tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225833882024-03-23T11:00:25.883-07:00In thinking about.....I'm just a girl, searching for where God wants me next, but living constanly in the present, reflecting on the past enough to see hope for the future.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-15072349602469006712011-11-02T18:39:00.000-07:002011-11-02T18:46:59.988-07:00Evolution verses creationWell, I could give some sort of update about our lives, or I could just jump in with some topic of conversation that is on my mind. I think I will go with the latter. <div><br /></div><div>I am still teaching 4th grade at a Christian School. Being a christian school, we, of course, do not teach evolution, but rather creation. Recently we had a speaker come and talk about support for the creation argument. I agreed with much of what he said (6 days in creation, God created them in a specific order, with specific purpose, etc.) But enough of what I agreed with and on to what I don't agree with in his speech. :) He told the kids that if someone says to them "the earth was created millions and millions of years ago and we have been evolving since, they should have a response like what follows: </div><div>Guy: "...millions and millions of years ago"</div><div>Kid (warned to do so respectfully): "were you there?"</div><div>Guy "u..ummm...well, no.</div><div>Kid: "Well, I know someone who was, and I have a book he wrote."</div><div><br /></div><div>This conversation is supposed to be an opener for the sharing of the gospel. Apparently a child had this conversation with someone and was applauded for it-seen as couragous. Now my first response is any little kid who says to me "were you there?" I am going to say: "please be respectful with your questions..." and I BELIVE in creation. So this is where the questions is: Am I just being silly with thinking that no matter how respectfully you intend to say this comment, it is still going to be disrespectful or not? </div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-39241908577438450802011-01-08T21:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T21:18:22.497-08:00I have a blog?I found myself wandering around the world wide web tonight and I realized i still have a blog... hmm, it was intresting to read what i had done over the last couple of years. For a quick update: <div>1. Josh and I got married in June, we had a small outdoor wedding with close family and friends, the reception was held at Dordt college, approrietly the Eckardt Lounge. </div><div>2. Following the wedding we went to Mexico for a week, it was fantastic to be with each other un-interupted for an entire week. </div><div>3. Josh moved into my tiny one-bedroom apt, and we conitue to find nooks and cranies to hide things in, but we are bursting at the seams. </div><div>4. I began my second year at Heritage Christian school as a 4th grade teacher. This year I have 13 students (all in 4th grade) and they are delightful. The guinea pigs are doing well and continue to be a source of entertainment for all. </div><div>5. Josh took on a superviors job at the place he was working before (Systems Unlimited) and enjoys it very much. </div><div>6. To start off the new year, we went to Toronto Ontario to witness Ann and Lydell's wedding, it was beautiful. </div><div>7. My mum has finished her treatments completely and seems to be regaining strength daily. ,</div><div>8. Marriage is wonderful. Better than I could have ever imagined!</div><div>That's all for now (and perhaps all for another year... hopefully not)</div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-13177253559138815982010-03-15T13:48:00.000-07:002010-03-15T13:51:13.203-07:004 important things:1. Josh and I are engaged!!! YAY!!! Wedding planning here we come!<div>2. School is going fabulously!</div><div>3. Mum is recovering slowly from her cancer treatments</div><div>4. I am trying to buy more local food in our area and less traditional grocery stores. As summer comes and farmers markets open, this becomes easier i think. Has anyone been buying locally and have any tips? </div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-38047289863296933142010-02-13T17:01:00.000-08:002010-02-13T17:06:44.977-08:00A long time coming!So this post is a long time coming. But i have to say that things are amazing! I have not posted for forever! But my students are amazing! they are constantly questioning things and thier curiosity drives my teaching daily. I am actually getting a 7th student soon. <div>enough about school, Josh and I have been having an excellent time in iowa city and love our church plant, One Ancient Hope. </div><div>We have also taken classes on ballroom dance and that has been a wonderful aspect to our weeks. We have learned alot about each other through these dance lessons as we continue to learn to commuincate and enjoy each others company. </div><div>My mum has finished her chemo treatments and is doing very well, we have been very thankful that she is cancer free for the moment. ALthough she contiues to battle with lung infections, she is feeling better overall. </div><div>The guinea pigs contiue to be an endless source of entertainment and fun for both my students and myself. </div><div>Winter contiues to be challenging as it is dark and cold, and we have had a lot of snow days this year. </div><div>So merry christmas, happy new year and its been a great time!</div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-81649745659930611642009-09-11T14:12:00.000-07:002009-09-11T14:21:39.710-07:00Glorious gobbling Guinea pigs!Despite the insane paint job in my classroom, i have redeamed it with some fabric and some posters. Scince that point in getting the classroom ready, i aquirred three guinea pigs.<br />Some of you might be asking, 3?! how did you get so many!<br />Well, that is simple. A lady had three guinea pigs, they all needed a home... i volenteered!<br /><br />Ok, so days with the guinea pigs included feeding all three of them, watching them romp in the paper shreds lining thier cages, watering them, and then teaching my studnets how to pick up and play with guinea pigs.<br /><br />important side note: All of my studnets are sick exept for one with head/lung colds.<br /><br />All was going just fine until last week Wednesday when i realized that one of my flock was lethargic. After trying to get her to eat fruit I realized she was not eating much either. By Friday I was doing a close inspection. After letting my studnets play with her, i set her on my lap and realized that her nose was running like crazy! So I put her back in the cage.