The day I cleaned the pantry.

I have been fearless against the feared.
I have stood fast against the appalling.
My hands have touched that which makes grown men vomit.
I have cleaned the pantry.
Oh, the sweet feeling of accomplishment!
I was in the pantry from 7:27am til 2:30 pm, but it is super organized and clean; there's even 2 empty racks!
Let's see how long that will last.

Tis the season, but it's been a weird one. I feel like things have just been "weird" this year. Most likely due to my recent transition into "grown up life" aka the teaching job.
I'm enjoying the Christmas break a lot. Almost an alarming amount.
I've been in the "I don't want to teach" mood. It's more of a "I don't want to do the work to teach" mood.  I really enjoy teaching, but the work is exhausting.  Hopefully, it's just because it's my first year.
I've decided that for now, I will stay in Farmville and teach another year. Until the Lord moves me elsewhere, I will serve Him in the 434. And work on being joyful about it.

New Year's has the potential to be epic this year.  There's a large group of my favorites from college getting together: Adam, Anna, J, Krew, Jonathan & Caroline, K-diry & Courtney, Shanee & Grandin, Lee & Lauren, Megan, Kyle, Tyler, and possibly a few more. I'm extremely excited to see everyone. As much as I'd love to be dancing with my girls from high school, this will be beautiful. I'm hoping someone takes a ton of pictures! I miss everyone so much.

Time to enjoy the day the Lord has given me.

PS Kelly and Hoshua got engaged!!! Holy cow!

Oh la la.

I just discovered the world that is Pintrest.com
What a world of fun DIY crafts and ideas!!! There are a few I'm just super excited to try out :)
On other happenings...
Not much on the home front:

• school has a week and a half left
• went to Lynchburg yesterday
• in Richmond today
• ready to go home

I wish this were a little more exciting, but alas, I cannot remember all of the ventures I've had lately and my commitment to my blog has fallen to the waist side.  I just know things have been busy as per usual and I am really enjoying myself.

My dedication to the gym has grown, which makes me feel better all over.

I've been having better moments with the Lord; deeper, more intentional, more purposeful moments with Him. It's been a wonder to learn new things and be encouraged, challenged, and pushed to be more like Him.

Oh, how beautiful he is.

"The Chronicles of Narnia" has been on my metaphorical night stand for a bit and it is coming along quite smashingly.  CS Lewis is a magician when it comes to story telling; I've excitedly made it through "The Magician's Nephew" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Discovering the gospel through this tale has been a delight! I'm excited to keep reading.

Man Down. Woman Bitten.

"Gobble" is a funny word. I am not quite sure what about it I specifically find peculiar, but there's something...


Another Thanksgiving has passed and as we still enjoy the leftover green bean casserole (my favorite!) and desserts, we so bask in the warmth of love in the room.
Something happens to me when there's so many of my step family in the room. Much like the oddity of "gobble", I cannot put my finger on what it is; all I know is that I draw somewhat inwards.  It keeps me at a distance.
Maybe that's what I want.
Maybe I just don't know.
Whether extrovert or introvert, it was a delightful time of togetherness.


One of my favorite Thanksgiving regularities? Charlie Brown! That blockhead has a special place in my heart.
Sissy and I ventured out on our first Black Friday experience. Whoo and was it that: an experience! It was crazy for sure; Wal-Mart was borderline obscene.  The surprising thing was that the madness which drove people to forget themselves was not over major electronics, it was toys.  When the Tonka trucks were "released", it was chaos! There was hootin' and hollerin', people were shoved, pushed, and just plain man-handled.
While talking with some of the others in line at the camera counter (of which my waiting was in vain. I discovered the same camera for which I stool in line for the same price...online.) we were told that a woman had been bitten over a toy.
Seriously?! You are a small child.
How is your first reaction, or even any reaction at all to bite someone?!
Go home and get in your crate.
Absurd.
However, the upside is that Sissy got a great deal and Target was a much better adventure.  Although just as packed, it was much more organized and monitored which kept the violence to a minimum. 
Pleasingly executed, Target. Well done.  


