Tomorrow is the day. Wow, it's hard to believe how quickly 4 months can pass since the time this whole thing started. Slovenia, I'm referring to, of course. I have to be at the church in 11 hours, 55 minutes. Almost all the way packed...just those last minute things in the morning. You know how that goes...
Please be praying for my team of 23 as we travel to the other side of the globe.
Right now I'm tired just thinking about the trip. Of course, that may have something to do with the lack of sleep last night. I woke up around 3:30 this morning (after falling asleep just after 12:30), my mind already going with all the things that needed to get done. I'm happy to report that 99% of it is done. What isn't will either be done tomorrow, done when I get home, done while I'm there, or just not done at all :) I tried to do the whole "make a list, go back to sleep" thing, only it didn't work. Then I tried playing a game on my phone to get my mind off of "the list" but that didn't help either. At 4:45 I got up and worked for an hour and a half, then tried to go back to sleep. When that didn't happen again, I decided a few minutes after 7 to get up and get going.
See you again in February (I know you'll be anxiously awaiting pictures and stories)!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
never a dull moment.
Last week was my grand re-entrance into the world of substitute teaching. I received jobs for four out of five days, which is better than I've gotten in a long time (3 were 1/2 days, but better than nothing!)...
And, if nothing else, substitute teaching usually leaves me with a good story or two. So here you go:
First, a quick story from preschool, where I subbed one day the week before:
Girl: "Look at my eyes!"
Me: "I don't see anything! What's wrong?"
Girl: "They're brown. Like Dora."
Oh, got it.
Monday I subbed in junior high (my first junior high experience...and hopefully only one of few). The call I received said I was supposed to be there 7:59-11:59. I got there and found out that school started at 8:30, but this teacher didn't have a homeroom, so it was really about 8:40. I then had 3 periods to teach and 4th period was his prep, so I got to leave around 11:15. Sounds pretty good, until I found out I had the same class for all three periods. And, let's just say, they were not the most motivated learners. I think it would have been a lot better of an experience if I'd gotten new kids each period.
Tuesday was my full day, where I subbed in 4th grade. The kids were pretty good, did their work for the most part, and cooperated with me. The worst part of the day was that the class had PE first thing in the morning and I had to sit in the classroom for about an hour with nothing to do. I had my book with me, but felt weird reading it with the teacher's aide sitting right next to me grading papers. Instead I sat there and pretended to look over the simple math lesson. I know, if that was the worst part of the day, I probably had a pretty good day... Oh, and I did get to read my book at lunch.
Wednesday was probably the most story-worthy day of my week (although Friday gave it a run for its money). When I accepted the job, the automated message told me there were special instructions online. Those instructions said, "It should be an easy day with lunch at 12:30 and the students are released at 2:05." Sweet. I didn't have to be there until 11:30, so it really did sound like a nice, short day. I arrived at the school a few minutes early, filled out the necessary paperwork, and was given directions to the classroom. "Cut through the library, go down the stairs, you'll see a door on your left, go through that, across the playground, and you'll see the classroom in the portables." Ok, slightly confusing, but simple enough. (Can I get a map like they gave me on Monday?) I walk into the library and see about 15 doors to choose from, so I asked a teacher in there for directions. She slightly clarified the directions and I was off again. I walked down the stairs and saw a number of doors to choose from, but decided the one at the end of the hall made the most sense. As it shut behind me, I realized that I had made it back to the front of the school, outside the gate, and the door behind me was locked. Awesome. I'm just about to suck up the courage to go back into the office feeling like a moron when I noticed that the gate to my right was open. I went through there and made it to the classroom with no more mishaps. When I arrive, the teacher informs me that the principal called him this morning and told him that, even though school was out at 2:05, I needed to stay until 3:00. Lame, but I understood for payroll purposes. I make it through the day just fine, let the kids out at 2:05, graded a few papers, and then sat there doing nothing. I was really wishing I hadn't forgotten my book! Thank goodness for games on my phone. At 2:45 the phone in the classroom rang, the secretary wanting to know if I was still there since she didn't have my key. I told her I had been instructed to stay until 3:00, but she told me to come on up if I was finished. I decided I could finish my game later, so I made my way back to the office. As I walked across the playground, I realized that the gate I came through was now locked and I had no idea how to get back to the office. I found a lady working on the playground and asked her for directions, explaining I had come in through the now-locked gate (and feeling slightly like an idiot). She pointed to the main building, instructing me to go through the door on the left. I walked over there and tried both doors on the left side of the building, but both were locked. Awesome. I decided that maybe there was a door around the corner. There was, but locked again. Panic slowly starts to set in as I begin to feel like I'm trapped. Thankfully, a teacher opened the door and rescued me. I thanked her and she commented that they should really give us subs a key. Apparently this has happened before. I found out later that those locked doors were classrooms and it's normal for people to cut through them to get to the office. In fact, you almost have to. It's probably the weirdest layout of a school that I've ever seen. That gate had been open at lunch time because the students have to walk outside the gate and across the front of the school in order to get inside the cafeteria. Very weird. (I'm guessing that that might be why they keep all the doors locked, though...)
