We Have to Move. Again.

Wednesday was announced that ExxonMobil will relocate all children out of Saudi Arabia. Many of you have been aware that we have been locked down in our compound more than we ever dreamed. It’s been on and off since September. In December/January we were down for 5 weeks – our friends were for 48 hours. This time we locked down again first of March and basically understand that we will not be released again. We will just move.

 

You should know that corporate made this decision based heavily on events in 2004 when they were not fully prepared. There was an event then and they had to evacuate everyone in hours. They are the only company planning this move right now. All our friends and neighbors thus far are staying and we are lead to believe there is no discussion of leaving at all right now though no other company is locked down like we are.

 

Men and wives are able to stay because our housing compound is very secure, we travel in armored vehicles with GPS tracking at all times and the plant where the men work is secure. The issue is the school location.

 

All families with children will return to their home countries and we have now confirmed that we will be heading to Houston.  The company would like us to go immediately but will allow us to stay together here as a family until June at the latest. We do not feel at risk in any way at home. We will see what the school has to offer to support our kids for completion of their current grades in school with me as the teacher. I am looking at home school programs. We cannot buy a house fast enough to enroll the kids before the last couple days of the year in Houston because they end the year in May.

 

Don’t worry. We are being watched over by Exxon and from above. We have been stretched spiritually here in ways we have never known and learned to trust the Lord and it has been a great experience. We love Saudi!

 

We will let you know when we know any more information.

Time Savers for a Five Year Old

Homeschool is cracking me up today. Jacob was doing handwriting and adjusted the task to save time. Because Jack is sooooo much faster to write than Jacob. In his defense he did think it made the word say Jake.

Cash Troubles

Today Ben is doing online typing tests for homeschool. He called me over to see his report and I thought it was just as funny as he did. 

Turns out Ben has C A S H problems. He would totally agree with the computer. He's trying to save up to buy Match Attack soccer player trading cards and its taking way too long!

That's Using Your Head!!

Maddie has finally, for the most part, got her numbers 6-10 down. It's been a long, hard road and I'm so relieved. It has allowed me to move on in our summer homeschooling and this week we are doing addition and subtract up to 10. Mostly we use poker chips to visually see the problem but when it's a real simple one like 10-1 I have her use her fingers. She has a hard time keeping the numbers straight when she uses some fingers that are up (this counted in the total) to count other fingers on the other hand. Something about it just throws her. Today she started counting with her head. It worked! She didn't miss a single one. Now that's using you head.

Reading Upside Down

I can't figure Maddie out. We are doing mommy summer homeschool and she's doing it more and more. She reads her books normally but when she reads the review word lists at the beginning and again at the end of the book she turns it at a minimum sideways and sometimes nearly completely upside down. I suppose as long as she's able to read it then I can let it go and give her a little wiggle room because sitting still long enough to read a book is hard to do still.