Saturday, December 31, 2016

Looking Back at 2016

I thought today would be a good day to take a little look back at some of the highlights from 2016 as we get ready to say goodbye to this year...

* January *

2016 started off well. In January, I told a story which included the announcement that I was heading back to Senegal a little earlier than planned. I also wrote a letter to Selma, the city I'd taught in for a year and a half, sharing all the things/people I'd miss in the city I grew to love so very much. The ones at the top of the list were the 3 ladies (pictured below) and the kids that I worked the closest with at my school in Selma...


* February *

In February, I introduced you to the 10 main reasons I came back to Dakar earlier than planned. I celebrated my brother's birthday. And I wrote about an article that moved me to tears, talking about washing my student's feet.


* March *

March was a "slow" month on the blog. I did write a Life Lately post which included a few cute kid pictures. I shared my thoughts at the 11 month-iversary of my dad's passing. And I also shared my thoughts on a few issues at the end of the month...


* April *

April was the opposite of March on the blog. I wrote quite a bit, starting the month off by doing my part to spread awareness for World Autism Awareness Day. A few days later I shared some of my students' favorite parts of living in Senegal for Senegal's Independence Day. I shared a few of the silly things teachers say. I also shared my feelings on it being the one year anniversary of my dad's death. And while I'd been dreading the day for a full year, it turned out to not be as bad as I thought it'd be. I had AMAZING people "steal" me away that day, so I wouldn't have to be alone. I was blessed for sure.


* May *

May started off with a post all about moms, according to my 4th graders. Not long after that, I answered the question "Why Teach"... I then wrote a post about Love and Language, which involved one of my most favorite memories of 2016 - when a group of 10 fourth graders taught me so much about sharing love to another person. Later on, I shared a bit about Pentecost Sunday. And I ended the month with a post where I said See Ya Later to the group I dubbed, my "squirrels."



* June *

I started June off by sharing my Teacher's Stats. Not long after that, I dealt with an extremely painful loss and shared how saying, "I am blessed" helped me process the pain. A little later, I shared some lessons learned with nieces. I shared a bit about the good ol' Red, White, and Blue. And I ended the month talking about #theauntlife.


* July *

I wrote a few posts in July, but my favorites were my Teaching and Learning post, my Summer 2016 recap post, and my 7th anniversary of arriving in Senegal post.


* August *

August is a great month. Why? It's my birthday month, of course :) I wrote a letter to 31 and shared glimpses from my 31st birthday. And then 2 days after my big day is the birthday of one of my favorite people - my oldest niece! School started towards the middle of August and I became a 5th grade teacher to a fun group of kids I now call "mine." I wrote a letter to my high school self and I ended the month talking about some of the seemingly little things that made my life so worthwhile.


* September *

September was one of my busiest months on the blog, since I tried to conquer the Blogtember Challenge, where you write one post a day for every single day in the month. I didn't quite get that many written, but I came close with posts like... What Brings Me Joy, Daydreaming of England, Adventure, Stories from My Classroom, A Weekend Away, Laughter's Good for the Soul, and Advice to Anyone Reading.


* October *

I started off October with a bit of fun sarcasm. Then not long after that, I became serious and shared about one of my heroes. I listed some of the things that scare me as a teacher and also some of my thoughts on grief. I shared a few of the "quirks" that make me who I am. And then I ended the month with a pretend tea date with a friend.

* Source *

* November * 

I started off the month sharing some lessons learned in waiting. I shared a few of the things I'm most thankful for. And I ended November with a bang, so to speak, as the last post I wrote in November, If God Gives a Teacher a Dream, is currently my most viewed post EVER with a total (as of this post) of 623 views. In that post, I shared my big exciting news - that we were expanding our Special Education Dept. at my school, and starting in August, I'll be the teacher of the Self-Contained Special Education class, a class for students with academic, behavioral, and/or physical disabilities which prevent them from functioning 100% of the time in a "regular" education classroom. 


* December *

I started off December by introducing my 25 Days of Christmas Giving Project, where I'd hoped to raise $5000-$6000 to furnish my new Special Ed. classroom with all the supplies/equipment my students will need to succeed next school year (and beyond). P.S. Thanks to the generosity of truly AMAZING people, I totally exceeded that goal! I also did a quick Q & A post, answering questions about this new class. I shared all about our Kids Club's Happy Birthday Jesus party. I wrote all about my Bible and then a few days later, shared all about my most favorite person ever, all thanks to a verse in Isaiah.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Isaiah

 

Yes, He's the Son of God.

But He's more...

He's hope.

He's peace.

He's help in times of trouble.

He's a guide in the storms of life.

He's comfort.

He's love.

He's truth.

He's grace.

He's perfection.

 He was born in a manger in a stable to poor parents.

Yet, He's a king.

He's my Savior.

He's the Son of God.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

My Bible

Romans 8:15

This is the verse that prompted the very last sermon my dad ever preached. He was in the hospital, so weak and sick. Yet there he preached this sermon, directly from his bed, with family and church members crowded around. 

