Weekend Favorites - Easter Edition

Happy Saturday Y'all

Easter is definitely one of my most favorite holidays.

Why?

It's my favorite because of what it stands for.

It's my favorite because it stands for HOPE.

It's my favorite because it stands for a future with my Savior.

It's my favorite because that tomb was found empty 2000+ years ago.

It's my favorite because Jesus Christ defeated the grave.

It's my favorite because God loved me so much that He sacrificed His son for me.

HIS. ONLY. SON.

That boggles my mind sometimes.

Easter is my favorite because my Savior gave it all for me.

It's my favorite because He was willing to die for me.

It's my favorite because He rose again on the third day.

It's my favorite because He paved the way for me to have an eternity in Heaven.

It's my favorite not because of a bunny rabbit or plastic eggs filled with candy or even white chocolate Reese's eggs (even though I do love all of those things)...

It's my favorite because Jesus Christ loved me (and all of you reading this) so incredibly much, that He was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice - HIS LIFE - for us. He loves us so incredibly much that He'd do that. But that's not all. Sure Jesus died. But on the third day, the stone closing that tomb was rolled away, and our Savior rose again. 

And that...

That is why Easter is my favorite.



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And I'm also joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup.

Growing in Gratitude

Happy Thursday Y'all!

Last month, I passed out this "Gratitude Game" to my students, and then decided to play along on my blog for my February Growing in Gratitude post.

And just for the fun of it, I thought I'd continue the tradition and just use this "game" to guide my monthly Growing in Gratitude posts. I may change it up every now and then. But why not have a little fun with it? :)

I'm thankful for good friends. I'll always say the hardest part of being a missionary is being so far from family. But, God is gracious and generous enough to have placed me in a community which includes many people I consider to be like family. There have been so many friends over the last 8.5 years who have become like family. And for those people, I am definitely eternally grateful.

I'm thankful for my classroom. It took a lot of prayer, sweat, and even some ( or maybe a lot of ) tears, to get this class up and running. And I often sit in my room, reflecting on what it took to get here. And I'm just truly overwhelmed with gratitude for the chance to be here. I am honestly just so incredibly thankful for this classroom, for what it means, and most of all, for the students God's placed in my care. 

I'm thankful for the deliciousness pictured below. 

However, more than that, I'm thankful for the sweet ones who sent this to my class and me. What a special treat (and what special people)!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to "sneak" away for a couple days and enjoy some rest and relaxation. Taking time like this for myself doesn't happen very often. And while I've enjoyed my job this year, it's been tough. Lots of work... And I have felt like I was in an almost constant state of physical/mental exhaustion. So this time away with friends came at a perfect time. And yes, it's hard to leave, even for just 2 nights. But as a friend pointed out, even God, Himself, believed in a time of rest. So, I'm thankful for a time of rest and relaxation. And I'm also thankful this time was just the refreshment I needed to re-energize me to finish out this school year strong. 

There's far more brown sand all around me than there are beautiful flowers. So when I do see some, I'm definitely quite thankful for God's creative/beautiful artistry, as displayed by the beautiful flowers we saw at lunch the other day.

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Today I'm joining Julie and Trista for their monthly Growing in Gratitude link-up, helping us to focus more on having an attitude of gratitude.

What's Up March

Happy Tuesday Everybody!

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

Let's ignore the fact that I'm posting this a day early, though. My goal is to ignore Internet the next few days. Wish me luck :)

 

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

The questions are...

 

What am I eating?

I've been eating a lot of salad this past week.

What am I reminiscing about? 

Almost everyone at our school has been doing a lot of reminiscing lately, thinking about the incredible life of Caleb, the guy pictured below, and sharing memories of his life and his time here at our school. Caleb, at only 19 years old, passed away just last week from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident. Last Thursday, I shared a few thoughts I've had following receiving the news of Caleb's passing. If you missed it, you can read that post here. Caleb's life was an incredibly testimony, clearly showing the light of Jesus!

What am I loving?

I'm loving not having to set an alarm clock.

Because let's be honest... 

I may love my students so incredibly much. But y'all... I absolutely love getting to catch up on sleep and not hear that obnoxiously loud alarm blaring at me in the morning :)

What have I been up to?

Catching up on sleeping and reading most of the time... I vowed to myself that this week would be my vacation week, where I relaxed and just spent some down time. 

Then this coming week, I'll get back in my classroom and do some rearranging/prep work for the rest of the school year. 

What am I dreading?

