Enjoying the Journey

Eharmony, Esharmony

2010-08-07T00:48:00.000-04:00

Frustration. Disappointment. Grrrr.

So here's the thing-I've been on Eharmony for awhile. The truth's out. ;-) I've never (and will never) pay full price for it, and right now I have a coupon code that will get me 6 months for the price of one! It's been quite an interesting experience. Sometimes I love it, other times, I really hate it. I like that it's an intense profile, and the process of matching is pretty cool. I keep getting the guys who say, "well, I'm kinda quiet when you meet me, but after that, I open up." ????? Me??? Profiled and matched with "quiet" guys?? I always thought I needed someone more crazy than me, but maybe not? I was asked to think about what it'd be like to have 2 people like me in a house, and I have to admit....I prob DO need someone that would calm me down, not fight for attention. :-) And it seems to be the majority, so maybe it's right.

Well, as of right now, I have 914 closed matches. Ones that I thought were just not for me, lived too far away, ones who weren't called to missions, ones that were pretty ugly, or didn't have a picture, ones who loved their dog WAAAy too much, had a job that was just waaaay out there (video gamer, etc) or actually closed me and thought I wasn't the one for them. (What? Come on...I'm amazing!) And, I also have 87 guys who I'm "Waiting for his Response". 87?? Is that even possible or right? I hate it. What is taking them so long to respond?? Are they debating? Are they no longer paying for it because of the economy and they can't respond? Are they just hoping I'll go away if they don't answer?

I keep going back and forth with the idea of Eharmony. Biblical? Normal? Modern way of dating? (FYI-there's nothing in the Bible about internet dating services. :-) I just listened to Nancy Lee DeMoss and she was talking about it. She thinks we are basically not trusting God when we do things like this. Me taking this into my own hands is saying that I don't think God can handle it, so I need to do the looking. That has been a struggle of mine for awhile. How much am I to do? I can't just sit in my room, hoping that God drops a husband in my lap, can I? I also can't be throwing myself at any guy on any whim. I agree-I try to just hold fast to the truth that God knows what He's doing and He doesn't need my help. It's a very biblical truth.

I was on a kick recently and I initiated conversation with 6 or 7 guys (well, I sent 5 mult-choice questions to them before they sent them to me) and was excited to hear back. Nuthin. Nada. Now, that was me initiating. Is that wrong? Should I wait for them to send me questions? Is that me pursuing the guy instead of him pursuing me? Nancy said it was. It's not like I was asking him out to dinner or over to my house for the weekend. It was 5 questions. I figure that if I want to stand out in the 5 matches a day he gets in his mailbox, then I'll be the one to write.

I've had 2 experiences with things actually going further with the people I've talked to. I've been talking to one guy as a friend for over 1 1/2 yrs. I actually met one of my matches in person. (Don't worry, I was smart and safe about it all.) But the hard part was this (and a HUGE downfall for eHarmony and long distance dating), we were at two different stages in our relationship. We were more "intimate" (VERY loosely used here) in our conversing through email and very immature with our interaction. I knew so much about him, but didn't know how to talk to him. Didn't know his body language. It's like we had two diff. relationships going on at the same time. I didn't feel like I could talk to him about stuff that we'd say through email because it really felt like it was a different person altogether. Nothing ever came of that relationship, except maybe a friendship.

So anyhow, I've signed up for the next 3 months and we'll see what happens. I get so frustrated and just sit and wait.

Goal for this school year- stop sitting around and waiting for life to happen, waiting for dating/marriage to happen, and do things now. Use my singleness. Stop living like life is on hold. Serve God now.

OH yah....I have a blog...

2010-08-06T01:16:00.000-04:00

So, I realized, recently, that I have a blog. ;-) And, after some of you have frantically asked me, "So, what did Eric end up doing with the teaching jobs?" I realize that I left you all hanging. And that was from June. It's August. And man, have I have a full summer!

So, Eric- He came and talked to Ann and I about whether or not he should leave and I just sat there. I didn't say anything, I didn't want to talk. I didn't want tears to come. Well, Ann asked if I had any input, and I just teared up and shook my head. Later he came to my room and told me he had made his decision- He was staying. YAY!!!! And then he said, "Don't you ever cry like that again....it's not fair..." So, my school year will be a lot less painful this year with Eric there. It'll be a little easier to not miss Erin so much. Just a little though. It still hasn't hit me that Erin won't be at school this year. It just feels like we are on vacation. It won't hit me until inservice when her room won't be her room. Late nights at school won't be the same.

My summer was amazing. I got to do so many things and see so many people. I got to spoil my nephew, who now says my name!! He hasn't gotten the "aunt" part yet, but it'll come! And he doesn't run from me in fear anymore. He knows who I am! He just fills me up with so much love. I could just hug him forever. He was chasing Nana with a rubber snake! We just giggled so much together.

{I went on a missions trip to Dominican Republic. That will have to be another post.I know, the suspense is a KILLER!}

I traveled to Ohio to hang out with Joyce who is getting married in September! I'm the M.of H. and we had to get things rolling with the wedding. It's so soon! I also got to see Tiana and Cara while I was in Cleveland. It was such a blessed time. We just picked up where we left off. I really miss those two. Their hearts for our Savior and the love they have for life. And their ability to color-coordinate! (with everyone but me...apparently I didn't get the memo!)

Then, on to Indiana where I had and AMAZING time with my kindred spirit, Rachael. I feel like I'll have to write that up later too. Sorry! Just so much to say about those 10 days. I will give you a picture or two, though!

I'm back to Virginia-as of 5 hrs ago. Volleyball camp doesn't start until August 16, but I want to feel like I'm home before I start school again. My living quarters are still a DISASTER so I want to get that all set up and figured out. Things to go up in the attic, on walls, under the bed, etc.

I WILL try to be better at this. I don't know how many actually read this anyhow. BUT I'll do it for Amy, Tiana, Cara, Ashley and Kristin!

Men in Uniform

2010-06-24T00:30:00.003-04:00

My friends and I always joke about how good guys look in uniform. We admire (to be stated lightly) the uniformed men that walk in the school to pick up their kids from school. We see them everywhere. The store, the metro, Baskin Robbins-it goes with where we live. It's one of the "curses" of living 20 mins from the nation's capital and the bases for every military branch. We talk about wanting to date/marry a man in uniform.

(This picture is of a man who, as soon as he got on the Metro, pulled out his Bible, notebook and highlighter and dug into God's Word. I just had to get a picture. This totally rocked my world.)

I've changed my mind. Oh, they still look AMAZING in their uniforms. But I don't want to marry one.

Over the last month, I've sat at my computer and cried for friends who have lost their loves. Their "men in uniform". It just makes my heart ACHE to read about a girl, Ashley Tack, losing her fiancée to a STUPID suicide bomber who was dressed up like a woman walking around the marketplace. And Jake Leicht, a kid I did summer camp and missions trips with, who never had his soap, towels or ANYTHING that one would need for camp, died after they drove over a bomb in the road. Previously he had gone through 2 years of physical therapy and begged to be allowed to go back and serve his country. And he's gone.

I just ache for their families. For their loves. For all they have had to go through, wondering if they are still alive, wondering when they aren't going to be anymore. Hearing the news that they aren't. Getting that knock on the door. It didn't really affect or bother me before. I was in western PA and had nothing connecting me to the war. And now, living in NOVA, having so many students with parents in uniform, losing friends because of being transferred to another base, having friends suffer because their friends are being sent to other locations, I'm connected now. This war is affecting me.

Lord, I want to thank You for the strength you are giving these families. Please hold Ashley close to You. Help her know that You will never let go. Please hold and protect and comfort all the families that have lost and will lose, every day, one of their loves.

One of the men in uniform.

And it's only 9:55am

2010-06-07T10:13:00.002-04:00

I don't know when I've felt such an influx of emotions in such a short amount of time. I know it's not abnormal, and people go through stuff all the time.

It's just been a long time since it's happened to me. A long time since my emotions have been thrown for a loop.

High-I finished ALL MY GRADES! No more red pen until September! No more entering grades into the computer!

Low-Last night I was doing something and it made me realize how much things are going to change in the next 12 days. Thinking back through all the memories and the great times Erin and I've had over the last 3 years brings so many laughs...and tears. It's going to end. We'll still be great friends, but there won't be the 11pm ice cream runs, the themed movie marathons and dinners, the sit around all Saturday and do nothing together just because we can, etc. I was up pretty late-1am and then couldn't get to sleep.

High- This morning is so exciting because it's the LAST MONDAY of the school year! I came to school charged and ready (even though I'm on little sleep). Tonight I'm going out to Bonefish grill with Erin, Jo Anne and Kim. They are forcing me to try good fish. I'm not too excited. ;-) It'll be a fun time together. A last hoorah.

Low/High-Then, I had my end of the year evaluation with the principal and assistant principal. I was up and down with that one- wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it was after school today so I was taken off guard when they came to my room to get me. It went really well-I got mostly 5s! I know there are a ton of areas I need to work on, hence the 4s, but it's a growing thing. They said they are really pleased with what I'm doing and how the things I do don't go unnoticed. I just try to do my part and extra-because I don't have a full classroom so I do have that extra time and less responsibilities in certain areas. I'm thankful that God has given me a servant's heart. It's so easy for me to help and I know it's a gift. Nothing I've done to earn it.

Low- VERY LOW- Eric texted me last night and asked me to pray about a HUGE decision that he has to make. Ok, sure. I'd love to pray. Anything for him. Then today, while I'm teaching a class, he hands me a "Reference Evaluation for Amherst School", and all he says is that we'll talk about it later. WHAT. How can he do that? How can he leave me here with this feeling in the pit of my stomach. How can he hand ME a reference form that will help him get a job at ANOTHER school. I wanted to throw up. I still do. I don't want to fill it out. Anytime I think about it, I get sick. I don't want to talk to him about it. He already knows what I think and what I'm going to say.

How do I be supportive? How do I let ANOTHER best friend go this year?

God, what are You doing?

2010-05-14T23:28:00.000-04:00

Tonight I had a such a good night.

Let me back up to Thursday. At choir/orchestra practice, Alan told me he wanted to talk to me. Fidel and Altagracia Lorenza are here, visiting from the Dominican Republic and are the directors of Operation Christmas Child in the D.R. They come in May to talk to churches and visit with the relay teams that work so hard to collect boxes and to organize distribution. Alan and Heidi went on a distribution trip with OCC and have been totally changed by it. I REALLY want to go on a trip. I'm going to get more involved this year so I might get a chance to go on a trip in the future.
ANYHOW... Alan invited me to a cookout at their house with the team of distributors so I could talk to Altagracia and Fidel a little more. Ya see, Altagracia, who is such an amazing lady, is the principal of a school in D.R.....and I made the "mistake" of telling Alan how much I want to get overseas and teach. I think he's made it his goal to get me on the mission field. He asked me on Thursday, "What do you think about taking a year's sabbatical and going to live with the Lorenzos in DR and we'll make sure your transportation is taken care of and we'll get support going for some spending money." What do I think??????? PACK MY BAGS!

What do I think? I think that it'd be unbelievable. A dream come true. My ultimate dream is to be bilingual and to just let Spanish flow like a river out of my mouth. I'd love to be surrounded by Latinos. I'd love to eat beans and rice and amazing fruit. I think it'd be great to shake my life up a little. I also think that I have a ton of loans. I need more than just spending money-I need loan payment money. I need to be able to continue on things in the U.S. while I'm working out of country. I think that I don't know enough Spanish to survive.

When I got in the house, Fidel asked if my luggage was packed. :-) I talked to Altagracia a lot about the school. K-7 come to school in the AM. 8-12 come in the afternoon. Some classes have up to 37 in them. 37 kids in a classroom!! In a SPANISH speaking classroom where things are falling apart and they need so much. I'm actually laminating things for her so she can use them for years to come. It's so little but it's something. It's something that I and CRCS can give.

I mentioned to Alan about how I'd love to go but I have school loans and how I'd have to make that much a month to be able to go. He told me to figure that amount out and let him know. ? ? ? He then proceeded to tell me that he already has someone who has stepped up to the plate and would be willing to take care of that while I'm gone. WHAT?!?!?!? I was in such disbelief that I didn't know what to say. I just kinda laughed it off and he reassured me how serious he was. Someone wants to pay my loans while I go overseas. How unreal. How amazing. How....wow. He said he'd talk to Pastor about making sure I'd get my job back if I left for a year to do this and how he's already planting that seed. He's determined to get my train rolling. He also said he didn't want me to get married yet because then I wouldn't be free to do everything he wants to see me do.

Lord, you are in control. You are blowing my mind right now. I need to be intentional with my life to make this happen. Please open the doors and make me trust enough to go through so I don't have regrets and so I don't miss out on Your amazing blessings and work that I can do for You.

Viva Republica Dominicana!

Goulash, hodgepodge, mix-match

2010-05-11T23:11:00.004-04:00

I feel like there's such a load of things that I want to write. I feel like I could just write forever. And yet, I don't know where to start.

Some of the things I want to write about aren't really things that I should write about here. I should save it all for the journal. Other things are just stupid and no one wants to know about them. So I won't write those either. Here are a few snippets I will include.

Cherisea Lenea Janica Forrest Riley came for a LONG weekend and I loved every minute of it. She helped at school, got toasted at Field Day, endured a crush by an 8th grader and survived a volleyball bowling party. She came and ran a 5K in D.C. I'm so proud of her. If she doesn't get into the grad school, she might just move here. She loved it. I would love it. I hated watching her leave.

We had an amazing volleyball sleepover. I love those girls and can't wait for the season to start again.

Soccer season is over. I was titled the "assistant coach" but really, I drove the van and cheered for the girls like crazy. And...I kept Eric in line. I loved it.

School's coming to an end! 22 school days! 13 or so for the 8th grade. I can't believe it.

News on the move- I'm doing it! I told the mom, Bitsy, that I'll be moving in the basement of their house and she's excited. Cathy and Caleb think it's cool too. Caleb, the 3rd grader, especially. "Where will Ms. Peffer go when we go on vacation?" Bitsy: "Well, she'll be here, or she'll visit her parents." C: "She could come with us!"
Yesterday when I saw him for the first time knowing, he checks in at extended care and says, "Hello Spanish teacher who's going to live in my basement..." and walks away. Walks away to a classmate and converses for a little bit. The classmate looks back and forth from me to Caleb. He then walks over to me and asks "Is it true? Are you moving in with Caleb?" "Ummm...yes." "Why? You don't have a house?" "Well, Ms. Craig is moving so I need a place to stay." "Oh. I thought Caleb was lying." "Nope. It's true." Then Caleb proceeds to tell about 3 or 4 other kids. All I can do is laugh. It's going to be awkward for awhile.

As Caleb walks into my classroom today, he says, "Can I call you Roomie?" :-() uhhhhh..... "No! Not yet.." (I should have said, um, never.) He is also telling all the teachers that I'm going to bring him to school. We'll watch the novelty wear off when I'm the one yelling up the stairs, "5 seconds and the car's leaving!!!"

I think it's going to be a good thing. A great thing for both of us.

I think that's all the rambling I'll tonight. Gotta get in the Word. Things to pray about. Way past bedtime.

A smile and a great laugh

2010-04-18T00:04:00.001-04:00

I just got done with having a great laugh. Not a laugh that last for hours or one that could be heard for miles, but one that was the total all of my feeling inside.
I'm happy. tickled pink. overjoyed. touched.

See, there's this guy that I've been talking to for over a year now. We've had the talk about "what's going on here" and he's declared that he and God have talked, and they've decided that we're just to be friends.

Ok, sure. That's fine. I'm going to keep talking to him, build the friendship and see what happens.

He's an EMT and one time I accidentally called the ambulance, 'Blance. So, I'm trying to get the nickname to stick. I told him that if he used it, everyone else would catch on.

Well, today I got a message on my wall that said, "Check out my status. You'd be proud!"

So, I did.

Which was followed by that laugh I was talking about. It said, "Livin' the dream today! Otherwise known as working on the 'blance!

Yessssss!

I'm still smiling.

On the Up and Up!

2010-03-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile...but I haven't been in that funk that WHOLE time. Things are getting better...

I've decided that there's no use for me to sit and sulk about us not going to Peru. I was and still am really disappointed. I ache to see those kids again and to revisit the places I made memories the first time. But I know that the kids wouldn't be as excited as I think they should be and different people would be there and it just wouldn't be the same.

I got a text from Paul asking me if I wanted my name on the list for Dominican Republic. Ummmmm...um......SIGN ME UP! [........send] So, here I go! I'm on the list for the DR! I'm going to an ISLAND!!! Where they speak Spanish! I'll get another stamp in my passport! And, I'll be traveling with some of the most amazing people ever. Some suggested I go to Peru by myself. But 3/4 of the trip I was looking forward to was the people I'd be going with. I love ministering with these people-Amy, Seth, Aaron, Paul, Lillian (oh I hope!) Chris, and other people that I just can't remember. I wish the bros were goin'. That's kinda a bummer. A really big bummer.

I got my day off on Wed so Amy and I hit the city! We did a TON of things in one day. Check out the facebook page for pictures of us with famous (wax) people! I loved having her here. It's not fair that my sister lives so far away. She should probably come visit again. We had some great talks. Wish I wasn't so busy with work that we could have talked more. Sisters need gab time! Sisters need "dig deep into the heart" time. Didn't get deep enough in my opinion, but maybe next time... :-)

Spring Break is coming up soon! That makes ANY one feel like things are on the up and up! Erin and I might be heading to CANADA! (the Olympics inspired us!) Well, to Niagara Falls, Canadian style. If you ask any Canadian, Niagara Falls really isn't Canada. We'll see what happens! It might just be all week at home, which is totally fine with me.

Back to life...and I gotta write an email.... ;-)

A Handful of Let Downs, Anyone?

2010-02-23T21:48:00.001-05:00

If I could be a color, it might just be blue.

This last couple of weeks have been a series of letdowns. Bummers. Things that haven't made me very happy. Made me quite sad, actually. To the point of tears. Aches. Disappointment.