I got a call Friday morning just about the time I sat down to breakfast. And, you guessed it, my phone was upstairs. I bolted out of my chair, up the stairs, and dove across my bed to answer it on what I'm sure was the last ring. I got a call for Kindergarten, 11:00-2:40. I ate my yogurt for breakfast, got myself dressed, packed a lunch, and was on my way. I got to the school and the woman in the office was not expecting me. Never makes you feel very good when they don't know you're supposed to be there. I arrive at the classroom right at 11:00 and was quickly thrown into starting class. Apparently it was a pm Kindergarten class, whereas I thought I was going to be there in the afternoon of an all-day class. Not really a big deal, except that it meant there was not a lunch break. These poor kids have to eat lunch before 11am. Apparently I was supposed to, too. The morning teacher told the kids about the centers they would be in and left the class in my hands. I was supposed to have one of the centers where I was testing kids. Yeah, I didn't think that this sounded like a great idea for a sub either. We were supposed to rotate about every 9 minutes, which worked most of the time. The first rotation was a bit rough. Despite what I thought was a clear explanation of who was going where, kids ended up in the wrong places and one center had no kids at all. I wasn't going to stress about it and figure it out on the next switch, but the morning teacher came back in. I'm pretty sure she thought I was a moron. Hey, not my fault that these kids a) don't follow directions and b) went where they wanted to. I was trying to get through the testing and couldn't spend the whole time worrying about who was where. Anyway, things got straightened out and I didn't really care if some of the kids went to one center more than once. The most important thing was that every kid was assessed. Thanks morning teacher, I'm not a complete idiot. Ok, she was actually nice to me, but it felt a bit like she thought I was not capable because she stuck around for most of the afternoon.
That was my eventful week of subbing! I had a busy, but great, day Saturday, an even busier Sunday. Today was spent partially working and partially doing prep work for Slovenia. Packing our "team stuff" at the church tomorrow night and then I'll think about packing for myself...
And, if nothing else, substitute teaching usually leaves me with a good story or two. So here you go:
First, a quick story from preschool, where I subbed one day the week before:
Girl: "Look at my eyes!"
Me: "I don't see anything! What's wrong?"
Girl: "They're brown. Like Dora."
Oh, got it.
Monday I subbed in junior high (my first junior high experience...and hopefully only one of few). The call I received said I was supposed to be there 7:59-11:59. I got there and found out that school started at 8:30, but this teacher didn't have a homeroom, so it was really about 8:40. I then had 3 periods to teach and 4th period was his prep, so I got to leave around 11:15. Sounds pretty good, until I found out I had the same class for all three periods. And, let's just say, they were not the most motivated learners. I think it would have been a lot better of an experience if I'd gotten new kids each period.
