It could always be worse!

It was a non-school day for me today - the last day of the semester!  

I had it all planned out - a late swim at 7 a.m. was first on my agenda.  I arrived at the Y at 6:40 a.m. and the pool was closed.  The lifeguard was out sick and there wouldn't be one on duty until noon.  I asked if there were any other open times to swim today.  Nope.  Not a one.  But then Kathy smiled at me and said, "Just sneak in.  You know we won't be full to capacity.  If you can find someone to share a lane with, share it."  I went back to the Y at noon, walked in with my friend Kerri who had a lane reservation AND said I could share her lane with her AND had a great swim!

I came home ready to launch my on-line Red Cross Basic Life Support Instructor course only to discover I did not have a launch button.  It only took three phone calls and two different computers and I now have a launch button that should work from any computer.  Once I hit "publish", I'm going to see.

The icing on the cake today was when my new shoe arrived from Dick's.  I had ordered a pair of shoes, but I only got one and it didn't fit.  That was a fun phone call to make, but I got a $10.00 credit toward my next pair of shoes and they promised me that the swimsuit I ordered would come in its entirety!  Sure hope so!  Now I just need to return that shoe to Dicks . . .  

Graduation!

Micah's graduation information came to her today in the form of an email.  She will be graduating from North Central University on April 30th, but she will only get four tickets to the event.  She has forever wanted our family and Allison's family to attend together.  So I told her.  Write North Central.  Tell them that you are adopted and would like to have both your adoptive family and your birth family attend.  If they say 'no', you still have four tickets.  If they say 'yes', you have eight tickets.

Then I sent a text to her birth mom, Allison.  "You WILL be attending Micah's graduation on April 30th and we're trying to get tickets for your whole family to attend."  To which she replied, "I'm in."

Then I told Matt after work tonight that we only got four tickets for the event - Sam, I, Allison and Matt.  His girlfriend did not make the cut, unless he got engaged before then . . .😁 Or unless we can get those other four tickets, and providing little brother Lincoln doesn't come  

South Metro Manna Pack

Micah and I volunteered to be hosts at the South Metro Manna Pack for Feed My Starving Children on Thursday afternoon.  It was held at Berean and allowed us to serve both our church and our community at one time.

Just before the pack started, I caught two girls waving at me from across the foyer.  I knew they were in fifth grade at OHE, but I had no idea who exactly they were until the next day.  Tegan came up to me and said, "Mrs. Zupke, I saw you at Feed My Starving Children last night!"  To which I replied, "I saw you, too.  Who were you with?"  "Nora."  I ran into Nora at recess.  "Nora, why didn't you come over and say 'Hi' last night?"  "You were busy working."

Well, let me tell you, that didn't stop one of our third graders from OHE!  He came running up to me, "Mrs. Zupke, do you work here?"  We chatted for a bit, but with a face mask on along with a hairnet, I had no idea who I was talking to!  Until lunch the next day . . .

By the time I got over to his table, everyone at it knew that Brody had seen me at Feed My Starving Children the night before and they all thought we were pretty cool!

And to think, all I saw on Tuesday night were neighbors . . . 

 

Thankful Thursday!

Our entire building was so thankful on Thursday when both the windchill AND temperature were above 0ºF on Thursday and we could go outside for recess in what felt like the first time in FOREVER!

Dakar, Senegal!

The countdown is on! Mercy Ships is overjoyed to share that the Africa Mercy® is about to return to a beloved port – Dakar, Senegal. By invitation of Senegal’s government, Mercy Ships will continue this partnership and return to bring hope and healing to the people of Senegal.

(Aliou, patient and joy-bringer, after his surgery in Senegal in 2019). During this field service, Mercy Ships will provide surgery to patients from across all 14 regions of the country. Many of these patients have been awaiting their opportunity to receive life-changing care. With the help of our local partners and volunteer professionals from around the world, Mercy Ships is honored to fulfill that hope and complete our promise to return. The decision to return for a new field service comes after much research, planning, and prayer. Mercy Ships is committed to making a safe return for all patients, caregivers, crew, visitors, and partners in Senegal.

“Mercy Ships is committed to ensuring we can return to Senegal in a COVID responsible way. Whilst we know all missions involve some degree of risk, there are multiple measures we have put in place to reduce that risk whilst still being able to bring hope and healing to the people of Senegal.” (Dr. Miriam John, International Chief Medical Officer) As we countdown to our return, join us in prayer for a safe and impactful return for everyone involved. This season comes with much excitement and anticipation for what this historic year will bring -- let's savor every second!

See where Mabouba is now, five years after her lifesaving surgery.

 

On the way to a MILLION!

Berean is hosting the South Metro Manna Pack for Feed My Starving Children this week.  Our goal?  To provide one million meals!  The pack started on Monday and goes through Saturday.  Last night, our Tuesday Night Bible Study from Trinity, went up to help:

 

You gotta love those hairnets!  I'm with Diane and Carrie.  We were chosen, not to pack food, but to label the bags for the food.  It was a wonderful time of chatting and getting to know one another better . . . while still working.

Our 7 p.m. Team packed a total of 337 boxes filled with 72,972 meals!  You can always try to beat us because there are still openings to pack.  Good luck!  

SWARM!

We have one first grade room at OHE that has either more opportunities, or more challenges, depending on how you look at it.  We had finished ALL the FastBridging in the ENTIRE building (except for students who were out sick) save for that ONE room.

We swarmed it yesterday!  Four tutors, twenty children (six out sick), one and a half hours . . . DONE!  RELIEF.  JOY!