Over the next few days as I rest up, I'm fixing to: get lesson plans done, tattoo in memory of Granny (6 months on Sunday), and set up a New York trip. 
Of course spending as much time at the gym and Starbucks as possible.
Let's hope all goes well. 

Maybelline.

My beauty is not a product of cosmetics or anything that can be bought;

the Lord is my creator and from Him is where my beauty comes.

That's not conceited. 

It is truth.

I have come to the realization that sometimes I put my confidence in eyeliner and mascara. I depend on those things to make people notice me. To feel beautiful. To feel confident.
Are my eyelashes clumpy? Does the emerald bring out my eyes more than the cappuccino? Those are my questions as I attempt to achieve beauty approved by the world.
But God has gently reminded me that He made me perfect. Not pretty enough that makeup can "finish the job", but genuinely and uniquely beautiful.
Even at 23, I'm still learning to reject what the world tells me and to recklessly rely on Christ.

Domestic.

I've been following recipes and delicious things have been produced. 
What a small, but sweet victory to make something people like to eat!
I always feel a great sense of femininity when I have my apron on and am trying to figure out whether the barely there ink says "tbs" or "tsp".


Things at school have been good. One of my classes is learning about the Brothers Grimm so I am getting to read fairy tales to them.  I love it!!! Reading to them is so much fun and the fact that it relates to German culture is such a gift.
In the language classes, we're learning verbs, which means we get to play "Charades" and "pictionary" and fun things like that. Any excuse I have to take the kids outside is a good enough excuse.


Tonight, part of the Prince Edward YL team went out to see "Tower Heist"; it was funny.  I really enjoy Ben Stiller, so I had high hopes. But more so I relished the time I was able to spend with my fellow teammates. Hopefully, next time all 5 of us will be able to make it.


The Lord is so good.
He has been filling me with extra joy.
I confident it's been a result of spending quality time with Him.
Things are good.
Things are very good.

"that" mood.

I'm in "that" mood again; the mood where I feel out of place.
It happens every now and then, but it is the worst on Sundays.
I miss being missed.
I miss feeling like the Lord uses me to bring joy to others.
I miss home.


Feeling distant from my team is negatively affecting me and my ability to lead and serve.
I'm frustrated with myself for feeling like this; it feels selfish, and I can't stand that.


Lord,
Restore in m your Spirit.
Allow me to emit your joy, peace, and happiness.
Keep me strong. Remind me that I'm here for Your reason.
I know it will not and is not always easy, but I know that you have given me gifts specific to Your purpose for my life.
I trust you.
Help me to feel your presence.

Salty.

Tonight was my first attempt at making egg salad.
It didn't come out too shabby, just a little salty.
But still delicious.


School has been slow; I'm really struggling getting lesson plans done.
I believe my recent difficulty comes with the discovery of "differentiation".
Knowing that I shouldn't hold a student back until the others catch up is great! but it creates so much more work. I know it's worth it so I'm eager to create differentiated work, but it's a very time consuming project.


I had to yell at a student yesterday :( Not fun.
As per the advice of other teachers, I needed to show K that I was serious about being respected and that I just won't let everything fly. It was tough and I didn't like doing it, but it was necessary.
Hopefully, things will get better and we can move forward and stop having such setbacks.


Tomorrow a few teachers and I are going to the Unhappy Hour at the Edgar Allan Poe museum in Richmond.  I'm super excited!
It's going to be a really cool time to hang out with colleagues and sister, while celebrating fall with a good ol'fashioned Poe reading.


Dear Fall,
I'm grateful you're here.

Peter Bradley Adams.

I've made it through nine weeks of my first year.
Praise the Lord.
There are still so many other things I would rather do than lesson plans, but that's OK.


Quick update:
-mud bowl was awesome. I have scars and bruises--both sweet memories of the muddy event
-poison ivy. Where that came from eludes me.
-in new apt and enjoying it.


Peter Bradley Adams. 
His voice still takes me back to that wonderful bridge in Austria. 

The bridge where the Lord and I danced, conversed, cried, and held one another.

Oh, the loving rendezvous we would have daily.
My heart mourns its loss and my eyes are not willing to keep it a secret.
I miss it.
I miss that communion.
I miss how I longed for the Lord and his peace so greatly.
What a time it was to be so far from home and yet feel so close to God...

