ChristMAS

As Dad and I began the De-Christmazation of the house today, this thought came into my mind... Christmas. ChristMAS. Christ/Mas. 2 words...

Christ... obviously the first part of the world "Christmas" is easy to comprehend. It's the second that is more difficult.

...mas. A tad bit trickier. According to dictionary.com mas means "music played for a carnival, or a band playing this". Well that makes TOTAL sense... not. Then I got to thinking of what else "mas" means. In Spanish it means "more".

That started making sense. Christ more. More Christ. Obviously Christmas should be oriented around Christ, but MORE than Christmas should be centered around Him. MORE Christ!

Each day should be centered and lived for God, Christ should be in more than just Christmas, he should be in every single day we live!

Christ MORE!

Thanks To...

While up in Iowa I found it funny while looking at my aunts and uncle how I could pick ourcasticness and attitude definitely mimics Aunt Amy! And we don't like to be told what t just wait traits I got from who. And although technically they didn't give me the traits, I know it came from that half of the family!!

Aunt Amy -- My sato do... like sitting at the kitchen table... we are just FINE sitting on the stool right next to the table! I was laughing to myself, because I can totally see myself in that aspect of my aunt.

Aunt Becky -- We are both very creative! What my mom considers "Crafty Crap" we both enjoy. We love making gifts/things for other people, and enjoy being crafty and creative when we get the chance.

Uncle Doug -- This one was kind of harder. Kole thought that we were both "loners"... WRONG! We both enjoy being outside and being a kid. I think that was the similarity I finally came to, we both love to be a kid! Whether it is sledding or giving airplane rides or whatever, we share that aspect!

My mom and I are both VERY stubborn. EXTREMELY stubborn. Playing a new game entitled "5 Seconds" definitely determined that.

I think it is funny how we can look at different members of our family and figure out what traits we get from each side of our family. Definitely was for me!

Ho Ho Ho from FEET of Snow!

Greetings from Postville, Iowa!

We left the 80 degree Houston at 3 AM Wednesday morning, and by 9:40 PM we were pulling into feet of snow and 28 degree weather into Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Thursday morning was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Suddendorf's, just catching up and enjoying time together. Grandpa was beat not once, but TWICE by his grandkids in Hand and Foot, which just made the card games that much more entertaining. Amy, Dan, Leah, and Becky showed up to Postville that afternoon, so time was spent together laughing and loving the times together. Kole and Leah went "exploring" in the feet of snow in grandma's backyard while Dad was the "Cabana Boy" making plenty of margaritas for everybody else. That night we played a game called "Spit It Out" which provided laughs that turned to tears and memories which we will never forget.

Today is CHRISTMAS EVE! This morning I was woken up to the pitter-patter of 4 year old feet, and the noise of a 14 year old who doesn't realize that 7:30 AM doesn't mean that everybody should be up... Hmmm... This morning Dan, Leah, Kole and I went sledding at Uncle Doug's. Unlike 2 years ago, the snow was a lot of fun this morning! Warm clothes and layers definitely make a difference! After one particular run, we were getting driven back up to the top of the hill when what do we see? One red mini van stuck in a snow bank... Congrats Dad! *lots of time later* PHEW! Unstuck! *30 seconds later* Congrats Dad! You're stuck in a snowbank again! Haha... Amy decided to drive some of us back home to shower and get ready for Christmas Eve Supper... Congrats Amy! You got stuck in a snow bank too! Thanks Aunt Becky for finally getting us back to grandma's!

Christmas Eve dinner went off without a hitch. Although not all of the family could make it for supper due to bad weather, the time spent together with the Great Aunt's and Great Uncle's and Great Grandma was definitely enjoyable, as time with them is rare.

We are getting ready to go up to Grandma and Grandpa Suddendorf's for our Christmas, and then Christmas Eve Church Service at the church where I was baptized.

And tomorrow is Christmas! It seems so much more magical with a 4 year old in the hosue with the whole "Santa" thing and all, but we remember the real reason for the holiday... Happy *early* Birthday Jesus!!

