Thankful Thursday #5

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• the knowledge that exactly 5 weeks from today, I'll get to see my family again AND finally meet my niece! Woohoo! :)
• this past weekend's Women's Retreat and having a weekend full of good fellowship, food, and times of prayer.
• being able to have a long chat with a friend and fellow missionary at the retreat that I haven't gotten to chat with in a long time
• the privilege of teaching in such a culturally diverse school.
• International Appreciation Week at my school...a week full of fun events that my class has absolutely LOVED. 
• a class full of kids that genuinely do enjoy each other's company.
• popsicles helping my sore throat feel just a little better.
• the rare afternoon nap that gets me through a long day.
• a friend that loaned me a pair of flip flops when the pair I was wearing broke.
• plans for Thanksgiving so I don't have to be by myself.
• that my Thanksgiving plans include the consuming of turkey.
• God answering prayers in His own time, which often isn't when I want, but rather when God sees is best for me.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

The 38th Dear ______ Post...posted a day late because I was gone this weekend at Women's Retreat

Dear 6, You're the number of weeks (minus 3 days) 'til I get to see my family again. And after this latest health scare, I'm even more ready to get there.

Dear Daddio, You are my hero and I love and miss you. That's all. :)

Dear Senegal Women's Missionary Retreat, You were this weekend. I've been looking forward to you for a while. It was so nice to get together with a lot of my fellow English-speaking missionary ladies and spend time in fellowship and worship of our Savior.

Dear Goodies from America, A friend sent you to me this week via a co-worker coming back this way. I love how I got some things I requested and then I got some things I needed but hadn't said anything. Isn't it fun how God works things out like that? :)

Dear Red Velvet Cake (from scratch), I made you for the first time this past Monday for a co-worker's birthday. And believe it or not, you were pretty tasty... :)

Dear High School Reunion, I'll be attending you this coming summer. It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years. Where did the time go?

Dear Chopped (the tv show), You're one of my favorite shows. And thanks to an iTunes gift certificate from a friend, I was able to buy the current season of you. I'm looking forward to watching the first episode tonight during dinner.

Dear 6 Hour Time Difference Between Senegal and the USA, You're actually working out better for me than your younger sibling, 5 Hr Difference, did, due to my parents' schedules. So thanks for showing up with this latest time change. I may be one of the few people living overseas that actually likes you. :)

Dear Chili, I made you for dinner the other night celebrating the soon-coming cool season here in Dakar and you were quite tasty :)

Dear Obama, (the ice cream), You're still my favorite flavor of ice cream. I guess since President Obama was re-elected, you'll stick around. Yay for that! 

Dear Obama, (the President), You were re-elected, so you'll get to live in the White House for 4 more years. Congrats. I will pray for you and I will respect you as the leader of my country.  

Dear Sad, You're how I've felt after reading the Facebook statuses of some Christians I know. I may not be his number 1 fan, but he's still my president. And the last I checked, we're supposed to pray for and respect those in authority over us. He may do things wrong. He may have messed up in the last 4 years. He may believe in things that go against the Word of God. But are we better than him? Are any of us perfect? No. Sin is sin. Now who said..."Those without sin cast the first stone..." Oh yeah, the only perfect person. I'm just saying... It makes me sad that Christians are often so quick to condemn others for voting in Obama, or to condemn Obama himself. But aren't we, as Christians, supposed to be a witness to others? Aren't we supposed to show the love of Christ to others? 

November Photo Challenge Days 5-11

In case you're wondering what the November Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 5's prompt was "5 o'clock..."

At 5:00 a.m., I was (for the first time ever) making a red velvet cake from scratch. 

Day 6's prompt was "A Favorite Thing..."

This will always be one of my most favorite things...my Bible. I'm thanking God today that His promises are true!

Day 7's prompt was "Reflection..."

When I looked in the mirror in my living room/kitchen area this morning, this is what I saw. There's a large bottle of water on the table that will have to be used to wash the dirty dishes left in the sink. We've had major water cuts the past week, leaving my building to only having running water in the wee hours of the morning. Boo to that!

Day 8's prompt was "Something You Do Everyday..."

Every night I fill up a water bottle (using water from my water filter) and then freeze it for work the next day. 

Day 9's prompt was "Small..."

We did Jellybean Math in 1st Grade today. They love these little candies :)

Day 10's prompt was "Can't Live Without..."

This card was in a gift basket I got at the Women's Retreat this weekend. And I thought it was perfect for today's prompt. I can't live without my God. He gives me hope and joy and peace. He gives me the gift of His Holy Spirit. I just can't imagine life without Him. *And since it's blurry, the verse is Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as your trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Day 11's prompt was "Night..."

...watching a new episode of Chopped while eating dinner.

