i still fear god's plan

"Everyone has had the sense of my own belly laugh

That's the heaven here at hand that does not grow old."

[Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "You Can't Hurt Me Now"]

if only it were this easy

There was a girl named Ayona and she lived in a city and she wans to go swiming but it was winter and in April May June July August and September and she loves to explor for all kinds of bugs and she got a Idea she cold get a net and then something has gone wrong she turned into a monster and she saw a boy monster he just had to do something he said to himself don't turn around don't do it ok al do it her an and he said hay want to go somewhare and she said ok and they did. and the next morning they got mared on there honeymoon they went to a hotel and then oh! the baby is coming! let's go oh! I'm going to have a hard atak and they went to the hosbitle the babies came they were twins they were pretty.

- a story by one of my students

verk, verk, verk

So, for those of you DYING to know what the weekly schedule of an elementary teacher is like... your dream has come true. My life is consumed by verk, verk, verk...

2nd Grade Daily Schedule	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7:50-8:15	Morning Work	Morning Work	Morning Work	Morning Work	Morning Work
8:15-9:20	Math	Math	Math	Math	Math
9:20-9:50	Reading	Reading	Reading	Reading	Library
9:50-10:35
10:35-11:00	Phonics / Spelling	Phonics / Spelling	Phonics / Spelling	Phonics / Spelling	Reading
11:00-11:25
11:25-11:55	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:00-12:35	Recess	Recess	Recess	Recess	Art
12:35-1:05	Language	Language	Language	Language
					Spelling Test / Bible Quiz Treasure Box
1:05-1:30	Writing	Writing	Chapel (1:00-1:40)	Writing
1:30-1:40	Schedule A: Teaching Computer (2-4) / Spanish (K-1) Schedule B: BREAK Speech & Drama (2-4)	Schedule A: Teaching Computer (K-1) / Spanish (2-4) Schedule B: BREAK Music (2-4)
1:40-1:50			Writing	Social Studies	Dismissal
1:50-2:15	Writing	Writing			Accreditation Committee Meeting
2:20-2:40	Bible	Bible	Social Studies	Bible
2:40-2:50	Read to Kids	Read to Kids	Read to Kids	Read to Kids
2:50-2:55	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal

the BQE

Sufjan's new album, The BQE, is beautiful!

Read article here and listen to a few songs.

shut up & vegetation

- I am sick.

- I haven't accomplished nearly as much as I should have this week in class.
- Today was International Day, and our Honduran speaker was a no-show.
- I was given the responsibility of directing the 2nd-grade PTF speech presentation on the day of the presentation. It was a bad day today.

In a moment of frustration with my students, I said, "Just shut up." Yeah....I felt terrible, not for saying it, but for fearing the consequences. I immediately said, "I'm sorry. I should not have said that." Shut-up is considered by many of my students to be a cuss word. I immediately told my principal and assistant principal. When I did, they burst out into laughter, and said, "It happens to us all." Then, the principal said, "Just last week I told a student to shut up." Needless to say, I was so relieved! I am so thankful for having such a supportive administration. They are encouraging, patient, gracious, and helpful.

The speech presentation went relatively well. My kids told the story of creation, and one of them said confidently and articulately, "And the Lord created the vegetation in His own image." It was hilarious, and everyone laughed. It's okay though because all parents really want from their kids' performances is cuteness, not so much eloquence or accuracy.

Tomorrow is an in-service day, and I'm actually kind of excited. Only one parent-teacher conference, and the rest of the time is PLANNING TIME!!! Now I won't have to waste my Saturday. Yay!

uncontrollable laughter

You have to at least smile at this! I love uncontrollable laughter!

--- The clip is from my favorite TV show, Freaks and Geeks

three in one

I have been teaching my kids the doxology, and we got to the last line -- "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen." And then I talked about the concept of the Trinity, and then I discovered that my 2nd-graders have no clue what the Trinity is...

I tried to remember when I first learned about the Trinity, and I have no recollection of being taught the Trinity for the first time ever. And that's when I realized...probably because I was taught pre-memory. My nephew is 2 and is learning the catechism at church and home. My sister has been teaching him about the three persons of God.

So, I'm gonna have to go back to the basics with my kids.

Speaking of my nephew, isn't he a cutie? Here he is, after coercing him to smile.

Luke.