The 35th Dear _____ Post

Dear Alabama vs Missouri Game, I got to watch you online and chat with my dad and brother throughout the game this past Saturday. It made me feel kind of like I was there watching with them. And to top it off, BAMA won! ...'twas a fun game to watch. That's for sure :)

Dear Thirty-One, I've always loved your products, but since they're priced ridiculously high, I haven't been able to purchase any of them. BUT someone sent me some money this week, with the instructions to, and I quote, "spend it on something FUN for you...something you normally wouldn't splurge and buy yourself." So I followed instructions like a good girl and bought a fun tote bag to use for school. How awesome is that?

Dear Report Cards, I finished you this past Sunday night. I also vowed at that moment to stop being such a procrastinator. So far, I've done pretty good. Here's hoping that it lasts :)

Dear Dinner Invite, I received you for this past Thursday night. You were so nice because 1) I didn't have to cook. 2) There was good company. 3) There was delicious food. 4) It's nice to be the one being invited and not just inviting every now and then. :)

Dear Harvest Fest at School, You were last night. Since I'd taught all morning, met with parents all afternoon, and then attended you, I didn't stay long. The need for sleep, and knowing I had to wake up early the next day, won me over.

Dear Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap, I had you last night at my school's Harvest Fest. Oh my goodness... so yummy! :)

Dear Air Conditioning, I just want you to know that I love you. Seriously... I do. :)

Dear Jeremiah 29:11, You've always been one of my favorite verses. But lately, God's been placing you on my heart more and more. I have a hard time remembering that I don't have to plan out every little detail of my life. God has that taken care of already. He's got a plan for my life. So now I just need to remember that more often. :)

Dear LOVE, You're how I feel about the picture below. My brother sent it to me this past weekend. My dad had been trying to get my niece to laugh and he succeeded. My brother said she was laughing so hard her little tongue was hanging out. Is she not the most precious thing ever?! I so love her! :)

October Photo Challenge Day 18

Today's prompt is "Made you smile today..."

Meet the 7 people that made me smile the biggest today (and every other week day). 

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And in case you're wondering what the October Photo Challenge is, you can find the list here. It looks like fun and I'm going to try my absolute hardest to stick to it.

Thankful Thursday #1

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

• God giving me a full night's sleep every night this week.
• a good hair day today. And yes, I know this is superficial, but since I have to have my yearbook photo taken this morning, I am definitely thankful for this one. :)
• the knowledge that my apartment will be nice and clean, dishes washed, and laundry done when I get home.
• an invite to dinner tonight, meaning I won't have to cook (and that someone invited me) for a change! :)
• knowing that next week is a 4 day work week.
• having 58 in Kids Club yesterday afternoon.
• having awesome high school and middle school helpers who enjoy helping with Kids Club.
• hearing a child say "Kids Club is the most awesomest place ever because you learn about God and have fun too."
• having a parent thank me for Kids Club and saying that her kids were happy (even more special because I felt so tired and felt like I hadn't done that great).
• a T.A. that makes copies for me since I really dislike having to do it myself.
• seeing my students excited about reading.
• the possibility of going to two different and new countries over Spring Break this year.
• my parents and brother and his family and myself all planning our family vacation next summer.
• my brother and sister-in-law sending me regular updates and pictures of my niece so I don't feel like I'm totally missing her growing up.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

October Photo Challenge Day 17

 Today's prompt is "Fruit..."

Today in Kids Club I began a two-week "series" on the Fruit of the Spirit. We had a fun Bible lesson, a fun game, a fun song, and a fun chant to say. The kids all seemed happy throughout our time and one girl even remarked as she was leaving, "Miss Nichols I'm so full of joy about Kids Club just like the Fruit of the Spirit is joy." :) 

This is my 4th year at my school. From the beginning, I've wanted to restart the Kids Club. They had it "many moons" ago, but none of the current elementary aged kids were around then. Anyways - it's honestly been a dream of mine to see it happen. We are blessed with an awesome group of kids. We really are. And we're blessed that we are a Christian school and can have a Kids Club - a time when students can learn more about the ONE TRUE God and about the love He has for us. 