<br />On Saturday morning I went to check on the guinea pigs and realized that this particualr rodent had died. (there is no poetic way to say that when you see a hard cold little friend on the bottom of their cage)<br /><br />Well on Tuesday I told my students of the death and they were very sad, in fact they did not cry at school, but many suffered through more tears at home.<br /><br />On Wednesday I realized that the male guinea pig is seeming lethargic, but the good news is he is still eating and drinking and does not have a runny nose. i think i will take them home for the weekend so that they can warm up and perhaps gain a little bit of health before coming back to school.<br /><br />Oh, and the remaining femail guinea pig is doing just fine and eats like crazy! In fact in the last two weeks she has gained a considerable amount of weight. Even though I did not feed her as much this week she has stayed the same weight, which leaves me with one question. is she pregnant?<br /><br />My studnets feel that she could be pregntant becuse the they accidedntly let the male guinea pig sniff her. I reassure them that could very well be possible. (I am trying to maintain innocence here).<br /><br />If any one out there knows about guinea pigs, i would very much apperciate some advice on this situation.<br /><br />My mum's husband beleives the guinea pigs could have the swine flue!:) maybe....Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-83077537475040303002009-07-23T16:31:00.000-07:002009-07-23T16:41:59.846-07:00Finally Settling? NAH!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4dKpwkF5EroSVZSCOuPQrfttX2BN2fRyR8-WsUjtDdmEYfeDXaSQk3CJW9xYeCDFH_HRNzNFcwRV6JaYIeoiWJo3jBugApDCzGwnTMrvoBTMwD4w_J57kXV2h9jrXpp0KzCqsQ/s1600-h/Photo+22.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4dKpwkF5EroSVZSCOuPQrfttX2BN2fRyR8-WsUjtDdmEYfeDXaSQk3CJW9xYeCDFH_HRNzNFcwRV6JaYIeoiWJo3jBugApDCzGwnTMrvoBTMwD4w_J57kXV2h9jrXpp0KzCqsQ/s320/Photo+22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361804709626466290" /></a><div>All the desks in my room, which are not staying!:)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1_Jn0MUhVClMM8NRlNxhw0VK49rZ9ecXYC9xyahYGSUMoN4ECfI6PtcB5UxN-GIvVcleoMIrhfPWDMoOaJBKMxTIAhxnASua17gJUg3U9dxr1EGPwUepW4hx6Yx1_fYoBH4H3Q/s1600-h/Photo+21.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1_Jn0MUhVClMM8NRlNxhw0VK49rZ9ecXYC9xyahYGSUMoN4ECfI6PtcB5UxN-GIvVcleoMIrhfPWDMoOaJBKMxTIAhxnASua17gJUg3U9dxr1EGPwUepW4hx6Yx1_fYoBH4H3Q/s320/Photo+21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361804463791012706" /></a></div><div>THe ugly painted wall!<br />This week I moved into my new apartment in North Liberty, and for anyone who wants to know, i live in a used car lot! Which is an adventure all its own. <div>There have been a few crazy things, for starters i have all of my stuff and all of Josh's stuff in my tiny one bedroom apt and it is taking up a lot of space. Especially the double bed in the kitchen. :)</div><div>Well, with all (or well, most) of the stuff un-packed and put away, I started work in my classroom. That proved to be intresting, i am thinking about posting picutres of this classroom. The walls are soo ugly, they are a burnt orange color with a little bit of coral mixed in and tehy have been sponge painted that way, on purpose! YIKES! </div><div>I started un-packing, but i am just not sure where i should put everything and now i am realzing that i will be having three tables for my 6 kids instead of 6 desks! This will be intresting, I think it could make for a realy cool teaching enviroment, but i am not totally sure how to pull off my vision!</div><div>Ok, So that is the school building. I reallapperciate my administator and I am living next door to another teacher (in the car lot) and so that has been fun. The teachers I work with made me feel so welcome right away! What a blessing, we have already been hanging out and enjoying getting to know each other. It could be a fun year! </div><div>As far as being settled, well don't count on it. i have been here a week and I am leaving to go to Vancover tommorow, but first stop my mums house then follow that up with a wedding and festivities and then i will be heading back to Norht Libetryt, after Josh moves there on AUg 3. So i think i will be starting to be settled for the time being on the 7th of AUg. It seems as though this summer has just flown by and I can hardly even believe how quickly it went by. But I have definitially enjoyed most moments of it. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-16113044374313218312009-06-07T19:40:00.001-07:002009-06-07T19:45:35.850-07:00Just call me the traveling... poet?So i managed to move home with out too many troubles. We did get stuck ust outside of great falls in light of a broken belt. But made it home two days later, unloaded and brought the U-Haul back. Its been a good visit at home so far. It is wierd to see my mums with breast cancer and the chemo treatments. I thought the wierdest thing would be the hair loss, but it turns out that the wierdest thing for me is how tired she is. We love to take walks together and right now we are unable to do that and I know that she hates it too. <br />Having a trial in my life is effecting every relationship i have and i really never thought that would be the case, but it is. That is wierd too.<br />I have been home now for a totaly of four days and I am off again to travel the world. First stop Iowa City to look for apts. Second stop is Chicago for a day to get our bearings (sharon and I) third stop is Ireland! YAY! I can hardly wait! Then the Netherlands. I am so exicted about this trip, but with everything else going on it seems so difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that I am acutally going! we leave at 7am! I would apperciate prayers for my mum and for saftey traveling. For another milestone, Josh and I celebrated on year of dating on Friday and we went horse back riding, he also brought me a dozen roses and we ordered a pizza from a short bald man from the bronx. it was an intresting conversation and the best mushroom pizza i have ever eaten!<br />Cant wait to see you all when we get back!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-15885893822166761602009-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:002009-05-12T10:31:28.932-07:00A few things for news!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAA_UuZAn-uQuFv5DU8IBsBDLe0gZsTuWAzKC8uAaFWqmgFbi1ZxTc88BTQDXOMWdwBsf2ENiUbhcsvv2Dac-8xIzVHUnVw_aB5L1Ep-kU7FcORkM_fjbpdLc_J0ZZuycYjrgNig/s1600-h/IMG_6654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334991044765274882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAA_UuZAn-uQuFv5DU8IBsBDLe0gZsTuWAzKC8uAaFWqmgFbi1ZxTc88BTQDXOMWdwBsf2ENiUbhcsvv2Dac-8xIzVHUnVw_aB5L1Ep-kU7FcORkM_fjbpdLc_J0ZZuycYjrgNig/s320/IMG_6654.