Saturday, October 16, 2010
curious.
I'm just curious if anyone is actually still reading this blog. It probably won't change whether I write or not, but if you are reading: I don't hate comments. :)
Friday, October 15, 2010
my request.
Micah 6:8 – “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Dear Friends,
I’d like to invite you to be with something really special with me. About two years ago, I started sponsoring two children through Compassion International. If you aren’t familiar with the organization, I’d encourage you to check out their website (http://www.compassion.com). Over time, my sponsorship has grown from two, to four, and now, five children. I’d love to sponsor more! And, that’s where you come in.
The normal cost to sponsor a child is $38 per month. For a lot of people, that’s more than they would like to commit to on long-term basis. What I’m asking for you, however, is to join with me as a group and sponsor children together. Your provision of just $9.50 a month would be one-fourth, or $19 would pay for half. Your commitment could be as much or as little as you desire, from $5 to $38 (or even more!) each month. How many children are sponsored is up to you!
My plan is to create a private blog to provide updates, pictures, and letters that arrive from the children. Also, giving the money will be as easy as paying with PayPal. I’ll set up a special account specifically earmarked for this group and donations will only be used for the purpose of sponsorship.
Please pray about the opportunity and consider giving and sharing in the lives of some special children. I’d ask that you commit to give for a minimum of six months. Please consider being involved in something that God has laid on my heart. If you are interested in joining with me, please email me in response and we’ll talk about the details. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
With love,
Whitney Friesen
Wfriesen001@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
I’d like to invite you to be with something really special with me. About two years ago, I started sponsoring two children through Compassion International. If you aren’t familiar with the organization, I’d encourage you to check out their website (http://www.compassion.com). Over time, my sponsorship has grown from two, to four, and now, five children. I’d love to sponsor more! And, that’s where you come in.
The normal cost to sponsor a child is $38 per month. For a lot of people, that’s more than they would like to commit to on long-term basis. What I’m asking for you, however, is to join with me as a group and sponsor children together. Your provision of just $9.50 a month would be one-fourth, or $19 would pay for half. Your commitment could be as much or as little as you desire, from $5 to $38 (or even more!) each month. How many children are sponsored is up to you!
My plan is to create a private blog to provide updates, pictures, and letters that arrive from the children. Also, giving the money will be as easy as paying with PayPal. I’ll set up a special account specifically earmarked for this group and donations will only be used for the purpose of sponsorship.
Please pray about the opportunity and consider giving and sharing in the lives of some special children. I’d ask that you commit to give for a minimum of six months. Please consider being involved in something that God has laid on my heart. If you are interested in joining with me, please email me in response and we’ll talk about the details. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
With love,
Whitney Friesen
Wfriesen001@gmail.com
sick days.
So last weekend I had huge plans to get a lot of things done. I had a ton of work to do, as well as a bunch of homework. Call me a procrastinator, but I had to read a whole book (ok, it was only 125 pages) and write a book review on it (got to love that busy work), as well as all the regular weekly assignments. Like I said, big, exciting plans.
I woke up on Saturday morning, though, and I was wasn't feeling well. I thought it might be allergies, because it was mostly a sore throat and runny/stuffy nose. By Sunday morning, I knew I was sick, though. I woke up mid-morning, had breakfast, then decided a nap was in order. After sleeping a couple of hours, I thought maybe a shower would help me wake up. By the time I finished my shower, I was so exhausted I wasn't sure I was going to make it back to my bed. Slept another couple of hours. By the time I woke up, it was 4:15. I was feeling a little better, but I knew I had to get something done. By the end of the day, I did get the book read and my book review written. That's all I really cared about at that point.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good now. My biggest problem is this dang cough that I have. It won't bother me for hours and then it comes out of nowhere. Also, it usually appears when I want to fall asleep. This is definitely one of those weeks that I am thankful I can work from home and don't have to be miserable at work all day. Although, I do miss those good old sick days where I got to stay home, lay in bed, and do nothing except read books and watch movies.
I'm hoping that this weekend will be much more productive than the last.
