ABCs

The air has been awful lately. A lung full of dirt and dust... Yuck!

This beach was the setting of a baptism service yesterday. What a special time!

There's nothing like coke in a glass bottle, served with a glass of ice and a slice of lime. I love it!

Last week was Spirit Week at my school. For our Dress Up Days at school, we had quite the vast array of characters show up. There was Bethany Hamilton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Taylor Swift, the president of Brazil, and Malala, among others :)

   

Seeing Aunt Elisabeth written on a cup at a meal with my fellow AGWM co-workers made me smile.

Periodically, flashbacks of happy times with my Dad will come to mind. It's at those times that the tears slowly start pouring. Sometimes I'm fine. But sometimes... Sometimes it really is so painful.

Our most common (and local) chain of grocery stores here in Dakar is called Casino.

 

Getting a hand-written note in the mail is an instant mood booster. I love it!

I may or may not have inwardly done a happy dance when I found this large iron skillet for sale. Oh my word... Happy doesn't even begin to describe how I feel after this purchase :)

This week, my 4th graders are studying all about the story of Jesus walking on the water. Want to test your faith? Read this story. Would you be like Peter and lose faith and start to sink? What would you do?

I'm so glad I get to call these silly kids "mine." They are such a fun bunch to work with.

I had to laugh when I saw the meme below, in regards to this year's election. It's sad. Funny? Yes. But sad for sure.

I had some mint chocolate chip ice cream the other day while out for lunch with friends. Yum!

I embraced my love for the Navy the other day, by dressing up as Loretta Walsh, the first female to enlist in the US Navy in a non-nursing role. And I know my Navy loving Daddy would have been so proud :)

As I was going through some old pictures the other day, I came across these of my friend, Patty. What a blessing this woman's friendship has been over the years!

I've been watching a couple episodes of Petticoat Junction each night lately. What a fun show!

When I found the quote below, I felt immediately that it was so true. I love teaching and I am just so truly glad God's allowed me the blessing of doing so!

As part of Spirit Week at school, each class was given a color. 4th Grade had the color RED. Well, that morning, one of my sweet kiddos came up to me with the most beautiful RED rose as a gift on our Red Day :)

Another gift I received last week was a gift of two sandwiches. Yep, that's right. Sandwiches :)

For our superhero dress-up day, I went as Super Teacher :)

Something I don't think I'll ever understand fully is technology. One day something's working just fine and then the next day it's out of service. It's so frustrating. P.S. If anyone wants to buy me a new laptop, just say the word because I so can't afford one right now and mine has decided it'd like to die :(

I saw this meme about teachers and summer vacation and had to laugh :)

For the record... At my school, the kids have 17 days and teachers have 27 days :)

While at the baptism service Sunday, I got a picture of this cutie watching all that was going on. She was just precious!

I am so eXcited and ready to see my family again! Only 3 1/2 more weeks... I can't wait! :)

I posted the picture below on Facebook the other day. It was from just a few years ago :)

"Ms Nichols, you're so zany. That means silly. Look at your shoes!" That's what one of my friends said when he saw my choice of footwear for last week's Wacky Tacky Day during Spirit Week :)