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. 

December's prompts are...

  * baking *  decorating * gifting * hoping * sending *

I'm currently baking nothing. But I do have a chocolate chip cookie mix at home that's been calling my name. So I'm thinking I'll be making that this weekend... :)

I'm currently decorating very little this year. I’m not decorating at home (here in Dakar) since I know I'll be at home (in Alabama) on Christmas. But I did put up a few decorations in my classroom. I couldn't not do it. After all, my people absolutely LOVE them some Christmas decor. So who am I to deny them that bit of fun? :)

I'm currently gifting something to my students for Christmas. But at this point, I just don't know what to give them... Where's a Wal-Mart or Target when you need one?

I'm currently hoping all the details work out for my time in the US. If I’m being honest, the financial side of getting my ankle injury taken care of in the US is worrying me a little. And I know I need to stop worrying and just trust God. So here’s hoping my brain can do that soon... :)

I'm currently sending some fun Christmas cards to family and friends and missions supporters. Shutterfly came through with an awesome steal of a deal. So I was able to save so much money, but still end up with super cute photo cards.

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

I'm currently reading through the book, Wonder, with one of my groups. There are so many good life lessons to be learned through this book. Not to mention all the good English lessons to be learned as well...

I’m currently working a little each day after school, prepping sub plans for the beginning of next semester. There's so much to do. But listening to Christmas music is helping the time go by so much faster. And the peace

I'm currently reading the book of Luke as part of my own devotional time during the month of December. I love reading and rereading the story of Christ's birth. I'm a big fan of reminding myself of the incredible gift of hope we have as a result of the birth of our Savior.

And that's about it for me.

So what about you?

What are you currently up to?

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?

Lately, I’ve had a peanut butter and honey sandwich for breakfast almost every morning. It’s one of my favorites. It’s tasty with just enough sweetness to be nice. It’s filling. And it’s quick to make and eat. Win, win :)

What am I reminiscing about?

Our class Thanksgiving meal... One of my guys mentioned the idea to me a couple weeks ago and I ran with it. He helped to plan the menu, the decor, and the activity we all did together. It was such a sweet time with some of my most favorite people, making memories I know I won't soon forget.

 What am I loving?

I’m loving getting to see the creativity of my students. Even when I give a bit of guidance, they still blow me away with how far they take an assignment. I am so blessed to work with these incredible kids. I love what I do!

What have I been up to?

Our AG ladies, based in Senegal, had our Ladies Retreat this weekend. It was such a nice time. I love how God knows what we need and when we need it.

What am I dreading? 

A couple sad goodbyes that will be happening next month... The hardest one will be to this lady. She has been such a huge part of our class the past few years. And I am so not looking forward to losing her. Neither are our students. And I think the reality of this has finally hit me... Ugh, goodbyes stink. Just saying :(

What am I working on?

Making sub plans and lots of them... In the event that I do end up needing surgery, I would have to be in the States for an extended period of time. Therefore, I need to prepare...

 What am I excited about?

It's probably a little sad how excited I am to make a banana pudding when I get home after work today. I could typically live my life without bananas. But a banana pudding? Well, it's one of my most favorite desserts. Yum!

What am I watching?

Nothing at the moment...

What am I reading?

This past weekend, I started reading my 38th book of the year. However, at the moment, I’m reading all sorts of journal articles as I prep to write a 10-12 page Lit Review this upcoming weekend.

What am I listening to?

Christmas music, of course :)

What am I wearing?

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I’m going to start wearing this fun Christmas shirt...

 What am I doing this weekend?

Our AG people here in Senegal are getting together for Thanksgiving/Christmas tomorrow. So I'm looking forward to that. Past that, school dismisses just before lunch today and once I’m done with that and a parent meeting, I’ll start my 4 day weekend. My big plans are to work on grad school and do some long-range lesson planning for next semester, all while propping my foot up and resting my ankle - something I rarely can do while teaching. And I’m also planning to hang out with some friends a bit too. So yay for a 4.5 day weekend :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

All things Christmas... Christmas as a teacher is one of my most favorite times of the year. I love all of the times I can incorporate Christmas (and the birth of our Savior) into my lessons. I love the fun crafts and activities that go along with Christmas. I love the parties and the treats and the decorations. I love Christmas trees and Christmas lights. I love (obviously) being reminded of the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. 

Plus, I get to see my family again. So there’s that... :)

What else is new?