Sweet Nectar

Oh, iced coffee with Hazelnut and extra skim milk, how sweet you are to me.


Sissy and I are at Starbucks sipping our chosen nectar and catching up on life as Wilson Phillips plays in the background. What a nice time.
Coming home is always good for my soul; it feels so right.


Thursday is almost indescribable.  Bell 6 was just beyond tolerable and me being extra emotional that day made for an unfortunate combination.  I actually had to leave the room.  I was just so frustrated and I didn't want to say something I would regret.  My heart was just so broken for them.  God is so good and blessed me with a great support team of teachers.  Of course, Mrs L was my go-to and then some others came in the room to help me through my moment.  Here's hoping things are on their way up.


This week at school was Homecoming. Some of the kids really got into it and dressed up.  My favorite is when the teachers participate, so of course Friday "paint the town purple and gold" was awesome!  The football players asked different teachers to wear their jerseys to show support...and I don't mind saying I had 3 offers :)  It was the pick-me-up I needed after a really bad Thursday; grateful for the little victories.


Another small victory: getting my lamp built. Not such a victory: realizing the shelves for my bookshelf are in storage while the shelf is in my room. 
That was quite the fun discovery.  But on the up side, my room is coming along and Maya gets home tomorrow.  It'll be nice to have everything settled and just be able to leave work and come home and not have anything to hang up or assemble or organize.


Tomorrow is the 3rd Annual Mud Bowl at church; I am BEYOND STOKED!!! I can't wait to post a post-bowl picture up here (now that I know how to do that). 
The mud. The kids. The games. The tackles. I just know it's going to be great.
And a release I need.


Another fun thing: I'm getting more teacher friends.  Mr Ah and I have a funny e-mail banter going.  Reading the e-mail is like opening a prank gift everyday; so funny.

Fast Fertig.

The German exchange program at the high school is almost over: joy and dismay.
I love having the girls here and going on field trips and experiencing "first times" with them, but being gone from the class so much has really thrown me out of rhythm.  Hopefully, it won't take long to get back in the swing of things. But like I said, the field trips have been a lot of fun:
1. Edgar Allen Poe museum - AWESOME! I don't think the kids enjoyed it as much as I did, but I thought it was so cute.  What a hidden gem! The museum is in the "oldest standing house in Richmond", which is very tiny and unsuspecting, but so precious.
2. Picnic at Belle Isle - the original idea was kind of a bust, but we had a nice day and a nice lunch next to a nice shaded view of the James river.
3. Longwood - alma mater :)
4. William & Mary - nice, but I got mosquito bites while walking through some dumb wooded area which left a bad taste and an insatiable itch.
5. Colonial Williamsburg - always a favorite, but we were there just a little too long.  Maybe next time we should plan eating in between the W&M tour and walking around.  Everyone was so hungry we couldn't really enjoy the atmosphere.  But the Bindery was great as usual! I love the smell of old pages and the stories they are waiting to share :)
6. the Outlets - BRILLIANT! What a great time of bonding; not only for the students and the girls they are hosting, but for the students and I, too.  It was great to see the girls in a somewhat natural environment, but experiencing American brands/sizing for the first time.  Oh, simple joy.  And the Lord gave me a great gift in the form of a suede school boy blazer from J.Crew for 65% off!  Such a fun find!
7. Sno-to-go - enough said.
Things have been lots of fun and there are still two more field trips left for the week.  Send off on Friday will be a little more emotional that I initially expected.


Other than that, I bought a cool lamp; some have even called it "sexy".  So we'll see how "sexy" it is after I put it together...time to get out my tool belt :) My dresser and shelf have been somewhat put back together.  And by "somewhat" I mean in a shaky but assembled state.  I am hoping to remedy that this week in the midst of all the other things I have to do.


I am grateful for sleep.
I am grateful for the Lord's favor on me.
I am grateful for home.
I am grateful for friends.
I am grateful for the hearts with whom I get to share life.
LORD,
YOU are mighty and YOU are good.  Use your Holy Spirit to "widen my gaze" and to see the unseen; to see the opportunities to demonstrate love before they become missed.  Make me more like you.  Change my heart to yearn first and foremost for YOU and only YOU.
Purposely.
Devotedly.
Consciously.
Sincerely.

