A few funny moments

Reading Buddies
Every week we get together with our first grade buddies and my fourth graders read a story to them and help them with their reading comprehension.  It's a different experience with every class, but this year seems to be a lot more teaching what it means to be a role model and how to act around little ones.

One day I noticed this one little first grader squirming around a little extra and when I walked over to investigate I noticed my fourth grader enjoying his book...but silently.  I told him, "Bud, when your reading to your first grade buddy you have to make sure your reading out loud so he can hear you....can you do that for me?"...he nods his head in agreement.  Silly kids

Not a couple weeks later the same fourth grader came up to me and and said, "Miss C my buddy is acting kind of wild and can't sit still..." "ok, well are you reading out loud, are you asking him questions to make sure he's engaged with the story?"...."yea....and he also keeps kissing my arm."....yikes, never had that problem.

Birthday Surprises
A month ago I celebrated my 25th birthday, not a huge deal, but to a fourth grader turning a whole year older is like winning the Lotto!  Everyone wants to be your friend, people are ecstatic for you, everyone in the class has a huge grin on their faces, and there are always a few who are looking to benefit off of my gain. But to top all of this excitement off I'm the teacher....this is just all too exciting, and some kids don't know how to deal with it.

So I'm sitting there soaking in the magic of turning a whole year older, having a whole year more of wisdom, another opportunity of a year of adventure when one of my little guys comes up to me grabs my face between his dirty jelly stained hands and puckers up....WOAH! STOP!....I throw my hand up just before he tries to lay it on me when I say, "woah buddy, we don't kiss in fourth grade!"...

I quickly looked around to see if anyone else had just seen what had happened...there was only one other fourth grade boy who had his mouth hanging open in disbelief. I swiftly shrug the whole situation off like it wasn't a big deal at all.

Hot n' Cold
In an elementary student's eyes the nurse's office is like an "oasis".  A place where they can escape the pressures of their peers, grades, dragon teachers, and the exhausting amount of work expected in 4th grade.  So I have quite a few students who literally try hurting themselves just so they can go get an ice pack from their "oasis".

So one day I get back from lunch and one of my kiddos is extra fidgety (I mean he normally isn't a "still" child, but today was extra bad) and his pants were completely wet.  By fourth grade "wet pants" aren't a normal problem...so I asked him, "what's going on bud?"
"I pulled a muscle and the nurse gave me some gel and now it's burning"
thinking to myself..gel?....burning?....oh gosh, poor kid
"Where is your pulled muscle?"
pointing in the general vicinity that I'm so not trained to deal with...
"Why are your pants all wet?" I asked
"well, it's burning and so I tried to cool it off by splashing water on it..." this is getting worse by the second.
"Ok well go to Tagalog class and we'll see if it gets better."

Not long after that I am in the office when I hear the pitter patter of dancing feet and when I look out I see little buddy...can't stand still, pain on his face, and trying to explain to our secretary what's wrong.  Apparently it was too distracting and started shouting in class that it was burning him!  The teacher, not knowing what to do, sent him to the office.

What are you supposed to do in fourth grade when your in utter pain and have no idea what to do?...escape to your oasis, the keeper of the oasis will know what to do.

The next day I asked him if he learned a lesson from the previous days experience...."yea.. I'm never using that gel again."  I also reminded him that sometimes a little bit of discomfort is not worth a trip to the nurse's office.

...P.S he hasn't been back to the nurse's office since.

A bunch of crazies...

Big News!

It seems that recently I've been hearing lots of announcements of new relationships, new pregnancies, and births well in light of the mood of sharing big news I'd like to announce....

I'm going to Africa....ok, it hardly compares to an engagement or a new life, but it's an amazing opportunity.

Let's just say that I have been beyond blessed by some amazing supporters who have loved me and supported me all the way through my time in the Philippines, and because of them I am honored to travel to Nairobi, Kenya to help out First Love's orphanage where I will be helping out with over 60 Kenyan orphans in whatever way I can.  It's amazing to see the opportunities that God puts in our laps, I just keep asking myself why?  Why are you sending me to Africa?  I have such a heart for Southeast Asia, what else can I do?

I would love for you to join me in praying for my summer!  I'll be traveling to Kenya this June on my way home to Seattle, and I'm sure the transition will be a battle.

I am also in the process of looking for a job, so if there is anyone who knows of anything please email me;)  I would love to make another "big announcement" in the near future.

More gifts from my little friends :)

He told me it's a man with a bow and arrow....you tell me if you can see it. 