I woke up on Saturday morning, though, and I was wasn't feeling well. I thought it might be allergies, because it was mostly a sore throat and runny/stuffy nose. By Sunday morning, I knew I was sick, though. I woke up mid-morning, had breakfast, then decided a nap was in order. After sleeping a couple of hours, I thought maybe a shower would help me wake up. By the time I finished my shower, I was so exhausted I wasn't sure I was going to make it back to my bed. Slept another couple of hours. By the time I woke up, it was 4:15. I was feeling a little better, but I knew I had to get something done. By the end of the day, I did get the book read and my book review written. That's all I really cared about at that point.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good now. My biggest problem is this dang cough that I have. It won't bother me for hours and then it comes out of nowhere. Also, it usually appears when I want to fall asleep. This is definitely one of those weeks that I am thankful I can work from home and don't have to be miserable at work all day. Although, I do miss those good old sick days where I got to stay home, lay in bed, and do nothing except read books and watch movies.
I'm hoping that this weekend will be much more productive than the last.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
a little dream.
 |
| I just really like this picture I took way back in April so I thought I'd share. |
I love photography and would very much love taking it up as more of a hobby. When I'll do that, I don't actually know. But, I do know that I would love a new camera that is for "serious photographers." I may not be ready for manual focus yet, but I think it would be fun to play around with! It's as though I have nothing else to do with my life, right? Although, I think when I am most busy I long for the simpler things, like enjoying a great picture or reading a good book.
I'll be accepting donations for this new camera. And, after I get the camera, I'm going to need to take a trip to somewhere photo-worthy to test it out, as well. (Sounds like a good plan to me!)
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
choo-choo trains and knock-knock jokes.
Today was my first day back subbing since last spring. I've gotten some phone calls, especially in the last week or so, but had so many other things to do with working another 2 or 3 jobs and taking 2 classes, I really didn't have the energy to even think about substitute teaching. This morning I got the call to sub in preschool in my preferred district (where I would love to get hired) so, having nothing else that absolutely had to be done today, I went. I knew I would be tired tonight, and I was right. Here a just a few highlights from my day.
I was watching the kids play outside and I was standing near the playground equipment. Two boys were playing "train" and I watched as the train went off the tracks, was stopped by a wood chip, out of control again, stopped by the train whistle, stopped right before it went into the water, lost it's sail in the water, the train became a ship, and the ship drove across land. Let me tell you, that was one amazing steering wheel. I think the only thing this train didn't do is fly. As I'm standing there I had this conversation with the boys:
Boy 1: "Look we are both train drivers!"
Boy 2: "Yeah, look! Train drivers!"
Me: "Do you know what another name for a train driver is?"
Boys: "No, what?"
Me: "An engineer."
Boy 2: "Oh cool, we're engineers!"
Boy 1: "They are also called choo-choo train men."
Oh, of course, silly me.
Right before we went outside to play, one of my worst nightmares came true. Ok, so that might be a little dramatic, but it was definitely something I had hoped to avoid in all my teaching days. It took me back to a couple of years ago when I was taking a class on Elementary PE in college and one day we were talking about rainy day activities. So, our professor gave us all a squirt of shaving cream and told us to smear it all over our desks. After we had covered our hands in it, she told us to make sure not to get any on our clothes as it might stain/bleach them. Awesome. This is exactly what I signed up for. And, if you know me at all, I don't like having my hands covered in something gooey/dirty/whatever. This is always the time that something itches really bad or your hair is in your face, by the way. Anyhow, my friends in class were making fun of my reaction to this seemingly harmless activity. Fast forward to today. The teacher (I was subbing as the aide) tells me she was going to get the shaving cream out for them to play with. I'm thinking: "Really, is that necessary?" But I bite my tongue and go along with things. Next thing I know, 14 pre-K students have a huge gob of shaving cream in their hands. I stood back while they smeared this stuff everywhere. I still don't really know the purpose, as they played with it for about 5 minutes. I was then charged with the task of helping them clean their hands, clothes, hair, wherever else they could have possibly gotten this stuff in 5 minutes off. Then they all went outside and I got to wipe off all the desks. Oh, what a dream.
The best part about subbing in the afternoon preschool is that there is a huge break for naptime. By the time we got all 18 kids settled down, it was quite peaceful. Just prior to nap time was the time when everyone had to go potty before they got into bed. I never remembered seeing this open bathroom, boys and girls using the same door-less stalls. But apparently it happens. Anyway, it was like directing traffic in there. It's a good thing there's only 2 stalls, because between that and the kid lingering at the sink washing his hands, and the kid getting a paper towel longer than they are tall, not to mention the line of kids outside the door making noise, it's enough to keep you busy. I'm just assuming that nobody likes this job and that's why I was doing it.
