Christmas Celebrations

This season has been filled with lots of celebrations with lots of different people. I thought I would quickly highlight some of my celebrations.


Me, Kara, Pam, and Cheryl. Jamie is not in the picture because she was at home in bed with a fever.

This is the small group I am a part of this year. We meet together each week to encourage one another in our walks with the Lord. We sort of had a "Mexican Christmas" as we at tacos, Cheryl made some yummy cinnomon things I can't remember the Spanish name for, and Pam made us some Mexican hot chocolate.We did not watch a Spanish Christmas movie, but we did watch White Christmas. I know that I enjoyed it...but I am not so sure everyone in the group appreciates the movie.


We also had a great staff Christmas party. Our cafeteria was transformed into an elegant dining area. I forgot for a short time we were in our cafeteria. We sang carols, enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner, played a few games, and exchanged some gifts. I took pictures of the staff...but they did not turn out so this will have to do...


On Christmas Eve, Kara hosted a New Year's Eve party at my place. We invited those teachers over who were celebrating Christmas in Korea. the party was after the Christmas Eve service at Mission Baptist Church.We enjoyed some yummy dip (a treat), ate soup (tradition in Kara's family), and then played Settler's of Catan. It was a great evening.

On Christmas Eve, some of us single gals who are in Korea without family banned together. Kara and Kim spent the night and Jamie joined us in the morning for breakfast. We had Monkey Bread for breakfast.I had never had it before and must admit that it is some pretty good stuff.

Thank for sharing some of my Christmas celebrations with me.

Lock-In

The night we let out for Christmas Break we had a lock-in. It was from 7pm on Wednesday to 12 noon on Thursday. It was until noon because the kids said we shooed them out of the school too early last year. This year, though they could stay until noon, ALL of the kids were gone by 9:00...and I was home and in bed by 10:30.

Though it was a long night...we had some fun. Here are some pictures and the one here is what I looked like about half-way through the night...I admit, I was tired.

More FedEx Blessings

How many Algebra 2 students does it take to open a FedEx package? My Christmas gift from my sister arrived during Algebra 2...my class of 3. Because Alicia had sent me some Christmas CD's in the FedEx box along with my present...and since nothing was wrapped...I had my students open my box and fish the CD's out for me. They did a good job...but they did have to work at it a bit

Math in Motion

So it is a cheesy title...my brain cannot think of anything better!

I just thought I would share a few of the projects my kids made this past month. The mobiles are always fun and it is interesting to see how much the kids are distracted by things hanging from the classroom ceiling.

Happy Birthday Jesus

A baby born in a stable in Bethlehem, What’s the big deal?

Upon hearing the news, why did shepherds immediately leave their sheep and hill?
Why would wise men come with gifts and kneel?
And why would a king be so threatened, it drove him to kill?
Why is the birth of this baby such a big deal?

This baby grew to be a man who spoke with authority, did miracles, and could heal,
Until one day He was put to death among thieves on Calvary hill.
Just three days later, His empty tomb would reveal,
This was no ordinary man, for the prophecies He did fulfill.
Why is the life of this one man such a big deal?

I tell you, it is because of His immense love for me that is so real,
That despite my sin and the nastiness I so desperately try to conceal,
I am able to enter into His presence with a repentant heart and kneel.
This is why the birth of this baby is such a big deal.

I confess my belief in Jesus, the Triune God who came to Earth to fulfill
The law, the punishment I deserve for the sins I choose with my free-will.
God has accepted me into His family and with the Holy Spirit placed a seal,
Now I can fully experience His love for me that has the power to heal.
This is why the life of this one man is such a big deal.

Confessions of a Tired Teacher

Just for the record...I am currently in the middle of chaperoning a lock-in at my school. I am on the "sleeping" floor. While I stayed awake longer than most people on this floor...I do believe I fell asleep and slept for anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour. Time is blurred. It is 6:18 a.m. I am blogging to help keep myself awake.

The Season of Giving

Earlier I posted about the "Christmas Survival Kit" that my sister, Shannon, sent. Well she is not the only one who has blessed me this holiday season. My parents already sent me a box of gifts from them along with of few gifts from my Aunt and Uncle, one from Lisa, and one from my Grandad and Nonnie!

We also had our staff Christmas party on Friday. The unwrapped gifts on both sides of the tree are from that. In the gift exchange I got a small Fondu set. Also, parents from our school graciously gifted the teachers with some American food. I received the goods to make tacos!

One of my favorite things so far this year has been the stocking that my sister made for me. Here is a picture of it hanging beside my tree. It is so special to me that she would make me a stockig! I love it!

While I will enjoy the gifts...what I appreciate most are the gift givers. Each and every one of you are special and I love that you have thought of me and done things for me to help me from the lonely Christmas blue as I am way from family this holiday season. I do look forward to the next time God allows me to celebrate His birth with you guys in person. I love you all so very much.

Snow!

Late last night, into the morning, and even some today it has snowed. The flakes that were coming down last night were large and beautiful. It is the prettiest snow I believe I have ever expereinced--not that I have been exposed to a lot of snow in my life time!

Anyway...below are a few pictures from my late night snow adventures--please don't judge my snowman. He was built in a manner of minutes and from things out of my purse. The snow was still too dry to make a snowman...but I couldn't resist.

There are also some shots of where I live. I have been meaning to do so for awhile now...so why not when my "nieghborhood" is covered with snow and beautiful!

Thank God for Family and FedEx

This past week I received two packages via FedEx. One from my sister, Shannon, on Monday, and one from my parents on Thursday.

This is the package from Shanny. This is what I saw when I took the lid off the box! How fun. I love colorful things. I had Jimmy, one of my students, go down and pick up the box from the office as soon as it arrived. He brings it up and tells me it sounds like things inside were broken. It did make some nice rattling noises.


I was going to have my roommate take a picture with me and the box once I got home...but that never happened. I was so excited about the contents that I started unwrapping, eating, listening to, and decorating that by the end of the day it was too late to take a picture!

I decided to hang all the Christmas ornaments in my classrooom 1) because they match and 2) because I spend more time in my classroom than I do at home--this way I could enjoy them more and share them with my students.

I received lots of Hershey Kisses (YUM)!I have a hard time practicing self-control where chocolate is concerned.I must admit that I ended up sharing with some of my classes and then going around school and sharing with the teachers. They quite willing helped me with my chocolate addiction. I was going to get sick if I didn't share.



It's hard to capture by photograph how fun and festive my room looks...these pictures are my best attempt. Thanks Shanny...not only I, but my students, and even some of the teachers, are enjoying how "festive" my classroom looks. For those of you who don't know...Shanny sent me the Christmas lights last year...

Your package is a blessing in many ways...but YOU are the BIGGER blessing. I am so thankful that God saw fit to make us sisters.

Thinking of the Sisters song from White Christmas! We, my Bible study group, are watching the movie tonight for our Christmas party--I can't wait to see it!

Spirit Day

Crazy math teacher/cheerleading coach--Who hires these teachers!?!

This year the cheerleaders offcially instututed the first-ever "Spirit Day". We will have a few throughout the year (on Pep Rally days) where the entire school will dress in blue and white to show that they are proud to be a part of ICS-Pyongteak. The class that was the most spirited (one elementary, one secondary) won a free no-uniform day on Monday. We do have a Spirit Week each year where one day is Spirit Day...however, this was slightly different. I have included some photos of some of our "most spirited" individuals.


Please don't take our picture.


Justin--our blue-green smerf.





Barnabus



The Junior Class--winners for dressing the most spirited

This is a series of pictures I took of the secondary as they were dismissed from lunch on Spirit Day.