Alphabetical Randomness

On our field trip the other day, there was a man doing Arabic calligraphy. My students were mesmerized as they watched him writing their names. Me too :) 

I baked some blueberry muffins yesterday. I'm thankful for grabbing that mix while at Wal-Mart a while back. Quick, easy, and delicious!

Teaching in a Christian school is such a blessing. I love that we can share the truth that is Jesus Christ and His love. 

I had a delicious sandwich at dinner the other night. It had chicken with a honey mustard (sort of) sauce with red bell peppers and lettuce on a multi-seed/grain bread. It was so good!

I made some egg, cheese, and pepper muffins to put in the freezer. I've been trying to be more intentional about eating healthy. It doesn't always happen. But I sure am trying :)

I took my fifth graders on a field trip the other day to an International Artisanal Fair type place. We spent most of our time in the Morocco exhibit. The kids came away saying it was a lot of fun. And my philosophy is... If they're happy, I'm happy :)

This guy was in the middle of the street the other day. Interesting traffic block, huh? :)

I baked some sea salt and hazelnut cookies for my class the other day. Oh my word... I'm not even a big chocolate fan and I loved them. These were delicious. And the best part? I actually didn't burn them. Knowing my track record in that area, this was amazing :)

I spent what seemed like forever minutes scanning the invoices and receipts from the supplies I've purchased this far for the new Special Ed. class, getting ready to turn in my financial reports. Yet another reminder of how God's provided for this class and the incredible students this class will serve...

The role of Jesus was up in a skit my class will be doing pretty soon. It was funny to see how almost every single boy was arguing over who could play the part of Jesus :)

These kids make me smile. I only get 2 more weeks with most of them. I'm so not ready to say goodbye to these sweet kiddos on the last day of school...

 

I end up with leftovers every time I cook. I can't seem to cook for just one person. But it's not all bad. If I ever don't want to cook, there's almost always leftovers in the fridge. So I suppose they're not all bad, huh?

A friend shared this meme on Facebook the other day and it made me laugh. There is a small part of me that thinks this could end up being true :)

Watching the news is honestly, pretty annoying lately. Where are the stories of good things happening in the world? Why focus so much on the negative in the world? 

We officially have only two more weeks with students. Time has just flown by! It seems like just yesterday school started.

We have been learning about parables in Kids Club this semester. I have loved working through this series with our elementary students and even more than that... I have loved seeing our kids who attend each week growing more and more in their faith.

I saw this quote on Facebook the other day and saved it. It's a good reminder for all of us, teachers, out there.

A friend sent me this meme the other day. It totally reminds me of playing Mario on the Nintendo with my brother back in the day :)

Shells were used to help decorate this artwork we saw on our field trip the other day. In this picture of Senegal's President, the artist used shells for the President's suit.

I treated myself to a new camel leather bag the other day. It was my "almost finished with the school" year present to myself. Plus, I got a great deal on it. So win win! :)

My U.S. departure is only 5 weeks away now. I'm definitely excited about seeing family again, visiting with a few supporters, and picking up the rest of the supplies for my new Special Ed. class. But I still have a lot left to do 'til then. So I've basically pushed the excitement for all of that out of the way for now. Finishing this school year well with my favorite 5th graders is what's most important at the moment. 

My fifth graders have been playing volleyball and loving it. I've loved seeing how their skills have improved this season, seeing how well they've been working together, and seeing how much fun they've had each week. I have such a talented group of kids.

A perk of waking up early is getting so much more stuff done than usual. I intentionally wake up early during the week, getting things ready for the day. I've gotten so used to it over the years that it doesn't even faze me anymore. Take today for example... I was wide awake at 4:45 a.m. (with no alarm clock even set). Of course, by 10:00, I was ready for a nap, though :)

I am eXcited about some fun things I have planned for my 5th graders these last 2 weeks of school. Our last day of school party is going to involve some surprises as well. I can't wait to see their faces when they walk in that morning :)

Coconut yogurt has been my breakfast of choice lately. It's delicious!

