What's Up August

Happy Wednesday Y'all

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

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

The questions are...

 

What am I eating?

I made something new the other day. I had some rice and cooked chicken in my fridge that needed to be used. So I tried to think of something using both of those. And voila - out came a new recipe. I'm calling it a Cheesy Buffalo Ranch Chicken and Rice Casserole. I totally just threw it all together and it came out delicious! For dinner that night, I paired it with a salad and voila... A tasty dinner!

And because I made too much for just me to eat, I ended up freezing some of it for a meal later on, when I just really don't want to cook.

What am I reminiscing about?

About how two years ago at this time, my left arm was basically useless, due to needing to immobilize my injured wrist. Oh my, it was so painful. And ironically, enough, this past week it was bothering me a bit. I couldn't figure out why. But then, there was one day where it rained off and on all day. Hello Arthritis, I feel ya. But you're more than welcome to leave at any time. Sincerely, Me.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving being back at school with some of my favorite people. I love Summer Break. Don't get me wrong. But I'm always so happy when school starts back and I can see my crew again. They sure do make my life more enjoyable :)

What have I been up to?

My newest class started last week. It's all about Literacy Instruction for All. It's on one of my my most favorite topics in education. And it's taught by my favorite professor at Southeastern. So double bonus!

What am I dreading?

Honestly, there's nothing I'm really dreading.

What am I working on?

Trying to gather resources and materials to help me teach my students what they need to know this year. I have to plan 10 lessons a day. And by October, that number will rise to 15! And I do the bulk of my planning on the weekend. So I'm trying to work on a better system for that. Lesson planning is no joke, y'all :)

What am I excited about?

Kids Club starts back today! I'm so excited to welcome our students back, to share the love of Jesus with them, to pour into their sweet lives, and to get to know them better as we study The Word together each Wednesday. I've got copies made, supplies laid out, and volunteers arranged. I can't wait!

What am I watching?

I haven't watched anything since getting back to Dakar. But this weekend, I plan for that to change during some down time. Anyone have a suggestion for me of what to watch? Movies, TV shows... Anything.

What am I reading?

Over Summer Break, I read The Best of Enemies by Osha Gray Davidson, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, Fisherman's Blues by Anna Badkhen, and Faithful to Complete It by Larry Walker. There was quite the eclectic mix.

And right now, I'm reading 3 different books... I'm re-reading Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson. It's such a good read. I'd definitely recommend it.

What am I listening to?

I've been on a hymn kick lately. I've been reading through the lyrics of certain hymns, really paying attention to the words they contain, researching the history behind them, studying them, etc. I've always loved In the Garden. So it's basically been on repeat a lot lately. And each time I start to hum it to myself, I smile, thinking of the mental picture of this beautiful garden all around us. It's quiet. And there I am walking and talking with my Savior. I love that!

What am I wearing?

Ah, closed toe shoes... I know you're professional. And I know you're cute. Know that I truly appreciate those facts about you. But you and my poor feet just do not get along. That's why you see the little white spot of a band-aid peeking out on my right foot/toes...

What am I doing this weekend?

At this point, I am planning to be quite productive on Saturday. I'm going to be doing some classroom prep, some Kids Club prep, some Drama Team prep, and I'm going to work on my latest class (as a student). There's a lot to do. But my goal is to cram it all in to my day on Saturday. So that way on Sunday I can go to church and then go home afterwards and crash and sleep the rest of the day away. :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

We have 3 days off from school. And yes, they're Professional Development days. But at least, I don't have to teach all day or wear dress shoes. Ha! :)

Past that, I have some fun activities planned for my classes, including a fun writing project with one group, a science experiment with another, some new technology related activities, and more. I love planning new and fun things for my crew!

What else is new?

Nothing much - Same ol' same ol' :)

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

A Lesson on God's Provision and Love

This past school year was hard for me, as a teacher.

So by the time I left Senegal in June, I was totally emotionally exhausted.

