what happened?
so, i'm getting ROCKED this school year and haven't had time to update!
to begin with, my room used to look something like:
well, w/o quite the mess... this pictures was taken in the middle of packing this giant POD:
which I FILLED. why is there so much junk needed to teach science? and this is after donating more than 1/2 the stuff in the room... but it was worth it. Look:
all the cabinets are custom-made (and seriously, who gets the chance to design an entire room & ask for everything they've ever wanted??), the new student lab desks have plumbing and electricity, and if you look closely, you can see the hanging computers above each lab station. yes, 6 multi-directional ceiling-mounted computers. and i wish i had pictures of the inside of my beautiful closet, but i don't. it's so well organized (again, custom designed!) that is has made many a woman jealous.
but with all the new toys, it's created a frenzied need for new lessons and adapted curriculum. (though it doesn't look like the kids are doing anything all that technologically advanced in the pictures, huh? most of the changes have happened in the 4th-6th grades & these photos are of 2nd & 3rd). i've also needed to spend countless hours learning new software and getting trained on some of my new equipment. all of this has basically killed my personal time at work, but to be honest, it's been a fair trade. i didn't expect to be learning this much and to be this engaged in my NINTH year of teaching. i thought i'd be pretty bored by now. but a whole new world has been opened to me, and the challenge has been fun.
of course, there have been outside-of-work things to keep me busy too. =)
this was a huge one:
if you look closely, you'll see a nice ring on the 4th finger of my left hand.
Dave & I got engaged in Oct in Williamsburg @ a dinner in a colonial tavern w/ his parents. it was a very sweet evening, as he surprised even his parents w/ the proposal. =)
so since then, there's been some craziness w/ the wedding planning. i am constantly amazed to think that every married woman has gone through all this stuff. putting together a wedding is not an easy task... so many decisions at every corner. but a couple things have prevented me from becoming the bridezilla that some of my friends thought that i'd become:
a) my wedding is in Houston, and i'm planning everything from LA
b) my budget is too small to give me too many options
c) i've been around too long to think that this day will be the "be all, end all" to everything. this day WILL be special, but it is just a day and i think that i'm lucky enough to be much more excited about my marriage to D than about what my cake will look like.
so i've taken a page out of D's book and have NOT been consumed by the planning. instead, i've been having more fun buying things like:
for our tree in D's apt:
it's these "home-y" things that have made me really look forward to marriage. doing these things together for the first time, and knowing that we'll get to do things like this again in the future...together.
so a belated Merry Christmas, with some old news, but a very happy one from me to you!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
ACK, it's MAAAY!
but i'm not pressuring myself. i feel behind in so many other places in my life, i'm not going to pressure myself about my OWN blog! haha... =)
well, LOTS going on...
for school, since the last time i wrote, there was the annual Catalina trip with the 5th graders (w/ my accompanying cold-water hives), a large fundraising event for the science lab (crazy renovations are in store!), and of course: the science fair!!
sometime in the last 2 months, i saw Watchmen. a thought-provoking movie, but i left with emotional baggage. in fact, i could not sleep for days afterwards. i hate, hate, HATE Dr. Manhattan. i just could not fathom a "god" who was so apathetic... it actually scared me to death. i could not shake the terrible feeling...
and then i realized something big - that i have a very special, very precious gift: i never doubt that God loves me. it's always there, the knowledge (deep deep within) that He loves me.
i actually did something recently that made me think for a second that God might be disappointed in me. for that second, i was flooded w/ dread, w/ fear, and w/ disgust for myself. is this what other ppl feel most of the time? it's terrible!!!
i was able to speak the Truth back to myself, though, and the awfulness only lasted for that second. but it made me keenly aware how precious my gift is. i'm also realizing that this is not common amongst most other believers... i wonder how i can use this gift for others...?
i think that's one of my "new year's resolutions" (ha, can i make resolutions this late in the year?). but how do i help make the Truth sink deeper in others? to help them know that J's perfect record covers all of our imperfections? i guess we'll see...
this has been long, but to end, i'll just paste on some pics of my cute, cute niece!! =)
okay, bye bye for now!
Monday, March 09, 2009
so it's the new year (i know, i'm waaay behind already!! good grief, it's mid-march!)
first of all, i guess i should wrap up '08? this just seems ridiculous, but i'll stick to "tradition" and here's my list of 2008 *favorites*... w/ completely arbitrary categories:
Books:
- Fun find: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by A.M. Smith (set in Botswana) - just delightful
- Hilarity: sections of the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series by A.M. Smith - not as endearing as Mma Ramswate from the above series, but there were sections that had me in tears laughing!
