What's Up February

It's time for this month's What's Up Wednesday post. Aren't you excited?! :)

*Linkup with Mel, Shay, Shay, and Sheaffer. 

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

What am I eating this week?
I made up a couple pounds of taco meat this weekend and put it in the freezer. So I'm thinking this week's meals will include tacos, taco salad, taco soup, and the like. I did try out a new (to me) restaurant in Dakar this past weekend called Southern Fried Chicken. I had the chicken BBQ and cheese sandwich and fries. Yum!

What am I reminiscing about? 

Oh my... I sure do miss my nieces. I've been having a lot of "niece withdrawals" type moments lately, so I've been going through the pictures on my phone,

What am I loving?

I am definitely loving these cooler temps we've been having lately. In fact, there was one night earlier this week when it was 4 degrees cooler here in Dakar than it was at home in Alabama. And I'm by no means complaining. I would much rather be cold than be hot and sweating! I so love cool season in Dakar!

What have I been up to?

...getting settled here in Dakar. A really good friend blessed me with the gift of shopping for decor (and just stuff, in general) for my new apartment. So I've been slowly collecting a few odds and ends here and there and am almost finished setting up my apartment. I'll have a picture "open house" soon... Be on the look out :) But for now, here's a "sneak peek..."

What am I dreading?

Honestly... I'm dreading April 19th. It'll be the 1 year anniversary of my dad's death. Every time I look at an April calendar... Every time I think of that date... Every time I see his picture while scrolling through my phone... I get this ginormous knot in the pit of my stomach and the tears start. That's what I'm most dreading. And to be honest, I'm thinking of just taking a personal day that day...

What am I working on? 

I'm currently working on thank you cards for all the amazing churches and individuals who have partnered with me by financially supporting my ministry here in Senegal. I can't wait 'til they're finished and I can show them off. Give me just a couple more days...

What am I excited about?

...all sorts of exciting plans for my class! I love planning and dreaming and thinking up all sorts of coolness to share with my kids. I am so extremely blessed to have a class full of kids that truly do want to learn and explore. So it's super exciting planning new and more challenging things for them. I love it!

What am I watching?

I downloaded Woodlawn based off the recommendation of a friend and I think I'm going to watch it this weekend. Any one local want to join? Movie watching party!! :) And if I ever finish reading The Martian, then I'll watch that too. But I don't see me finishing the book any time soon... :)

What am I reading?

...all about a Speech program, called the LiPS Program. I'm loving it too! Learning all about how the brain and the mouth and a whole lot of other body parts all work together to help us produce speech. I love this stuff!

What am I listening to?

My current playlist is so random. ...like almost every genre of music. I laugh sometimes at how I can have the old time-y southern gospel version of Lily of the Valley be playing right before Uptown Funk and everything in between. But do you want to know what song is currently stuck in my head? It's one I played for my kids in class yesterday... It's The Plant Song, sang to the tune of the Cups song. They loved it :)

What am I wearing?

I'm wearing long sleeves, socks, scarves, and all sorts of things normally reserved for cooler temps. And I absolutely LOVE it!

What am I doing this weekend?

My school's Senior Cafe is this weekend. It's like a talent show and a lot of the students, staff, and parents compete. Even a few of my 4th graders are joining in the fun. It's always good for a night of laughter. Past that, I'm not sure... Anyone got something exciting planned I could join in on? :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

Spring Break! Let's face it. I love my kids. I do. But 2 whole weeks off from work?! Yes, please :)

What else is new?

I've lost some weight. I haven't been trying terribly hard, but that's about to change. At any rate, a few pounds lost is better than no pounds lost. Right?! :)

And then every month we have a "special" extra question to answer. This month's question is... 

What's your favorite Easter memory? 

Honestly, it'd have to be last year... A few weekends before Easter, my sister-in-law took my nieces to an Easter Egg Hunt put on by my church and had the sweetest time. I still have the pictures from that day etched into my memory. And then I got to hang out with my parents at their church on the actual day of Easter. Who would've thought that just a few short weeks after that, we would've lost my dad? It makes me so incredibly glad that I chose to spend Easter Sunday with them, especially now, knowing that was the last Easter I'd have with my dad..