For the past year, we've been talking about our next international missions trip-to the land of my heart-Peru. It's been 4 years since I've been there. It's been talked about, and we've been hoping and planning and dreaming about this trip. I told my kids we were coming. And now we aren't going. I know the great people in charge are being responsible and did so much research and know what they're doing. But that doesn't help the ache. It doesn't help the letdown. It doesn't help me get back to my kids. And friends. And the passion that's burning in my heart to go back. Instead of Peru they are planning a trip to Dominican Republic. Cool. Great. Fun! Get to work and serve God! I love it! I'm glad they aren't just giving up and not doing anything.

But it's not Peru.

So I was thinking, Hey! Let's drive with Erin to California when she moves! How amazing would THAT be to drive across country this summer! A dream coming true. A great way to end our time together. A kinda longtime farewell to a great friend and an amazing 3 year time together as best friends.

Nope. No trip. We talked about it as if it's a possibility. Like it would work. And I think that's what has me most bummed. If you aren't sure it's possible, then don't act as if it's going to be a for sure thing. Don't get my hopes up and then shoot them down. Talk about it as if it might work, and then confirm. Not the other way around. So yep. Not doing THAT this summer.

Today I put in a request for a day off when Amy comes on her Spring Break. WOOHOOOOO. I can't wait until she gets here. It'll be some much needed sister time. But when I was in the office, the secretaries were giving me a hard time about other people taking off that day and they didn't know if they could get a sub. IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM! Hire more subs!!! I have personal days, so I'm going to use them. Don't make ME feel bad about asking for time off. DON'T put that guilt on me!

Ugh.

Anything else want to be a bummer for me? I wonder what else will disappoint me. What else WON'T happen? What else will rob me of joy?

One liners from the Classroom

2010-02-17T16:19:00.001-05:00

3rd Grade boy: "Ms. Craig, today's Ash Wednesday."
"What are you giving up?"
"My brother."

1st Grade fashionista: "Ms. Señorita Peffer, I love the ribbon in your hair. You always wear matching stuff. Everytime before I come to Spanish class, I stop and think, 'I wonder what Ms.Señorita Peffer is wearing today!"
"You do not!"
"Yes, I do!"
"You're unbelievable."

8th Grade class: "Ms. Peffer, why were you mad at us the other day?"
Me: "Oh, you remember that huh? That was before the snowstorm. That was a long time ago."
"Yah, but you wouldn't let the sub give us candy. She had candy for us!"
(everyone always remembers when they're denied candy, but NO one remembers the homework assignment)

Kindergartner: "Woah Ms. Peffer. Your sweater looks SOFT!!! (proceeds to feel my sweater...across my chest)
"WOAH!" and grab his hand and guide him into the classroom.

Kindergartner, greeting me as he's walking into the middle school for computer: "Hi Sweetie!!"

8th Grade
Me: "Mickey, you're suppose to be working. The answers are in your book. Why isn't your book open?"
Mickey: "I have x-ray vision."
Me: "Ummmmmmmmm..........I hope not......(as I almost felt the need to cover myself)
Mickey: "Uhh...uhh.... NO! Ms. Peffer! For my book, only for my book..."
Me: "Man, you're turning red!"
Mickey: "tsk...I can't turn red, I'm black!"
His best friend: "yah...you're red man...."
Girl: "Who knows what ELSE he'd do with it..."

Me: "man, Sarah's been absent for a long time. I wonder if she's boycotting school."
Mickey: "I'd get in so much trouble for tryi.....
Me: " Mickey! NO! She's not really...
Gillian: "Oh my word. She's probably sick. Come on Mickey!"

And the best of today....
I've sent the 8th grade back to the middle school while I grabbed my computer and jacket. RIGHT as I step outside, I see the 8th grader who always gets caught pick up a clump of snow.

I yell across the parking lot, "Feker, 1 DEMERIT!!!"
And to myself, " Yesssss! Thank you Lord!"

Interesting Proposition

2010-02-15T21:33:00.000-05:00

So today I was approached by a mom/friend/volleyball assistant with a proposition.

An offer.

She started off by saying, I don't even know why I'm telling you this, or why I'm even bringing this up, but it's been on my heart and I need to say this. I won't bring it up again unless you bring it up, so here it goes.

"I have a finished basement that I'm not really using. I know you need a place to stay in June for the next year. It would benefit me immensely. I wouldn't charge you rent, but what I would ask is that you take my son (9) and daughter (13) to school everyday (my school). That way I could earn overtime for time off. I could collect at least 4 weeks of leave time if you did that all year. And that's the world to me."

---did you catch that?

I WOULDN'T CHARGE YOU RENT.

Is this a dream come true?? Is this God's way of providing for me to be able to pay my loans off quicker so I can get to the mission field? I would be saving $533 a month. That's over $6,000 I could save and put it on my loans. WHAT?!??!!

It means that I would have to condense and sell things or put things in storage (or in my parents house.... :-) because right now, my stuff can furnish a HOUSE. There's a ton of stuff I have that I don't need anyhow. It means living further away from school, but not any further than before. I'd be living with a single divorced mother and her two great kids who I've known and taught for the past 2 years. Her daughter is me when I was her age. I've had the desire to mentor her since I met her. This could be such a positive in her life. And in mine.

And I'd have a place to go without needing to look. Do you understand that peace that I'd love to have? I'd be able to move stuff gradually if I wanted to. I could travel across the country with Erin as she moves to California before the end of June. How amazing would THAT be? Such a crazy thing! Something I've always wanted to do!!!! We'd cover 13 states-7 states that I've never been to! WOAHH!

We'd have to set boundaries and all that. Obviously. I'd have to figure out how I'd fit with a family of 3. A single divorced mother and her two great kids. Not a 26 yr old's dream life, or normal life, but there's not really that's normal about me and my life.

Ahhhhh!!!! Erin pointed out that God has provided us BOTH with a free living possibility. We thought we were left devastated and now we have this.

Stay tuned....

The right thing at the wrong time...is still wrong.

2010-02-10T23:21:00.000-05:00

I had it all planned.

I was going to leave this school, move with Erin to Indianapolis, get an amazing job, be 2 hours from Rach, find myself a cowboy and life would be grand.

And then, I asked God what He thought I should do. His plan was different than my plan. Go figure.

Let's back up a little. Erin and her parents spent Christmas break looking for houses that her parents could buy, we'd pay rent, and move to Indiana. Cost of living is less, guys in Indiana want to get married, and we'd be out of the fast paced city life we have now. They found great houses and put offers in. All the offers fell through.

I was telling people about my move and the first question would be,
"oh so you have a job there?"
"well, no...."
"So you're going without having a job?"
"Well, in the teaching world, the window is really small, and the jobs aren't available right now."
"ohh....hmmmm"
I didn't care what they were saying. I was still going to move. I didn't forget what they said, I just kept on going.

And then every day on the middle school news channel, they were reporting about the unemployment rate and how the lines are so long and high schoolers can't get high school jobs because middle class workers were taking the jobs at McDonald's.

Then we got our intent forms in our boxes. Ughhh. The dreaded intent forms. I was still undecided. Erin's sure she's to go. I was going along with her. I mean, there are things that I could SURELY do without, but there were things that were tugging at my heart. Things that I didn't know if I could let go.

Jo Anne (elementary admin) pulled me into her room to talk to me about my intent form. She told me she hadn't feltl the need to talk to anyone in the last 3 yrs about their intent but she wanted to talk to me. She really didn't want me to leave. I have felt, before then, that if I was to leave that I would be easily replaced, that I was invaluable. She took the time to tell me my strengths and about the ministry and impact she saw that I have and have had with the students. She didn't think my ministry was done here yet. I told her all the things that I dreaded leaving-
(1) the 7th graders whom I LOVE and would have them in History (who were my 5th graders the first year here)
(2) the volleyball team which I treasure. We have to defend our championship!
(3) the chance that I have to teach Spanish. I'd never really get that anywhere else. I'm not bilingual. I just LOVE the language and I love to pass the love onto the children. And they are loving it. And learning it. I even have one kid telling his mom, "I love Mondays. I get to see Senorita Peffer 2 times on Monday."
(4) Being involved with the Middle Schoolers and working with the staff there.

I'm crying and she's says to me, "Abby, you can stay. You realize that? You can stay."

A HUGE weight was lifted off my shoulders. I can stay. I could stay.

Then I went into Eric's empty office and bawled my eyes out. And then, only then, did I decide to ask God what He wanted me to do. I was afraid to ask Him because I knew His answer and I didn't want His answer. I don't want to leave Erin. I don't want to have a best friend leave and I have to stay.

I turned my intent form in----with a check on yes, I'm staying.

I then had to tell Erin. OH.MY.WORD. That was NOT fun. God gave me the words, let her show me the grace I needed and after a couple of awkward days we talked it out and life is good.

Snow Days, PLURAL!

2010-02-10T22:24:00.000-05:00

So I've just made history. Okay, well I didn't make history, but I lived through history! Virginia hasn't had this much snow in over 100 years. Getting snow like this is unheard of. I haven't been to school since Thursday of last week. LAST week. We've had 5 snow days in a row and Friday looks iffy. We are to have our Black History Celebration on Friday, so it really just depends if Mr. Jones wants to deal with the wrath of the parent who has planned this whole celebration.

It's been a continual aloud declaration of "we don't have school tomorrow!" to help us realize how crazy this whole thing is. Now I'm not surprised with the phone chain call to tell us about tomorrow's cancellation. My body TOTALLY knows how much snow is outside. I've been shoveling all week. Erin even went out on her roof and cleaned it off so it wouldn't collapse. Nice of the landlady to tell us to check...but didn't give us a method of fixing it.

The snow is absolutely breathtaking. the view is amazing. The layers of snow are unbelievable. The crystals are sparkling under the light of the moon.

I've enjoyed movies, cleaned my room, read an entire book, painted my toenails (blue and orange to boot!), went to the mall in between the dumpings of snow because cabin fever is REALLY grabbing us, gotten a lot of sleep and have played a little Wii. I'm actually disappointed in our Wii playing. Granted, I don't have a teenage boy living here, so it's understandable, but I really need to get my money's worth with my new toy!

Now we have school scheduled for Presidents Day which is totally fine with me. It'll make planning a lot easier.

Friday night Erin and I are going over to friends house to celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. I love watching iceskating! Kristi Yamaguichi is my hero! Yah, I know, she's not skating anymore, but I still adore her and loved watching her when I was little. Now all the girls who are skating seem sooooo little! Let's see what happens in Canada! Go Team USA!

SNOW DAY!

2010-02-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

This snow storm has been named Epic. The maps show it as a paralyzing storm. We are predicted to get the minimum of 16 inches and probably closer to 24. All the schools were cancelling yesterday and there wasn't a snowflake in the air! We were bugging Harold about cancelling school and he was being so goofy about it. We've already had a day with no morning extended care (YAY!) and a 2 hr delay on Wed. It's been a nice week! Harold finally cancelled and we knew by 630pm Thursday. It's so nice that we knew before 5am. The snow has been falling since 10 am and starting sticking around 4pm. Erin and I decided we needed to go outside and get shoveling. Last blizzard, right before Christmas, we didn't shovel until it stopped and we TOTALLY regretted it. So, we headed out to attack the snow. I got an AMAZING snow shovel from dad for Christmas and it's the best gift I got. 2 hours and a snowman later, it still looked like we hadn't done a thing. We could have just stayed out there all night without stopping and the driveway would never be clear. It's unbelievable! It's coming down at like 2 to 3 inches an hour. The snow plows have not stopped clearing the roads.

Our cars have mo-hawks. Our snowman is super cute. AND he's wearing huge sunglasses. I don't have pictures, but I will soon. The snow turned into a sleety type and it was hurting so we came in. We are thawing out and enjoying the ambiance of candles and overstuffed blankets.

I think we are heading back out to shovel. AGAIN. We looked out and it looks like we didn't do A THING! Where's the boyfriend when we need him??

I'm pretty sure that we've had more snow than PA. :-)

I Keep Tearing Up...

2010-01-14T11:59:00.000-05:00

All through the morning I have been tearing up.

And it's all about the same thing-We need to do something for Haiti. Yes, many countries have things go wrong and I haven't felt so compelled as I have now to do something. The tsunami was bad, but it didn't call me to action. It didn't hurt my heart as much as it should/could have. But this one, this one is getting me.

I just read Kristin's blog about my youth group at home. They raised $1200 in one night of youth group. Unbelievable. Tears.

One of my 8th grade students is from Haiti. His brother is in 6th grade and his sister is in my 1st grade Spanish class. They got a call from the grandparents yesterday and reported that they were okay, but he hasn't heard from any other family members that are there. Cousins, Aunts and Uncles, are somewhere in the country of Haiti.

To be so far away and be in that constant fear is unreal. Tears.

We need to do something. God's timing is perfect because we had a chapel message yesterday about "taking the shot". About how a 9 year old kid decided to take a shot, actually, 2,057 freethrow shots, to raise money to support 8 World Vision kids for 2 years. He was 9. HE didn't make all of those shots. But it wasn't about making the shot. It was about taking the shot. Tears.

All of the kids in my school heard this message and they are pumped. They want to do something.

And now we have something to do it for. We can't let the fire die but we have to figure out what to do. What will work? What can elementary kids do? 3rd graders were brainstorming-what can I do well? What do I have a passion for? They want to be sponsored for how many pages they read, or how many baskets they can make, or tackles or whatever else they can think of.

Please be in prayer, first of all, for the Adriens. And for everyone else in Haiti.

2nd, please pray that we figure out the best way to do something. Anything.

You know it's almost time for break when...

2009-12-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

This morning, I welled up with tears because someone stole 2 cans of pop from an unopened box in the stairwell.

I threw a mini tantrum when the copier was being stupid and threw the piece of paper on the ground in the hallway when Kristin said she wouldn't help me (only as a joke)

My head hurts so badly because of the weather change and the onset of a big snow storm. Which, of course, isn't coming on a school day, but the weekend.

There isn't a trashbag in my garbage can for the 2nd day in a row.

I just need to get home.

A Prayer for my Husband

2009-11-16T21:35:00.002-05:00

Dear Lord,
I beg You, please protect my husband. I don't know who he is, but I know You do. I know that You have hand-picked him for me and are just waiting for the most amazing moment to let me in on the secret.
Protect him Lord-from all the things that would pull him away from You. Protect him from bad choices in simple things like music and movies and the use of his time, to BIG things, like girls that pass him by and the glances he wants to steal and dwell on, to thoughts, to running to someone else for love.

Keep him pure, Lord. Keep him pure. Keep his mind on things above and not on the things around him. Do not allow him to give into temptations. Keep them ONLY as temptations if he has to be attacked by them. Stay by his side when he is weak. Keep him standing strong when he wants to sit or lay. Bring people into his life that will be an accountability partner for him. Someone he can run to when things are so hard and when things don't make sense. Help him to be honest and humble when he messes up so that his relationship with You will be repaired and restored.

When we have fights or are just not communicating well, please help us talk through things, not bury them until we do stupid stuff. Stupid things to get back at each other for a small hurt.

Lord, help me to help him. Create in me now the ability to be a stronghold and a helpmate for him. Help me to put myself last. Help me to be aware of what's going on and be able to talk to him about everything.

All around us Lord, people are falling. Believers are being pulled away by sin. Pastors are falling, people who we would never suspect. We are not free. We are not safe. Please Lord, mold and guide us each individually in our lives now before you bring us together.

Please protect and hold my husband close.

~Amen.~

Addition

2009-11-15T22:50:00.002-05:00

Another thing that makes me happy.....

Luke. The guy on Gilmore Girls? The man of my dreams? He makes me happy.

Things that make me happy

2009-11-14T14:48:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I've sat down and recorded things that make me happy. Things that put a smile on my face. We have been reminded in Sunday school while studying James, happiness is different than joy. Happiness depends on our circumstances. External things that happen to us. Joy is internal. Joy is not dependent on our mood or circumstances. It is deep down. It is how we feel in the midst of trial. It's often not temperamental.

Right now I'm going to focus on the things that make me happy. External things. I'll touch on joy in a little bit (or in another post....) This needs to be done to bring perspective to life and to realize life isn't as hard or as horrible or as bad or as draining as it seems to be each day of the week. Saturdays are a good day to think about things that make you happy. What makes you happy? Take the time to write it down. I dare you.

1. Pictures of my nephew, either experiencing what a pumpkin is, crawling across the floor, or recovering from his black eye. Or almost eating a leaf. :-)
2. Hugs from children
3. Inside jokes with my volleyball girls. Middle schoolers NEVER let things go.
4. My mom writing on my wall on facebook
5. Scooby Doo macaroni and cheese
6. Internet at my actual HOUSE
7. Peppermint javachip frap lite with whip from Starbucks
8. A clean house
9. Food in my cupboard
10. The light from a candle
11. A male middleschool basketball player being amazed at my bball skills.
12. My students talking to me in Spanish
13. Singing at the top of my lungs to country music in harmony with Erin
14. Winning the championship volleyball game
15. iTunes and iPod touch
16. Sleeping in
17. Crayons
18. Inside jokes
19. Hulu.com
20. Pumpkin ice cream
21. The other day I said something about NOT being a history teacher. The teacher whose room I share and who sits in while I'm teaching says to me, No. You ARE a history teacher. You are.
22. When I say something funny in History class and the kids actually laugh instead of rolling their eyes.
23. When I get compliments from my 4th-8th grade students about my hair or my clothes.
24. Making kids feel special

There are so many more things that I could write, but I'm going to stop and let you think of things that make you happy. :-)

Blogspot, what??

2009-11-05T15:05:00.003-05:00

Do I even HAVE a blog???

Do I even have any readers anymore???

I wouldn't be surprised if everyone left to go find other stuff to read....it's been THAT long.

The last time I blogged it was our first volleyball victory. As of last Thursday, our season is over. Can you see where my time has been spent?

All this to say, I'm still alive! Kristin thought SHE was behind. Hah! I got her beat! But, really, Em is the one that beats us all :-)

I better get.....I have detention...... :-(

VICTORY!

2009-09-15T21:59:00.003-04:00

The first victory of the day was when it only took 7-10 mins to get the net up. Yep. That's it. And it was high enough and it was taut and perfect. Such a weight lifted off of my shoulders!!! I called out HALLELUJAH and Praise THE LORD! when it was right and Eric asked me if I was holding a church service in the gym. I was THAT excited. There is no way to describe the everlasting frustration we have had with this net. This was such a relief!