I'm Ready

Although it still doesn't feel like Christmas (I mean... it's 80 degrees here in Houston, and as I type this I'm sitting in shorts and a t-shirt with the fan on "high"), I know that this time tomorrow plus a few hours it will! The bags are packed tight, the electronics are in the process of being shut off and carefully stored, and I have 5 books awaiting me in my "carry on" luggage for the long carride to IOWA tomorrow!

As much as I am dreading the snow and cold temperatures, I do know it will kick start my "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" thoughts! I'm also not too thrilled about the idea of sledding, as I still have horror visions of the last time go through my head, but I know I will give it a shot because I want to be able to enjoy that time with my cousin, Leah. And, I mean, when will I get this chance again to go sledding in FEET of snow? I better embrace it with the best possible outlook!

The time will go by fast I'm sure (once we get up there) between the Overland Christmas, the Zieman Christmas, and the Suddendorf Christmas, but I cannot wait to be able to make these memories with my family, and most importantly with Leah. If you remember my blog post about this time last year (if you don't remember....), I am thoroughly uber excited to be able to spend Christmas this year up north with everybody. Even if we won't all be together on Christmas Day, the fact that I will get to see my entire Mom's side of the family makes me really thankful. Times where everybody will be together are going to become rare, and so I'm looking forward to embracing every second of this chance.

In less than 5 hours we will be on the road. In 24 or so, we will be in Iowa. Bring it on White Christmas... Bring. It. On!

:)

Misison of Yahweh & Cho-Yeh Christmas

Yesterday was a perfect day! I cannot imagine a better way to start off my first *official* day of Christmas Break!

My alarm went off at 7:00, and instead of hitting snooze a bazillion times like normal, I woke up full of energy--ready to get the day started!

My church went down to the Mission of Yahweh to, essentially, play with kids. The Mission of Yahweh is a shelter for homeless women and children, mostly who have come from abusive situations. Yesterday, families from the community were lined up for hours to get into Sister Gay's house (the lady who founded the Mission). Families received some chicken, canned goods, apples, and then a wrapped toy for each of their children. While the parents were in line, the children were sent to us. Our job: to play. I spent most of my time face painting, and holding this one dear little girl, Marlen. She did not speak English, and was probably 2 years old. When I picked her up, it was like she had never been held before. With my minute remembrance of Spanish I was able to figure out her name, and tell her "Jesus te ama" (Jesus loves you). I held her for over an hour, just holding her close. When her mother came and picked her up, I was so sad to see her go. We saw over 500 kids that day, and it simply broke my heart.

After the Mission of Yahweh I came home to get ready for the CHO-YEH CHRISTMAS PARTY!!! To say I was excited would be an understatement. It was "tacky" themed, and so a trip to my mother's closet solved that issue. I wore mis-matched Christmas socks, jeans, a lime green long-sleeve t-shirt, a red sweater vest with different colored patches on it that was Christmasy. Then I had 3 headbands that I attached together. I was STYLING!

About 4:00 I headed out to Livingston. The party was at the camp director's house, and so about 5:30 or so I roll on in. It was so good to see everybody, and the immense amount of hugs and greetings was amazing. It was like a huge family reunion! After the mingling, we watched the Staff Video from this summer, AMAZING! It brought back so many memories, and made my excitement for Summer '11 grow even more... Yeah, I didn't think that was possible either. After the video, we had some awesome Praise and Worship. Then Garret had a devotional, and then more talking and hugging and "I love yous". Around 10:00 we left Garret's and headed to Cho where we would be staying that night. We were greeted with a "Welcome Home" sign (they know us too well!). Carley, Libby, Jessica, Allie and I (Carley and Libby were on WC this summer too, just previous sessions) set up our bunks and dropped off our stuff and changed from our tackiness to warmer clothes. About 10:45 we met up with about 15 other Cho-Yehers at the Saturday night Livingston hot spot, Walmart, and sang Christmas carols in front of the store. Oh the people who are out at Walmart at 11:00 in Livingston! By about midnight we were back at camp, and a couple of us decided to hang out in the cabin, and get some sleep.