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7m1P-5dcWsCrdK03NjUkmGKHv-F6mOmtWfde9JVQUpjWw8A1l26cvvy0x45KcQ_Bfvc5Zw9EFiUwlLbw7XXBpYlhnzATNPO5E2xNMHZJhYRtjThg1mxubKL6UPBoKQZVG119Gw/s1600-h/IMG_6650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334991037737778962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7m1P-5dcWsCrdK03NjUkmGKHv-F6mOmtWfde9JVQUpjWw8A1l26cvvy0x45KcQ_Bfvc5Zw9EFiUwlLbw7XXBpYlhnzATNPO5E2xNMHZJhYRtjThg1mxubKL6UPBoKQZVG119Gw/s320/IMG_6650.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_6EEyIqaVkgqMxtS9pHm4MQgpuS08IwZWgV2RhvAKjABMX5MFDeCRi1e6KSD26D9WJ_cjxo75HKgaGhTn4ilZp_WyvfNWlHQ8a4AntIuM4aL8qJlNTrEklQ9IzDd6z-ZmnvGRw/s1600-h/IMG_6646.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334991036107154674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_6EEyIqaVkgqMxtS9pHm4MQgpuS08IwZWgV2RhvAKjABMX5MFDeCRi1e6KSD26D9WJ_cjxo75HKgaGhTn4ilZp_WyvfNWlHQ8a4AntIuM4aL8qJlNTrEklQ9IzDd6z-ZmnvGRw/s320/IMG_6646.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Last week several feet of snow fell out of the sky and landed in COnrad MT. For the first time in 7 years we canceled school on account of snow! It was packed up everywhere. I had a 33" dirift beside my car, a 24"drift behind my car and a total of 2' acculumation everywhere! It was crazy. It was the kind of wet and heavy snow that can only come in the late spring. Stores were closed and I stayed at home and made homemade chai bread. It was delightful.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>As people talk about spring coming and seeing new life and being reminded of the return from the depths of winter, i feel as though we are still very submursed in that dead of winter. It remains in the upper 50s and windy, but yesterday was a sight to be seen. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Becuase of all the snow that we had a couple weeks ago, we have recived an intense amount of moisture for this particular part of the country. In fact, the fields are too wet to seed! -Funny that i know that, i realize. But everything is green! I do not rememebr so much greenness last year and it makes me sooo excited to have everything green, including my costantly growing grass!:) </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>In other news, i am moving June 3rd to Iowa, and storing stuff at my mums house, then moving on to Iowa city in July. But i am very very excited to go to this new school, although i am sad to leave behind my students, friends, and most importantly belly dance class!:) In the month of June, along with moving, I will be going to Ireland for a week and the Netherlands for a week as well. I am very very excited about all of this traveling and vacationing. It will be a fun summer, althoug a busy one at that!:)</div><br /><br /><div>cheers!</div></div></div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-64298545250427738592009-04-21T18:29:00.000-07:002009-04-21T18:56:08.214-07:00God's faithfulness!Hello All, I have a great story!<br />I went to interview with a school in Iowa City this weekend. I had a good time visiting the school and the interview went well. To back up a little bit Josh had an interiview in Iowa City on MOnday (last week)--then this thursday i had an interview. <br />Josh and I had been praying for God to blow the door wide open or shut it completey for a while now and God does answer prayers very faithfully.<br />So I had my intervew and after the interview i got a call from Josh, and he had gotten the job in Iowa City and I was like, wow! Josh and I decided to wait a little bit to decided if he should take the job. About an hour after the phone call from Josh I got a phone call from the school I interviewed with and they offered me the job.<br />I took the job and Josh took his job and we are moving to Iowa city in August. <br />God is so faithful!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-11733818508762682172009-04-07T15:06:00.001-07:002009-04-07T15:24:59.287-07:00Freedom verses Fear.Throughout the day today I have begun to wonder about this country and the amount of fear that seems to grip the hearts and lives of people here. Why not, I mean we could be afraid of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">terrorists</span>, wall streets constant drops, cancer, cancer causing products working <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> way into our lives and the lives of our families, schools not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fulfilling</span> the "duties" we think they should, teachers being human (not perfect) and institutions failing us. And that is only inside of our country. The very thought of world hunger, aids, epidemics, children who are dying <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">because</span> the lack clean drinking water, women being tormented for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">religious</span> reasons, among countless other things should strike a fear deep down inside of us. <br />But what about that quote: "the only thing to fear is fear itself" I think that is becoming more and more true every day in our culture and society. <br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">This</span> morning on the news I heard a family talking about how they had planned on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">suing</span> the school <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">their</span> son <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">committed</span> suicide after being bullied. I am sorry if that strikes a cord of fear in you, but honestly what do parents think the school should have done? We can only be in control of our own actions and we can not control the actions of others. So then why should we find someone to blame when our child/spouse/sister/brother/family did something we do not approve of or even hurts us?<br />What is going to happen to our nation if this fear runs rampant and this deep desire to have someone to blame increases? <br />My current job is in education, and i know that people need to have rules, guidelines, and general accountability, however when does that accountability allow you to have the freedom to not be ruled under the fear of being blamed? For example, in order to get my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Iowa</span> teaching <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">licence</span> i have to teach in an accredited school (with the state of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Iowa</span>) be it public or private for 3 years. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Then</span> i can get my full <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">licence</span>. Well christian schools are afraid of being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">accredited</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">because</span> they will be overrun by the state rules leaving no room for Christ to be taught. Meanwhile, teachers that wish to maintain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">licence</span> must somehow work under these rules. It seems to me that when you are in a profession you enjoy you ought to be able to do it without jumping through thousands of hoops. <br />So back to fear, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">every time</span> somebody becomes afraid and blames another person for the outcome of events that person is forced to re-examine the way they live and how they respond to situations. That doesn't seem terribly problematic. But what if every person feels the need to blame a school for something that they don't like and in return the school's policy gets stricter and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">stricter</span>? The stricter the school is the worse education the students are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">receiving</span>. Just think of 10 years ago when you might have been able to teach in a school and teach fun and exciting things to your class, but now with all the rules and regulations (that have been set in because of fear--of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">failure</span>, not measuring up, etc) as a teacher you are stuck. You have very little freedom to teach in a way that students will respond to.<br />I have to admit i am so tired of the teaching profession i just want to quit. But to quit teaching, which is my life, brings me to tears. Why is it that a pretty good teacher can't even maintain professional status by simply doing what she loves? I love to teach, i love to see what new ways i can make material jump out to my students. But i don't seem to be able to get a job.<br />In <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">America</span> today that popular song should not say: "let freedom ring" but instead should say: "we let fear rule our lives" as fear seems to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">continually</span> grip our lives.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-91090046117640815242009-03-04T12:09:00.000-08:002009-03-04T12:16:10.620-08:00Its been a long time coming!SO it has been months scince i have posted and there is really no good reason for that. A list it is in that case:<br />1. came back to conard and started up on the teaching band wagon!<br />2. went home for christmas and enjoyed lots of time with my family<br />3. Came back to conard and batiked a set of chair covers and created an Ephiphany banner for my church<br />4. Josh came for a visit, we went snowshoeing and it was a blast and a half!<br />5. Went skiing twice, and got really really sore, but had a great time! I love the movement of that show underneath the skies.<br />6. deisgned and deligated two lentan banners for my church<br />7.made 1940's coustumes to be worn this weekend<br />8. FOund out my mum has been diagonased with breast cancer<br />9. made some more plans for the future, but nothing definiate has been made... i am a little nervous about what is to come.<br />10. had the science fair, it was a blast and started searching for curriculum type stuff for my school<br />11. had a tax appoinment and discovered i do not owe money! YAY!!!<br />12. wrote this blog finally.<br /><br />I hope all is well! Rach:)Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-189583042899320002008-11-28T17:52:00.001-08:002008-11-28T18:02:01.619-08:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all the blessing God has given me this year. A list of thankfulness:<br />*I have a fun job where I teach tons of grades and teach cute kids<br />*I am living in a house with new curtians<br />*I have a loving family, that I will get to see in just a few weeks!<br />* I have a wonderful boyfriend, whom I also get to see in a few weeks<br />*I have a church here with lots of people that made me feel loved on thanksgiving day<br />*I have amazing parents of my students who are always ready to help out at school<br />*God has allowed me a wonderful friend not to far away<br />*God gave me a place to go for thanksgiving day<br />*God has created a beautiful world that I am so privalged to live in<br /><br />So many things to be thankful for.<br />In line with one of them (the helpful parents) I have managed to have apple chaos this last week. I gave my students that chance to have a cook off invloving apples. That was a really intresting day beaucse we started up the oven and we noticed that it smelled quite bad. So we kept it on and accedintly burned some apple pie goo to the bottom of the oven and that made the school fill with smoke. However, we also managed to eat these delisious apple treats the next day. We had apple pie with lattice, apple cheesecake bars, and apple ice cream sandwiches with carmel. My personal favorite was the ice cream and carmel slices, it was cool and refreshing.<br /><br />So i hope that you have a wonderful thanksgiving@Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-32905661979687866792008-11-15T09:08:00.000-08:002008-11-15T09:12:34.860-08:00Full MoonsSo this week we must have had a full moon, my kids were crazy! I was crazy! I have heard the fullness of the moon and something to do with tides directly effects students and people in general; emotionaly and physically. So something to think about. What have any of you heard of this story? is it a myth? or something real? i mean i obviously see the effect on my studnets.<br />BUt the week ended with Young REaders day, i had my students all bring books to school, we read most of the day, and then we ate snacks out of books. I dressed like Miss Frizzle (i think i really need to invest in a better costume then the one that i used) and i read <em>If you give a mouse a cookie</em> to my class and gave them all a cookie. It was a wonderful day! I had planned to post pictures, but i left that at home. Oh well. another day.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-14949976099839406332008-10-23T17:00:00.000-07:002008-10-23T17:09:30.858-07:00A great visit and a crazy afternoonThis last weekend was amazing! So many things have been going on and October has proved to be a crazy month!