Summer!

Well, this summer is already flying by! Costa Rica was so amazing, and of course, I did not want to come home. Since I've been back, I have been taking two summer classes at school. The have been relatively easy, just time consuming. This is our final week of class.
On July 8, I will be leaving to go to Haiti for almost 3 weeks. I will be working on a school/orphanage. I am really excited about this opportunity.
You know that I must be procrastinating if I am updating my blog. So I guess I better get back to my research paper that is due tomorrow.
Peace.

Final Countdown!

Just 2 more weeks of school. A mere 7 days of class left in this insane semester! Wow, has a lot happened! Since the beginning of the semester I have spent 3.5 weeks out of the country. 2.5 weeks in Costa Rica back in Jan/Feb and 1 week in Haiti over spring break. Both those trips happening during semester filled with an unbelievable amount of school work. But here we are, we've almost made it to the finish line. This time, week after next, I will be virtually free from school. Well, only until classes start back up for the month of June. Oh how I am looking forward to that short break from school. Moving out of the dorms, relaxing with friends and family, spending precious time at the lake. Honestly, I think these next two weeks will be the longest of my life as they are inching by. I know that looking back, however, will be evidence that time flies even when we think that it won't. Recently, I have tried to learn to cherish each and every moment, both the good and the bad. This isn't always as simple as it seems. I can't believe that this semester is almost over. Yes, it has been long and grueling some of the time. At the same time so many great memories have been made along the way. I can't believe that its already been three months since I was in Costa Rica, and three weeks since I was in Haiti. But it feels like I was just there.
Now, I am at the peak of the roller coaster. Unmoving, I'm looking down at the tracks below just before I take the plunge. I see these two weeks ahead, all the work that I have to do. I wonder how it will ever be accomplished. But yet, once the plunge is taken it will be over before I know it.

For now, I am setting my eyes on the goal.

From Winter to Spring

Christmas break is almost over. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. I seems like just yesterday that I was wrapping up with classes and heading to Mexico. Since getting back from Mexico, not a whole lot has been going on. Just the usual Christmas and New Year stuff. I just got back from an amazing weekend in Georgia this weekend. I was reunited with the members of my South Africa Mission Trip Team. We had a great time at Laura's house and barely made it home in the snow. This week I have been observing at the elementary school. I have to observe 50 hours before school goes back. So far I have 20 hours and only 3 days left to observe. Yeah, I'm cutting it way to close.
Over the break, I didn't post very much, but hopefully I will have more time to share my thoughts, not that anyone really reads them!

Mexico!

Wedneday, Dec. 8th
Today, I went drove to the airport and waited for my flight! The trip down to Mexico was pretty uneventful. I arrived in Tuxtla at 9:30pm and Steven, Grace, and Katie picked me up and brought me here to the Terrell's home. I talked with Nathan about our plans while I am here then hit the bed!

Thursday, Dec. 9th
This morning we got up bright and early and headed out to the orphanage to work on the playset. It was so good to be back there and see the familiar faces of the children there. Of course the boys wanted to help us with construction which somewhat slowed down our progress. Gaby, Grace, and Katie watch the three girls while we worked.

Friday, Dec. 10th
Today, Nathan and I drove took the Yukon to the shop. That was quite an experience, driving across San Cristobal in a car by myself. Later on that day we worked around the house on several projects including installing shelves in kitchen cabinets for Julie.

Saturday, Dec. 11th
Today we did some more projects around the house as well as some welding. Katie, Gabi, Cloe, Brennah, and I went for a hike up the back of the property in the afternoon. After the girls went to bed, Katie and I played Scrabble while Nathan went to pick Julie up from the Airport.

Sunday, Dec. 12th
Today, Katie and I went to downtown San Cristobal to go to the market. We got to eat at Salsa Verde which is my favorite Mexican Restaurant. We hiked all the way up a million stairs to the catholic church. This was a difficult task since today was a special holiday honoring the Virgin Mary. There were hundreds of people trying to reach the top of the stairs as well. After Katie and I finished shopping and exploring San Cris we caught a cab back to the Terrell's house. Nathan and I worked on building a stocking hanger for the mantle. After the girls went to bed, Nathan and Julie went to the grocery store while Katie and I listened out for the kids.

Freeeeedom!!!!

Well, the day has finally come: The semester is over!!
Today, I have been packing for tomorrow I leave for Mexico!!
Needless to say, I cannot wait. I am truly looking forward to my time there.
That's about all I have to say.

workworkworkworkwork

You know that feeling when you are working so hard on something like a million assignments, but after 4 whole days of working you still don't feel like you have accomplished anything? Well......... That is me at this very moment! I can't hardly see straight from staring at the computer screen for so long. But its just before midnight, so that means I probably have another 2 hours of work ahead of me.
I think I have come up with a strategy.
When you have a mountain of stuff that needs to be accomplished here's what I recommend doing:

-Make your "To Do" list as detailed as possible. If you have 9 of the same type of things to do, don't list them as one task. Make each one significant. That way when you finish one, you can feel the accomplishment of marking something off your list.
-Have some variety to your work. If you have a 3,000 word summary to write, don't try to finish it all at once. Break it up with some smaller task like writing out chapter key terms or a lesson plan.
-Pace yourself! be sure to give yourself plenty of time to accomplish everything you need to, but don't rush through it and do a sloppy job.
-Stay focus. 'Nuff Said. This one isn't easy. If it was, I wouldn't be writing this blog right now.
-Perseverance, Perseverance, Perseverance. You WILL accomplish everything. Just hang in there!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

I would like to thank my teacher, who has piled up so many assignments for me that I have pretty much been working from sunday until now. This is my second 2AM night in a row. The funny thing is that I am supposedly on Thanksgiving Break. I have made a list of everything (roughly) I have left to do:

-Book Report on a 400pg. Book
-Reflections
-Write 9 lesson plans
-Professional Reading #5
-Reading Chapter 11 Questions
-Methods Key Terms Ch. 9-14
-Special Education Reflection
-Special Education Summaries Ch. 10-12
-Bibliographies Part: F & G
-Big Book

Now, that may not sound that bad to you, but let me assure you it is very bad. On top of all this, I have to be sure I am ready for my test next week because they need to be good to help my grades. Tomorrow is a new day, and I shall see how much more I can accomplish.

Happy Thanksgiving.