La Sonya

it's over. they have finished graduation. i was so busy helping the students get ready for the end that i forgot it myself. and now it's over. i didn't say goodbye to so many people. i forgot i needed to. i just got so used to seeing them everyday that i assumed i could always just do that. i won't drive that stupid mini bus again, i won't sit and smile as i listen to the students debate in the back, i won't just hang out in the office as students randomly stop by. why didn't i realize it was over? i didn't even tell greg, my boss, goodbye. i drive out tomorrow. i hope they all realize how great it was to work with such a fun faculty. i really loved it. i liked talking to them. i usually feel like i need more time to say goodbye, but this time i feel like i didn't even say goodbye. i just am leaving. i need closure, i guess we had it when we had our goodbye party, but that was two weeks ago! i hate to say goodbye so maybe this is a way where i can le...

Last night was the Junior/Senior Banquet. The theme was Masquerade. It was great because several of the girls wanted to come to my room to get ready, they decided to watch a movie as they got ready. I was very content as that was happening because it is basically what I wanted all year. I just wanted students to come to my room, hang out and relax. While I didn't go to the food part I did go to the movie part. It was The Scarlet Pimpernel. I love that movie. The first time I saw that movie was last year in Tchad. I remember watching it on a Sat night. The generator was on to pump water. Then as I was watching last night I remembered the part where the generator shut off and we had to finish it later or maybe on a laptop comp. Either way it was a delight to watch it again and this time all the way through, even if it was a really late night. This is my last weekend here at GCA. I can't believe the year is over. I imagined this weekend but never realized it would be here so soon...

A week ago tomorrow (sunday) Andrea and I went on the adventure of a lifetime. I had asked another faculty member here at GCA if he would let me borrow his canoe to go down the river with Andrea. So on Sun morn he took us to a drop of spot, we ended up in a new drop off but figured it was as good as any. Well, what we thought was part of the river turns out was only a creek that lead into the river. But we were already on it and so we stayed. The creek was very little and so not even 10 yards after we put in we were climbing up a muddy bank to pull our canoe up and around a big tree blockade. We ended up having to get out and drag the canoe two separate time while we had to maneuver the canoe around trees and over logs several times. So after an hour of adventure and work we came out to the river, the mighty Oothcalooga as we called it. Then it was another hour before we even got to the bridge we originally were going to put in at. But it was okay. We had no real place we needed to be ...

ahh, the joys of teaching a class that is not really yours. Wait, there are not many joys. It's like babysitting a very large family for only 45 min. Ohh, maybe you could say that it is like speed babysitting! Sitting for large families an hour at a time for 7 hours! Yeah, that's it! Some have big well behaved families, others have big immature families. And on top of all that it's a bit underpaid. Shoot, this is the life. Okay, it's not all that bad. I do like playing good cop and letting them out early sometimes or being bad cop and keeping them in until the bell rings. Hehe. I run a tight ship, I make them wait until after I have prayer and worship before I let them leave to go get a drink or use the bathroom. I tell them sure the other teacher might let them do that but I'm Chaplain Sonya not Mrs So-and-so. They might think it's mean but I do it so I can know who is in the class and who needs to be marked absent. One time I was asked to sub a pre-calculus cl...

It seems to me that working at a high school can be dangerous. Simply because it brings the faults, fears and heart aches of all that I went through in my youth to my mind. As I was on supervision the other day I was watching a couple and how they interacted together. It was a bit hard because I saw me in their place and the way I interacted when I was there. Only it hurt me to watch because I have a good idea how it will end and I know how to not let it happen. I know now what will prevent the deep pain of having to back track and try to be friends when that was passed by to fast. I know how it will feel to wish things. . . I also have seen myself several years ago when I wasn't quite sure who I was yet and I was searching, laughing at anything trying so hard to fit it. I remember those days so easily while I am here. I remember when I didn't know what to say or do and what ever I did do seemed to come out awkward and pathetic. . . I'm reminded of a verse I found last year...

Here's how it would sound if you were with me on the wheel :o) *might want to turn down your volume first. Sara Chase and I had loads of fun as country girls out for a night of fun! Ye-haw!

Hehe. I just figured out how to download my video's and pictures from my phone onto my computer. So here are a few: . . . yeah, I was getting a bit sea sick on the ride. Don't judge me because I get sick on a little ride at a small carnival.

there was a worship team this morning that went out to the Bowman Hills SDA church. I was the designated driver/sponsor. I was excited to go because I really like the students that went. The down side to going was I had to get up earlier than I do during the week. I had to get up around 6am. Ugg. But I was so blessed by Jordan's sermon and the special music and all the other things the students did. It was well worth getting up early for. On the way back we took the back way and it was just us girls because Brendan went home, and we all talked and shared funny stories. I will miss getting to hang out with these girls next year. They were all seniors and I know they will do great next year in college. I have no doubt that they will grow up into strong women for Christ. In fact I wish I had some of the confidence that they have when I was their age. It might have helped my transitions go smoother. They have taught me things in life. Thank you Jordan, Carissa and Chelsea.