Discoveries

involving paint and marshmallows in the teaching of Kindergarteners

gets you a lot of points with 5 year olds

&

doing mini expeditions every few weeks helps me

enjoy teaching Kindergarten more

it can take mail up to 5 weeks to get here 

if I plan it just right :)

brownies taste better with a heart cut out in the middle

&

celebrating birthdays gives me joy 

now that I will be having a room of my own, 

I have an unexpected desire to "nest"

&

Alicia will not pass up an opportunity to photobomb,

 which in my opinion is a exciting way to live 

 living near your family is a great place to live

(let's face it, I knew that one already) 

adding hashtags to your professional development poster

makes PD a whole lot more fun 

&

being in full time ministry is hard and wonderful

at the same time

la panaderia has new desserts

&

poorly executed karaoke does not mix well with 

coffee and planning

when you order a Nescafe and tell them it's "to go"

it will have 4 pieces of tape over it

when 7th graders are mixed with Kindergarteners

everything turns out better 

&

I still really want to be a librarian 

 if Lexie and I get locked INSIDE my house

we will have to climb the gate to leave

&

 the longer your legs are, the easier it will be

when you ask if it's okay to have the leftover potato salad for lunch

Nelly will make you a whole plate of food while you aren't watching 

clothes dry really fast on super hot days

&

it's really hard to say goodbye to a family that welcomed you 

into an unfamiliar country and culture

I move tomorrow!

I'm really excited for my new house and roommates

but I'm really sad to be leaving my family.

If you want, I'd love prayer for a good transition. 

When I'm… falling asleep

I see:

a mostly dark room - a book - lamps - candles - an iPod 

I hear:

lots of dogs - kids and adults voices - music - critters 

I smell:

 my blanket and pillow - cooking food 

I taste:

not a thing 

I feel:

sometimes sweat - sometimes cold feet - cozy blankets 

I feel:

exhausted - excited about sleep - lonely - peace 

Gracias a Dios [Jarabacoa]

After I reread yesterday's blog post

I realized what happens if you write while you cry…

it turns out really sad.

Sorry if I depressed you.

But life feels sad sometimes,

and that is okay.

I'm glad I can be real with you all.

But I did want to take a quick second to share some 

of the blessings that have been happening around Jarabacoa.

Thank you God!

for a familiar face to greet me at the airport

[Cresly, on of my students, was waiting at the airport 

for a friend from church]

for a wonderful family to come back to

and Justine's family traditions

for a brand new quilt to snuggle into at night 

for my first Dominican haircut 

and Natalie's skills 

for warm evenings 

and the way that relaxes everyone 

for slow afternoon's of planning, movie watching, and brownie baking

for God's promises and Jarabacoa 

for late nights, new games, and big porches 

for books and sisters 

for friends who remind me that where I'm at is good

[thank you Jess for those 5 reasons]

for friends who invite me along on their adventures 

for wet dogs and laughing with friends 

for snap chats from my mama that include 

the ceiling and her bangs and make me laugh out loud 

Thank YOU for walking through this journey alongside me.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Both here and there, I do feel loved.

Gracias a Dios [Sioux Falls: Part 2]

I'm in the thick of transitioning back into life here.

It's harder than I thought it would be.  

Currently I'm crying in the middle of a coffee shop

that's not really even a coffee shop.

I just call it a coffee shop to make myself happy about it.

I miss my family, friends, and ministry in Sioux Falls.

I know that it's normal to feel this way,

but it still stinks.

So I'm going to cruise through this post

so I don't have to think and stare at these photos for too long.

My tears are all wiped and dried now,

we don't need any new ones…

Thank you Jesus...

for campaigner girls who inspire me

and winter clothes

for a family that totally stands by my side as

I make financial decisions

and easy paperwork 

for a family that is active

and cold colors

for fancy dress-up dinners 

and a bunch of girls getting ready together 

for coffee shops that feel like home

and friends who are real with each other 

for ladies who will pretend to be figure skaters with me

and for warming houses

for so many options

and fast mexican food with friends

for falling asleep on the comfy couch at Kaia's 

while watching Gilmore Girls with my girls

for cozy nights cuddled under blankets

and cheesy Halmark Christmas movies

for that feeling I get when I'm inside a warm building

and it's cold outside

for OPH and first date stories and dressing room laughter 

for grandparents who support and love me so well

and feed me well too...

for this cozy living room 

that brings people close together

for a sister-in-law and cousin 

who are sisters to me

for these brothers and their stories 

and bird movies 

for friends who support me overwhelmingly well

and even bless me with painted toes 

for hair braiding friends 

and bringing in the new year with people I love

for laying under the Christmas tree

and being blessed with little ones in my life

Most of all

Thank you Jesus

for You  

Gracias a Dios [Sioux Falls: Part 1]

I went home.

 Believe it or not, I was REALLY excited to go from this to this.

I have so much to be grateful to God for. 

Being away from my home has helped me to understand that even better.

For this post and the next

I want to shout out a few of the things I praise God for...

for part of my YL family waiting at the airport for hours 

into the night while my plane kept getting delayed 

and happy tears

for a mom who brought my boots, long socks, my coat,

mittens, and my favorite headband to the airport 

to welcome and prepare me for the tundra 

for a dog who remembers me

and showed me that by shoving her head into my body 

and whining [THE sweetest reunion]

for the family I have at Hayward Elementary School 

and they way they support my next adventure

for a grandpa who can play indoor hockey

with his great-grandson

and warm fireplaces

for a full day spent with my college girls 

and quick starbucks runs

for butterscotch latte's, Coffea, 

and friends who understand me

for housewarming parties

and hilarious games of water pong

for a full house, ugly sweaters, and GATHER

for washing dishes to ghettoize music 

and clean sinks

for The Point and my unconditionally supportive church family 

that reminds me of Jesus

for relaxing massages

and my Amy sister 

for families that grow together 

and relaxing nights at home

for meals around our big table 

and Chinese food eaten by candle light 

for my first drive in 5+ months and 

friends and family that drive me all over kingdom come

for coffee dates where I left feeling loved and known 

for me beloved family

and Janna's red lace dress

for Christmas Eve curry with the Caselli's

and Christmas morning left and right game with the Morgan's

for Christmas traditions that never grow old

and my favorite park

for homemade hot chocolate with a candy cane 

and nights by the christmas tree with my slippers on

for intentional time with one of my favorite people

and Caribou Coffee

for late night hot tubing with my family

and dark cold nights 

for nights of card playing and cookie eating 

and friendly competition 

Gracias a Dios [Sioux Falls: Park 2]

on it's way :)