I keep checking the blog and seeing nothing...so I figured 'duh, I should just write something'. I just don't feel like i have much to tell!! This summer has flown by; I've only been in Tennessee for three weeks out of the entire summer. I just got in from Texas Wednesday night so I'm enjoying these last few days before school starts.

Yep, school starts Monday (aug. 3) for me...kids come on the 13th. We are starting an entirely different approach to teaching reading this year (for the better) - even spent a week in New York City getting trained on it by the pros at Columbia University. It was a great week!!! Then we spent a week down here in Chatt getting trained on the different approach to teaching writing (it goes together with the reading). I'm excited about it - it's exactly what we need to be doing. Plus, this isn't some 'fad' 'program' that will be gone when the pendulum swings. But I had a little 'scare' - my principal was considering moving me to 8th grade writing this year. The 8th grade writing is really high stakes due to some major testing in the spring and he had an opening in it. He had to hire a first year teacher and was nervous about putting her in that position with it being her first year and all (cause you know it's hard enough as it is without all that pressure). So he told me he may want me to do it and have her do 6th grade reading this year. At first I freaked out, thinking "Of all the teachers in the school with years of experience that he could have picked, why did he pick me"...but then I realized that's a pretty huge compliment!! But we decided that it was better for me to stay in 6th so that I can do the reading since if I left sixth grade then that left no one in that grade who'd been trained in the reading...whereas lots of teachers got the writing training. So, I'm staying where i'm at for now.

But...Eric and I are considering teaching in Beijing at an International School. Now, when this would happen I don't know. Maybe next year, maybe in five, maybe never. They want experienced teachers, so Eric may not be able to be hired this next year... there's a lot of factors playing in. Like the fact that I'm 30 in August and don't have kids yet. I know it's not really a huge deal, but it does still need to be considered. Obviously returning to teach in China has always been a desire of mine. But the overwhelming student loan debt is a huge obstacle. Then I did some research and saw that we could make nearly double there what we can make here if we taught at an international school, with WAY less cost of living, therefore stashing away lots of money to get rid of the stupid student loan debt. We could possibly pay off $60-80 grand in one year...then maybe stay another year to get rid of all of it. We'd both have to work and scrimp every penny for the next twenty years to pay it off in the U.S., including working all our part time jobs as well. But, there's a lot to consider and like Byrd says, we really really want to be obedient. We both feel strongly that God does not want us living under the burden of debt any longer than we absolutely have to. We're doing the very best we can with what money we have, but the bottom line is that if you don't have the income, you can manage your money like a pro and still not get real far paying down debt. So we're going to pursue it, do the paperwork, etc. and just see what happens and how we sense God leading us. It's something I'd really really really like to do before we have children because even though I know we'll never be 'totally financially ready' to have kids, having them under the burden of tremendous debt concerns me...just having 'some' debt would be a different matter.

I think my mom's coming down Sunday to stay for a week. That'll be good - she can help get my room together for me while I"m in meeting after meeting. :)

I was talking with a friend tonight about sausage -ha! - and I remembered the time I found a sausage in my bed in a bag. (byrd) and the time we woke up to sinks filled up with little hotdog bits floating in them. (liz) :)

Byrd, I trust that you are going to keep us in the loop about getting your third kid! And V and Liz...pregnancies going well?? Bets and Byrd - I have had it on my brain all summer to come in and spend some time in Knoxville and I thought I'd have lots of time, but as I said I ended up spending lots of time out of town. But, I have you on my mind and Jaime Ketchen, too, so soon I"ll be making a trip to Knoxville. I'll keep you posted! Fulton...we need an update on your health as well! Oh, and I sent two books back to Coretha that I saw on my shelf that she loaned me, like, four years ago. Good grief! Liz, how's it going with Eli's new schedule? And happy birthday, Vanessa!!!

Love you all, meows...maybe someday soon we'll be together again!
- Klep

Update

Dont know if you cats were praying or not but today the adoption agency called and told us that there are lots of baby boys in Ethiopia who need homes. She said the wait for a referral can be as short as 2 months for a healthy baby boy. So we will be turning in our application on Friday and watch what happens from here. Please keep us in your prayers. I just ask that God close the door if this isn't one he wants us to walk through. Ness, i just keep going back to something that you said to me back our sophmore year when we were trying to decide whether or not we should go to China. We were talking about not having a completely clear call about it, and you said, "Sometimes i just think God gives you a choice and will bless your decision either way." I can't help but think of that right now. I feel like God is going to bless our desire to be faithful to him whether or not that means another adoption. So, here we go. We will just walk through the doors until they close and pray we are faithful along the way. I do hope that it ends up with us walking off the plane with our new baby boy though. :)

Meow!
Mandycat

Shew!

Well cats, i would just like to report that tonight was my first rowing practice before our big race on Saturday and it was so much fun! I didn't hit anyone with a paddle, didn't curse (at least not loudly), and i have a really great partner named Brandy. This rowing thing is quite a science, i just had no idea, all the counting and drumming and technique. So, anyhoo, we will be racing starting early Saturday morning. There are 49 other teams and we will race in several heats throughout the day. The best part is the whole thing raises money for Knox Area Rescue Ministries.

