La Sonya

I like hearing from different friends that you read my blog still :) I know it's not as exciting as it was when I was living in faraway lands, eating faraway things and blumbering through life from faraway. Since now I'm a "settled adult" life is more of the 'same ol' same ol''. But really when teaching and principal-ing. LIFE is NEVER the same. EVER. This last weekend was our Fall Festival. It seems to get better and better as each year goes by. In fact this year was so good they taped me to the wall with duct tape. (Mid way finished!) Fun! We also had local businesses run activities. One business in particular was the local gym, which I have a membership to. The exciting part was the guy who came to run the booth was my very own Peeta-crush-look-alike. Now it's hard for me to make eye contact when I go to the gym. Ha, what am I, 12? This week I did my first observation of our second teacher. That was fun, it made me realize I am a prin

I'm going to tell you all a funny story: I drove home from Sacramento yesterday afternoon/evening after my meetings. I was sleeeeeeeepy so I got a bit of coffee but it was gross so I didn't drink all of it. Then I foolishly got a meal combo? (who am I? I never get those. . . whatever, clearly I'm crazy) A soda came with it . . . oh bother. I drank a small cherry coke (it'd been sooooo long so I was excited and drank it) So when it came time for me to go to bed at 10 pm. . . it wasn't happening. . . I finally fell asleep at 2 am. . . oy.  Then I didn't get up at my normal 5 am . . . duh. I got up late, rushed around. Got a phone call at 6:37 as to the alarm going off at school but the church member who was at the church to turn the alarm off didn't have the key to the school so I pull the curlers out of my hair (don't judge I am going through a midlife hair crisis) Grab the rest of my stuff and head out the school. As I back up out of the drive I

It's a lunch time. I forgot my glasses at someone's house last night. So I had to wear contacts today. The kids are really confused. They didn't know what contacts were so I have tripped them all out and shown them my contacts on my eyes. "Cooooool", they say. I've confused there little minds a bit in the last 4 weeks of school. I straightened my hair all of the second week and one little kindergartner didn't recognize me. Then I start this week without my glasses. I guess it'll just keep them on their toes! The rain came at recess today. We fully played in it, well until it started to pour down. It was luscious. It smelled so fresh and wet. We played with chalk on the covered sidewalk. I loved it. They loved it. Success. Here's to another day of school. Here's to another day of adventures.

It's lunch time. The pupils are playing a "W" game. They are it if they say the word "what". I've been wanting to blog for a long time. I have had lots of demo blogs in my mind but I never quite get around to typing them out and sharing them. I'm working on it but it's a hard thing. Perhaps I'll have a goal of one a week? Who knows. Either way school is in session, I'm loving it and we have a whopping 19 students! In 2011-12 they had only 7 and graduated 2 of those students! God has indeed been good to us. Well, I've had to remind the pupils to eat, not sing and dance but to focus and eat so we can go play. I guess I had better finish my lunch too.

While I was living in Norway I met my very first Estonians, actually I found out that a country called Estonia even existed. I learned quickly that they (and I can generalize because I've met several Estonians and there aren't that many of them) are very soft spoken, kind and generally happy people. Their people have something about them that I love. Something that I struggle finding, peace (the soft kind that doesn't have to fight for it) and togetherness, where the people unite and come together as one. While in Norway I was told a bit about their struggle with being an independent people and the fight they put up against communism and the Nazis. It was a very captivating story. I watched a documentary on it called The Singing Revolution (Here's about the movie) . What a people! What a way to live and love and change the world. Then today my Estonian friend posted a clip of the giant concert that has been going on for over 150 years and that played a very big role

Moses Moses was scared He had a nation to fight God took care of it. ~~~~~ There was no way out. Look not back. One step, one step. God was in to win. *These are inspired from our T.A.G (Time Alone with God) time on Friday

I have planned out my first day off from school. I plan on doing nothing. No plans, no requirements, no anything but just being and letting the wind move me. I can't wait. Only 16 more days.

Look Up

There have been a lot of times in my life these last few weeks where I have felt a fresh freedom. Not the kind where I broke out of jail like in Shawshank Redemption but more along the line of opening my eyes to what was quite possibly there all along. The freedom when I realize my calling and how I am right in the thick of it. The freedom when I look around me and see people who accept me for me and support me when I can't hold my hands up much longer. The freedom from fear. From looking to others for self worth. Freedom from the unknown because I serve a known God who can see the end from the beginning and I trust Him with that.

I am almost to the end of my 30th year. It's been a real good run. I read every year my correlating Psalm with my age. This last year was a real champ of a chapter. I've enjoyed reading it several times through the year. Here are some of my highlights from it. Okay, I was going to post my favorites but really the whole things is. So here it is: Psalms 30 I will exalt you, Lord , for you rescued me.      You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 2  O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,      and you restored my health. 3  You brought me up from the grave, [ a ] O Lord .      You kept me from falling into the pit of death. 4  Sing to the Lord , all you godly ones!      Praise his holy name. 5  For his anger lasts only a moment,      but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night,      but joy comes with the morning. 6  When I was prosperous, I said,      “Nothing can stop me now!” 7  Your favor, O Lord , made me as secure as a mountain.

I'm on a 5 min break from lesson planning at school. I seem to be in overdrive today! It's a good thing since I leave for 3 days for meetings in Phoenix (which I keep accidentally calling Phonics. . .) I commiserate with other teacher friends who have found ourselves some how in the middle of April! This is the best month (mainly because it's Earth Day) but it's the CRAZIEST month because I'm gone at least one day 3 out of the 4 weeks. Not that I don't like meetings and socializing but it's just a bit crazy. Last week was the week I was here everyday and believe me I made up for lost hours by staying over 12 hours 3 days last week. I'm still finding myself oddly surprised at how much I love teaching. It almost feels rude because I have so many friends who don't get to love their jobs as much as I do. I mean, I love my job! 12 hour days aside this is fun. We are growing things, little minds and little plants. I'm teaching how to add 3 digit nu

So I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy each day. Some days it is much harder than others. Sometimes, I can't actually take a picture of a thought or a feeling but other days it is a memory or a moment in time that makes me happy. I like looking for happy things but some days I'm exhausted and the little things are nice.  I'm on day number 69. Only 21 more days. That will take me up to my birthday. . . almost.  Here's part of my journey of happiness.  Ice skating with the school. Walking with Rachel V. Enjoying my poofy hair in Oxnard, Ca Baking a pie from scratch.   Going to space while brushing my teeth, it doesn't get happier than that :)   Oma and Opa holding hands at church.

Psalms 121 I look up towards El Capitan; Does my help come from the Sierras? No, my piece de resistance comes from God, Who made Oriion, Vernal Falls and Half Dome. He won't let you slip or slide The Protector God won't take a nap. Not on the job! The Protector will not fall asleep with you in His care.  God's in your Secret Service, right at your side to protect you-- Shielding you from assassinations attempts, Sheltering you from midnight robberies. God defends you from evil attacks He defends your very life. He is your perfect  lookout when you leave and when you return. He is your protector here and there, near and far. He will protect you always. *The New Sonya Version Yosemite HD II from Project Yosemite on Vimeo .