On one of my flights home, I got lucky and had two seats (on the two-seat side, at that) by myself. I remember stretching out and then closing my eyes, planning to sleep. But then God had other plans.

I was "stuck" and God knew it.

So He took that time to speak to me.

You see, God knew something that I was in denial about.

God knew I needed a renewed sense of trust and faith and peace.

So there I was on the plane, wide awake, but with my eyes closed, having a nice, long chat with God. I spent some time pouring out my heart to Him, with literal tears falling down my face at some points (thankfully, it was dark so no one saw me). 

But I also spent a lot of time listening to Him.

And it was on that flight, that God led me to Genesis 22:1-18 and the story of Abraham and Isaac. It's a story I've read many times before. But this time, God pointed out 5 lessons I'd never really thought of before.

~ one ~

In verse 1, it says "God tested Abraham..." God will test our commitment to Him. Are we willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him? Are we willing to do anything He asks, no matter how intense that request might be?

~ two ~ 

In verse 3, it says "So Abraham rose early in the morning..." Abraham responded promptly to the challenge God put before him. He didn't wait around. He immediately got up and did what God had called him to do.

~ three ~ 

In verse 5, it says, "I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you..." Abraham said that he AND the boy would go over to worship AND he and the boy would come back again. This showed faith on the part of Abraham. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac since God asked him to. But Abraham still had faith that his son would be alive at the end...

~ four ~ 

In verse 13, we see the provision of the ram at just the right time, which would take the place of Isaac. This is, obviously, symbolic of the Lamb of God being sacrificed in our place. 

~ five ~ 

In verse 14, it says, "The Lord will provide..." I end with this one because it's such a powerful reminder/promise of the Lord... The Lord knows what we need even before we ask. He wants us to ask because it shows our dependence on Him. But still... He knows what we need when we need it. And He will always provide.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So as I sat on that plane in June, with literal tears in my eyes, I felt the love of God yet again as He provided just what I needed...

He provided flashback after flashback, full of memories of His love and provision throughout this past year. And I fully believe that God wanted me to get to such a low point, so I would have no other option but to look up at Him. He likes taking us out of our comfort zones like that. ;)

Y'all, we serve such an amazing God.

He provides for us.

He cares for us.

He loves us.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, I'm joining Ashley and Erika for their monthly Tuesday Talk link-up, where we, bloggers, come together and talk about whatever is on our mind at the moment.

If you missed my previous Tuesday Talk posts this year, you can click on the links below to check each of them out.


January - Introduction to Me

February - The Little Things

 March - You Might Be A Special Ed Teacher If...

April - Spring Break in America

May - Home Assignments  

June - He's here.

What I Want Them to Know

Today is the first day of school.

Pencils are sharpened. Notebooks and folders and homework agendas are laid out. Textbooks are ready to be assigned. There’s even a Back to School gift in their cubbies, ready to go home with them at the end of the day.

My lesson plans are written in for the first week (in pencil, of course, since something will inevitably change). And I’ve held some meetings and scheduled some others for the coming weeks. 

I’ve decorated and rearranged our classroom, in a way I hope will maximize learning.

But that’s not all that is important.

There are some things I want my students to know...

I want them to know that they are loved.

I want them to know they are respected and their voices will be heard.

I want them to know they are uniquely created.

I want them to know they are smart and talented.

I want them to know that I know they may do or say things differently than their peers. They may learn differently thank their peers. They may look and act differently than their peers. But that’s okay.

I want them to know that being different is a gift. And I want them to know how to embrace their differences. 

I want them to have fun and I want them to realize that learning can be fun.

I want them to master the content they must learn - all the Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Bible, and more...

But I also want them to learn (and one day, to even believe) the Truth that is Jesus Christ and His amazing love for them.

I want them to see me as one who will listen and guide them and as someone who will discipline when needed... 

I want them to see me as one who will encourage them to shoot for the stars and to work towards their dreams.

