Questions and Answers

How's it going? How is homeschooling? Do you miss Crowley? Do you like living in Bayou Jacque?.......... These are questions we are asked most often.

     It's going good. We do miss living in Crowley. The kids really miss the house, barns and everything about where they grew up. However, they are really making an effort to adjust here and they have expressed how they like the new place and I know in time they will grow to love it. We all love the church family here that has so warmly welcomed us. Living next door to Grandma has been a blessing to all of us but especially the kids. Our lives were so busy in Crowley because of our work in the church there and in the teaching profession that we rarely had a chance to come visit let alone spend any extended time with David's family. Before hurricane Rita, the kids and I would go spend time with my family in Creole as often as we could during the summer and during holidays. After Rita things changed and we no longer had the house in Creole to go to so we haven't spent much time with either of our families in the last 7 years. The kids have gotten closer to their family here. We eat Sunday dinner at Grandma's which is accompanied by visiting, drinking coffee, kids playing and a nap if we can or working on the house.
     We do feel a little unsettled still in regards to our living arrangements because we are living in a temporary home that restricts us in many ways. For instance, we do not have the horses or the cows here. The horses are down the road in one direction and the cows are down the road in another direction thanks to the generosity of friends. Also, we don't have much room to roam around outside at this house so we sometimes feel cooped up, especially Wyatt. We go to the land as often as possible.
     Our routines have definitely changed. We are not as structured as we once were. Homeschooling is different for me compared to teaching 3rd grade. Sara, Allie, and Wyatt are very capable of doing lessons on their own with occasional help from me. They like the freedom to set their own schedule, work at their own pace and explore and idea or subject to whatever degree they choose. We try to have bible study every day and only missed a few days here and there. I don't have lesson plans, intervention documentation, tracking charts, duty schedules, deadlines, etc. and I don't miss that one bit!! I do however miss teaching 3rd grade aged children. Each day was unique. I also miss my colleagues and friends whom I think about every day.
     We don't regret our decision to move and I don't regret my decision to resign. Like with everything in life change takes time to adjust to. Some things, however, didn't change. Wyatt and Sara are in the midst of finishing their rodeo season with JDRC which takes place at the Rice Arena and the girls are still involved with FFA through Midland. We will be joining 4H in St Landry parish this week and Sara will get involved with Jr Leaders. Wyatt and Allie have plans to sign up for shooting sports through 4H as well. We plan to continue showing our animals, although this year they may all be showing a beef animal....so no piggies in the barn this year because we have no barn yet!! All in good time since we have the cement slap as the remains of an old pig parlor that we will rebuild one day.
      

Phase 1.....a back porch and demolition

Saturday, September 1st - Put in the support columns and began framing the back porch with much needed help.
Monday, September 3rd - With the help of some friends David finished framing and decking 1/3 of the porch. It gave us a chance to visit as well as work.
Thursday, September 6th (late in the afternoon) - Worked on the porch and decked another 1/3 and worked on the framing of the last 1/3.
Saturday, September 8th - David, Wyatt, and Allie finished decking the back porch while Sara and I went to a rodeo. With help they were also able to put in the four columns for the front porch. However, the front porch and addition is on hold until the demolition and clean up of the cinder block sun room.
Sunday, September 9th - David, Wyatt, and I tore off almost all of the cinder block addition to the house.
Monday, September 10th - David, Allie, Wyatt, and I began cleaning up the cinder block mess and finished tearing down the remaining support to the addition. The mess has to be cleaned before we can continue with the front porch and addition.
Tuesday, September 11th - More cleaning up......
Sunday, September 16th - David and I spent 2 hours and finished cleaning up the cinder block mess!!