We won! We won!!! In our first game, the girls were doing well but flubbing up here and there. 2nd game we lost. They got points because we messed up, not because they were that good. The 3rd game was won by an amazing 6th grade server! We were down by 6 and she won the game for us! The girls were so pumped and very proud. We talked about mistakes and I hope/KNOW it'll be better next time. Game 2 on Thursday!

Please pray for me. Tonight I picked up my bible that I left downstairs from our bible study last night and Erin said,

"So, what are you learning/what is God teaching you this week?"
Me: "nothing."
Erin: "because you haven't been in the Word or you have been but you aren't learning anything?"
Me: "Nothing. I'm not in it. All I do is eat, work, volleyball and sleep. That's my life cycle right now."

AGH!!!!!!! I hate it. I hate the life cycle. I hate having to choose sleep or Jesus. I'm not strong enough or disciplined enough to pick Jesus all the time. I need desire and discipline. I need Jesus. Everyday. I know that. I can tell in my life that I need Him. I can also tell that I haven't been in the Word. Everything is easier to do or not do when the rules aren't read. It's easy to not play the game right and claim ignorance. So, if you think of it, pray for me.

I need it.

We've survived

2009-09-10T22:25:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is Friday!!! I should be in bed (well, I am IN bed, but not sleeping, hence the blog) but I'm not tired yet. I've had a full day, from waking up at 5:15 and getting home at 9:30 this evening, but I'm still not mentally ready for bed. So, here I am, catching up on life.

Last Monday was the start of a new school year. I'm FINALLY a 2nd year teacher!!!!!! This is my 4th year teaching and only my first time teaching something again! It's Elementary Spanish and Lower Elementary computer and 8th Grade History--a lot of hats but they are hats that I've worn before so I know their fit. Of course, they aren't molded to my head, but I don't feel like I'm seeing the hat for the first time in the store. I know I like it and it'll be okay.

The first week of school was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long. You know how it feels the week before Christmas vacation? Well, it was longer than that. I was emotionally and physically drained and just wanted to be back on summer break. I wished I could have gotten on a plane and headed back to California..... my class looks about the same (YAY!! I can actually REUSE bulletinboard sets!!!!!) and my ideas are about the same.

It feels like I can't really get going in my Spanish classes. It feels like we are in 1st gear without the foot on the gas. Next week I'm pushing it along and getting into the meat of stuff. And yes, that means worksheet, worksheet, worksheet! It's hard to assess and show parents what you're learning without them. The horrible cycle.

The volleyball season is going great so far!! We started 2 weeks before school started and I feel so much more confident in the girls this year. We are so much further along in our practices and skills than last year. Again, I actually know what I'm doing this time! Our first game is on Tuesday and the next one is on Thursday-both home. It's great to start off the season at home. We have worked for WEEKS on trying to improve the net situation and have ordered two different nets and still have to use ratchet straps---it's such a mess! But, I think it's finally great. It's the right height and it's taut and ahhhh....wonderful! Right now I'm in the position of picking captains. I had my mind made up but because of recent attitudes, rudeness and selfish actions, I'm really rethinking my decision. It's really going to rock the world of the only 8th grader on the team if she's not chosen captain. We think it might be the best thing for her. It'll be painful and I'll have to deal with a very hurt and mopey 13yr old, but a life lesson isn't always easy. I need to put my emotions aside and just make the decision. The harder part is picking the other girl to replace her. I've been told it's only middle school. It's only middle school. When we look back on life, we think of high school. I lose that perspective because I get lost in the whole thing because I don't limit it. I don't think "well, it's only middle school so we can only hit it back and forth, never 3 hits or we can only reach this far or master these skills". It's VOLLEYBALL. A level isn't attached with it. Last year I didn't expect enough out of them. So I DO need to think through this decision and not take it lightly. Yeah, it's only middle school. BUT, to me-it's the world.

Alright, I'm finally sleepy and think I can get to sleep now. Doing morning extended care and needing to be at school at 6:40 each morning really takes a toll on ya. My body is still in summer mode.

P.S. I'm sleeping with my window open. LOVING IT. :-)

The Summer Adventure of a LIfetime

2009-08-21T09:06:00.002-04:00

(Hi Uncle Tim!)

I don't even know where to start! I had to look at the last blog (July 4th...I know!!) and find out where I left off. It was right before my summer adventure began. I have to weed through everything to figure out what you'd actually care to read.

Missions Trip-We had a lot of fun learning and serving and being stretched. Check out our blog to find out more about it!

Trip to Michigan-road trip was a blast with Jessie, Erin and Eric in the car, playing "Brown Truck" and Fed Exing people. We jammed to some music (of course, not country because they wouldn't let me play that). Wendy and Kenton's wedding was amazing. During one of the special musics, Wendy looked around at everyone who was there and took in all the love we wanted her to feel. I'm really glad we went! She was beautiful and he was rockin' the tux. I also got to spend time with Cherise, a dear friend from college.

Indiana- Ohhhhh, Indiana. I went to hang out with Rach and her new little baby. In a matter of the 10 days I was there, she ended up having such bad back/leg pain that we got her a special ride in an ambulance to the ER, where she was then scheduled for back surgery that next day. It was the most trying time of my life so far. I don't think I've ever cried so much. Leona, the 1 month old, was the easy one to take care of. We had friends bringing meals, to watch Rachael and Leona for 2 hours so Ben and I could both take a nap, and Rach's mom came for more help. I was up with Leona for her feedings or I was helping Ben with Rachael, or whatever else needed done. I don't want to do it again but I don't regret being there. Rach was so apologetic about this not being what she had planned, and we were suppose to have fun, etc. I told her that if God hadn't of planned this, I would have gotten myself there anyhow. God really taught me a lot that week. The surgery helped so much (she had a herniated disk) that by the time I left, it was as if the week of Hell didn't even happen. It was like we woke of from a nightmare and things were fine. I WILL be back to Indiana to visit them again, this time, no surgeries!

Camping- I LOVE CAMPING!!!!! It was so fun to just enjoy family and friends and fires. We went tubing MANY times and biked and played frisbee. Ahhhhhh...mazing. I'm going again over Columbus Day weekend! Can't wait!

Moving- I moved! Now I'm 4 minutes from school instead of 20, and am living with Erin! The fam came down to help on a very hot day. It was a lot of work. SO was cleaning the WHOLE dumb townhouse. Ugh. It's so fun to be moved because now we can both be home but be hanging out together! Meal planning and grading are going to be so much more fun---I mean, bearable!

California- Wow. I did it all. As soon as Erin and her fam picked me up from the airport, off we went to In-N-Out burger which was so good! We drove from San Fran to Los Angeles and the stars on the sidewalk, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Blvd, chasing the Hollywood sign up windey streets for a good picture, posing by Dear Abby's star, Kodak Theatre, Phillipe's French Dipped Sandwiches. Then to San Diego where we played in the Pacific Ocean, explored the San Diego Zoo and went to Seaport Village. We hung out with her grandparents and family a lot, which was really cool. Then the 8 hr drive back up to San Fran (which isn't very pretty. It's all dirt!) where I experienced the Winchester Mystery House, and then drove into the city to see trolley cars, walk on the Golden Gate Bridge and eat a Ghiradelli hot fudge sundae. We ALSO found the house from Full House!!! That was an extra bonus. :-) Erin's family was sooo amazing and giving and so fun!

Are you tired?? I am! It was such an amazing summer. I LOVE being a teacher for 3 reasons- June, July and August. For any teacher to WANT to go back to school, there NEEDS to be that break.

Volleyball has started and I'm so stoked about the season. I lost 9 of my 19 girls to graduation or moving, so it's a rebuilding year. The 5th graders......need work. But, that's why they are there! We've had 3 days of practice and last night we tried to play a game. Well....tried is about all that happened. Serving comes tonight!

Anyone still reading?? Erin and I have a lunch date with Wendy today when we REALLY get to find out about how life is and how the honeymoon was and just enjoy each other. We have to do it before school starts because once Monday comes, there is nothing else happening in our lives but school.

SO, what I'm saying is, it'll be a little bit before another blog comes out. Sorry! Pray for me as we start the school year. I GET TO TEACH SOMETHING THAT I TAUGHT BEFORE!!! This has NEVER HAPPENED in my 4 years of teaching! Elementary Spanish, Lower Elementary computer and 8th grade history.

WOooooooooo...............

Tomorrow...it starts!!!!

2009-07-04T23:12:00.002-04:00

My whirlwind road trip starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

Start at Portersville Bible Church at 9AM to load up and leave with PBC teens and adults to caravan down to Manassas, VA. 10 of us are going! We will be blogging about our trip and hope you check out our God moments, our blessings and our hardships. Our group will partner with local churches, service agencies, and homeowners. And over the four days, our help will bolster the efforts of the ongoing work in these communities. We’ll learn new skills, serve in important roles, and have loads of fun as we: help people with projects in their home...assist the elderly…tutor struggling kids…conduct a backyard Bible club…serve at a food bank…staff an activities camp for disabled children…spruce up the grounds of a financially strapped social service agency…engage children at a day camp…and improve the community in other important ways.

July 9th Then I leave the trip early with Heather O. from PBC, and Jessie and Eric (fellow teachers and friends!!!!) and head back to PA to make a pit stop at Grand Central Station (aka my parents' house) and switch bags and head to Ohio to pick up Erin and then up to Michigan we go for Kenwentondy's WEDDING!! It's going to be so great to see them all again and to see people I haven't seen for awhile. It'll be pretty cool to see who else Wendy and Kenton know that I know. AND, I get to see ALLLLL the Rileys. That's a bonus in and of itself! Cherise-I can't wait, girl!

After partying like it's 1999 and a good night's sleep, Cherise, Erin and I are heading over to Chicago to enjoy and explore the windy city! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!! It's Erin's favorite city, so I'm expecting the time of my life!

July 12-23 Down to Indiana to visit Rach and her new little baby Leona!!! I have known about little Leona since Rach took the pregnancy test. It has been such a LONG pregnancy and I have been counting down the days (literally!) until I get to see her again. I hope to help her a ton.

July 23-25 Head back to PA to go camping with the fam and my adopted families :-) the last weekend of July. I heart camping and campfires and smores!!!

July 26-July 31-Then back to VA to pack up and move houses--I'm moving in with ERIN!!! I'm so excited to start this new part of my life, have a new place, live closer to school AND not have to travel home after hanging out with Erin. That's going to be the best part. A sleepover EVERY NIGHT! :-)

(I know, you're getting tired, but it's only up to August 1!)

Aug 1-3 Then to Wellsboro PA to hang out with my very bestest, Cori Ann Herrlin, who is back from China! I miss her SOOOO much and can't wait to just "be" with her. I know there are frosties in our future. She won't believe how much they changed!

August 4th-14 I FLY TO CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!! Erin and I are hanging out there with her parents and then driving down to San Diego to celebrate her grandparents 60th anniversary. Then back up to San Francisco, and whatever stops we can make on the way. Hollywood anyone??

August 17th is my first day of volleyball practice for my girls where I will scope out the good ones and find out how my team is going to be this year.

And that's all I'm going to write about. Who wants to talk about school starting???

Please pray for us on our trip!

The Nephew...

2009-06-17T16:59:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting here at my brother's computer, listening to the tune about the "one little duck with the feather in his back, he led the others with a quack quack quack" about 30 times. My darling nephew, 5 months old today, is pulling the cord that makes the song go. He's loving life, bouncing in his chair, making the song play. I'm trying to leave him alone to see if any conversation or "babblefest" will start. He's blowing rasberries, cooing, and all other different noises. He's also creating ANOTHER dirty diaper, so I thought I'd let him finish that process. He's on outfit number 3. I hope I don't wait TOO long to catch this one before the yucky mess. Poor guy's been sick for the last couple of days.

I just can't believe how big he is. 5 months and one day ago, he wasn't in our lives. He wasn't part of our stories, our giggles, our days. He was part of our prayers and hopes and wishes and our love. I'm not just babysitting some kid and getting paid for it. I'm watching my nephew. I'm building into his life. I'm singing him songs about Zaccheus being a wee little man, and about animals on Old McDonald's farm. I'm reading him the bible verses that I'm memorizing. I'm making him giggle, and, oops, cry.

I get to watch him tomorrow and Friday, then 3 days next week. :-) I don't know about the rest of the summer. This might be the biggest chunk of time I get with him this summer.

I think that diaper is done being made. Better get back to my little man.

Welcome back Summer!

2009-06-12T23:41:00.003-04:00

No more grading, no more books!
No more students' bored looks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer....it's been way too long.

I've missed you so much!

I hope we have a great time together, driving with the windows down, with our hands out the window in the wind.

The LAST...........

2009-06-10T13:31:00.002-04:00

...day of classes.
...computer class.
...Spanish class.
...teacher meeting.
...packed lunch.
...putting of chairs down.
...answering RIDICULOUS questions about EVERYTHING under the sun.

It's the LAST.

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Kings Dominion tomorrow. Then it's over.

Laughs at school

2009-05-22T10:27:00.002-04:00

I'm teaching my 3rd graders about masculine and feminine words. Of course, they all think that there are now "girly" words and "boy" words. Only girls can use the girl words, and boys the boy words. It works well with people, all the -a ending words are for females. That makes sense. It gets a little confusing when we switch to objects, and they start to think that only boys can use soap (el jabon) and only girls can sit on a chair (la silla.)

After the lesson, Ben says to me... "I'm really glad that skirt is faldA and not faldO." (because if it was, boys would have to wear skirts.... ;-)

2nd Grade- when the kids are learning or relearning over 200 vocabulary words each year, they get them mixed up. So, I'm trying to give them little word clues to help them remember. I'm giving them little hooks to hang their memories on.

The word for farm is granja. I told them to think of what is grown on a farm (grain) and that would help them remember that farm is granja.

So on Wednesday, I asked 2nd grade, "what is farm in spanish?" and after pondering a bit, a boy replied..."wheatalones?"

Stay tuned for more laughs at school...

You're the God of this City...

2009-04-27T22:49:00.005-04:00

GO and be ye DOERS of the word and NOT hearers only....

You're the God of this City...

2 hours
4 girls, 2 guys
11 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Pretzels
Bananas
Water
Cookies
God's Word

This is all it took for Wendy, Erin, Jessie, Kenton, Eric, and I to make a difference. We put feet to the Gospel. We put God's word into action. We showed love. We put our Bible study of the book of James into practice.

Tonight we traveled into DC to impact the homeless. It was Jessie's desire to see us do this. It was her listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to get us off our duffs and doing something. My love language is serving. I have been hungry for serving for a VERY LONG TIME. I was so excited for this. We didn't want to take over the city. We weren't going to feed the whole capital. We weren't trying to break a record. We were just FINALLY doing something for God. We were finally allowing us to be used by Him in ways that aren't comfortable or natural or effortless.

We were all scared. But we bathed the outing in prayer by holding hands and calling out to Him for strength, words and courage. We asked God to bring people out who needed food and who needed us. We asked Him to use us.

We found people right away in McPhearson Square, a safe park with a lot of benches. We turned a corner, looking for others. It's such a different thing--LOOKING for the homeless. So many times we find them on accident, creating panic and awkwardness, or they find us. I saw one across the way, and thought....well, we'll get him next time, we are already going this way, I won't say anything. God made me speak up and we turned around and stumbled upon at least 6 other people who needed food in that little triangle of benches. Eric and I approached a man who was sleeping. I told him---You give it to him. I'm scared. He looks at me and says, I'm scared. It was good to know he was scared too. Not scared for my life or worried, but just afraid of the unknown. As we were approaching him, this guy from across the way yelled to me, telling me that he'd take some food.

That is when we met Bob Hope and Rick James. They were pretty cool, chatting it up with us, playing along with their stories. Wendy claimed to be Brittany Spears and Kenton was thought to be named Ken, which then prompted the question..."Which one's Barbie?" Jessie waved her hand and then we laughed about Kenton and Wendy's wedding being off, etc. We talked to them for about 7 minutes. Amazing.

We walked past the sleeping guy Eric approached, and he was now up...eating the sack lunch. We actually got to see our food being a blessing to someone else. We planted a seed and it was growing. Immediately. Not the seed of salvation, but the seed of love.

Another guy asked Kenton to pray for him. That was so cool. Wendy was talking to a guy and asked him how she could pray for him. He said...pray for the weather.

The weather.

How many times do I worry about the weather because of what I'm going to WEAR or how my hair is going to react and how many times do I EVER worry about it affecting my way of life? Of it soaking all of my personal belongings? Or ruining the only picture I have of my loved one? Or causing it to be a night of no sleep?

I have a bed. I have clean sheets. I have the safety of 4 walls around me. I have the promise of a full meal tomorrow and a paycheck and love and friends and health.

This has changed our homegroup. We are going to do this every month. It costs very little. It is worth VERY much. We are going to develop relationships with Bob Hope and Rick James. We are going to shine a light. We are going to get off our duffs and DO something for Christ.

Yes. We are busy. We have so much to do. We minister to kids all day and on the weekends.

We need to do this.

YOU need to do this.

How do we teach ..............

2009-04-15T17:34:00.002-04:00

a love and respect for God?

Today I almost cried. Right in front of all of the 8th graders, I almost lost it.

One of the boys in my class took God's name in vain so I said his name, then he corrected himself in a mockish voice--oh, sorry, goodness....goodness.... with a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head. I responded with an "ummmm...." He then said how he didn't think there was anything wrong with it and so he was going to continue to do it and he didn't care.

My blood boiled.

Out of anger I responded, Commandment number 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord GOD in vain.

This prompted a "yah, well, I don't care" and another shake of the head.

My heart broke.

I stood there, looking at my book, trying to think of what to do next. I couldn't decide if I was more angry or heartbrokened. Tears started to form in my eyes as I could just feel the hurt of his words to the ears of my Savior. Of my GOD.

How do I teach them to love? How do I teach them to fall in love? How do I teach them to care?

Back to the Blogging World....