Wednesday's Letters

Dear Olympics, You're happening at DA this week. My 4th graders are so excited! They've been "training" during recess and lunch, trying to run as fast as they can and beat their previous times. It's so cute to hear them talking about it!

Dear Mr. DeMaio, You have quite possibly the coolest educational musical videos ever! My 4th graders love you! You're making reviewing our Multiplication Facts so much more fun!

Dear Reading, I'm so incredibly thankful that my entire class loves you. ...like, seriously loves you! They beg for reading time. I even had one kid ask for an extended reading time as a reward. What kid dos that?! I love it!

Dear Little House on the Prairie, You're what I'm using for our class read aloud. They think life "in the old days" must have been so awesome. And it's hilarious to hear them say they wish they could have lived then. Oh if they only knew... :)

And speaking of Little House on the Prairie...

Dear LOL'd, You're what a literally did when a child was shocked to find out I was 30 and then proceeded to tell me that not only was I old, I was old like Little House on the Prairie, old. Haha!

Dear 1 Corinthians 13 for Teachers, I found you online the other day and you tied in perfectly to my topic for staff devotions the other day. Thanks for being available, for making me smile, and for being a great reminder for me.

Dear Trail Mix, We made you in 4th Grade the other day and since we had such a huge batch, I decided to leave it in the classroom for my friends to enjoy each day. They've now decided that I should ALWAYS have snacks for them in class. Funny kids :)

Dear I love you Zizzie, You're what I got to hear my oldest niece say when I called the other day. Hearing her sweet little voice was the perfect way to end my evening. Oh do I miss that one and her baby sister :)

Dear The Seemingly Little Things, Sometimes you mean the most in life. ...like a homecooked meal from a friend, a sweet email from a student's parent, a hug from a student, and so much more.

Dear Speech Pathology, You're what I wish I had training in. You'd so come in handy right now...

Dear Getting Cooler, I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this, but you're what seems to finally be happening in Dakar. Low 70s?! What?! :)

Dear Dust, You are EVERYWHERE. Do you hear me? EVERYWHERE. Can you please chill out a bit? I'd really appreciate it :)

Dear Homemade Salsa and Homemade Peanut Butter, You're what I bought a couple weekends ago. Just so you know... You're delicious! Yum!

Dear Dream Big, You're what I tend to do. ...especially when it comes to helping the kids in my care. I want to do whatever it takes to get the help they need/deserve. And it frustrates me big time when there's something I can't do.

Dear I'm a Teacher, I love that I can say you. I love that you help define me. You make me so incredibly happy. You may be the reason why I'm often exhausted at the end of the day. But overall, you really do make me happy. Thank you!

Happy Birthday to this guy...

On this day 29 years ago, I lost my title as Only Child and was promoted to Big Sister. 

At the young age of 18 months, you obviously can't fully grasp the serious awesomeness that title bestows upon you :)

It gives you a playmate. It gives you a partner in the "our mom made us wear this ridiculousness" game called life. It gives you a friend for life...

It gives you someone to help out and maybe even someone to look up to...

Over the years things changed. He was no longer the annoying little boy that got me in trouble all the time. He was the elementary school kid, ready to beat the mess out of some middle schooler who wanted to mess with me on the bus. He was my confidant, who I could tell all my secrets to and he'd never tell. He was the one who calmed my nerves on the way to school that morning, when that girl ran a stop sign and hit our car, spinning it out of control, leaving me thinking we were going to die. He was the one I missed when I went to college and I didn't have anyone to talk to anymore on my drives to school. 

He was the one who made me beam with pride, through my happy tears, the day he helped me get the title of Sister-in-Law. 

And then a few years later, he was the man who helped to give me the greatest title yet, Aunt Zizzie. 

