Christmas is Here, Bringing Good Cheer

Merry Christmas family and friends!

School is out, I have been able to sleep in late (you all know this is one of my favorite things ever), and enjoy watching Christmas movies with my friends. It still hasn't snowed here in Nicaragua, but it is only 82 degrees here today, cloudy, and windy, and I am wearing a hoodie, so I feel pretty Christmasy. The Christmas scented candle right next to me is also helping out a lot.

Instead of working on lessons plans or cleaning up my classroom, I have been home today just doing things around the house, listening to some sermons, and trying to "be still and know" that He is God. It has been a little weird not being home for the Christmas season. My family has many traditions and it has always been a really special time for me to spend with my family, and this is the first time I have ever missed it. But this morning I just felt so blessed to be here in Nicaragua, to be walking out His plan for my life. Last year as I was preparing to come, I knew that it would not always be easy, but I wanted so much to give everything I am and had to please Him. I still want that. Thinking back on the fun week I had with my students - celebrating the birth of Jesus, playing with fake snow and seeing such joy in their faces - I am filled with so much happiness. Here I am and I was able to share the blessings of Christmas with my precious students. I had not intended to share all this today, but it has been swimming around in my head, so there it is.

And now take a peek at what my kids look like after school (at least on Christmas program days):

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2: 10-11

xoxoxo
Laura

Let it Snow!

What do snowmen do at night?
Most of my kids have never seen snow, much less have built a snowman, but they all came up with some pretty creative things that snowmen might do at night when no one is looking. Among many crazy ideas, my 4th graders said they sing Stayin' Alive, steal cookies, have a dance party, and join a neighborhood baseball game.

Here was a morning journal we had this week:
Have you ever seen snow? What do you think about it?

Here are two of  the responses:
"No, I haven't seen snow. I think snow is soft. I think I want to eat snow. It tastes cold. That would be so cool."
"Well, kind of. I saw snow when I was two years old. I think snow is like clouds. But melted clouds. They are very fluffy."

My dad (by the way he rejected my horse request) emailed me some pictures of the Omaha snow. I showed them to my kids and they freaked out. It makes me smile because I hate hate hate the snow. Yes, I think it is beautiful when it falls and when it covers Christmas lights, but that's it. I do not miss cold toes or frozen car doors or gray slush. My mom sent me some fake snow that we are going to try out at our Christmas party this week. I told the kids about it and they keep pestering me about it. Is it snow day? When are we going to do the snow? Did you already do the snow at your house? (Why would I do that??)

In unrelated exciting Nica news, I got my cedula. This means I am an official resident of Nicaragua! I had to leave school to go get it done, and so I had a substitute. I didn't tell my kids I was leaving, so some were unsure of where I went. The next morning when one girl in my class saw me, she bolted across the room and gave me a huge hug. This girl is not normally a hugger, so I was a little surprised. She looked up at me and said, " I thought you were in jail, I am so glad you are here." I had no idea what in the world she meant by that, but figured she thought I would go to jail if I didn't get my cedula or something. At the end of the week I read her morning journal. One of the prompts was about whether or not they remember their dreams and asked them to describe a dream they remembered. Turns out this girl had had a dream the day that I got my cedula. She had a dream that I had to miss school because I was arrested and got thrown in jail. They got a new substitute who didn't teach well and found out they would never see me again. She wasn't sure if the dream was real or not and only figured out when she saw me the next morning that I didn't actually go to jail.  I love my students. Never a dull moment.

Much love,
Laura

Thanksgiving Delights

Now that it is December and the Christmas Season is here, I feel like Thanksgiving was a long time ago and that this post is already out-dated even before I post it. Apparently it was just over a week ago, so I will continue on with my thoughts.

Even though Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, we celebrate it at NCA. We put on a Thanksgiving program and put a huge emphasis in the classrooms on what it means to be thankful. Since we have been in the poetry mood in the 4th grade, we memorized a poem, created some actions, and presented it during our part of the program.

Reciting "Thanksgiving Delights"

The video is a little unfocused in parts, but it will give you an idea of what it was like. I love how they all remembered to wear their fall colors!

We had a couple of days off for Thanksgiving, some my roommates and I headed up to the mountains. We stopped in Jinotega where we helped bake and serve Thanksgiving dinner at an orphanage.

The potato peeling masters

The Feast

We left lots of kiddos with full bellies!

Some were unsure about the green bean casserole...

Everyone helps with the morning chores - feeding the chickens, cleaning up the yard - even the little ones.

The big kids go to school in the afternoon and the little ones stay and get lessons in the morning.

I could go on about the orphanage, but I think these pictures and their precious little smiles say enough. God has his hand upon them.

Next stop on our weekend adventure: Matagalpa. We stayed on a coffee plantation, and let me tell you, it was beautiful. I am continuously taken aback by the beauty of this country.

My favorite part was taking a horse back tour of the plantation. I would like to take this moment to make a public plea to my dad for a horse for Christmas. I ask for one every year, but so far it hasn't happened. Maybe this year, Dad?

"Please?"

"Pretty please?"

We will see if that works.

Happy December, friends.

xoxoxoxo
Laura