Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Blogtember Day 1 - Where did you come from?

Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

I am an American and I am an Alabamian. I'm extremely proud to say both of statements. I love my home state and home country. Are they perfect places to live? No. Do they have their share of problems? You bet. But that's ok. They're still where I call "home." They're where I'm from. 


My family has definitely helped to make me into the person I am today. I was so blessed to be raised in a loving, Christian home. My parents and grandparents taught me by example of how godly people should act. I'm so grateful for their constant state of love, encouragement, and support. Again, I'll say that it's these people that have helped me become who I am today.









Monday, September 2, 2013

Blogtember

Hi Blog Readers! I'm linking up with Jenni and a few other bloggers and participating in "Blogtember," where we'll write a blog post each day in September (starting tomorrow), using a prompt found on Jenni's blog. Want to join the fun? You can find the list of prompts here.




Sunday, September 1, 2013

I'm thankful...


I'm thankful for the heritage I have. I'm thankful for parents and grandparents that have taught me what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I'm thankful for parents that raised me with the love of attending church and sharing the Word of God together. I'm thankful for the role models they've been. I'm thankful for their never-wavering support. I'm thankful for their prayers, their encouragement, and their support. I'm thankful for their love.

I'm thankful for friends here. I'm thankful for friends who offer a listening ear and good advice to go along with it. I'm thankful for friends who come over for a meal and stay for hours just chatting and catching up. I'm thankful for friends who invite me over and make me feel like part of their family. I'm thankful for friends who I can share stories of successes and failures with. I'm thankful for friends who trust me with their own stories. I'm thankful for friends who are simply just there.

I'm thankful for friends around the world. I'm thankful for emails and Facebook messages and Skype calls. I'm thankful for postcards and letters in the mail. I'm thankful for those messages of "how's it going" or "what's new" or "I'm praying for you." I'm thankful for them sharing in their lives - sharing about their latest adventure or achievement. I'm thankful for them telling me the little details of their lives like what they're studying this week in class or what new recipe they tried or  what funny thing their kid said. I'm thankful that even though we're a zillion miles away (or so it seems), that we can still keep up with each other's lives.

I'm thankful for the Word of God. I'm thankful for an instruction manual for my life. I'm thankful for the men, women, and children whose stories are included in this amazing book. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who gave them the words to write. I'm thankful that even though it was written a long, long time ago, it's still TRUE and applicable to our lives today. I'm thankful for the ability to read it anytime I want. I'm thankful for the help it gives me each and every single day.

I'm thankful for answered prayers. I'm thankful for a God that listens to me when I pray. I'm thankful for the countless ways He's answered prayers in my life through the years. I'm thankful that He gives us the desires of our hearts. I'm thankful that He knows exactly what we need when we need it and He'll give it to us. I'm thankful that He shows us time and time again His amazing faithfulness by answering our prayers.

And at the same time, I'm thankful for unanswered prayers. Although it sounds almost weird to say, I'm thankful that God hasn't answered every single prayer I've ever prayed. I'm thankful that, as I said earlier, God knows exactly what we need. I'm thankful that He has a plan for my life. And I'm thankful that He gives me grace and comfort and peace and patience when a prayer is not answered. I'm thankful for the lessons He's taught me through the years about acceptance and being thankful even when I don't understand the "why." I'm thankful that He's in control and not me. I'm thankful that He knows my future. I'm thankful that He's going to always take care of me.

I'm thankful for the people that have joined me in this adventure I've been called to. I'm thankful for the amazing ways God has used people to support me through encouragement, through prayer, through financial giving, and more. I'm thankful for the backing of these people, because I know it'd be so hard to do it without them. I'm thankful that God sees fit to bring these people along with me. I'm thankful that I'm not participating in this adventure alone. I'm thankful that while many of them will never visit Senegal in person, they can experience a little of this place I call home, through my letters, pictures, and stories. I'm thankful for the opportunity to bring just a little exposure to this part of the world.

