What’s Up December

 Happy Wednesday, Y'all

Can you believe 2020 is almost over?!

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’ve been treating myself to a Coke Icee every few days. Y’all... This cold deliciousness needs to make its way to senegal. I’d be such a happy camper if it would. Just saying :)

What am I reminiscing about?

Christmas fun with our students... Our elementary kids decorated a gingerbread house. We did a few Christmas-themed activities, some Christmas history research, and a little Christmas coloring when our work was finished. We decorated bulletin boards. We listened to Christmas music while studying for exams. And then we topped it off with a fun Christmas party which included homemade waffles and fun Christmas gifts.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving the cool temps we're having in Alabama. It's definitely not cold enough for snow. But it's still much colder than it was in Dakar. And since I would definitely prefer cold weather over hot weather, I'm loving it!

What have I been up to?

Spending time with my family again for the first time in a year... Ah, this definitely does my heart good. I so love being with my people. 

What am I dreading? 

I wouldn't say I'm dreading my doctor's appointment next week. I'm honestly ready to get there and get some answers. But I'm still dreading the unknown... And even though I will do whatever needs to be done so I don't have to continue to be in pain, the thought of potentially needing surgery is still a little scary.

What am I working on?

Ignoring email

 What am I excited about?

Spending time with my Mama :)

What am I watching?

Very little...

What am I reading?

A couple days ago, I finished reading my 50th book of the year!

What am I listening to?

I’m still listening to Christmas music. It’s still Christmas in my world since we haven’t had our Christmas get together yet. 

What am I wearing?

All the warm socks and clothes and blankets... I’m freezing!

 What am I doing this weekend?

Church, time with family, and that’s about it...

What am I looking forward to next month?

I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon on January 4th. I'm hoping that, at that point, I'll be able to have a plan on how to fix my ankle. Whether that's surgery or another route, I don't know. I just know something needs to be done. The travels home about killed me. 30+ hours of crazy intense pain and ankle swelling is something I hope to not experience again.

What else is new?

I met my mom’s dog when I got to AL. This dog is huge, y’all! But he’s a big ol’ baby. And he makes my Mama so happy :)

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

Currently

Happy Wednesday, Y'all

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

November's prompts are...

  * appreciating *  ordering * perfecting * planning * wearing *

I'm currently appreciating all of the fun that was Harvest Fest at my school on Friday. One of my guys ran a booth and had the best time. And y’all... His excitement was contagious! It was such a fun evening :)

I'm currently ordering nothing else. This weekend, I used up the last of an Amazon gift card that a friend gave me for my birthday and ordered a pair of by-no-mean-cute, but unfortunately necessary, compression socks and a fun Christmas shirt (see below). I’m trying to save money since my ankle injury is turning out to be quite pricey. But this latest purchase doesn't count since I had a gift card and didn't have to use my own money... :)

I'm currently perfecting my interactive notebooks system for one of my students, who doesn't have textbooks. Teachers Pay Teachers is a lifesaver, y'all. I'm so thankful for people who share these types of resources so I don't have to reinvent the wheel. 

I'm currently planning to see an orthopedic surgeon on January 4th for a second opinion on my ankle. That appointment is for a consultation. And then we'll go from there, seeing what needs to be done. My doctor here was the one who recommended I get the second opinion by a foot specialist while I'm in the US for my Christmas vacation, as my ankle is just not healing like it should. My goal is to, obviously, not need surgery. But at this point, I'm tired of having constant pain (while walking/standing/sitting with my leg hanging down). I just want some relief, you know...

I'm currently wearing nothing exciting. Yesterday, a friend at work and I showed up wearing the same thing, though. We knew it would happen eventually. And one of my students thought it was absolutely hilarious that the two of us were "like grown up twins." :)

 And since it's my blog and I can, I thought I'd share a couple more :)

I'm currently counting down the days 'til I get to see my family again. Just 45 days from today... I'm so ready!

I'm currently reading my 36th book of the year. This time it's a hardcopy book and not my usual iPad selection. I saw this one on the shelf in the library while dropping something off the other day and decided to check it out. I'm only a few pages in, but so far so good.

I'm currently rewarding myself with this tasty goodness while studying for my grad school class. I find that by the end of the work day, my brain is exhausted. So having a little pick-me-up is a nice treat (literally and figuratively).

And that's about it for me.

So what about you?

What are you currently up to?

Currently

Happy Wednesday, Y'all

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

October's prompts are...

