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.