Rebecca's high school search

Rebecca this summer

Well, it's Rebecca's turn now to choose a high school.  As you may know from when we were going through the process with Blake, students apply to get into one of many high schools here in Ljubljana.  Based on the number of applicants and the number of points you've gotten from your grades over the past three years you are either accepted or sent to another school for the second round. 
Most schools hold out 10% of their spots for this second round.  So it's a tighter squeeze to get into your second choice. 

It's a very strenuous process for everyone involved.  We spent a couple of days this month visiting high schools and listening to all the details about why their school is best.  It really reminds me of what I went through at the college level!  While Rebecca has had a bit more success in primary school than Blake had it's still questionable if she'll have enough points for some of the schools she's looking at. 

Those were the thoughts I was turning over and over in my head as I was headed home the other day.  Suddenly I stopped and told the Lord, "I am sorry."  You would think I would have learned!  Look what He's done for Blake!  The many doors the Lord opened to put him not only in the right school but in the right class!  The guy is growing by leaps and bounds!  He's always been a great kid but he's showing initiative and responsibility to higher levels than we've ever seen.  He's got a positive feeling about school like he never had AND his grades have radically improved!

I completely understand why the Lord had the Israelites rehearse the good works He had done in their lives.  It's so easy to forget.  Or to explain it away.  To think this time it'll be different and the Lord won't show up. 

I know that He has a plan for Rebecca.  That He loves her and is thinking about her as much as he does about Blake.  That he also has a specific task for her at her high school.  And that if He wants her in one school in particular then nothing will keep her out.  But if he chooses to use a lack of points to give her direction that is His business and I don't want our girl anywhere other than where the Lord wants her!  And the really delightful part is that's what she wants too!  We've raised a girl who is trusting the Lord to lead her and willing to go where He sends.  What more could I ask for?

Girls Eye View of London

Kendra and Rebecca in front of Big Ben

The girls and I had an opportunity to go to London a couple of months ago.  This is a trip I've dreamed of taking them on for a long time.  Josh and I lived in England near Oxford for the first 2 years of our marriage and that country has such sweet memories for us.  It was a delight to take them to all the sites and sounds that I have loved so dearly!

We called our friends Zack and Jennifer Brown and asked them if their offer to visit still stood.  They welcomed us to Bedford with open arms and even gave up their own beds for us to sleep in!  

A bit tired but still having fun on the tube!

Jennifer and I worked on a little itinerary for our couple of days there.  She mentioned that the John Bunyan museum was nearby.  I told her that I thought John Bunyan had been an American legend.  After a couple of emails back and forth I realized my mistake!  I was thinking of PAUL Bunyan and his big blue ox Babe! Unfortunately it was closed for the winter at the end of October. As Jennifer said, " Bummer.  I was really looking forward to seeing how he carried the blue ox out of the City of Destruction up to the Celestial City." 

Lydsay and Jennifer Brown

It was Lyndsay's 13th birthday one of the two days we spent in London itself.  She was such a trooper despite coming down with the flu that evening.

I can't begin to tell you all the moments we had on this trip.  The girls developed a loved for London theatre and are now known to burst into song spontaneously.  Well, I guess they were known for that before.  But now they burst into songs from Les Miserables!  :) 

Also, each girl prepared a personal tour of one of the main attractions.  (that was before Zack went out and treated us to the London pass so we could actually get into the attractions rather than just stand outside and gaze longingly! ) 

Lyndsay's portrayal of the Crown Jewels and London tower was every bit as informative as Peter the Beefeater's rendition!  Kendra had us laughing hysterically over Big Ben being created by a man named Ben who was so big he couldn't see the time on his tiny little wrist watch so he drew up plans for the giant clock tower.  And Rebecca informed us that there is actually a statue of our own George Washington in Trafalgar Square standing on soil sent over from the US since he'd claimed to never be on British soil again!  

We left feeling very loved by the Brown family, encouraged by the rare opportunity to travel together just us Patty girls and refreshed as we headed into the winter semester!  Unforgettable!