What's Up November

 Happy Wednesday, Y'all

Can you believe that it's almost December?! I feel like this year has just flown by! It's hard to believe that it'll be 2024 in just a little over a month. I feel like I blinked and this year just zoomed on by. 

Anywho...

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.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

I'm currently eating through my freezer/pantry, in an effort to clean out/up and also, to not have to go grocery shopping again (minus a bit of fresh fruits/veggies) before leaving for Christmas Break in a few weeks. So since there's nothing terribly exciting to show for that, I'll instead show some of the deliciousness we had on Thanksgiving...

 

What am I reminiscing about?

In November 2016, I wrote THIS blog post. In it, I wrote about a dream God had laid on my heart, to reach a group of kids that had no other schooling option in our country, including at our own school. I wrote about the excitement I was feeling, knowing this was about to happen in the upcoming school year. And I asked for prayer for all the logistics to be worked out. And it did. I remember being told that I'd have to raise the funds necessary to outfit the class and I said "no problem." And in just 2 months (actually less), I raised close to $8000 which I used to buy books, supplies, shelves, games/toys, chromebooks/ipads, and more for this class. I remember that first day of class in August 2017, taking a first day of school picture in front of the door hanger that said "Miss Nichols," and then stepping inside to wipe my eyes because I was crying. While the dynamic of this program and my classroom have changed since that day, I can still think back and remember the joy I felt in welcoming 3 incredible students into my room that school year. And to think of how we went from only 3 that first year to eventually "overflowing" with students. Ah, what a truly incredible gift it has been to be the teacher of those three originals and all the others who have joined them along the way. It's such a blessing to take the time to look back and reminisce on how God's hand has been so evident in this all the years.

 What am I loving?

I put up the Christmas tree in my classroom earlier this month. I'm loving being able to enjoy the multicolored lights brightening up my classroom. And I might have even gone home after school a time or two and then brought dinner back to my classroom to work there, just so I could enjoy the lights a bit more. I typically will not decorate my apartment for Christmas if I know I'm going back to the US for the actual holiday. So I really am loving having it in my classroom, seeing the lights shining in the background while we’re going about our day.

What have I been up to?

We had a senior class lock-in a couple weeks ago. And boy did I realize (or maybe not realize) just how tiring it could be staying up almost all night with a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds. Ha! In all seriousness, it really was a fun night! I loved seeing how happy/excited they were to have this time together, to hang out and play games, make attaya (a hot, super sugary tea), eat together, sing karaoke, watch a movie, and stay up all night long. Well, not all made it the entire night. But still... We have such a truly great group of kids. And I love that I have the opportunity to be able to work (and have fun) with them.

What am I dreading?

I have a bit of a cold. It's nothing major. But if I talk a lot and/or my throat gets dry, I cough. Makes teaching a bit difficult. So I guess I'm dreading the symptoms of that. And just in case anyone is wondering, it's not C*vid :)

What am I working on?

This morning, I worked on mapping out the midterm exams my high schoolers will be taking. I only have to administer two exams of my own. But since many of my people will take their exams in my room, I need to know who's coming/going when. That way when exam week comes, I'll be ready. Plus, by keeping track of who's taking which exams, I'm able to better help them study in the days before exam week. It's hard to believe that we're almost at this time. I feel like time has just flown by this semester!

 What am I excited about?

I bought my plane tickets for Christmas Break. I'll leave in just 16 days (from the day I post this). I will only have a short time and will be using this as a vacation time. So I won't be able to see many people while there. But, I am grateful for the chance to take a mini vacation and visit my family, to put some thank you cards in the mail to my amazing supporters, and to buy a few supplies I will need for the last few months of school.

What am I watching?

I've been re-watching old episodes of Guy's Grocery Games from the Food Network. I watch very little TV anymore. But that show is still a fun one. I'm planning to start watching some Christmas movies though :)

What am I reading?

I'm currently reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I saw a preview for the movie version on Facebook a week or two ago and thought it looked interesting. So I decided to read the book first. It's not, necessarily, the type of book I normally go for. But it's a good read so far...

What am I listening to?

Christmas music, of course :)

What am I wearing?

I'm still wearing tennis shoes. Every now and then (mostly just to church or to take out garbage or for a quick trip to the store or something like that), I'll wear my sandals. But I'm finding the only relief I get is when I wear tennis shoes. So alas, I believe these will be a regular addition to my wardrobe from now on... 

 What am I doing this weekend?

At this point, I have nothing definite planned, other than going to church on Sunday and doing any last minute lesson prep and meal prep for the week ahead. I might go to watch some of our kids play basketball on Friday night or some of our guys play softball on Saturday. But I'm not sure. If I'm being honest, the thought of staying home and doing nothing sounds pretty appealing too. I love having that option, after all. So we'll see.