- Fad find: Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
- "Historical": I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles - this actually launched me into reading several books set in the 1500's
- Re-read: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
**(wow, that entire list of books looks so girly!)
Media-ish stuff:
Website: hulu.com
Hook-ups: free 2-hr wi-fi @ Starbucks (w/ a registered gc)
Food discoveries:
- Clyde Commons in Portland - wow!
- Baby Blues BBQ in Venice, CA - didn't think i'd find bbq i liked outside of TX!
- The fact that you can order more than one entree per dinner on a cruise! (haha...i didn't do that, but D and his dad sure did!) i did, however, take advantage of being able to order >1 dessert each evening!!
Travel:
13 total trips: Thailand, Tahoe, Catalina, Costa Rica, Bay Area, China, Houston, PCC retreat, Idyllwild (Astrocamp), Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Portland, Florida + Caribbean
Discoveries about myself:
-I spend more $ on traveling than anything else. I even "collect" traveling accessories like suitcases and bags, etc.
-I am really adamant about the Asian no-shoes-inside-the-house policy
-I think about purchases > $50 for at least 3 wks before purchasing the product
-I don't read books, I read entire series
-I am a great deal LESS spontaneous than I thought...
-One can vacation while on vacation! It never occurred to me before to rest while I was some place new...but it's not all that bad! You come back really rejuvenated from the trip! =)
-My favorite times are no longer exhausting series of events... they're the quiet, mundane-filled moments at a cafe with D.
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i can cheat and already tell you some of my '09 favorites:
Media-ish stuff:
Website: librivox.org - yay for this WEALTH of free audio books! which leads to...
Book:
Fun yet deep: Father Brown series by G.K. Chesterton
the books about Father Brown are compilations of several mystery stories wherein this nondescript Catholic priest solves them with peculiar insight into the human spirit. when another character asks him how a priest could understand the criminal mind so well, Father Brown replies, "Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men's real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?" He has a level, non-judgmental appraisal of man, and every-so-often drops a delightful nugget of his rational and yet awe-inspiring view of God. i am such of fan of this little, humble man who understands the potential for evil in all and yet also acts with such grace towards the guilty.
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Anyways, back to present day life:
2009 so far has been pleasant. not too many pictures b/c so many of the "special" times have been the "usual" w/ D, in building community w/ my small grp, or at tete-a-tete's w/ wonderful girlfriends.
i think there are few greater pleasures than in chatting w/ a kindred spirit. i've also recently experienced the wonderful discovery of new kindred spirits, which always takes me by surprise. but while i'm on the subject of fantastic things: the look on d's face when i show up to cheer for him at his softball games. (haha, am i just dripping w/ goo during this blog?)
here's a recent pic of us up in the Bay Area.
i'm actually in a bit of a melancholy mood.
i thought i lost my last grandfather '04, but it's just as painful being close to someone who's losing a grandpa. the last wk has been a chaotic one within me, watching d begin the grieving process for a man who completely embodied generous, unconditional love. every word and story spoken about d's grandpa displays his self-effacing ability to laugh at himself and build up everyone around him. but in the sadness, a definite peace of where exactly his soul is now - joyfully with his Maker!
fortunately paired w/ the passing of life, i was able to celebrate the coming of NEW life!
i'm a baby-lover, so this doesn't surprise me, but i always love how much love a baby inspires. complete adoration, no expectations but just simple love, togetherness... a baby is a miracle in SO many ways. and i can't wait to meet this little one when i go home for spring break!!
with all the ups and downs, i'm tired so that's all for now...
Thursday, January 01, 2009
A lot of celebrating...
the year boldly came to a close w/o my notice. actually, last night i think i fell asleep around 10:15pm? haha, am i an old lady already? yes, but i'm excusing my exhaustion w/ all the recent festivities...
Thanksgiving:
like so many years of my LA life, i spent this special holiday w/ my family away from home. This year, there were two additions - D and this special girl:
-one of my friends finally having a job that she's passionate about
-new babies (for several of my friends!)
-family - even through all the tough parts
-a defiant peace thru the unknown and a storm of outer circumstances
my '08 list:
-how much i've been wow-ed by the deluge of answered prayers this year. a real lesson in faith.
