New

April is the time for change...

New school year...

Kei is now in high school, at the same school, but in a different department & wing.  She is adjusting to several changes that come with the transition to high school life.  There are more students in her class.  She is now allowed to walk home.  She has all new teachers, plus a whole new schedule.  Much to take in for my girl who doesn't like change.

Joshua has some change, too.  His biggest challenge, at school, is a new male teacher.  Joshy is a flirt and loves the ladies.  He is not a big fan of men.  He did OK with the male teacher last year (the school likes to have at least 1 male teacher in the junior high/high school room(s) to help with lifting) but he is not so sure about the new teacher.  He will be chatty until the new teacher comes and then he sits quietly.

Mama also has some adjustments because both schools have very different ways of doing things.  Differences in PTA responsibilities, parent teacher interaction, etc...  However, both schools seem to want to denude the country of trees with all the handouts they are sending home.

New after school "Day Service"...

Joshy started going to a day service facility 2x/week.  This particular service will pack him up at school, transport him to the center, give him a bath (something that is becoming harder to do at home), and then either keep him until I can pick him up after work or bring him home on the day I cannot pick him up.  Some of his friends from school go to the same facility and he seems to be adjusting well.

New physical therapist...

I am thrilled that the therapist Joshy had 5 years ago has been transferred back to "our" hospital and is now , once again, Joshy's therapist.   In the 4 years Kiriyama Sensei has been gone, the whole therapy wind was moved, the old wing torn down and rebuilt into a state of the art therapy wing.  Joshy has also changed significantly, so there is quite the learning curve, but this is one change I am thrilled with!

New classes...

Jerry has new students in his university classes.  He also has a new company class.  I have a new preschool class starting as well as new students in my insisting preschool classes.  I also have 3 new classes at ECS.  

New outreach areas...

We are starting a monthly game night for high school through adult students, especially focusing on reaching university students.  The first game night is coming up next week.

We have also gotten the International Bible Study up and running on a new night.

Monthly events, Sunday School, & AWANA responsibilities continue, but there have been some slight changes there as well.

New neighborhood responsibility...

In the time we have been in Japan we have managed to avoid being neighborhood leaders, however, this has now changed.  Our lot was drawn.  Jerry now has neighborhood meeting to attend, neighborhood fees to collect and turn in, city & neighborhood information papers to distribute twice a month, garbage patrol to do, etc...  It is a good experience, but comes with a huge learning curve.

Is it any wonder this meme struck me in a very real way?