What am I looking forward to next month?

Christmas, of course - Christmas fun in my classroom, seeing Christmas lights and decorations, various Christmas parties with classes and small group and friends, the actual holiday of course, Christmas Break (no alarm clock), traveling to see my family... All the things! I love Christmas time! :)

Favorite recent Amazon find?

I haven't ordered anything on Amazon lately. However, I am looking for a dress I could wear at either the Junior Senior Banquet (our school's version of a prom) or Graduation this year or maybe both since the dates are further apart this year. So I might order that if I can find one on there. Shopping online isn't always the easiest, though... So I actually might just wait 'til I'm back in the US over Christmas Break and can shop in person. We'll see.

What's new this month?

Starting Friday (which I realize is actually not this month, but whatever...), I'm going to be doing my annual study of the "Christmas Story" from the book of Luke. I love reading a chapter a day, reminding myself of the goodness surrounding the story of the birth of our Savior.

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What's Up November

    Happy Wednesday, Y'all

I missed last month's link-up. In fact, I haven't posted anything since the end of September. But have no fear... Here I am, back again, with all the random info you know you are just dying to hear :)

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.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

Last week, I did get to enjoy a plate full of deliciousness when our AG people all got together for Thanksgiving. We had a mixture of traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving themed foods and it was all delicious! And thankfully, one sweet friend (and fellow southerner so you know she knows how to make it right) sent me home with some dressing/giblet gravy. So I had leftovers the next day. So so good!

I did make some fried shrimp the other night that turned out pretty tasty. It might not have been the most beautiful item I've ever cooked. But it sure did taste good.  I'm so not a fan of peeling/deveining shrimp. The grossness of those tasks is so intense to me that it makes me typically just not buy shrimp here. But thankfully, a couple weeks ago, I found some peeled/deveined shrimp in the freezer section at one of the grocery stores, so I bought a bag. I first coated it in yellow mustard and then battered it with a mixture of a bag of Louisiana Fish Fry mix combined with garlic powder and dill. And y'all... It was so so good.

What am I reminiscing about?

Memories made with the kiddos I've taught/worked with over the years. In a position like mine, you have most of the same students year after year. So naturally, you get end up getting closer to your students than most teachers do. And when you think of those students leaving, it can be hard. So yeah... Lately I've been reminiscing and feeling grateful for the time I've had (and still have) with the incredible kids God has allowed me to teach over the years. One of my students is preparing to leave soon and my teacher heart is absolutely breaking at the thought of saying goodbye next month... So yeah - Definitely reminiscing and thanking God for the time we've had to teach this student, to love this student, and to share the love and truth of Christ with this student. And now, I'm reminded... What a gift memories are!

 What am I loving?

I'm loving the cool breezes we've had lately. It's been nice to finally not pour sweat the instant you step outside. Let's be honest... I'm a big fan of Hot Season, and its ridiculously high temperatures and humidity finally leaving Dakar. 

What have I been up to?

Putting the finishing touches on my missions newsletter... I'm so far behind on it. But I promise. It is coming. If you'd like to be included on my mail out (either via email or good ol' "snail mail"), please let me know. I'll add you to my list.

What am I dreading? 

Honestly... I'm dreading not being able to spend Christmas with my family. Yes, this is a normal part of life in this line of work. Yes, some missionaries stay on the field far longer in between visits to family. Yes, I'm grateful that I get to follow the call God has placed on my life. But, yes, it's still hard to not be able to see my family at Christmas.

What am I working on?

 What am I excited about?

Christmas decor that will soon be set up in my classroom. I've been too busy the last few weekends to get it done, but it's coming. And y'all, I'm so ready! I know my students will love it and so will I! And when school gets out for Christmas Break, you can bet I will be taking the tree and lights home to my apartment so I can enjoy it there too :)

What am I watching?

Honestly, I just want silence when I get home from work most nights. So I opt for no TV. However, once we got out on Christmas Break, I'm planning to watch all the fun Christmas movies :)

What am I reading?

I've been reading through The Bronze Bow with one of my classes. I have loved how engaged this book has kept them. It was fun to find a book they were actually interested in reading! Yay for learning and fun joining together! :)

What am I listening to?

Christmas music, of course :)

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting or blog worthy...

 What am I doing this weekend?

There's an Elementary Christmas concert on Friday, our staff Christmas party on Saturday, and then, church and another staff dinner for our visiting accreditation team on Sunday. So I'll be at all of those. And at some point, I'll probably need to do a bit of prep / copies / etc. for the upcoming week...

What am I looking forward to next month?

1) Christmas events with my students - I love being a teacher at Christmas time. Sure, I have to give exams. Sure, I have to teach important content-rich lessons. But thankfully, I can also weave in some fun AND weave in lessons on the true meaning of Christmas. Not to mention, having a Christmas party with my people too. I love it all!

