december 17.

One year ago today.
That was the day that Papa was rushed to the hospital having a heart attack.  That day changed our lives, really.  I'm thankful for this blog, to be able to go back and reread the events that happened.  Not so much to remember the pain, but to be able look back and see God's goodness in the midst of it all.  How merciful God was to each of us!

This year I'm thankful for each person that surrounds my life.  My family and friends.  I feel like I say it quite a bit, actually, but it's true.  The people around you are the one's shaping you, influencing you, and loving you.  I'm thankful for each one, for the role that they play individually and collectively.  So, thank you.

Thank you for your love and support, each day of the year.  Thank you for your prayers as we approach this Christmas, for my family as we get together and remember the events of one year ago.  Pray especially for Gramma, as she continues to settle into her new reality of living on her own.  Thank you, Lord, for being sufficient through it all...

something unknown.

Do you ever get the feeling of excitement for something unknown?
I know it sounds crazy, really, but I have this anxious/excited feeling that comes over me occasionally, but I don't really know what it's about.  Maybe I just excited for Christmas, because I do love the holiday.  Maybe I'm excited for Break and a day where I can stay in my PJs all day if I want to.  Maybe I'm excited for Wicked, which is 3 weeks from tomorrow. 

Maybe it's a combination of all of those things, or really none of them all.  Life just feels like I'm on the edge of everything changing.  (Like changing for everyone else, not really me...)  This probably wasn't post-worthy because I can't properly express my feelings.  However, this blog is for me primarily, so you're just going to have to live with it.

One thing I know for sure, I'm still in process...

december cheer.

Two posts in less than a week? I'm surprising even myself.  Although, I don't really know who all reads this, since nobody ever comments....ahem...

I love December and the spirit of giving that it brings out in people.  Forget all the controversy about consumerism and materialism, which has its validity.  I just love that this is a time of year when people think about people other than themselves.  It's something I strive to do each day.  To be a generous and cheerful giver.  To give genuinely from the heart.  But it doesn't come naturally to most people.  So I love to see it.  It's not even about the gifts, but about the spirit behind it.  In that sense, it really is the "most wonderful time of the year."  I pray that, not out of obligation, but a true spirit of generosity,you will cheerfully give this Christmas.  Whether it be to your family, friends, church, strangers, missions project, those in need, or anyone in between, realize how greatly you have been blessed!  It doesn't have to be a lot, because it's not really about the gift, but about the willing heart that gives it. 

On that note, please send all Christmas gifts to...

little pieces of life.

Here are some little pieces of my life lately...A collection of random bits, quick stories, and miscellaneous information.

Tonight I broke the Cardinal Rule of Commuting: I didn't use the restroom before leaving school.  By the time I drove 35 minutes, made a quick stop, and 10 more minutes home, I really wished I had.  Of course, I did try to go, but the bathroom was already locked, which, of course, didn't help me a bit.

In just about a month from now, I get to see Wicked again.  So excited!

My students say and do some really funny things sometimes.  It's hard to not laugh sometimes.  Like today, when one of the kids pretty much just ate it.  I would have felt bad if hadn't been messing around, but he somehow managed to tip his chair back and then fell into another chair.  I just had to laugh.  They're just goofy, nerdy 5th graders.  And as crazy as they drive me sometimes, I can't help but love them.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before, but I'm teaching Pre-K Sunday School every week at church.  I love being around those kids.  They have such enthusiasm for life and the littlest things.  It also cracks me up to watch them during music, when half of them are just standing there watching the adults jumping around singing and thinking, I can only assume by the looks on their faces, that we are all insane.  They say the most hilarious things, have meltdowns over a torn sticker, and are the picture of childlike faith. 

It's December! Which is so crazy, but also happens to be one of my favorite months.  I love the whole Christmas season, everything about it.  I love shopping for Christmas presents, looking for something that I hope the person will love.  I love when the weather changes (like it has this week!) and I can wear my growing collection of scarves. 

I'm a bit torn about the idea that school goes until December 23 this year.  On one hand, it completely ruins our family tradition of celebrating with one side of the family, which we do on the 23rd every year.  However, the weeks of school will fly by, which means Christmas will be here before we know it.  And, also on the plus side, I get a whole week off in January, which will be pure vacation.  I guess it's not really so bad...

Ok, that's all I have time for tonight.  It's almost my bed time.

awards day.

[Disclaimer: This story is not for the weak-stomached.]

About three weeks ago (yes, that's how behind I feel) was the First Quarter Awards Assembly at school.  It started at 9:30 for Intermediate grades and lasted more than an hour (also known as a really long time to keep a class of kids quiet).  They started with some general awards, then moved on to 4th, 5th, then 6th grade.