  * admiring *  going * making * scheduling * wishing*

I'm currently admiring the handiwork of some of our elementary students. I love seeing their creative minds, thinking up these elaborate structures. I love hearing their conversations with one another, making plans for what steps they’ll need to take. And most of all, I love seeing them work together, encouraging one another, whether it be while studying spelling words, reading aloud, writing a story, practicing multiplication facts, or being creative and building something like the bus pictured below.

I'm currently going to be sending a fun envelope to my nieces, thanks to a co-worker making a trip back to the States. Yay for the chance to send fun mail. I also may or may not have found some inexpensive holiday book options on Amazon to send them as well. My aunt heart is super happy when I can spoil my nieces just a little :)

I'm currently making very little food. I'm trying to eat up what I have in my apartment. Even if that means means taking a sandwich and some chips for lunch, instead of a normal “hot lunch” like what I’m used to. 

I'm currently scheduling Physical Therapy appointments for my ankle. Or at least someone is helping me to do so, since my French is not the best when needing to know medical terminology... Also, we’re finding it to be somewhat difficult to find a PT with teacher friendly hours. Fun times, y’all. 

I'm currently wishing the news I’d gotten on my ankle would’ve been better. It turns out that not only has my fracture not fully healed, but I also have a torn ligament. So it totally makes sense that I’ve literally been in pain while walking, every single day for the past 4 months. Help me pray that PT helps and I don’t have to end up needing surgery...

 And since it's my blog and I can, I thought I'd share a couple more :)

I'm currently attending our Professional Development sessions today and tomorrow. I'm a weird one. The learner in me is stoked when we have workshops and training days and stuff like this. I love it!

I'm currently reading my 32nd book of the year. And now I'm starting to wonder how many I will have read by the end of the year. Knowing that I have a long weekend this weekend, combined with both Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break happening before the last day of 2020 helps. I can read all sorts of books during those times when I'm off from work. So who knows what my 2020 Book Total will be :)

I'm currently missing my family. Ironically, the COVID situation in Senegal seems to be under control. Go Senegal! But it's still pretty rough in the US. So I just don’t know... Do I go at Christmas? Do I wait 'til summer? Decisions, decisions...

I'm currently looking forward to this upcoming weekend. We don't have school on Friday and I'm planning to take full advantage of the extra time off from work by embracing the art of "self-care." I'm planning to rest/relax and also (and more importantly), spend some time in prayer and study of His Word. There's been so much going on lately that my brain feels like it's swimming. So I think having a little time "away" and "unplugged" will be good for my brain/heart.

I’m currently prepping to teach yet another lesson each day, of a class which I’ve never taught before. So it looks like I’ve got a bit of studying to do this weekend ;)

  So what about you?

What are you currently up to?

Currently

Happy Wednesday, Y'all

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

July's prompts are...

  * cooking *  photographing * sharing * trying * wondering *

So what am I currently up to?

I'm currently cooking very little, as I still can't stand (on my "good" foot) very long without being in pain. And let's face it... Trying to cook while using crutches is almost impossible. But thankfully, I've had sweet friends sharing meals with me, having food delivered, etc. I've been blessed for sure.

I'm currently photographing very little since I've been stuck inside my apartment for almost one full month. That fact totally boggles my mind, y'all. 

I'm currently sharing very little on the blog. I've got lots of ideas. I've even drafted a couple posts. But, I just haven't shared them. Writing has always been kind of therapeutic for me. But lately... Lately, my heart just hasn't been in it.

I'm currently trying to take care of all the things online since I wasn't able to go back to the States this summer. How is it that everything expired during the one summer I was NOT in the US? What are the odds of that? ;) 

I'm currently wondering a lot of What ifs as I prepare to go back for more x-rays and a follow-up with the doctor on Friday.  What if it's worse? What if he says I need surgery? What would that mean for the upcoming school year? Where would I go for it? What about COVID-19? How would that affect surgery and travel and such? How would I arrange a wheelchair at an airport? What about the financial implications of a more serious injury? And what about recovery time? I'm a teacher that teaches 8 out of 8 periods a day. I don't have a lot of downtime during the day. So how would that work? The fear of the unknown is a big thing for me.

 And since it's my blog and I can, I thought I'd share a couple more...

I'm currently taking a class on assessing students with special needs. I can't say that assessments are my most favorite thing in the world. But it is a necessary part of the education world. So why not learn more about it and help out the people God has placed in my care? :)

I'm currently liking this quote a friend shared on Facebook the other day. It pricked my heart, for sure. What a great reminder of the importance of His Word!

  So what about you?

What are your currently up to?