houston. the loving and leaving.

Spring is wonderful.

The sun comes back into our lives (when I leave school and the sun is out it just makes me a better person). The days are longer so I can squeeze more life into them. In just one day this week I got to: hang out at school with 16 hilarious children, surprise a friend at a wonderful birthday party incorporating frozen yogurt, cake, and some of the most amazing people in Houston, ate dinner with a sweet friend and hung out with her two amazing boys (including reading bed time stories to both), hung out in the said friends backyard with perfect weather, dog, and sons, picked up a friend and had dance lessons at our house before heading out to do a little two-stepping with the rest of the houston's best and finished up shopping for our fraction party at school the next day with the ever amazing toleran,t roommate :) Now friends that's productivity. Thank you spring!

Something else seems to happen in spring though in Houston. For the past two years I find myself watching friends as they move into new life somewhere besides Houston. Now I don't think Houston is the only place people should live. Just my friends. And it would be nice if my family were all near. So when my roommate of five years decided to move south of the equator I was really sad. Then that seemed to swing open the door and everyone seems to be leaving. After much adjustment and tears and growth (sorry for those who have been witness to the process). Just last spring/summer 25 people moved from my church family including several really close friends...you know the ones who you see them once a week and know exactly what to say, the ones who meet you for breakfast, the ones who's house always feels comfortable and right, who's questions are comforting and challenging, the ones who love my family just because I do...yeah those are the people I miss! Then school friends started leaving. So just as life started to stabalize, new roommate and friends, new routines...what's that? Springs back!

Birds chirping, flowers blooming, people moving. I don't like it. Not one bit. Now I will say most of these things calling people away are things I'm really excited about, but I'm selfish and want to have my friends where I can see them, hug them, hang out, and share life every day not only hear and see them on Skype (although I'm also thankful for this wonderful invention!) So last night I found myself having a nightmare that another round of amazing friends were leaving. In addition to the rounds that have already left or are in the leaving process now. I know some of the leaving aren't going willingly, but it doesn't make the fact that they're going any easier. I know I shouldn't be the one complaining. I get to stay, but Houston isn't Houston without the wonderful people. So I find myself staying up way too late. Doing bizarre things like going to watch drag racing. All for cramming in the maximum amount of time with my friends who I will miss more than they know. I almost feel like I'm living in fear of the next train that is coming and taking my friends.

Now I won't be in Houston forever. Atleast that's not my plan. I do love it. I'm not sure what will call me away. Don't have plans of leaving, but don't know what or where or when I'll go on to something else. What about you? When are you leaving? What will call you away? OR if you aren't here yet, what are you waiting on? Come have fun with us!!

better late than never.

Well as promised here are the pictures from my amazing new camera! Since I'm not great at updating I'm going to give you the top ten (in no particular order...that would take me knowing what I'm doing). Enjoy!

Number 10...Spring Break in Houston. Really good weather. Got to enjoy an afternoon at my favorite park, Discovery Green, just chatting and browsing with a friend.
Number 9...Staff vs. Students Basketball game, I was so sad I didn't get to play because of my busy schedule, but it was awesome to watch briefly before having to leave for a meeting.

Number 8....Hanging with this cowboy and cowgirl at the Houston Rodeo. They are fun!

Number 7....Amazing wedding and reception at the Museum of Natural Science. I am lucky to spend my days with this lovely lady.

Number 6...The kids getting ice cream with their rodeo money. Hilarious end to a fun day!

Number 5...Don't be surprised this is the 3rd rodeo picture. I went to the rodeo a lot this past month. This wasn't just an average rodeo though, it was the Matagorda County Rodeo and Fair. Action packed and up close and personal with the cowboys. Hee-Haw!

Number 4...My parents, sister, and niece came for a visit! I want them to come more often, it was so much fun. We went to another one of my favorite parks in the city, that I have a fear of sharing with other people or it's quaintness will be ruined. I'm sorry. I'm selfish with this one.

Number 3...Getting to spend time with this adorable child. I know it was also number 4, but she's cute with all of the jewelery she found at our house on while she was staying with us. She shares my love of purple and for that I'm extremely thankful!

Number 2...The amazing, wonderful, talented Harbor Light Choir came to my birthday dinner with friends. It was fun! I LOVE THEM! Just in case you weren't sure, they are my favorite.

number 1...closing ceremonies of the day in my classroom. Brilliant!

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.

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.

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.

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...

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

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 :)

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!