<br />Josh, my pretty cool boyfriend, came and visited to me on Tuesday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon and we had a great time. He came to school with me on Wednesday and we had a major adventure! I decided (somewhat in an informed manner) to try to do two differnt art projects at the same time, one with K and one with grades 2-3. Needless to say things were crazy and paper was flying, but Josh did an amazing job keeping up with the chaos. He also honored us with some guitar playing and my students might actually like him better then they like me!:) <br />We headed to Kalispell after that and stayed with a famliy there and that was a crazy but very fun time as well. Then to the airport on sunday. <br />Now that he has gone back to Iowa i have attempted a few other crazy things. One of my studnets invnited me for supper yesterday and that was fun, it is always fun to hangout with them outside of school. <br />Then today i decided it would be a good idea to paint on the table and make some monoprints. I showed the students some work by William Blake and htat was intresting to find picutres that would really work for young studnets. But we painted on the table and make some monoprints that way. My studnets are so awsome! They even cleaned up thier own mess!:) We had a blast. So with 6 kids totally fun, but i imagine with more students it could be chaos. But where else are you going to get to paint on the tables other then at school. Well, back to planning, grading, and creating report cards! what a crazy week! THis weekend with be very boring, iwth lots of time at school, but the sunset is beautiful!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-31512516875599155812008-10-03T14:25:00.000-07:002008-10-03T14:34:04.691-07:00Eats, shoots and leavesToday this small town Montana teacher taught her students rules about commas. There are five of them. Her students have a hard time grasping the concept of not just, throwing in, commas, willy-nilly. So this teacher read the book <u>Eats, shoots and leaves</u> to her class. It was an illustration of how not using commas in the correct way can change the meaning of a sentance. The students in this multi-grade class loved the book. So with thier imaginations sparked, the students began work on thier very own sentnaces. They made up some wonderful sentances and will be illustrating a book. It is wonderful to see the creative process. <br />This teacher, because she is young and inexperianced, allowed her studnets to play dress-up in her clothes. This proved to be hillarious as her 7th/8th grade girls dressed up in her long flowy gypsy skirts and her 7th/8th grade boys dressed up in leggings and capris. You may ask "why were they dressing like this?" the answer is that they were hoping to portray people from the colonial era. Miss Eckardt has a fun closet! Only in a small town school....<br />The best combination of sentances from today was as follows:<br />"<span style="color:#cc0000;">Wrap up, Tom!" said the teacher.</span><br /><span style="color:#339999;">"Wrap up Tom!" said the teacher.</span><br />and...<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">"Tickle him silly, Fred!"</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">"Tickle him, silly Fred!"</span><br />hahahaha! Hopefully they are as humorus to you and they are to this teacher!:)Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-56625543116762440062008-09-26T20:21:00.000-07:002008-09-26T20:22:10.972-07:00Crop Walk!This is an e-mail I recently sent out to many of you. Please consider dotating to this cause! Thank you soo much!<br />Hunger is an issue that is very important to me and I have decided toget involved! I am walking in the CROP Hunger Walk and I needyour help.<br /><br />Our donations will support life-saving programs around theworld. Join me and our family and friends as we work together tosolve this world-wide challenge.<br /><br />You can be the difference, and you can start by making adonation. Visit my personal page, where you can make a secureonline credit card donation.<br /><a href="http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?px=1021852&pg=personal&fr_id=2089">http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?px=1021852&pg=personal&fr_id=2089</a><br /><br />Click here to visit my personal page.<br /><a href="http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?px=1021852&pg=personal&fr_id=2089">http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?px=1021852&pg=personal&fr_id=2089</a>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-15367461920366256832008-09-26T19:59:00.000-07:002008-09-26T20:12:50.221-07:00School days!There once was a small town (belly dancing) school teacher who taught in the middle of nowhere. Out in a wheat field she played her guitar for small children and taught grades K-8. She loved it for a year (well parts of it) and so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">attempted</span> to stay and try it for another year. In the second year she learned that she had really improved as a teacher and was learning to set appropriate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">boundaries</span>. Her classroom management improved daily from tackling problems from a variety of views. She held meetings with her class every morning. The class learned about each other and discussed how to learn the best, what seemed to be giving them trouble and what seemed to be going well were often topics of discussion. The teacher felt as though school was off to a great start. That was until the day she began teaching kindergarten. She began teaching kindergarten with 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">students</span> and added to that 3 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nd</span> graders and 3rd graders. