Hello Monday

      Happy Monday, Y'all

Today I'm joining Holly and Sarah, and a few other bloggers, for today's Hello Monday link-up, where we say Hello to Monday with a look at what's going on in our lives at the moment.

 So what's on my mind?

A lot. But 'tis the norm with me, I suppose.

Things like...

6 Days - That's how long it is, from today, until I leave Senegal...

Ignore the fact this says 10 days. I posted it to Facebook at that point. 
The sentiment is still the same...

Empty - That's how my classroom feels. Oh my heart, did it hurt to pack everything away in bins/cabinets and shut that door yesterday. I'll still be in my classroom today, tomorrow, and a 1/2 day Wednesday, giving exams for all of my people and also being the room for seniors to pick up their caps & gowns tomorrow. But still... Packing it all away made it final. Last week, a friend said it's like the end of an era. And it kind of feels that way. It's definitely time to go. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't call my mom in pretty intense tears yesterday because of how much it hurt my heart to have it all packed up.

The cart is my teacher supply cart. I'll wrap it up for the next teacher.
The red bag is a surprise gift in the works.
The water is left out because it's Senegal and a bazillion degrees outside :)

Packing - I finally packed up my classroom this weekend and tonight, I will finish packing up at home (minus the clothes I'll be wearing this week). I'm pretty sure this is the earliest I have ever (will have ever?) been packed. But I know this week is going to be super busy full of exams for my students, all sorts of graduation/senior related events each day, all the normal end of a school year checklists, and last bits of time spent with friends. So I wanted to be able to be fully present and not stressed about packing. And while it is sad to see the empty walls, shelves, etc., I know I will be so glad it's done.

One Last Senegal AGWM Dinner - We had that the other day. It was nice to have the time to get together, eat good food, and reminisce about life and ministry in Senegal. 

Saying Goodbye to My Students - I did that with my middle schoolers this past Friday. Then, after exams this upcoming week with my 9th-11th graders... And then at graduation on Thursday with my seniors. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate goodbyes? Boo.

Senior Reception and Senior Worship Service - This was yesterday. I may have teared up at multiple points during each of these events. But it was definitely happy/proud tears. Y'all, this class has held a special place in my heart for so many years. And I will always be so grateful that I was able to stay and finish out my time at DA with this crew.

Embracing All the Emotions/Feelings - That's my current thing. I'm recognizing that it's okay to be both sad and also ready about leaving. And you know... It really is okay to be both nervous and excited about what's coming next. It's okay to feel happy and proud of the incredible students I've worked with - whether that's been just year or for many years. It's okay to be happy and sad and scared and excited all at the same time. Humans are not meant to be emotionless robots. Ok, off my soapbox now ;)

Looking Ahead - A week from today, I'll land in Mobile, AL where I'll spend a few days getting all the necessary background checks/screenings, etc. done, get paperwork signed, hopefully meeting with my principal and seeing my classroom too, and visiting with a few people too. Then, once all that's done, I'll drive up to be with my family, ready to spend the summer with them before heading back down to Mobile at the end of the summer, ready to start my new job. I can't lie. I'll probably still shed a few tears when the time comes to leave this place. But y'all, I'm ready. Let's do this!

What's on your mind today? 

Currently

    Happy Friday, Y'all

I'm joining Jennifer from Overflowing with Thankfulness, along with a few other bloggers, and sharing a look at what's currently going on in my life. The prompts for this month are:

* loving * looking forward to * planning * wearing * eating *

I'm currently loving the slightly cooler temps we've been having lately. Although, I'm sure I just jinxed us all by saying that. But seriously, y'all... Hot Season has drug on for a long time this year. So it's about time we had some cool breezes around here. Just saying :)

I'm currently looking forward to Spring Break. I love my students. I so love them. But y'all... Teaching during the time between going back to school in January all the way to Spring Break, which isn't until the very end of March/beginning of April with no breaks (unlike a couple that those in the US get) is HARD. It makes for a long long time. So yes... I am definitely looking forward to Spring Break :)

I'm currently planning out my next newsletter which will come out at some point in the next few weeks. I've got some big news that will be shared in this one. So if you'd like to hear my upcoming ministry update, let me know and I will add you to my list.

