December Photo Challenge Days 24 - 31

In case you're wondering what the December Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 24's prompt was "Tradition/Something You Always Do..."

Every year we give my dog a stocking full of doggie treats :)

Day 25's prompt was "Lunchtime..."

I made sweet potato casserole (for the first time) for lunch today. I guess it was a hit :)

Day 26's prompt was "Mess..."

I went to Taco Bell with my parents. This was our mess afterwards.

Day 27's prompt was "How You Relax..."

I'm not able to do this often, but this is a nice way to relax and kill some time. ...a trip to Starbucks for a chai tea latte' and a rice krispy treat and catch up on my Bible reading :)

Day 28's prompt was "Cold..."

I realize it's a little hard to read, but this was the temp outside when we left this morning. 30 degrees!

Day 29's prompt was "Hot..."

McDonald's is getting all "fancy" with their hot beverage options now. :)

Day 30's prompt was "Something That Made You Smile This Year..."

This cutie has made me smile a lot this year :) P.S. Isn't this canvas print the cutest thing ever? :)

Day 31's prompt was "Self-Portrait..."

Here's my self-portrait of me holding my favorite baby girl :)

December Photo Challenge Day 17 - 23

In case you're wondering what the December Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 17's prompt was "On the Floor..."

I leave for the airport in approximately 48 hours (from the time I'm writing this sentence) and here's my packed suitcase on the floor :)

Day 18's prompt was "Makes You Feel Merry..."

...our Elementary Christmas play at school - "Christmas in Egypt"

Day 19's prompt was "Something Beginning with S..."

My cousin's grandmother-in-law wrote this book, Savannah Sweetwater, and had my cousin and her husband as the models on the front cover. 

Day 20's prompt was "Weather..."

...looking out the plane's window when we landed in Birmingham. It was raining pretty hard.

Day 21's prompt was "Tree..."

My sister-in-law is quite the artist! She painted this tree.

Day 22's prompt was "Decoration..."

This hippo is my favorite decoration at my brother and sister-in-law's house. Isn't he cute? :)

Day 23's prompt was "Joy is ________________..."

Joy is spending time with this beauty over Christmas Break :)

Thankful Thursday #10

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for safe travels back to America and...

• getting to FINALLY meeting my niece :)

• getting to see my parents again :)

• getting to see my brother and sister-in-law again :)

So what are you thankful for this Thursday? 

December Photo Challenge Days 10 - 16

In case you're wondering what the December Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 10's prompt was "Under..."

Under this end table is my batter inverter. This wonderful invention keeps power going to a few small things (internet, computer, fans, lamp, etc.) when the power goes out. I am so thankful for this thing!

Day 11's prompt was "Sweet..."

I forgot to take a picture myself for today, so I used this one my brother sent me instead. How sweet is this picture?! 

Day 12's prompt was "Hat..."

I took a personal day today to stay home and take my 4 (eek!) exams. When I saw the prompt and realized I wouldn't likely see a hat on a person today, I thought a hat on a reindeer was the next best thing. This is my Christmas reindeer. He rocks in his rocking chair, while singing "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer." Ha! :)

Day 13's prompt was "Lights..."

I love love love Christmas lights! :) Here's my little Christmas tree in my apartment all lit up.

Day 14's prompt was "Something green..."

I had dinner with my neighbor tonight and my contribution was the salad. Since the tomatoes all looked really gross, we had an all green salad. :)

Day 15's prompt was "Outdoors..."

Look! It's my feet and a neighbor's tire on my walk to a friend's house tonight. :)

Day 16's prompt was "Something You Made..."

Here's my To Do List I made earlier this weekend.

The 43rd Dear ____ Post

There are so many things I could write about for this week's Dear ____ Post, but I can't bring myself to do it. All I can think about are those kids (and adults) that were killed in Connecticut today. This was my Facebook status tonight...

I'm just so sad after hearing the news of the horrible events that happened in Connecticut today. As a teacher, you're trained in what to do if something bad like that ever were to happen. And you can bet, those babies' safety was the main thing on those teachers' minds. You put their safety ahead of your own. But then a lunatic comes in and does this... It's my worst nightmare as a teacher. I just can't imagine the pain those families are feeling right now. ...especially right at Christmas.

So my one "Dear _____" for this post is...

Dear God, 

Why did something like this have to happen? Why did children (ages 5 to 10) have to die today? Why did men and women, trying to protect those and other babies, have to die today? Why did some court back in the history of our country feel the need to remove you from schools? And God, when is America, the country I love, going to get its act together and realize that we need you? We need you now more than ever before. God, please be with those families, friends, teachers, and classmates that are now in mourning. Please be with those families with gifts under their trees for children who did not live to open them. 

