One Amazing and Crazy weekend!!!!

Aloha all! I had a long weekend these last three days with it being president's day yesterday and I had a really great, relaxing time. I had two really great noteworthy things that I would like to share...

The first is a word of testimony. It can kind of be a long story the way I tell it, so I will try to keep it short. I decided to try to get my taxes done this weekend, but I found out it was going to cost between 130 and 180 dollars because I have to do taxes for both Hawaii and California. My dad told me it would be worth it to pay the bucks this time since i have so many different variables with taxes this year. But the Lord is good! Because as I was frantically searching for a form (which I haven't even received in the mail yet!) I found an unopened envelope that had a dividend check for 150 dollars!!!! Isn't that AWESOME!!!! The Lord works in mysterious and marvelous ways!!!! Cause that is just about how much I am going to need!

The second great story I have to tell is actually kind of sad, however, I think it is the funniest thing that has probably ever happened to me. So my roommates and I went to the movies on Sunday and as I was driving back home there was a pigeon in the road. Now, usually, things like that get out of the way. So I didn't think to slow down, I just kept on going, thinking it would move. Well, I got to about 5 or 10 feet away from it wasn't doing anything so I said, "Move birdy, move!" Well, it didn't and so I thought it woudl just go under the car, and be unharmed. Well, at the last second it decided to fly away, which was a huge mistake for the bird, because it totally hit the front of the car! I looked in the rear view mirror but didnt' see anything, but there is no way it coudl have survived. My roommate and I laught hysterically the rest of the way home, and all the way into our apartement, and then even a little bit after that. I don't know why it was so funny, but it was..... and is.

Chloe

Aloha readers!!!

I keep meaning to update you all on life here in Kona, but things have been a bit hectic here lately. Let me begin by telling you all about Chloe. She is our new class pet, and the kids love her! She is a beta fish. She gets fed Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the kids. It is a reward for the kids to get to feed her, so it is a nice little extra motivator.

For the last three weeks I have been taking Sirac (not sure on the spelling!) lessons at the YWAM base which is right next to where I live. It is a form of dancing that is a mix between swing and salsa. I love it! I go with some people from church, and then of course there are a ton of YWAM people there. Some I know and some I don't, but I am getting to know people's names more and more as I go. It is on Sunday nights and it is a great way to end the weekend. The best part is that it is only 4 dollars per class! What a deal!

I also got a new roommate yesterday. Her name is Leah and she is fantastic! She is so sweet and nice, and she loves the Office, which is a deal breaker for me :)

One of those days...

Aloha all! Today has been quite a day, and I must say that I am ever thankful that it is almost over. Although it was nice having a three day weekend, I was sick all day yesterday, so I couldn't even do anything fun. I just stayed on the couch all day and watched pretty much all of cycle 11 of ANTM. When I woke up this morning I did not want to get out of bed, so I prayed for strength for the day and got ready for work. I usually get to work at about 7am, and wanted to make sure that I did not run late today because I had a meeting a 730, and I knew it would cut in to my prep time for the morning. Well, I was out the door at about 10 to 7 (right on time!) but when I got to my car it wouldn't start! The battery was completely dead! I didn't know what to do at first and started to freak out. When I am tired I tend to be more emotional, and I was definitely tired from not feeling well, and I knew I couldn't be late to this meeting. So I called a friend from work and asked her to pick me on her way to work. I got to school just a few minutes before 730, which left me no time to get anything ready in my classroom.

The rest of the morning went ok. We watched a small (and I do small) bit of the inauguration in class and later wrote about what we would do if we were president.

Over the course of the day I had 3 students go home early because they were sick. They all seemed to have stomach sickness which is not what I have, so please pray for me that I don't get it!

So that was pretty much my day. I can't wait to go home and just chill for the evening. I do need to go get a new battery for my car though! Hopefully that will fix my problem so I will be able to go to work tomorrow :)

Back from the mainland

Aloha Friends and Family!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful new year! As I am sitting here printing out the remaining half my report cards I thought I would take this opportunity to catch you all up on my life now that I have returned to Kona!

I got back to Kona Saturday night and was greeted by my roommate Jill. On the drive home she gave me some most amazing news. Apparently the crater here is beginning to fill up, and as a result the vog will hopefully begin to subside. I have only been back a couple days now, and I can already see a difference! Everything looks so much clearer and vibrant and we actually have blue sky!

Yesterday was my first Sunday back in Kona, and I almost didn't go to church because we had a storm hit! Luckily, it subsided about a half hour before church started, so I quickly got dressed and headed to church. I am so thankful that I got to go because as much as I love my church peeps back in Cali, I really missed my church here.

Well, I guess that is it for now. I have much work to get done before all the kiddos show up on Wednesday. I must say that I do miss them and can't wait to see them all!

So close I can taste it....

That is exactly what one of my fellow Kindergarten teachers told me this afternoon after school had ended. We just have one more day of school, and a half day at that! Just 3 more hours of school tomorrow, then I'm gonna finish up report cards, clean up a bit, go to the staff Christmas lunch, finish up any loose ends and then I am on vacation!!!! I am so excited to just have a break! Plus, I will be going home in a few days and see all my family and friends! This has been a crazy couple of weeks, but the end is in sight! The kids are all ready for vacation already, as am I, which I think is why things have been so chaotic.

To all those who live in California and read this I love you and miss you and will see you very, very soon!!!!!