Thanksgiving

My thankfuls, Kindergarten style:
~God - Father and Provider, Son and Savior, Holy Spirit and Guide
~Mr. Thomas - the bestest man in the world!
~My family - Daddy, Mom, Keith, Curt, Kate; Mommy, Helen, Alice, Mary Kathryn, Kendra, Anna
~Food and clothes and house
~Music
~Stories
~Kindergarten

My thankful for the year, family gathering style:
This year has been a good year. I was healthy for most of it. We celebrated our second anniversary; every day I fall in love with him more and more. We both have good jobs; we ate every day; we have warm clothes and a nice apartment.
I am thankful for my Kindergarten class last school year. They taught me to have fun with my kids, to laugh and joke and play with them. They taught me the joy of creativity and imagination stored up in the mind of a child.
I am thankful for my Kindergarten class this school year too. They have taught me to teach the gospel every day. They have shown me that I am in the same place as they are, struggling with what I want and what I know is right. Through that I have been able to see the work of Holy Spirit both in myself and in my students.
God is good and it has been good to see a little bit more of how that goodness has been shown to me.

Anuna

I love choral singing. Check it out! Plus they have really cool capes!

Anuna

Here are my favorite video clips.

Media Vita


Blue Bird


Hinbara

*Edit* Here is another - with Flutes and Pipes!

Siuil ARuin, The Rising of the Sun

October

I am glad October is over. All month long there was a heaviness over me. I would catch breaths of life and freedom, but mostly lived in gloom and darkness. In thinking back, I don't know what caused the heaviness, or caused it to go away. Could it be that I was not reading God's Word or praying enough? Was it that I preferred telling myself stories of perfect children and exciting changes rather than living in the story God has placed me in? Was it that I felt the darkness surrounding the celebration of Halloween? Was I depressed that I couldn't fix the problems I saw, and didn't know how to face them? Did I just not get enough sleep, or was I fighting sickness? Was my schedule messed up, or did my diet aggravate my mental disturbance? Was it worry? fear? frustration? depression? over-commitment? procrastination? Did I just need to have a good cry?

Not that it wasn't a good month at all. We had fun visitors and visits. We started helping with the music at the church. We watched good movies. I made a new friend and walked regularly. The smell of the air was refreshing and the leaves were beautiful. Several of my students who were struggling made huge progress in the areas of behavior and academics. I read quite a bit of Tolkien and figured out what play we are doing. There were even many times when I thought, "This is what it means to be alive" as I stepped out of the door.

Whatever it was, I am glad it is over. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed. We did go see a play, which was refreshing. We washed the dishes and got a new faucet. We also got to hear an amazing pianist after a yummy banquet, which I didn't have to cook or clean up after. Did all those things change my point of view? Did I need the cold to wake me out of depression? Did time heal the wounds that bummed me at the beginning of the month?

Or was it simply the Holy Spirit reminding me how much I have to be thankful for? That was the consequence, whether or not it was the reason. God is good and He is in control and He does know and care about what I feel, think, and do. I have a wonderful husband who encourages me when I am bummed and holds me when I cry and makes me laugh when I need stress relief. I have great friends who pray and listen and talk to me. I have a good job, even though it wears me out. I am healthy this year and haven't come down with colds nearly as bad as my students (yet). We have food every night, morning, and noon. I generally like my wardrobe (which is rather large), though I am looking for some new long sleeved shirts and maybe a few skirts. There are so many more things: music, poetry, laughter, church, promise of heaven, creativity, etc.

It is time to get ready for Thanksgiving! I can hardly wait.

Happiness!

We get to go see a play tonight. I didn't think we would be able to see "You Can't Take it With You" performed by BTE because all our nights until it closes were full. But today our plans changed and we get to go! I am so excited.

I think that the day after Halloween always ought to be a day off school so kids can sleep rather than be grumpy all day until their naps at rest time. All except 3 students fell asleep rather than the usual 3 who fall asleep. It was nice. I fell asleep too - just for 2 minutes at a time though. After rest time they were all so pleasant and happy.

I have anounced the play for this year. We are doing "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder. I am both nervous (can we actually pull this off?) and excited (let's see what these kids can do; they have surprised me every time so far.) Auditions aren't until December so they have to prepare audition pieces and I have to wait patiently and not pre-cast the play.