You know what God... I wish you'd come back soon. We need you.

Sincerely, 
A Broken Hearted Teacher

Thankful Thursday #9

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• the knowledge that exactly 1 week from today I'll get to see my family again and FINALLY meet my niece. That's 7 days people! :)
• dinner plans every night, but one, from now 'til the time I leave. It's nice spending time with friends :)
• the truth of Matthew 11:28...especially at this busy time of year.
• open suitcases on my bedroom floor, which mean it's time to start packing to go to sweet home Alabama :)
• watching my students' eyes light up when we do a new Christmas craft.
• how my students got so incredibly excited when we would do an "experiment" in science later this week.
• almost weekly neighbor dinners with my super fun neighbor, who's 77 years old, but is one of the coolest people I know. I'm so going to miss her when she leaves next week :(
• knowing that I had an awesome lady subbing for me yesterday, leaving me with a peace of mind, and not having to worry about my class.
• the knowledge that I took 4 exams yesterday and already knowing that I passed 3 of them. (...still waiting on the grade for the last one...)
• the knowledge that after I turn in the paper that's due on Sunday, I'll be finished with grad school for this semester, leaving me only 1 more class 'til I'm finished with grad school for good! :)
• a long talk with my mom the other day involving us both sharing our current highs and lows, but best of all, planning for our time together when I'm in the States for Christmas vacation.
• God, medicine, and lots of Vitamin C finally healing my body. 

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

December Photo Challenge Days 3 - 9

In case you're wondering what the December Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 3's prompt was "Something you held..."

This little man learned how to use scissors today. He proudly exclaimed, "Miss Nichols, I cut! I cut!" Look at his sweet smile while cutting out his Christmas tree. And while I wasn't the one that held something, it still went with today's prompt. Plus he's adorable :)

We made our class Christmas tree today. What do you think? :)

Day 4's prompt was "Black+White..."

...one of my favorite ornaments, given to me by a friend :)

Day 5's prompt was "Looking up..."

I visited a Senegalese pharmacy for the first time today. Boo bronchitis :(

Day 6's prompt was "Where you live/Where you're from..."

This cutie came to school today and said, "Miss Nichols, I'm wearing a flag of where you're from because I like you." Aww :)

Day 7's prompt was "Stars..."

We read the book, "The Christmas Star," and then made our own Christmas stars in class today.

Day 8's prompt was "Someone you love..."

This is the first thing I saw when I turned on my ipad today. This is my brother's daughter...my first niece. I so love this little girl and can't wait to FINALLY meet her! ...only 12 more days :)

Day 9's prompt was "Out and About in Town..."

I went to a craft fair type thing today with some friends. There were artisans from many African and Middle Eastern countries. It was pretty cool. I took this picture right before going in.

The 42nd Dear _____ Post

Dear 12, You're how many days are left 'til I get to finally meet my niece. It seems like just yesterday I got the text saying she'd been born, followed shortly thereafter by pictures and videos to show just how beautiful she is. And to think that in just 12 short days I'll get to finally see her in person. Oh, these 12 days are going to fly. I know it.

Dear Cold, You're how I've felt every day this week. ...not cool, not chilly, not okay, but cold! And I've loved every minute of it :)

Dear Bronchitis, I'm glad you're not contagious, so I can keep working. But man, you're kicking my tail, causing me to have to take a nap every afternoon (or not function), causing me to walk slower (or be ridiculously out of breath), and making me sound awful (thanks to crazy loud coughing). I'd really appreciate it if you'd leave. You've overstayed your welcome. Wait a second. What am I saying? You were never welcome in the first place. So get out. Thanks! :)

Dear Shopping List, I'm starting to make you now for my trip to the States. It's always a bit daunting to think of the food, health and beauty products, clothes, etc. that I'll need for the next 5 to 6 months. 

Dear Multi-Colored Christmas Lights, I put you on my tree the other day and you instantly brightened up my living room (literally and figuratively). I sometimes think that I could just sit and stare at you for hours and hours. You're just so fun.

Dear Duck Dynasty, You're such a funny show. You definitely make me laugh. And I just bought the book about your family to read on the plane in a couple weeks. I can't wait to start it!

Dear Packing, Even though I don't leave for 12 (...well, 11 1/2, but who's counting) more days, I'm considering going ahead and starting you. Why? Between teaching, taking my own finals, writing a few long papers, and other events going on here, I'm going to be pretty busy between now and then. So maybe if I pack a little each night, I'll get you done early. ...which would be soooo unlike me :)

Dear Christmas Shopping, I'm heading out in a few minutes to finish you. ...hoping I can find those last couple things I'd like to get for family...