I want them to never, not even for one second, doubt my love for/dedication to them.

I want them to feel safe and cared for.

I want them to be THEM... The incredible individuals God created them to be. 

I want them to know that I hope they have an amazing year.

There's so much I want them to know. I want them to learn all of the above and so much more this year.

Here's to a good year!

Currently

Happy Wednesday Y'all

Today's my last day of Summer Break. Teachers start back to work tomorrow. And then our students start back next week. I feel like the summer basically flew by. You can see a mini recap, or at least some pictures, by clicking HERE. 

Anywho - On with today's post. 

Today I'm joining Anne from In Residence for her monthly link-up, where we share what's currently going on in our lives. And even though I’m a few days late, I still wanted to join in on the fun :)

Each month, Anne gives us a list of prompts to use to guide our posts. 

August's prompts are...

* ordering * watching * cooking * wondering * savoring *

I'm currently ordering nothing. But look at the delicious chicken tacos I ordered for dinner last night. A group of friends and I went out for dinner last night for my birthday. It was such a fun evening with delicious food, great fellowship, and lots of laughter. I loved it!

I'm currently watching nothing... I haven't even plugged my TV in again, after having it unplugged all summer. I did, however, have fun "watching" my favorites during our video chat yesterday. It was so much fun watching their faces light up as I took my computer outside with me and gave them a "tour" of my school. They loved it! And of course, that made me love it as well!

I'm currently wondering where my summer went. It seems like it flew by. But you know... It was such a nice summer. Honestly, I think it’s the best I’ve had since coming to Senegal. 

I'm currently savoring all the fun birthday memories. Yesterday was my birthday and it was a good one. A friend took me out for brunch and a nice, long chat. I got a bit of work done in my classroom, had a meeting, had a video chat with my favorite people, and then went out for dinner with a big group of friends (and made a quick pit stop at the American Store for Dr. Pepper and salsa, among other things). :) It was such a nice day!

And since it’s my blog, and I can, here are a few more Currentlys :)

I’m currently prepping my classroom, getting things ready for the beginning of the school year.

I'm currently drinking far more water than I normally do, thanks to this big ol' thing. It holds 40 oz of water and while, a bit heavy, I'm glad it made the cut in my suitcase. It's come so much in handy. I love it!

I'm currently loving the new door hanger for our classroom. It's so bright and colorful and cheery! I really, really like it! 

I'm currently planning to finish writing my big Literature Review (10-15 pages) over the weekend. It's all about effective instructional methods for students with Autism. Thankfully, I started it during one of my layovers on the way back here to Dakar. So I don't have quite as much to do.

I'm currently wearing my new favorite t-shirt. Or, at least, I was a couple days ago. My mom bought it for me as an early birthday present. It's comfy, super cute, and it says "love Alabama." What else could I want in a shirt? :)

I'm currently working through a devotional on the Holy Spirit. I'm only a few days in, but it's really good. It takes you on a year long journey of studying every reference to the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments. I'm really enjoying it!

So what about you?

What are your currently up to?

34 Reasons I’m Grateful

Happy Monday, Y'all

Guess whose birthday is tomorrow!

Yep, that’s right.

It absolutely boggles my mind that I’m turning 34. I so do not feel that old. 

At any rate, here I am.

So in honor of me turning the big 3-4 tomorrow, I’m sharing 34 reasons (in no particular order) why I am grateful.

1. I’m grateful for my relationship with my Savior. I’m grateful for His love and grace. I’m grateful for His saving power and I’m grateful for His forgiveness when I mess up. I’m grateful for His incredible goodness. I’m grateful for all He is to me.

2. I’m grateful for the lessons He is teaching me. And I’m grateful for His incredible patience and guidance when I’m hard-headed and don’t learn those lessons right away.

3. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit’s role in my life as a Spirit-filled believer. I’m grateful for every single characteristic and gift of the Holy Spirit. And I am grateful for the joy, freedom, and peace that comes from exercising those gifts.

4. I’m grateful for God’s Word.

5. I’m grateful my parents raised me in church. I’m grateful that I have been blessed to serve the Lord from such a young age. I’m grateful for parents who preached the Word no matter where they were, with words and actions. I’m grateful for the example they set for us.

6. I’m grateful for the memories I have of (with) my dad. 

7. I’m grateful for a mom who is so much to me. I’m grateful for her being my confidant, my best advice giver, my biggest encourager and supporter and pusher of me following my dreams. I’m grateful for her being my best friend and the best mom a girl could ever have.

8. I’m grateful to not have to travel by myself all the time, while on the road for my missions support raising. I’m so grateful for having this lady as my favorite roadtrip buddy.

9. I’m grateful for a brother who has grown into one of the hardest working men I know. I’m grateful for his love and dedication to his family. I’m grateful for his generous heart and his gentle nature. 

10. I’m grateful for my sister-in-law and all she brings to our family. I’m grateful for how much she loves my brother and their girls. I’m grateful for those rare chats that remind me what a gift having a sister is.

11. I’m grateful for my oldest niece, the one who gave me the name, Zizzie. I’m so grateful for the bond we share. 

12. I’m grateful for my youngest niece and her super sweet, bubbly spirit. 

13. I’m grateful for the Assemblies of God. I’m thankful for he support and encouragement of this organization. I’m thankful for the truth it teaches and stands for.

14. I’m grateful for the men and women who have supported my ministry in Senegal all these years. From people praying to people giving money and supplies to so much more...

15. I’m grateful for pastors who believe in missions and supporting missionaries. 

16. I’m grateful for friends. Some I’ve had since childhood, some since high school or college, and some from various jobs I’ve had as an adult. I’m thankful for those who respect the word “friendship” and all it stands for.

17. I’m grateful for AGWM and for the ability to be one of their missionaries. I’m grateful for all they do and all they provide.

18. I’m grateful for Dakar Academy. I’m thankful for a school I enjoy teaching at. 

19. I’m grateful for the title, “Ms. Nichols.” I’m grateful for my role as a teacher to 100+ students over the years.

20. I’m grateful for the chance to teach Special Education and be the advocate and voice for kids who need me to be that. I’m grateful for the challenge of my job. 

21. I’m grateful for the woman who helps me in my classroom. She has no idea just how much she helped me last school year. She is so amazing at it! The kids love her. I love her! I seriously cannot day enough about how grateful I am for her being a part of our class “family.”

22. I’m grateful for Senegal and the gift of calling it one of my “homes” for the past ten years. 

23. I’m grateful for my education. I’m grateful for my BS and MEd degrees. And I’m grateful for the chance to now pursue a second MEd degree. I’m grateful for a brain that can learn and actually enjoys learning.

24. I’m grateful for Internet. I’m grateful for the ability to connect with family and supporters back home. I’m grateful for the ability to complete schooling online, too.

25. I’m grateful for my heritage. 

26. I’m grateful that I am an American and a Southerner. I’m grateful for the good of my homes. I’m grateful for all the good they stand for.

27. I’m grateful for books to read. I’m grateful for a huge library here in Dakar. And I’m grateful for inexpensive options online, as well. And yes, I’m also grateful for the cheap options at the stores in almost every airport, too :)

28. I’m grateful for good music. At the moment, I’m choosing to only listen to Christian music. And I’m so grateful for iTunes and Apple Music allowing me such great options. 

29. I’m grateful for airplanes and pilots and the ability to safely travel across an ocean between my two “homes.”

30. I’m grateful for Kids Club, which I lead at DA. 

31. I’m grateful for the Drama Team at DA, which I’ll be leading this school year. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to get to know this group of high schoolers a bit better.