I'm thankful for the calling God's placed on my life. I'm thankful that He chose ME - ME...someone who fails Him so often, someone who is by no means worthy. Yet, He did. He chose me! I'm thankful that God has equipped me for this calling. I'm thankful for the big and small ways He's allowed things to fall into place for me to fulfill this calling. I'm thankful for the students I've gotten the opportunity to teach over the past few years. I'm thankful for the gift of teaching students from all over the world. I'm thankful for the opportunity and blessing of teaching in a Christian school - where teaching about the Bible and the love of Jesus is a given. I'm thankful for the chance to pray with students and to show them the love of Jesus. I'm thankful for the chance to use the education I've received to further the Kingdom of God.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

The 77th Dear ____ Post

Dear Rain, We had you almost continuously for a little over 20 hours, starting yesterday morning and ending this morning. You made for interesting conditions walking home from a friend's house last night and made for an incredibly cool night last night. I did enjoy the nice breeze and cool temps you brought. But I'm not the biggest fan of being drenched while walking home or wondering if the streets are going to flood, causing damage to people's homes around the city. I think you should just come in lighter doses from now on. Cool things off for a bit. But try not to bring so much that floods occur. Yep. That's sounds good.

Dear Fried Rice, You've always been one of my most favorite foods. I made you earlier this week. You may not have been as good as some I've had before, but you still were pretty tasty. I think you're going to be a fairly common meal from now on... Yay for easy recipes! :)

Dear Fish Tacos, I made you with a friend last night. You are probably my favorite dish made with fish. ...so good!

Dear Sabrina (the movie), I watched you for the first time last night. I was a little skeptical at first. But you know what... You turned out to be a really good movie. Yay for happy endings! :)

Dear Working in My Classroom, You were my plan for all day today. But considering it looked like a monsoon had hit when I looked outside this morning, I chose to wait to start you 'til a little later. Now I'm here, finishing up this post, and I'll start on you. It's always nice working in my classroom, playing my worship music, and talking to all the students that walk by my window and stop to say hi.

Dear Alabama Football, You start back today. This day always makes me a little homesick. I wish I could be watching that first game with my family, cheering on our favorite team. But that's ok. I'm wearing my Bama shirt here and will watch at least part of you tonight before heading to bed. Here's hoping for a good season and yet another National Championship title. Roll Tide! :)

Dear Updated Teaching Certificate, I finally have the corrected version of you. You came a couple weeks ago, but included a (pretty major) typo. So after one phone call with an incredible rude employee of the State Dept., I finally got the corrected version of you in the mail yesterday. It makes me happy seeing that extra line at the top, saying I'm qualified to teach ESL. It makes all those years of staying up late (and waking up early) to study worth it.

Dear Teaching ESL, I think I'm starting to love you...finally! It's been hard. Anything new and unfamiliar is often difficult at first. But I'm finally feeling like I'm getting the hang of it. I think I'll always miss teaching elementary school - just like I've missed teaching Special Ed. since I left that. But I do enjoy you. I love feeling like I'm making a difference in the lives of my students. I love when that "lightbulb" goes off and a student finally gets something they've been struggling with. I love getting to know a new group of students. I love having students ask me to come watch them play sports or listen to them play music. I just love my job! :)

Dear Lunch, Tomorrow I'll be having you with the other Kids Club workers. I've been praying that we'd have some other staff members/adults be willing to join with us and help teach our kids. And we got them! I'm so thankful for these people. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our elementary kids this year! I'm so thankful to be a part of this awesome ministry!

Dear Cutest Animal Picture, You're what a friend sent me this week. She knows I love these cute little guys, so she emailed me this picture. It definitely made me smile :)

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Currently

I'm currently looking up recipes for new dinner ideas. Currently on the list... Stir fry with bean noodles ( yes, bean noodles!) :)

I'm currently full from supper. I made fried rice. It wasn't the best I've ever eaten, but it was the best I've ever made :)

I'm currently thankful for a chat with a friend I had today. I'm so thankful for people like this in my life.

I'm currently enjoying the breeze coming in my living room window. It's actually semi-cool for a change. Yay for it finally not feeling like a sauna! :)

I'm currently looking forward to a new "toy" I'll have in my classroom that will make my job just a little easier.  

