The update

Kindel has been sending monthly updates to our family, and we thought that our friends may also like hearing how we've been. Enjoy!

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Hi,

It has been too long since I sat down to write an update on Paul and myself. We have been quite busy in the past few weeks with Paul finishing up 2nd quarter and with my students having a state writing test. It seems like the weeks go by so fast - and although the weekends are somewhat refreshing...it doesn't take long to hit the next week!

Paul has recently been reading a lot of articles, trying to pin point an area where he can begin his PhD research. As of Friday, (yesterday), he thinks he'll focus on rice patties and the water flow etc in the soil. Something to do with the electron flow and what organisms in the soil eat. This is so exciting for us, since he has been hoping to start up his research and field studies sooner than later. He hopes to be using my Uncle Terry's fields as his work sites - which means no long trips overseas. A good thing for us now, as we wanted to be able to make the longer trips together...and with a closer field site near family, its better for us all around. He is eager (and ready) to get started doing some observation/experiments.

For me, school has been crazy these last three weeks. I am not sure what happened, but the meetings increased and the grading increased - all enough to make me one busy little teacher. I have learned some lessons with presenting material, as well as felt the sting of disappointment when my students struggle through certain things. Overall, though it has been more difficult recently, I'm learning and growing and thankful for it all.

Last weekend Paul and I had so much fun. Friday night we hung out at home and did our usual thing of watching LOST online. Then, Sat. after we spent some time in the morning working on school stuff, we went to a preserve nearby and went mountain biking. It was a beautiful day - and a fun time together. Sunday, Paul went with me to Stanford so I could practice sand volleyball with a group of students who are starting a team for intramurals. I think I will be able to join them, since I have a Stanford ID. I hope so! It was so fun playing volleyball again. Paul sat in the shade to read articles for school..but he said that if we practice this Sunday, he wants to play too. :)

The weather has been really nice here recently, so it is fun for us to get out and do more outdoors activities. Paul is riding his bike to school almost everyday (which is also a prayer request). I get out to a local park as much as I can. It is refreshing to be outside, after being cooped up in a room teaching all day.

This weekend has been more of a study weekend for Paul. My students just finished up their 2nd trimester, so all grades were due Friday. Now, I have the weekend "off." Since Paul is studying/working on his two take home finals, a friend from my younger days has reappeared in my life and she (Crystal Carlson) came down from Berkeley to spend half the day with me yesterday. She and I went out to a local Mexican place for lunch, then went to the park for a walk (and to enjoy the beautiful, partly cloudy day), then out for coffee, and I dropped her off at the train station around 5:30pm. Then, I went home to make dinner for us - as Sarah and Micheal Bloem were coming over. We had a nice evening talking with them and playing Rummy Cube.

Today is Sunday, Palm Sunday, and Paul and I are not quite sure what we'll do. We'll likely go over to Stanford for some sand volleyball, then maybe run by the store to get a new butter dish. Our old one is just too slippery, as it doesn't have a handle. We will rest and relax for the rest of the day - enjoying the fading weekend as much as we can.

Oh, and before I forget, there is one more piece of sharing I wish to relate with you. Quite a while ago I received an email through a group on campus about sending in pieces of writing for a new magazine/publication that was starting up. I got really excited about it, sent in quite a few pieces of writing...and then didn't hear anything from them for months. Just this past week I DID get an email back from them - and they want to publish one of my stories!!! I am totally excited, and hope that this might be the start of a new adventure. I am attaching the story, which is called "Out of Service" so you can see it. The publishing agent is called Vox Clara, and they have asked for more of my stories. (They also said they use some of the other stories I've already sent in other publishings.)

We love you all and miss you. Hope all is well for you.

Love,

Paul and Kindel

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P.S. I can send Kindel's story your way if you simply leave a comment or email me.