The letter Z can be difficult to include in a post like this. Don't you agree? :)

Why Do I Teach

Today I'm joining Ashley and Erika for their monthly Tuesday Talk linkup, where we can talk about just about anything in our lives at the moment...



So, do you want to know what's on my mind today?

This question...

Why do I teach?

I teach because I love those lightbulb moments... Those are the times when students finally get what they've been struggling with for some time. I love when they finally possess the confidence in themselves that I, as their teacher, have in them.

I teach because I love to learn. I would totally 100% be in school today (online, of course), working on another degree if I could afford it. I think a good teacher is always learning. 

I teach because I have the opportunity to be an advocate for those who may not be able to be so for themselves. I speak up for students who need extra assistance, who need extra care, who need to be challenged and advanced...

I teach because I love a good challenge. God apparently knows this because He seems to love sending fun and interesting challenges my way. But I love it! I love pushing myself to improve and be better and better. A good teacher is always striving to better herself.

I teach because I love school supplies. Just kidding. Although, let's be honest... Is there anything better than a brand new pack of colorful sharpies or sticky notes? I think not :)

I teach because I love being able to pour into the lives of the future leaders of tomorrow. Whether my students grow up to be presidents or doctors or teachers or missionaries or garbage truck drivers, it doesn't matter. They will each be leaders in their own unique ways. And it's my job to help prepare them for their future. 

I teach because it's my passion and my calling. God called me into a field that I am so very passionate about. I absolutely love what I do. And I feel eternally blessed that God has trusted me with this calling. What a privilege it is to be a teacher!

Monday's Letters

Dear Little Letters Link-Up, You're why I'm writing these "letters" today. Thanks for providing an outlet for me to express a few of the thoughts swirling around in my brain at the moment.

Dear Baptism at the Beach, You're what I got to enjoy a couple weekends ago. What a special time to experience. And the view wasn't bad either :)

Dear End of School Year Goodbyes, You are not an enjoyable part of my job. And I had to have 2 of you this week, as students left early. Insert sad teacher face here.

Dear Thoughts on Motherhood by a Non-Mom, You're what I shared a week ago here on the blog. You can read about it HERE. The gist of that post is that Mother's Day can be hard on some people. I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate the day. Definitely not... Moms deserve to be recognized, honored, and celebrated. I just think we need to remember those for whom that day can be painful. Maybe we could say a prayer for those struggling on that day...

Dear 3 Years Old, You're how old my youngest niece turned yesterday. What a joy she is in my life!

Dear 6 Weeks, You're how long is left 'til I head back to the States for my summer "vacation." I use the quotes because I'll be doing quite a bit of working (on the computer, traveling for speaking engagements, collecting supplies for the new Special Ed class, etc.). BUT busy or not, I'll be in the USA with family. So I'm happy :)

Dear Shhhhhh, It's ironic. You're supposed to make things quiet down in a noisy room. But alas, sometimes you're the loudest sound in the room. A teacher friend shared the following meme on Facebook the other day and I had to laugh. This is me on a sometimes daily basis :)

 

Dear Summer Plane Tickets, I bought you this past weekend. And you know... I paid less for you than I think I ever have for roundtrip tickets to/from the US. So yay for that! Now... With that said, you still were quite pricey. But thanks to an income tax refund, I could indeed afford you.

Dear Water, I'm trying to do better and drink more of you. But you're lack of caffeine makes it extremely difficult. Just sayin'.

Dear Cooking, You're my de-stresser. That's both a good thing and a bad thing, though. Ha! :)

Dear Field Trips, I'm in the middle of planning two of you for my class. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute. Huh? :) The kids are so excited! And their excitement is contagious! So I can't wait 'til we can actually go on these trips!