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Unfourntuanly</span> for the teacher one of the second graders was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">illiterate</span>. This new grade level taught the teacher to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">patient</span> and the need for direct instruction. But also taught her the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">importance</span> of imagination and play. As well some what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">unfourntunally</span> for the teacher she gained a 12 year old reading at a 3rd grade level. So that student joined the ranks of the older class and the teacher <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">consistently</span> stayed on top of this student so that learning could progress in as rapid a manner as possible. By the end of the first month of school the teacher felt good about the year and things seemed to be going very well. Afraid of burn out and crabby parents the teacher has refused to take work home over the weekend and has left school by 4pm all week long. That was due to some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">extenuating</span> circumstances of making sure a friends house and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">their</span> 16 year old daughter did not burst into flames. After living with a 16 year old for a week (and proof reading a paper) the young teacher decided she would rather teach grades K-8 than say teach <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">high school</span> chemistry.<br />Fall is beautiful in this small corner of the country and as the leaves change from yellow to brown and drop from the trees; the teacher is reminded of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">consitencey</span> of living in one place for over a year. Eager to learn new things, she is planning many trips to many places, and eager to learn what else is out there is searching to develop her portfolio and learning to be the best teacher she can be. Last weekend she had two long lost <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Canadian</span> visitors, and would like to remind all readers that she has an extra room (and an air mattress) all set up so should anyone need a place they simply need to call.<br />To be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">continued</span>....Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-36709772438952113562008-08-29T12:04:00.000-07:002008-09-05T14:38:56.553-07:00a Cross cultural Experanice down by the river"Hey Rachel, you should really come to our Middle ages event at the end of August, is is tons of fun! We do a lot of belly dancing!" suggested the belly dance instructor.<br /><br />"yeah you totally should come! If any one knows how to party it is our middle ages group!" chimed in several other dancers<br /><br />"well, i do like to dance, but that is the weekend before school starts, i'll probally come some time." I said in response, meanwhile thinking... 'i am not so sure about this, but it is 3 months away, so i should have plenty of time to decide'.<br /><br /><br /><br />three monthes passes and we move to a new scene, the belly dance class in the middle of Aug.<br /><br /><br /><br />"Rachel!!! You're back! That means you can totally come to our middle ages event!" Exclaimed the belly dance instructor.<br /><br />"We were just talking about you, we thought we would send you an e-mail, your coming, right?" chimed in another dancer.<br /><br />"well... ok, i suppose i could come, can i come on Sat?" i relpied, thinking 'i do love an adventure'.<br /><br />"yeah, you can... i guess..."started the belly dance instructor, "but really we party pretty hard, you'll have to stay the night i am sure, you can always crash in our tent! seriously we have a blast!" she finished.<br /><br /><br /><br />I decided to go.<br /><br /><br /><br />On saturday i had some work to do at school, then i was planning on heading up to shelby. My first thought should have been "camping down by the river? intresting." But my first thought was: "what should i wear". Garbed in my belly dance attire (skirt, trolley top, tanktop, hip-shall, zills, and scarves) I headed up to the river. In 20 minutes i was driving down a gravel road looking for signs of life. To my surprise i pulled up on 50 + tents all along the river, people milling about in middle age attire, and jousting tournaments. I was informed later that middle age attire is anything pre-Elizabethan and jousting is a way to gain "status" with the king and the group. THis proved to be an intresting time.<br /><br />That event was followed up by a knighting: people cried, water was poured over his head, a new belt was given, a new sword and he was pronounced a knight among many.<br /><br />THis was followed by a feast and a time of fellowship... i met many people who love this so much and whose whole lives revolve aroudn this hobby, this community. how intresting. One man dressed in a kilt, tights, and a blouse said this "Its just nice to see people reconized for how good they are in everyway... you know we are not reconized beyond these meetings, but here we are and that is what i apperciate the most. Its about more than just dressing up, its about apperciating each other and spending time together".<br /><br />I was intrigued by that statment becuase it seemsed to me that it was a lot about playing adult dress up and imagination. Beyond that i learned that everyone had made up names and had dishes that would have been used in the middle ages and a story that went along with thier name, plate, and charecter. <br /><br />After the feasting was court, which is just what it sounds like a group of people meeting togheter with the king and queen in charge. After court was over, we broke off into several small groups and propane fires were started and the drumming began. So for the first time in my life i danced around an "open" flame in the middle of a campsite. Then story telling began about conquering evil werewolves and songs about journeys across the world to save fair maidens were sung. <br /><br />SOmebody offerd me a cherry soaked in everclear, honey, and cinnamon.... it was like eating a shot.... i had only one... but everybody else procceeded to offer me some of thier "home brew" but due to the fact that they wanted me to drink it straight out of the bottle (and i hate germs) i decilned many of these offers. BUt after farewell wishes and many kisses on the hand (awk) i drove away from teh river on Sat, night and back to my other culture of conrad, MT where i am the only one in my house and no one belly dances or eats cherries soaked in Everclear.<br /><br />The End.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-4423659586519585392008-08-04T18:51:00.000-07:002008-08-04T19:06:07.018-07:00A list:Ok, I have been blog surfing which means nothing really, but i have noticed alot of lists, so i also want to make a list: this list has no particular order: i plan to use lots of colons:<br /><br />1. i spent 10 days in a car... with my family... day one: LOVE day two: LOVE day three: LOVE day four: toleration, day five: toleration---- day 9: AHHHH!!!! day 10: so glad to be home we all went to our seperate rooms. I guess family vacations with 4 adults just arn't what they used to be, eh?