A Rainy Saturday

It seems like the rain has been non-stop since yesterday, but I am not bothered. It feels good to be back in the 757 and in the strong embrace of a velvet chair with my spiced caramel hot chocolate...although it has cooled to a barely warm chocolate.
Catching up on things that seem too mundane to do anywhere else and waiting for the wedding to begin. 
Oh, how I love weddings.  
I love having a reason to get dressed up and to be in the same room as many of my beloved ones, waiting for a "get your booty on that dance floor" song to come on.
I'm wearing a recent ebay purchase; it's from the Gap and I'm feeling pretty good :)
I cannot wait!


Dear boy behind counter,
you are so cute. even if your collar is popped. 
nice sideburns.


Oh, Kindness that brings peace.
Oh, Joy that calms my heart.
Oh, sweet sweet Sacrifice.
Oh, Pure Love.

Phone Calls Home

Praise the Lord for half days!

Although it was a teacher work-day and I didn't leave until 5, it was nice to just have that much time to do work and have shorter bells.

To celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest, my students and I made pretzels in class :) It's gone really well so far; the kids have behaved well and the pretzels have tasted delicious!  Baking is a lot of fun...

The whole experience of baking has been addictive: I LOVE wearing an apron, dancing in the kitchen, no shoes, just me, my music, and the recipe.  

Bliss. Domestic bliss.

Since report cards are coming out next week, I had to call the parents of students who had a "D" or "E".  Although it was no fun to tell them that their son/daughter is not doing well, while I was on the phone I realized something...this is truly my calling. I am so meant to teach.

There was just a feeling I got; it was the Holy Spirit.

I'm so blessed to be doing something I love.

So blessed.

Moscato

Things have just been crazy.
A whirlwind.
My life is typically busy, but this past week-ish has been especially so.

Going home was nice, but bittersweet on my heart; it's difficult to leave a place where love is so abounding.
My birthday was Tuesday and the day was nice for the most part.
How the Lord used Facebook that day was a special surprise--I had been feeling especially lonely and when I turned on my phone after school I was "notified" that I had 162 posts.  Simple, but nice.  It just reminded me that although Farmville seems so far away sometimes, home is always with me.

Yesterday, was super fun! Hobbles and I met up with some good friends at Olive Garden in Lynchburg; what a beautiful time of fellowship. A glass of Moscato wine complemented everything nicely :)
And I have some left over never-ending pasta bowl that will evoke the joyful memory tomorrow during lunch.

I am praying.
I am praynig for contentment.
I am ready to leave Farmville.
I am ready to not renew my contract...
but I don't know if that's what the Lord has in mind.
I am grateful to know He is for me.
He is on my side.
So I know I'm not just here for a job.
I know it with confidence.

Seedless grapes are worth the investment.
Pits are the pits.

Granny

I miss you. 
All the time. 
I can't help but be mad with that pilot for leaving me at the gate. I know you were with Jesus before that happened, but I'm still so angry. 
I have so much to tell you: I'm a teacher now!
I teach German and I love it. I have so many students and I am learning to be a better lover of all hearts; a less "discriminatory" lover. I think you'd be proud.
Oh, and I'm cooking more! A few small attempts have gone exceedingly well, but all of it pales in comparison to your cooking and baking. Maybe one day with lots of practice and with the guidance of your recipes I'll be a quarter as good as you were. 


I'd give anything to have another day in the kitchen with you; to know I'd walk around the corner and that you'd be waiting there to do one of two things: pull something out of the oven, or say something sassy. Both of which always evoked great joy.
Oh, Granny. I miss you.
I miss you more than I ever thought possible. I wish I could tell you that knowing you're with Grandpa and the Lord is comforting, but my heart longs for you as a wilting flower longs for a drop of rain.


As I pray for my future husband, my heart and daydreams are weighed down by the thought of you not being here to experience it all with me. I know great love, love which transcends sickness and dimension, because I know the love of the Lord and your love; a love I never doubted when I've doubted so many before. 
A love that never hurt except when it said goodbye.