2) Christmas Break - Can I just say a big ol' amen for the fact that I'll get to have multiple days in a row when I do NOT have to set an alarm clock! Y'all have no idea just how excited I am about this fact!

3) Video Chats with my nieces at normal times of day and not super late at night like we normally have to do thanks to us all being in school AND being 6 hours apart thanks to the current time difference between us.

4) Oh, and also, the AGWM Africa Conference that's happening in South Africa after Christmas! Yay for travel (that's not an out of pocket expense)!

Favorite Recent Amazon Find?

I've been "window shopping" for gifts for my family. I'll be buying those next week and having them sent to them. I'm so thankful for Amazon's Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales and how they gave me the ability to still participate in family Christmas even if I'm not there in person :)

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What's Up November

 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?

Tonight some friends and I are getting together for a pre-Thanksgiving get-together, having all sorts of yummy appetizer/finger food type foods. Then, tomorrow I'll join my fellow AGWM-ers for our Thanksgiving get-together. So I have all of that deliciousness to look forward to.

What am I reminiscing about?

I've been thinking a lot about the sweet lady who gave me this travel mug. I'll tell anyone, that I feel like I learned more about teaching Special Education from working with this lady than I did in all of college and my previous years of teaching combined. She was an amazing teacher. When I started my class, she was such a valuable resource. Since she taught a class very similar to mine, she gave me so many ideas and tips and strategies. She gave encouragement. And she prayed for me too. She'd even write and check in on me before she got so sick, and even for a bit after that, being such an incredible encouragement. She passed away a few years ago, but any time I use this cup, I think of her.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving how well my students get along with one another. I love that it's like a big family in our room. My job is difficult. I go home utterly exhausted every single day. And I know I have no choice but to spend time after hours/on the weekend lesson planning. It's a lot. And it's hard. BUT still, I do love my job. And one of the things I absolutely, positively, 100% love the most about my job is seeing how my people are so great together. I love that they have each other, they have this friendship... I love that they look out for one another. I love that they want to help one another. I love that they sometimes argue like brothers and sisters, but in the end, they 100% have each other's backs. They are such an incredible group of kids. And I love it!

What have I been up to?

This past weekend, I spent some time with my fellow AGWM-ers here in Senegal, while we all worked on goal setting for the upcoming year (and beyond) in ministry. In preparation for setting/writing up my new goals, I reviewed the ones I've set the last few years. The "eye-opening" one was from 5 years ago, when I was writing goals in regards to starting my class. This adventure God called me on has been such a great one. And I have been consistently amazed at how He's worked  in the lives of my students (and me). I've been so grateful for the opportunities He's already blessed me with. And I'm looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for the future...

What am I dreading? 

We had a few nice/cool days. Then, bam! The high heat/humidity came back with a vengeance. So yes... I do kind of dread going outside at the moment. It's just so very hot, humid, and uncomfortable. And let's be honest here... I'm honestly, just so grateful to have a job where I work inside. 

What am I working on?

Lesson planning for 487 classes a week. ...or maybe just 16 :)

 What am I excited about?

I know Thanksgiving hasn't arrived yet. But still... At this point, I'm most excited about Christmas. I love being a teacher at Christmas time. I love finding ways to incorporate Christmas fun into as many of my lessons, as possible. Even if it's lame Christmas-themed math problems... And it's even more fun when working at a Christian school, where we're able to talk about the real/true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. Plus, if we're talking about Christmas, I can't not mention my excitement at the thought of Christmas Break coming up, which not only finally gives me a break from work, but along with that comes lots of days with no alarm clocks and also time with my family in Alabama. So yes... I'm definitely, super excited about Christmas!

What am I watching?

I'm considering starting to watch Grey's Anatomy. I've seen clips here or there online. So I know the general premise of the show. But I've never watched a full episode. Anyone a fan? Is it worth it to start from the beginning?

What am I reading?

I've been diving into the world of the "Elephant & Piggie" books by Mo Willems, thanks to one of my people loving them so much. We end up reading at least one a day together. They're super cute little books. And I must admit... Hearing that sweet little voice reading/laughing through the books always bring a smile to my face. I love seeing kids enjoying reading! So fun!

What am I listening to?

I've started listening to Christmas music. It's just such a fun, smile-producing addition to my day when I'm lesson planning or studying or working around the house. I love it!

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting. But I have started wearing my hair down a bit more. Does that count in this section? :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

My weekend starts tomorrow. We have a long weekend since it's Thanksgiving. School is dismissed at lunchtime today. Then we're out of school the next two days. Yay for a school in a non-American country that still celebrates American holidays :) Anywho... My plan, as of now, is to take it easy most of the weekend. I'll have the Thanksgiving get-togethers I mentioned  earlier. Then, a friend and I are planning to go get pedicures this weekend. And another friend and I are trying to plan out a time to catch up on a show we both like. Past that, I'll do a bit of grad school, a bit of housework, and I'll also have to do my lesson planning for the week after Thanksgiving. And yes, I'm planning to have a bit of relaxing time thrown in the mix as well. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

All things Christmas, of course.