A very crinkled crane... love the effort

Changing Faces...

I love when my old students come back and have lunch with me! It was such a treat to spend the afternoon with these girlies...For fun we decided to take some pictures.  I told them to make four different faces...isn't it obvious...?

Pile up

Why is it that when tough things happen they seem to always pile up on top of each other.

I think it all started a couple of weeks ago when I was leaving on a trip and was working really hard to get all my sub plans done and then in the midst of it found out that my grandmother had passed away.  It wasn't a total shock, but it still surprises you when anyone from your family passes and I was sad that I couldn't be there to say my final good bye.
But after that it just seemed as if thing after thing started to happen and I got worked up about each one.  I'm pretty good when it comes to stress, in fact most of the time, I thrive off of stress and I do really well when there's a little bit of pressure.  But you can only take so much.
This week I was finishing up report cards and grading kids work when an unexpected phone call happened...my cat Tooly, whom I've grown up with for 14 years passed away last night.  Thank goodness for good friends like my friend Wendy! She understood my sadness and even shed a few tears with me :)
I know that a lot of people would say there are a lot worse things that could happen then having a cat die, but after having built up all this emotion the past couple weeks and the fact that Tooly was something special and truly was an answer to little 9 and 11 year old Meg and Hannah's prayer, I just feel tired.
It's also a feeling so far from home, family and loved ones during the holiday season.  I love skyping my family especially when they're with my extended family, but every time I feel like it tugs at my heart strings a little more.  I love them to death and know that I am so lucky to have the technology to instantly communicate with them, but it doesn't make it any easier.
I'm in need of a break.  I only have three days of school left, but I could use some prayers. I know that God is in control, but it just seems like things at home are changing faster and faster and less and less is staying "normal".  I am ready to do whatever it is God is calling me to do, but today I need a little more help from him.....

...and I want to remember these two lovely ladies that I loved.

My grandma Beebe (1926-2012)

and my kitty.  She was the shape of pear, but I sure loved that pear. (1998-2012)

Rest in peace you two. Love you lots.

Little People Little Letters

Being in elementary can be really hard.  Not only do you have to get up early and go to school every day but there is math to be figured out, stories to be written, books to be read, and lots and LOTS of learning.  It can be streeeeesssful....so much so that I received this little letter from a couple of giggling little second graders.  The little laughs made my afternoon :)

I'm pretty sure my fourth grade girls had no idea what they were doing, but I politely informed them that the second graders had a collection going on and they would like the fourth grade to try and resist from moving it around. haha so funny

Where are you Christmas?...

After living in the Philippines for almost three years now I have grown accustomed to celebrating christmas almost 4 months out of the year.  As soon as September 1st hits the malls start playing the christmas spirit and the count down begins to the big day.  I can't imagine a life without Christmas, the day in which we take time to remember the birth of our Lord.

Recently I was able to attend a conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  It was an amazing experience where I was able to learn so much and meet so many other people who shared a heart for the international teaching.  The conference however just happened to land smack dab on top of Thanksgiving.  I was dissappointed about missing this delicious holiday but I thought, what the hey, I'm always up for new experiences and I've been wanting to go to a conference where I would be able to meet with other teachers from around the southeast Asia area.

I have visited Thailand before and absolutely loved it, but this time I was met by a different experience.  It was still beautiful and the people were friendly the culture was as colorful as I first remembered it, but there was something missing. I went throughout the week trying to figure out what it was that was missing.  I thought perhaps it was the fact that I totally missed thanksgiving and went along my day as if it were nothing more than an ordinary Thursday.  But as the day came and went this strange feeling remained.  I couldn't shake it.  Finally one day as I as talking with my good friend Becca we realized there wasn't any signs of Christmas.  No decorations, no music, no special sales, no nativity scenes, and no churches.  As I walked around the city I realized that apart from good ol' Starbucks there was no sign of such a significant holiday.  But this isn't a significant holiday to someone who strives for enlightenment.  Why would a country that is soaked in idolism and tradition be interested in a Christ's birth?

It made me realize though just how blessed I am to be serving in a country where Christmas has such significance.  It's true there may be times when it gets lost in the hustle and bustle, but at least it is present.  I am honored to celebrate such a day in which my Savior humbled himself to my level and desired to be one of us.  Immanuel, God is with us.  This season I am reminding myself of the reason for our celebration.

Becca and I sending off a Thai lantern.  It just so happened that it was the Loy Krathong Festival.