Tuesday was my full day, where I subbed in 4th grade. The kids were pretty good, did their work for the most part, and cooperated with me. The worst part of the day was that the class had PE first thing in the morning and I had to sit in the classroom for about an hour with nothing to do. I had my book with me, but felt weird reading it with the teacher's aide sitting right next to me grading papers. Instead I sat there and pretended to look over the simple math lesson. I know, if that was the worst part of the day, I probably had a pretty good day... Oh, and I did get to read my book at lunch.
Wednesday was probably the most story-worthy day of my week (although Friday gave it a run for its money). When I accepted the job, the automated message told me there were special instructions online. Those instructions said, "It should be an easy day with lunch at 12:30 and the students are released at 2:05." Sweet. I didn't have to be there until 11:30, so it really did sound like a nice, short day. I arrived at the school a few minutes early, filled out the necessary paperwork, and was given directions to the classroom. "Cut through the library, go down the stairs, you'll see a door on your left, go through that, across the playground, and you'll see the classroom in the portables." Ok, slightly confusing, but simple enough. (Can I get a map like they gave me on Monday?) I walk into the library and see about 15 doors to choose from, so I asked a teacher in there for directions. She slightly clarified the directions and I was off again. I walked down the stairs and saw a number of doors to choose from, but decided the one at the end of the hall made the most sense. As it shut behind me, I realized that I had made it back to the front of the school, outside the gate, and the door behind me was locked. Awesome. I'm just about to suck up the courage to go back into the office feeling like a moron when I noticed that the gate to my right was open. I went through there and made it to the classroom with no more mishaps. When I arrive, the teacher informs me that the principal called him this morning and told him that, even though school was out at 2:05, I needed to stay until 3:00. Lame, but I understood for payroll purposes. I make it through the day just fine, let the kids out at 2:05, graded a few papers, and then sat there doing nothing. I was really wishing I hadn't forgotten my book! Thank goodness for games on my phone. At 2:45 the phone in the classroom rang, the secretary wanting to know if I was still there since she didn't have my key. I told her I had been instructed to stay until 3:00, but she told me to come on up if I was finished. I decided I could finish my game later, so I made my way back to the office. As I walked across the playground, I realized that the gate I came through was now locked and I had no idea how to get back to the office. I found a lady working on the playground and asked her for directions, explaining I had come in through the now-locked gate (and feeling slightly like an idiot). She pointed to the main building, instructing me to go through the door on the left. I walked over there and tried both doors on the left side of the building, but both were locked. Awesome. I decided that maybe there was a door around the corner. There was, but locked again. Panic slowly starts to set in as I begin to feel like I'm trapped. Thankfully, a teacher opened the door and rescued me. I thanked her and she commented that they should really give us subs a key. Apparently this has happened before. I found out later that those locked doors were classrooms and it's normal for people to cut through them to get to the office. In fact, you almost have to. It's probably the weirdest layout of a school that I've ever seen. That gate had been open at lunch time because the students have to walk outside the gate and across the front of the school in order to get inside the cafeteria. Very weird. (I'm guessing that that might be why they keep all the doors locked, though...)
I got a call Friday morning just about the time I sat down to breakfast. And, you guessed it, my phone was upstairs. I bolted out of my chair, up the stairs, and dove across my bed to answer it on what I'm sure was the last ring. I got a call for Kindergarten, 11:00-2:40. I ate my yogurt for breakfast, got myself dressed, packed a lunch, and was on my way. I got to the school and the woman in the office was not expecting me. Never makes you feel very good when they don't know you're supposed to be there. I arrive at the classroom right at 11:00 and was quickly thrown into starting class. Apparently it was a pm Kindergarten class, whereas I thought I was going to be there in the afternoon of an all-day class. Not really a big deal, except that it meant there was not a lunch break. These poor kids have to eat lunch before 11am. Apparently I was supposed to, too. The morning teacher told the kids about the centers they would be in and left the class in my hands. I was supposed to have one of the centers where I was testing kids. Yeah, I didn't think that this sounded like a great idea for a sub either. We were supposed to rotate about every 9 minutes, which worked most of the time. The first rotation was a bit rough. Despite what I thought was a clear explanation of who was going where, kids ended up in the wrong places and one center had no kids at all. I wasn't going to stress about it and figure it out on the next switch, but the morning teacher came back in. I'm pretty sure she thought I was a moron. Hey, not my fault that these kids a) don't follow directions and b) went where they wanted to. I was trying to get through the testing and couldn't spend the whole time worrying about who was where. Anyway, things got straightened out and I didn't really care if some of the kids went to one center more than once. The most important thing was that every kid was assessed. Thanks morning teacher, I'm not a complete idiot. Ok, she was actually nice to me, but it felt a bit like she thought I was not capable because she stuck around for most of the afternoon.
