A Bookworm Discussion

Happy Monday Y'all

Today I'm joining Rachel and a few other bookworm bloggers and sharing a fun bookworm-themed quiz of sorts.

So here ya go...

Hardback or Paperback or e-Reader?

Well... I typically prefer paperback books. But I do read quite a few on my iPad, considering books weigh a lot and I live far away from bookstores. So I don't want to have to take up all of my luggage space with books. But some... Some definitely make the cut each and every time I travel between the US and Senegal :)

Amazon or Brick & Mortar?

I'd always prefer a brick & mortar store. But again, living in Senegal doesn't allow me that opportunity but once a year. So Amazon and their reasonably priced international shipping for the win! :)

Bookmark or Dog-Ear?

I'd like to say I'm a responsible book owner and say I always use a bookmark. But alas, that's not the case. However, if it's someone else's book, and I'm only borrowing it, I will be a good girl and use a bookmark :)

Alphabetize by Author OR by Title OR Random?

Uh... Totally random

Keep, Throw Away, or Sell?

I'd never throw a book away. I'm big on keeping them and rereading them later since my memory is HORRIBLE and I'll be able to reread books multiple times. But if it's one I just really don't want anymore, I'll give it away. I wouldn't sell it, though...

Keep dust jacket OR Toss it?

Toss it. Always.

Short Story or Novel

Novel. Always

Stop reading when tired OR Stop at Chapter breaks?

At chapter breaks... My problem is once I start reading a book, I can't put it down. Thus, the reason why I only read on the weekends and school holidays. I rarely ever read (for fun) during the school week because I know me. I know I'll start it and not want to put it down and then I'll get way too little sleep as a result :)

"It was a dark and stormy night" OR "Once upon a time"?

Once upon a time

Buy OR Borrow?

A mix of both

New OR Used?

Both

Buying choice: Book reviews, Recommendations, or Just browsing?

A little of all

Tidy Ending OR Cliffhanger?

I absolutely HATE cliffhangers!!!

Morning, Afternoon, or Nighttime Reading?

all of the above

Single Volume OR Series?

I like both. But if I absolutely had to pick, I'd have to say "series." I love when there's a series of books that weave everyone's stories throughout...

Favorite Series?

I loved The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club books. I also liked the Left Behind books. And also... Basically any series by Beverly Lewis.

Favorite Book of which nobody else has heard?

The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club books

Best Book(s) read last year?

The Zookeeper's Wife

One Plane Ticket from Normal

Running on Empty

Finding Zoe

What's Up April

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

Today I'm joining  Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. 

 

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?

Nothing terribly exciting at the moment...

But here's a shot of a tasty sandwich I made the other day, with a friend's cute pups staring at me (more likely, it was the sandwich) while I ate :)

What am I reminiscing about? 

This past week marked 3 years since my dad passed away. So in writing a post about that fact, I did quite a bit of reminiscing about my dad. Ah, I so miss that man! If you missed that post, you can read it HERE.

What am I loving?

These Mr. Potato Head writing pieces my crew did this week. One of my guys saw Mr. Potato Head hanging out on my desk, waiting 'til I used it in Kids Club this week. So he asked if we could play with it. Of course I let them. Then I chose to make it a teachable moment, since we're learning how to be more descriptive in our writings this week anyway. So yay for a fun activity they enjoyed!

What have I been up to?

I've been contacting pastors, slowly trying to fill my calendar for the summer, in hopes of sharing my heart/passion for this incredible ministry God's allowed me to be a part of. And here's where I insert a shameless plug... If you, your church, your small group, your kids' program, your family, or even just you, yourself, would like to have me come and share about the work God's doing here in Senegal, and beyond, send me an email at enichols85@gmail.com and we'll set something up.

What am I dreading praying for?

I'm going back to erasing the "dreading" part and replacing it with "praying for" instead. At the moment, I have a few main things I'm praying for...

1) I'm praying for my summer plans to fall into place. I need to schedule a few more services. I need to connect with more of my supporters. And I need to raise a bit more funds for missions support.

