The 96th Dear ____ Post

Dear Kids Club, You started back up this week. The kids were so excited, which of course made me excited! I love this time I get with them!

Dear Senior Cafe, You're happening at DA this weekend. Thanks for being such a fun way to start my weekend! 

Dear Broccoli Cheese Soup, I'm making you tomorrow. Yay for frozen broccoli and velveeta cheese :)

Dear Encouragement, You're what I've received this week from a few different people. I'm so thankful for people God's placed in my path to say (and mean) such sweet, encouraging words.

Dear Best Buds, You're a program at my school where each elementary student is paired with a high school student as their "best bud." Once a month we have Best Buds lunch, where the best buds can eat lunch and play together. It was so fun yesterday to see the best buds spending their lunch time together, eating, laughing, and playing together. Plus it gives me the chance to eat with my best bud - my friend who's an elementary teacher :)

Dear Confidence Boost, I saw you displayed in a major way in one of my students this week. It's so great to see a student finally get what you've been telling them all along... "You are smart. You do, indeed, know what you're doing."

Dear Typhoid Vaccine, I got you yesterday since you're due this year. Boo to needles and blood (even just a drop) and a slightly sore arm :(

Dear Nems, A couple friends and I went to get you for supper last night before Senior Cafe. Yum!

Dear Planning Ahead, I like you. I really do. So, I'm having trouble at the moment giving some things up to God, knowing that He really is in control and knows what needs to happen when.

Dear Baby Girl, You're what 2 of my co-workers had yesterday. You should've heard the cheers at school yesterday when the announcement was made and when your picture was showed during Senior Cafe last night too. It was super sweet. And you're so incredibly adorable! Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. E-M and Baby Kylie :)

Dear A Book, You're what I'm having mailed to my niece. Thankfully, there was someone going to the States in a couple days that would take it for me and mail it. So it should get there in time now. Woohoo :)

Dear Valentine's Day, You happen on Friday. I love doing fun crafts regarding you with my students, but honestly... I could personally pass on you. Just sayin'

Dear Reading for Fun, You were on my list of New Year's Resolutions. I thought you'd be an easy fix. Ha! You seem to be the resolution I've had the most trouble with. I've been doing quite a bit of reading for work and for a writing project I'm doing. But to read just for fun... That hasn't really happened much. So I'm planning to change that fact this weekend. We'll see.

Dear Elementary Chapel, I was the speaker for you yesterday. I spoke on how we can celebrate the defeat of the enemy. How often do we (myself included) let the enemy try and defeat us? How often do we just give up and let him win? Why don't we celebrate his defeat? Why don't we remind him that we have the true winner on our side? We have God on our side!

My One Thousand Gifts #'s 75 - 84

One Thousand Gifts

Each week, I'm highlighting new items I've added to my list of one thousand gifts. These aren't always big things. In fact, sometimes it's the littlest things that stick out the most. 

This week, I've added 10 new things...

#75 - a few extra dollars cfa

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to get more organized. So I decided to start with my movies. Since we don't have tv over here, most of my movie/tv watching is done via dvd's, of which I've accumulated quite a bit over the past 4.5 years. And while going through them and organizing them, I realized I had a few that I didn't watch much anymore, so I decided to sell them and it's been nice getting a few extra dollars cfa here and there :)  

#76 - a new restaurant in town

After church last Sunday, I went with some friends to visit a new restaurant in town. It serves the best pizza and donuts in town. Ok, let me rephrase... It serves the only "as close to American as you can get while in Senegal" pizza and donuts. I had the Chicken BBQ pizza for lunch and then took home a half dozen Oreo Donuts to have for snacks for the week. Oh my goodness...so delicious. So this week, one of the "little" things I'm thankful for is the restaurant, Yum Yum. *Yes, that is it's name. And yes, it really is "yummy." :)

#77 - Valentine's Cards

While in the States in December, I'd looked into buying Valentine's cards for all of the elementary kids to give during our Kids Club party, but oh my word, were they expensive. So I decided I'd just make them, which would've taken FOREVER!  A few years ago a sweet lady I'd never met (a friend of a friend) heard about my ministry here in Dakar and sent me 5 (yes, 5!) boxes of school supplies and all sorts of goodies for my classroom. One of the boxes contained a lot of Valentine's cards. I've used some of them each year, but in switching classrooms, and storing a box of things at home, I forgot I had those cards. So imagine my surprise/delight when I opened a box yesterday and found a HUGE stack of Valentine's cards that I forgot I had. And guess what! There are EXACTLY the number of cards I need! Can you believe it?! I'm so thankful for the little things that God sends our way.

#78 - a mission team's Vision and Strategy document

I'm thankful this week for the team God's allowing me to be a part of in this upcoming ministry change. I'm thankful for my teammates, for the people we'll be working with, for the vision for the future. 

