Saturday, February 20, 2010
coming soon...
I got my new camera that is a late Christmas gift in the mail today! Soon I will be back with photos my first plan for photos is the medal ceremonies in my classroom, they are the highlight of my teaching career thus far.
Friday, February 5, 2010
lovely things.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." philippians 4:8
things i think are lovely:
*my students - i love the 16 kids i spend my days with. today i was serenaded, had 3 pictures drawn for me and got about a 1,000 hugs. i also love when pieces start coming together and the kids get excited that they have learned how to read, write, spell, add, subtract, tell time! the twinkle in their eyes, the laughter, the smiles, i love them! i do.
*my friends - they are amazing, they share dinners with me. they share their kids with me. they share their birthdays, their time, their energy, their laughs, their joy, their wisdom, their prayers, their families, and lots and lots of love. i have felt surrounded by completely and totally wonderful, loving people and i love love love them! i love that they make my life better than it should be.
*my roommate(s) - i refuse to acknowledge the fact that just because megan lives on another continent that she also doesn't live in our home. i love that it still feels like she's such a part of our lives, and we still share so much of life together. praises for skype and email. i love, love, love sarah! she's amazing. she puts up with me and listens to me and laughs at me and with me. she prays with me and for me. she encourages me. she loves me and i love her. she's amazing.
*the salvation army! - i really have no words. i love, love, love going to the salvation army. whether it's at women and family or harbor light. i'm sure everyone in my life wishes i would shut up about how amazing salvation army is, but i'm sorry. i can't. i can't get enough. i love the directors, the employees, the clients, the choir, everyone! i love it.
*my family - if there were any possible way to rearrange the state of texas and make my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, etc. would just be close enough to see regularly. january was amazing in the sense that i got to connect and spend time with so many of them. i loved it! i loved getting to know them, laugh with them, hear stories. i loved getting to hang out and eat dinner with my mom. i loved seeing my niece and hug her and play with her. i loved it. i want to be close to them, but i also don't want to leave my friends, city, students, life in houston.
*houston - houston is full of amazing people, experiences, fun! i can not wait to go sit at a park and journal once the weather gets a bit warmer and watch the amazing families playing in the spray fountains, see kids rolling down the hill at Hermann Park, and go to see free shows/concerts/operas at Miller and Discovery Green. not to mention the amazing food and how i can hang out with people all over the city.
*my students - i love the 16 kids i spend my days with. today i was serenaded, had 3 pictures drawn for me and got about a 1,000 hugs. i also love when pieces start coming together and the kids get excited that they have learned how to read, write, spell, add, subtract, tell time! the twinkle in their eyes, the laughter, the smiles, i love them! i do.
*my friends - they are amazing, they share dinners with me. they share their kids with me. they share their birthdays, their time, their energy, their laughs, their joy, their wisdom, their prayers, their families, and lots and lots of love. i have felt surrounded by completely and totally wonderful, loving people and i love love love them! i love that they make my life better than it should be.
*my roommate(s) - i refuse to acknowledge the fact that just because megan lives on another continent that she also doesn't live in our home. i love that it still feels like she's such a part of our lives, and we still share so much of life together. praises for skype and email. i love, love, love sarah! she's amazing. she puts up with me and listens to me and laughs at me and with me. she prays with me and for me. she encourages me. she loves me and i love her. she's amazing.
*the salvation army! - i really have no words. i love, love, love going to the salvation army. whether it's at women and family or harbor light. i'm sure everyone in my life wishes i would shut up about how amazing salvation army is, but i'm sorry. i can't. i can't get enough. i love the directors, the employees, the clients, the choir, everyone! i love it.
*my family - if there were any possible way to rearrange the state of texas and make my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, etc. would just be close enough to see regularly. january was amazing in the sense that i got to connect and spend time with so many of them. i loved it! i loved getting to know them, laugh with them, hear stories. i loved getting to hang out and eat dinner with my mom. i loved seeing my niece and hug her and play with her. i loved it. i want to be close to them, but i also don't want to leave my friends, city, students, life in houston.
*houston - houston is full of amazing people, experiences, fun! i can not wait to go sit at a park and journal once the weather gets a bit warmer and watch the amazing families playing in the spray fountains, see kids rolling down the hill at Hermann Park, and go to see free shows/concerts/operas at Miller and Discovery Green. not to mention the amazing food and how i can hang out with people all over the city.
Monday, December 21, 2009
salvation army love.
I love the Salvation Army.
I love going to visit my friends there.