2) I'm praying for peace in my heart. I've been dealing with a lot of worrying about an issue and can't seem to stop. I need peace over this. Because it's definitely not doing my mind and heart any good by worrying over it. After all, when does worrying about things out of my control ever help anything? It doesn't.

3) I'm praying for a good end to the school year. We've had such a good year so far. I want these last few weeks to go just as well. I have lots of fun activities and projects planned for my crew, to help them finish learning all I want/need them to learn this school year. So my prayer is that with all of that, we'll do our best and we'll finish strong. And all the while, we'll have a smile on our face.

What am I working on?

All the last minute prep for Elementary Camp... Having to do it around my normal teaching schedule is a bit tricky and adding even more to my To Do List than normal. But it's so worth it! I can't wait to see their faces when they hear all the fun in store for them on Friday! I know it's going to be a blast! :)

Yes, that's right. I need 90 notebooks, pencils, and TOP SECRET envelopes for a surprise gift :)

What am I excited about?

A fun idea I had for this summer...

I'm going to be doing a Taste of Senegal night this summer at a few different churches, where I'll make a Senegalese dish or two to share with the congregation, while I chat with them about life in Senegal and about the ministry I get to be a part of. I'm super excited to see how it turns out! P.S. If this is something your church, small group, or even your family, would like me to come and do, send me an email at enichols85@gmail.com and we'll make it happen.

What am I watching?

I finally got caught up with Fuller House this past week.

What am I reading?

I got quite a bit read this past weekend, since I embraced the art of relaxing, knowing this current week was going to be one of the busier weeks of the school year for me. I read 3 books: 1) The Elegance of the Hedgehog 2) The Family Romanov and 3) Still Life with Bread Crumbs 3)  Well, actually I'm still reading the last one. 

What am I listening to?

I'm still listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack on repeat. 

What am I wearing?

I've been wearing my denim jacket a lot lately. It's nice that it's actually been cool enough to wear it without having a heat stroke, too. :)

Ignore the fact that it's the end of April and I STILL haven't fixed this month's calendar. ;)

What am I doing this weekend?

Friday is going to be a super long day since I'm leading Elementary Camp from 3:15 to 8:30 (or whenever the last kid goes home). So I'm thinking I'll crash on Friday night and wake up some time on Sunday from exhaustion. Ha! :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

I'm looking forward to the end of the school year.

Well, technically the last day of school is June 1st. But that's close enough. Right? I definitely do love my students and I'll definitely miss them this summer. But boy, oh boy, am I ready for my Summer Vacation :)

What else is new?

My class through Southeastern next week.The inner nerd in me is jumping up and down, super excited, over being a student in me :)

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What I've Done Right

Happy Tuesday

Today, I am once again, participating in the #PSLoveMe Challenge and sharing Prompt 15, which says to Share something you've done RIGHT.

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I struggled with this topic.

What have I done right?

I didn't know what to say.

I'm typically not a fan of bragging on myself, after all :)

So instead... 

I decided to tweak the prompt a bit and include my students.

3 were at school this morning.

So for their Morning Work activity (which is typically a Writing prompt), I gave them the following sheet...

Before they started, I told them that sometimes we get so caught up on the mistakes we make and can get very critical of ourselves and others. So today, instead, we were going to focus on all sorts of things that we do RIGHT. 

I then asked each student to list some things that they, themselves, do RIGHT.

Then, when they finished with that, I passed each person's paper around the circle and had them write things their classmates do RIGHT.

It made my heart beam with pride, reading over all of their answers.

And I even asked them to fill one out for me too.

Honestly, I don't always feel I'm doing that great of a job. I worry that I'm not doing enough for "my" kids. I worry that I'm not giving them all I can. Notice a trend? I'm such a self-doubter. It's bad, I know.

Back in November 2016, I wrote THIS post, sharing the dream of starting this class and a little of what it took to get to this point. And while I'd love to say it's been a breeze this year, that's simply not the case.

It definitely has had its hard points.

I work a LOT.

I'm exhausted a LOT.

The existence of my class is not guaranteed too terribly far in the future.

So I worry a LOT.

But when I walk in this door...