Dear Dessert on the Roof, My fellow apartment building dwellers and myself will be having you tonight as our annual Christmas get-together. Yummy snacks...Tacky Christmas outfit competition...Laughter with friends... I can't wait :)

Dear Answered Prayers, My family (and I, personally,) received some of you. I so love how God loves us, takes care of us, and knows what we need and exactly when we need it. Thank you God for answered prayers!

Dear Protection, You were given to my cousin after a really bad wreck the other day. When I talked to my mom and she told me what happened, all I could think about was how God has His angels camped around her for sure. Thank you Lord for taking care of her!

Thankful Thursday #8

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• the knowledge that exactly 2 weeks from today I'll get to see my family again and FINALLY meet my niece! :)
• Christmas decorations making my apartment seem so much more cheerful.
• a great semester of Kids Club.
• my French improving enough where I could explain to the pharmacist here what my problem is, what medicine I need, and why I need it fast. :)
• finally starting to feel like myself again.
• fun Christmas stories and fun Christmas crafts to share with my class.
• a new recipe that turned out well this week (cajun chicken pasta).
• the knowledge that after next week, I'll only have 1 semester of grad school left.
• temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s this week here in Dakar.
• the 3 or 4 pairs of pants, long sleeved shirts, and thin jacket I have here in Dakar.
• being able to use a blanket every night this week (and not sweat while doing so).
• actually feeling COLD (not chilly, not cool, not okay, but actually cold).
• being able to say 4 thankful items that have to do with cold weather. :)

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

December Photo Challenge Days 1 and 2

In case you're wondering what the December Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 1's prompt was "8:00..."

At 8:00 p.m., I sat down to watch A Flinstones' Christmas Carol. ...such a fun movie :)

Day 2's prompt was "Peace..."

...listening to a sermon podcast, entitled, "The Promise of Peace," while getting ready. *FYI... I didn't plan for this to go along with the photo prompt for today. It just happened that way. How cool was that?! :)

The 41st Dear _____ Post

Dear 19, You're the exact number of days left 'til I get to see my family again and FINALLY meet my niece. I can't wait! :)

Dear Christmas Decorations, I will finally finish putting you up in my apartment tonight. I've done a little bit each night over the past 2 weeks (minus the days when I was too sick and the days when I was gone on my trip). But I'm almost finished! And it already looks beautiful, if I do say so myself :)

Dear God and Cough Syrup with Codeine, Thanks to the two of you for my first full night's sleep in almost 2 weeks.

Dear Bronchitis, Thanks for not being contagious, meaning I could still work. But if I'm being honest, I must say that you seriously stink. I pretty much hate you. Yep, I do.

Dear Strained/Pulled Muscle, I'm pretty sure I have you in my side thanks to the coughing I've been doing. Oh my word, do you hurt!

Dear Broccoli Cheese Soup, I made you this past Thursday night and you were incredibly delicious!

Dear Package, I received you in the mail earlier this week. You contained some handmade cards from my cousin. They are awesome! I love them and feel blessed to be her first (overseas) customer/recipient :)

Dear Hot Season, You have FINALLY left Dakar. I know I'm going to enjoy your absence :)

Dear Christmas Cards, I ordered and shipped you this week. I'm pretty pleased with how you turned out this year. Thanks for being such fun cards to make.

Dear Christmas Crafts, I'm starting you this week with my class (in addition to other more educational items, of course). ...such a fun time of year! I can't wait! Now I just hope they are as excited as I am :)

Dear Picture Below, You've been floating around Facebook this week. I'm so thankful for the King that was placed in a bed similar to this one over 2000 years ago. I'm so grateful for His birth, His life, and His death. I'm so thankful for what He's done for me, is doing for me now, and will do for me in the future.

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November Photo Challenge Days 26 - 30

In case you're wondering what the November Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 26's prompt was "In the Cupboard..."

...the cupboard holding all of my classroom supplies

Day 27's prompt was "Tree..."

I thought the little Christmas tree "tag" on this candle was cute :)

Day 28's prompt was "Vehicle..."

Meet Mahel. He says he loves this shirt because "it has the most fastest car ever" on it :)

Day 29's prompt was "Big..."

These are the only girls in my class. The one is quite bigger than the other two. Aren't they the 3 most precious girls you've ever seen? :)

Day 30's prompt was "On the Wall..."

Ziploc bags are a rare commodity around here. So I wash and reuse them. This is how they dry on the wall.