Today I went to help wrap gifts and do anything I could to help. One of my assignments was to assist with a party, this has become something I'm getting good at...it's my 3rd party to help with in the last week or so there. This was a little different because the party was being thrown by the Rockets. Now I am not really a person who claims to know anything about the Rockets team, but I am a new fan of Luis Scola. I think so highly of him after observing how great he was with the kids today. The rest of the guys were handing out gifts, taking pictures, but Luis was very attentive. He was so connected to one of the little guys and would not put him down. He even stayed later than the other players to talk to the little guys mom and take pictures on his cell phone. Here's just one photo that was snapped when he was hanging out. When he left little Mauricio cried...it was so sweet.
It was a great time with lots of excitement for some of my sweetest friends from this year.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas, Christmas time is here...
Time for joy and time for cheer :)
Speaking of cheer, my roommates bring so much cheer to my heart. I arrived home from school today with a heart warming "YOU DID IT" poster on my back door. That's right I've made it 1/2 way through my fifth year of teaching at Yellowstone. Sometimes I wonder how this is possible. Then they had a beautiful flower arrangement for me on the table with this adorable little poem...
Speaking of cheer, my roommates bring so much cheer to my heart. I arrived home from school today with a heart warming "YOU DID IT" poster on my back door. That's right I've made it 1/2 way through my fifth year of teaching at Yellowstone. Sometimes I wonder how this is possible. Then they had a beautiful flower arrangement for me on the table with this adorable little poem...
Congratulations on a semester well done!
Now it's time to have some fun!
First things first, take a nap: sit back, relax, get off your feet;
next, pick your favorite place to eat.
Wine, dine, do it all,
we'll get ready to party by making cake balls.
Lesson plans, crazy kids, lack of sleep...all clear;
get excited for rest, good food, and cheer!!
We love you, Sarah and Megan
Now it's time to have some fun!
First things first, take a nap: sit back, relax, get off your feet;
next, pick your favorite place to eat.
Wine, dine, do it all,
we'll get ready to party by making cake balls.
Lesson plans, crazy kids, lack of sleep...all clear;
get excited for rest, good food, and cheer!!
We love you, Sarah and Megan
I love my roommates. I love the opportunity to spend my days with some of the coolest kids in the whole world. I love being on Christmas break! It's only been one hour and I love it :)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
the most wonderful time of the year!
Snow in Houston!
* it was so beautiful and i apologize that i have no evidence of the beauty because my camera no longer functions and that makes me sad, but you will have to believe me. it. snowed. all. day. super fun...although would have been more fun without a classroom full of craziness, but twister and a little Christmas music made it bearable.
Christmas markets!
* i loved walking around 2 of houston's fun neighborhoods this weekend to experience how gifted so many people are. loved seeing art, jewelery, crafts, it was fun. everyone had smiles, joy, and some great music...or okay music that just set the tone of the season.
Christmas programs!
* i seriously love the production our church does every year of the african telling of the birth of CHRIST. it's so much fun to watch. it was especially fun to see some good friends, their kids, and some students of our school starring in this years production.
Discovery Green!
*i am not a fair weather fan. i love discovery green. it was so much fun to watch the ice skating on friday night, when the temperture was actually cold and seemed appropriate to be skating outside. i love the lights and the atmosphere. i love houston's parks.
Advent!
*hope*peace*joy*love*CHRIST
last year we started a really sweet time of devotion and preparation to really embrace the season leading up to Christmas day at our house. although we are divided by the equator this year, the tradition continues. thanks skype. we have so far been discovering WHO to put our hope in and in putting our hope in HIM gives a certain peace that is incomprehensible. it creates an atmosphere where there are lions and lambs being still and loving one another. this is contrary to what we see in this world, but not in HIS kingdom...it really is deep rooted in my heart. this is the kind of peace that can still the hearts of children in the face of poverty and adversity. it's the kind of peace that makes us understand hope. i love advent!
* it was so beautiful and i apologize that i have no evidence of the beauty because my camera no longer functions and that makes me sad, but you will have to believe me. it. snowed. all. day. super fun...although would have been more fun without a classroom full of craziness, but twister and a little Christmas music made it bearable.
Christmas markets!
* i loved walking around 2 of houston's fun neighborhoods this weekend to experience how gifted so many people are. loved seeing art, jewelery, crafts, it was fun. everyone had smiles, joy, and some great music...or okay music that just set the tone of the season.
Christmas programs!
* i seriously love the production our church does every year of the african telling of the birth of CHRIST. it's so much fun to watch. it was especially fun to see some good friends, their kids, and some students of our school starring in this years production.
Discovery Green!
*i am not a fair weather fan. i love discovery green. it was so much fun to watch the ice skating on friday night, when the temperture was actually cold and seemed appropriate to be skating outside. i love the lights and the atmosphere. i love houston's parks.