And when I look at these faces (and the ones who I know are coming)...



I know.

I know I did something right.

And more than that...

I know GOD, Himself, did something right.

And that's a really, really good feeling.

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Want to play along?

Check out the Prompts below.

Overcoming Fear

Happy Monday Y'all

Today, I'm once again, participating in the #PSLoveMe Challenge. This is a fun photo/writing challenge. And I've enjoyed participating thus far.

Today's prompt is Prompt #14...

Share a fear you've overcome.

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I feel like such a hypocrite, writing on this topic.

Overcoming Fear

How can I write about overcoming fear?

Fear is something I have always struggled with.

And while I'd love to say I've fully overcome (overcame?) it...

That's simply not true.

Instead, I'd say I'm a work in progress.

When I get in a situation that causes me to feel fearful, there are certain things I do.

I call on the name of JESUS.

One thing my parents always taught me is that, in the name of Jesus, all demons must flee. In the name of Jesus, the devil cowers down and backs away. Jesus is the name above all names. Jesus is the one who saves me from those fears. There is incredible power in the name of Jesus. So yes, I call on the name of Jesus.

I play/sing worship songs.

There are certain songs that help me when I'm feeling fearful. The one above is the main one. And sometimes, I've been known to play it on repeat for quite a while. Just to get it ingrained in my head... :) "No Longer Slaves" is an incredibly powerful song that reminds me that I am no longer a slave to fear. It can't hold me. My Savior took care of that for me. So whether I'm turning my phone's volume all the way up, listening to someone else sing or I'm singing it to myself, I use these incredibly inspirational words to soothe my heart when I'm feeling fearful.

I read my Bible. 

The Bible is full of verses that calm my heart when I'm feeling fearful about something. After all, the Bible is the Word of God. So how could it not? :)



And most of all...

I pray.

When I feel fear starting to tighten its grip on my heart, I pray. I pour my heart out to my Savior. I claim the truth in His Word. Because even when I don't know the words to say... Even when I don't know what to do... Even when I don't know how to overcome the fear... I can go to Jesus. I can pray.

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Want to play along?

Check out the Prompts below.

5 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Y'all

Today I'm joining April, Natasha, and Christina for their 5 on Friday linkup. 

And I'm sharing 5 of my favorites from this week.

Want to know what made the list?

~ one ~

One of my main favorites of this week was definitely my day on Tuesday. One of my teachers from high school and her husband were able to visit me on Tuesday. So my friend and I took them around the city, pointing out the various sites (sights?) and showing off my school, as well. What a fun, special day it was!

  

~ two ~

Dealing with the pain/sadness that still grips my heart over the loss of my dad is most definitely NOT a favorite. But seeing all the messages from friends almost literally around the world, saying they were praying for my family and me definitely WAS a favorite from this week. What a gift the body of Christ is.



~ three ~ 

I got to hang out with these 2 cute pups a bit. They make me miss my favorite puppy (who's actually too old to be called a puppy anymore, but don't tell her that). Aren't these two adorable? :)

  

~ four ~ 

Have you watched The Greatest Showman?

I've seen it twice already. It's that good.

And as I watched it last weekend, one of the songs stuck in my mind...

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design

'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make

In the song, A Million Dreams, they're singing about the dreams that are keeping them awake at night. The dreams of what the world could be. Not everyone understands their dreams. But they never stop dreaming...

~ five ~


Today I took the day off. Why? I'm calling it a Mental Health Day. It's a day when I'm going to take it easy and rest and recharge. 



I think sometimes we push and push and push to be the best there is. And sometimes it just catches up with us. Sometimes no matter how much we love what we do... No matter how much we know we're in the Will of God and doing the work/ministry He's called us to do... Sometimes we still can push ourselves to hard/far. And it's important to recognize that. Sometimes we work so incredibly hard at taking care of everyone else, that we forget to take care of one person... We forget to take care of ourselves. 

That's why I like the image above.

It's so true.

Therefore, once I hit publish on this post, I will turn off my computer. I'll be grateful for an AMAZING sub teaching my class today. And I will curl up on the couch with a good book and "unplug" for most of the day. I'll do work tomorrow or Sunday. 