<br />2. got caught up with extended family: i plan to stay in better touch with them<br />3. visited with my college roomates, i love them soooo much! I miss them greatly as well<br />4. learned how much i know alot of people but the depth of how much i know them is little: this bothers me a bit<br />5. took a class in differneciaton<br />6. worked at camp: this was fun: this was awkward: this was a time that i loved, always have: always will: i love that place and those people: i am old.<br />7. celebrated my 24th birthday at the Jersey shore with my extended family: a first time for all of those things.<br />8. realized school starts in three weeks: on that note: a sub list<br />a. i have to pack and leave for MT on Thursday<br />b. i have nothing planned for next year: what did i do all summer?<br />c. my mum and i are taking a class tuesday and wednesday: i am excited: so is she<br />d. i got a frantic e-mail from the other teacher: i forgot about school: i tried to calm her down<br />e. it was a good feeling that i was not freaking out<br />f. i am (dare i say) actually ready to go back to MT.<br />9. i realized i am a city girl through and through and i need to live in the city next year<br />10. still looking into India: we will see<br />11. realzied i never got around to all the stuff i wanted to do this summer<br />12. took pictures of buterflies: the butterfly house in sioux falls is open to photographers the first sat and Mon of every month at 8:30 (an hr before they open)<br />13. ate at a really cute health food cafe in downtown sioux falls: 50% of the menu items were vegan!:)<br />14.realized again i want to go abroad: NOW!<br />15. learned i need to spend more time with God: i miss Him.<br />16. i realized many times this summer that all people have a story to share and everybody, everybody wants to share theirs: this made me think that i need to listen more: care more: and be more selfless<br />17. I used 35 colons in this post:never mind thier proper use: i used them!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-35788208282940979732008-07-02T14:57:00.000-07:002008-07-02T15:06:51.581-07:00note from a tent on the side of the road...I have always wondered what it would be like to live life working odd jobs and live with different people in different situations and see what people do for a living when they work in the food industry. Well this summer i had my chance, and it has been an interesting experience. I began the summer by moving home, jobless. Since that point i have gotten a job at panera (an hr away from my family) Because the commute is long and gas prices are high i have been staying with my dear friend in the basement of her parents house in her bed. Long story short she was kind enough to share her double bed with me on the nights i have to work. <br />Then on days i don;t have to work i come home to Rock valley and hang out with my wonderful family and superb boyfriend. This has proved to be an instesting time of me cooking portabella mushrooms and playing croquet with them. I would like to note that much nuzzling has occurred and i am not a fan!:) <br />However life always seems to take an interesting turn and I was requested to come to Inspriation HIlls to work for just two weeks, but i am going to a teaching workshop for the first part of the second week... we will see what happens. I agreed though to go and help for two weeks, which means i stopped working at panera and am going back to I. H. I am looking forward to it, i miss that job and my "dad". BUt that will again prove to be intresting. With a brief trip to Iowa Falls next weekend and then a long two week trip across the country to the east and a 15 hr trip across the country to the west two days following the return from the east, the summer proves to be continually changing and i am loving every minute of it. I like working in the food industry, it helps if you like your product, and so it has been good.. but now for something entirely different: the rest of summer commences!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-66293088198355643492008-06-09T12:44:00.000-07:002008-06-09T12:52:55.654-07:00Summer time=lemonade and family!So summer begins and i have spent the morning doing all of the hobbies i have ever had!:) Funny how being home and living with people makes a world of difference in how much time i can spend doing things that i do on my own. <br />School ended wonderfully i taught nothing other then living and working skills in the last week and i have hte best job ever for the fact that none of my studnets are crazy!<br />next year, back in MT and i will be teaching grades 4-8 all subjects and i am gaining 5 studnets, loosing three-- so grand total--- who knows the answer--- that is right: 8! Great job!:)<br />We have hired two other part time teachers who will be teaching math and reading to grades 4-8 and k-3 respectivily. SO that will be good, i will teach everything else, including socials and science grades k-8. What a resume!:) <br />I think next year i want to teach in India (i mean the year after this coming one) but dare i say anything... Lord willing, i will be teaching in India, i really have been thinking about that country for quite some time now.. so if anyone has any people or places they know, fill me in!:)<br />I just spent a wonderful weekend in MN and it was fantastic! I mean, wow, friends, food, and the city, what more could a girl ask for!:) <br />I have a job at panrea in Sioux falls for the summer and i am totally excited! I would like to note that this really appeals to the free spirited nature i posess!:) i am going to be living between rock valley and Tea, sd for the summer working running around and making stuff, becuase i have free time... home made presents here we come. With a one suitcase limit coming for christmas, i will have to buy all presents now and leave them at home!:) funny how that works. <br />DId you know God is so graceful? Becuase he is, how else in the world could i come home and turn down two other jobs before i even got here, even though i should have taken them, then get a third job offer and have a place to live for free. Not to mention time to spend with the most amazing people i know! (well some of them, others of those amazing people are elsewhere):) <br />Anwyaz, summer begins i am excited, so much time to get to spend loving and being loved! have a good one!