I'm dreading the anniversary of my dad's death. On April 19th, it will have been 3 years since my dad passed away. And sometimes I find myself mentally/emotionally transported back to that day, as if it were just yesterday. Then knowing, the very next day, the 20th, would've been his birthday... Oh my, is this time of year is so very hard for me.

What am I working on?

Slowly sorting through my apartment... I realized a couple months ago that I've collected quite a bit of stuff over the last few years.

What am I excited about?

Did I mention not having to set an alarm each day? :)

Ha!

Past that, I'm enjoying being able to spend some time with friends, catch up on sleep, catch up on reading, and also getting work done around the house. All stuff I don't get to do a lot of during the school year, because I'm so busy...

What am I watching?

I watched The Greatest Showman a few nights ago and I absolutely LOVED it!

What am I reading?

I brought home a stack of books from the school library for Spring Break. And I've been making quite a bit of progress on them. 

What am I listening to?

The Greatest Showman soundtrack - Or at least, the 4 songs from it that I downloaded :)

What am I wearing?

It's starting to warm back up here in Dakar. So I've been wearing hoodies and such far less. Here's hoping Hot Season doesn't start too early...

What am I doing this weekend?

Sunday is Easter. 

I'll probably do a little work in my classroom. I need to also do some work around my house. And I need to finish up my latest missions newsletter and get that sent out, as well. Then past that, I'm planning to just enjoy some relaxation and just take it easy.

What am I looking forward to next month?

I'm having my very first visitor next month. One of my teachers from high school and her husband will be in town for a day next month. So I'll get to visit with them for a bit, and show them around this place I now call home. I can't wait!

Also, I'm, once again leading Elementary Camp at my school. It's a time when all of our Elementary students (grades K-5th) stay after school and enjoy a fun time that includes a Bible lesson, games, crafts, dinner, and a movie. It makes for a crazy long day. But it's so worth it. I love Elementary Camp and all the fun it entails!

What else is new?

I'm working on my newest missions newsletter. I'm planning to get it emailed out in the next week. I have so many stories to share. I'm just trying to pick through them :)

And then each month there's a special question. March's special question is...

What's your favorite Easter tradition?

Reminding myself, and others, of the incredible HOPE we have, as Christians, all because of what happened over 2000 years ago!

So what are YOU up to this month?

5 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Y'all

This week has been quite the emotional roller coaster. 

The news of a truly heart-breaking death, which I shared about yesterday, (which you can read HERE) was the incredibly low point on the roller coaster that has been this week.

But, thankfully, there have been good points this week.

Thankfully, there have been high spots on the roller coaster that has been this week.

So here are 5 of my favorites from this week...

~ one ~ 

Seeing how fast my favorite group of students picked up the concept of adding coins was a definite favorite this week. And the accompanying boost of confidence was a bonus favorite. I love when I can see those "lightbulb" moments! It's awesome!

~ two ~

Um, hello deliciousness. A definite favorite of today/this week was receiving this tasty surprise treat from the US. Oh my word, she knows my love of this goodness! Reese's are my favorite chocolate candy. And white chocolate Reese's? Oh my word, they're even more so my favorite! So much so my favorite :)

~ three ~


This picture of 3 of my favorite students has cracked me up so much. This crew is hilarious and definitely produce many favorite smile producing moments :)



~ four ~

Speaking of my favorite students, I wrote them a note on their desktops earlier this week. I saw this idea online a while back and finally got around to doing it the other day. I love that God saw fit to bless me with these incredible kids. I so love being their teacher!



~ five ~

And because it's my blog and I can, I'm adding in one extra...

Want to know what I'll look like in just a few short hours?

Want to know why?



Just kidding...

slightly

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Today I'm joining April, Natasha, and Christina for their 5 on Friday linkup. 



And I'm also joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup.

Thursday's Thoughts

The world lost a beautiful soul yesterday.

Caleb, a c/o 2017 graduate of my school, passed away yesterday morning. 

My heart is breaking for his parents, siblings, family, and friends.

I told my mom last night, "He was only 19. So young!"

I never taught Caleb.

But I have fond memories of him. 

I remember meeting him as a 5th grader. He was a tall kid and always had a smile on his face. He was so sweet/kind to everyone. In elementary school, he almost always had a soccer ball out playing at recess or lunch and before/after school. I remember during Elementary Camp my first year here at DA, he and his buddies chit-chatting until far too late, and one of my co-workers and I had to shush them so they'd go back to sleep. It didn't work because they were just so excited. So what'd we do? We laughed and let them chat and giggle and play with their flashlights and we enjoyed the sweetness of these 5th grade boys enjoying themselves at their 5th grade camp-out :)

I remember his encouraging attitude. I don't know how many times I saw Caleb sitting with a friend having a hard day, with his arm around them, encouraging them. Or times I saw him running with his sister or another elementary student during a race at school, when they needed that encouragement... Or when his classmates were having a hard time with school/life and he rose up and encouraged them to continue on the right track.

