Fort Mandan and more meanderings

Flowers in North Dakota. Rare sight.

I know I said I would put some pictures on and blog at about Fort Mandan so here it is. First I want to say that I am really excited for this year of school. After much tears and disappointment I started praying to God to change my heart if He wanted me to stay. He was as good as His word. He change my heart and gave my the fifth grade. He has been very busy around here while I was off playing in Oregon. I am really walking in His favor all around. I have the classroom I wanted its bigger and has this beautiful border of native design all around the top of the walls. It is set up the way I wanted my old room last year to be set up. I am really getting excited to start the school year. Next week is a new thing at our school but other schools have done this for years. It is a new teacher seminar where new teachers are taught the curriculum and the policies of the school. They also teach the software for grades and attendance. I am self taught on all of this so I am going to get a better understanding of how things should work and hear of all the new changes. They are setting up a Positive Behavior System in the school which I am excited about. Most Oregon schools already of these procedures and they are school wide so all the teachers and staff use the same vocabulary and rules and the students know what is expected of them. This helps in behavior and discipline. This is going to be a great year.

One more change that God blessed me with is a roommate. One of the students I went to college with got a job here as well and she is moving in with me. She is a year younger than my youngest son and this is her first year teaching. I think God has me here this year to be a mentor for her and help her adjust to living in North Dakota. I am not one for roommates. The only people I have ever lived with apart from my family are my ex-husband and my best friend. Living with people is a challenge but as a friend of mine said "God had two hands and I am His rubber band, and that is all we will say on that subject." I am feeling awful stretchy. Now about Fort Mandan.

This is a replica of the fort. Louis and Clark made this fort in order to survive the winter in North Dakota. It was erected quickly and not made as a lasting trading post. After the expedition to the West Coast they returned to find the fort had mysteriously burnt down. The actual location of the fort was closer to the river and the river has moved and eroded the bank covering most of the area the fort stood.

Here are the sleeping quarters. The ever necessary blacksmith shop

I leave you with a real treat. A part of a thunderstorm in my neighborhood.