I Have Arrived

...no, not spiritually speaking, but I have arrived in Portugal. I got up about 45 minutes ago at 8:30am, which was 3:30am Eastern Standard Time... tammy time... and I am trying with all my might to drink the coffee sitting beside me and fight the urge to go back to bed!
I arrived yesterday morning after a good flight. God blessed me in that I was able to sleep about 4-5 hours, which I've never done before. I sat next to a wonderful girl named Kiki (I'm not sure that's how you spell it??) who just graduated from UCLA with a degree in European Studies and is moving to Portugal to find some sort of a job, maybe teach English, and see where things go from there. Kiki if you're reading this, HI!! and tell me how to spell your name haha.
Yesterday I had the HUGE blessing of being picked up at the airport by the Thomases. Noah Thomas was one of my students last year and will be one of my students in 3rd grade this year. He was also there with his younger sisters, Ellie (2nd grade this year) and Maddie (not yet in school!)... and of course, their parents, Jeff and Jenny, faithful missionaries here in Portugal. They took me to my apartment after we picked up the car I'll be driving this year and left me so that I could sleep!! I woke up around 2:00 after a 2.5 hr nap and did some grocery shopping and eventually ended up going to the theater last night to see the newest Mummy (critic Tammy says don't waste your money on that one...). I went to bed but didn't end up falling asleep until about 2 am. However, God helped me to wake up and actually get out of bed (SHOCKING) at 8:30 when my alarm went off and now here I am posting to my blog. Two things you thought I was not capable of doing haha.
WELL, some things you can pray for-
1. Please continue to pray for the Schleners. Pray for Elena as her body battles the cancer. Pray for Phil and Elena as they make decisions together. And please pray for the "kids" (not all of them are still kids!), I'll name them again for you here so you can bring them before our God by name. Matthew (5th grade), Louisa (9th grade), Austin (11th grade), Erik (12th grade), Jessica (college Sophomore), Chris (Air Force). God is mighty!
2. Pray that I adjust to the time change quickly.
3. Pray for school!! There are 4 of us teachers this year and we have a big job ahead of us. Pray for the children to grow closer to the Lord this year and also to LEARN STUFF! :)
4. This may sound small, but I have 2 boxes coming to me that I mailed to myself last week. Please pray they don't get stopped in customs. That could end up being costly for me.
And finally, things to praise God for-
1. Safe flight
2. The blessings of my missionary family here
3. My luggage made it! (Please still pray for my boxes!)
4. I've already had some language successes which by human means is shocking! Therefore, we know that it is from the Lord. "Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of Lights." :)

Okay. On my agenda for today is to meet up with my good friends, the Herricks for lunch and then tonight attend the birthday party of 5 yr old Emma Lowe. :) And also unpack. And maybe hit the school for a little bit. :)

Ciao for now!