What's Up February

  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?

We now have a taco truck that comes to our school once a week. It's quite pricey, so it's definitely a splurge, and not one I feel I should get that often. But the food is delicious. So I treated myself to some tacos and homemade guacamole the other day. So yummy!

What am I reminiscing about?

These sweet memories of my nieces with my Mom and Dad. My dad was in a rehab facility at the time, recovering from major fall and was super weak and sick. And my brother and sister-in-law brought the girls to his room to see him. My oldest niece was super happy to stand or sit by her Pawpaw and chatted away with him for the longest time. My dad loved it! It was super sweet and definitely a memory I'll always cherish. 

 What am I loving?

I am definitely loving the cooler temps we've been having this week. It's been so nice to wear long pants and long sleeves and not feel like I'm going to have a heatstroke for a change.

What have I been up to?

As one of the Co-Sponsors for our 10th Grade Class, I spent a lot of time working (with the kids) prepping for the delivery of various valentines fun. It made for a crazy month or so of work. But it was fun. And I loved (love) working with this class. So I enjoyed it :)

What am I dreading? 

We had a tiny, little 4-legged visitor in our classroom yesterday. Such is life when your doors open up to the outdoors. At any rate - Thankfully, one of my co-workers helped us set a couple traps and even more than that... Hopefully, the mouse was scared off by the adults screaming and laughing and the two little boys in our room chasing after the mouse. A friend joked that it's never a dull moment in our classroom. That's for sure :)

What am I working on?

I'm planning to make a big pot of gumbo this weekend. I've been working on finding all the ingredients for it. 'tis quite complicated when you don't live in the US and near grocery stores stocked with all the necessary ingredients. So I might need to get a little creative. But that's okay. It's going to be good no matter what. Or at least, that's what I keep telling myself anyways :)

 What am I excited about?

I'm excited about this weekend coming up. I'll have to work on lesson planning. But there's nothing else on the calendar but that and church. So yay for being able to take it a little easier than usual...

What am I watching?

I've been watching the latest season of Guy's Grocery Games. 

What am I reading?

I've been reading The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke. I saw it in our school library and picked it up. I've gotten a slow start to it, but that's only because my brain has been fried by the time I've gotten home from work each day since then. But my goal is to finish it up either tonight or tomorrow night. It's a good read. I'm enjoying it. 

What am I listening to?

Nothing new or exciting :)

What am I wearing?

I wore this fun piece of headgear on Valentine's Day. It was a last minute find at Dollar Tree while back in the US at Christmas time. I thought it was fun. What do you think? Does it suit me? Ha! :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

Lesson planning, lots of lesson planning...

What am I looking forward to next month?

Spring Break!

But before that, I have all sorts of fun projects and experiments and lessons and activities to do with my students. I may be working all the time (or so it seems) to do the planning and prep work for all of my people and be tired pretty much all the time. But it's worth it. They are getting a pretty awesome education and I'm loving every chance I get to pour into their lives, to teach them new content and skills, and to simply work with their incredible selves :)

What else is new?

Nothing :)

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

Oops. Wednesday ended up being busy/crazy and I didn’t leave work ‘til 6:50pm. Thus, I’ll now say…

Happy Thursday, Y’all 

Anywho…

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. 

February's prompts are...

  * loving * making * taking * wanting * wondering *

I'm currently loving this recipe for stuffed peppers that a friend shared with me. It was super easy, delicious, and inexpensive. And since I made them in the instant pot, they took no time at all. So it was a total win! And one I'll definitely be making again.

I'm currently making up my mind on what my Word of the Year will be. I've written a blog post on this for the past few years. Instead of a traditional New Year's Resolution, I pray about, and choose a word to focus on for the year ahead. Last year's word was grace. And this year? This year, I have a few ideas that keep floating around in my head. So, I'm still praying about which would be best...

I'm currently taking the time on the weekends to meal prep. It makes my life so much easier. Especially on those nights when I get home far later than I’d prefer (which seem to happen far more often here lately than one would hope)…

I'm currently wanting to brag on our school’s 10th graders. I’ve enjoyed working with them on their big class fundraiser. And we still have another week and a half to go… They’re such hard workers and definitely have made my lunchtimes and times after school the past week and a half far less boring :)

I'm currently wondering a lot. But I'll keep most of those wonderings to myself :)

And since it's my blog and I can, here are a few more...