As my tears mourn your absence, my heart holds fast to knowing you can be with me always. How grateful I am to have had a granny like you. A bigger blessing eludes my mind. 
I love you beyond death, Granny. And I miss you so.


Til we embrace again at the throne of God Almighty.

Mick Jagger

That Maroon 5 song is stuck in my head. Yuck.
A 3 day weekend is nice, very nice. 
Being home is nice, very nice.
I haven't gotten a thing done for school, and that's OK :)
The weather has been really great and spending time with friends and at my second and third homes (the Card's and church) has been more than rejuvenating.  
I am so incredibly blessed all the time.
Saturday was comprised of a sweaty workout (my favorite), a haircut, Lacy Joy, and the Card's. Good day.
Today has been brilliant!!
The Lord gifted me a glorious time at church; it was a special service of baptisms.  Baptisms are like one of my favorite things! I don't know specifically what it is about them that I love so much, but I think it has to do with how special mine was to me.
I was lucky enough to baptized in Panama City Beach, Fla at the same place where a year earlier I fell in love with the Lord. Beautiful. Truly beautiful.
So I found where I could be used and it was actually behind the scenes helping the people getting baptized get prepared. Oh, what a beautiful sight.
Joy. 
A little anxiety. 
Tears. 
Shaky hands. 
Full, full hearts.
An accurate portrait of the God who saves.


With full hearts and empty stomachs, some of the girls and I went to Panera for some chat stew and tomato & mozzarella Paninis.  Both were satisfying and exactly what I wanted.
Lunch was followed by a treasure hunt in McNair's gallery. Exquisite vintage clothing and fun company made for an experience I can't wait to relive. She was fun. The clothes were stunning. And Nate was entertaining. 


What a great day.
A gift from the Lord.
He loves me so well.

Almost, but not quite.

Today was that day where I thought I was going to cry.
The point where I felt like everything I was doing for this class goes in one ear and out the other.
43.
20.
67.
52.
These are the grades they got on a QUIZ they've known about for over a week.
I am expecting too much. 
No;
I am the only one with expectations.
And I've done almost the exact same thing with them as all my other classes, and those grades were so telling:
100.
105.
98.
102.
I know I need to do something, but today I just became so frustrated.
And the disrespect...it's as if they are daring me to write referrals; I just did not want it to be that way. I refuse to deal with it anymore.
Things are going to change.
And it is NOT going to be just a one way change.


Lord,
Bless me with the strength and  endurance.
Remind me in the midst of trial (aka 6th block) that you have overcome!
I am a prodigy of teaching, because you live in me.
Because I have the Holy Spirit and you watch over me.
Give me the knowledge to teach, to love, and to encourage others to do the same.
I love you.
Sincerely.
I love you, sincerely.
In your rescuing name I pray.

Obstacles

I love Charlotte, NC! I do. I cannot even begin to think about what my favorite part was: 
Tim Hawkins? 
spending 48 hours with the Hobbles? 
the 90 degree weather? 
Elevation church? 
lunch at The Soda Shop with K and T? 
my brief encounter with the enchanting bronze book sculptures off of S Tryol? 
having a stand-off with "App-om-a-tax" the bear?
Oh, the competition is fierce, but the Hobbles wins.
(however the book sculpture is a close second).


The whole weekend was just brilliant! Charlotte has definitely redeemed itself; it is now one of my top 5 places to possibly inhabit.  
Tim Hawkins was quite funny.  There were a few less-than-tasteful jokes, but overall he was very funny.  Just watching him walk around the stage in that crazy way would have been enough entertainment for me.  But thank you, Tim for going the extra mile; looking funny and being funny is much more entertaining as a pair.


Elevation church was another gift from the Lord. I truly left feeling like I had just been fed the Word of God. 
Glory! Glory! Glory!
I was not sure how it was going to go when Sarah and I walked in and there was a DJ spinning in the hallway. My fear was that it was going to feel like a concert and not church, but our fears quickly subdued.  Upon entering the "sanctuary", we were greeted by an old movie theater setting with stained glass windows.  The worship was wonderful and evoked a sense of "home".
The pastor, although young, was very mature.  And I do not mean mature like "stuffy" or "sedated", but mature in the sense that he is clearly serious about his faith and God's calling in his life to lead others.  God really used him to speak to me.