Then over the last 2 years, Caleb was one of my students' Best Buds (a program where we pair every elementary student with a high school student). My student LOVED Best Buds days each month. And that was all because of Caleb's attention and care of J. One time in particular, I remember J telling me, "Ms. Nichols, I just think it's so cool that even though he's so much older than me, he still plays with me and talks to me and hangs out with me. And he really listens to me. He looks me in the eye and he REALLY listens. Even if older friends come by, he STILL listens to me. He makes me feel so special."

 Caleb was like that with everyone. He made anyone he was with feel special. He was such an incredible role model, not just for his Best Bud, but for all students. He was so smart. He was considerate of others. He was well-behaved, respectful and polite. Caleb was the kind of student a teacher dreams of having in his/her class. 

Caleb lit up a room.

And when he came out here in November on a surprise "mission," I remember standing in the office and smiling at how many people instantly lit up upon walking in and seeing him standing there. 

The news of Caleb's passing has effected our whole community here. 

I can't even imagine the pain being felt right now by his family.

Caleb was loved by so many.

So there are so many people hurting right now.

But, as one of our 4th grade girls said yesterday in Kids Club...

It's so very sad. 

But you know what's cool? 

It's cool that Caleb gets to hang out with Jesus now.

So yes, I've cried. 

And I imagine, I'll probably even cry some more.

But I'll do like that sweet 4th grader...

And I'll think of how cool it is that Caleb is now hanging out with Jesus. 

And that is the hope that comes with a relationship with our Savior.

What a sweet, sweet hope that is.

And what a precious thought...

Caleb hanging out with Jesus

World Down Syndrome Day

Did you know that today is World Down Syndrome Day?

It's a day when we bring awareness to Down Syndrome (or Downs, for short). 

I'd planned on sharing a few facts and/or observations I've learned along the way, through teaching Special Education and through getting to know individuals with Down Syndrome. 

But I thought the image below sums it up far better than I would've done.



Down Syndrome happens.

And, for whatever reason, society has attached this stigma attached to it.

The first step toward erasing the stigmas out there is 

AWARENESS.

The next step?

ACCEPTANCE.

Be aware.

Educate yourself. 

Get to know experts

Get to know people with Downs (or someone who knows a person).

In no time at all, you'll realize just how incredibly wonderful these individuals are.

They might look slightly different... 

They might speak slightly different... 

They might learn slightly different...

But in no time at all, I guarantee that you will realize that these incredibly wonderful individuals are actually quite a lot like you and me. 

They just happened to have been born with an extra chromosome. 

So be aware.

Accept differences.

Be the change.

Spread the love.

And if you're like me, and you know and love someone (or many different people) with Down Syndrome, then know you are exceptionally blessed :)

Tuesday Talk - There's this person...

Every now and then, a person comes in your life

A person who leaves an unexplainable mark on your heart. 

This is Sheila.

And she is one such person.

When I met Sheila 8.5 years ago, I knew I'd met a friend.

She has, quite possibly, the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met.

She almost always has a ginormous smile on her face.

She finds the joy in almost every occasion.

  

She has the most contagious laughter.

She is a friend to all.

She brightens any room she enters.

She makes my life so much more enjoyable.

She is always genuine and kind and true to herself.

She is an encourager.

She's my friend. 

And my heart is so very sad to see her leave this week, heading back to continue her beautiful life in the country she calls home. I know our Heavenly Father has big plans for this incredibly beautiful soul. And I can't wait to see it all unfold. 

Sheila is such a blessing in my life.

I will forever be grateful for all the sweet memories I have made, hanging out with her, riding to ball games, having her help in Kids Club, watching her start/run Friendship Club at DA, and seeing her spend time with my students every Friday afternoon. 

And yes, I'll probably shed a tear or two when we say goodbye to her in our Friendship Club party this afternoon. But I am so excited for her to follow her dreams back to Canada. And I pray that God richly blesses her every step of the way. 

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Today I'm joining Ashley and Erika for their monthly Tuesday Talk link-up, where we all come together and talk about anything that's on our mind. And today, as it's my last day with this sweet friend, she's definitely what on my mind.