2009-04-13T22:14:00.005-04:00

Apparently, I'm not updating enough....So, here's a hello to Candy and here's your update :-)

Where to begin.....so much has happened. I know what you're saying in your head (well, Abby, if you would blog more often you would know where to start. It wouldn't be so hard to catch up if you weren't so far behind.) True. True. I have school work to do but if I don't write now, I'll be too tired later. (Don't tell my boss. :~)

Home Life-Isabel moved in over the weekend! YAY!! She's definitely a God-send and super sweet. I can't wait to get to know her better. Erin and I started to think and have found a sticky situation for me coming up in the end of summer. I have to move out before July 31 but I can't fully move in to my "new place" until Jessica gets married and moves out- which is August 22. It's going to be hectic trying to figure out where to put my stuff in that house until it can really be set up. I'm going to vent here, so just bare with me and don't judge. It's frustrating too because I feel like that I should get to set up my stuff because I'm the one going to be staying for a year and she's moving out. I don't want to be inconvienced. I don't want to live out of boxes. I want to set everything up when my parents are here and have their help to get settled. I don't want to have to be really moving in the same week of inservice. I don't think she is going to make it very easy either. I think it's going to be a miserable month. I just need to be flexible (which someone says I always am ;-) and unselfish, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL!

School Life- The 4th quarter has begun! Only 9 more weeks of school! Only 6 more weeks for the 8th graders! Standardized tests are the last week of April, so that will be an AMAZING planning and organizing time for me, seeing that I don't teach anything. :-) I have a whole work WEEK. It's the best blessing of being a "specials" teacher. I love Spanish. I'm teaching them about clothing soon! I brought my doll clothes from home so I could have examples. Clothing, verb conjugation, plurals, adjectives, food, vehicles, etc.

As of right now, I'm scheduled to teach Spanish and computers again. The 3rd subject is yet to be determined. That's always dangerous. That contract that states: Abby Peffer is hereby going to be a Teacher at CRCS next year. How binding is that? So indefinite. I'm afraid that I'll be teaching a new class which is dumb because if I'm going to have to learn and prepare something new, then just let me teach History again. I don't love it, but I want to do something two years in a row. I have YET been able to do that and I'll be going on my 4th year of teaching!

Spring Break- YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, really Boooooo because it's over but YAY!!!!!!!!! because it was so amazing. Vickie and Michael came up from FL and had a job interview in MD. Pray that Mike gets this job so they will be so much closer to me! I miss them a ton and would love from them to be 45 mins away (instead of 15 hours!) I saw them in VA before I left for break. I enjoyed Camelot at Slippery Rock. Amy and Andrea were AMAZING. I loved it. I also enjoyed Seussical! presented by Westminster College. It was soo good! I went with Ty, Kari, and Mom. It was the story of Horton hears a Who with songs and dance and an elephant sitting on an egg that a floosy bird didn't want to take care of. She wanted to be free to flirt and dance and party---not take care of her egg. Hmmmm. Interesting, Dr. Seuss.

On Monday I had a date with my mommy and spent a TON of money at the Outlets and ate yummy chinese food (it's a tradition!). I don't think I've ever spent that much money at one time on CLOTHES in my life! But, I saved over half of my total spending, so that's always great to find out, totalling up the receipts and seeing what I saved. Who would ever buy things at full price??!?!?! I'm always in style....just a couple seasons behind :-) And I haven't bought clothes for over a year, so it was time. Tuesday I went and hung out with my nephew. Ahhhh. He just warms my heart. I could just stare at him for hours. Abby (my sis-in-law) was laughing at me jumping up to get him from his nap at his first whimper. He slept more than 45mins past his time to get up. Of COURSE I was anxious to get him! I can't wait to watch him this summer! I wish it was all summer-and it probably could be-but I'm doing other travels. That's another day and another blog entry.

It was just so great to be home. Home is where you can beat up your brothers and finally NOT get in trouble for it but all the while screaming for your mom to help, tease your dad about getting gray and approve his wardrobe choices, and laugh at past goofs with your mom, eat Chinese and create Easter dinner together. Home is where you can pet and sleep with your kitties. Home is where your shower schedule depends on EVERYONE else in the house-and there's a meeting about it (that vicious cycle!) Home is where you can go into your old camper and just listen. the doors. the cabinets. the cubby hole. the drawers. the lightbuld switch. Who ever knew there were so many memories in sounds. Home is where you look around your church family and name every person, and fill in the reasons why they are important in your life. Home is where I get my fill of much needed hugs. Home is where I get to love on the two greatest kids, who ask great questions, who squeal with delight when I chase them around or throw them on sack chair, and say my name in the sweetest way. (well, ONE says my name....we are still workin' on the other one!) and gives me a card with their picture in it.

I love home.

(Blog about Easter at a later date.)

Love Life- BAH! ................. tbdbG. (to be determined by God.)

Social Life- See 'school life'.

SEE!!! This blog is FOREVER LONG! I talk too much and use too much time!! I need to get to sleep. Or do schoolwork.

Ummmmmm......yep. You're right. I choose sleep. ;-)

A series of strange events...

2009-03-11T20:43:00.003-04:00

Today was the most bizarre day, and it all happened in the last hour of the day.

At our school we have extended care. Normal, all day teachers don't work this. Who can tolerate the kids at the end of the day for ANOTHER 3 hours after teaching them all day? These kids want to be home. They know they should be home and they go crazy.

For the last 3 days I have worked with 2nd and 3rd graders in extended care because Danielle has been on Spring Break. It has been interesting and stretching. Definitely not making a career change, but it's been okay.

We were all outside today and in the matter of 5 minutes, 3 children got hurt. One girl ran STRAIGHT into a tree, and in the matter of her coming to us, she had a goose egg the entire width of her forehead and blood coming from her mouth. I ran in to get ice while another teacher ran to get her grandma who works at the church. 1 minute later, a girl is SCREAMING on the foursquare court. We run over and find out a kid "threw a rock in the air and it hit her" right below the eye, and she had a black eye by the time we got there. A teacher ran her into the school and got ice. 2 mins later, I hear kids yelling for a teacher and find a kindergartner down for the count after running into a metal pole when chasing someone. He was fine, but we still had to write an accident report for him. About 5 mins later, another kid gets hit in the face with a foursquare ball that has been kicked. He cries and then gets back into the game. Another kid falls flat on his back from the top of a monkey bar thing. His mom was there, and he jumped back up after laying there for a minute, so we didn't have to really deal with that one.

We all felt like it was a horrible dream. Every time we turned around, someone else was hurt. After the 3rd one, I just couldn't handle it. It was such an out of body experience. They were dropping like flies---literally. I thought it a joke after awhile. I thought they were teasing us.

So, moral of the story-don't let kids play on playgrounds. Make them just sit and they'll be fine.

:-)

Volleyball Party!

2009-02-28T23:38:00.001-05:00

It's so late, and seeing that I'm not feeling well AT ALL, I should be sleeping.

But tonight was so much fun that I just have to write about it.

Just kidding....I'll write tomorrow.....

Maybe they don't love me...

2009-02-27T13:12:00.002-05:00

I don't even understand. I feel like I'm bending over backwards for them. I feel like I'm helping them by discussing things instead of instantly throwing punishment at them. I feel they don't even care.

I feel like giving up.

In the middle school, demerits are thrown around like candy. They are given at every sound, at every talking, at everything that an authority figure thinks is a problem. Therefore, they are useless. The kids who need them have gotten so many they are ineffective. The situations aren't listened to, the kids feel like they aren't heard and are being blamed for the wrong things. Yes, yes. they probably deserved a demerit for something else, yet weren't caught, so this one is legitimate. True, but no excuse to not listen. So, I don't give many demerits. I feel like there has to be something else I can do to them/give them to do, as impact. Or I'm a big idiot, care too much and am too soft, causing the constant commotion in my classroom because of it. I don't know. Who knows. The balance in middle school is SOO hard. They are so annoying yet are growing up. They are so immature but have so many great thoughts. They are hilarious but extremely disrespectful. They love life yet are so self-centered.

They don't care.

I'm trying something new-if the 8th graders do well throughout the week then I'll provide and allow them to chew gum on Friday. Small incentive to get them to at least try or pretend to care. Today was their first time to have it and it didn't go too badly until they started popping bubbles while they were taking tests. I know that I HATED it when people would make noise during a test. It messed my thinking up SO much, so I try to make it silent.

They don't care.

They are all about themselves and no one else. They want EVERYTHING and will work for nothing. They make me SOOOOOOOOOOO MAD! I work so hard at trying to help them. I bring them gum and mints and let them have it during tests and don't give many demerits. AND THEY DON'T CARE. They are still rude, still disrespectful, laugh at EVERYTHING, still sneaky, still SOOO IRRITATING.

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH x 100.

Good thing I have a class coming or tears might start. I can't cry and then teach 1st grade. Too many questions and too many soft hearts that are worried about what's wrong with me.

Praise the Lord it's the weekend.

Kids say....

2009-02-25T22:06:00.004-05:00

3rd Grade:
Me: Don't be so dramatic, it'll be okay.
Girl: Yah, don't be a drag queen.
Me (a very quick correction) Drama. Drama queen.
Girl: Or a king, a drama king.
Me: Right, drama king. (phew!)

Kindergartner: You look neat! (what K kid says neat??)

Me to Kindergartner: I like your Pumas. They are really cool. Can I wear them?
Kindergartner: No, they are too small. They are only in kid shoes. But, I think they sell human sizes at the store too.

I look at a 1st grader while I'm teaching, and he's looking at me cross eyed. I stop, look at him, and wait for him to focus. He snaps out of it when he sees I'm looking at him, as if he's not weird for doing it.

Kindergartner: Ms. Senorita Peffer, are we having our siesta today? I'm soo excited for our siesta!! (um...no, it's a fiesta. But, I'd rather have them all come take a nap. That'd be fine too.)

And her name is.....Isabel!

2009-02-24T21:58:00.002-05:00

So many times we think that God doesn't hear. Or that God doesn't know what He's doing. OR, that He really doesn't know what we are going through. But....He does.

It's been a battle with searching for another roommate. Who in the WORLD needs a place from April until July in Lorton? NO ONE. I posted it on a church site and then, when no one was answering, I put it on Craig's List. (Not my brother....the website.... :) I got some pretty interesting responses. Most people kept saying they wanted to know if they could "send me money in excess" and have me "send the extra on to Mr. Blah blah." Dad, dear ol' dad saved me from scam after scam. What they are doing is sending you a junk cashier's check, waiting for you to send the extra to someone else, and then the cashier's check is no good-you're out of money AND don't have a new roommate.

I had given up, only finding people looking for roommates, not people looking for places to stay and decided that I'm going to have to just endure this trial of paying 230 extra each month.

AND THEN....Isabel emailed.

I thought it was going to be someone else from Craig's List and was disappointed and skpetical from the start. THEN I saw that she got my info from McLean Bible website...and I got a little excited. We emailed back and forth, Wendy and I trying to see if she was a real person.

She's real. We met her tonight. She's probably going to be our new roommate.

WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! She's super cute, solid, has a hold on life (unlike some others...) has friends, has a full time job and loves her family. She loved how big the space is and is so grateful that there's a dresser for her to use. It's the same distance for her from work and the traffic wasn't bad. AND.....AND....she has a pretty nice sized TV. YESSSsssssssssss! We're sold. :-)

I'm going to email her tomorrow and tell her that Wendy and I are 100% go for her to come in April and get a read on how she feels about it. I'll let you know if we need help moving her in! AND if she doesn't like it, we even have another person who is looking for our exact situation and needs to leave in July.

Our neighbor was talking to us, telling us about how many times we think God's timing should be NOW and that it's going to be totally wrong if it isn't--and then bam! He shows us again and again and again that He has it under control. It wasn't past His limit. It wasn't outside of His reach or His will.

Prayer requests-I haven't done this before, I don't think, but here it goes.
Wendy's fiance really needs a job and wisdom on future decisions.
I need to find a place to live in the fall, or 2 more roommates to come live here. There are so many things that are up in the air.

And yet...we need to remember that even though it feels past our limits, God knows. He has other limits.

He knows.

A Night at the Movies

2009-02-06T23:26:00.004-05:00

I don't know if anyone will appreciate this, but I need to write it down for me. Feel free to read over my shoulder.

Tonight was such a fun and funny night. I laughed so much tonight.

Tonight was a girls night out with Erin and Wendy. (Remember, Wendy is my roommate and a 1st grade teacher at school, Erin is my best friend here and a 3rd grade teacher at school) and we decided that we'd go see Pink Panther tonight. Erin made a crack about seeing Mike (our Sunday school teacher/associate pastor) and Cathy, seeing that the last 3 times we've gone to the movies, they are coming in right after us, usually to see the same movie. We are a group of 20somethings and they are 55+. Hilarious.

As we are walking, I saw one of my 8th graders and his sister, which was my 8th grader last year. Then, in the automated ticket line, I see an 8th grader, a 7th grader, three 5th graders and a 2nd grader and a mom. The 2nd and 5th graders are soo pumped to see me. We talk for a little bit and laugh, then they head off to buy snacks.

Dialogue as follows:
8th Grade boy: Ms. Peffer, what are you seeing?
Me: Pink Panther.
8th: Noo!! Really?
8th Grader's mom: Oh yah? So you'll keep an eye on them? ;-)
Me: Nooo! It's after hours. I'm not responsible for any of them.

(I purchase ticket)

Same 8th Grader returns to me: Ms. Peffer, were you serious about seeing Pink Panther?
Me: Yes, see? (show ticket stub)
8th: Man! I gotta tell 7th grade boy! Hey! She is! She's wasn't kidding!

Then I see 6th grader and her dad walk in, laugh and buy tickets, then go back out. Erin goes and gets seats before we are stuck near the kids. I see my favorite 8th grade girl and yell down to her. HEY!!!! She waves with embarrassment. :-) Mission accomplished.

We sit and then 5th graders and 2nd grader come and sit right behind us. I loved it. Their comments and laughs were priceless. They made the movie 3x as funny with their crazy comments.

A guy is lying on the floor and 5th grader asks: what? they aren't even going to help him up?
Me,turning around: S, he's dead!
S: Ohhhhh.......I thought he was asleep!
D: Look at that horrible dress!
J: (missed a line about foreplay, everyone is laughing) What did he say?
I love it when they don't get jokes. It's great.

We are leaving the theater and I see my newest 8th grader and he doesn't look at me, yet he's saw me.
Me: Hey A!
A: DON'T say anything!!!! (he said this in such a way that he was embarrassed but liked it enough to make a joke out of it.)
Me: oh um....so sorry.... and put my hand at the side of my face so he can't see me.

We walk outside and there's a posse of 7th and 8th graders. There's at least 13 of them. They all look and act so funny, giving little weird waves and small comments. We laughed and laughed and walked over to get icecream. About 5 mins later, as our backs are turned to the door, Erin sees the posse coming to the shop. They see us, double over in laughter/agony, point and then refuse to come in because we are in there. Again, we errupt with laughter.

There were so many great things that I gathered from this experience.

I am everyone of those kids' teacher. I knew them all. Wendy and Erin don't know them, but I have some sort of connection with each one of them.
I LOVED seeing how awkward and embarrassed they were as middle schoolers seeing their teacher in public.
I think it's sooo funny that they acted as if we were old and decrepit and it would be weird to see their teachers at a movie theater.
It was a bunch of kids, hanging out together, from the same Christian school. Sometimes kids just endure their Christian school friends until they can hang out with their other friends. This was a good group of kids seeing a decent movie.
They wouldn't DARE eat ice cream at the same place as us, even AFTER we saw them come and then walk away.
I truly do love them. I loved seeing them tonight.
They are going to talk about this for a week. And....some might not ever forget it. :-)

As I replayed all of these events in my head on the way home, I just kept smiling.

I love being a teacher.

The bee is dead.

2009-02-05T14:45:00.001-05:00

They have killed the bee!!!

For the past year and 1/2, there has been a "bee" buzzing in my light in the Spanish classroom. There have been multiple requests to get it fixed and nothing has been done about it. Until today.

This is the routine thing that happens with this light. You turn the light on, it buzzes for about 15 minutes. Then, the light dims a bit, and in 5 mins, because I haven't moved around in the classroom, the light turns off. As soon as I stand up, the light turns on, and the buzzing begins again.

OR, I finally get the buzzing to stop and I have to turn the lights off so my students can see the projector and the powerpoint. Then, I turn the lights back on and BBBBBBZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... how in the world can students think with that?? They couldn't. I couldn't. I would have this sense of HUGE relief when the buzzing would stop.

Today was the day of the killing.

He came in and change the little box in it that was suuuuupppper hot (the balast). There was melted plastic and other stuff that showed him that this should have been changed long ago. It could have been a fire hazard.

So, no more buzzing, no more bee and no more irritation!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!

Baby, it's cold INside...

2009-02-05T14:30:00.002-05:00

Tuesday morning, our maintenance man pops his head into prayer meeting and asks us to pray for the boiler.

The BOILER???

At 7 am, the boiler went kablooey. We had school Tuesday and then we were told to dress warm for Wednesday and he would see how it was Wed. morning and then make the call about what to do next. There is a boiler in the area that we can get, but it takes 3 days to get it and then 5 days to install.

So, Wed. came and went, a little chillier, but not too bad. Then, last night the low was about 15 degrees, leaving the building without heat in cold weather for over 36 hours. This morning it was 56 degrees in our classrooms. And STILL...we had school. There was ice on the INSIDE of my classroom window today. There are space heaters in each room, which constantly trips the breaker. I borrowed Erin's for a little bit and I'm still saving the heat in my room by keeping the door closed. The kids think it's great that they get to wear their coats in the classroom, or wrap up in blankets while learning about David and Goliath. Harold brought around hot chocolate to all of the classes today for an extra special treat.

It's all cute and fun.....but it's cold. And it's going to keep getting colder. And it won't be cute and fun anymore after today. Today's not even very fun. Tomorrow we are having our Black History Celebration with a program and a lunch served to the kids-fried chicken, collard greens, maccaroni and cheese, etc. It's going to be very cold tomorrow. And we will still have school. It won't be cancelled because of the program.

I always wanted to be one of those kids whose school name was on the ticker at the bottom of the news station and beside it said: no heat.

Well. Calvary Road Christian School: No heat. Yes school.

LET'S GO STEELERS!!!!!!

