a few things.

In regards to my last post: I realized that my day off is coming a week from tomorrow.  That is the day my family and I are going to see The Phantom of the Opera!  I'm so excited!

In regards to the last couple of days: I've spent them subbing in Pre-K, and I'm going back tomorrow afternoon, too.  It's amazing how tiring it can be!  Here's just a few gems from my days there.  If anything good happens tomorrow, I'll let you know...

There is one particular boy in the class that has been diagnosed with autism.  Sweet kid, but definitely difficult at times.  He hates to go to the bathroom so he won't ever tell anyone when he needs to go.  We were outside playing and I see the universal sign for needing to go to the bathroom. You know, the slight hunch, legs together tightly.  The other teacher saw him first (thank goodness) and took him back to the class to use the restroom.  She was gone for longer than expected, but I didn't really think much of it.  She comes back and tells me that I was lucky because the boy had pooped his pants sometime earlier and it was smeared all over to the point where he needed her help to get cleaned up.  If you know me at all, you know I don't like those things.  I probably would have puked on the poor kid. 

There's another little boy in the class named Sebastien.  He is hilarious.  He has a dry sense of humor, enunciates his words almost to a fault, knows just the right buttons to push on his classmates, and acts older than his 4 years sometimes.  Anyway, yesterday we were out playing and he looked up and saw a few clouds.  Not rain clouds, just clouds.  He pulls his hood up, looks over at me, and says with a shrug "Just in case it rains."  He has had some great one-liners...I'll try to remember some more tomorrow.

lazy no more.

"If I'm being honest, I think it's because 1) I've become a bit lazy in the lifestyle I've grown accustomed to in the past few months and 2) I look ahead into the future and see very few "lazy" days left. I'm going to be working a full-time, 9-5 job this summer, and then I intend to go back to school in the fall, as well as continue to substitute teach. So, when I think of all that, I guess I'm just basking in my last few lazy days until around the house doing "not a whole lot" (my standard answer when asked "What did you do today?")."

When I wrote those words back in May, I had no idea how true they would really be.  It's not that I was ever really lazy, it's just that I was unmotivated.  Ok, call it what you will, but it no longer exists anywhere near me.  I have not had a real day off since school started in August, minus the one weekend where I was gone and got nothing accomplished, but ended up paying for it the next week.  The last couple of days I've had an exremely difficult time focusing on the work I was supposed to be doing.  Monday's work was homework, and completely pointless at that.  Can someone please explain why I had to resummarize all of the information of the semester so far, in just enough of a different format that it forced me to practically reread all seven chapters of the book to complete the assignment?  Doesn't make sense to you either?  Oh, good, then it's not just me.  And I really was wasting my time.  All of that to say, though, the assignment took me hours longer than I thought it would, which messed up my whole schedule.  Tuesday's work was the kinds I actually get paid for, but it hard to focus on nonetheless.  I don't really know why, other than there where 9,283 things I could think of that I would rather be doing.  I think the real reason I'm having a hard time focusing is because I just need a break.  Perhaps after next week, but we'll see.  What I really need to do is get caught up on my work and to study for my midterm next week (the first I've taken since I graduated two years ago...yikes!).  Ok, off to bed for me, but not before I read a couple of chapters of my book.  Don't worry, the one I'm reading tonight is actually for "fun," although I should be reading something for school...


P.S> If that post sounded to you like a complaint, it's really not.  I'm thankful for the chance to go to school and for  my job(s).  I really just need a day off...

it must be fall.

Fall has arrived, finally...and I've got socks on my toes to prove it!  I'm just hoping that this change to cooler weather is going to stick this time...

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.  :)

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

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.

a little dream.

I just really like this picture I took way back in April so I thought I'd share.

Do you ever look at something and think "That would be a great picture."?  Not, "How beautiful," but "That would be a great picture."  Oh, you don't?  Me neither.

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!)