Giving thanks

Somehow, suddenly, tomorrow's Thanksgiving! I'm not sure how this sneaked up on us. Without a real fall here, it's pretty easy to forget it's November.

Today we had our Fall Festival at school, with the theme of A Decade of Thanks. First grade was the 50s! I will put some pictures below.

Tomorrow I leave to stay at the beach for a few days with Holly. I'm so looking forward to it! Anyway, since we are leaving early early, I'm going to post my Things I'm Thankful For list right now!

:: A house, a bed, and food.

:: For God's direction in sending me here.

:: Seeing my family in 4 weeks!!

:: loud fans.

:: Good friends down here :)

:: Prayer.

:: Siblings.

:: Cards and packages in the mail.

:: Health.

:: football.

:: my motorcycle.

:: Love.

:: the internet.

Obviously there are more, but I am tired and I have to pack! Here are a smattering of photos from today:

I'm 50s, Holly is 80s, Brewer is 60s!

My class! Please look carefully at the 50s garb and hairstyles :)

The best dressed!

From one of my students a few weeks ago. I believe he means to say, Miss Natalie I like you at the beach.

Well, it was a good weekend but a rough Friday. I reached a critical point at about 11 am when the kids were just not listening and I was tired of yelling and the Spanish teacher had been waiting for 10 minutes. I burst into tears and gave them a short speech about my frustration and then went home and took a nap. That afternoon Jenny was on a moto and got hit by a car and injured her ankle. Totally God's protection that she wasn't hurt worse!!

Anyway, I had a productive weekend but I am not feeling motivated in my class. I am tired of fighting for the attention of my students. I think we are all feeling ready to go home for break. Sunday I definitely didn't feel like going to church either; I just wanted to get into my car and drive to SCC and be in church with my family and everyone I know.

Another bummer was the Ravens loss to the Colts Sunday, but I watched it in the best possible way for the DR: with friends, on a projector screen. The only negatives: it was broadcast in Danish, and I had to watch it with Brewer in her Manning jersey. All in all, a good game, especially to watch.

That's about it! We have a 2 1/2 day week, so I'm pretty much half done. Wednesday is just a party. I can't wait for some time off. And then it's just a few weeks til we go home!

my Young-at-heart Life

I'm back! We had a great weekend at Young Life camp, although I think I am still recovering from the lack of sleep. I absolutely love the high school girls from our school and I'm so glad I went. I think God definitely did some neat things while we were there. Yesterday after school we had a post-camp get together so I feel like I've been running around crazily for days.

Tonight was girl dinner and Bible study, and I really love it when we all get together and share food.

Side note: just discovered that we cut Hauschka. Can we replay the Vikings now?

We have our Thanksgiving festival next Wednesday and my kids have been working hard on their Rock Around the Clock dance. I think I am more into it than they are.

Tonight we talked about some things in our lives that we are thankful for...there are so many! I thought quickly though about how thankful I am that my family has my brother in our lives. Even though none of us were planning on him, he was the best surprise ever. I love him to death and I'm glad he's one of my best friends.

Along with that I'd have to say my sister. We didn't always get along when we were younger, but I think about her pretty much every day and wish she was with me here. She's my other half and I can't wait to see her over Christmas!!!

I'm doing so much better at posting pictures aren't I?? Here are my fingernails painted Ravens purple with Baltimore spread out over them. Daisy is my nail lady...she does well!

Food success and weekend plans

OK I'm super tired and I will get no sleep this weekend so I'm gonna make this quick!

Last night's dinner for my adopted Dominican family was a success. Everything turned out the way it needed to.

I'm way excited for this weekend...I'm going to be a leader for a Young Life camp along with Holly and Tim. There are kids from our school, another Jarabacoa school, and a school in Santiago. I'm looking forward to it but I'm concerned about my sleep levels!

Special thanks to: my awesome MOM, because she always sends me things in t

he mail :)

my CHURCH, for more supplies!

the McFalls, for their nice card :)

Kaylie, for her newsy card too!

Mama Wingate, for PICTURES from the wedding that I could show my kids in class!

Our thanksgiving break is going under the guise of Fall Break, for which we have a fall festival. The theme: Thanksgiving through the decades. First through third is the

50s. We have already begun practicing! I am excited.

I leave you with a picture of the Caribbean: me, Brewer, Holly, Jenny.

AHHHHHH!

Shame! My sister hates when i say this, but Egads! I haven't posted in over a week. I'm usually much better at this. What has happened in the meantime??

Last week is kind of a blur. Did alot of work. Had girl dinner/Bible study on Thursday. Oh, and I got my sandals fixed for a like a dollar by my shoe guy named Eberto. I was pretty excited. I also cut my foot on some glass in the soccer field, and then sliced my finger while making guacamole. (I did not tell the eaters of said guac about said sliced finger. Please keep my secret.)

We had a three day weekend due to some Dominican holiday known as Constitution Day, which

contributes to my cyber absence. I went to the BEACH and had an utterly wonderful time!!! the water was warm, the company was positive, AND we had....wait for it....TV!!!!! Pretty much we exclusively kept football on. I don't even care about college football, but it was a beautiful thing just to listen.

I will refrain from commenting on the performance of my team this Sunday, whose name I will not mention. 4-4?? Really??

Tomorrow I am having my sort-of Dominican family over for dinner....could be rough, since I am cooking, and I think we all know how far (or not) my domestic ability extends.

Time for bed. (2 hours ago)....here are Holly and me at the BEACH!!!