December Photo Challenge

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Thankful Thursday #7

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• the knowledge that exactly 21 days from today, I'll get to see my family again and FINALLY, FINALLY meet my niece! :)
• someone else teaching/leading Kids Club this week, which gave my already poor voice a little break.
• finally getting a little sleep last night thanks to God and the inventor of codeine :)
• hearing one of my girls reading the Christmas story to a few friends during buddy reading.
• an awesome Thanksgiving break.
• grad school almost being over for the semester.
• finding a certain type of Christmas ornaments I'd been wishing I had.
• a new recipe (broccoli cheddar soup) to try out tonight.
• cooler temp's for a change. ...low 80s - WOOHOO! :)

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

The Thanksgiving Edition of a Dear _______ Post

Dear Thanksgiving, You were last week. You were really really nice this year. …so nice in fact, that you warranted having an entire Dear ____ post in your honor.

Dear Delicious, You would be the word I'd use to describe the food I had on Thanksgiving day. There was so much food and it was so delicious! :)

Dear Quite the Mix, You would be the words I'd use to describe the people attending our Thanksgiving meal. There were people from USA, Argentina, and Japan. There were missionaries. There was a Peace Corps girl. There was a nurse. There were English teachers. There were 24 in all if I counted correctly. We were indeed quite the mix, but a fun mix :)

Dear Saint-Louis, You're where I went for Thanksgiving. We drove up Thursday morning and left Saturday afternoon. I think you're a great city. You have beautiful, old architecture. You have all the cool African items for sale. You have beautiful people. You have beautiful water surrounding you. I could keep going... :)

Dear Family I Rode With, I really enjoyed the time getting to know your family a little better, getting to talk with you and your kids, and even hearing them sing the same song over and over. Ha! Seriously, I had a really great time this weekend and am so glad I got to spend this time with y'all. Thank you again!

Dear Cool, You're how I felt most of the weekend. The temperature was so much cooler in Saint-Louis than in Dakar. It was so nice. ...so nice, that I didn't even have to turn the A/C on one night in my hotel room.

Dear Boat Ride, I was nervous about you. I'm not a big fan of boats. ...especially ones that go out in the middle of the ocean and whose drivers don't give you a life jacket. But I actually enjoyed you. Thanks for being fun.

Dear Pain Au Chocolat and Tea, After having you two mornings in a row for breakfast from a cute little bakery on the island, I've decided I want you to be my breakfast every day. Ah...that would be nice :)

Dear Granny Smith (a game), I gave into the peer pressure given to me by the teenagers I was with and bought you for my ipod. I couldn't figure out why a game would be such a big deal. But I do now. You're pretty fun and challenging too.

Dear Cutest Skirt EVER, I bought you for my niece while in Saint-Louis. Oh my word! I can't wait to see it on her. :)

November Photo Challenge Days 19-25

In case you're wondering what the November Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 19's prompt was "Something awesome..."

These two pictures were both awesome in different ways, so I chose to include both of them :)

This note is from one of my students and says, "Miss Nichols, you're a great teacher and you're great teaching us. Gabriel" So it is "totally-melts-my-heart" awesome :)

We were making handprint turkeys. When I applied the brown paint to his hand, he asked, "Miss Nichols, are you sure this is paint?" I said, "Yes, I'm sure. Why?" He then said, "I don't know. It looks a lot like poop. And I'm not allowed to paint with poop." It took all I could not to laugh hysterically. So this picture is "kids-say-the-darnest-things" awesome :)

Day 20's prompt was "Work/Play..."

We're mastering the hard work of addition with fun pattern blocks! :)

Day 21's prompt was "What You Wore..."

I've all of a sudden developed a love for painting my fingernails. Now if I could find some polish remover in this country...

Day 22's prompt was "Grateful..."

Happy Thanksgiving! I was so grateful to spend Thanksgiving (and the next 2 days) with an awesome group of missionaries serving here in Senegal and elsewhere. ...not to mention being grateful for all the amazing food we had! :)

Day 23's prompt was "Black..."

While on our AGWM "team outing," we saw this guy at our lunch stop. I thought he looked so cute, until I looked at a zoomed in shot of his face and realized how mean his face looked. Ha! :)

Day 24's prompt was "A Sound You Heard..."

I rode back to Dakar with an awesome A/G family. And towards the end of the ride (for close to an hour), we played Catch Phrase. Between 3 adults and 3 teenaged boys giving clues, the laughs were flowing the whole time :) And since my camera's battery was dead...thanks to here for the picture :)

Day 25's prompt was "Sky..."

I went to my school to do a little work this evening and when I looked up at the sky, this is what I saw. The sky was so clear and even though it was still light outside, you could see the moon. It was so beautiful!