Advent!
*hope*peace*joy*love*CHRIST
last year we started a really sweet time of devotion and preparation to really embrace the season leading up to Christmas day at our house. although we are divided by the equator this year, the tradition continues. thanks skype. we have so far been discovering WHO to put our hope in and in putting our hope in HIM gives a certain peace that is incomprehensible. it creates an atmosphere where there are lions and lambs being still and loving one another. this is contrary to what we see in this world, but not in HIS kingdom...it really is deep rooted in my heart. this is the kind of peace that can still the hearts of children in the face of poverty and adversity. it's the kind of peace that makes us understand hope. i love advent!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
thanks
Things I'm thankful for...
* my amazing friends
* my sweet family
* working with kids that I really care about, although it's hard many days
* really awesome people in my life teaching me about serving the Lord and HIS people well, and them trusting me to work for them
* God's grace, forgiveness and abundant life HE continues to give me
What about you??
* my amazing friends
* my sweet family
* working with kids that I really care about, although it's hard many days
* really awesome people in my life teaching me about serving the Lord and HIS people well, and them trusting me to work for them
* God's grace, forgiveness and abundant life HE continues to give me
What about you??
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
treasures...
"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." --Colossians 2:2-3
So my class has been out. of. control. Like serious 10 commandment crazy. Stealing. Killing. Lying. Lack of respect for authority. So after taking 2 days of seriously stepping back and me becoming for a moment a preacher, not a teacher, we have started to spend about 5 minutes each morning after saying the pledges to do a class devotion. I bought a couple resources at 1/2 Price this summer after realizing we were now going to be responsible for teaching Bible...with no curriculum...anyways I digress.
This verse from Colossians was our scripture. We also talked about how much God treasures us, as HIS children, how he promised Israel that he treasured them for doing what was right. I don't remember what that scripture was...sorry. But I asked them, "What does it feel like to be something that God treasures? Think about how special a treasure is? How does that make you feel that the LORD of the universe treasures you?"
"Sweet."
"Beautiful."
"Powerful."
They were answering, with such seriousness, then it happened. My heart melted and I was paid more than I've ever deserved but all the reward ever needed.
One of the little boys who's been really the most out of control, who is the second of the family to be in my class in the past 5 years, and who with his brother has probably contributed to my rising blood pressure, increase in gray hairs, and at the end of the day building my character and reliance on God. He said, "It makes me feel the way that I feel when I come to school."
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-20
I love getting to spend time with these treasures, hidden away in the most surprising places just waiting to be dug out of the rough, shined, and displayed for the world to see. I pray for their future, for them to live as the treasures they are. I am most encouraged and also scared when I think of all they have to give and what we will lose if they don't grab ahold of God and use their gifts for HIS glory. If you have a second, just pray they would continue to seek first the kingdom and would have some people to lean on and look toward as they grow up seeing so much that is not from HIS kingdom.
So my class has been out. of. control. Like serious 10 commandment crazy. Stealing. Killing. Lying. Lack of respect for authority. So after taking 2 days of seriously stepping back and me becoming for a moment a preacher, not a teacher, we have started to spend about 5 minutes each morning after saying the pledges to do a class devotion. I bought a couple resources at 1/2 Price this summer after realizing we were now going to be responsible for teaching Bible...with no curriculum...anyways I digress.
This verse from Colossians was our scripture. We also talked about how much God treasures us, as HIS children, how he promised Israel that he treasured them for doing what was right. I don't remember what that scripture was...sorry. But I asked them, "What does it feel like to be something that God treasures? Think about how special a treasure is? How does that make you feel that the LORD of the universe treasures you?"
"Sweet."
"Beautiful."
"Powerful."
They were answering, with such seriousness, then it happened. My heart melted and I was paid more than I've ever deserved but all the reward ever needed.
One of the little boys who's been really the most out of control, who is the second of the family to be in my class in the past 5 years, and who with his brother has probably contributed to my rising blood pressure, increase in gray hairs, and at the end of the day building my character and reliance on God. He said, "It makes me feel the way that I feel when I come to school."
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-20
I love getting to spend time with these treasures, hidden away in the most surprising places just waiting to be dug out of the rough, shined, and displayed for the world to see. I pray for their future, for them to live as the treasures they are. I am most encouraged and also scared when I think of all they have to give and what we will lose if they don't grab ahold of God and use their gifts for HIS glory. If you have a second, just pray they would continue to seek first the kingdom and would have some people to lean on and look toward as they grow up seeing so much that is not from HIS kingdom.
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