Happy Thanksgiving

 sister, cousin, and best friend :)

 cousins :)

 The fam (minus Michael and Ashley who are in MO with Ashley's family)

Best friends for 12 years (plus a little one on the way!)

Perfect Hiking Weather

This weekend was wonderful! Ann, one of my Uganda teammates, and I went hiking in western Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The combination of clear blue skies, beautiful fall leaves, cool weather, my pup, and hiking with a friend was perfect. We talked all about Uganda and teaching, hiked all day Saturday and Sunday, watched Pride and Prejudice Saturday night, and ate yummy french toast, tortellini, and pancakes. I loved every minute! It was fun to be able to talk about Uganda with someone who has been, and is going with me! It made me all the more excited for next summer when I will finally get to go!

Things I Love

As I mentioned in my last post, time is flying by. I am enjoying many things this year that I know I will miss next year.

I am enjoying visiting friends on the weekends in nearby cities. I am loving the beautiful fall weather and gorgeous changing leaves. I am enjoying teaching 4^th grade. I love coming home to my pup Addie every day. I love having my brother and sister-in-law down the street. I love spending time with my mom and dad. I am excited that my sister will be home for a week at Thanksgiving and 3 weeks at Christmas. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with family. I am looking forward to visiting friends in Orlando. I am looking forward to a trip to NYC with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law.

Thinking of all of these things is bittersweet because they are things that I will miss so much once I am in Uganda. But I am all the more thankful for the gifts God has given me. One thing I am loving and will not have to leave behind is Christmas music. I have officially pulled all of the Christmas CDs out and they make me smile :)

A Quarter of the Way Through

The school year is already going by me in what seems like a blur. We just completed the first quarter. How can we already be ¼ of the way through the year!? Oh my! Today was a teacher work day, and as much as I accomplished, it wasn’t nearly as much as I had hoped to have accomplished. I hoped to get way ahead on planning. Well if knowing what I’m doing on Monday counts for way ahead then that’s where I am. I am taking it a day at a time, no, one lesson at a time. Some days I just kinda fly by the seat of my pants. It’s like I’m living in this fog. I sort of know what I’m supposed to be doing, but not completely, and it seems like the more information that I am given the foggier things become.

I am trying to be more positive during the school day and not let things get to me as much. I have some boys who are very trying, and often I have no clue what to do with them. So I just roll my eyes and shake my head and then deal with each situation the best I can. I’ve been trying not to stay as late and I do not bring work home with me very often. Sometimes I bring papers home to grade, but I am trying not to bring home planning. The teachers on my grade level come into my room and tell me I have to leave and I have to go out the door without anything, They are literally saving my life. My mentor told me today that I need to know now I will not be taking anything with me over Thanksgiving or Christmas break, so I need to plan accordingly. I really am thankful for the supportive teachers at my school, and my mom. My mom is a teacher and if it weren’t for her I might have already quit by now. Well, hopefully not, but I would be a lot more stressed.

I love my kids. Most of the time they make me laugh. Sometimes they make me want to cry, but usually laugh. They are sweet. They are chatty too. They are also super smart. They catch any mistake I make in about 2 seconds. If I am ever fumbling through anything I just ask them what they think and they always make everything work out. Actually, now that I think about it they really are the best.

I have sent out some support letters, and I’m planning on being in Orlando to raise support the first week of December. I have had a slow start to support raising due to work, but I know God will take care of everything in His timing.

I am super excited for next weekend because I’m going hiking in North Carolina with Anne, one of my Uganda teammates. It will be so amazing to have a weekend with a friend who completely understands and shares my love for missions and Uganda. Can’t wait!

Another Fabulous Journal Entry

Reading my kids journals is usually quite entertaining. I came across this precious entry in one of my kiddos journals. This made my day :)

This certificate goes to the wonderful Miss Stephens. I know she has only been my teacher for a couple of months, but I feel like I have known her for years. These are all the words that describe her. Awesome, fun, fantastic, wonderful, cool, dreams big, happy joyful, and my favorite one of all is she is Miss Stephens. She is herself  and from my point of view she rocks! So this certificate goes to Miss Stephens. She rocks and do not and I mean do not ever change yourself ever because I love you the way that you are!