This morning, Carley and I were up and packed up and out of the cabin by 7:30. We took a drive around camp, savoring the last few minutes of being "Chome" (cho-home). We then said goodbye and departed camp... until MidWinter Madness in February!

The weekend was phenomenal. I am so blessed to have this Cho-family that I do, and the opportunity to spend 10 weeks there next summer. :)



Mission of Yahweh!



Mission of Yahweh!



WC 2010! Carley, Libby, Kristen, Cassie, and myself



The girl who everybody would interchangeably use our names! CLARE!



Yep, that's the Saturday night Hangout!



Christmas Caroling at WALMART!



My Home this past summer... the AFRAME!!



Carley and I after driving around camp, just before leaving our CHOME!

I Love Being a Senior :)

This is my schedule for the week... Get ready to laugh!

Tuesday
1st period - movie
2/3 period - RST... aka free day
4th period - Cards/Sleep
5th period - Movie?
Go home at 12:40

Wednesday
Go to school at 9:40
2nd period - nothing
4th period - sleep
5th period - movie?
Swim Final... aka show up and get a 100

Thursday
Ready Set Teach Final - aka simple
Go home at 9:40

Friday
No school :)

I love being a senior :)

Teacher/Student

Every since being in RST I look at being a student differently. I find myself trying to cut teachers a break (when they deserve it) and being more appreciative of what they do, as I now know all the little things that go behind just one day's worth of teaching.

I was given this poem called "A Teacher's Prayer". I then found the "A Student's Prayer" to contrast it with. I loved what I found :)

A Teachers Prayer

Lord, let me be just what they need.
If they need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy.
If they need sympathy, let me sympathize.
If they need love, (and they do need love), let me love, in full measure.
Let me not anger easily, Lord but let me be just.
Permit my justice to be tempered in your mercy.
When I stand before them, Lord, let me look strong and good and honest and loving.
And let me be as strong and good and honest and loving as I look to them.
Help me to counsel the anxious, crack the covering of the shy, temper the
rambunctious with a gentle attitude.
Permit me to teach only the truth.
Help me to inspire them so that learning will not cease at the classroom door.
Let the lessons they learn make their lives fruitful and happy.
And, Lord, let me bring them to You.
Teach them through me to love You.
Finally, permit me to learn the lessons they teach.

A Student's Prayer
God of Light and Truth,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.
Help me to keep learning every day of my life,
for all knowledge leads to you.
Let me be aware of your presence
in all things and at all times.
Encourage me when work is difficult
and when I am tempted to give up;
encourage me when my brain seems slow
and the way forward is difficult.
Grant me the grace to put my mind to use
exploring the world you have created,
confident that in you there a wisdom
that is real.
Amen.

Then I stumbled across A Graduate's Prayer. WOW! Can't believe this will be me in a few months!

A Graduate's Poem
Father, I have knowledge,
so I pray you'll show me now
How to use it wisely
and find a way somehow
To make the world I live in
a little better place,
And make life, with its problems,
a bit easier to face...
Grant me faith and courage
and put purpose in my days,
And show me how to serve Thee
in the most effective ways
So all my education,
my knowledge and my skill,
May find their true fulfillment
as I learn to do Thy will...
And may I ever be aware
in everything I do
That knowledge comes from learning -
And wisdom comes from You.

The Verge of Tears

You know when it just takes ONE itsy bitsy little thing to throw your entire night into a wack? Yeah..

I've been extremely stressed out lately with school. I am caught in the mix between the "I'm accepted into A&M, I can settle for B's and be okay" type of thinking and the "I hate B's. I can make an A if I really try and don't give up these last few weeks" kind of thinking. Senioritis is DEFINITELY kicking in!!

So for anatomy we were given this assignment to build a life-size skeleton. Yes, we tried to create a dwarf-size skeleton and classify it as life-size (because it really is) but that didn't fly. So after 9 hours over 3 days, going through a container of cookies, a bag of chips, and a box of Cheeze-It's, our skeleton was 5'6". Created out of pipe-cleaners, cotton balls, newspaper, masking tape, fishing bobbers, paper plates, cardboard (made out of a Cheeze-It box), and tissue paper, FINALLY it was done. All I had left to do when my group left was look up and label some regions for bonus, and attach the head to a hanger so that the skeleton could hang.

