Christmas 2008

It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone, and that 2009 is only hours away. Though times are tough for many families across our country (including ours), we had a very blessed Christmas celebration. As is tradition, we spent Christmas Eve at my husband's aunt's house, where we ate delicious Guatemalan tamales - these are 150% better than those made with corn husks. Normally, we would stay up until midnight before we opened gifts, but having two small children makes that a little tricky. The kids opened their gifts a little early, and we headed home around 11:30pm. Needless to say, Neftali was very excited, and it was difficult to get him settled into bed. Christmas morning was delightful as we watched the boys open their remaining gifts. Neftali is truly a pro, and Solomon caught on quite fast! Then, Emilio's family came to our house for breakfast. We ate, and laughed, and relaxed, before paying some friends a visit. Finally, we brought my husband's two cousins over to the house later Christmas night for a good, old-fashioned slumber party (he was the only guy!) and stayed up until 4am watching movies. What fun! We were totally exhausted the next day, but it was definitely worth it!

Solomon's newest move!

Check him out as he tests out his legs!

Just call me 'Master'...

Now that the pomp and circumstance is over, I can focus in on my last 'assignment' before sending of my initial license application. I am wrapping up my ELD portfolio, recording my voice reading some simple stories in Spanish for the Spanish Literacy program at a local elementary school, and preparing to write up a lesson series that I'll teach in January. Then, in early February, I should be receiving my teaching license and diploma in the mail. I am praying to be very busy with substituting, especially since there are only a handful of Spanish-speaking subs in our district - not enough to adequately service the Spanish immersion school I have done my student-teaching at. Emilio and I are praying for direction as to where to start this next chapter of our lives. We feel the Lord might be leading us north to the suburbs of Portland. My brother is there with his family, and it sure would be nice to be close so that our kids can grow up together. We'll see what happens. In the mean time, we are waiting and resting...and recovering from a chaotic season.

Graduation

I cannot believe that as I sit here typing, I will be graduating in just over 24 hours with my masters degree. Well, I won't officially be receiving my diploma and teaching certificate until late January. But I am still adjusting to the reality that the hardest part is over. I have one more day in my ELD practicum. Then Christmas break (hopefully with some snow). Then New Year's (2009 already?). Then three weeks in my final student-teaching placment. And THEN I will be a REAL teacher! I am praying that I will be busy substituting so that I can start paying off those nasty loans! I feel pretty confident that I will be busy, since there are only a handful of Spanish-speaking substitutes in the Eugene/Springfield area. But before all of that, I am looking forward to being home with my boys. Neftali wants to go with me every morning as I head out the door. I have definitely struggled with leaving my boys behind as I pursue my degree. But I know in the long run, I will look back and be so glad that I did this. Besides, I am the first person in my family EVER to graduate from college - not to mention with a masters degree. Needless to say, I'm pretty proud of myself and this momentous occasion. Merry Christmas to me! :o)