I'm currently wearing nothing terribly exciting. I did dress up for this first night of our Senior Cafe this past weekend though. Our seniors dressed up as various music genres. So thanks to my 80s girl t-shirt and a few cheap, neon pink accessories from Amazon, I was "80s Rocker." That was fun :)

I'm currently eating very boring, plain-ish foods and very little of it, since we're like 95% sure I have an ulcer (or at least, the start of one) or maybe some intense acid reflux. Partly due to gut issues. Partly due to anxiety/worry. Partly due to life and getting older and such. Partly due to other issues. It's also partly (well, more than partly) not fun.

And since it's my blog and I can, I'm including a few more currentlys in this month's post :)

I'm currently feeling thankful for a change of scenery while doing lesson planning this past weekend. There's just something calming/relaxing about sitting close to, and watching the water and hearing the waves crashing.

I'm currently enjoying looking back over the pictures and videos I've seen of this past weekend's Senior Cafe (a school-wide talent show put on by our senior class). It was such a fun weekend! I wish I could show you all the pictures I took of the kids. They were all dressed up and worked so hard, both in prepping before the event, during it, and then cleaning up after. 

I'm currently finding listening to hymns in the afternoons/evenings or when I'm working is a source of calm for me. There is just something so nice about these incredible songs - so many that were written long long ago. But they're just so incredibly peaceful.

I'm currently reading a book that I checked out from the school library. It's Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. I'm only a few pages in so far, but so far, so good. I'm hoping to be able to read a bit this weekend.

I'm currently gearing up for a busy day tomorrow. I'm helping with the proctoring of the SAT on campus in the morning. Then I'll probably bring lunch with me and finish up lesson planning/prep after that. And then we have a get-together with the other AGWM-ers here tomorrow afternoon/evening. But as of now, I have nothing but church and resting planned for Sunday.

I'm currently praying for God to move in big ways for my students - both current and former ones. Will you help me pray for these incredible humans that I call "mine..." Because whether I teach/work with them now or I taught them a decade ago, I still call them "mine" :)

And that’s about it for me.

What  about you?

What are you currently up to? 

What's Up April

 Happy Monday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. Except, I'm finally posting on Monday. Such is life when you're busy... 

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 wanted fries the other night, but didn't have any frozen ones in the freezer. So I decided to make some homemade fries and then seasoned them with garlic salt. Seriously y'all... So quick/easy/delicious!

What am I reminiscing about?

Times with my dad... It's hard to believe that he passed away 7 years ago. At times, it really does seem like it happened just yesterday. I've been struggling a bit lately and I just keep thinking about how much I wish my dad were here, so I could talk with him about it... Not to mention, how I hate it for my mom, knowing that last week would've been their 38th anniversary. 

 What am I loving?

I've been loving the weather we've been having lately. It's cool at this time of year, but not freezing. And the sun's out, but it's not so hot, as to make us feel like we're going to have a heat stroke. So yeah... Definitely loving it right now :)

What have I been up to?

Helping all of my people plan their schedules for next year... There are so many different "puzzle pieces" to figure out. I love that part of it. But even so, there are so many other aspects of schedule creating for my people that is hard. So my brain is working in overdrive at the moment :)

What am I dreading? 

Nothing really...

What am I working on?

There's so much going on in my head at the moment. My job is not always the easiest. Teaching is hard. Teaching Special Education is really hard. Teaching Special Education overseas is super hard. So yeah... I'm working on weeding through the mental to do list I have at the moment...

 What am I excited about?

I got a new stove. The burners on mine were slowly going out, which made cooking a bit tricky. So, I'm a little excited about cooking again. So there's that :)

What am I watching?

I'm wrapping up a Creation/Evolution unit in one of the science classes I teach. So we've been watching all sorts of  little videos about those, all in hopes to make this mostly abstract topic more engaging for my people. 

What am I reading?

One of the joys of teaching at a Christian school is being able to teach and study the Bible with students. I love reading through various parts of Scripture with my people. I love seeing them enjoy their reading/studying. And I love how well they're learning what we're studying.

What am I listening to?

Is it sad to say that by the time Saturday comes along, I look forward to listening to silence? My days are full with teaching and meetings and such. And I love my students. I love doing what I'm doing. But it's exhausting. So while I love my people, I also love my quiet Saturdays too ;)

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting... I do need to pick up a few things when I'm in the States this summer. Line drying clothes in the almost constant harsh sun/sand takes its toll on clothes here. That's for sure. So, I figure I'll look for some deals when I'm back there this summer.

 What am I doing this weekend?