Past that - I'm looking forward to being finished with grad school next week. After 25+ years of schooling from kindergarten to now a 2nd Master's degree, I am so so ready to be done!

What else is new?

Schedule changes and all the puzzle solving fun that entails ;)

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month? 

What's Up October

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?

Nothing terribly exciting lately... I'm planning to do some cooking/baking this upcoming weekend though. We'll see how that goes :)

What am I reminiscing about?

A friend and I hosted a going away party, of sorts, for a friend who's leaving Senegal after many many years of service. It was so nice to sit and chat with friends, reminisce about the "good ol days" and to give her a proper send off. One of the hard parts of this line of work is the seemingly constant goodbyes, or see ya laters. And in the last year or so, it seems like there have been even more than usual. Ah, goodbyes... You sure do stink. Just saying.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving these sweet pictures that popped up in my Facebook memory feed the other day. I love thinking back on those days, when my nieces were so little. And I also love seeing the smile on my Dad's face... He loved being a Pawpaw to my nieces. He was definitely born to be a grandparent. That's for sure! Ah, memories... I love 'em :)

What have I been up to?

All the things that go into being a Special Ed. Teacher... I've been spending lot of time planning lessons, prepping activities, gathering supplies, having meetings, filling out paperwork, typing up IEPs, and actually teaching, too, of course. It's a lot. It's a good thing I like these kids God's sent my way ;)

What am I dreading? 

Nothing much :)

What am I working on?

We're in the middle of submitting our orders for school supplies, textbooks, etc. for our school's shipping container. When you live in a country without Walmart, Target, and Parent-Teacher Stores, you don't really have much choice... So we order months in advance and then wait for our supplies to arrive for the following year. So I've been researching the best supplies, Reading and Math manipulatives, books, other random classroom needs, online subscriptions, and more for us to use with the incredible students God will be sending to our program. Then, on top of that, I'm one of the class sponsors for one of our classes. So I've been researching the best prices for some of the items they need to order for things they'll be doing next year, as well. 

 What am I excited about?

I hope I'm not jinxing things. But, lately, it has actually been kind of cool in the mornings and at night. Not cold, of course... But y'all, I am most definitely excited about this latest change in temperature. It's a little earlier than normal for Dry Season (almost Cool Season) to arrive. However, I am seriously hoping that it stays for a little while.

What am I watching?

I finally watched the series finale of Seinfeld the other day. Yes, I know it's been out for a long time. But somehow I'd never seen it 'til then. Anywho - I was kind of disappointed with the finale. In a way, it was a let down and made me question a lot from the show...

It also made me realize that I just really could live my life without TV. I realize that I rarely watch anything anymore. ...unless it's just mindless, background noise, while I'm working around the house. So, if that's the case, then really... What's the point? 

What am I reading?

We just started novel studies with a couple of my students. We're reading/working through A Wrinkle in Time with one and Charlotte's Web with another. Novel studies are some of my favorite units to teach. English/Reading are my favorite subjects to teach, anyway. But any time I am able to incorporate stories my students actually find interesting with all the typical standards/content they are required to learn being met, too... Well, that's just the icing on the cake :)

What am I listening to?

Lately, I've been listening to this instrumental hymns playlist from YouTube when I'm working on my computer. I like having soft music playing in the background. This one, and others like it, are my "go-to's" at the moment. They're just so calming and perfect. 

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting... Although, I did order a fun shirt for my mom to include in the package she recently mailed to me. So once that comes, I'll be wearing that. Yay for new things! :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

We have Parent Teacher Conferences on Friday. Then we have our school's annual Harvest Fest that afternoon/evening. So I'm sure I'll be "crashing" by Friday night. Then, this weekend will consist of the usual... Lesson planning, grad school work, church, and and an AG meeting on Sunday, too. There won't be a lot of down time this weekend. But I'm hoping I'll be able to make up for that the following weekend. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

Thanksgiving - I have some fun/educational Thanksgiving and "being thankful" themed lessons and activities planned for my people. Then, there's Thanksgiving, when I usually celebrate with my fellow AGWM workers, serving in Senegal. And of course, Thanksgiving means a few days off from school too. And we all know that days off, with no need for an alarm clock or quite wonderful for me. So there's that too :)

What else is new?

My last grad school class started this week. Y'all... I am so very close to being finished. And yes, I will 100% celebrate being done when this class is over! I absolutely, positively cannot wait!

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?