La Sonya

There are lots of things I like about my job. I get to make up fun sentences for spelling tests. Once: Once I bought a cow with my money. Shoe: I just put my shoe on a giant's toe. Yesterday: Yesterday I ate only ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tomorrow: We will go to space tomorrow. Sometimes I think I distract the students to much with my sentences. You should try it sometime. It's a lot of fun and good for the brain. I like telling stories from the Bible. When we play Bible trivia I get to tell cool stories explaining who people are. Recently I've been seeing them as real people not just a story I read about but real live humans who had struggles and highs just like me. I hope it comes across to them as an exciting story. Today it was a bit about Nehemiah. Earlier it was about David and Solomon. Such cool people, WHO ARE REAL! We get to draw pictures. That's right, pictures for school. Who doesn't love that? Thankfully recently I have b

I think I have found a new plan for an adventure. I want to walk El Camino de Santiago. What inspired me? I watched the movie The Way . It was good, really good. I was glad I didn't watch it with people because I shed some tears and I'm not quite to the place where I can cry in front of people. The development of characters and relationships was well done I thought. What I really liked was the route. I have always wanted to traverse a long distance, like the Appalachia trail or the Pacific Coast Trail. But this trail would be the BEST. I'd be in foreign countries, small, old towns and I'd see it all. I'm sure my experience wouldn't be quite like the movie (I wouldn't go to retrieve the remains of my son, quite smoking or loose weight) but think of the adventure! So, whose in? I'm going to go the summer after I finish summer school. That gives me two summers or so. It'll be awesome. We can brush up on our French, Spanish and what ever co

I often forget to write. So much is going on, my days are full and I get swamped. Recently they were really full. Full of meetings that made me feel inadiquite, meetings that made me questions God's placement of me here and meetings that filled my plate with more to-do's than were already flowing over. Saturday I took a personal day and didn't tell anyone I was actually still in town. I listened to some good sermons by Andy Stanley and John Ortberg. They helped me see God in my life again, they helped me to remember who gave me this job. They reminded me that God never said things would be easy but He gave us Grace. They reminded me to slow down and simply enjoy what today offers. Then Sunday I took a moment and watched a clip of Mr. Rogers. What a guy. He reminded me who I want to be in this world. How I want to take every moment to make a difference for the better in someone's life.  Every time he was given an opportunity to make the world a better place he

The best run I have gone on, ever.  Six of us {3 ultra runners, 1 Olympic tri and 1 long runner} ended up split in two groups. I had been expecting that, I'm slow. I might be faster than a really  slow person I'm by no means faster than an ultra runner {someone who runs races longer than a marathon, 26.2} or an Olympic triathlete. I had let the group know that as well, I didn't want to hold anyone back.  So we started our 8,000+ elevation run. I had 10 miles to eat and was ready to run behind. Then I find Chris is beside me telling me he's always wanted to be a pacer and tell jokes to help distract from the miles and I realized, he would pace me. He was telling me, without actual words, not to worry about speed because he'd run my pace. And I knew I'd not run alone.  Then after a couple of miles Anthony came back to our group and started running with us. I had thought he was going to run between the two groups but the longer the time went the mo

I found myself on a plane to Denver {what does that acctually mean, "I found myself on a plane"?} on a Friday afternoon recently. I had zipped down to FAT {what an airport name!} right after school. Once the three hour delay had passed I was ready and cheerfully/exuberently seated and ready for my next adventure. You see KP and I had been counting down the days until this next adventure for several weeks and my joy of actually going somewhere was bubling forth {I mght state it was bubling forth more than my normal ozey joy bubbles forth}. As the chatter of airplanes go, my seatmate asked me if I was takng a vacation day. Honestly, my first reaction was to say, "No, I'm taking an adventure." Bahhahahahaha. Who says that?! I, however did respond with a yes. But it made me think. What if I looked at vacation days not in fact as a vacation but as an adventure day. I intentionally would see the adventure possibilities in everything. I wouldn't be spending vacatio

