GROSS

3rd grade is in here right now... and I'm not sure who is the guilty one... but someone has terrible BO. It's spreading over the whole room! In fact, I'm going to open a window. Quickly! bye.

Quite the Accomplishment!

In 1st grade today we had some time to read Spanish books silently. They were pretty cute about trying to guess what the Spanish words mean based on the pictures. And they actually did a great job!!

So this one precious girl is reading a book about La Corazon y Los Pulmones (heart and lungs- I have a body series, very interesting). (Keep in mind 1st graders are about 6 ot 7.)

She was one in particular who really enjoyed sharing what she was learning or could understand and came up about 10 times to tell me something about your lungs. Finally she comes up and says, "My mom told me not to smoke and I NEVER HAVE!"

Seriously- that really is quite the accomplishment!! ha!

So Helpful

A little 2nd grader was giving me a hug, then she looked up, backed away and pointed at her nose. I asked, "what's wrong?''

"YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING IN THERE!"

"okay, thanks." So I blew my nose, then went back to her. "Did I get it?"

"Well, no, it's actually hair hanging there."

Awesome. I love the honesty. so embarrassing.

Giveaway... cottage style

One of my favorite blogs The Lettered Cottage is doing a giveaway today! It's the best blog! full of great cottage style decorating ideas- right up my alley! Of course, I've not actually done any of them yet. But summer is coming soon, I'll some free time, and I believe my first order of business of the fireplace re-do. Check her's out.

Anyways- you can enter to win this sweet table runner today.

Or you can just go to this etsy shop and buy one. Looks like she makes tons of cute burlap stuff.

Anyways, I get to enter the giveaway by writing this post. I'm finished, so now I'm off to officially enter. Over and out.

FIRE!

Last night we went out to dinner with the Manthes while Ty's parents babysat the kids at home.

We returned to a smoke-smelling house and many candles lit all over the house. "Interesting," we thought.

Ty asked what was going on and his mom replied, "Well, everything is okay. But I think the microwave is dead. Yeah, it's dead. Oh and there were some flames. but we got them out."

We all immediately went to the kitchen (where the smokey smell grew intensely worse) and saw a microwave that was completely yellow inside. She went on to explain that she was popping popcorn for the movie and she doesn't know how it happened, but when she came back into the kitchen there were small flames and smoke everywhere! And she had scrubbed and scrubbed, but the microwave would just not get clean.

Everyone was fine. The house is fine. The microwave might have seen it's last days. But all is okay.

After they left, Ty looked at me and said, "I've always imagined it was possible for a 16-year-old babysitter to burn our house down, but I didn't think my 50-year old mother would do it first!"

Note to self: keep this in mind when we have kids and are choosing babysitters :)

More Silliness

My happy heart has even allowed me the privilege of sharing some funny kid stories...

1. Some missionary friends are in town visiting and they came to school today to talk with some of the kids. We were in the kindergarten class talking about what missionaries do and where they live and stuff like that. Then Josh gave each student a bracelet made in the Philipines but said they could only have the bracelet if they promise to pray for his family and for people in the Philipines. All the kids quickly yelled "I promise!" "Promise" "I'll pray" things like that. Then from the back of the room we heard, "THOMAS!" oh man, I thomas to pray for you! Ha!

2. I was teaching 3rd grade and was going to explain why so many South and North American countries speak Spanish. I asked the kids, "Who discovered America or the New World?" I heard many names come up, but my favorite answer (again very loudly) was "American Einstein!" Now that's a name i've never quite heard before!

Back to JOYFUL

well... a few monumental things have happened lately.

First of all, I mentioned in an earlier post my negative attitude creeping in due to job stuff. Actually I'm not sure how specific I was, but that was the problem.

Anyways... Thursday we had a huge faculty meeting and the Pastor of the church (that our school is affiliated with) came and spoke. And let me just say, God is good! My heart was convicted of my negativity. Which is a good thing.

And even better... I originally got into teaching as a ministry. I know the Lord has called me to ministry and I have figured out (through the process of elimnation and other jobs) that the type of ministry is teaching. The classroom is the perfect place for many hours of uninterrupted influence!! Just think of how much your elementary teachers impacted you. I guarantee you still know all of their names! Now imagine if they had been guiding you toward the Lord and a Godly life... the impact is huge!

Well, back to last Thursday. Basically the Pastor spelled out a vision for exactly this type of intentional ministry! He knows some changes need to occur to reach the goal, but that is the goal! So I am totally onboard with a VERY happy heart!! I can't wait to be a part of this ministry and even more exciting, help BUILD it!!

So, my joy is back. The Lord has restored me. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the challenges!! I can't wait for the next school year!