 

My Bible is full of other memories like this one. Memories of sermons and messages that impacted my life in one way or another...

It's also full of different momentos that have touched my heart along the way too. Ones like the card below, mailed to me in Dakar by my mom... 

Ironically enough (see the words on the card), it arrived on the day I held my meeting with our school's director, where he said my dream of the new Special Ed class was finally coming true :)

 

As I flipped through my Bible the other day, I paid closer attention to each highlighted portion, each note, each lesson learned...

 

Special verses which have stuck in my mind throughout the years...

 

Notes from sermons I knew I didn't want to forget...

 

Connections made between text written all those years ago and the life God has called me to today...

 

Margins outlined with notes and ideas, highlighting lessons inspired from above...

 

Handwritten notes, copied from a message heard at just the right time...

 

Passages that point toward a future full of hope and anticipation...

 

Post-it notes containing reminders for a life well-lived...

 

Reminders of how God kept His promises over and over again...

 

Words shared from men and women, inspired by God above, and etched into my heart and mind for years to come...

 

Notes written out to help in memorizing the truth sent from above...

 

Handwritten notes, jotted down before speaking the words God, Himself, placed on my heart...

 

Reminders to always dream big...

 

Visions and words shared by others...

 

Verses highlighted and noted and shared over and over again...

 

Lessons learned...

 

Notes of songs and verses, reminders to just BE STILL and listen to what God has for me...

 

Questions asked and thoughts provoked...

 

Passages that provide guidance and commands to do the work God called me to do...

 

I'm thankful for this precious book and the gifts it contains... I'm thankful for every handwritten word, highlighted passage, sermon note, momento, and more. I'm thankful for every lesson learned and memory solidified. 

I'm thankful my parents saw fit to raise me with this book as a central part of my life. I'm thankful it's never lost its appeal and that it's still one of my most favorite books to read and study.

It's a truly amazing book!

It's definitely a blessing!

It's my Bible!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

What's Up December

Today I'm linking up with MelShay, and Sheaffer for December's What's Up Wednesday post. Normally, we wait 'til the last Wednesday of the month, but with Christmas and New Years happening and most people's lives getting super crazy, the hosts thought doing it a week early might be a better idea. So here we go...

 


Every month we answer the same few questions based on how things are currently going in our lives. 

The questions are...

 

What am I eating this week?

I've been trying to eat a lot of fill-ya-up and keep-ya-warm foods. Soups, chili, etc. Y'all it's cold here. I mean, don't get me wrong... I am definitely happy to not be pouring sweat for a change. But still... it's cold. 




What am I reminiscing about?

Memories of Christmases past... I so miss my Dad. The holidays seem to magnify that too.




What am I loving?

I'm loving spending time with the girls who call me Zizzie :)




What have I been up to?

I've been writing out shopping lists, comparing prices, and getting ready to start purchasing supplies for the class I'll be teaching next year. This class, for students with disabilities which prevent them from functioning 100% of the time in a "regular" classroom, is one of the only ones in all of West Africa. And since we're starting it from scratch, so to speak, I have literally no supplies, technology, and equipment. So I've been working to raise the support needed to furnish this classroom with all my kids will need to succeed educationally. Want to 
help with this? Click HERE and see how you can donate today.

What am I dreading?

Saying goodbye to family 2 weeks from today... I am so grateful for the calling God has placed on my life. I truly 100% love what I do. But goodbyes never get any easier...

What am I working on?

Raising awareness for the class I'll be teaching next year... 



What am I excited about?

Spending Christmas Break with my family :)








 

What am I watching?

My mom and I are planning to go watch Jackie this weekend. 





What am I reading?

I'm currently re-reading Dehydrated by Karen Schatzline. I read it earlier this year, but decided to bring it and reread it on the plane on my trip to the U.S. ...such a great book!




What am I listening to?

Christmas music, of course :)





What am I wearing?

I am FREEZING. I'm wearing lots of layers, hoodies, fuzzy socks, scarves, you name it... :)

What am I doing this weekend?


It's Christmas! My mom and I are going to have a low key weekend. We're planning to go see a movie and grab dinner at some point. Then we'll just have a quiet Christmas at home. We're not doing Christmas gifts/meal with my brother until some time next week. So we're both actually looking for a quiet few days at home after being on the go since I returned...

What am I looking forward to next month?

While it is super sad to have to say goodbye to my family again, I am happy to be getting back to Dakar and working with my 5th graders again. I'm really blessed with such a great class. And I have some new fun tricks up my sleeve for our 2nd semester.



What else is new?

Not a whole lot :)


And then each month, there is a special question for the month.

This month's question is...


What's your favorite memory from 2016 this far?


I have a lot of good 2016 memories. But I honestly think my most favorite memory is of the "Super Secret Special Chapel Service" my 4th graders did this past April. I will never forget the feeling of love and pride I felt watching these kids as they came up with the idea, as they learned everything in ASL, as they gave up "fun" times to practice, and then as they put on this special chapel service. They showed the love of Jesus and I could not have been more proud of them. What a sweet memory this is!