He is my airport dropper offer and picker upper and always gives me a hug, even when it might "hurt his image." :)

He makes me laugh and always can lift my spirits.

We're both grown-ups now. But he'll always be my little Bubba :)

And do you want to know something?

I am so immensely proud of the man he's become. If I find a man even half as great as he is one day, I'll be happy :)

I love you Dude.

I hope today is your best birthday yet! You deserve it!

Life Lately

Life lately has included...

...a really long day of flying, which included two layovers and a whole row of seats to myself on the last flight (hello sleeping on the plane).

...more walking and more sand.

...meeting the 10 main reasons I came back to Senegal early.

...and getting used to a new classroom.

Life lately has involved finding ways to stay cool, like having a ton of ice and buying little bags of ice cold filtered water on the street.

It's also included buying fruit from a vendor, set up outside in the heat and sand and so on...

...and drinking from my absolute most favorite mug :)

...and celebrating Valentine's Day with my class, complete with a mail box that "magically" produced fun prizes, cute little Valentines cards, and homemade pita pizza and trail mix.

 

...watching softball games with a great view and enjoying my feet touching cool grass again.

...eating yummy food, like tasty salads, Brazilian awesomeness, N'ice Cream (hello obama - the ice cream), frozen yogurt, a friend's homemade lasagna, and homemade donuts given to the staff one morning.

...dusty days with high temps and water cuts.

...random sights from trips down the highway, like goats for sale, horse carts included in a traffic jam, brightly colored buses (car rapides), and Nescafe carts selling coffee and phone cards.

And last, but certainly not least, life lately has included all sorts of little "God things" that have made me smile, like getting one corner of my apartment set up with some of my favorite treasures, a beautiful bouquet that included some of my most favorite flowers, and a beautiful sunset.

10 Months

It's been a while since I wrote a Letters post. And while I'd rather be writing a happy, full of smile inducing words, post, this topic is what's on my mind...


Dear 10 months,

On Friday, you'll be how long it's been since my dad passed away. They say time heals all wounds. Well, some days, I think it has gotten somewhat easier. But others... Other days it just hits me like a ton of bricks. It's the little things that trigger the biggest emotions, like...

...leaving the U.S. to go back to Senegal and wishing so very much that I could hear him say "I love you and I'm proud ot you" once more, but knowing I can't. 

...watching a tv show showing a wedding and being reminded, yet again, that he'll never be able to walk me down the aisle one day. 

...seeing a friend's pregnancy announcement on Facebook and being reminded, yet again, that my kids will never know their Pawpaw like my nieces did.

...needing the answer to a question that only he could answer.

...pulling out my Go Navy t-shirt and not being able to wear it because it makes me cry.

...being so excited to be back in Senegal and at DA and wanting to tell him all about it, yet not having that option.

I really try hard to put on this super strong, brave front and 9 times out of 10, I do that. But y'all, it's hit me hard lately. And it all started because of an episode of Bringing up Bates, I've been so excited to see, because one of the kids got married. Well, I watch it and all I can do is cry - like ugly cry - through the whole thing, because all I can think is of what I'll be missing at my own wedding. 

So then every little thing reminds me of him. ...a ball game, a book, a t-shirt, a story told by a friend. So there is more crying. 

Now here I sit, writing this post, with a few tears slowly falling down my cheeks...

But you know...

I'm ok. It's hard. 

But sometimes life is hard.

And as crazy as it sounds, I'm glad. I'm glad for the hard times because they make me appreciate the easy times. The bad in life has made me open my eyes to the good in life. I appreciate the family I do have still with on me on this earth so much more. I appreciate the  friends who have stuck with me during the most difficult part of this journey I call life. 

I truly appreciate so much.

But most of all...

I am eternally grateful to my heavenly Father, who in His infinite grace, mercy, and love, has chosen to put up with an occasional emotional mess like me. I so appreciate the little reminders He places in my path - reminders of happier times, of good times. I appreciate His comfort and peace and strength that only He can give.

