Now it finally hits me...

that Christmas is approaching....and rather quickly I might add.

It's different for everyone. For some, the feeling starts when they decorate their house with red and green. For others, the feeling begins after they start singing the music and buying gifts. I'm usually one of those people. Yet this year with us teaching straight until the day before Christmas Eve and having our Christmas party before the break just seemed to "postpone" the seasonal awareness in my head. I need to start getting to grips with the fact that next weekend, half of our team will be out of the country for the next 5 weeks!

Just last night we had our staff Christmas party. I remember last year when planning this thing, I was a bit nervous because it was my first "big" event to run with over 50 people. This year though felt so different. It was so much fun to throw as well as be a part of! I think that's always a good sign when one of the event planners can actually kick back and enjoy their own party.

This year the arrangement for tables and a few whole group activities were the same, but I thought I'd add a few new touches. I saw this adorable idea at a wedding before where a patterned cloth and empty picture frames were against an empty wall. People could just randomly go up throughout the evening and use it as a photobooth! It was a hit! We also had a few things for the kiddos as well: pipe cleaner christmas trees, paper candy canes, and coloring sheets for the little ones. Everyone looked so happy throughout the whole thing. What a memorable evening.

Unfortunately, in all the hustle and bustle of the night I forgot to get my camera out and actually document the evening. Luckily for some faithful friends, they helped the memory to live on. And now...I'm finally in that Christmas time mood!

So excited to enjoy a nice loooooonng break with my hubby ;) Philippines here we come!

A few new classroom touches

For some reason, as I was perusing through my latest posts, I forgot to publish this one! This is a couple of weeks old, but it is just a few new things that I added to my classroom.

Remember that McDonald's word wall to inspire interesting words? Well, here it is! And the kids are actually "lovin' it".

IKEA may think these are hot pads, but Lauren Evans thinks they are mini cork boards for arranging classroom groups!

My kids love to recommend books to each other, so I adapted some ideas to work for them...in a more quiet and less interrupting way. This is inside of our little "book nook". Each week, I might put up a different series or couple books from the same author. Once the kids have time to go over and read each book, they move their face to yes or no (will they recommend it or not?)

"But Mrs. Evans, what about books that we read and just HAVE to tell our friends about?" So then this was created...

Hey if childish giggling and wriggling excitement comes from sharing book titles, I'm one happy teacher!

Wish me luck as I go into the last week before Christmas break...quite a busy one.

Ofta/after...same difference.

Teaching phonics in a class of children from all over the world can get a little tricky at times. How do you tell your precious South African boy that even though to him the word "after" sounds like "ofta" in his language, it is still correctly spelled "after"? I have had so many laughable moments when he will participate in class with a phrase that none of us quite relate with, but grow to love...and use! My personal favorite is when he wants to ask if he can add on to a story. (Just picture this in a British accent) "Mrs. Evans, would you mind if I carry on with my writing?" Precious! Go ahead cAHry on!

The Big Wave

Instead of focusing on how long it has been since my last post and updating everything that has gone on for the last 3 months, I would rather start FRESH. Honestly, this whole semester so far has felt like a big wave that is finally over my head. You ever get that feeling when you were a kid playing at the beach and you go under a wave, but you feel like it takes forever before the water actually moves over and you wonder if you'll find the way to the surface? Yep. That's how I felt. Except my wave was grad work, new 1st grade learners adapting, and juggling both while staying sane. But it's at a calm spot now. My creative juices and the "real me" is coming back and it feels good. Really good. So...just like I feel I have a fresh start again to get back into the groove of life, this blog is going to start fresh....from the latest funny story, cause that's how I like to blog. Funny, memorable moments that are captured. Not long huge updates that feel overwhelming to even start putting into words.

So here goes the latest...

I have been falling in love with this new website called pinterest. It was first introduced to me by my sister-in-law, and she is right, it is a completely addicting website full of people tagging their creative, innovative, interests all over the website like a tag board. What a perfect website! After perusing through pinterest this weekend, I came across some adorable things I could implement into my classroom. The newest is this cute bulletin board inspired by McDonald's.

Check it out:

This is where is brings me to my funny story. I happened to be eating at a McDonald's yesterday with my friend when I thought of the idea to ask if they sold the fry boxes. One of the ladies on the cleaning staff politely told me that they didn't sell them, so I told her no problem and I carried on with my meal. About a minute later, she taps me on my shoulder and hands me a recycled fry container. "Aww, how cute!" I thought to myself. "She remembered!" But that was only the beginning. All throughout my meal, she would periodically come over, tap me, and dump 2-3 more boxes on my tray. With a little laugh and head nod of appreciation I would go back to my meal only to be tapped again with 5 more! In a matter of 15 minutes I had about 25 boxes! Luckily we had finished our meal so I could tell her we had plenty before she piled anymore on.