-opportunities to serve that become opportunities to grow and learn
-a bit of freedom from my worst tendancies - that God can work miracles in freeing me (bit by bit) from my idols.
-and lastly, for d. cheesy but true. i've learned a lot about undeserved love from him.
which leads to The Anniversary:
who can beat the yuuummy seafood linguini and being a skip away from the beach?
and a most unusual one it was...on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean!
this pic was taken from the boat off the coast of St. Thomas (a US virgin island) on Christmas eve.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
i'm in portland right now for a science teachers' conference. and though it's nice to have a break from teaching, i'm realizing business trips are not as fun as i always thought they would be. in fact, i'd rather be teaching than sitting in workshops all day learning about teaching. at least i picked up some good lesson plans - they'll be fun for the kids, and i ate a BUNCH. my school gives a decent per diem, and portland has some good seafood! ooooh, my poor waistline is gonna have a hard time w/ me starting the holiday feasting this early...
anyways, here's the last few weeks:the good...
-D#2 (d's colleague) got 4 free tickets to Wicked from the radio!! the station was having a Military Appreciation giveaway and we got invited to tag along!
- our small grp split-off has gone well so far! we're focusing on team building stuff so that we can really bond and hopefully get more "real" applicational answers during bible study when we start them up again in January. Right now, we're doing a bunch of service opportunities together (like shopping for Tgiving food for needy ppl in LA and writing xmas cards and assembling presents for children around the world). we also did a study on Spiritual Gifts. i can't wait to hear the results of everyone's test!
anyways, i bought the boots to go w/ my other new-ish identity: a biker chick! (when riding, you should wear shoes that cover your ankles)
-unfortunately, D's motorcycle got stolen at the end of Oct... booooo. it was a BEAUTIFUL bike and a lot of fun to ride, but no more. D's looking into replacing her w/ a more comfortable cruiser...
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anyways, one other interesting thing that happened right after i finished writing last month's entry was that instead of D coming over and celebrating Halloween, he brought over a paper and declared that we were celebrating Reformation Day by reading Luther's introduction to Galations together. =) unexpected (what can i say? he's a bit of a nerd... haha) but really neat.
"When i see a man oppressed with the law, terrified with sin, and thirsting for comfort, it is time that i remove out of his sight the law and active righteousness, and set before him the gospel, the Christian or passive righteousness, which offers the promise made in Christ, who came for afflicted and sinners...
Christian righteousness is heavenly, which we have not of ourselves, but receive from heaven; we work not for it, but by grace it is worked in us, and is realized by faith.
Do we then do nothing? Do we do nothing at all for the obtaining of this righteousness? I answer, Nothing at all!!"
it's nice to remember that all over again! such freedom...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Trick or Treat!
another crazy month - will tell it to you in pictures...
the fun:
1. i went to my first ever rock concert!! and it was really cool that i saw Weezer b/c it's probably the only cd i know of any rock band. my brother's been a fan forEVER and passed along the blue cd many years ago. he had even given me a weezer t-shirt - so i was all decked out as a real fan. =) lots and lots of fun - and they're better live than on their cd!
2. read a book about Queen Elizabeth I. totally fascinating time in history! does reading a book count as fun? haha...
3. d & i took a trip to visit one of his bestfriends currently stationed in Lompoc in the Central Coast (the area featured in the movie Sideways). we had a fun time seeing the sights...
1. the Rays lost! being from Tampa, d's always been a huge fan - and i got sucked into the playoffs and world series... very fun being that involved in sports but heartbreaking too...
2. Astrocamp. it's still fun getting to know the kids in a setting outside school, but this being my 3rd year to go, it was more tiring... of course, it didn't help that this 3-day fieldtrip was sandwiched in between the Weezer concert and the Lompoc trip.
3. my small grp is splitting! this actually a good thing b/c our #'s are way too high for real intimacy, but there is always a grieving process that goes along w/ splitting...
haha, i'd been assigning science fair for so many years and had completely forgotten how long it takes to assemble these darn boards!! i'll pity my students more this year...
this is a portion of my awesome, amazing ctte! and though M Sunday was quite a lot of work, it was fun bonding over it together!
and as usual at school, we dressed up... just a couple fotos (you can see the rest on facebook)
and several of the staff are mommies who themed their costumes w/ their babies. mrs. c is cooking her poor lobster son. =)
another month gone. is it already November tomorrow??