Dear To Do List, You are exceptionally long at the moment. And each day more and more things get added to you. Feel free to take a chill pill and I promise that if you let me have a bit more down time on the weekends/evenings, I'll be such a happier person.

To all the moms

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Today's your day to shine. 

Well, technically, your day is every day. After all, none of us would be here today if it weren't for moms. Well, moms and God. But you get the idea :)

So to all the moms out there, I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day. 

To the Pinterest and non-Pinterest moms alike...

To the moms who haven't had a free moment since their first child was born...

To the moms just praying for bedtime to arrive...

To the moms with kids who think they're comedians...

To the moms who'd win awards for the most unusual purse contents...

To the moms dealing with annoying people asking annoying questions...

To the moms finding new, clever ways to get their kids to eat their veggies...

To the moms receiving notes and letters that always make them laugh...

To the moms who don't know the meaning of "sleep late"...

To the moms trying, to no avail, to just have a simple conversation...

To the moms praying this prayer at homework time on a regular basis...

And on a more serious side...

To the moms with spines of steel...

To the glue that holds families together...

To the moms who make sacrifices everyday - some big and some small...

To moms with full hands and even fuller hearts...

To all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day.

Coffee/Tea Date

It's the second Monday of the month. That means it's time for my monthly Coffee Date post. As always, I'm joining Erin for her fun link-up, and I'm sipping on a cup of tea and pretending I'm on a coffee (well, tea) date with a friend, baring my soul and chatting about just about anything and everything. 

So grab a cup of tea and join me.

If we were on a coffee/tea date, I'd assume we were close, so I could be totally honest with you. I'd think I'd feel free enough to share my heart with you. Some say one shouldn't bare their soul this much. But this is my blog coffee/tea date, so...

There's been something on my mind a lot recently. I'd assume it's because Mother's Day is next weekend. A day when we honor all of the moms in our lives... Churches recognize the moms in attendance. Schools help students make cute artwork and crafts for their moms. People go shopping for gifts for their moms.

And I'm no different. First, and foremost, I definitely love taking the chance to recognize my own mom. God knows she deserves the special recognition. After all, she is not only a Rockstar mom... She's also the BEST MOM EVER. She is. I also always have my students make something for their moms. And I'm also always sure to make contact with all the other moms in my life, sending them best wishes on their special day. Women like my sister-in-law, aunts, cousins, friends, co-workers, etc. I always want all the moms in my life to know they're valued and appreciated.

But that's not all I wanted to talk about. It's the other side of the Mother's Day coin. The side that some people don't like talking about, for fear of making people uncomfortable, or being labeled a party pooper, or whatever... 

It's the fact, that for some women, Mother's Day can be difficult.

You see...

Some women have children who have passed away. 

Some have children who have ran away or have, God forbid, gone missing.

Some have broken relationships with their children.

Some have had miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.

Some have faced the rejection by failed adoptions.

Some have faced the pain of infertility.

Or what about the women whose own mothers are not in their lives for various reasons (death, strained relationships, etc.)?

And honestly, there are so many other scenarios I could write about. 

I, myself, fall into another category.

There are women, like myself, who have never gotten married, never had any children.

Yet, we dream of the day when we can become a mom.

We're often the first to buy a gift for an expectant mom.

Or the first to hold a friend's baby.

Or the first to send well wishes when a baby is born.

But if I'm being totally, 100% honest.

Sometimes the pain is unreal.

Sometimes the ache of not having something you desperately want is unbearable.

Sometimes it just stinks.

* Now, let me clarify... What I'm saying is that as a non-mom, it stinks that you, yourself don't have something you so desperately desire for yourself. Please don't think I'm saying that it stinks that your friend has a baby. NO. That's most definitely NOT what I'm saying. We non-moms are genuinely/sincerely happy and proud for our friends and loved ones. We genuinely celebrate these blessings from our Heavenly Father.