Lunch at The Soda Shop with Kenz  and Tennant was fun. So fun. It was quaint and unassuming.  

Fact: when I feel like I do not have much to say, I often feel as if I have said too much.

But anyway, the Davidson campus is beautiful and inviting and makes me long for my college days again. Oh, sweet sweet memories :)


The drive to and fro was nothing short of adventurous.  We had to avoid a fallen tree in the road.  Bypass a hail bailing tractor. Endure the sight of a snake and a brood of dear. However, my favorite moment was when "App-om-a-tax" the Black bear came into our path. With clips from "Friends" as our soundtrack, maybe 100 ft in front of us appears a large wolf...wait, wait, wait...that's no wolf.
What.the.dump?
It was a bear. A very large bear.
And Sarah's response was to stop the car. My reaction to her reaction was to tell her to keep moving and do so with haste. It was a great moment in our trip and shall be a grand memory.


To quote Sarah, "If it was God's will for us to see a bear, praise God we were in the car!"
Amen.

A little "Earth-shake"

Oh, the events of today.
I got a whiteboard in my room!!! Glory! I can't finally write on a board and not worry about getting chalk all over me.  Such a small victory, but a victory.  


Then, during 7th block, we had an earthquake.
Yes. An Earthquake.
Earth.
Quake.
Earthquake.
As I was teaching, we heard a low rumble quickly crescendo to a noticeable shake.  It was very scary. And very surreal. We are very blessed that it did not rank higher on the scale.  However, 5.8 was enough for me.


The last and favorite event was that I was able to finish my lesson plans for tomorrow which means I did not have to bring my stuff home with me.  
Nice, relaxing night :)

Montag!

Montag, Montag.  Today is Montag!
Today was a little hectic, but I got through it. And I got my picture taken to get my ID badge; here I come teacher discounts.
Fun fact: I watched an episode of "3rd Rock from the Sun" while catching up on emails and it was the episode where John Lithgow speaks German; perfect.
I am finding some sort of rhythm.  Lesson plans are coming more easily, but it is still a learning process. 
Wade and Heather have been so great and helpful. They had me over for dinner on Friday and it was so nice just to spend time in their love-filled abode.  Saturday was a day full of Sarah, which is a really great day :) We watched "Something Borrowed" and I really enjoyed it.  Pretty much any movie with a synchronized dance rates high on my list...
Sunday was nice and relaxing.  Took in The G.A.M.E and got a LU scarf.  Kylie got some playing time and the Lancers beat Howard 2-0! It was a much needed retreat from obligation.
Meg-Weg and I are getting ready to Skype and I'm already done with my lesson plans for today.
This is good. Very good.

A Victory

Victory in Jesus! Today was a victory.

"I am responsible for the energy I bring into the space." 

Of course, my "energy" is the Holy Spirit, for He lives in me.  But that became so real to me today.

During my "less fun" block, I was able to control how I reacted; this is not to say that I get angry or loud with them, but the first few days I did give them the attitude they gave me.  However, I never felt good about how I reacted. So I knew I needed to change something and the biggest changes in my life take place by the good graces of my Lord.

He loves me so well :)

So yesterday and today I implemented the idea that no matter what I would continue to be the light (Matthew 5:14-16). And boy, I am just wallowing in joy! What a great gift from God that I was able to resist the temptation to give in to the darkness.

I feel good.

And that, my friends, is always a gift straight from the Lord.

The first Monday

This will be short due to my great need for sleep.
Today went well.  Last night I had time to just write out a schedule for what I wanted to do during the class; much like a lesson plan, but more my way and less the school's way.  I felt good that I had run through the time instead of just getting in there and "winging it."
I am currently sitting down doing the same thing for tomorrow.  Eventually, I would like to be able to do at least two days ahead.  Maybe even the entire week in one day: dream big!


