I said yes!

Well....I might not have blogged about this right away, but on December 15th Chris took me to my favorite spot in the whole wide world (by the Hudson River at Vanderbilt) and asked me to marry him. I always thought that when I got engaged I would calmly and collectively give some sort of romantic speech, but as it turns out I just hurredly took off my gloves, put the ring on my finger, and quickly said "YES!".

Chris and I are really excited to get married....but we know that we still have a lot to do before that happens. A few more days and I'll be heading back to Africa for another year, and Chris will be working and finishing up college.

Seeing him everyday has been such a wonderful thing, and I'm not sure how we're both going to survive, but I guess a lot of prayer and love and skyping will do the trick.

I have never been so excited about anything in my life, and I can't wait till the day I get to marry the love of my life, Chris Blue.

I'm going home...

     Well...the last few days have been a blur as we've finished school, packed the kids up, and now I'm getting ready to go home for a visit as well! I've been running around like a chicken with my head chopped off trying to get my house clean, my school responsibilities finished, pack my bags, spend time with people, write thank you and Christmas cards...the list goes on. :) Somehow though, God has been providing the necessary time to get everything done, my suitcase is halfway packed, and I am starting my long trip home tomorrow morning! I can't wait!

Six days and a wake up....

     Well, in less than a week's time I'll be back in New York State....it's pretty crazy to think about that. I've almost finished all of my work for the term (just a few more awards to prepare before tomorrow), and have only one more busy day to get through which is Wednesday, the final day of term. 

      I've been receiving count down emails every day from my little sister, and Chris has been counting down for a while now! Even though I see the number every day, I am still surprised that there are only six more days (I'll be home on the night of the seventh day) till I'm finally home! I'm so excited to see everybody!

Getting into the Christmas spirit

Well....I guess Christmas to me this year means going home and visiting the people that I love the most in the whole wide world, and so I guess I haven't been thinking about decorating my classroom and what-not. 

Anyway, the first grade teacher has been doing a wonderful job in decorating her classroom for Christmas, and I realized (after many pleas from second graders to decorate our classroom too) that I was being pretty "Bah Humbug-ish" in not doing the same thing. 

It's a pretty strange feeling to be decorating the classroom in 80 - 90 degree weather, but somehow making snowflakes, paper chains, and hanging up tinsel and stars has gotten me in a Christmas-y mood....the fact that I'll be home in 12 days, and that I've almost finished my report cards might be playing into that feeling as well. :) 

And just in case I take myself too seriously...

Recently I've procured a cold that is going around the station, and so I've been sneezing and blowing my nose quite a bit of late. 

Yesterday in class though, I got a good laugh when after I blew my nose one of the second graders said, "Oh, Miss Garcia, I thought you were using your pencil sharpener."

So apparently when I blow my nose it sounds like an electric pencil sharpener....who knew?

Celebrating Thanksgiving...a little differently

    Well, Happy Thanksgiving....it's been a little of a strange day as I had classes this morning, and I am one of only three other people on station to recognize American Thanksgiving. It's easy to get down about being away from home on a day like today, and knowing that my entire family will all be under the same roof celebrating together. 

     Honestly though, it hasn't been a bad day at all. Last night I ran a "pie social", and with everyone's help we had quite a variety of pies...and even some ice cream! We played some Thanksgiving games, had some silly competitions, and I think, for the most part, everyone had a good time. There were quite a few different nationalities represented, (most of which don't celebrate Thanksgiving at all...or at least not in November), but I really appreciated the fact that they were willing to celebrate Thanksgiving with me...even if it is an American holiday. 

    This morning I received a whole bunch of the sweetest "Happy Thanksgiving Miss Garcia" cards, which one of my fellow teachers put together, and had appear from all different places (one my desk, at my seat at breakfast, from the kids, etc.). Today also just happened to be my afternoon off, so this afternoon I was able to call home, and this evening the girls on station are coming over to my house to eat leftover pie (I made apple and banana cream pie), and to make some Christmas cards. 

     So yeah, way different than a typical Thanksgiving, but special all the same, and hasn't left me unthankful in any way! :) Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!

Dorm Mom For The Evening

Last night I got to fill in as Dorm Mom for the girls' dorm because the real Dorm Mom had to help out with an emergency off station. 

I actually had a really good time seeing the girls in a different element, and although I'm okay to not do this full time, I enjoyed very much the opportunity to do it for the evening. 

The evening consisted of helping making sure all the junior girls got their baths, and got ready for bed on time, reading stories to them, doing devotions and prayers with them, handing out their "medicine" (such as salt to gargle, eye drops etc.), and tucking them all in. It was adorable as they all wanted a kiss goodnight (even the bigger girls), and they wanted to sing a song before the lights were turned out. 

I'm not exactly ready to be a mom yet, but the little tastes I get of motherhood here and there are always quite enjoyable.