I'm currently also looking forward to the weekend. Sleeping late, catching up on work, watching handball, and hanging out with my Jesus are on the agenda.

I'm currently feeling the effects of a long day at work. My body's telling me it's time to go to sleep, but my mind is still running 90 miles an hour. 

I'm currently smiling at the latest cutest-niece-ever picture that my brother just emailed me. Is she not the most adorable little girl ever?! :)


Sunday, August 25, 2013

The 76 Dear _____ Post

Dear Last Night and The Night Before, You're when I had people over for dinner. I so love getting the chance to have people over AND I love cooking so much more when I know I am cooking for others, and not just for myself.

Dear Kids Club, You're starting back up next month. I can't wait! And the best news of all... I FINALLY found some teachers (and a spouse of a teacher) that are willing to help! Seriously...these ladies (and 1 gentleman) are quite possibly my new favorite people! I'm so grateful for their willingness to help! :)

Dear Teaching ESL, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of you. I'm not going to lie. You were pretty difficult at first. You made me feel like a first year teacher all over again. You made me feel nervous and scared and worried. But over the past week and a half, I've come to enjoy you. I still miss being an elementary teacher. But, I do enjoy you and I'm grateful for you as my job.

Dear Lebanese Food, Our school is lucky enough to have you delivered twice a week by this amazing chef who specializes in your awesomeness. Deliveries started back this past Wednesday. You could totally hear happy cheers at lunch time :)

Dear Duck Dynasty, Season 4 of you came out last week. Let the awesome Cajun hilariousness begin :)

Dear Best Prayer Ever, A parent prayed you for me the other day. It was a sweet prayer, thanking God for me coming to DA and asking God to bless me in my work and ministry here. But the best part was at the end when he said, and I quote, "God send Miss Nichols a husband. Send him today God!" After I recovered from the shock of having just heard that prayer, I said "well, all right then" and smiled. I mean, what do you say to that? :)

Dear Bride and Prejudice, I watched you tonight with some friends. You're the first Bollywood movie I've ever watched. And I must say... You were quite hilarious. Thanks for the laughs :)

Dear Humidity, You've been pretty high here in Dakar. Feel free to lower yourself any day now...

Dear God, Thanks for loving me, for always being with me, for being in control of my life, and for always having my best interests at heart. Thanks for knowing what I need when I need it. 

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Currently

I'm currently sitting in my apartment, thankful for the breeze coming in from my balcony and the fan on inside. Man is it hot right now...

I'm currently regretting talking about how hot it was in Alabama. Alabama's hot and humid summers are pretty awful. Don't get me wrong. But they have NOTHING on Dakar!

I'm currently blasting worship music via itunes. I'm also currently wearing headphones so I don't bug all of my neighbors :)

I'm currently writing out meal ideas for the week. Meal planning BEFORE going to the grocery store versus AT the grocery store saves me mucho money :)

I'm currently thankful for good friends. What a blessing they are!

I'm currently full from supper. Bacon + eggs + toast with apple jelly = awesomeness!

I'm currently planning to do a little "light" reading this weekend so I can better help a student. What's on my list, you ask? Beowulf and The Hobbit. And just so you're aware, I'm currently kicking myself for not paying better attention in my high school English classes where I had to read these two.

I'm currently reading the best devotional I think I've ever read. It's so applicable to my life right now and I'm getting so much out of it. I'm so thankful that God put it in my path this summer.

I'm currently fighting a war against mosquitos. Why do they like me so much? Can't they take the hint and leave me alone? 

I'm currently enjoying my new position at school. It's still weird at times to not be the 1st grade teacher. It's still sad not having the recess break time with my elementary teacher buddies. But all in all, I really am enjoying myself. I love my students! And I love the way my schedule is laid out! I love how I'm finally putting all that coursework to good use. :)

I'm currently waiting 'til I can call my mom. Skype is such a wonderful thing.

I'm currently looking up prices of flights for a retreat I'm going on in December with my fellow Africa A/G missionaries. It'd be really nice if those prices would make a significant drop real soon... Of course, I won't hold my breath waiting on that to happen :)

I'm currently loving this picture of my niece that my brother emailed me today. She is so incredibly adorable.