My doctor here basically released me, saying there’s not really anything else he can do at this point. So per his recommendation, I'll be seeing an orthopedic surgeon in Alabama for a second opinion on January 4th. Then I'll be making necessary medical decisions at that time, based on what he says. I'm obviously praying I don't need surgery. After all, no one wants surgery. But I have been in literal pain every time I walk, stand, or sit with my foot hanging down, since I hurt my ankle way back on June 5 and that has most definitely taken its toll on me. So at this point, I'm just ready for relief, however that needs to happen.

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?

What’s Up October

Happy Thursday Y'all!

Today, I'm joining Shay, and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. Except yesterday was a long one and I didn’t get around to posting... So I’m a day late.

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 made a pot of chicken spaghetti the other day. And since I didn't adjust the size of the recipe, I ended up with a big batch of leftovers. And if that means I don't have to cook lunches/dinners for most of the week, then that's definitely okay in my book. It's too hot to cook all the time anyway :)

What am I reminiscing about?

This collage popped up in my Facebook memory feed the other day. It was my first class at DA. They were such a great bunch of kids. And it's hard to believe that they're out of high school and are now "grown-ups." My brain still pictures them as the sweet little third graders that I came to Senegal for.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving the fun parts of being a teacher. I'm loving helping students reach those "lightbulb" moments. I'm loving helping students see their self-confidence soar. I'm loving researching new and exciting activities to solidify the various concepts and skills I'm trying to teach. I'm loving getting to know my people, hearing their goals and interests and developing a rapport with them as we work to best serve their needs. I'm even loving all the lesson planning and grading because it's showing me where my students are and where they need to be. I'm also loving the knowledge that one of my activities today will involve baking this fun cake mix. After all, what better way to highlight physical vs chemical changes? Right? ;)

What have I been up to?

Physical Therapy - Yesterday, I had my 4th session of Physical Therapy. At the moment, I am doing it twice a week. I can't say it's my most favorite times of the week. Because... ouch! Plus, I'm having to pay out of pocket until my insurance finally reimburses me. But I'm doing whatever I can at this point to try and get rid of this pain. It boggles my mind that it's been 4 1/2 months since I fell and hurt my ankle. And to be honest, the constant pain is taking its toll on me - physically, mentally, emotionally...

What am I dreading? 

The fear of the unknown is a little scary and dread-worthy. I wish I knew if I was going to have to have surgery. And if that’s definitely going to happen, I wish I could already know the time frame for that and how that would affect my work (my ministry). I wish I knew all the things right now. But as we all know, God doesn't always fill us in on every little detail right when we want Him to. Right? So I'll continue to wait and try harder to trust even in the midst of the potentially difficult and scary unknowns.

What am I working on?

My latest grad school class just started. It's on Inclusion for Students with Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities. It's starting off well. I'm enjoying the reading (and learning). Here's hoping that enjoyment continues ;)

 What am I excited about?

I got a card from my aunt in the mail yesterday. That was pretty exciting! I love getting mail, especially if it includes a handwritten note :)

What am I watching?

I’m watching the temperature and humidity rise more and more every day. Hot Season in Senegal is no joke, y’all. 



What am I reading?

I haven't been reading a lot "for fun" in the past week or so because I've needed to spend that time reading/studying for the class I'm taking. But I hope to be back on the "for fun" reading train by the weekend.

What am I listening to?

A few weeks ago, the Worship Team at church sang the song, “Goodness of God.” And I’ve found myself humming it in my head ever since. I just love the lyrics to this song. 

What am I wearing?

Not orange... I can tell you that. Some co-workers and I were discussing the Blindside quote shown below. And I realized I do not own a single piece of orange clothing. Growing up surrounded by BAMA fans will do that to you, I suppose ;)

 What am I doing this weekend?

Friday is a half day of teaching followed by Parent Teacher Conferences followed by our school's Harvest Fest, where I'll be helping one of my students run a game booth. So I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to crash by the time I get home Friday night. Then on Saturday, I have a Zoom call with some of my fellow AG people. And other than church, completing this week's grad school assignments, and doing a bit of lesson planning, I haven't really got anything planned. So we'll see what I end up getting into :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

* Fun lessons/activities in the classroom

* A weekend getaway with my fellow AG ladies

* Thanksgiving

* Thanksgiving Break

What else is new?

I'll see my doctor again on this evening.

Oh, and in other news... I bought my plane tickets yesterday. So I now have a new countdown. Only 51 days (from today) ‘til I see my family again. I’m so excited!!

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?