Alive and kickin'

I know, I know, I know... I thought I was dead and gone too. I guess you could say I was under water... haha, get it? Yah, just playing on the whole goldfish thing.

I really can't believe that August was so long ago and that I've been a real *teacher* for 3 full months... I guess it's just hard to believe when I wanted it for so long that it's really true.

My kids, oh my kids. I am never bored, we'll start with that. I've had more problems than I can count and yet, not a single one of them was something I'd anticipated. Also, none of them were much bigger than a frustration and an eye roll (on both mine and the students part!).

Remember Tommy? Yah... Tommy has changed more than... than... well, he's changed a lot. Last year he was a (for lack of a better word) terror and this year? I dunno, he's just Tommy. Every now and then we get a little temper harumph, or a few tears, or a stubborn streak but, he's different. I'm not taking the credit, he changed himself but I know he knows that I adore him ('cause I do, surprisingly!) and it really is amazing what love can do. Last week Tommy was grumpy all week- moody and unwilling to cooperate, argumentativ... the whole dealio. I asked him what was up;
Me: "Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. Why have you been such a grumpy pants this week, hey?"
T: "Dunno" with a shrug
Me: "Is it 'cause I just haven't loved you enough!?"
T: No answer just a sheepish little nod
M: I lean down and squeeze hug his shoulders
T: "Too much love! Too much love!"
and then we both laughed and laughed... see what I mean? He's a wonderfully amusing little man.

So yah, school is actually going great, I'm crazy busy but I think it's worth it. We have an awful lot of fun in my class everyday... including sledding, I love the snow! I bought my very first pair of snowpants this year (growing up on the Westcoast of BC means no snow so no snowpants! Not true for my current location!) and they've been getting a workout. The kids and I went sledding for PE everyday for a week, very fun. My kids make me laugh everyday, usually more than once.

In the other side of my life... the youthgroup/band that my husband and I work with has kept us crazy busy. Fundraising, fundraising, practising, fundraising, christmas baking (which is a fundraiser!) and more baking! We're getting ready to go to Honduras in March... eek. I'm not a great traveller, we'll see how this goes. I'm excited but scared too. This will be my first missions trip of any kind, same for Hubby. We'll be working at a school, fixing bikes and building things in the towns. Pray for my strength... it's going to be an incredible experience but I struggle with much fear about things like this.

I write like my class during creative writing... the beginning is strong, middle okay and then I just die out in the end.

So for now, THE END. (The bigger the letters the bigger the ending... or at least that's what I've been told)