Thankful Thursday #4

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• my dad making it through a heart attack and subsequent heart surgery earlier this week.
• the knowledge that exactly 6 weeks from today, I'll get to see my family again!
• the knowledge that exactly 6 weeks from today, I'll get to FINALLY meet my niece!
• a Women's Retreat this coming weekend with my fellow missionary ladies serving in Senegal :) 
• being able to take a Personal Day on Tuesday to finally get caught up on rest and grad school assignments.
• the hottest month of the year (in Senegal) finally being over.
• finally being able to get my hair cut this past Friday.
• the knowledge that Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away. Bring on the turkey! :)
• the knowledge that Christmas is only 47 days away :)
• a friend letting me use her shower when I didn't have any water.
• another friend letting me use her washing machine when I still didn't have water.
• people "back home" that continually support me through prayers, love and encouragement, and finances. 

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

November Photo Challenge Days 1-4

In case you're wondering what the November Photo Challenge is... This is a challenge to take a photo a day, using a prompt given here. I'll post my photos for the week every Sunday. Feel free to play along. :)

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Day 1's prompt was "The letter C..."

Since I forgot my camera at home and couldn't think of anything on my own that started with the letter C, I borrowed these pictures from my brother and sister-in-law of my niece in her costume. Isn't she the cutest ladybug ever?! :)

Day 2's prompt was "Color..."

I bought this canvas print not long after moving into my new apartment. I love the bright red! ...not to mention it's pictures from my favorite vacation (...maybe city) EVER :)

Day 3's prompt was "Breakfast..."

Frosted Wheats!!! I love love love these! And they're usually ridiculously expensive here but I finally found a cheaper box, so I grabbed it really quick before the store could change their mind and raise the price again :)

Day 4's prompt was "TV..."

I watched "Sweet Home Alabama" (my "I'm feeling homesick" movie) while eating breakfast this morning.

The 37th Dear _____ Post

Dear October, It was great hanging out with you. See you again in 362 days :)

Dear Wedding Proposal, I received you this past Saturday. While it was indeed sweet that you said "but you need a husband to take care of you since you have a pain in your foot," I still had to decline. Thanks for the laugh though :)

Dear Christmas Travel Playlist, During my spare time this week, I've been working on you. Of course you contain all of my Christmas music. But since I'll be making a roundtrip transatlantic flight, I figured I'd need a few more songs to use up my time. So you've turned into quite the eclectic mix of songs playlist. I can't wait to start listening to you.

Dear 7 weeks (minus 2 days), You're how long I have left before meeting my niece. I can't wait! :)

And speaking of my niece...

Dear Daisy, I got to skype with you and your Granny the other day while she was there baby-sitting you. I want to thank you for looking straight at the camera and smiling and pretending to listen to me. You are pretty awesome Little One. ...pretty awesome, indeed.

Dear Kids Club this Week, You were great! Everyone seemed to have a ball! I'm always so tired when I leave, but I always see those smiles and remember why it's so worth it. These kids are amazing! :)

Dear 1 Peter 4:7, I love you and am so thankful that you're true!

Dear Fall Play, I'm going to watch you tonight be performed by my students from my school. The name of the play is The Clumsy Custard Horror Show and the little I saw at the dress rehearsal the other night was pretty hilarious. So I'm excited for tonight's performance.

Dear Sore, You're how my foot still feels. It's been a week now. I'd appreciate it if you'd go away...

Dear Grad School, You're kicking my tail right now. I feel like I'm struggling to keep my head above water at times. It seems like every time I get caught up another big, hard assignment knocks me back down. ...frustrating! BUT on the bright side, I'll be finished with you this coming May and that feels incredibly awesome :)

Dear Water, You went out in my building yesterday and you're still not back (and the rumor mill says it could be out all weekend).. Can I just say that you came at an incredibly awful time? I really wanted (needed) a shower last night because 1) I got a haircut yesterday. 2) my hands were stained from an art project I did with my class. 3) It's incredibly dusty/sandy this time of year in Dakar. and 4) I have to do quite a bit of baking and cooking tomorrow... I used up all the water I had in water bottles last night except for a tiny bit for brushing my teeth and drinking this morning. Now I'm waiting 'til the little shop down the road will open to go buy a 10L bottle of water and then walk it back to my apartment. Oh well...at least I'm getting the exercise :)

Thankful Thursday #3

On this Thursday, I'm thankful for...

• the knowledge that I'll get to meet my niece exactly 7 weeks from today!
• a job that I love.
• a gift of banana bread from a student yesterday.
• the truth of Jeremiah 29:11.
• answered prayers.
• that Halloween's over.
• air conditioning in my classroom making these incredibly hot days not quite so unbearable.
• a class full of students that challenge (in a good way) me every single day. 
• that I haven't gotten the "bug" that's been passed through my class.
• a new book of stickers to make both grading and behavior incentives more fun :)
• a few true friends that I know I can count on to always provide a listening ear and shoulder to cry on (...and that if the roles were reversed I'd be the same way). 
• someone that makes tasty tortillas for a good price :)
• friends that invite me over (or let me invite myself) so I'm not always by myself.
• the knowledge that I'll be FINALLY finished with grad school this coming May!

What are you thankful for this Thursday?