I'm currently planning to do some baking and Valentines prepping with some of our 10th graders this weekend. Well, actually, I'll be mostly supervising. They'll be doing the bulk of the baking. But still... :)

I'm currently feeling like the cat in the image below.

I'm currently buying nothing. But for the past few weekends, I've been stocking up on items for our 10th graders to sell as part of our big fundraiser. And between all we’ve bought, my classroom is full. Candy and sodas and toys and more… 

I'm currently missing my mama and wishing she didn't live so far away at the moment. 

And that's about it for me at the moment.

So what about you?

What are you currently up to?

What's Up January

 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?

I had big plans to cook this past weekend. But due to various reasons (some within my control and some out), I ended up not cooking. Plus this week and next week, I'm working through lunch each day. And I may or may not be eating a big breakfast and then just skipping lunch OR eating a late lunch. ...or taking a bag of goldfish like the image below, and calling it a day. Ha! :)

What am I reminiscing about?

Christmas Break with my family - It was such a nice trip. I enjoyed spending time with them, taking it easy, and having some down time, too. One of the hardest parts of my job is being away from family so much. So when my ministry work is "on pause," so to speak (i.e. school breaks), and I can afford to (since it's 100% a personal expense and I never use ministry funds for it), I definitely choose to spend time with my family. It's such a blessing.

 What am I loving?

I love that I can follow the call God placed on my life - to teach some of the most incredible kids I have ever met. I love that!

What have I been up to?

We started back to school a couple weeks ago, so I’ve been busy with that. I plan for 16 lessons, fit into 8 class periods (some happening simultaneously). Granted, two of those aren't daily classes. But still... It obviously takes a lot of time to plan for all of that. So, it seems to take up a lot of my time. I actually do like lesson planning, for the most part, though. So it's not all bad :)

What am I dreading? 

I've been dealing with a fairly persistent headache. It's not a migraine, thankfully. It's more like a tension headache. And while it's not going on all the time, it is happening at some point almost every single day. Obviously, it's getting old and my brain, both literally and figuratively, is tired of dealing with it. 

What am I working on?

I’m one of the class sponsors for our 10th grade class. And we're in the middle of our big fundraiser of the year. It makes for a super busy month or so for them/me. But I’ve enjoyed it. These kids are awesome!

 What am I excited about?

My students, typically, are unable to complete assignments in the traditional way. So I'm excited when I find resources and ideas that work for my students. Whether it's a new way of practicing our Spelling Words using the computer or an interactive slideshow on the various organ systems or creating a Boys vs Girls game with a Q&A video series on all things genetics or breaking out the multi-colored markers to help us as we analyze a passage from the Bible. 

What am I watching?

Nothing new - Honestly, by the end of the day, I have zero desire to watch a screen. Plus, I'm a big fan of quiet once I get home in the evenings. So if I'm being honest, watching TV/movies holds little to no appeal for me at the moment. 

What am I reading?

The other day, I started reading my 3rd book of 2022 - The Little Antique

Also - I'm reading The Incredible Journey with a couple of my students. It's been fun re-reading this story, whose movie version was one of my absolute favorites as a child. My guys are loving it. So I am too :)

What am I listening to?

I may have said this earlier... But honestly, by the time I get home each evening, my brain just wants some quiet time. So I'm not playing a lot of music these days. I do typically put on worship music while lesson planning/prepping in the afternoons or on the weekends, though. So I suppose I am listening to some music every now and then :)

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

Lesson Planning

Church

Shopping for the 10th Grade Class

Paperwork for the AG

And hopefully resting at some point too

What am I looking forward to next month?

Lots of things happening at school... The culmination of our big fundraiser for the 10th graders happens on Valentines Day. Then there are a couple other events or projects happening next month that I'm looking forward to.

What else is new?

Nothing that I can think of :)

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. 

January's prompts are...

  * anticipating * organizing * reading * resolving * scheduling *

I'm currently anticipating a long, semi tiring day. I left my mom’s house at 4:00 this morning (AL time) and I won’t get to my apartment in Senegal ‘til around the same time (AL time) tomorrow. Here’s hoping I can sleep on some of my flights.

I'm currently organizing nothing. But I have plans to be doing this in my apartment over the course of the next few months. Stay tuned :)

I'm currently reading my 1st book of the year. I also have a couple new books loaded on my iPad, ready to read on the plane, if I finish this one.