So we'd been sitting on uncomfortable benches in the cafeteria for awhile before it was finally our turn.  In the midst of the transition from the last class to mine walking up, one of the girls in my class says to me, "Miss Friesen, Alex just threw up on my face."  I can't even explain the thoughts that ran through my head.  My response to her: "What?"  She says again, "Alex threw up on my face."  (Please keep in mind that we are literally walking up to the front as this conversation is happening.)  All I can think to say is "Are you ok?"  She says yes and move into our places on the stage. 

And then suddenly it hit me.  Where was Alex?  I look over and see him, back to the audience, not-so-dry heaving, on the verge of losing it.  All I said to him was, "Go," and he was out practically running out the door.  I calmly carried on, calling names and giving out the awards.  It wasn't until we were sitting back down that the hilarity of the situation really hit me.  Every time I replay the scene in my mind, I just start cracking up.  Even three weeks later, it doesn't get old.  Seriously, the only way I could think that Alex vomited on her face was by throwing up in his mouth and some of it came out because there was nothing on the floor or anywhere else.  By the way, the girl had wiped it off on her sweatshirt, so I didn't see anything.  Thank the Lord because Miss Friesen would have thrown up too.

Of course, after we had sat down, Alex's mom came up to me asking where he was (I had had to say he wasn't there).  I told her I sent him to the office because he had been throwing up.  Her response was "Oh no!  Him too?"  Apparently her younger son had also been throwing up during his assembly.  Lovely.

tuesday evening.

November is off to a quick start.  I had great ambitions of updating my blog each day this month.  Ha!  Well, this is what, post 2 on the 8th day.  Oh well!  I have two goals with this: To reflect on my days and to share with you all about what is going on in my life. 

Things I am thankful for today: 
1. Friends.  I have Bible Study tonight, which I have been attending for just over a year.  While the group has changed over this time, I am thankful for each one of them in my life for a different purpose.  I'm thankful that we can hang out for hours and lose track of time.  I'm thankful that we can dig deep into God's Word together and then have a crazy, off the wall tangent about a movie.  I'm thankful that we can share in life's big moments together, pray for each other in the difficult ones, and just enjoy one another in general.  Words cannot express my thankfulness for each of them.  I'm also thankful for my other friends.  Even when we don't see each other, or even get to talk very often, I know that they are there for me.

2. Cough drops.  With teaching comes the inevitability of getting sick.  What is it about kids and spreading germs?  Last night I felt a little off, but it wasn't until I woke up with a seriously sore throat this morning that I really knew I was getting some sort of bug.  I still don't feel too bad, but my throat is scratchy and I'm really, really, beyond normal tired. 

Praying your Tuesday is going well... 

radio silence.

Please excuse my silence of the last 37 days.  As you might imagine, I've been very busy!  I now have 5 weeks of teaching under my belt.  It's been a bit of a whirlwind experience and a complete overhaul of my life.  I now wake up before the sun every day (looking forward to the time change tomorrow night!), leave the house around 6:55am, get to work just before 7:30, and my day gets off to a start.  I'm also tired by 9pm, which still is crazy to me.  Lights out by 10:30 every night, which isn't usually hard because I'm exhausted, but I do feel like a grandma sometimes :) 

At last report my class had 23 students in it.  By the time I started my first week, they had changed that number to 17.  A couple of weeks later, I had two new students show up (in one day).  Last week, one boy was switched into another 5th grade class at the school because of social issues (aka fighting).  Then on Wednesday this week, I found out that a girl in my class was moving and it was going to be her last day.  So, I'm back to 17 now!

I don't even know where to begin.  I'm loving my job, even though it can keep my every moment busy.  I have to have a "cut off" time so I don't work all night.  I'm happy to do most of it, though, and I love my students.  Out of the 17 I have, 13 are boys.  Three of them in particular keep me on my toes.  Actually, they have "attitude issues" and have a difficult time not talking out and being disruptive in class.  Today was probably one of the best days that one of the boys had.  After I really got on them this week, I'm praying that we are turning a new leaf and that it wasn't just a fluke. 

The school I am working at is pretty high academically, which is wonderful.  It also means I have added pressure to keep these kids at high levels in Language Arts and Math.  For the most part I feel good about it, but sometimes the responsibility overwhelms me for a moment.  The other 5th grade teachers are wonderful and so supportive, anticipating my needs in some cases, and ready and willing to answer questions when I have them. 

I promise to be better about updating.  I also promise to take pictures of my room soon to share with you all...