2009-02-01T13:55:00.003-05:00

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

On Friday, we had a Sports Team day as our last day of Spirit Week. I wanted to call all of the Steelers fans to the office so I could get a picture, but it didn't happen. Here are the few that I got!

1st grader Tracey and me.

All of these kids were in ONE kindergarten class!

Maysa, Adam, Julianna and her teddybear, Stephanie and Grant.

Yesterday I got the coolest thing in the mail, too. My mom called me and told me to check the mail. I went out and found a package and then told mom, I KNOW WHAT IT IS!!! It's a Steelers' Tshirt! She told me no, and I was bummed. Then I ripped it open and...YESSS!!! I was right! An AFC Championship Tshirt with Palamalu and Ben. It's beautiful!

But, what's more beautiful is the fact that my parents sent it to me. It made me so happy. I asked mom, as I was opening it if there was a note inside. She said, nope, Dad sent it. You get what you ordered, nothing else. No love. :-) But, it was full of love. Thanks Mom and Dad!

So, I'm all geared up, along with my Steelers football balloon I bought for myself at the grocery store, and I'm off to Taby and Greelpy's to hang out with the homegroup.

GO STEELERS!!!!!!

Snow Day #2

2009-01-29T11:02:00.002-05:00

I didn't think it could even happen. BUT, again, my favorite person called me this morning. (I have now entered her in my phone book as **SNOW DAY!!!*** ) She called earlier this time-5:26. I was still in bed and not the shower. Double bonus. :-) Went over and woke up Wendy again. Again, with the "ARE YOU SERIOUS!??!", a hug, a phone call to the next chain member, and back to bed.

Well...I tried to go back to sleep. My mind was all over, thinking about the joy of another snow day and what we would do. I also got an email from someone and was thinking about how I was going to respond. I woke up around 9 and then made pancake for roommate and I. No, I didn't forget the s. I only had enough to make a pancake for each of us, but when doctoring it up with chocolate chips, we were in heaven.

Left over chinese for lunch, another movie and then project: organization. We moved things around and set up a shelf in the closet and did our best to get things done.

All in all, it was another great day. :-) We iceskated to the mailbox and chipped the ice off of our cars. I'm glad I took the snow off the day before or it would NOT have been a fun task.

**SNOW DAY** didn't wake me up this morning, so we are all back at school, bright and early. It's just today (a LONG day, working extended care for someone until 6 and then dinner and orchestra) and tomorrow and then a weekend.

I could get use to this!

Snow Day!!!

2009-01-27T22:04:00.004-05:00

I got a call at 6:02 from my favorite person. The person right above me in the phone chain that tells us if we have a snow day or not.

SNOW DAY!!!

I am supposed to call my roommate (yep, there are 2 diff. phone numbers, so we are two diff. people on the chain) so I walked over to her room and woke her up. She groaned as I said, guess what....(thinking she had overslept and was waaaay late) and then I said, we have snow day! She JUMPED out of bed SO fast and we did a huge dance and squealed and hugged, etc, etc. It's the Snow Day dance. One of our fellow teachers actually HURT herself doing the Snow Day dance. Sheesh! It was Wendy's first snow day as a teacher so it was so cute seeing her reaction. I don't think I'll ever get use to this. It's always so fun.

I just got out of the shower when she called so I dried my hair and jumped back in bed and slept until 10. Then I watched Annapolis which is a great movie, ate Mommy's homemade vegetable soup and then popped in good ole Titanic. I also reorganized my files in my really cool filing cabinet I got from Candy. Wendy and I also ordered Chinese because...that's what you do on a snow day. You order Chinese.

I also had the joy of cleaning off our cars. If you know me, you know I like doing things myself. I didn't like it tonight. I needed a guy to clean off my car. He needed to shovel and spread salt and do the manly work around the house. Not me. :-( I would have done a great job at making hot chocolate for him.

I should have taken pictures first. It's no "PA snow" but it's good enough for us! It's icy and supposed to be icy rain all night. YEAH!!!!! Let's hope for another one tomorrow!

I didn't do any school work or anything today. I've sat here with my laptop and wrote emails and caught up on things online. AND I don't regret a single CENT I spent on this laptop. It's amazing. I love that I am watching TV in my living room and emailing my friends. Priceless.

Pray for more snow! I'm going to wear my pjs inside out, sleep with spoons under my pillow and flush icecubes down the toilet...I hear that gets us a snow day....?

PS-You'll never guess what my fortune cookie said. "The days you work are the best days". Bahhh! Today I did no work and it was a "best day". :-)

A tinsy bit of anxiety....

2009-01-24T17:41:00.003-05:00

It has never bothered me before.

NEVER.

I never understood why all of my friends were worried about finding dates to go to weddings with them. I was always perfectly content going with a group of girls, my family, or meeting up with people there that I know. Why need a date? No worries.

BUT NOW...I just got a tinsy bit of anxiety about it...

There are at least 2 weddings this summer that I am going to...and there's no date. No proof of any boy/girl interaction going on in my life. It didn't bother me before because I was younger. Now I'm 25 and boyfriend/fiance/husbandless. The weddings are in PA and I live in VA, so it's not as likely that I would bring a date with me, but still.

I might have to dance with someone I don't know! AGHHhhhhh

And I have to go watch someone else get married. Alone.

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Car ride Intercession

2009-01-22T23:49:00.002-05:00

I've been told by my Sunday School teacher/ associate pastor that it's okay to take a drive and have it out with God as if He's in the passenger seat. He tells us that he looks over and yells and throws up his arms and really gets in God's face. Then, God talks back.

I had it out with God tonight. Yep.

I yelled at Him, yelled to Him, let Him know my thoughts and my wants dealing with this matter of my roommate leaving in the middle of the lease. I told Him my list of things that weren't fair. I told Him all of the things I want to happen. I told Him how I wanted it to go. I told Him when I want the new roommate to move in. I told Him all the things I'm going to say to her about this whole thing. I told Him that I was glad this was happening so she would get out of my life and I wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. I told Him that I didn't care if she was sick and that she lives in a different world and that she think illogically. Stinks to be her. But that shouldn't affect her getting a job and paying us for rent. Tears were rolling, heart was aching. It's hard to merge on the highway when tears are blurring your vision.

Then...God talked back.

He started bringing to mind ALL of the things I needed to praise Him for.

I have a job-Praise You
I have a place to live-Praise YOU
I have parents who could help me out if I needed it-Praise YOU
I have friends-Praise YOU
I have friends ALL OVER THE WORLD--Praise YOU
I have people who care about me-Praise YOU
I have money-Praise YOU
I have a grasp on reality and live in this world-Praise YOU
I'm not sick-Praise YOU
No one in my family is sick-Praise YOU
I HAVE A NEPHEW-Praise YOU
I have a car-Praise YOU
I have gas in my car-Praise YOU

The tears stopped. Peace fell on my heart.

Yeah, this thing really stinks. But, God knows. He knew this before time. He knew that she'd get sick. He knew that I'd get mad at her. Really mad. He knows who the next roommate will be. He knows how much stress this roommate has brought and how this is a way to end this chapter in my life. He knows that I might think that it's a pain if she leaves her bedroom furniture because there is no place to store it, but now I can advertise a fully furnished basement.

This isn't fair. True statement.

God isn't fair. True statement.

If He was fair, I'd be going to Hell.

God, thank You for not being fair and thank You for all of the understanding You have and are giving me through this.

Please pray.

Sick to my stomach

2009-01-22T18:31:00.002-05:00

This isn't fair. She should have to stay until the end of the lease. Isn't that the purpose of a lease? Making her legally bound to this townhouse???

Why do her bad decisions get to mess me up? Why does her being lazy, lazy and LAZY for the past 6 months and not getting a job get to make me pay $729 a month for rent?

WHY does she think it's "an extra" that we have three in the house and that it's "not that big of a deal" that she leaves?

WHY did her sister just call and tell me that she might have to be leaving her bedroom furniture here for good???? (I guess that could be a plus in my ad-fully furnished!)

This isn't fair. I'm glad she's going. She's more trouble than she's worth. But, that puts me at low money each month.

I need a roommate and I need one fast. Please pray. Please, please pray. Also, pray that my attitude changes and that I don't end up hating her for life. Right now....that feels possible.

2009-01-22T10:55:00.001-05:00

I was reading a friend's blog today and thought this was great.

What a statement this would have been.

SO STinkin' CUTE!

2009-01-21T23:14:00.002-05:00

Check out the new look of my blog. I have been jealous of other's blogs and wondering HOW in the world theirs could be so amazing and all I can use are the dumb boring ones offered by blogger.

AND THEN...I found out.

It all started out as a spiritual endeavor. I was reading someone's blog and clicked to follow the link to find out more of what this person had to say. And her blog was beautiful. The words I was reading and the LOOK of her blog. So, I snooped around her blog and found the link to www.thecutestblogontheblock.com.

The possibilities are endless! I had to just choose one without looking at all of them or I wouldn't have been able to choose!

Let me tell you, I can't wait until I get to change this one! (Too bad you don't get to see the prettiness when you are blogging yourself. It's this ugly box that you have to write in. Maybe Blogger can do something about that...)

Check it out! There is also a link up in the top left hand corner of my blog!

How do I do this?

2009-01-21T20:05:00.001-05:00

Non-history teachers should NOT be teaching history.

1. History teachers LOVE history. Non-history teacher don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
2. History teachers KNOW history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
3. History teachers can help their students LOVE history. Non-history teachers can't. IF they could, they would be history teachers.
4. History teachers CARE about history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.
5. History teachers WANT to teach history. Non-history teachers don't. IF they did, they would be history teachers.

I AM NOT A HISTORY TEACHER!!!!!!!!!

The Perfect Weekend. And I'm not exaggerating.

2009-01-20T19:08:00.004-05:00

The perfect weekend. I haven't had a weekend like this EVER. Everything was just perfect. Let me just tell you how perfect.

My nephew was born this weekend. That alone makes it perfect, but he had the greatest timing ever. He wasn't due until Jan 26.

I had a 4 day weekend this weekend. Craig had a 3 day weekend. Aunt Zoe, Uncle Don and Josiah are leaving for Brasil on Thursday and will be gone for 1 1/2 years. The Steelers were playing for the Super Bowl and I wanted to be in the 'burgh where people cared about the Steelers. I was soooooo jealous of all of the snow in PA and the NON-snow in VA.

I was able to drive to PA from VA on Saturday, play in the snow (over a foot!) with Craig, watch the Steelers eat little birdies for dinner and I got to see my aunt and uncle for the last time for a long time. AND I GOT TO HOLD MY NEPHEW.

Samuel Everett Peffer came into the world at 10:18pm on January 17th. Abby's labor was only 40 mins long and Sam is perfect. 21.5 inches, 8lbs 12 oz. I'll write more later about the experience, but I want you to enjoy the pictures. They say so much.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. . .

2009-01-17T23:31:00.002-05:00

All week I have been wishing for my sister-in-law to go into labor this weekend. It would have been a perfect weekend for it to happen. I have a four day weekend-MLK Day AND Inauguration Day off. It's also the AFC Championship for the Steelers and I wanted to be with Steeler fans when watching. I kept telling the girls at work that it was going to happen. The barometric pressure was dropping, a full moon, Aunt Zoe and I praying for it to happen so she could see the baby before they leave for Brasil (the 22nd), all those reasons why it would be wonderful.

Today I was shopping with Erin and Mom called. She asks, "Are your bags packed?" I wasn't sure what she's talking about.

Then....it hit me.

THE BABY IS COMING!!!! Abby's water broke 10 mins after I talked to Jay this morning on the phone and they induced her at 2pm.

SO...I packed my bags and jumped in my car and just finished the 5.5 hour drive to PA. I am soooo excited to see the snow. I just wish it would only fall on the yard and not on the road. If we had this much snow in VA, we wouldn't have school for a week!!!

So...we are just waiting. I hope to have pictures tomorrow!!!

Perspective

2009-01-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

It's 12:07 and I should be in bed. After the way I felt today after getting 9 hours of sleep, I should be aiming for that again.

But I can't.

I'm talking to someone online.

And this isn't just any someone. This is a someone who's been through a WHOLE HECK of a lot. Adam Long. I went to high school with him. He was like a little brother, always teasing and trying to prove to me that he was a good kid. He knew where I stood with God and things and it was just really cool. This kid, age 21 was diagnosed with cancer and was so close to death that I was just waiting for the call from my mom to tell me he was gone. I prayed for him so much. While he was going through chemo and the fight for his life, his dad was diagnosed with cancer.

Adam's dad passed away Wednesday morning.

He sent me a message first. I was sooo surprised. Really? Adam is talking to me? A day after his dad died? It's so awkward. Death is always awkward and hard and strange and hurtful, and sad, and bllllahhhhhhhh. What do you say? How do you make him feel better through words on a screen? How long do you talk about his dad's death? How do you write things without making them sound all cheesy and bible answery? After you've talked to him about everything about his dad and about how AMAZING God is that he's still alive to comfort his mom while his dad has passed away...then what? What do I say that he hasn't heard a million times from everyone else?

He tells me that his dad asked God to take his life instead of Adam's. Now he is going to live life to the fullest for him and his dad. He says he had accepted it a couple months ago so he's doing okay right now. His mom isn't so good, but he says he has 2 good shoulders for her to cry on. He's there to help. That's the amazing part. He's here. He didn't die when everyone thought he was going to. He's here. Praise God. I think he's now officially in remission and making plans to attend nursing school to become a chemo nurse. He wants to help people who are going through what he went through. He also figures that he'll get a one-up on his resume--- been there, done that, and have the bald head to prove it.

And the greatest, most amazing thing about this is.....Adam's dad became a believer just days before he died.

Yesterday, I complained about stepping in a puddle and not having my chapel skit work right. And now I'm talking to a guy who's life was saved and whose dad just died.

Puts things into perspective. God is good. All the time.

It's 12:46, and I'm going to keep talkin' away until he says good night. I can't be there to give him a hug, but I can talk to him online.

Who needs sleep anyhow.....?

A funk

2009-01-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

I've been posting for the past hour about the past three weeks of my life. The reason why I got on Blogspot was to write about my day TODAY. Not all the past stuff. So now, I don't even feel like writing about why I wanted to write in the first place!

I'm just in a funk. I think it's because I was thrown back into life here in VA so suddenly. I didn't get a chance to recoup or prepare myself for reentry into adulthood. I'm going through culture shock and I don't like it. I went from being at the Castle and getting very little sleep with very great amount of activity to my teaching life. It's not fun. At all.

I taught chapel today. I was so excited about what I was going to do and then everything about my plan when wrong. I forgot the DVD in PA. Then, I find out that I can't get it in an email, it has to be on YouTube. YouTube is blocked at school, so I have to work with that. Then, on Tuesday, I find out that we can't have chapel in the sanctuary because they are putting down new carpet. So, now i have to find a place that i can get internet, can have a projector and computer for powerpoint and that can fit 48 middle schoolers. It was such a headache.

I thought I had it all worked out. Then, in the middle of my lesson, the wireless internet lost its connection and we only saw 3 mins of the 9 min video. SO I have to remember what it was talking about and tell them all how the rest of the dialogue goes so I can use it for my lesson. I felt like it was all out of control but I hope the kids were blessed. I hope it really worked on their hearts. It was another reminder from God that it's not about me. It's about Him and His word.

I only ate a bowl of cereal, some goldfish crackers and an icecream sandwich all day. So, I was starving, cranky and not feeling so well. I went to Baja Fresh (so much for getting skinny) and parked in a puddle. I didn't find that out until I stepped in it. It was been raining torrents of rain all day. If this was all snow, we wouldn't have school for a week. It's been that much. Oh to live in VA.

And all I want to do now is talk to a boy on the phone. That's my desire right now. It seems like that would be the best solution for my funk. I'm so discontent. It may look like I'm totally fine, but I'm not. Not right now.

But...there's no boy to talk to on the phone........it's 9pm and I'm going to bed. Maybe I'll sleep the funk away.

A little delayed, but still a ton of fun!

2009-01-07T20:44:00.006-05:00

Here are pictures from my trip to the National Tree! We went with our home group and it was so fun. It was 60 degrees on Dec. 20 when we went! It wasn't right!

Eric, Wendy, Jessica, Erin, Me, Jessie, Laura and Nate

The Tree in front of the Capitol

The White House Tree!

Friends through thick and thin! We were the only ones in the group who had gone before!

The Pennsylvania Tree

Roommates

Eric-the coolest guy around (at least that's what he thinks! :-)

The Castle-13 years running!

2009-01-07T19:22:00.006-05:00

The Castle.

Say that to any random person on the street and they'll look at you funny. Say that to someone from the ages of 13-35 who attends or is friends with someone who attends Portersville Bible Church, you'll get a smile and you will release a flood gate of memories. Goofy times, hard times, fun times, and spiritually changing times.

It's an actual castle in Franklin, PA where we take a youth retreat for 7h each year during Christmas break. This year, if I've calculated right, was my 13th year in a row. 6 of them as a student, 7 of them as a counselor/helper/do whatever you need me to do. It's such an amazing time. I've been there with a myriad of youth leaders and helpers. We've done EVERYTHING under the sun to reach kids. Each year the Castle is the same....yet completely different. The food is the same, in the same order, Mary is the same, the building is the same, the trip is the same, the gym in the same, the rules are the same, the awkward PDA convo in the same (still awkward). . The kids are the same---the faithful, and different---the friends of the faithful. The kids are the same---their names, and different---matured and changed through Christ, or changed through other things-good or bad, over the years.

This year was so amazing for me. Tyler, my youngest brother, is a senior. I started helping at the Castle when the seniors were in 7th grade. I have watched them for six years. As I stood there and watched them worship, God brought me to tears. My precious 7th graders are now worshipping God and having great communion with Him. They are standing there, eyes closed, praising our Father. Amy is in deep prayer, asking God for direction in her life. Praising Him for who He is. I have been through so much with her. She is sooooo precious to me. I cannot wait to see how God is going to use her. Tyler is going forward to commit to serve. My little brother, in love with God, not caring to be the center of attention at school or wanting to do wrong things. The picture of my cousin Lee with his arms out and in all-out worship is burned into my memory. He used to be so little. Now he's so grown. He's going to change the world.