That was my eventful week of subbing! I had a busy, but great, day Saturday, an even busier Sunday. Today was spent partially working and partially doing prep work for Slovenia. Packing our "team stuff" at the church tomorrow night and then I'll think about packing for myself...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
more than a sprinkle.
The very nature of my job as a substitute teacher is uncertainty. I'm basically waiting for the phone to ring and for someone else to get sick. It's a hard thing to learn. Waiting, that is. Just about the time I begin to wonder how I'm going to earn enough money to make it through the month, God provides in one way or another. In December, it was the unexpected call to housesit. This month, it is the phone beginning to ring again for subbing. The hard part about January is that I basically won't be working for half of the month (I leave a week from tomorrow for Slovenia). And, as I tend to do, I started to worry last week that I wasn't going to work at all. But, once again, God showed up and proved my doubts to be wrong. I got a call Monday morning to sub...I took it, even if it was junior high (definitely not my life calling!). And Monday evening my phone rang again (for Tuesday) and again (for today). Nothing lined up for the rest of the week...yet. So, it definitely not a deluge of work, but it's more than a sprinkle. And for that, I'm thankful.
Friday, January 7, 2011
as requested.
[Patty, this one's for you :)]
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I have way too many projects going on. I'm working on a cross stitch project, which I promise to show you after I give it to the intended recipient. I have about 5 scarves almost finished. They are completely crocheted, but I need to finish them (tuck in all those ends) and put fringe on them. They were going to be Christmas gifts, but that obviously didn't happen. Maybe I'll save them for next year...this means, if you get one next year, act surprised :)
A week or so before Christmas, I found this pattern that I fell in love with:
So, for Christmas, my parents surprised me by buying all of the yarn I need for the project. I'll at least get started on it soon, even though other things need to be finished first.
This is the baby blanket I've started:
I started this blanket for my dad about a year ago but rarely found time to work on it when he wasn't around. So, I gave him what I have started for Christmas and now I can be free to work on it whenever. I promised it would be done before next winter :)
I also have many skeins of yarn to make some dishcloths. These are fast, so I'll probably start one soon too:
My mom received the OK from my dad yesterday to get a new sewing machine (or lawn mower, as he first said...haha). This means that quilting will hopefully happen in the the not-too-distant future...
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I have way too many projects going on. I'm working on a cross stitch project, which I promise to show you after I give it to the intended recipient. I have about 5 scarves almost finished. They are completely crocheted, but I need to finish them (tuck in all those ends) and put fringe on them. They were going to be Christmas gifts, but that obviously didn't happen. Maybe I'll save them for next year...this means, if you get one next year, act surprised :)
A week or so before Christmas, I found this pattern that I fell in love with:
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| (Not a great picture, but you can get the idea...) |
This is the baby blanket I've started:
I started this blanket for my dad about a year ago but rarely found time to work on it when he wasn't around. So, I gave him what I have started for Christmas and now I can be free to work on it whenever. I promised it would be done before next winter :)
I also have many skeins of yarn to make some dishcloths. These are fast, so I'll probably start one soon too:
My mom received the OK from my dad yesterday to get a new sewing machine (or lawn mower, as he first said...haha). This means that quilting will hopefully happen in the the not-too-distant future...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
my resolution.