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-35128789226911028252008-04-25T09:36:00.001-07:002008-04-25T09:36:54.686-07:00My 7th graders helped me write this limerik yesterday: It seems a little bit like Satire, but hey, its all for the sake of learning!:)<br /><br />There once was a man named Bill.<br />He really loved pickles of dill.<br />His wife the republicans hated,<br />What to do with him the politicians debated.<br />Finally they threw him off capital hill.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-87022108912167758152008-04-01T06:57:00.000-07:002008-04-01T07:21:59.511-07:00Students and FaithSo the other day I was teaching....<br />My students wanted to know what was next, and why we had to do so much work today, and when it was going to end, and why they had to learn math, and why they had to do spelling, and on and on and on. I am sure many of you can empathize with them. <br />I was getting so frusterated becuase i thought: "just trust me, i know what you need to have done and when and why, if you trust me that i know (becuase i have the teachers manual) then you could worry so much less and your work would be done and you would be rewareded with knowledge."<br />I think this is possibly a common plight for teachers. A few days later i was driving back from dance thinking about how i wish i knew if i was making the right desision and how it was going to effect my furture, and if i can truly handle living out in the middle of nowhere by myslef... again. Then i realized that i was excatly the same as my students. I ask God "WHere will i go next? How long do i have to be in this position? Am i putting my 'life' on hold to be here? Will i ever have a family of my own?" <br />Only to hear God say: "If you trust me you will see the answers to all of that and more and have the reward of heaven. I have the manual to your life, don't forget. All you have to do is trust me"<br />Suddenly i had a lot more grace towards my students. Thank goodness God's grace far surpasses mine for my students. Just something to think about.Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-20538157399825299112008-03-17T10:09:00.000-07:002008-03-17T10:17:24.686-07:00Pictures!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROK1bdmr7-axay4mVQUXplrblGo7BCRAiR5HGw06SvIv5UMZ7PkZEAHUPK82Q9BaJVbVDKDGeufr47DwFHqgLMI2UcJtgv8pg1EmwRzMXq2XWltO1bOh1F69EQFyjblQTkeCHIw/s1600-h/IMG_0158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178760727056001602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROK1bdmr7-axay4mVQUXplrblGo7BCRAiR5HGw06SvIv5UMZ7PkZEAHUPK82Q9BaJVbVDKDGeufr47DwFHqgLMI2UcJtgv8pg1EmwRzMXq2XWltO1bOh1F69EQFyjblQTkeCHIw/s320/IMG_0158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9LnBdwj8HifmJ4NyDAS_useG9oSFxd2A4QmEbOv1fQC4wBazeUpXEAzqB0VcLfxbVZGZGitHL3T36xvcbie1CYZOlaYWDdrvrFfPMxlFuelU1NDTGS6Z6Jtc-SPZg_TU_kgEpg/s1600-h/IMG_0159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178760735645936210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9LnBdwj8HifmJ4NyDAS_useG9oSFxd2A4QmEbOv1fQC4wBazeUpXEAzqB0VcLfxbVZGZGitHL3T36xvcbie1CYZOlaYWDdrvrFfPMxlFuelU1NDTGS6Z6Jtc-SPZg_TU_kgEpg/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv4-GjkdAgeTMuQUjWYFClR4rdhJaeDXR2qSukGmXGirc65pALGnQ0zFq-T7Ku3FREP-l55FWnI7iMwJh4QC-ndFoOZnbF4V7rGByF20y6BEuvrQjj8sogM0kKM8uoJq-Hxy0UQ/s1600-h/IMG_0160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178760744235870818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv4-GjkdAgeTMuQUjWYFClR4rdhJaeDXR2qSukGmXGirc65pALGnQ0zFq-T7Ku3FREP-l55FWnI7iMwJh4QC-ndFoOZnbF4V7rGByF20y6BEuvrQjj8sogM0kKM8uoJq-Hxy0UQ/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBXuKAt_JSz6LhEUrJSZKf-iX_ceLp7P-ka2iIzWe8L4-pQ5us_7-_aJseumPAA7Z98Wn61m9oKEb7e1foLzn5xbDN6e6ABpXGYIwdMHpMPv1P87uTs8eROJ_WBwt5qhEOJuflQ/s1600-h/IMG_0162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178760752825805426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBXuKAt_JSz6LhEUrJSZKf-iX_ceLp7P-ka2iIzWe8L4-pQ5us_7-_aJseumPAA7Z98Wn61m9oKEb7e1foLzn5xbDN6e6ABpXGYIwdMHpMPv1P87uTs8eROJ_WBwt5qhEOJuflQ/s320/IMG_0162.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIZsT_8KVA7C7nTDHdJl588fTIyhBL5ShJ8aBvMpE5EMti59RkcKFH7JI5Ymmw1U7Y2qsnc0HAjj7CP6M5gq3fN-PgkdzyWwn6kMSc-5j7bTA5GbAGAna3xsE-l3U8YsmpsIQFA/s1600-h/IMG_0164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178760761415740034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIZsT_8KVA7C7nTDHdJl588fTIyhBL5ShJ8aBvMpE5EMti59RkcKFH7JI5Ymmw1U7Y2qsnc0HAjj7CP6M5gq3fN-PgkdzyWwn6kMSc-5j7bTA5GbAGAna3xsE-l3U8YsmpsIQFA/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here are pictures of my skiing day with my student! look at me! I am learning to ski!</div><br /><div></div>Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22583388.post-69257486325509929222008-03-14T14:53:00.000-07:002008-03-14T15:03:10.664-07:00Change can be a Beautiful thing!I think I have found another activity I may really enjoy, dare i say love?<br />I tried to go skiing again, and i have to admit that when i set out to go skiing i was a little nervous, but I loved it!<br />I am very blessed to have a parent of one of my students who was a ski instructor and loves skiing very very much! He offered to teach me and started on our ski day (see post from two times ago), but we ran out of time and there were lots of other people who needed to learn to ski, so i ended the lesson early. But he and his wife called me up and invited me to go skiing with their family last weekend. <br />Anwayz, i only fell three times and only at the end of the day! I went down the run 8 times! which was something else compared to my previous 3 runs (and three falls):) <br />It seems to me that skiing is a lot like dance, there is a feeling of how to catch your body, the laws of physics and gravity play into and there is such beauty in the movement. As i learned how to turn from one side to another i started to feel the snow underneath my skis and catching the movement of my skis over the snow and down the curves of the mountian. <br />While watching other skiers, i see so much beauty in how they move and how they get down the mountian. I suppose there is something to be said for the thrill of the sport, but i am not a thrill seeker so i found differnt types of value with the sport. It seems so graceful and what other time can you be in the sun in the winter and up on top of creation being surrounded by all of God's creation. <br />I have come to a deeper and deeper apperciation for creation scince moving here, i love being outside! I think next summer i may be a ranger... (at the park) But we will see. <br />Anyhow, that is the most exciting thing in the last two weeks!Rachel:)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04360647406702011903noreply@blogger.com0