Oh China, you are full of such generous and helpful people! I will never forget that day. And hey, I am ready to make that bulletin board now and at no extra cost!

Zero to 100mph.....in a day.

Soooo...let's just pretend like this post was up a week after we arrived back in Shenyang (instead of a month!). The dormant blog just goes to show how truly busy our acclimation back to reality has been. The reality of busy schedules, grad work, and routines snapped us quickly out of summer bliss. It almost had the same sensation of being woken up at a good part of a dream.

Just to put things in another perspective, while this past month has felt overwhelming at times, He has NEVER given us more than we could handle. It just sometimes takes a little while to get it through my hard head that He is all I need, and quite frankly, that's enough for me! Why do I ever want to go a day in my own strength? A day like that would be miserably in vain! I will gladly choose to have wings like eagles as I run without being weary. From this day on out, that's how it's going to be.

If you're a close friend. I would love it if you could drop a message every now and then and ask me (straight up), who's strength I'm using that day.

And we made it...

30 hours, 6 overstuffed checked bags, and 2 technically overweight carry-ons later, we made it safely back to Shenyang! Praise Him that we double checked our itinerary before we left since we found that we were supposed to leave at 5:30 instead of 8:30...whoops. Our flights went smooth considering we had to re-check our luggage half way through. I WISH I had taken a picture of us dragging all of our luggage (which by the way each one was either exactly at 50 pounds or 70 pounds) through terminal trains, elevators, and curvy lines. People were looking at us like we were doing some sort of juggling act...standing, throwing, stacking, and then running to try and make our next flight. Chaos, but quite amazing teamwork I must say!

Here we are safely in Shenyang with all of our stuff. Just try and picture that juggling act with all of this!

It is now 4:30am as I write this, and we have already been up for two hours. I think we'll head out for a walk....we miss China mornings. All you dedicated exercisers in the park, here we come!

You know it's hot when...

you have to eat dinner in the pool.

One word to describe my disposition last week would have been "lethargic". While we are so thankful to have air conditioning units in the bedrooms, the 100 degree heat cut through the rest of the house like a plague. Hmm.....where to go and escape? The bedroom? No, I would feel too anti-social. The pool? Well, my fingers are already prune-ish from the last hour I was in. I guess that leaves a local air conditioned coffee shop! Aside from the family gatherings (around the pool), and the exhausting heat, I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends. Oh how much our visits filled my heart with gladness!

Heather it was so good to catch up, collaborate, and connect as we shared our international teaching stories. Looking forward to your new changes this year!

Kirsten, my heart is so sad that we forgot to take pictures of my "train trip" to go and visit you. I'll just put up an old picture of us ;). What fun it was to reminisce, walk through the NJ towns, and watch old movies on the lawn. And then to top it off, I got to be your roomie again for old times sake! Oh how I miss you already.

And my Langhorne girls....even though some of you are missing. Just to catch up and hear where you are in the journey of life was so encouraging. Keep plugging away, whether it be schooling, tough jobs, broken cars, or wedding plans...you can do it!

I thought I would put up a "recap" post since we are now tucked away in the heart of the Adirondacks again. Peaceful and beautiful as ever, yet now with a baby/toddler twist. Oh the joys of being an aunt to three nieces and an adorable nephew!

2 years ago...

Dave and I were gettin' hitched...and then moving to China...with our first day of teaching 2 weeks after that. What an adventure we have followed the Lord through! We decided to celebrate this landmark of time at our parent's cabin this past weekend.

In this exact spot October 3rd 2008, Dave proposed. What a view, huh? Right in front of us is a restaurant where we were going to eat a reminiscent lunch, yet their website had to be out of date...and they were closed. Keeping our spirits up, we nestled into the cozy city down below and ate in a nearby cafe.

Back when we were dating, one of the activities we used to do together was go Geo-caching. Basically, people who have GPS systems hide a plastic box of trinkets/treasures in a "mysterious place" and then post the coordinates online. There are even Geo-caches in China! Once you find the box, you take a trinket out, replace it with another and then sign the log book...then go on your merry way, all proud of your self that "you found it!'.

When we went, we always would look for the ones that would be in the woods so that it was like a hike and a treasure hunt all in one. My sweet husband decided to create his own Geo-cache (unbeknownst to me). Once again we were hiking in the woods, feeling as if we were dating again on one of our little adventures.

Me: "What did the website say? Would it be on the trail?"
Dave: "Uh...well....it said (since this was all his own creation).....that it will be by some.....flowers.....yeah, flowers."