In other news, Atley woke me up this morning with the words, "Good morning, honey, baby, mine!" No idea where that came from. Ava has begun wearing sunglasses everywhere, and i do mean everywhere, on the toilet, in the shower, when she reads at night before bed, pretty much from the time she gets up to the time she goes to bed. They are both such peculiar little creatures.

My friends Greg and Jess just got a their referall from Tiawan! It it an amazing story. You can read a little on either of their blogs. www.gregadkins.typepad.com or www.ourjourneytoclaire.blogspot.com. Her name is Claire and she is just adorable! I am so excited for them.

We are in the midst of deciding what is best/next for our family right now as far as kids go. We would love your prayers. It is not an easy decision. It is so all about obedience and there is such a struggle in me right now between is doing something what is best vs. maybe not doing anything at all is what is best. I am just severely seeking and desperate for God's voice in this. I can say it is the first time in a long time that i really find my seeking something. But am i supposed to be seeking something? See my struggle! Oh well, at least there is a struggle right?

Well i hope everyone's summer is going okay! I really, really, really miss my lil sister. I have increment breakdowns over it but am overall doing okay. She is really doing well in her position with the choir. I am so proud of her. She is one of two new chaperones on her tour. The rest of them have already chaperoned one tour. Well, even in all that, the tour leader went on vacation this week and still asked my sister to be the one in charge. So she has been doing all the speeches on stage before the concerts. She is also the lead teacher. It is all very cool.

Well, i suppose that is all for now. Just wanted to catch up. Please everyone post a little somethin soon! Love you all.

Meow!
mandycat

Attributes of God

http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/items/Thirty%20Days%20of%20Praying%20the%20Names%20and%20Attributes%20of%20God

Byrdness, this should get you to the list that I have been using. If not let me know and I can copy it in an email. It has been really good for me--pretty short but makes you think. It's also neat to hear songs or other passages in the Bible that highlight the attributes that I have learned so far. I've been trying to get up before the Squeezers and I like to sit out on our patio. I read the passage and reflect on it some--then I pray about what I've learned and really try to focus on that attribute as I pray--praise God for that part of Him. Something profound that has occured to me is that any good attribute in our own life comes directly from Him. He really is our 'Source'.

Plus--your kids are at an age where they can comprehend some of them. I taught Kenna that God is 'immutable'. She knows that God never changes: He never dies, He never gets old, He never changes from good to evil and He never changes His love for us. Those were the four things that never change about Him, among others, that I highlighted for her to understand. She also knows 'holy' and I'm kinda working on 'omnipotent'.

I don't share all this because I think I'm some sort of 'uber-Christian'--I share because I struggle so bad with carving out that special time to learn and pray. I'm just excited to have something that is working right now. Hope you find the same satisfaction.

I'll check out those Darcy books--never heard of them but I'm sure the library has them.

much love

Lizzy

Last Sunday

Hello Felines!

Well, I'm spending my last Sunday night by myself. Eli officially ends his five year stint of patrol officer this Friday. It's a bitter sweet ending to a chapter of our lives. He has no doubt become very familiar with a whole world that we suburbanites never truly experience. And now he's about to enter an even more depraved section of humanity...child abuse. But as scary and dark as this all seems we truly feel this is where we need to be and that God is using these chapters of life to prepare Eli for something amazing in the future.

So, next Monday we're heading off to Florida by plane. I can't even imagine how this trip will go with Duncan. I shudder to consider the possibilities. Don't tell CPS but I'm taking some benadryl to help him chill a little. I'm really looking forward to spending time with Elwood, Tina and Sarah, taking the kids to the beach and just having an adventure of a time.

I'm just about to exit my first trimester and I look about the size I was when I was 5 months pregnant with Kenna. It's not a pretty sight. I'm in the inbetween stage where it looks like I have a fat-gut rather than a baby-gut :( I have never been so tired in my life. Last night I crashed a little after 10pm--which is typically early for us. I also had some of the strangest dreams--one which I briefly shared on FB. I dreamt that I was the missing sixth member of a super-hero team call 'The Knights of Gluenschwander'--I am not making this up!!! Bizarre to say the least. But no more bizarre than Eli waking me up one night whistling a Sesame Street song. Why do we do such weird things in our sleep???

Anyway, this Friday I enjoyed the last of my 30th Birthday gifts. Eli bought me tickets to see Coldplay in concert. We're just now starting to listen to some of their music. They are pretty talented and it was a wonderful concert to say the least. We had awesome seats and were actually bumped up closer. For my birthday Eli also gave me my first diamonds ever!! He had me pick out some beautiful diamond studs and surprised me with a gorgeous aquamarine and saphire necklace. He treated me like a queen--which is what I wanted, of course :) My parents, sister and bro-in-law also surprised me by showing up for dinner and duck pin bowling. It was a great Birthday Extraganza Weekend.