I cried a lot this year. I know....I'm a leader. I'm not the one who is supposed to be affected. Yet...I was.

I was put to the challenge to create a Prayer Room-Sanctuary- for the kids to get away and get quiet before God. Kristin gave me great ideas which I put into action. This was only completed with amazing help. I just pray that someone was blessed by this. It was totally God.

Come...all who are weary...and I will give you rest.

Know God.

Forgive and wash away the hurt and pain caused by people.

Look back at the commitments you've made in the past. Have you kept them? What's keeping you from them? Renew them today.

Look in the mirror. What do you see? What does God see? What do others see?

Look around you. Where can you serve? What can you do? You're not too poor, too young, too alone, too little to do something for Him.

I was the Senior High Girls counselor. They are amazing. I love working with that age group.

Trip to Ohio!

2009-01-07T19:10:00.003-05:00

I'm so glad that Rachael's family lives in Ohio. It's SOO much closer to PA than Indiana. It has been at least 4 years in a row that I've spent part of Christmas break with the Stricklands. It was only about 12 hours this year, but they were precious hours.

Rachael is my kindred spirit. It was so amazing to see her. I wish we would have had time to have deep conversation, but anytime with her is good. Next time I see her, she might be HUGE or I might get to be holding the little one! I'm also this baby's aunt. Biologicially-No. Hand Chosen-Yes. :-)

Ben, Rachael, Baby Strickland and me!

Mommy and Baby Strickland!

I didn't get to see Joyce on this trip to Ohio. I miss her a ton too. Hopefully soon.

I'll be Home with Bells on...!

2009-01-07T18:23:00.004-05:00

Christmas Break.

Almost the most precious words to a teacher.

The most precious words-Snow Day. I've yet to hear those most precious words, but there's always hoping. :-) Winter is far from over. I don't have as much of a chance as a did in Cleveland, but people down here---they freak out in bad weather. I can't even imagine what it would be like if I was REALLY in the south.

Christmas Break was amazing. I worked until 8:30 on Friday, getting things ready in my classroom so I didn't have to come back early. Then I packed and waited anxiously for my roommate and her NEW FIANCE to come back from the airport. It was such a sweet return. I'm soo happy for her!! And here I go again, searching for roommates once summer comes. I told them they could live upstairs and I would live in the basement, but Wendy didn't seem too anxious to sign the lease on that idea. I still have 6 months to convince her!

It was so nice to spend time with my family. I love going home. I love being able to slip back into the routine of being a kid, spoiled by mom's hugs and home cooking, and dad's beating me with a newspaper because I shocked his ears (...repeatedly....while he was trying to start the fire... :-) and his "complaining" to make me feel bad, but I know he really loves it when I bring car problems home and when I bug him to help me figure out how to buy my laptop. He loves to feel needed. I love to need him. I had two brothers to beat up-an outlet I've been needing. There's nothing like throwing your brother on the couch after a battle in the living room. My kitty got to snuggle with me and I got to be lazy. I got to see my sister-in-law, 8 months pregnant and so beautiful (though she says she looks like a house!). I can't wait to meet my nephew. 19 days and counting!!! My brother is SOOO pumped to be a daddy. I didn't really get to talk to him but I can tell. Can you tell?

Baby Everett. :-)

The Christmas Eve service was a step back into time. We do almost the same thing every year, seeing that you can't change history :-), but the characters just change. It's always interesting to see who are the chosen Mary and Joseph. Amy and Tyler were the chosen betrothed. Donkey ride and all. The candlelight service is my favorite. The glow of all of the candles and the sweet accapella version of Silent Night.

Christmas morning was so fun. Us big kids keeping traditions alive. Of course, we do it all for Tyler, the baby of the family. :-) Yeah...right. We they went to Gramma and Papa's for Christmas dinner. After dinner, and the MASSIVE amounts of silverware that had to be washed, games abounded all around the house. Gramma and Papa opened their gifts and then I asked Papa and Gramma about their Christmas memories. This is something that we rarely do. We don't really TALK. We play games and goof around....but I don't know how much relationship building we do when we get together. It's usually the kids and adults playing games, and Gramma watching or trying to talk to us while we are playing ;-) and Papa in the living room with his brother, watching TV. It kinda makes me sad. Times have completely changed since they were children. It was really good to listen. I loved it.

Tyler, Jay, Abby, Craig and Me. On the stairs for a Christmas picture. Another tradition. :-)

One Day

2008-12-18T22:55:00.003-05:00

One week left. You can do anything for a week!!!

One day left. You can do anything for a day!!!

This was the encouragement given by our middle school administrator. Tomorrow is the one day. The last day before Christmas break. And it's going to be a glorious one day. I have one class tomorrow morning-a very rough kindergarten class- and then its off to the bowling alley with the middle schoolers! I've been taunting them all week, claiming victory. I've also been taunting Eric who is sure that he will conquer. Erin let the cat out of the bowling bag when she told Eric I own my own ball. I had to defend myself, telling him that I wasn't obsessed, but just taking advantage of a yard sale find of a left handed bowling ball. That's it.

But, I will beat him.

I hope. :-)

After bowling and lunch at the food court, it's Christmas Chapel. Always fun! The 1st graders are doing " All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth" which fits perfectly. There are at least 9 or 10 kids who have that wish. They are so cute. It'll be interesting to see all 35 6 year olds doing a song together. Erin, Eric, Amanda and I were going to do the Chipmunk Christmas song. We were going to turn upside down, put shorts on our heads, nostril dots on our chins and sunglasses on our necks to look like singing potato heads. BUT....we were canceled. We didn't plan ahead enough so it was too complicated for the media team. Oh well. Next year.

2 more sleeps until I'm home. This time I'll get to sleep in my own bed :-)

Decorating for the Holidays

2008-11-22T23:46:00.003-05:00

I know, I know... I'm the girl who would YELL at girls in the dorm for playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving....I'm the girl who would grumble when seeing lights in the streets weeks before we even ate a bite of turkey...I'm the girl who made sure she didn't shop for Christmas gifts before Turkey day to prevent taking away the holiday special-ness of it.

But now, I think I've changed. Erin has a great point. We are never home to enjoy our Christmas stuff, so why not put it up early??? Tonight, Erin, Wendy, Becky, Rachel, Jessie and I decorated Becky, Wendy's and my house for Christmas. I have my own tree! It's 6 feet tall! Yes-it's fake. I hate that. But, it's all a girl can do when living without a strong man to go out and cut her a tree and without a little brother to water it. I don't have beautiful ornaments from my children, so my tree looks classy and matchy-matchy. Maybe a little like Home and Garden, but I like it. A lot.

Wendy and I even put icicles on it. Hmmmm....fun day! We watched Elf while decorating and then put in The Holiday to enjoy a nice girls' night.

I don't know WHY we do that to ourselves. WHY do we insist on watching sappy love movies??? Do we think that we'll actually be HAPPY and CONTENT with our situation after watching the picture perfect ending to the beautiful girl and the handsome guy's life? Why do we like to torture ourselves? Then, we are upset when the movie leaves us in a funk.

(music note) All I want for Christmas is some contentment... (music note)

Day o' Fun!

2008-11-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

Wendy and I had an amazing day. Around 1pm, I saw Wendy stumble out of her room, and I, only a few minutes early, had awoken. We then did lazy things, like watch episodes of House and Office online (because we were too busy during the week to watch them) and then headed off to our last birthday hoorah. Wendy got me a dinner and a movie roommate date and I got her a lamp for her room. So, off to IKEA we went, and chose some amazing decorations and lamps for the house. I think I found a solution for getting rid of that boob light in our dining room. I know the guys in my life will be happy with the exchange. We then searched for Olive Garden. 40 min wait. Nope! On to our second choice, 10 mins later-On the Border. 25 min wait. Nope. Off to search for a Subway. Pablo-Pablo told us about non-existent Subways, leaving us in the middle of the highway- "You have reached your destination." So, we circled around past IKEA about 10 times, found a McDs and ate a burger and fries. Ironic, how Wendy didn't want to go to Red Robin because she wasn't in the mood for burgers. We passed Red Robin 10 times as well. (Mind you, we have only been awake for 6 hours and all this drama had taken place.)

We get to the movie theater and have to park 2 miles away from the doors. I set the car alarm off while trying to lock the door. We do the touch screen shortcut, only to find out that Eagle Eye is sold out. BUMMER! So, Wendy, in her fluster and hurry chose for us to see High school Musical 3-SING ALONG. Praise the Lord I caught it before she committed us to doing that for 3 hours with crazy tweenagers. We switched our tickets to Max Payne. I thought it was the new Bond movie, so I was stoked. Come to find out it involved deamons, murder, violence and other craziness. PG 13--BA LO NEY! We left after 30 mins, got a free pass for next time, went to Shoppers and rented Made of Honor from Red Box and headed home.

Fun, good movie. Cute guy. :-) Becky watched most of it with us. I got to tell her the above drama, so it gave me something to talk to her about. Finally, at 11:30, our birthday fun ended on a good note. I was left in a "aww, I wanna get married" funk, but soon, sleep will over come me and I won't worry about it anymore.

Although, I wouldn't mind a dream about Patrick Dempsey....

She's Baaaaackk......

2008-11-07T23:24:00.002-05:00

I got a call yesterday to inform me that my roommate would be coming home today. She was being discharged. I called her sister, and found out that she's medically defined as "safe"- able to carry out every day functions without harming herself or others. Right now her sister has used up all her tears and now she's ready to throw reality at my roommate. She's frustrated because RM (roommate) won't take all of her medicine and is refusing treatment. She's in total denial.

Wait....I have a 3rd roommate?? She has been gone for so long that I've put it out of my mind. I've prayed for her, but the reality of her coming back to the Susquehanna house wasn't there. When I got the call, it took my breath away. I was instantly thrown back into the reality of my life that I have a sick roommate who has been gone for 2 months and is coming back. Every time I think about it, it takes my breath away.

Tonight, we got home around 10:30, and we see her car. We panic. We freak. We are still in shock. What do we say? How do we handle this? Do we get more involved in her life? Do we maker her talk to us? Do we push her to find a job and search for one for her? Do we go on living like we did, not trying to interact?

I don't know what God is trying to teach me through this. I haven't been a good roommate. I haven't purposefully involved her in my life or included her in my activities. Is He wanting me to become more involved in her life? What lines do I cross? Where do I push myself? What is my role? Where do I belong?

Could you please pray for Wendy and I about this? Ask God to give us wisdom as to what our next steps are. I need to pray fervently about what to do next. Tomorrow morning (maybe early afternoon, depending on consciousness) will be spent asking Him for wisdom. She needs a job. We need to meet with her friends and possibly a pastor from church to see what to do next.

She's back. Now, what are we to do?

More Pictures

2008-11-01T13:59:00.003-04:00

Coach Peffer and the most amazing Assistant Coach Craft

Calvary Road Christian School 2008-2009 Girls Volleyball Team

WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! WE LOVE VOLLEYBALL!!!!

Volleyball. My Favorite Sport. Ever.

2008-10-31T00:36:00.007-04:00

We did it! We finished the season!!! The 19 girls of Calvary Road Christian School placed 3rd in the Tournament and 2nd in the season!

Unbelievable. Half of these girls haven't even played vball before. I've never coached before. I'm still in shock. I'm sooo happy and so proud of them. Soooo so proud.

But BEST of all we were also honored and surprised to find out that the coaches voted us to win the Best Godly Character award. We could have come in 6th place and won SO MUCH just with that honor. That says so much for our school and what we believe to be important. The trophy below is the Godly Character award. We didn't get a trophy for 3rd place (so I'm going to go buy us one. :-). This trophy is worth so much. This is what matters. Any team can win 1st place. It's possible for anyone to attain that. This---this award, not possible for anyone. Not possible without His help.

Chic-Fil-A Our FAVORITE place to eat!

The faithful fans!!!

It's over. The 2008 Volleyball season is over. No more practices, no more drills, no more driving that 15 passenger van an hour away for a game. No more getting lost, no more Chic-fil-a, no more begging of allowing drinks or milkshakes in the van. No more making the girls put their seatbelts on. No more horrible refs. No more yelling at the girls to CALL THE BALL and communicate. No more ice packs. No more stress about planning how in the WORLD I was going to get 19 girls on the court in 2 (or 3) games.

No more wins. No more losses. :-) No more close games. No more heart attacks or 2 minute volleys. No more watching the girls improve each practice and each game. No more AMAZING moves on the court. No more fast thinking with a quick slip over the net into a hole. No more great pass, set, spike combos. No more great net work. No more circle jumping to get ourselves pumped up for the game. No more game face. No more break checks. No more stories in the van and no more creating Miss Peffer's perfect man. No more eating out with my family of 19 girls, an amazing assistant coach and the faithful 5 moms.

Until next year.

The Incredible Hulk

2008-10-30T23:55:00.004-04:00

Hi. This has been a week of all weeks, let me tell you!

First, Monday morning, I was in the teacher's meeting and started coughing. I left to get cooled down and get a drink. I went into my classroom to open the window for a breeze. The window has no crank on it, and previously I've been able to pound on it gently, and it pops open. Pound, pound, SMASH! My fist went through the window. I broke the window with my fist. Apparently I'm the Hulk.

After the initial shock wore off, I said, oh no, oh no, oh my goodness, Oh my GOODNESS, and hurried to the office. I brought everyone out of their offices to my side, looking for glass, applying pressure, and trying to problem solve for me. The cut was about 1/4 of an inch from tendons, 1/2 inch from veins. The cut was more of a slice sideways, like peeling an apple. Not straight down in, but not a scrape either. After gauze and tape, I called Kaiser, (my dr's office), and told them the problem. They had me on the phone for about 10 minutes, trying to set an appointment up for me! I was pushed out the door by the secretary who took care of the rest of the phone call, and out I went, driving myself to the hospital, 10 mins away. Yep. I drove myself with my hand on my head. Good idea, I thought, until blood came through the gauze I had on. Then I thought it was probably a stupid thing to do. Dad concurred.

I get to Kaiser, and it feels like I'm in an E.R. episode, staggering in, asking for a doctor, showing my wound. I ask the pharmacy where I could go to find a doctor. He told me I needed to drive to the emergency room because they don't do that here. What??? I said, well, I know there are doctors here, and i need one, so I'm going to find a doctor.

2 hours, 2 antibiotics, 4 shots of anesthesia (I can't think of the medical term right now, but I know I've heard it on TV) , 5 stitches and an arm splint later, I head back to school to teach for the rest of the day. Nope. I didn't go home. I wasn't even asked if I wanted to go home.

But, I did stay home from school on Wed. I needed a break to get over this cold and to heal my arm. It was a great day.

So now I'm babying it as much as I can, always wearing the wrist brace to prevent too much movement at that skin.

Now, pictures for your viewing pleasure. (I didn't include the grossest ones.)

I took my camera into school to show the kids. They LOVED it! My friend, Eric said that it looks like a shark bit me.

Who does this? How many people put their hand through a window? Dad says a lot of people. I think of how dumb I was and laugh at the fact that I broke a window with my fist! This will go in the books as one of the stupid things I did while teaching. What memories AND great scar story!

And you know what? My repaired window now has a handle on it. Hmmmm.... :-)

A milestone

2008-10-18T01:16:00.002-04:00

25. I'm now officially 25 years old. 25 years ago, the world didn't know about Abby.

It sounds like such a small number. In reality, it is. If I had 25 cents, I'd be bummed. If I had 25 minutes before a test, I'd be cramming. BUT, because I have 25 years (tengo veinte y cinco años), I'm freaking out.

After our loss on Tuesday, we were sitting at Chick-fil-a and I was talking to my amazing assistant coach and a player's mother and her 2nd grade son (also one of my students.)
Coach: Is it a milestone birthday?
Me: yes, as a matter of fact, it is. I'm a quarter of a century old.
Coach:....hmm...I can't even remember 25 (she's about 40)....let's see....where were we? We were in Kentucky just starting a youth group...
Me: We! See! You had a we! At 25, you had a we! I want a we!

2nd Grader: I have a Wii.

All of us burst into laughter, just amazed and dumbfounded.
Me: Well, I guess my problem's solved. Just go to Walmart and I can get a we!
Coach's husband: Well, if you stay in the electronic section long enough...you might be able to get yourself a we. That would be the place to go to find one.
Me: Yah, but I'd really want to find cingular in the section so it could turn into a we...

My day was great. I felt so treasured. I was sung the happy birthday song at least 8 times today. Sometimes they sang in English THEN in Spanish. The lady in an office beside my room was about fit to be tied after all day of singing. I also received "giftcards" from the 2nd graders-paper folded in half with things like, $23,948,604,928,274,574,930@#¢. I also got a flipbook of birthday pictures, 2 3 cornered birthday hats and a ring.

More to come tomorrow....I'm so beat!

I want to go home!

2008-10-14T23:29:00.000-04:00

I don't want to be here. I want to go home.

The Answer

2008-09-28T23:08:00.002-04:00

By God's amazing power, I was able to find my roommate's friend at a church where there are over 2,000 people my age. I asked her if she could tell us anything about what was going on. She told me that my roommate admitted herself to a hospital and she's getting the treatment she needs. We don't know how long she'll be there, but she's safe and taken care of. I am to contact my roommate's sister for the situation about rent, etc.

So, now my anger has dissipated and prayer has filled me. Please continue to pray for the situation and for my roommate. I don't know what we are going to do in the future. I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but what I've told you is plenty enough for praying. :-)

Thanks to all who have been praying. I am so appreciative!

The Crazy Day

2008-09-26T20:51:00.002-04:00

I had a crazy day yesterday. It was sooo long and full of so many things I just don't know where to start.

I need you to be praying for my roommate situation. Without going into too much detail, my roommate has left me and my other roommate to fend for ourselves when paying this month's rent. She is unreachable. I've tried to call her MULTIPLE times, now her phone is off and her voice mailbox is full. Not do solely to me, but also to everyone else who is trying to find her/contact her. She hasn't been home since Tuesday morning. I haven't seen her since last Thursday. Her friend stopped by on Wed to pick up some things for her and told me she would be staying with her for a couple of days. She wouldn't tell me anything else-just that she would have her call me. No phone call yet. She's not in danger at all, but I don't know what's going on. What I do know is that we have to pay her rent because there is no individual accountability with our lease. It's a one check, on time deal. So dumb. SOOO dumb. So, I'm sick to my stomach about all of this, wondering if she'll ever come back and how I' m going to handle it when she does. I need wisdom, calmness and whatever else one needs in this situation. This is real life stuff and I don't like it.

