2015 in review…
This was our second year living and teaching in Qingdao, China. Trent and I were lucky enough to be able to co-teach Kindergarten and Pre-K this year (Trent also helped with 1st grade). We had a wonderful, fun-filled year of learning and were blessed with amazing students and families! Trent and I coached the varsity girls’ basketball team for our second season and were also in charge of organizing this year’s talent show. Ending on such a high note made it hard to leave our friends and colleagues at QISS. If you’d like to learn more about our school year, check out my teacher website at: http://mrsangieskinderclass.zohosites.com
In February we found out that we were pregnant!!! Trent and I were so excited to be welcoming a baby into our family. Just before leaving Qingdao, we found out we were having a boy!
As far as International travels go, we took our first trip over (last) Christmas and New Years to the Philippines and Vietnam. We rented a motorcycle and rode around the island of Palawan and did some island hopping before visiting Boracay where we went horseback riding, swam at the beach and I became a mermaid. We spent our time in Vietnam in the northern region, visiting Hanoi and the beautiful Halong Bay. A few weeks later we visited Harbin, China to see the world famous Snow and Ice Festival. In February we traveled to Beijing again with our girls’ basketball team for our 2nd annual ACAMIS appearance (Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools). Other travels this year included a trip over Chinese New Year to Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malaysia we visited some good friends from San Antonio that teach internationally in Kuala Lumpur. We also visited the oldest rainforest in the world, Taman Negara. After that, we went to Bali where we rode camels, climbed a volcano and spent some time by the beach. In June we traveled back to the United States of America, making our final return from our adventures in Asia.
Domestic travels included a visit to see my family in Minnesota for several weeks before returning to our home in San Antonio, TX. During our time there, we were blessed to be able to see and spend time with some good friends from China (Sing it with me now, “It’s a small world after all…”). We were able to attend our friend’s wedding in Iowa as well as spend a weekend of fun at our friend Warren’s house in Two Harbors. Back in Texas, we visited Dallas and Georgetown to visit some of our best friends from China as well as some family.
Time with my family in MN
When we returned to San Antonio in July, Trent started looking for a job. We are thankful to report that he was hired at Windcrest Elementary school in North East Independent School District. He began work in August. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with our little guy this year. One of the blessings of living abroad was that we were able to pay off all of our debt (Yay)! This has allowed me to stay at home for this season of life. I will be looking into teaching Spanish courses for home school students this next year.
The biggest news of the year is that we welcomed our baby boy, Jedidiah James, into the world on the morning of November 15th, 2015. We absolutely love being parents and couldn’t adore our little boy any more. We look forward to visiting his grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles in Minnesota this Christmas season. Baby boy will be well traveled as he has already taken a road trip to Dallas and Austin to visit friends and family. We were also very blessed to have had several baby showers thrown for us – in China, Minnesota, and Texas. Trent and I are very grateful that this baby of ours is so loved by so many all around the world!
Wishing you and your family a Christmas season that’s merry and bright. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Thank God for the grace that came through a sweet baby boy over 2,000 years go! A merriest CHRISTmas to you!
With Love, the Logsdons
Logsdon's big adventures! 