This weekend was very short.  Sarah and I went to the outdoor movie (one reason I love the small town) and got dinner. Then I went home to get school supplies out of my storage unit and of course as soon as we got some boxes pulled out of the unit, it began to pour! But luckily we reached the box with my stuff in it before too much damage was done.


I am still enjoying being a teacher. I am just constantly feeling overwhelmed and scatter brained. But at least I know all the kids' names :)

Dead Battery

My car battery is dead. Boo.
An unfortunate discovery at 7:20 am. But a gift from the Lord in the form of Henry K. came to pick me up and take me to school.  Very nice boy, very nice.
     I am almost as exhausted as my battery; I have not quite gotten used to the sleep schedule. With time I know I will adjust, but for now I feel old and weary.
     Today was the first day I had to make lesson plans--that was quite the task.  The Lord has extended me another mercy in the form of Meda, the Spanish teacher with whom I share a room.  She has helped me above and beyond being just a good colleague; she has become a mentor and dear friend. She has shown me ways to engage students and always lets me know when I am missing something I need.  And if she can get it for me, she does!  She is brilliant and the Lord is making me a better teacher through her.
     Another new discovery: apparently one of my classes at the middle school is actually a "Foreign Culture" class and not German...I was never informed.  I am going to send an email to the principal to ask about this, but I am not sure how it is going to go.  I feel like they would not expect another teacher (especially a first year) to teach a subject without letting him/her know.  When I was hired, I was told I would be teaching German, not German and other classes.  It is not that I do not like culture; it is that I already have enough on my plate coming up with a first year curriculum for four German levels.


Overall today was a good day. I can see how and why teachers have favorite bells/blocks.  I am quickly discovering mine :)

Ja oder Nein

Today was the first day of school and it was great!
     My students seem to be excited to learn...most of them, anyway.  There are a few who I foresee giving me a little trouble, but not too much.  The biggest discovery of today was how little the students know.  For example, the German 3 & 4 students do not remember if they even learned how to use the past tense; GERMAN LEVEL 3 & 4!!! I cannot believe it!
     On one hand, I am sad that they have been wasting time in class watching movies, translating stories, and whatever else without soaking in any of it.  On the other hand, I am excited that I get to teach them so much! It seems that everyone is at a very beginner level where I can use the same curriculum for each class, just at a different pace; a gift for a first year teacher from the Lord :)
     My dear dear friend Sarah joined me at school after hours (4-715pm) to help me organize the still very messy room.  She is so brilliant! There is still plenty to do, but things are coming along nicely.  Hopefully, I will have time to actually order some materials to hang up and use in the class (i.e. calendar, maps, etc).  Just to "own" my space.
    My back hurts and I am very tired, but the Lord is good.
    And I have officially started my first year of teaching :)

Open House

     This year is my first year of teaching. I am very excited, yet very nervous. Interacting with experienced teachers and seeing my classroom for the first time has been positively daunting. I see the teacher I want to be. I see how I want my room to look. And I see how I want the year to go; the trouble is getting there.
     Knowing how forgetful I am and that I wouldn't remember all the details to tell my father, much less years from now when I reminisce on I have decided to blog; I want this first year to be an amaranthine memory.  So I will be as honest as possible as frequent as possible.
     Yesterday's open house was great! Although a very long day (7:45am-7:15pm), I was very encouraged by all the interaction I had.  A plethora of teachers and superintendents have extended a welcoming hand holding the gift of knowledge; all the help is so appreciated and needed! I have so much to learn, but I am enthusiastic to do so.  In attempts to not be overwhelmed by everything I have before me, I have decided to focus on simply cleaning my room.  Which sounds simple, but you haven't seen my room...
   At the high school, I share a room with Mrs Simon and Mrs Lupas so I do not have to worry about decorating over there (a welcomed omission).  However, my room at the middle school is terribly disgusting.  It is apparently the place where old overhead projectors go to die; there are currently three waiting for burial.  The place is not only disorganized, but dirty, which is even worse. For example, I picked up a teacher's edition yesterday and my hand was sticky.  But I have come prepared today; I am ready to attack the dust bunnies and sticky amoebas with a great vengeance! They are no match for Lysol and Windex.
     Also, on the agenda: learn how to use a grade book.