Good

I'm finding I really like five year olds.  They think everything is so fun!  The other day I began a writing lesson with them.  I read them a book and we talked about how the author is the person who writes the words.  I told them that they were all going to be authors!  We chatted about the similarity of all books.  They have more than one page!  With widened eyes and pumped fists, the kids were amazed that they were going to be able to write stories.  I chuckled to myself as I walked around and looked at their "stories."  There were pictures with arms coming out of heads and random letters strewn about the page.  Every so often a kid would proclaim that they were going to need another page.  It was  fun to watch.

Sometimes I get so caught up with the school work that I forget about them just being cute kids!  I'm reminded every morning when I meet the kids at the door and they look to happy to be at school.  This morning, one of my little guys came in and said very seriously, "Miss Hornback, I have something important to show you!"  He whipped out a toy duck that came from a pizza place the night before.  I'd never seen him so excited about anything!  I love kindergarten because I am amazed to see the innocence and true beauty of personalities.  Even with the trouble makers, I still see so much good in these kids, even when I have to look a little harder for it ;)

Starting to Pick up!

This past weekend, my roommate from college got married!  She asked me to sing in her wedding!  Though I was honored, singing/playing guitar in our dorm room was a little bit different than singing/playing guitar in her wedding!  I sure didn't want to ruin the ceremony with a horrible voice crack or sour note on the guitar caused by sweaty hands, haha.  But, I reluctantly agreed and it went very well.  I didn't even get "cotton mouth."  It was fun to reconnect with old college/camp friends and catch up.  Of course I was taking mental notes the whole time because OUR wedding is next!!  Ah, so hard to believe.  This coming weekend is my family wedding shower.  I can't believe things are coming so fast.  December will be here before we know it! :)

I love Kindergarten!

I love Kindergarten!  This is so great!  I haven't even had to take any work home with me each night!  The curriculum is so basic that it allows me to teach these little people how to get along, be respectful and take turns.  They are doing really well.  They are actually a lot more advanced than I thought they would be.  It has been a little difficult for them to remember to sit down in the chair, raise their hands before speaking and to not pee on the playground (hahah!) but for the most part, they are learning quickly.  The students have already shown improvement in writing their names and using letters on their pictures.  It's pretty fun to watch them get so excited about things!

More to come soon!

My new classroom!

This is Josh in his classroom!

 

                                           Sorry I couldn't get them to flip :(

Unexpected Adventure

Well, I'm now a Kindergarten teacher!  I got the call last Friday that my job had been eliminated and that I was being displaced to a new school and new grade!  At first I was shocked and upset.  I didn't know how to teach Kindergarten.  I had just gotten one year of 1st grade under my belt and was excited to try it again.  BUT, apparently God had other plans :)

I'm now at Wegienka Elementary.  It's a really nice school full of friendly and helpful staff.  I have a really nice principal and secretary who have found me all the supplies I need.  I have another kindergarten teacher there who has given me all her lesson plans, packets and templates to make my own!  She's been a huge blessing!  Though I will miss my old school and friends, I think I will be very happy here at the new school!  I feel like this is right where God wants me to be :)  As for teaching kindergarten, I'm excited to be able to teach them how to be little students and get along with others.  I get to be the foundation of their learning.  I get to teach them the basics of letters, sounds and reading.  It will be nice to start fresh!

My theme for the classroom is the jungle!  Josh made me a reading tree, I have vines in the corner, animals and grass around the room.  I will get pictures of it next week when it's all finished! :)

    

 

This morning I am overwhelmed by thankfulness.  I was sitting in my chair drinking my coffee, writing in my journal and doing the usual morning routine, when it hit me.  Last year on this day, July 25, I was frantically looking for a job.  I had looked in three states, attended numerous interviews and applied to over 500 jobs!  As the summer waned, I got more and more frustrated.   At one point I thought I'd be moving to Chicago, Perrysburg, Benton Harbor and St. Johns among others. God had other plans. 

 

I am so thankful to have a job in the increasingly hard education economy.  Teachers talk of lay offs, pink slips and years off of work.  But, God placed (which at times felt like He dumped) me at Erving Elementary, right where I was needed.

 

I am so thankful to have found a wonderful church.  The pastor speaks truth (even when it's hard to hear) and does so in love.  I have a small group, young adult group and a sweet group of friends to fellowship with.

 

I am so thankful to be engaged and planning a wedding!  Recently we got the bridesmaid dresses, did our gift registry and have ordered the save-the-date cards.  Things are moving along smoothly. 

 

With all that said, I'm so thankful to God.  He is so patient with me when I mess up.  He extends unusual amounts of grace and peace even when I don't deserve it.  He is so faithful.  I am so thankful.

Tents

On Saturday, Josh and I went with our young adult church group to serve at a homeless shelter.  This is one of our monthly service projects.  This week was much different.  I started talking to a lady name Patty.  She was concerned because apparently she had her belongs in a safety deposit box at the bank and she owed so much on the box that she thought the bank may have drilled a hole in the box and disposed of her things.  I assumed that she must have some very important things in the box, which to her were!  She had things like sunglasses and such, which to me seem minuscule, but since she only owns what she carries on her back, they are significant. 

We asked her about her life and her living situation.  This shelter is only for meals in the day time.  At night she lives in a tent camp out in the woods.  When I asked her about shelters, she said that they all close for the summer months.  Therefore, camping is her only option.  She explained that she lives with a few other couples in the woods and they all share food.  After asking her a few things, Josh and I discovered that they were in need of some other things.  The biggest problem is mosquitoes.  She said they eat them alive out there!

We'd heard about other "camps" like these that the police break up by slashing the homeless' bike tires and cutting up their tents.  Problem is, there is no where else for these people to go!  She wouldn't tell us the location of the camp because she was probably afraid we would call the police.

Josh, Josh's dad and I went to the store to buy her the things she needed such as, rope, water, bug spray, propane for a little grill, and deodorant.  As we walked out of Meijer to stuff a backpack for her, a man rolled down the window of his car and said, "God bless you guys!"  He continued to look at us out the window, smiling real big!  How did he even know what we were doing?  Why would he chose us to say it to?  I know I might sound crazy, but I think he might have been an angel in disguise, encouraging us to help the poor....Strange thought!

We gave Patty the supplies and she hugged me, thanking us in amazement.  He took us to the corner of the parking lot, where her path to the camp began.    In a narrow opening in the woods, we set down her things.  Hopefully she slept well that night without mosquitoes buzzing around her!  It truly is more blessed to give than receive!