Overall, it was a good day subbing. It always amazes me what kids say. Or what they do when they think nobody can see and/or hear them. Like sing in the bathroom. One favorite thing of two particular boys was telling me knock-knock jokes.
Bryan: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Bryan "Bryan...that's me!"
Alexander: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Alexander: "Alexander...that's me!"
(I'm thinking to myself, "You do know that's not funny, right?")
Hallie: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Hallie: "Banana"
Me: "Banana who?"
Hallie: "Banana Peach!"
(At least she's got the whole concept of the knock-knock joke down)
These kids are a bit of a handful, but at least their pretty cute too. And, apparently my new name is Wicki, because Whitney is so hard to pronounce.
I was watching the kids play outside and I was standing near the playground equipment. Two boys were playing "train" and I watched as the train went off the tracks, was stopped by a wood chip, out of control again, stopped by the train whistle, stopped right before it went into the water, lost it's sail in the water, the train became a ship, and the ship drove across land. Let me tell you, that was one amazing steering wheel. I think the only thing this train didn't do is fly. As I'm standing there I had this conversation with the boys:
Boy 1: "Look we are both train drivers!"
Boy 2: "Yeah, look! Train drivers!"
Me: "Do you know what another name for a train driver is?"
Boys: "No, what?"
Me: "An engineer."
Boy 2: "Oh cool, we're engineers!"
Boy 1: "They are also called choo-choo train men."
Oh, of course, silly me.
Right before we went outside to play, one of my worst nightmares came true. Ok, so that might be a little dramatic, but it was definitely something I had hoped to avoid in all my teaching days. It took me back to a couple of years ago when I was taking a class on Elementary PE in college and one day we were talking about rainy day activities. So, our professor gave us all a squirt of shaving cream and told us to smear it all over our desks. After we had covered our hands in it, she told us to make sure not to get any on our clothes as it might stain/bleach them. Awesome. This is exactly what I signed up for. And, if you know me at all, I don't like having my hands covered in something gooey/dirty/whatever. This is always the time that something itches really bad or your hair is in your face, by the way. Anyhow, my friends in class were making fun of my reaction to this seemingly harmless activity. Fast forward to today. The teacher (I was subbing as the aide) tells me she was going to get the shaving cream out for them to play with. I'm thinking: "Really, is that necessary?" But I bite my tongue and go along with things. Next thing I know, 14 pre-K students have a huge gob of shaving cream in their hands. I stood back while they smeared this stuff everywhere. I still don't really know the purpose, as they played with it for about 5 minutes. I was then charged with the task of helping them clean their hands, clothes, hair, wherever else they could have possibly gotten this stuff in 5 minutes off. Then they all went outside and I got to wipe off all the desks. Oh, what a dream.
The best part about subbing in the afternoon preschool is that there is a huge break for naptime. By the time we got all 18 kids settled down, it was quite peaceful. Just prior to nap time was the time when everyone had to go potty before they got into bed. I never remembered seeing this open bathroom, boys and girls using the same door-less stalls. But apparently it happens. Anyway, it was like directing traffic in there. It's a good thing there's only 2 stalls, because between that and the kid lingering at the sink washing his hands, and the kid getting a paper towel longer than they are tall, not to mention the line of kids outside the door making noise, it's enough to keep you busy. I'm just assuming that nobody likes this job and that's why I was doing it.
Overall, it was a good day subbing. It always amazes me what kids say. Or what they do when they think nobody can see and/or hear them. Like sing in the bathroom. One favorite thing of two particular boys was telling me knock-knock jokes.
Bryan: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Bryan "Bryan...that's me!"
Alexander: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Alexander: "Alexander...that's me!"
(I'm thinking to myself, "You do know that's not funny, right?")
Hallie: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Hallie: "Banana"
Me: "Banana who?"
Hallie: "Banana Peach!"
(At least she's got the whole concept of the knock-knock joke down)
These kids are a bit of a handful, but at least their pretty cute too. And, apparently my new name is Wicki, because Whitney is so hard to pronounce.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
just a quote.
"God who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize that He may be more present to us when He is absent than when He is present."
-Thomas Merton
-Thomas Merton
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