With that on my mind, and having to teach that day, plus a crazy picture day with getting the girls in and out of their volleyball uniforms (during my 8th grade history class), I had to gear up for our first away volleyball game. Get the balls, the medical kit, the water bottles and snacks, clipboard, scorebook, and all 18 girls. I had to drive a 15 passenger van full of girls in the rain for over 35 minutes. I took it for a practice drive in the parking lot just to get a feel for it. Praise God I learned how to drive in a minivan and had to maneuver Dad's truck around. I had to run back into school to get my phone, and I slipped and fell down the stairs. It hurt SOOOO badly. Knocked the wind out of me and I screamed. It was not good. I'm sore and feel like I played 3 volleyball games.

We got there in time and had a great couple games. It was SOOOOO close! We won!! The first game was 23-25 them, then 20-25 us, and then we got the last one 9-15. It was intense. My captain and best (and only) overhand server could only get one serve over then she messed up. NOT like her at all! She usually gets 10 points in a row. Then she fell and was out for the rest of the 2nd game and 3rd game. Stepping into her place was our secret weapon (even a secret for me!) she scored at least 14/25 points. Unbelievable. I also took another girl out before she served because she just can't get it over. The next round I let her serve and she got 6 points! I made her prove it to me that she could do it. That's my new method. Make them prove it to me. I jumped about 7 feet in the air when we won. The girls were laughing at me but it was a GREAT moment. We also got a team picture taken that was beatiful!I'll post it when I get it. I told the girls that we have to win it in 2 next time. My heart can't take that stress!

OUR FIRST VICTORY!

2008-09-18T23:31:00.001-04:00

It's sooo late, so I won't go into the details right now (though it's killing me) but WE WON!!!! 2-0! GO CRUSADERS!!!!!

The Game

2008-09-17T06:48:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was a crazy day of emotions. While I was teaching Spanish, I was internally freaking out about the game. I had no clue how the things at the beginning works. It was not a fun day. Then, when it came to game time, I was soooooo nervous and excited and I couldn't wait to see how the girls were going to do. I didn't do ANYTHING right with having line ups ready for each game, or having a plan with who is going in. I just thought--um...I'll sub when I need to. ERRR!!! Wrong! I'll know better for next time.

The girls looked AMAZING in their socks! I had them wear them all day at school which was super cool for them and made me smile each time I saw them. (Hey, I know too much pride is a bad thing, but this was earned pride. :-) They looked impressive on the court too.

I had to have a score keeper and no one knew how to keep score. So, my assistant had to keep score which meant that she couldn't coach at all. She's the one who knows all this volleyball stuff and she just had to sit there! She did whisper to me different time about taking timeouts. I totally forgot about time outs. Good thing she was there... :-)

So, our first game was AMAZING. We did a great job working together and getting it over. One girl got 6 points in a row from her serving. We just need to get everyone else's serves over too. We won the first one. We lost the 2nd one. And then, the last one....... we lost too. It was sooo close. So many times it was tied. The girls played really well for their first game. We definately have things to work on, but I was pleased with my girls. I almost told someone we won!

My friends and I went out to celebrate my first game (or they just needed a reason to go out to eat) at Unos. On the way there, Eric, Mr. PE teacher, told me: Abby, I made an observation of your coaching. (oh no....what did I do....) You smile way too much. You need to have a game face on. Show that other coach and the refs that you mean business.

So...between now and Thursday, I'll be working on my "mean coach face". I hope I remember to pack a pair of my angry eyes....

Sept 16, 4:00

2008-09-16T07:01:00.003-04:00

This date has been stuck in my mind for more than a month. I've based other dates on it because I knew that today, Tuesday, was Sept 16. And I'm nervous.

Our first Middle School volleyball game is today. AGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I don't know what I'm doing! Score card? Roster? Lineup? Triangles and circles on the scorecard? Looks like Greek to me....or a Kindergarten worksheet. How many subs can I put in? Should I let ALL 19 girls play? What do I do with my captain who chipped 2 teeth at practice yesterday? Can she play today? And the other 8th grader who ran into her and has a sore back and front hip? Do I put her in? Is it really just about having a good time or is it okay to want to win? I want to win!!!

(deep breath) The good thing is is that the girls LOVED the socks. We found out that if turned inside out, they are a bright blue! Who knew?! The girls were so grateful and kept talking about them. I was a little happy. Ok, A TON happy. Hmmmmm.....the work was worth it. The PE teacher (a friend) laughed at the socks when I showed them to him. I told the vball girls that he did that and then I encouraged a mass "booing" chorus. It was music to my ears and a lot of fun. :-)

So, here I go...off to teach computers and spanish and 8th grade history. THEN---game time!

The Result

2008-09-14T22:14:00.004-04:00

494 rubber bands, 38 socks, at least 60 gallons of water, the removal of those 494 rubber bands and at least 16 hours of my time resulted in this.

Good Idea, Bad Idea

2008-09-13T23:52:00.002-04:00

Good Idea: buy white socks to tie-dye for the vball girls instead of ordering them. It would have been $160 for 19 pairs of socks. This endeavor cost me only $35.

Bad Idea: putting on all of the rubber bands BY MYSELF! 13 rubber bands/1 sock * 38 socks= 494 rubber bands. You should see my fingers. I think my hands will permanently taste like rubber bands. I started the task at 4pm. I finished at midnight. Yep, 8 hours of rubber band wrapping. AND they still aren't dyed. That's tomorrow's project. But I did find out that you can put them in the washing machine and do them ALL at the same time. Yes, yes. I know. I need to bleach out my washing machine when I'm finished. I don't plan on looking like a smurf.

Lesson Learned: The girls should pay me the $125 difference for all of the time I put into those socks. Now I know why the socks cost that much.

I hope they turn out right. I didn't try one to see if the pattern I created will give me the result I want. Let's pray!!!!!

Another bad idea: doing this when I haven't done any school work AND when I have to get up @ 6 for church tomorrow (oh....today.....)

On that note... Goodnight!

Laughs at school

2008-09-10T14:06:00.003-04:00

Over the past 24 hours, I've been privileged to experience some pretty silly things. Laughable. Memorable. Reminds me why I like to teach. Enjoy!

1st grader, on the way into my Spanish room- "Mamasita!!! That means hot mama in Spanish." He didn't even think-oh, maybe I shouldn't say this to my teacher. He just said it like he was saying, HOLA!

Kindergartner leaves the Spanish room to use the bathroom and returns rather quickly. Erin, fellow teacher, in the room across from mine asks, "Did you wash your hands?" He looks shocked, replies: "Oh! I forgot!" (run run run....water running...run run run back)

Playing Alphabeto Bingo-1st grader asks, "Can you say the letters in English?? I don't know them this way".

Yesterday in the computer lab, I was watching the Kindergartners use KidPix, a program that is like paint but a TON more fun. Yes, I admit that I sit there and do things on it while they are working. :-) So, anyhow, yesterday, I thought that I'd have fun with them. At the teacher's computer, I can control each computer individually. So, I double-clicked on Maysa's computer and picked up the paint brush and wrote HI MAYSA! on her screen. Her reaction during the mysterious message writing was priceless. The hand that was on the mouse is now at her side, her jaw is almost on the keyboard and she isn't moving. She's just in AWE. Then she studders in astonishment: "Sen.... Senor...Senorita Peffer.... the computer wrote my name!!!!" I act just as astonished and move on to the next victim. The kid reacts the exact same way and then Maysa pipes in, "YAH! Me too!!!" "I got a smiley face!" Over and over again, I act like Ghost Writer (the greatest show on PBS) and just giggle myself into hysterics, enjoying their reactions. I then saw kids trying to duplicate what I did, so it ended up being a great teaching tool. My intent-no. My intent was to mess with their little minds. But, in the end, it was also educational. One of the kids kept saying in this woahhh voice: "The computer... it knows my name...... the computer...it knows my name....."

Oh the joys of teaching!

The First Week

2008-09-01T09:56:00.004-04:00

Right now I should be at my aunt and uncle's, relaxing in their pool with my cousins, having great talks with my cousin Emmy, then playing a game (or 5) of croquet, eating amazing food, talking about boys with Katie, avoiding Tyson's loud bark and Lacy's toe-licking, playing Taboo, listening to Papa's stories and then a game of football and hide and seek. It's the 2nd year it hasn't happened. Last year was due to my cousin's memorial service and this year.......I don't even know. It's a mystery. No one will really say. It's really frustrating because I want to be there with everyone. It HAS to happen next year. HAS TO! Em and I will make it happen.

The first week of school is over and we've been blessed with Labor Day so we can recuperate! I always thought it annoying that we just get school started and then we have a day off-it really throws off the planning and the routines of the classroom. BUT---after the week of in-service and then the week of school, I'm super pumped about our day off!

Erwin and I are going to the pool for the LAST TIME of the summer. It's going to be packed because it's at a campground and it's a holiday, but we are going to take on the challenge. I've decided that my $65 pool pass was the best purchase of the summer. We just have to find something to do during the winter that will give us the same results as the pool-complete and utter relaxation---if you have any ideas, let me know! I think this dragging on of summer might cause a slight depression stage when we can't go to the pool.... :-(

The week was a lot of repetition for me-telling my 10 spanish classes (2 times) and my 6 computer classes the rules of my classroom and how my HUGE globe is NOT a soccer ball. We marched around my room singing the alphabeto song. It's to the tune of the military chant that they say when they are running. The had a BALL doing it! I'll be doing the same thing for the younger kids, the older kids I'm going to work on identifying the letters IN SPANISH-like spelling things in spanish letters, etc. It'll be fun.

The first day of History (after bawling my eyes out Sunday night at 10:30) went "God-Jammin" well! He totally told me what I needed to say and do. I told them they had 5 mins to write their history. They were puzzled (my goal was reached!) but wrote anyhow. We made the connections to what they wrote to what we read in history and why Biblical history is so important. Then we read outloud, talked, took notes. So, day one was great, and the other days just kinda "went". If you're a teacher, a day that just "went" does not make you feel accomplished or proud of your work. So, the next chapter WILL be different. I think I'll be working on that most of today. After the pool it's a trip to school to make this week better than last.

I think each week should only be 4 days long.........

Enjoy your Labor Day!

7 minutes

2008-08-25T08:40:00.002-04:00

7 minutes.

I just heard Erin say "7 minutes until our first special".

It's showtime! Bring on the Kindergarten!!!

The compliment of my life

2008-08-23T15:47:00.002-04:00

I might have forgotten to tell some of you this. I am also coaching 5-8th grade Volleyball. I am SOOO excited about this, yet I don't really know what I'm doing. Aunt Diane has been great at sending me things and telling me what books I need to read to get ready for this adventure. I've had all of the girls in PE or in class, so it'll be nice to go into a group of girls I'm familiar with. I can't wait to get to know them better and to have fun with them and to coach them. I'm sure I'll be on the phone a lot with her, running things past her to see if I'm doing it right. The season is REALLY short-Sept and October- so it'll be here and over before I know it. (At least that's what I'm told...I'll tell you later if it was true!)

We just had a week of inservice which included early mornings, sessions and LONG nights of preparing the classroom. On Thursday my friends and I were there from 8:30am to 11:45pm. Yep. This is why teachers get all summer off. Last night was Back to School Night, which is where all the kids and parents come and meet their teachers. They don't really care to meet the Elementary Spanish teacher, so I was in the middle school orientation for 8th grade history. After it was over, the elementary coordinator tells me that the principal was looking for me. She tells me, "Mr. Jones said that the Spanish room has never looked better than it does now with the and 3 or 4 spanish teachers we've had and the 20+ years that he's been at the school." This is coming from a man who notices NOTHING and if he does notice something, he doesn't really tell you. He is a man of VERY FEW compliments. Maybe one every five years. My jaw would have hit the FLOOR if it was possible. I got the compliment of my life. I was so elated I didn't know what to say back.

Today Erin and I decided we needed on last "Hoorah for Summer" so we went to the pool and read a "fun book". We needed one last relaxing day before our year begins. School starts on Monday. I have no clue what I'm going to say or what I'm going to teach, or what I'm going to wear (ALWAYS important :-). I'm heading in to school now to write lesson plans for the week of History and probably the next month of computer and Spanish.

Prayer requests
Flexibility for teaching the lower grades
Ability to teach 7 different grades
Excitement for American History class
Volleyball
Desiring and keeping a constant walk with Christ

Hyperventilating.....

2008-08-14T00:19:00.002-04:00

It hit me.

Today, it hit me hard.

School is starting soon and I'm doing 4 BRAND new things...it's my 3rd first year....there is this sudden urge to go hide under a rock and breathe really really fast.

I feel a panic attack coming on....literally....

Today was full of whirlwind things. I had to move things to my other classroom, where I realized (and was told) that I need to figure out what I'm going to do with all of my "normal" classroom things so I will make room for the Spanish stuff. I have no clue what I'm going to be using during the school year. I might need my left over lion's mane and my Hawaiian hat. At the same time. Who knows! Then I asked when Volleyball started and she told me. The second day of school. I got this panicky look on my face and then was told, don't worry, the season will be over so fast that you won't have time to realize you're overwhelmed.

What a comfort.

It's too late! I'm overwhelmed already. 10 classes of Spanish (2 times a week), 6 classes of computer, and 8th grade History. Where do I even begin??

Tomorrow Erin and I have decided to put the idea of school off ANOTHER day and go for our last fling at the pool. Then a trip to IKEA with the new roommate Wendy and her parents, for some needed furniture and some therapy for Erin and I.

It's so easy to say, Oh yah, I trust that God will give me the strength to do this, sure! It's NOT so easy to actually TRUST and remember that you have chosen to TRUST.

Please Lord. Calm my anxious heart. Help me to breathe.

2008-08-02T00:29:00.002-04:00

Another Joy of Living Here

2008-07-29T09:59:00.004-04:00

Remember how I told you one of the perks of living in DC were the men in uniform??? Well, I found another one! Last night Nate, Laura, Erin and I headed into the district for "Screen on the Green." During the summer they show movies on the lawn of the Capitol. All I could think of while I was there was the scene in The Wedding Planner, with Jennifer Lopez sitting on the reserved tree branch with Matthew McConaughey, talking about brown M&Ms and how they are best for you because they don't have any food coloring-because chocolate's already brown. The only thing that was missing was the reserved tree, Matthew McConaughey and the brown M&Ms. :-) (By the middle of the movie, Erin and I were really wishing we had that reserved tree....laying on the ground is rough!) Even with those things missing, it was still an amazing time.

So, with the Capitol building shining brightly and standing majestically behind the movie screen, the Washington Monument standing even taller behind us, a Merry Melody cartoon began playing, with that slobbery Sylvester interrupting someone's sleep. After that was over, the most bizarre thing happened....the HBO symbol showed up on the screen, a little song began to play, and people sparatically stood up and started jumping up and down while waving their arms and heads side to side. It was SOOOOO odd!! We didn't know what to do! We looked around at people, making eye contact, and they kept going as if this was a normal thing to do! I still don't understand, but all the regulars seemed to have great ol' time doing the movie dance.

Rachael is in VA!!!!!!!!! I'm going to enjoy some time at her Dad's house, ski-dooing, hanging out etc and then she's coming up here Monday-Wed and then we are going to Baltimore to enjoy that city and take Rach to the airport. I'm going to take Rach to the Screen on the Green so she can enjoy the whole experience.

I might even join in on the movie dance..........

Desire and Discipline

2008-07-28T00:28:00.002-04:00

I feel like I'm all mixed up. I feel like the world is spinning, yet I'm standing still...and I'm getting quite dizzy. Nauseous. Confused. Anxious. Unsettled. Restless. Empty. Lonely.

Every summer since I can remember, I've always started to long for structure around the beginning of August. I would talk to myself, saying---Abby, are you dumb? It's summer! Who wants to go to school, come home, do homework, eat, study more, shower and go to bed everyday, in that order! Be free! Enjoy the laziness of summer! Don't worry!

Well, I'm a creature of habit. I'm longing for it. As I'm typing this, I'm yelling at myself. I've had one AMAZING summer and I shouldn't want it to end. I feel so mixed up. I was home in PA for a month and then I was back in VA for 5 days and then I left for church camp where I was a counselor for the Older girls (rising 6th and 7th graders). I got home on Saturday and didn't know what to do with myself. Today was church and spending time with friends. Again, I felt so out of the loop about things that I didn't want to hear one more thing that I missed. I'm leaving for Richmond on Thursday morning to visit Rach at her dad's, where we'll veg, spend time with her family, ride sea doos, and have great conversations--ones that have been on the back burner because we haven't seen each other for a long time. I'm so excited to see her! But it's another addition to my craziness feeling.

Desire without Discipline always results in Disappointment.

Tonight at Frontline, this hit my soul. I feel so mixed up because I have all of these desires, yet no discipline.

Desires
Teach overseas
Spend time in God's word and reawaken and deepen my stagnant relationship with Him
Learn Spanish
Teach overseas
Destroy my debt
Casual, confident conversation and mingling with guys, leading to dating
Prepare for school
Teach overseas
Make my house a home
Destroy my debt

All these things I want, yet I'm doing NOTHING to make it happen. Nothing. How can God even take me serious about teaching overseas when I'm not trying? I need to make my relationship real with Him, I need to grow the desire for evangelism and I need to destroy my debt. I'm not even making one ounce of effort to save. I'm not spending like crazy, but I'm not budgeted.

Disappointment. I think that sums up all those feelings.

2008-07-01T16:44:00.002-04:00

Count down to family vacation: 22 hours!!!

Just wanted to let you know that things have gotten better since my last blog. I've enjoyed being LAZY, trying to get back my time that I gave to work all school year. I think I worked 60 hour weeks. Literally. I think I'm entitled to some R & R., don't you??

