Farewell, First Grade

My last day of subbing for my wonderful first grade class was October 16th.
I miss them so much!

Here are a few more of my favorite moments from my last few days there:

Savannah walked in one morning with her jacket pulled all the way over her head. When I suggested that she take it off so she could see, she said, "But you see, I'm having a hair situation today."
"A hair situation?" I asked.
"Yup," she replied, "I woked up this mornin' and it was all stickin' up!"

After helping Beverlynn (a precious, tiny little girl--the smallest in the class) with one of the math problems she was struggling on, I said, "Ok, Pumpkin, you're all set!"
To which she promptly replied, "I not your punkin! I's your goat. Goats be heavy."

During Social Studies one afternoon, the children were supposed to draw a picture of their families. Ariel announced that she was going to draw her whole entire family, but since we were pressed for time, I encouraged her only to draw the people who lived in her house--mom, dad, brothers, sisters.
"I don't have a dad!" Ariel blurted out.
"That's ok, not everyone does," I said, trying to avoid any situation that could stem from that.
But it was too late. The kids latched onto her truth viciously. "You don't have a dad?" they questioned, "How can you not have a dad?"
"I don't have a dad," Ariel informed them matter-of-factly, "I was just born because my mom was with a man!"

And last but not least, every Friday, the first graders recite their Bible verse individually for a grade. The verse of the week was Psalm 25:4-5 : Show me Your ways, O Lord, guide me in Your truth and lead me.
Noah came up to say the verse for me, but he stumble a lot and it was obvious he hadn't spent much time working on it at home. "Show....show me...uh...your ways...uh...uh..."
I helped him out with the prompt "O,"
That seemed to make something click in his brain, and he began the verse again with a fresh start: "Show me your ways, O Baby!"


"I would like to be a teacher, so I get to pass out homework."


Farewell, First Grade! All you precious cuties, you!

Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

Thinking back to another windy Autumn day...



Two years...Can it be so long ago?



I love days like this, my handsome guy, when we leave everything to the wind and cherish time together.


Our favorite little spot under a crooked tree in Irvine...


How many hours each month did we used to spend there?




People-watching, bird-watching, enjoying silence, so many conversations about our hopes and dreams for the life we looked forward to spending together.






New love, invigorating feelings, all nestled tenderly under your arm, with only the birds to witness.

Once on a high and windy hill,
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still,
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing,
Yes, true love's a many-splendored thing.

Double-Thick Potato Cheese Soup

I have a crockpot recipe for double-thick potato cheese soup that Jesse and I love. It's so easy! Totally one of my favorites.

2 pounds of baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. cubes
2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups finely chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
black pepper to taste

All you have to do is combine the potatoes, soup, 1 cup green onions, garlic powder, and red pepper into the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours (or on high for 4)

Add cheese, sour cream, and milk; stir until cheese has completely melted. Cover, and cook on high for 10 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper. Garnish with remaining green onions. Makes 7 servings.

Jesse and I love putting this in sourdough bread bowls. The bread just makes it even homier. It's such a yummy chilly evening treat!

*yum*yum*yum*

What a Way to Spend a Lunch Break

I'm sitting here in the quiet of the first grade classroom. It's rarely this peaceful in here, and it's wonderful!
The happy hustle and bustle is wonderful too :)

I've spent my break reading over old posts from the blog I kept before we were married. It's so fun to reminisce!

I love reading back over the things I wrote that I was looking forward to...and thinking "Oh yes! That is wonderful."

God took such amazing care of both of us--preparing us with hearts to love and serve another. Reading through that blog again reminds me how truly blessed we are.

Thank you, God!

http://bethanyeliseblogs.blogspot.com

Bless You!

My favorite moment from Friday came when the kids turned in their spelling test moments after they had taken it. One of the little guys came up to me, and when he handed me his paper, I noticed that there were drops of moisture spattered on it.

"Sorry, Teacher," he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, "I hachooed on it."

Such a Sweet Idea

I just saw this on This is Reverb's blog, and I love it!

I'm putting it here so that in a few years, I might be able to do the same thing.

Kate, I'll be calling on you as my photographer!

L-O-V-E

Here is the finished project.

How cute is that?!?

Feeling Oh-So-Productive in a Not-So-Prioritized Way

There are dishes in the sink, baskets of laundry waiting to be folded, a bed that didn't even get made today, and a dinner that never happened tonight (besides Pops! cereal...) but I'm home alone and taking a night to refresh!

I went to JoAnn's Craft store after school today and was blown away by the sales. I was there last week and eyed a few items I wanted, but decided to be a good girl and wait until my coupon was active. Boy, did I score today! All of their rubber stamps and accessories were 30% off, and I dug right in to make some fun cards. I've been itching to do it for a while, and here's where patience pays off :)

So, while everything around me sits in heaps waiting for attention, I have spent the entire night making even more of a mess with papers scattered everywhere, in addition to layers of ribbons, decorative scissors, new rubber stamps and old, embossing powder, adhesive, ink pads, and a glass of water that has been threatening to spill all over everything tonight.

It's been so wonderful!

I needed that. I think too often I come home and stress about how the house should look, or stay at school until I'm too exhausted to do anything but sit with the computer in my lap until Jesse comes home. It's been a long time since I had a good hearty night of craftiness.

Also, I finally had time to listen to some podcasts my friend Paris had passed on to me. I listened to three of them tonight while I made cards, and I feel so refreshed! Growing up, I thought I'd never say this, but I miss sermons that were more than 15 minutes and really went in-depth on something I needed to hear. First, I was just listening to Ryan Detzel's sermons, but then through his website, I found other podcasts that were equally fulfilling.

Anyway, I'm also really enjoying the blog of the pastor who makes the podcasts. You should really check out his website >>This Is Reverb<< It's just an all-around wholesome site. He's a husband, a pastor, and a dad to two adorable little ones, and his insight on God in our lives is inspiring, humorous, and laid-back. I think I need that.

Well, I got the call from Jesse, which means he is on his way home! Good thing he loves me and won't be upset about the lack of housework and the over-abundance of craft supplies sitting on our kitchen table!

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10

LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12