. I kept thinking all week that she should be complaining – hey, the woman has earned some complaining rights – but she never did.
Ruth was a trooper with the travel and the changes, but proved to be unfortunately fussy and super clingy to Mommy most of the week. I told my parents that she was acting like that all week so that they wouldn’t miss us too much when we left.
The Boys…
When we arrived back “home” (whenever I refer to Guatemala as “home,” I’ll always put that in quotes, since it’s hard to ever really consider a foreign land home), Stephen greeted me with a kiss and then said, “I’ll trade you a whiner for a why-er.” Apparently Samuel maximized his time with his dad by asking as many questions as possible in a one week time span. Hey, his dad is pretty darn smart, why not take advantage?
Stephen and Sam had the ultimate “boy week” while we were gone. Just minutes after we left on our departing flight out of Guatemala, Stephen and Sam lived it up at Chuck-E-Cheese and rode the indoor roller coaster not once, but twice. I’m glad they were able to have such a diversion so quickly after we left because Sam lost it at the airport when we had to say our good-byes.
“What? I really can’t go?” he cries.
“Sam, we’ve talked about this. We’re having a boy week and a girl week. Ruth and Mommy are going to help Nana. You’ll stay with Daddy.”
“Noooo,” he bawls, “I thought you were just joking. I really want to go!” Needless to say, while on the plane I started brainstorming ways to get that kid back to San Antonio before he turns five!
The next day, Stephen woke Samuel up with a big surprise – they were headed to the beach, just the two of them! Let’s just say, since we’ve been back “home”, now Sam is asking when Ruth and I will leave again so that he and Daddy can just have their boy time. Stephen is an awesome daddy and I’m so glad he used the week to make memories with his son.
Sam at the beach in Monterrico.
To get home, our car even road on the boat.Sunday, May 1, 2011
Last Day!!
We've talked with Samuel many times about my mom's breast cancer. He's been very sweet about praying for her and often asks, "Is Nana'a cancer out, yet?"
Today on the way to church, I told Sam that tomorrow was Nana's big surgery and that we should really pray for her today and tomorrow.
"Well," he says, "Then today is Nana's last day with cancer!"
And yes it is. Congratulations, Momma. Today is your last day with cancer! Thanks to our little four year old, who reminds us that tomorrow is something to celebrate. You can do this, Mom!! Fight like a girl! Fight like a Momma! Fight like a Nana! We love you!!!
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