#79 - airline miles

I'm thankful for the many, many flights I've made on Delta. I'm thankful that these flights are going to be able to allow me to fly for FREE from Washington DC to Alabama in June and then fly FREE to visit a friend in TX at some point once I'm back home :)

#80 - a thank you & an I love you from a child

As I was walking to give a friend a message, I noticed one of our youngest elementary kids crying. When he came to me, he was sobbing and told me how his friend had accidentally hit him in the eye while playing tag. Why the eye, I don't know... Anyways, after I checked his eye and assured him he was fine, he hugs me and says "Thank you Miss Nichols. I love you." And yes, my heart did melt just a little...

#81 - Vocabulary Bingo

Did you know that learning can be education AND fun at the same time? What?! I know. I'm shocked too. Kidding, of course... :) I have always been a big advocate for learning being FUN, so I incorporate a lot of fun activities and games into my daily lessons. The latest one that has piqued my older elementary students' interests... Vocabulary Bingo. They love it! Every day this week we have played it for the last 3 to 5 minutes of class. Any you know what? They have these vocabulary words down pat! 

#82 - not having to always "reinvent the wheel"

Yes, it's good to push yourself to be creative and think for yourself. But sometimes it's nice to be able to share/use something someone else has made. For example, teachers have a wealth of resources at their fingertips by checking out all sorts of teacher websites. People wanting to cook something different, but not having any ideas, can check out all sorts of recipe books. I'm thankful that we have resources out there (books, internet, people, etc.), that are there to help us when we're not in the creative mood.

#83 - M&M's 

...no explanation needed. Sometimes a girl is just thankful for a pack of good ol' plain M&M's :)

#84 - a Wolof book

I thought if I had something like this, I could give myself a bit of a "head start" on language learning. Since all I know right now are the basic greetings, I think studying this will definitely help me. Now I just have to find some Wolof speakers to chat with back home or maybe Skype with while I'm back home...

And in case you want a recap of the other things on my list, you can find them below...

1-3

4-16

17-24

25-28

29-34

35-40

41-43

44-48

49-55

56-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

The 95th Dear ______ Post

Dear Snow, You hit much of my home state this week. While I think you're pretty to look at and I would like to experience you again before I die, I think too much of you would be a bad thing. You, and your buddy Ice, caused a lot of damage to a lot of people this week.

Dear 2, You're the number of nieces I'll have in a few months. Can we say, excited?! :)

Dear 101, You're how many days of school we've had as of yesterday. Where has the time gone? It seems like it was just yesterday we were starting our year.

Dear Friends from High School, I love that we still stay in touch and that some of us are even planning to get together this summer. I can't wait!

Dear Skype Meeting, You're what I had last night with some of my fellow missions team members. It was nice to "meet" them and be a part of things even though I'm a few thousand miles and an ocean away from them. I'm so thankful for these people, their hearts for mission, and our unified vision of sharing The love of our Maker with those who have never heard.

Dear Changes, You're a comin' :)

Dear Newsletters, I finished you last night. Now I just have to proofread them today, print them, and get them ready to be taken back to the States with someone leaving Dakar later this weekend. 

And speaking of that newsletter...

Dear Once It's Sent, You're when I'll share my news on here. I owe it to the good folks back home to let them read it first :)

Dear To Do List for Today, You're a long one, but here's hoping that today is a productive one. I think I can. I think I can. 

Dear Dinner with Friends, You're where I'll be going tonight. I love these ladies!

Dear Meal Planning for the Week, You're what I just finished. Want to know what I'm having? Of course you do, because it's so exciting! This week, I'm having Thai Coconut Soup, Spring Rolls and Asian Slaw, and Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Roll Ups. I usually only plan 3 meals each week because I always end up with leftovers. Plus this week I have a couple dinner invites and I'm planning to go grab a sandwich Friday when I stay late to work. See, I told you...exciting! :)

And now for one last bit of sweetness...

Dear Yesterday, You're what I heard earlier this week from one of my sweet first graders as we walked to our classroom. She said, "Miss Nichols, I love Jesus. I love Jesus a lot... more than Barbies and princess dresses and candy." 

My One Thousand Gifts #'s 70 - 74

One Thousand Gifts

Each week, I'm highlighting new items I've added to my list of one thousand gifts. These aren't always big things. In fact, sometimes it's the littlest things that stick out the most. 

This week, I've added 5 new things...

#70 - a game of Scrabble

Who would've thought that something as simple as this could bring such joy to some of my students? :)

#71 - nems

Have you ever had these delicious items? Well, there's a lady that sells them just down the street from my school for a really cheap price and they are absolutely delicious! I love 'em!

#72 - new recipes 

I love cooking and I especially love trying out new recipes! ...especially when they turn out well! :)

#73 - productive days

...those days when you're able to finally get a lot of items checked off your to do list. I love days like that! Here's hoping I have a lot more of those :)

#74 - seeing the sunrise

Is there anything more beautiful?

And in case you want a recap of the other things on my list, you can find them below...

1-3

4-16

17-24

25-28

29-34

35-40

41-43

44-48

49-55

56-59

60-64

65-69

Currently

Since this is my first "free" evening in a while and I had some time to kill, I thought I'd post a new "Currently in the Life of Moi" :)

Want to know what's currently going on in my life?

I'm currently...

...glad my dad's out of the hospital and am praying that this newest medication will do its job and help him to feel better.

