I've been here 3 weeks?!

Hey all! I figured it was time for an update, since I have officially been working for our beloved West Side for 2 1/2 weeks now. The first thing: it's very different working during the school year than during the summer, much quieter and not quite as many shenanigans going on. I guess I will update you guys chronologically, so there's some order to this post. I arrived in Richland 3 weeks ago today, and moved into the apartment at the Tucker's. I spent that evening with Jake and Rachel because Kim, Ryan, and Korey were at Pathfinders; we watched a couple of cartoon shows and played Mouse Trap (my first time ever playing). Thursday I spent the day unpacking and getting things I needed from the store. I actually got to eat with everybody Thursday, but it was a rushed dinner (as I soon found out most dinners are), because Korey and Rachel had swimming. That Friday was my first official day. I came in, and Heather asked if I wanted to get to work right away, so we folded/put in envelopes/labeled said envelopes/and sent off the Children and Family Ministries newsletter. We got that done, and into the mail. Then we out to lunch with Dan, Peggy Wheeler and Kim (Peggy and Kim are the CFM elders). After lunch, I got to talk with Lois Timmons about insurance (Yay!). Then Heather had the chance to do a bit of orientation with me. Saturday was my day off. Then came Sunday. I got introduced at both services, Heather and I did this through the children's sermon (it was quite entertaining, just ask KaraLynn); and I got introduced at Sunday School. I got to spend that Sunday School hour in the 1/2 grade class, which I enjoyed. Monday was also my day off. Tuesday was Staff Meeting, and I kind of got introduced there, but everyone knew me already. I spent part of Tuesday learning about Paging Station stuff, which is something I'll be working with quite a bit. Wednesday was Pathfinders. So that was pretty much what I did that day. Thursday we had a meeting about having an age-appropriate room for the infants and an age-appropriate room for the toddlers who aren't ready to be in the 2 year old class yet. I also got a bit more into the secratarial work that I'll be doing. Friday morning was spent working on questions for a game for Sunday school along with some secratarial stuff, and Friday afternoon was spent meeting with KaraLynn and figuring out Children's Sermon for Sunday. Sunday, KaraLynn and I did the children's sermon together (with Jerome and a felt board); then during Sunday school, I was introduced to the Rainbow Kids, and spent the hour going into each of the classrooms and meeting those teachers/kids. Tuesday I had CDM (the church database) training, I think this is a program I'm going to have a lot of fun with; and we had staff lunch, which is always fun. Wednesday was the Pathfinders banquet, so I was at church for 11 hours that day - it reminded me of the summer. Thursday I met with Patty Parkman and got to talk about what we want to do curriculum wise for the toddler room. Friday was pretty much just prep for Sunday School. Sunday I was in charge of PromisedLand Sunday School because Heather was on vacation, that was interesting, since I wasn't in there the week before and so all the stories that they had done and the one they were going to do that day were all running together. But, Sunday school seemed to go well. I got to spend that hour in the 1/2 grade class again. After church, KaraLynn, Rachel and I decorated Heather's office because she passed her ordination exams; we had quite a bit of fun, and Heather enjoyed coming back to it. Yesterday, we got the new toddler and infant rooms ready - it will be so much nicer to have them separated and be playing with age appropriate toys and being able to have a bit of curriculum for the toddler's. Today, I spent the morning researching possible curriculum for the summer, and then this afternoon was spent in a meeting about our next units curriculum -we are going to do some stories from Acts, and I think it's going to be pretty cool, especially since it's a book that often gets overlooked. So that has been my first 3 weeks here. It's been fun and full of new things for me as well as some old. I guess that's all for now. I will hopefully be able to write more sometime after Easter.

Rebecca