32. I’m grateful for my students. For these 5 and the ones to join them this year...

33. I’m grateful for this blog and how it allows me to write and share my creativity in this way. 

34. I’m grateful to be turning 34 tomorrow. I’m grateful to God for seeing fit to allow me another year on this earth :)

There are so many more things (and people) for which I am grateful. There’s no way I could list them all...

So what about you? 

What are you grateful for today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I started my monthly Growing in Gratitude posts, as part of the link-up fun, hosted by Julie from Fall into Life, where bloggers would share a bit of gratitude each month. Julie stopped hosting the link-up in July. But I decided to keep going with my monthly gratitude-themed post. After all, there's always something for which we can be grateful. Right? :)

Anywho, in case you missed my previous month's posts...

You can click below to read them.

February - My Why

March - Photos from February  

April - Random List of Gratitude 

May - Lessons Learned

June - The 2018-2019 School Year

July - Random Bits of Gratitude

June and July 2019 in Photos

Happy Friday, Y'all 

For the past few years, I've taken a photo every single day. Then at the end of the year, I compile those photos into a book. I share these photos each month on here, if for no other reason, but to help me remember some of the fun memories and thoughts that went with them. 

And today, I'm sharing my highlights from June and July.

On the first day of June, I enjoyed having a pedicure done, thanks to an end of the school year gift paying for it. Then on Day 2, I started on meds to get rid of whatever cold/flu symptoms I had. And on Day 3, we made slime after taking an exam.

On the 4th of June, these adorable visitors stopped by my room to show off their new shoes. And then on the 5th, a couple friends and I went out for our weekly Wednesday night dinner run before an event at school.

 

On the 6th, our school held its high school graduation. And then on the next day, I had my final check out, where my principal looked over my empty classroom and cleared me to leave for the summer.

Days 8 - 11 of June were my last spent in Dakar before Summer Break. I spent time hanging out with friends, buying a few snacks (and questioning some of the choices available here in Dakar), and eventually, heading to the airport with a friend and co-worker who was on my flight.

Days 12 - 14 were spent with my favorites (family and Chick-fil-A). :)

Days 15-17 looked quite similar ;)

Days 18 - 20 included a fun picnic dessert, meeting my mom's new puppy, and lunch with some of my family :)

Days 21-24 included practicing our letters, water fun, grapes!! and a trip to the theater with my family.

Days 25 - 27 included a late night burger for dinner, home cooking, and a new pineapple tote bag.

Days 28 - 30 were spent exploring one of my favorite cities with my mom, time spent with friends from high school, and a cool treat by the lake.

July started off with the arrival of Christmas in July cakes at Walmart. Then I spent a day at my office away from the office, admired my growing fingernails, and even marveled at a cool looking bug.

Days 5 - 8 were spent with my favorites, watching fireworks, and stocking up on bacon to take back to Senegal with me.

Days 9 - 12 included lunch with my Mama, a fun "twin" day, being read to by one of my favorites, and a beautiful "cotton candy" sky.

Days 13 - 16 included me helping my mom clean her church, arriving in Mobile, driving down one of my favorite roads, and time spent sitting and listening/learning.

Days 17 - 20 included andouille sausage, dinner with long-time friends, a fun tourist moment, and picking up my mom's puppy.

Days 21 - 24 included more classwork, a surprise Supplies Shower, a sunny selfie, and donuts for breakfast.

Days 25 - 28 included time with my mom and her puppy, lunch with a friend (whose picture I "stole"), leopard print dresses, and a steak for lunch.

And then to wrap up the month, I spent part of Day 29 at the playground with my favorite two girlies and Day 30 packing, even if my mom wouldn't let me pack this cuteness who climbed in my suitcase.

And that was my June and July in photos.

Oh, and in case you missed them, here are the previous months' photos...

January

February

March and April

May 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, I'm joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup, even if I am a day late. I just thought it'd be fun to share some of my favorite moments from the months of June and July. 

Click one of their names to and join the fun, too.