I traveled with Laurie (AND Tomtom, the most amazing present ever, and to prevent the last entry from happening again----THANKS DAD AND JAY!!!!!) to Naomi and Louis's wedding. It was so amazing. I loved it. Pictures will be coming soon.

So, tomorrow we are leaving (Mom, Dad, Jay, Abby (the sister-in-law, to clear up the confusion), Me, Craig and Ty) to go camping at Ohiopyle State park. We hope to go to Falling Water, white water rafting, canoeing, biking, paintballing, natural water sliding, play some tennis, volleyball, hillbilly golf, boardgames, and MAYBE get some sleep and some fire watching in. Dad is exhausted just listening to the list of things we want to do. We just want to play together. It's been so long since us siblings and parents played. AND we get to smell like campfire. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Until July 7....Adios!

Abby and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2008-06-16T22:46:00.009-04:00

On Saturday, I had one of the worst days possible. The image above (created by Ty and me) really sums up my day.
I left Rachel Delp's house at 10:20, which is plenty of time to get to the wedding at 1:00 in Williamsport, 2 hours away. I was doing fine until I missed my exit and had to turn around. No problem. As I was going back south, I saw a sign for a road that I was going to need. So, instead of going back to the exit I was supposed to get off of, I decided that it would be better to get off here, saving time. I kept driving, trying to find 22W. I found S. Carlton street which was supposed to take me to 22W. But, it turned into 320E. I thought that maybe it was a different name for it, until I realized that they are opposite directions and couldn't POSSIBLY be the same thing. That's when I started to panic. Harrisburg is so confusing! I called dad, starting to tear up, asking him for help. I had to call mom because dad wasn't near a computer. I got back on the highway and took the wrong road. Called dad again and Jay and him were on speaker phone, trying to find me on googlemaps. Then I heard Jay say...uh...too far up... it was going to take me 1 hour and 45 mins to get to the wedding. Time: 12:15. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started bawling. How in the world could this happen??? I was having second thoughts about going to this wedding but decided I needed to go, and now this! Jay and Dad were doing their best to make me feel better, but all I wanted to do was cry and drive home. After hanging up with them, I cried my heart out to God, pleading for direction and speed. I was so mad.

I was coming up to the church and saw the bridal party standing outside on the deck. Yep..... I missed the wedding. The ceremony just ended and I walked into the basement and up the back stairs. No one would know that I missed it! People didn't see me at the ceremony and were asking if I was there. I had to tell them the drama, so my secret was out.

I got to see Nomes, which was GREAT. She's so excited for her wedding in two weeks. I also saw a lot of other people from BBC, but it wasn't as great as I anticipated. I was expecting to be attacked with hugs and compliments on my dress, necklace, etc., but I wasn't. It was a "hey" from most of them. I know that after college, things change and everyone gets into different stages of life, but I hoped that friendships could have endured through that. Yeah, so most of my friends are married. It doesn't mean we can't talk on the phone or have a great time when we are together. It was just a big let down. The newlyweds were BEAUTIFUL, the reception was great and yummy, and their dance was amazing, but the reuniting with old friends wasn't so great. Even though I wished it to be different, I almost half expected it.

I left for home around 5:30, found Rt 80 just fine, and thought I was golden. I could drive Rt 80 home with my eyes closed! BUT, there were 2 torrential downpours while I was driving, causing me to hydroplane a couple of times and fear for my life. THEN, I get a message on the AM station that a section of 80 was closed and I needed to follow a detour. A DETOUR!!! At this point, I thought, what next? A speeding ticket? An accident? A flat tire? Come on, I'm ready for it! It couldn't get worse!

Getting on 79 was priceless, and then seeing the outlets was amazing. I stopped off at MCDs for a McFlurry, something to make me feel better. I got home at 10 and was greeted with big hugs, 6 roses, new carpet and bed in my room and cable on my TV!

So, that's the saga of Saturday. I'm so glad it's over.

Can you hear it?

2008-06-06T23:10:00.005-04:00

Listen......can you hear that?? Can you hear it???

It's the sound of summer vacation.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........................

The home stretch!

2008-06-02T22:31:00.005-04:00

All the papers are checked. The grades are in. The room looks bare. SCHOOL IS ALMOST OUT!

Today was the last Monday of the school year, and the first day of the last week of school. I didn't really have a last week of school last year. We went on our class trip and then we had musical practice all week, then graduation and done! Today I had my kids turn in their science books. We are studying smoking and the affects it has on a person. It's been pretty cool to see their responses. A lot of kids have relatives that smoke and they are now really worried about them. I'm doing my best to gross them out to keep them away from it.

You know, the good ol' healthy lung/smoker lung comparison and the x ray of someone smoking and how it shows up on the picture. I also showed them pictures of mouth cancer and lung cancer and heart disease...all the things that you are at risk for. It was really interesting to listen to the questions of some of the kids. They were asking questions without saying, "I'm afraid my dad's going to die. What do I do". They were getting good at asking questions in third person.

Do any of you remember the 30 min after school special with all of the cartoon characters (Daffy, Bugs, Alf, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Teenage mutant ninja turtles, the chipmunks, etc) together, telling us not to do drugs? Well.....I found it on google video!!!! Its called Cartoon All stars http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-940551580328756105&hl=en. I warned them that it might be a little funny (seeing that the cartoon people were wearing 80s cartoon clothes) but that the subject was very serious and they needed to be mature and learn. I showed half of it to my kids today and they really want to see the rest. They are so curious about drugs and what things are that their attention is focused. I need to use that to teach them things they need to know. I think that Christian schools and churches in general do a bad job of informing kids with a biblical view of issues. They just hide from them. Kids brought up in strict Christian households grow up believing that sex is a BAD thing and that it is a sin to talk about it. Drugs are not to be talked about, but completely avoided. Forbiddence breeds curiosity and experimentation! (climbing down off of my soap box)

All that to say....just 3 and 1/2 more days of school with my favorite 5th graders. I keep looking forward to a break and a change, but I forget this is my last time with them as my class. It's my last time as a 5th grade teacher (for now!). Wow.

2008-05-28T23:25:00.002-04:00

The answer is no. I don't get to show the movie to the class. They say that they want to keep the rule about G movies only a firm rule and since there is a G-rated movie for the book available, then there isn't really a problem.

Yep, my bubble has been busted. The kids complained but I told them that a rule is a rule, and we need to follow it, without complaining. (I better go and change my heart and make sure my mouth stays closed so I follow my own instructions!)

A New Adventure

2008-05-26T08:50:00.005-04:00

About 3 weeks ago, I told the principal that if Paul, the Math teacher, didn't leave, then I wanted Ann to teach 5th grade and I would teach Elementary Spanish(k-5) and Middle School Girls' PE. I offered to do Spanish because I love it and I want to get better at it for my future life. About a week later, I was told that, as of right now, I was going to teach 5th grade (without the math class) and 3,4, and 5th grade Spanish. It sounded good when he explained the time needed for teaching and prep. It would be less time to do the Spanish then the math. I said I would have to talk to the Spanish teacher first, but it sounded like it could work. After all, it would be less time. So, I was mentally preparing myself to do a BUTTLOAD of work.

I thank God for the friends he has given me. Erin brought me to my senses when we talked about it. She said, "Abby, don't do it. No way. You'll have 2 Learning Explosions (a themed-week) and Reading Week, and grading and learning 3 new 5th grade subjects, and then 3 new grades of Spanish to teach. You'll burn out. You'll hate it. Tell him no. You're not going to do it. I won't let you."

So, after that verbal beating (just kidding! It was the voice of reason-a voice I'm so grateful for!) I decided I'd write down the reasons why it'd be bad and talk to the principal.

A week later.....

On Friday, I was called to the Principal's office. Yes, it's still scary, even as an adult. The principal tells me that the math teacher is staying. Ann is teaching 5th grade. I am teaching.......elementary PE, (K-5) 6th grade PE (co-ed) and 7-8 grade PE (co-ed). AND 3-5 grade Spanish. I AM A SPECIALS TEACHER!!!

Let me tell you, so many emotions have been running rampant in my heart and so many thoughts have been taking my mind captive these past 4 days. Each day I wake up thinking, man, I'm the PE teacher. I was excited because this means SOOO much less work to take home. Thinking about that at the end of the school year always brings joy. I can wear workout clothes everyday! I won't have to do Learning Explosions or Reading Week or Standardized testing. But, I won't get to have fun with my OWN class of 12-16. I've grown so close to my kids this year. We have inside jokes and they feel so at home in my room. I WILL have a learning explosion-it's called Field Day. The MOTHER of all Learning Explosions. I won't get to teach reading-my passion. I have so many things, so many books in my room that I won't get to use next year. Where am I going to PUT all of my things???? I have the Spanish classroom, but I don't think that will work like I want it to. I got really down about not having my own classroom yesterday. Slight internal funk. Everyone I called to tell about the situation said, awww.....are you okay with this?

This morning, as I was journaling to God, He let me see how good this will be. This will be SOOO good. I view this time here in the states as training for me to get ready for teaching overseas. This is just one more area that I get to be trained in that I will be able to use on the mission field. Who knows what I'll be doing!! Spanish will make me study and get better at the language, which is what I've been longing to do for a long time. I will have created so many games for all ages of kids that I could teach anyone PE in any school. I can use sports as a ministry to get the kids of other countries interested in hearing the gospel. I need to also use this time to get into shape and practice what I preach to my students. I also get to have my 5th graders again!!!

I am enjoying this journey. Each step seems awkward and hard and different and unattainable with my strength, yet God is bigger than me. God is bigger than the Kindergarten PE class that won't listen. Bigger than the Middle school giving me attitude.

God is big and I'm along for the ride. New adventure, here I come!!!!

2008-05-22T23:08:00.003-04:00

This blog article has been removed as the writer has reread it and could see some possible things that could upset people and hurt me in the long run. It was a good rant, but it needs to be deleted. :-)

Fears

2008-05-19T12:49:00.002-04:00

Possible Root Canal at 3:30.

AGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-11T23:12:00.004-04:00

17 days of school left....just 17 more days of school....I can do it! I can do it!! (looks at the clock, 11:45pm, Sunday night) I CAN'T DO IT!!!!!

The NEW YMCA

2008-04-30T23:18:00.003-04:00

Each year, during Reading week, the teachers make up some crazy thing about reading and do it in front of the kids. They love it, we get paid to dress up like goofballs and dance around! What other job would allow you to do that?? Ann, the other 5th grade teacher, and I wrote the words to the song and the girls and I collaborated ideas about the motions and props, and we created a masterpiece. Erin, Jessica, Amanda and I (the first year "suckers", minus Jessica) did the production called R-E-A-D, to the tune of YMCA. It was amazing. There are no words to describe it. You'll have to see it yourself.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-28T22:19:00.002-04:00

Today...... I got handed my contract. He told me that he can't promise anything, and things might change, but as of now, I will be the 5th grade teacher next year. WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
I have such mixed emotions because I don't want Ann to move. I don't want her to go through that changing and adding of work. She would be moved into middle school to teach math and something else (that's the dangerous part----the unknown. We all sign unassigned or job determined contracts.) I want things to stay like it is now, without the P.E. part. I could do without that. :-) But, they can't. There will be about 13-16 15th graders next year, so there's only one 5th grade. This means I "get" to teach Language and Math and History next year too. yeah. wohoo. I need to work on my heart attitude about that.

I have a ton to do, but I'd thought I'd let you know the great news! Praise the Lord!

Laying it down at His feet.....AGAIN

2008-04-23T22:38:00.003-04:00

I don't know when my future will be predictable. I don't know when I'll be able to say, yes I know EXACTLY what I'm doing next school year. I know, many of you out there who have been at their same job for the past 20 years are jealous of my annual job changing. Well, you can have it!

There will only be 1 fifth grade next year. That means that Ann or I will be changing our job. I wasn't okay with that about two months ago, but after laying it down at His feet, I was able to move on and accept the idea of maybe teaching 4th grade. Then I heard that our principal doesn't like to move 1st year teachers. So, that means I might be teaching ALL of 5th grade next year. I've enjoyed the subjects I teach and also have enjoyed the subjects I DON'T have to teach (I enjoy the fact that I don't have to teach them!). Again, after worrying and stressing out and tearing up about the possibility of that, I laid it down again and I was okay.

Over the past week, people have been getting their contracts. People. Not me. I don't know what's going on. Erin reassured me with the thought that he wouldn't just NOT give me a contract without having problems that we've discussed previously. But, anyhow, I don't have my contract. I think he doesn't know what to do with me next year. He doesn't have an answer to the question of, "so, what am I teaching next year?"

I JUST WANT TO KNOW!!! I have picked it back up from before His feet. I have taken it back into my own hands to have me worry about it for a little bit. As if I can figure things out and worrying will help. I know the facts. I know the truth-God knows ALL and sees ALL and knows EXACTLY what will happen. Yet, I pick it back up.

Lord, help me to lay it back down.

Filling in Bubbles

2008-04-21T06:34:00.002-04:00

Good morning! This past weekend was SOOOOO beautiful here! On Saturday it was 85 degrees here! I sat in my back "yard" (which is really a fenced in weed pit) and graded papers for 3 hours. It's April 21 and I have my first sunburn!!!! I'm so proud. :-) Saturday night Robin and I went to a game night at McLean Bible Church. It was for the 20s, 30s and 40s of the area to come and play Taboo, Catchphrase, Apples to Apples, etc. Erin wasn't here this weekend, so she sent me forth to scout out the area and make some connections so she could just slip in and not go through the painful and difficult part of meeting new people. Thanks Erin! We met some nice women, a guy nicknamed Thor, God of thunder, and one brave man who dared to join a table full of estrogen to play Catchphrase. I think I was the youngest one there. I didn't really succeed in scouting out the area (aka I didn't really talk to any guys) but there weren't many my age there. This was my first step of "putting myself out there" and it wasn't as successful as I'd wished. Oh well, there's always next time!
This is the week of school that we all dreaded each school year. Filling in bubble after bubble after bubble after bubble after bubble. Taking a small break, a sip of water, a much needed trip to the bathroom, and then it's back to the bubbles. We, as the teachers, have a script that we need to read to make sure that we are making it as standard as possible. It's quite funny. I don't have to really teach this week, so that's nice! NO PE!!!! My days will be filled with going to each hand-raised child saying, sorry, I can't help you with that. Sorry, I can't answer that. You're doing fine, keep going! I'm sorry, I can't tell you what that word means. They know I can't answer questions, yet they will STILL raise their hands. I better wear good shoes!

2008-04-19T01:36:00.001-04:00

I just got to talk to Cori on the internet with webcam and skype.....even though it was midnight here, it was worth it.........what a perfect ending to a perfectly beautiful day. Now, I can sleep.

What a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood....

2008-04-18T07:52:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh.......flowers are out, the sun is shining and it's supposed to get to 82 degrees here today in sunny Nothern Virginia....

What a beautiful, beautiful day!

Appreciated

2008-04-15T07:50:00.002-04:00

Last week was full of little treats for the teachers. Well, some of them were little, others were huge, but all of them were very welcomed (and deserved :-) Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Monday we were blessed with a HUGE breakfast in the teacher's lounge, all donated by the parents. I brought back a plate of food to the classroom, and all of the kids were complaining that I was eating in front of them. One told me that they should have Student Appreciation Day and all of the teachers should bring in food for the kids. I responded with the fact that they are appreciated EVERYDAY and should just be quiet. 2 of my kids had to go to the office to deliver the lunch count, and they came back with, "Ms. Peffer, did you know that there's a BUFFET in the teacher's lounge! There is soooo much food!"

(More on this later...the bell just rang----off to a fieldtrip to the WW2 Memorial and Holacaust Museum, then to lighten the mood, we're bowling! Some of them think they are going to beat me, but they haven't seen the skills of this 4-H trained professional bowler.....)

Spider Man

2008-04-10T07:49:00.002-04:00

I just got shot by Spider Man's web. It was a sneak attack this time, but lucky for me, I've had a web dispenser inserted into my wrist and was able to spray him back. Spider Man goes to my school, did you know that? Yep, he attends the 3 year old preschool classroom and enjoys eating snack and reading books with my 5th graders. He has decided to take up fighting off the bad guys in preschool. There is no cutting, pushing or fighting over toys when HE's around. He'll get ya.

Beware.

2008-03-25T07:42:00.000-04:00

This is the remains of the Oesterlings house. Please continue to pray for them as they are going back to school today. It'll be a hard day for them, filled with hugs and tears and not a lot of concentration. I love you girls!!

How much we each REALLY have and how much we REALLY don't NEED

2008-03-22T18:29:00.004-04:00

Please pray for my friends, the Oesterlings. They were awakened by their smoke alarm at 3am this morning, finding out that their house was on fire. They grabbed what they could and what was important to them (a stuffed animal for Christin :-) and stood outside, watching their house and all of their belongings disappear. They are staying at a fully furnished cabin across the street for the time being.
Dad and I headed out to Giant Eagle this morning @ 8 to get all the things we take for granted-toilet paper, fruit, napkins, lunch meat, soup, paper towels, kleenex, sugar, flour, dinosaur shaped macaroni and cheese, bread, milk etc. I added my own little touch and added goldfish crackers, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes with a TON of frosting on them, and a bouquet of flowers. They needed a little cheering up and I thought that would do it. Christin, the youngest girl was so excited that I brought PB and J.
They are in good spirits but are teary when loved ones come and visit and when they get hugs (my specialty). No one was hurt and they are surrounded by amazing family and our church family is showering them with love. It just reminded me as to how much I have and how much I don't NEED. We saw God today. The mom usually keeps her purse in the kitchen. Last night, for some reason, she took her purse into the family room. The family room was either very close to the door and they got to it before the fire or there was no fire in that room. They had 2 keys for their car---one key had a melted chip and is useless, and the other key----was in her purse. Their other car was saved too, only losing the dad's truck. I'm sure they'll be filled with more God sightings as they go through this process of rebuilding.

Please pray for them and please, the next time you think you NEED something, just stop and think about people, all over the world, who have nothing. They might not have any earthly possessions left, but with God, faith and their salvation, they will never be without hope or the things that are most important.

Ex-Marching Band Kids

2008-03-20T23:50:00.003-04:00

This is for all of my band friends who know this would be them and who find themselves getting in step with those walking beside you. It's okay. We all do it.