Well, considering the weekend's over... I'll, instead, answer what I did over the weekend. I did very little that was productive, to be honest. I stayed in my classroom late on Friday, finishing up lesson planning just so I could relax over the weekend. Then Saturday I rested/relaxed and did a little meal prep. And on Sunday, I was in bed with a massive headache most of the morning and when I could finally sit up and look at my computer screen long enough to do so, I did a little lesson planning last night. Sometimes, God knocks me flat of my back to get me to slow down. I can be a little stubborn, after all ;)

What am I looking forward to next month?

The arrival of May means we're one month closer to Summer Break. So there's that. I'll also be able to finally buy my plane tickets for the summer too, once I get paid in mid-May. So that's exciting too! Y'all... The price of plane tickets is no joke! And contrary to popular belief, it is not a mission expense. So I save up and pay for it out of pocket. But that's okay. It's 100% worth it. Anywho - Past all of that, I've got some fun stuff planned with my classes this month - experiments and projects and novels to read... :)

Favorite Recent Amazon Find?

My black sandals "died" and needed to be replaced. So a friend who made a recent trip to the States was kind enough to bring back this pair I ordered from Amazon. They're nothing fancy. But they're super comfy and they meet the shoe dress code requirements at work. So, I'm calling them a win.

What else is new?

Nothing much :)

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

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What's Up January

 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 had big plans to cook this past weekend. But due to various reasons (some within my control and some out), I ended up not cooking. Plus this week and next week, I'm working through lunch each day. And I may or may not be eating a big breakfast and then just skipping lunch OR eating a late lunch. ...or taking a bag of goldfish like the image below, and calling it a day. Ha! :)

What am I reminiscing about?

Christmas Break with my family - It was such a nice trip. I enjoyed spending time with them, taking it easy, and having some down time, too. One of the hardest parts of my job is being away from family so much. So when my ministry work is "on pause," so to speak (i.e. school breaks), and I can afford to (since it's 100% a personal expense and I never use ministry funds for it), I definitely choose to spend time with my family. It's such a blessing.

 What am I loving?

I love that I can follow the call God placed on my life - to teach some of the most incredible kids I have ever met. I love that!

What have I been up to?

We started back to school a couple weeks ago, so I’ve been busy with that. I plan for 16 lessons, fit into 8 class periods (some happening simultaneously). Granted, two of those aren't daily classes. But still... It obviously takes a lot of time to plan for all of that. So, it seems to take up a lot of my time. I actually do like lesson planning, for the most part, though. So it's not all bad :)

What am I dreading? 

I've been dealing with a fairly persistent headache. It's not a migraine, thankfully. It's more like a tension headache. And while it's not going on all the time, it is happening at some point almost every single day. Obviously, it's getting old and my brain, both literally and figuratively, is tired of dealing with it. 

What am I working on?

I’m one of the class sponsors for our 10th grade class. And we're in the middle of our big fundraiser of the year. It makes for a super busy month or so for them/me. But I’ve enjoyed it. These kids are awesome!

 What am I excited about?

My students, typically, are unable to complete assignments in the traditional way. So I'm excited when I find resources and ideas that work for my students. Whether it's a new way of practicing our Spelling Words using the computer or an interactive slideshow on the various organ systems or creating a Boys vs Girls game with a Q&A video series on all things genetics or breaking out the multi-colored markers to help us as we analyze a passage from the Bible. 

What am I watching?

Nothing new - Honestly, by the end of the day, I have zero desire to watch a screen. Plus, I'm a big fan of quiet once I get home in the evenings. So if I'm being honest, watching TV/movies holds little to no appeal for me at the moment. 

What am I reading?

The other day, I started reading my 3rd book of 2022 - The Little Antique

Also - I'm reading The Incredible Journey with a couple of my students. It's been fun re-reading this story, whose movie version was one of my absolute favorites as a child. My guys are loving it. So I am too :)

What am I listening to?

I may have said this earlier... But honestly, by the time I get home each evening, my brain just wants some quiet time. So I'm not playing a lot of music these days. I do typically put on worship music while lesson planning/prepping in the afternoons or on the weekends, though. So I suppose I am listening to some music every now and then :)

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

Lesson Planning

Church

Shopping for the 10th Grade Class

Paperwork for the AG

And hopefully resting at some point too

What am I looking forward to next month?

Lots of things happening at school... The culmination of our big fundraiser for the 10th graders happens on Valentines Day. Then there are a couple other events or projects happening next month that I'm looking forward to.

What else is new?

Nothing that I can think of :)

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. 

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?