And I will say, that if we were on a coffee/tea date, I would tell you that I do realize I am blessed. I may not have children of my own, but I do have 2 adorably awesome nieces. I have taught 100+ students over the years. I have friends and co-workers whose children I enjoy hanging out with, chatting with, babysitting, and just getting to know better. I love getting the chance to pour into the lives of these sweet gifts from above, sharing the love of Jesus with them and helping them learn and grow. And honestly, I love each and every one of these kids as if they were my own children.

But to wrap up this long blog post coffee/tea date...

If we were on a coffee/tea date, I'd say that I'm not against Mother's Day. I'm not against recognizing the awesome ladies who've earned the title of MOM. All I'm saying is that we should also remember the ones for whom Mother's Day is difficult. Don't pity these women (us). Please don't. There's no need for pity. Maybe instead... After thanking God for the blessing of mothers, maybe offer up a prayer for those hurting on Mother's Day. 

Currently

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so I'm joining Anne from In Residence for her Currently link-up. On the first Wednesday of every month, Anne invites readers to share a few things they're up to currently.

I'm currently planning to have quite the productive day this coming Friday. We don't have school that day. So my plan, as of now, is to spend the day in my classroom, tackling a massive To Do List. Although, if someone were to invite me to do something more fun, I could easily be persuaded to not be so productive. ha! :)

I'm currently wishing and hoping I'll be able to attend a couple workshops/conferences this summer - both of which are geared toward helping educators become better at their craft. I think it'll be a nice way to recharge/refresh/renew my Special Ed skills. 

I'm currently browsing Amazon for some fun items for my new class, thanks to a sweet friend giving me a gift card to use towards that. I'm currently browsing their books, hoping to create a good class library for my students to enjoy next year (and beyond).

I'm currently missing my mom. I love what I do. I love that God has called me here to Dakar Academy, and Senegal. But I do miss my mom and wish I could have both worlds with me sometimes...

I'm currently eating a lot of cereal. ...which is so unlike me. I've honestly been exhausted by the time I leave work each night. So cereal for supper has been the most logical choice each night :)

I'm currently reading over questions my students wrote, while studying for their science test. I told them to become the teachers. So they had to read through the chapter, writing questions & answers from each lesson. Honestly, by the time we were finished and I asked them the questions, they knew that chapter backwards and forwards. What a fun way for them to study!

I'm currently smiling about how well our Living Wax Museum went the other day. It turned out so much better than I could have imagined. I was so proud of my 5th graders! Want to see pictures and read details from the event? Click HERE.

I'm currently waiting for God to answer a few prayers and rejoicing in ones He's already answered.

So what are you currently up to?

Living Wax Museum

Way back when, our new 4th grade teacher had just been hired and started emailing me, asking questions about working at DA. We wrote back and forth a good bit, and at some point, we discussed how fun a Living Wax Museum would be. 

So fast forward about half of a school year...

Today our 4th and 5th graders presented their own Living Wax Museum. This was the culmination of almost 2 months of writing, typing, creating, etc. 

Our students worked so hard on this.

And it totally showed.

We invited the kids' parents, staff members at school, and other students. There was quite the crowd there, listening

It was so fun to see our students showing off their creativity and hard work by taking on the persona of many different past and present-day characters.

There were world leaders: Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, Cleopatra

There were people who had overcome adversity: Anne Frank, Bethany Hamilton, Malala Yousafzai, Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks

There were brilliant scholars, scientists, and mathematicians: Albert Einstein, Socrates, Marie Curie

There were influential women: Kalpana Chawla, Annie Oakley, Corrie Ten Boom, Mary Slessor, Betsy Ross, Susan B. Anthony

And there were includential men, as well: David from the Bible, Steve Jobs, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford

There were athletes: Yuna Kim, Saina Mirza, Marta Vieira da Silva

And last, but certainly not least, there was even the main man, himself: Jesus Christ

All in all, it was a fun event. And I'm so proud of our students!