Well, not sure what else to share. Any body want to suggest any good books? I need to find a decent read. Oh, and if any of you are struggling with an idea for something to study from the Bible I have been doing a short study each morning on the attributes of God. You can find lists online with scripture references--try the Navigators site. Anyway, I always struggle with self-study and have found this to be quite profound. It's neat to think about a particular attribute of God each day.

Many blessings to you My Cats

Love Lizzy

Klepper checking in...

Hey Cats! Ness, I love the name for Kiser #3! Liz, congrats (on being 30...I'm soon to follow...and on McAllister #3)!!! Fulton, I am alive...just a crappy Facebooker! Bets, glad all is well with the new baby! Byrd, so proud of you and Daniel and how you are so eager to follow the Lord's will. I am amazed at all the good work you guys are doing.

So...school's out for the summer!!! Had volleyball camp at school this past week, and the week before that my whole family met up in Colorado Springs for Daniel's graduation from the Air Force Academy -I'll post some pics soon (and maybe some video if I can get it to work right). We went up Pike's Peak, met all Dan's sponsor famillies and friends, had Joe Biden as the guest speaker, and the Thunderbirds flew over the stadium at the end of the grad ceremony and then did a show - it was awesome!! Listening to 'God Bless America' by Celine Dion while sitting in a stadium on the side of the Rockies while viewing all of Colorado, and seeing the Thunderbirds perform was definitely an amazing experience and really a chance to see how God has blessed this nation. Now what we're doing with all those blessings is definitely another matter... It was also a great time in the fact that the entire family was together for a whole week on like a real family 'trip' - that's definitely a rare experience for the Kleppers!

The week before that school was done...only to be back in session August 3rd. But I am grateful for a break. One great thing about education is that we are constantly striving towards goals, getting to the deadline, evaluating, and starting over again...it's never monotonous work. We had a big scare there in February when the county made massive cuts and (Our school had to cut eight positions and I am still two away from getting cut) but it's looking up at this point. I had to take another praxis in case I needed to be moved to seventh or eighth grade; also we didn't know if I was going to be switched to the other sixth grade team or not...right now it looks like I'm staying in sixth on my team and - the best part - only teaching one subject (reading) instead of two (myself and two other teachers were the only ones in the building having to do that for the past two years). It'll be great if that is what happens for next year! Also, since we lost so many positions and our entire special ed department was relocated, we have an entire unused room with carpet, kitchen, bathroom, etc. that was approved to be used for an in-house child care facility. Of course I am not pregnant at the moment nor do I plan to be anytime soon, but that definitely presents a WAY better option than just dumping my kid at any old day care...I really need a good 'situation' if I were even to consider still working for a while if/when we had a baby. Hmmmm... :)

On that note about school, the county is flying me and the whole reading department plus principal up to New York City for a week in July to attend some training at Columbia University - and they're paying for all expenses - sweetness!! NYC is somewhere I"ll probably never go on my own so this will be fun. Evenings are our own so we've gotten tickets to see the musical 'Wicked' on Broadway - it's the prequel to Wizard of Oz and getting rave reviews. It was expensive but I figured that since it's a free trip I could splurge to not miss my one opportunity to see a show on Broadway!! I wasn't going to spend the money, but my colleagues talked some sense into me.

I don't know if I mentioned this earlier, but Eric decided to stay another year at Lee instead of half year. He's going to just go ahead and get the rest of the Health licensure and then student teach in the spring instead of student teaching this fall and finishing up the health in the evenings. He really needs to have both PE and Health licensures anyway plus it'll make a lot of transitional things easier by him graduating in May instead of December. On the down side, though, that's still yet one more year of Eric in school and Jenney being the provider. But I feel we're walking in obedience, so all I can do is trust and be patient. This too shall pass!!! I still think Eric is a better student than I ever was - I can't believe how much work he puts into everything he does!

Now I'm heading to Ohio for a big 'ole three week stint with the family. Molly's doing college 'online' and working at the YMCA; plus she's got a boyfriend 'Joe' who is cool and fits in with family really well. My dad had him dig a ditch in the yard a while back so we figure he's 'in' with dad. :)

OK, I just had about 15 minutes to write but I've been thinking about you all today so I figured I should post. Love you, Cats!
- Klep

p.s. Byrd, I am way impressed about the green thumb!!

Hey cats,

I hope all is well! MandyCat I will be praying for you and know God will put someone in your life to help you through this time. Not much new here really, just getting closer to having my third and final biological child!! It is a girl, which for now her name is Andi Josette. Gabe and Elie seem to get larger everyday and Eliana is a little pill. She is definitely more strongwilled and defiant---have to work on my patience as well! I am off for the summer from my little pre-school job and hopefully after this coming school year I will apply for a couple teaching positions opening up in Carmi. It is a big deal when there are openings since it is such a small town. God has really been teaching me the importance of motherhood in the kingdom and I find myself for the first time really enjoying my children. I feel God working in my spirit and am waiting patiently to see where He wants me--maybe just at home for now, supporting my husbands ministry. I will be in K-town June 18-19 on my way to Florida, if anybody is able to get together let me know. I miss you all and think of you probably everyday! Mandy--Atley will love Donna, of course you know that!! Well, talk to you later!
Vanesa