I'm currently resolving to embrace the concept of REST more this year. Physical rest and spiritual rest, that is…  My teaching position and my mission duties require a lot of time outside of my normal 7:00-3:00 job hours. Rest time isn’t something I have a ton of, but I’m going to protect what little I do have and use it wisely. 

I'm currently scheduling… Well, I should say, I’m currently reworking my schedule, planning out lessons and such, getting ready to teach the new (to me) classes I’ll have this semester. I’ll be teaching 1 new daily class and 1 new weekly class. That bring my total to 18 classes I have to plan for each week, not counting the study halls that meet in my room. It’s a lot. But thankfully, I have someone helping me with a few of those each day.

And since it's my blog and I can, here are a few more...

I'm currently feeling relieved to being done with grad school. I’ll still be busy with work this semester. But at least my nights will be free again. :)

I'm currently sitting at the airport, waiting to board my first of 3 flights, taking me back to Senegal. The goodbyes/see ya laters stunk. That's for sure. But at the same time, it'll be good to get back, to get back into a routine, and to see my people again...

I'm currently thinking back to all the fun I had with my family over Christmas Break. On New Years Eve, my mom and I introduced my nieces to the “candy cane game” and we all laughed and laughed as we played. 

I’m currently also thinking about my nieces. I’m so blessed to have had this time with them. 

 

I’m currently thinking, too, about their Mama and Daddy. They’re such great parents. And great people, in general. I kind of like them a little :)

And of course, in keeping with the theme…

I’m currently thinking about my own Mama. She and I both said, at multiple times, that this trip has been one of our best spent together. I hate that I have to leave her, but I’m so grateful for her support and encouragement for me and the ministry God has called me to do. She’s the best, y’all. She really is.

And that's about it for me at the moment.

So what about you?

What are you currently up to?

What’s Up December

  Happy Last Wednesday of 2021, 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?

My mom’s cooking - And here's the thing...I know how to cook. And I'm actually pretty good at doing so. But there is just something incredible about eating my Mama's good ol' Southern home cooking ;)

Oh, and I have enjoyed Chick-fil-a a time or two since being back in the States, too. So I'm totally counting this as well. Ha! :)

What am I reminiscing about?

My trip back to the States for Christmas Break… Boy was it a doozy. Flight delays, spending the night in the airport in New York, ridiculously swollen and painful ankles after all that traveling… It was a lot. But I was so glad to have friends with me, to chat and hang out with, and to laugh at the craziness of the trip. They made, what could’ve been an awfully boring time, so much nicer.

 What am I loving?

Being with my family and enjoying a much slower pace, and truly embracing the no work part of vacation.

What have I been up to?

I flew back to the States about a week and a half ago. So I've been spending a lot of time with my family, a bit of shopping for supplies to take back to Senegal, and celebrating Christmas. It's been nice. I must say. :)

What am I dreading? 

I'm already dreading the goodbyes/see ya laters that will be coming at the end of next week. Ugh, that is most definitely  not a fun part of my job.

What am I working on?

Nothing… I’m fully embracing the no work aspect of vacation :)

 What am I excited about?

I am no longer a student! Yay for graduating with my second Master's degree!! A couple weeks ago, our A/G co-workers in Dakar held a mini graduation party for two of us who were graduating. It was such a fun/sweet time, celebrating our accomplishments. I wrote a bit about graduation HERE.

What am I watching?

Very little 

What am I reading?

I read 37 books this year. At first, I was a little sad that I didn’t read as much as last year. But then I realized that number was still good. And I do plan to read more in 2022. Also, it’s not like there was a requirement of reading a certain number of books anyways :) Anywho, I found a good sale at the bookstore the other day. So I’ve got a few new reads to take back to Dakar with me next week…

What am I listening to?

Nothing new… 

What am I wearing?

It hasn’t been all that cool here. However, it’s supposed to drop to below freezing this upcoming weekend. So I imagine I’ll need all the layers and thick socks and all things necessary to keep me warm. It may not be snowing or truly freezing like in the northern US. But y'all... It is quite chilly for this not-used-to-the-cold girl. I’m not complaining though. I’ll take being cold over sweating any day. That’s for sure :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

One last sleepover with my nieces this Friday/Saturday… Then I’ll be visiting my home church this Sunday. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

I can’t say I’m 100% thrilled about having to go back to work and hearing that 5:30 AM alarm clock again. But I do miss my students and look forward to seeing their sweet faces again soon :)

What else is new?

Nothing, really…

Same ol’ Same ol’

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?