My resolution for 2011 is this: take more pictures. I received a new digital camera for Christmas and have already taken a grand total of 2 pictures on it! Ok, pathetic, I know. I won't beat myself up for getting a slow start, but I will continue to work on getting better about it. I hope to share many pictures with you this year :)
I haven't done a puzzle in years, so this was fun. We have a couple of other new ones, so I'll break them out soon, I'm sure...
 |
| We started on New Year's Eve, if I recall correctly. This is our progress as of Sunday morning... |
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| And here's the finished product! Mom and I finished Monday night. |
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
a new year.
Wow, 5 days into 2011 (I still think that looks weird). This new year has already brought with it many changes. To be fair, they really happened at the end of 2010, but the aftermath remains for 2011.
The first thing that happened, as you know already if you've been reading, is that Papa passed away the morning after Christmas. The last week of the year was emotional, with much time spent planning his memorial service, as well as a few family issues to deal with. I was initally sad, but it didn't really seem real. As long as I stayed busy, I was fine. And then it all came crashing down on me and reality really set in. Thursday (Dec 30) was the family graveside service (which happened to be on one of the most frigid days ever, complete with an icy wind!) and the next day was the memorial service. Both were nice tributes to his life and a testament to him as a well-loved man. The overwhelming theme of the memorial service was the one thing everyone knew about Papa...he loved to talk! He could talk to a stranger about nothing for a really long time, coming back to us with practically their whole life story. I would often wonder if he could get that much information out of someone he didn't know, what exactly was he telling them about us. Sometimes it was embarrassing, often we didn't care, but oh, how I wish to hear his stories again. We always said we would write down his stories about his growing up years, but we never got around to it, always thinking we had more time.
About a minute before the graveside service began, I looked at my phone to see what time it was, and saw a text from my dear friend telling me she was engaged. To say I was distracted at the beginning of the service is an understatement. I'm so thrilled for them and also thrilled to be asked to be in the wedding (my first time as a bridesmaid)! This event is bringing many changes to this year...
And, of course, let's not forget my trip to Slovenia. I leave two weeks from tomorrow. It seems like so long ago that we began to plan. Back then it all seemed so hypothetical and far off. Not anymore! In truth, the reality of leaving is just beginning to set in for me. I still have much to accomplish, at least it feels that way, and I don't even want to think about packing (which I always dislike).
The last big change this year is hopefully this: finishing my master's in May and getting a real teaching job for next year. It's crazy for me to think about...
This year holds so much in store for me. It is, indeed, a new year.
The first thing that happened, as you know already if you've been reading, is that Papa passed away the morning after Christmas. The last week of the year was emotional, with much time spent planning his memorial service, as well as a few family issues to deal with. I was initally sad, but it didn't really seem real. As long as I stayed busy, I was fine. And then it all came crashing down on me and reality really set in. Thursday (Dec 30) was the family graveside service (which happened to be on one of the most frigid days ever, complete with an icy wind!) and the next day was the memorial service. Both were nice tributes to his life and a testament to him as a well-loved man. The overwhelming theme of the memorial service was the one thing everyone knew about Papa...he loved to talk! He could talk to a stranger about nothing for a really long time, coming back to us with practically their whole life story. I would often wonder if he could get that much information out of someone he didn't know, what exactly was he telling them about us. Sometimes it was embarrassing, often we didn't care, but oh, how I wish to hear his stories again. We always said we would write down his stories about his growing up years, but we never got around to it, always thinking we had more time.
About a minute before the graveside service began, I looked at my phone to see what time it was, and saw a text from my dear friend telling me she was engaged. To say I was distracted at the beginning of the service is an understatement. I'm so thrilled for them and also thrilled to be asked to be in the wedding (my first time as a bridesmaid)! This event is bringing many changes to this year...
And, of course, let's not forget my trip to Slovenia. I leave two weeks from tomorrow. It seems like so long ago that we began to plan. Back then it all seemed so hypothetical and far off. Not anymore! In truth, the reality of leaving is just beginning to set in for me. I still have much to accomplish, at least it feels that way, and I don't even want to think about packing (which I always dislike).
The last big change this year is hopefully this: finishing my master's in May and getting a real teaching job for next year. It's crazy for me to think about...
This year holds so much in store for me. It is, indeed, a new year.
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