Well, once my group left I ate a quick dinner than headed off to work. Work wasn't too shabby, actually semi-enjoyable (with the added bonus of an early Christmas present from one of my swimmers). When I got home I took a hot shower, made some more dinner, and then went up to begin the hours of homework. Hours. Well, I got all of the skeleton bonus parts added when my phone rang. LINDSEY! My co from camp. I forgot she had texted me asking if we could talk tonight. So, we talked for about 20 minutes which was very enjoyable, and later proved to be the motivation I needed to get through the night that was waiting for me. When I got off the phone to go help Kole, I realized that I had not unplugged the hot glue gun, and it had dripped out onto a piece of plastic tape so now our office smelled like burning plastic. YUCK. Spent an hour helping Kole with his math homework that he had all weekend to do... At 10:00 we finally finish that. I was falling asleep trying to help him (partly b/c I was frustrated that he had the assignment for 4 days and was just now asking me to help him with it when I had my own stuff to be doing). I went and got some gatorade (that's my equivalent to coffee when lemonade isn't around) in an attempt to wake up a little bit.

Task 1: Attach the skeleton to a clothes hanger to allow it to be hung up. Hot glue and tissue paper don't mix. Skeleton head that we spent 45 minutes on? Yeah... ruined. Must redo the back quarter to make it look reasonable. Takes forever. Give up on the hook and decide that it will just have to be held.

Task 2: Upload a video, a document, and a picture to this Glogster thing. (Such a dumb program. NEVER use it if given the option. I'd choose Wiki over Glogster. And I detest wiki's!). Well... the video we have to upload was recorded during a class discussion and was uploaded via the Technology Dept in Quicktime format. Well... Glogster doesn't accept Quicktime, and there is no way to resave the video in another format. Forget the video. E-mail my teacher asking for guidance (realizing she has never used glogster before... sure she will be a lot of help), and get the other info uploaded. Video.. not uploaded.

Task 3: Calculus. It's 11:00 by the time I get to start calculus. I've been up since 4:50 AM and I'm exhausted. I've been going non-stop 18 hours, and felt like I already did an hour's worth of math for Kole. I figure out a couple things, realize I can't figure out the rest, have no desire to learn the rest, and even with a 0 on the test, I will still have a B for semester. With a 100 on the test... I'll still have a B for semester. WHY AM I STRESSING? Figure out enough to survive the Multiple Choice Test, then think I'm done for the night.

Task 4: Take the skeleton down stairs so that it will not be forgotten at home tomorrow so that we can *hopefully* get bonus points for turning it in early. End up tripping over one of the skeleton's phalanges (toes). UGH!

Task 5: Re-Hot Glue the Toe on. Re take it downstairs. CAREFULLY! The tears start coming. I'm past the point of exhaustion, and nothing I do is going to be productive anymore.

It's 11:40 by this point. I go to check my phone to find 2 text messages, both from camp people. One was an encouragement Bible Verse, John 14:1, from Lindsey (who I had talked to earlier) and provided the sigh of relief that I needed.

Task 6: Clean up office a little bit and make sure I have everything ready for school tomorrow.

Task 7: Relax and take a breather for a few minutes before turning off the lights for a nice, peaceful, dream-filled 5 hours of sleep!

Thank goodness tomorrow is Wednesday!!

Happiness

The past week has not been a highlight for me. As Megan would say, it was a bunch of "thorn" days. Today... definitely a "rose" day.

Slept till 6:30, woke up, ran downstairs to find hot chocolate waiting for me. AND my truck already had the heater on and was warm :) Successful morning.

"Can we come back to big people's school with you?" --My Kindergarten Class

30+ New Members at TAFE meeting (Texas Association of Future Educators)

"Interview" with Cho-Yeh went well...

Counselor for practically all of Summer 2011!!!

Now off to Bible Study.

Definitely a "Rose" kinda day :)