I am so Smart

Yesterday I was boiling some vegetables. A pretty routine event that I thought I had downpact. I took the vegetables off, rinsed them, put them on a plate, and turned off the burner.

Then the stove started to rattle.

It was annoying me so I put my hand on it to stop it. Nothing happened. So I put my hand on the next burner to stop it, forgetting that I had just used it. I now have really cool circle designs on my one hand.

Mistakes = lessons. I'm now one step closer to being Martha Stewart.

Tangents

Wow, tangents with Grade 6 can take you anywhere.

We started talking about judgement day (separating the sheep from the goats) and ended up talking about Specific and General Revelation. Never underestimate the power of a Grade 6 question.

From the words of Frank Peretti

Since first giving my talk on the subject of wounded spirits, and as I've worked on this book, I've found it comforting to think that after thirty or forty years, the Lord and I can finally make some good use of all that trouble I went through. God does not waste an ounce of our pain or a drop of our tears; suffering doesn't come our way for no reason, and He seems especially efficient at using what we endure to mold our character. If we are malleable, He takes our bumps and bruises and shapes them into something beautiful. Maybe, becuase of what you and I hvae experienced, we can inspire a few changes in the way people think about and treat each other in this world.

The Great Uses of Math

I just finished doing my first-ever tax return. Wow, definently a learning experience. I don't even want to think of how many hours I put into it.

Ice is the new Gold

O.K. Now that I'm home (aka parent's place) I have access to my pictures on a computer. I thought I'd post my ice storm which created a snowday for me.

My personal reflections: after watching the sun shine through the ice, I really think that heaven is going to be paved, not in gold, but in ice crystals. :) It's too bad that I couldn't catch that on my camera.

Close-up of the clothes line seen above. So amazing how water in motion can freeze into icicles.

Every branch is covered in ice.

The deck. So many icicles to choose from.

This was my favourite part. Walking across the "green" grass and hearing the crunch of ice with every step.

It Just Sank In

My daily morning "computer" routine is to check what teaching jobs are available with the OACS board (Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools). Today, while I checked there was one job missing. The one in Listowel teaching Grade 7/8. This means that the job has been filled.

It kinda hit me this morning that that could of been me. I had an interview there last Saturday and was offered the job the following Monday. I had 48 hours to decide yes/no (aka. as my future). It gave me sleepless nights and consumed my thoughts. I kept going back and forth, back and forth. I was settled on yes, then I settled on no.

I called the principal back on Wednesday evening and gave him my very much deliberated answer -no. He then proceeded to take 10 minutes to change my mind (ah, the stubborn dutch gene came into full force here). He even told me I had until 9:00a.m. the next morning to change my mind. Although I was completely honoured, I am determined to stick to my word.

However, the website informed me that someone has accepted the position. That means it definently isn't mine. Option number two has slipped through my fingers again because of the word WAIT.

O.K. Lord, I've turned down TWO teaching jobs because you keep telling me to wait. Whatever it is has better be worth this confusion and frusturation.

'tis my life

This morning I figured I would be the only one at school today. So, I figured it would be the only day that I could wear my pjs to school to work (March Break). Well, it turns out to be the exact same day that 3 volunteers decide to sell gift certificates. I've never seen to many adults through the school in one day. It's a good thing my pjs have cute monkey faces on them (and not my: kiss me frog ones).

Winter Wonderland Weekend

All of us at the cottage. Right: mom, brother Luke, sister-in-law Tanya and then the DeVries Family, dad, me, sister Sarah, and brother-in-law (to be) Joe

My pops, who's pretty good on the skis.

My sister-in-law Tanya with her first attempt on snow-skis.

Here's a picture of my sister and future-brother-in-law on top of a hill.

Here is a picture where I attempt to snowboard.

Roses and Thorns

During the school day, I also let my students start off with telling me how their evening (the day before) went. Well, my student started to get very verbose, and one time 13 students took 45 minutes to inform me of their evening.

So, I decided to change to roses and thorns. They had to tell me one each for sure. This has turned into:

"Miss Slotegraaf, I have three roses. Can I tell them all?" How can you say no to that?

Regardless of all the roses and thorns per students, it has decreased their verbose down significantly.

One of my favourite incidences however, was how one of my students handles this new trend. He, the night before, will list his roses and thorns on a piece of paper. He will take this piece of paper to school so that he will not forget any. He was rather upset the one day when he had forgotten his paper and therefore could not remember all his roses and thorns.

Never underestimate the power of listening to a child.