Today was our third session of Kids Club. I'm the leader. I have an awesome group of volunteers, whom I absolutely LOVE! ...seriously, can't get any better than them :)

But do you want to know the best part? The best part is seeing these kids get excited about the Word of God, about the love of Jesus Christ, about the joy of being a Christian. We have students that come from literally all over the world. We have students whose families hold a variety of religious backgrounds/practices. We have students whose only chance to hear about God and His Word is during school. 

And do you know what? I may be extremely tired by the time I leave on Wednesday afternoons. But it is so worth it. It is so worth it to see the joy on a child's face after hearing a Bible story or praying the sinner's prayer. 

Seriously...how awesome is that? :)

P.S. I do realize there's no picture for this post. That's because 1) I forgot to take one and 2) I believe the words speak louder than the picture would in this case. :) 

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And in case you're wondering what the October Photo Challenge is, you can find the list here. It looks like fun and I'm going to try my absolute hardest to stick to it.

October Photo Challenge Day 16

Today's prompt is "Something you wrote..." 

I meet with a group of co-workers every week for a Bible/Book study on Mark Batterson's book, Soulprint. The questions in the picture above are what our leader asked us last night. We're supposed to think about it and then come back next week and share. So I just wrote (well, typed) that on my iPad as I was rereading my notes from last night. 

What is the dream on my heart? 

I thought I'd be real with you peeps, my loyal blog readers and tell you the dream(s) God has placed on my heart. ...ranging from the "minor" and superficial to the "deep" and spiritual.

I have always dreamed of getting married and having a family. I've always dreamed of working side-by-side with my husband and our family on the mission field. I've always dreamed of working in an orphanage (maybe even as a teacher) in a poverty stricken country, caring for the kids that have been cast aside, abandoned, or just have had a string of "bad luck" which has left them with no one to look after them. 

And past my own selfish dreams... 

I dream of my family being healed. My parents have had, and still do have, major health concerns. I dream of those being healed and gone. I dream of them being healthy enough to travel to visit me here in Dakar, so I can show them the place I now call home. I dream of my grandparents being healed...of aunts and uncles and cousins being healed. 

I dream of my home country returning to its roots of putting God first. 

But most of all... I dream of my entire family accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I dream of the day when during my prayer time, I won't have to ask for it to happen, but rather I can praise that it's already happened. 

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And in case you're wondering what the October Photo Challenge is, you can find the list here. It looks like fun and I'm going to try my absolute hardest to stick to it.

October Photo Challenge Day 15

Today's prompt is "Dinnertime..." 

What do you get when you mix...

and

and

and

and 

and the cooked version of

all marinated in 

You get my dinner, of course. :) 

I made a really yummy pasta salad last night and had leftovers tonight. I used Olive Garden's Italian Dressing as my marinade and it was AWESOME if I do say so myself :)

P.S. Who knew you could actually buy this delicious dressing? Not me... Then a few days before I was leaving the States this summer, I made a last minute Sam's trip and found this yummy awesomeness! 

P.S.S. I accidentally left my camera at school. That's why I let nice Mr. (Miss??) Google supply my pictures for me for tonight's post. :)

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And in case you're wondering what the October Photo Challenge is, you can find the list here. It looks like fun and I'm going to try my absolute hardest to stick to it.

Teaching the Teacher in Me

I've always considered grading papers my absolute LEAST favorite part of my job. I seriously do not enjoy it at all. I love lesson planning, teaching, doing informal assessments, etc. But to have to sit and actually grade papers...well, I've just never been a fan.  

...but earlier this week, that changed. The Lord seriously pricked my heart about this. While it may not be the most fun thing, it is indeed a necessary part of my job. And the Lord really spoke to me and made me realize that I should use the time while I'm grading to do more than just complain about having to grade papers. I should use this time to pray for my students (...that is, pray for them more than I already do). 

So now, when I'm grading papers, I'm also praying. When I finish a stack of papers, I stop and pray for my students. I pray that God would minister into their little lives. I pray that God would help me to be the best teacher I can be for them. I pray for their families. I pray for their home countries.  And I pray, most of all, for their souls. Whether they come from Christian, Muslim, or any other religion...it doesn't matter. I pray that their little eyes, ears, minds, and hearts would be open to the TRUTH...to accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.