Hmm...

Pretty much my only class rule is "no complaining or whining." I have other rules for classroom behavior, but that's the only one I really have to remind my students about. This week I realized after my boss called to inform me that 'jeans day friday' was cancelled because we were having parent/teacher conferences that I wasn't doing a very good job of following my own rule because my first reaction on the phone was to complain about how much I didn't like this idea. My boss was kind enough to let me get some of it out of my system, but then made a kind exit out of the conversation.

When contemplating this moment the next morning, I came to the realization that despite God repeatedly reminding me at various times during the week of how He has, time and time again, provided for me and how I should be thankful and rejoicing over that fact; I had spent most of the week complaining about different things that really weren't so bad. I was just tired this week and felt like complaining about having to lead Bible study, take the German driving test, do the chapel talk, etc.

Anyway, I thought I would share that incredibly human moment with you all. I love being here and have learned so much and most of the time can't think of living anywhere else or doing anything else because God has blessed me abundantly this year. I am usually bursting with this knowledge, but seemed to be under a rain cloud this week. I am coming out into the sunshine and look forward to this weekend and all next week holds.

Thank you again for your encouragement and prayers!

Papa's Arrival

Just taking a moment to say that my grandfather has arrived in one piece and I will try to send him back that way. (wink*wink)

Catching Up

Well, hello all-
Please accept my dearest apologies for the lack of postings recently. I have been so busy having such a great time, I haven't taken the time to share it, except with a few family members I try to check in with now and then.

Currently, I am sitting in my newly cleaned (Easter Break Project) bedroom listening to Joshua Rosen and sipping Vanilla Rooibos tea (heaven). I am also getting little wafts of Easter chocolate that has yet to be devoured. (Angie, I have, in the land of cheese and chocolate, learned what you mean when you said that sometimes all your day needs is a bit of chocolate to feel 'right') Later today I will be making my way back to school to do a strip down cleaning of my classroom because I, well, actually my students, have discovered some ants in the last couple days and I guess there has been a history... I will also be lesson planning, definitely so I know what I will be teaching next week, but also because I will be missing a day or so, so I can hang out with my grandfather.

This week was our first week back from Easter Break. It started with a very lovely Sunday where the 'young' group went out to eat after church. We ate at a place called Cindy's Diner in Basel and got to enjoy the tables and chairs being set out in the street (I believe it is only a pedestrian street) and soaked up some good conversation and sunshine:) Later that day I went to dinner with some of the staff to meet Allison's (the fourth and fifth grade teacher) parents who had come to visit. They are a crack up!

Monday morning I woke up with a mostly developed migraine and after trying to make myself feel better, had to call in sick for the first time all year! My roommate, Amy-Jo, substituted for me, which was a bigger task than normal because I was substituting for the kindergarten teacher who was still on holiday in Canada. One of my first graders, Elisabeth, told Amy-Jo that she "did a good try" filling in for me for the day. I was out the whole day and come Tuesday morning, still didn't feel completely whole. I was still up and down with feeling ill for the rest of the week, which was more of a task because I also had kindergarten for the rest of the week, so more energy and personalities to manage:)

Friday, I was tired, having spent the evening (by which I mean midnight) catching up with Delice about her Easter Break, but was feeling better, so I was incredibly happy. Once school finished, I had a marathon of tasks-tutor until 16:00, finish cleaning the upstairs bathroom, take Diana the recipe she forgot at school, shower (because, man, I was gross), drive to the Bahnhof to pick up a load of people by 18:30, stop by the store to get grapes and croutons (I also picked up some Corny bars and Refried beans), drive though the neighborhoods to Diana's because the Hauptstrasse was blocked for a flea market?, deliver people and food to Diana's, move car so Janet won't see it and ruin the surprise party, help prepare and hide food so we can all eat once Janet shows up but the surprise won't be ruined by the sight of tons of food, have fun:)

So, if you haven't figured out, we had a surprise birthday party for one of my friends from church, Janet. She had no clue and seemed to enjoy the evening. If she didn't, the rest of us did;) I got home at about 01:00 and went straight to bed. I slept incredibly well!!!

Now, off to live some more:)