Brasilia? Hold on, wait.....

So, guess what? I was offered a teaching job in Brasilia, Brazil. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was sorting through all sorts of reasons as to why to answer yes or no. I was analyzing my motive for going. I was praying to God for a clear direction because I had to give an answer next week Tuesday.

And that's when God answered in a new way.

I went to bed and asked God to speak to me in a dream again. I woke-up in the morning, much to a disappointed non-dream, I guess God wasn't ready to reveal.

Later in the day, I was at the computer and decided to try a new web address that I had never tried (www.go.com) I asked God to give me an answer when I got there. Well, low and behold, when the web address showed up there was a very clear answer. Right at the top, admist an advertisement in big, bold letters were the words NO. I tried refreshing the site, and the advertisement disappeared. I tried refreshing a bunch of times and couldn't make that specific advertisement reappear.

I really do believe that that is the direction God wants me to take. It makes me more confused for my future (and less directional) but it reaffirms the word that God keeps giving me "Wait."

Ah, the dreaded word. I am not a patient person, I am a person of action. This is tough for me to do, but wait I must.

Wait and see what's in store for me.....

I feel like a coach

So yesterday we had our year end basketball tournament. Here's how the day went:

First game: creamed 30 to 4. The best part is that I used to play basketball with the coach of the other team. It would of been so nice to have beaten them.

Second game: We were within one point the whole game until the last 3 minutes, we were down by 3 points (9 to 6). We stole the ball and scored, 9 to 8. There was two minutes left. We stole the ball again and scored, 9 to 10. The buzzer goes. We won a game (I finally won a game as a coach). The girls were jumping up and down and hugging everyone (including me) it was so exciting. I lost all my fingernails on that game.

Third game: We lost. Too drained from the energy and excitement of Game 2.

Fourth game: We fought hard but last 18-10. The girls were feeling rather tired.

But it as a great day!! THe girls were excited to win one, and we had a lot of fun together.

Miss

So, the other day in class, some of my boys came to school pretty excited to tell me something. Apparently they are trying to set me up with their cadet counsellor. They had been talking to him and showing him our class picture. As we were joking around about this (I threatened that all we would talk about is them...) some of the girls tried to set me up with a brother, than a boy with his cousin...at this point I decided to change the direction of the conversation to save some dignity and pride.

One of my boys had his hand raised. I knew that answering him would be risky, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Well, doubt no longer that it was risky. Here's the very profound question he asked me:

"Miss Slotegraaf, have you ever tried on-line dating?" Oh, boy. Is that a proper question to ask? I have to confess that I have looked at postings just for fun, does that count? How do I answer the question? So in reply, I asked him if he had. He said "no" and I said well there ya go.

I told my class that I planned on remaining single for that day. And I came true with that promise.

Reminder

For all within a small area of Hamilton:

My basketball team is playing in a tournament at Redeemer on Tuesday, March 6th. They would be so excited to get some fan support.

Schedule:
9:00 we play Hamilton
11:00 we play Fruitland
11:40 we play BCA

If you want to see us get creamed, come to the first game. If you want to see us compete come to the second game. And the third game, I currently have no idea who BCA even is.

So come, bring loud voices, banners, and cheering for my great basketball team.

It Hurts

So, being at the bottom of the seniority list really sucks!!! Next year, there are major cuts to my school, and I, along with two other bottom riding teachers, get to say good-bye.

I'm excited because now I get to go follow other dreams, but devestated because I already miss my kids and the staff here. I've been bursting into random bouts of tears (totally unlike me). I guess it just shows to prove that I do like it here.

These 23 students have become such a huge part of my life, realistically they pretty much are my life. They are so amazing with their quirks, stories, passions, conversations, talents, gifts, etc. Boy, if I'm already this upset then June is going to be a roller coaster.

And I'm going to give them 3 last great months!! The best I can.

I laughed in class today

Yesterday we had a discussion with my Grade 5/6 as to why they are required to change for physed. The obvious reason: they are at a sweating age and sweat is not a pleasant odour to sit beside in class.

My students often come up with great examples to back-me-up. This one is no exception.
Here's the example one of my students graciously offered to my class:

"One day I was sweating really bad. My mom called dinner, and I went to sit down for supper in my usual place beside my brother. My brother was not feeling really good that day and he was stuck sitting beside me and my sweat. I smelled so bad that he had to go and throw-up."

Pause: I had to laugh. That is not a story you would have many people confess to in front of the whole class. But it was a shining example of what I was trying to talk about.