...a little nervous about a meeting I have coming up soon.

...looking over my To Do List for the rest of this week. Wow! There's a lot on there.

...wondering what's up with the weather lately. One day it's super cold and the next it's hot and humid. Of course, I did grow up in Alabama, the most confused weather state there is.

And speaking of Alabama weather...

I'm currently praying for all those affected by this winter storm that's come through the state.

I'm currently in awe of the teachers that have stayed at school, taking care of all those sweet babies who couldn't get home. They've thought up fun activities for them to do. They've fed them. They've made nice pallets for them to sleep on. They've kept them safe and happy and loved on them 'til their parents are finally able to get to them. These teachers are amazing y'all!

I'm also currently annoyed with people that make fun of Southerners getting so worked up about this type of weather. Not cool guys...

And now back to my list. I'm currently...

...happy to hear news that corn on the cob is finally in season here in Dakar. Now if I could just find someone selling it...

...looking forward to the weekend already. Is that a bad sign? :)

...really enjoying a writing project I'm doing. I've always loved to write.

...thankful for leftovers in my fridge so I don't have to make dinner tonight. :)

So what are you currently up to? 

20 Questions

So here are my responses to 20 questions.  If you feel like asking or sharing, please post a comment with a question or response or two of your own.  Can't wait to learn more about you too!

What's your nickname? A few people call me "E." My niece calls me "Zizzie." But that's it.

How do you spend your days? teaching the future leaders of tomorrow :)

What's on the agenda for today? movie, lunch, & pedicures with a friend in a couple hours, then working in my classroom for a few hours until time for church tonight

What's the latest advice you were given? "Just pray about. That's all you can do."

What's the last advice YOU gave? "Remember to take care of yourself too"

If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? definitely...London, England

What's the last reason you laughed? ...laughing at the movie I was watching with my friend this morning.

Have children? Want children? No children yet. ...hopefully will in the future, though. Of course I need a husband first :)

What ability or skill do you most wish you had (that you don't have already)? Being fluent in French would be nice.

What was your favorite subject in high school?  English

Last movie you watched? Letters to Juliet

Last tv show you watched? Home Improvement

Last song you listened to? "Follow You" by Leeland

Last website you visited? a friend's blog

What's your dream job? to run an orphanage in Africa

If you had to choose only one: cat or dog? dog - I hate cats!

Worst part of your job? the goodbyes

Aside from food, water, and shelter, what one thing could you not go a day without? my Bible

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? teaching in some way on the mission field. ...having a husband and a kid would be nice :)

Where do you see yourself in 20 years? teaching in some way on the mission field. ...preferably with a husband and children

What do you want to know about me? Ask away, readers! I promise I'll answer. :)

The 94th Dear _____ Post

Dear Wow, You'd what I've said to God a few times this week. He's just so amazing! I love how He works everything out just perfectly!

Dear Give Me Faith, You're the name of a song that I love! I'm so thankful for being introduced to you this week. And amazingly enough, I've had to put you on repeat a few times over the past couple days to remind myself of your meaning when I got some not-so-great news over the phone.

Dear To Do List, You're something I need to write pretty soon. It looks like it'll be a big list. So I better get started on it soon.

Dear 3 Day Weekend, You're what we have this weekend since we don't have school on Monday. I'm so looking forward to not having to set an alarm this weekend (well, most of it). Sleeping Late, here I come!

Dear Sleeping Late and Taking Naps Too, Is it sad that I'm excited about getting to experience you this weekend? Don't judge people. :)

Dear Tests, I gave 3 of you yesterday. Almost every one of my classes had one. While it was a nice idea to have everyone finish up their current chapters on one day, I'm thinking I'm going to regret that when I have all those tests to grade this weekend...

Dear Scrabble, I played you with one of my classes yesterday. You were quite entertaining. They thought I'd found a new, cool game for them. Yay for something old being fun and cool! Ha! :)

Dear T-Shirt Quilt, You're something I'm planning to start making in a few months when I get back to the States. Here is a link for a no-sew option for a blanket. For a non-crafty person such as myself, I must say... I'm pretty excited about this!

Dear Anticipation, You're what I'm feeling right now. How exciting it is to live a life serving my Maker and doing what He's called me to do! I'm so blessed!

Dear Spending Time with Friends, You're what most of my weekend will consist of. Last night I did so while watching this movie and eating this style of food and eating this ice cream. Then tonight, I'll be spending time with another friend doing "in-home pedicures" and watching a movie. I'm blessed with such good friends! What a gift they are!

Dear Using Up The Food At Home, You're what I'm planning on doing for a while. Yes, I have the money to buy new food. But why should I when I have so much at home?! Maybe that'll be a future blog post. I can see it now... Raiding the Cabinets, Parts 1 to 100 :)

Dear 100+, You're how many people (staff, students, & parents) went out to a village this weekend for DA's annual Outreach trip. They're doing all sorts of projects to help the people in the area, including working on churches, painting, building, evangelism, kids programs, etc. I love seeing anyone, but kids especially, excited about furthering the Kingdom! It's awesome! :)