But today... 

Today's the day I refill my cup.

3 Years

3 years

3 whole years

It seems like such a long time.

Yet, it feels like just yesterday.

My dad was always the life of the party.

He loved bringing people joy and making people laugh.

And his laugh?

Oh my, his laugh was so contagious.

He had this zest for life that couldn't be contained.

He truly wanted to live life to the fullest.

He was adventurous and spontaneous. 

He was always on the go.

But when my nieces came along? 

Oh my world, did he slow down.

He loved his wife and children. That was a given.

But ask anyone...

Ron Nichols was made to be a grandfather.

Being PawPaw to the most adorable two little girls was one of the absolute greatest gifts in his life.

But something else did come before family.

God

My dad loved the Lord and it was his life's calling to preach and spread the gospel. He loved telling others about our Savior, never missing an opportunity to do so - even if the person was a complete stranger. 

He preached with a fiery passion like none other.

He had an insatiable thirst for the Word and its chief Author that just couldn't be quenched. He would study the Word for hours and hours.

He was a son.

He was a brother.

He was a husband.

He was a father. 

He was a grandfather.

 

He was a cousin and a nephew. He was a preacher and a teacher. He was a friend and a confidant. He was a prayer warrior and advice giver. He was a road trip buddy and a late night Wendy's drive-thru buddy. 

He was so much to so many.

He was my dad.

And this Daddy's girl sure does miss him.

But you know...

As painful as it is to not have him here on earth with me, I wouldn't call him back here if I could. He's a zillion times better off in Heaven with our Creator, in a new, perfect body, one not riddled with years of sickness and pain. 

He's in Heaven with Jesus.

And that...

That is a beautiful thing.

Flat Stanley comes to Dakar

One of my more favorite types of posts is my Day in the Life posts. I love looking back at my posts over the years and seeing what I was up to at different points in my life.

So when I saw Kristin was hosting The Daily Dime link-up, I knew it was perfect for me.

For this post, I'm highlighting my day yesterday.

I took a Personal Day from work yesterday because I was having my very first visitors to Dakar. Oh my word, what a special time yesterday was!

I also took a Flat Stanley, sent by a 2nd grader in Alabama, around with me and let him "experience" a day around the city as well. This post is all about his experiences :)

Flat Stanley was such a good travel buddy. He stayed quiet and didn't put up much fuss. I guess that was a good thing since we tested his patience by being in traffic a LOT yesterday. But he was a good guy and didn't seem to be too bothered by it.

He got to see the African Renaissance Monument.

And while there, he also decided to take a picture with all of Africa :)

He humored we non-paper humans and had no problem letting us stop for bagels and soft pretzels at this yummy bakery on that side of town. 

He even got to see the Senegalese flags hanging up on the highway.

He tagged along while we went to buy souvenirs.

P.S. See that blue bag with the yellow circles in the first picture? Flat Stanley may or may not have talked me into purchasing it as a gift to myself :)

 

Flat Stanley also got to tag along on our trip to my school. I'm sure he was just like me, and fell in love with Dakar Academy. After all, it is the best school ever :)

All in all, I think Flat Stanley enjoyed his bit of time riding through Dakar, Senegal. I just wish I'd had more time to show him around the city.

I also have to give a special shout out to my friend, Elise, who played "chauffeur" and was my fellow Dakar Tour Guide all day. What an incredible blessing she was/is! Not to mention, how much fun I had hanging out, chatting, and laughing with her all day too. And apparently we were so busy having fun that I missed getting a picture with her :)

Oh and a few more pictures of my day that didn't include Flat Stanley.

My visitors (one of my HS teachers and her husband) are on a cruise around the world and one of their stopping points was the port here in Dakar. Thus, the visit yesterday... So after we gave them a tour of our city and the school, they invited us aboard for lunch and a tour of their ship. I got so distracted by the awesomeness aboard that I didn't take any more pictures after boarding. But seriously y'all... It was amazing!

And that was my Tuesday. 

What were you up to yesterday?