Turning my head, I see the flowers that helped guide his answer ;) And under some brush, I found it! (It was much more hidden than what is showing in this picture)

Inside was a willow tree doll, pearl earrings, and a beautiful long note.

And the night didn't end there. He had planned to cook me dinner, and have us eat out on my dad's boat. What a treat! Another thing that brings up old memories!

I am blessed with such a sweet, intentional husband who daily looks for ways to display his love. Who could ask for more?

Bosom friend

I am blessed with one. What is a bosom friend you ask? If you haven't read Anne of Green Gables, then I'll let her explain for you,

"A bosom friend--an intimate friend, you know--a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul."

You know you're close with someone when it's been two years since you've had a heart-to-heart conversation, yet it's as if your hearts were still in sync with each others. We met the first couple days our freshman year of college and have been "kindred spirits" ever since. Since we were on our way back up the east coast, we were able to drop in for a visit. Arriving at 2:30, my friend Monica and I talked non-stop straight until about 11:30! On the couch, during dinner and dessert, throughout a walk in the neighborhood, through games, and then even in the bedroom as we were slowly parting our ways before sleep. What a wonderful, refreshing visit. My cup was and is still overflowing! And to think that I got the chance to see her adorable pregnant belly before Charlotte comes in just about three weeks!

Stephen and Monica, thanks again for letting us drop in to say hello! It filled my soul with joy!

Growing families

Take a good look at this picture. You see four people, right? Four incredibly bonded siblings who would sacrifice anything just to have moments like this again. Siblings who have so much shared history that it is hard to think of one memory that doesn't include one of us in it. But times have changed...in a good way. Every time we are together, we bring up memories, jokes, stories, and pictures from the past. Yet this reunion was different. There was a divinely sweet blend of both the cherished past and anticipated future mixed together. Take a look at the next picture.

That family is growing. Yep, it's true. With a new brother already in the mix and a sister just waiting to join us (next summer by the way), we are eagerly anticipating the new memories that will be made. While our reunions are no longer after a semester of classes, but at the end of 2 year contracts, we will cling to the joy of what we have together. A bond that is lasting.

Now that's worth celebrating!

Dear Grandpa,

Did you know that you celebrated your 50th wedding anniversary this year? We are so proud of you! While your dementia is stealing away a lot of your short term memory, HOLD FAST to those precious memories of the ones who were (and are) in it for the long haul...a.k.a. Grandma. I wish you could fully see all that she sacrifices and dedicates to you as she comes to visit you day in and day out. Rest in the peace knowing that you are loved.

We came to see you the other day in your new home. Grandma sure has been keeping your room decorated! We were a bit surprised though when we first came in your room...

We soon figured out that they had been working on your room floors earlier that day...phew! You're off the hook Grandpa....for now. I nearly cried when I heard you whisper my name. Either you are making progress, or you were just confused the last time you saw me - but I will cherish every moment that I have.

Our group was so big that we had to move to a fancy conference room just to talk to you, Grandpa! I loved watching your face light up when we sang old hymns together. At times, I even needed to look to you for confirmation on the next verses! I guess music will be the last thing to leave...and I'm glad of it. Anything to keep your spirit of joy near you.

I love you Grandpa. As your dependence grows greater, our love for you perseveres all the more. Remember us....as best as you can.

Beach bums continued...

It's 3:00 and the Chase's (and Evans) have had enough of the sun. As we mosey on in looking as though we have been through a sandstorm, we can't help but wanting to shower and get freshed in a way that involves make up, perfume, and maybe a cute outfit. Sun-kissed and re-energized we headed back out to the beach to have a little photo shoot and play some croquet.

And of course the jumping pictures. Only if the camera could fully express the joy and laughter that accompanied each one.

Rained in for the afternoon, we are all sitting around reading, playing games, and catching up on...well...blogs ;) We're livin' it up!

The life of a beach bum...

We finally made it. Florida's sandy beaches, humid air and sunny skies have welcomed us...for an entire week. Of course even though we lathered the sun screen, the "rays" here are a bit stronger than expected. We more or less got fried the first day - even with the SPF...oh well.

Dizzy with depleted oxygen, we are looking forward to taking over the pool with these rafts. No seriously...for the size of the pool and the size of us, we took up about a 1/3 of the pool!

Cheese balls!!!!!! (Enough said)

Too bad the shuffleboard materials were unavailable. Instead we took tennis balls and made our own game...HORSE/shuffleboard/bocce ball.

I love the fact that on vacation, you get the sense that you are still around and with your family, yet you are all doing different things. Ethan and Dad are fishing, Dave and I are reading, the girls and mom are walking....sweet bliss.

All snuggled up watching the fireworks on the fourth of July! I finally figured it out....THIS is what I miss the most ;)