And I appreciate that He doesn't chastise me for having my moments of crying and weakness. I'm thankful that He allows me to cry it out and be sad and even ask Why. I'm thankful that He stands by me and loves me and cares for me, in the midst of my tearful moments. And I'm thankful that He wipes away my every tear and replaces them with a smile.

So 10 months of grief, while I do wish you weren't a part of my life, I'll embrace you. And I'll try my hardest to remember the good and not just the bad...

Sincerely, 
Me

Missions Q & A, Round 3

About 5 months ago I wrote my first Q & A post about missions (which you can read here). And then about a week and a half ago, I wrote my second Q & A post on the topic (which you can read here). I still had a few questions on the back burner, so to speak, so I knew I'd be writing this post soon. But I just didn't realize how soon :)

I've received at least one email a day since arriving last week about my life and ministry here in Senegal. So I thought I'd answer some of them today...

The most commonly asked question lately is...

How does it feel to be back?

Honestly, it feels normal. It feels like I'm home again. It really does.

What's been the best part?

I love being back at DA. I love being with old friends again. I love this place, the culture, the people... There's too much to list here :)

I know every day isn't a bed of roses. What's the worst part?

Hmm... It's supposed to be "Cool Season" right now, but it's so not. It's been in the high 80s or low 90s almost every day since I got back. And it's so ridiculously dusty. Ugh! Sand and dust EVERYWHERE! Say hello to dust and coughing lungs...

How many students do you have?

I have 10 students - 9 boys and 1 girl. I wrote a post about them yesterday. If you missed it, you should check it out here. 

Did you know any of your kids already?

Yes. I'd taught 2 of them before. And then I knew a few from Kids Club over the years.

What has surprised you the most?

There have been a few things. #1's answer has surprised me a little... Past that, I'm surprised at how exhausted I am after teaching all day. Teaching Special Ed in the States was super hard and FAR more work, but teaching the same group of kids ALL day is tiring (albeit, fun). Also, I'm surprised at all the new places (businesses/restaurants) that have popped up since I left. I'm surprised at all the American products you can get here now, too.

So you can get lots of American stuff now?

Yes. There are so many more things now. And even more stores carrying those products have opened up. I can't afford a lot of it because it's just so terribly expensive. BUT it is nice to know those things are there in case I need them.

Are many of your old friends there?

My "Best Bud" is back in the States. That's a bit of a bummer :( But, yes, there are a lot of my close friends still here. And the AG has boomed big time here in Senegal. We have a lot of AG missionaries here now. So that's nice!

How is fundraising going?

It's going okay. My cash money is almost completely raised. Once all promised donations hit my account, I'll only need a little over $1000. So that part is awesome! The monthly commitments are a slightly different story, though... I've had a lot promised, but unfortunately, many of those promises haven't been sent in yet. So until they reach my missions account in Springfield, MO, they don't count. So I still need a LOT for that. 

What is the best way to send you financial support?

The quickest way is by doing so online. Just click the link here and follow the prompts to give. You'll be able to choose if you want it to be a cash (one-time) donation or a recurring (monthly) commitment. By doing it this way, it'll reach my account in just a day or two.

If you'd prefer to do it, using pen and paper, go to the link here, print off the form, fill it out, adding in my name Elisabeth Nichols, my account number 2947943, and my region Senegal and mail it in to the address in the upper right corner of the form, along with your donation. By doing it this way, it'll reach my account in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the speed of the mail.

Can you receive mail?

YES! Packages are appreciated, but they are very expensive. But a simple card or letter would cost only a little over $1.00. So mail away :) My address is:

Dakar Academy
Elisabeth Nichols
B.P. 3189
10200 Dakar, Senegal, West Africa

How can we be specifically praying for you?

Help me pray that my financial support gets raised. Help me pray against sickness and danger. Help me pray for patience and strength in working with my students (quite the hyperactive, squirrely bunch). And help me pray that I am a LIGHT in this DARK land I live in.