These days have been deep thinking kind of days. get on my knees and plead for help and wisdom, praying kind of days.  I've sat in the silence in my car just thankful to not have to listen to the voice of another soul. I've received hugs from first graders just because they were excited to read a book with me. I was reminded that I might be teaching here so I can help one little kid understand that God loves them. Or maybe I'm here to inspire them to be a missionary and share the things they have learned. Whatever it is may God be glorified in everything I do and say. I can't stop thinking about this song. I tried listening to it one day after school and I couldn't stop the tears. At times when I am so deep in confusion of what on earth can I do more for some of these kids and I hear this song in my head I just pray that what I am doing is enough. At the end of the long days I am constantly reminded of this song. The list of people I am going to thank is qu

The evenings roll in like a jelly roll on a conveyor belt. They are longed for but I'm never quite ready for them. By the time the student's voices have died off and the swings stop moving my extovertedness can't handle any more. I have a hard time mustering up enough energy for the board meetings I have two out of the four Monday's a month. I have found myself wandering around Railey's grocery store just being quite but notcompletely  alone. I guess it's where an extrovert can go to recharge (they should market that). This last weekend I didn't even stay for potluck. I had to save my people energy for that evening's family fiesta night sponsored by the school.  While I overall enjoy my job and have found myself loving these kids, my job is exahusting and stressful. I've found myself crying to God on more than one occasion. I mean, how do I know how to handle a disipline issue, determine a grade level, dismantle bullies, teach a person wh

So I'm in my last class for the summer. No literally, I'm sitting in it right now. I'm even typing in front of the teacher. No I'm not a rebel. . . okay, I am a rebel but in this case it's because I'm in technology for the classroom. We just learned about blogger and now we have to write a blog post. So you are my homework. Don't be offended that I am using you for my own gain. Think of it more as me asking you to be part of my education? I've learned some cool things in the class. My favorite so far has been Prezi . It's a really fun new fancy power point. I'm almost done with a new one, perhaps I'll share it. You could print it out and put it on your fridge. . . if you were my mom or dad. Otherwise you can just give me a gold star. Okay, well I'm going to go work on my prezi, that's my favorite thing to do these days. Toodles.

I love running. I think I've broken through and can really enjoy long runs now.  When I went on Sunday I was slowish but happy and having fun. The best part was running down the road through China Town as they were setting up shop. What fun.  A shot of San Francisco from its highest point. Part of where I ran was along that coast.  What do you like to do for health and fitness? 

I've moved into a dorm room again. I  have a roommate again. I met her Sunday night when she moved in.  I'll be here for six weeks, that is the same amount of time most staff spend at camp. I figure I must be at teacher camp. Only I'm making my food in a tiny ill equipped kitchenette and there is no line call. But I still have classes. I make my own camp counsel and rec time, I realized Dare Base is hard to play with just one person and I couldn't find enough players this week, there is always next week. So I've decided to just stick with running and cross training.  I'm making new friends, new friends are everywhere. The weather is good in the afternoons, the mornings have been quite chilly and the evenings perfect. With the sun setting so late I'm able to go for nice evening walks.  As for my class this last week, I was loving it. Yes lots of papers to write and books to read but I didn't care because it was so interesting and inspiring. I am still pro

So I've been really busy and haven't had internet at my home this year so I haven't written as much as I wanted to. Life, it happens. I'm going to PUC for the summer. I've never had summer classes, I hope I don't drown in school work. I am coming back to Oakhurst to teach next year again. I love it. Thank you to all those of you who last year this time, when I came back to America, encouraged me to come here and teach. I guess you do know me after all. (That's one of those things where I'm surprised when people know me and see the inside of me. It is scary but cool at the same time. I miss those people, they've all moved away) I've been back in America for one year. And for the first time since university I am not leaving the country in the fall. Akk, I need an adventure! I'm training for a full marathon and most days I think I'm crazy and don't want to be put in a training box. I just want to run and love life as I run. I a

*Pretend this was typed out on my birthday a few months back* This is by no means a full list of things I've learned. It's just a few of the things I've been thinking about lately. It helped me to realize that turning any age isn't horrible, especially if you have learned and lived and loved. It's best to cry in transit-airplanes, airports, buses etc. I hate packing I love UNpacking  You don't have to speak the same language to be friends Stick shift cars are more fun Weighing myself is better in kilos Grades don't get you into heaven Dogs are mans best friend but cats can be too Distance means nothing in true relationships Camp changes lives Icelandic volcanoes can cramp a vacation Simple is always better It's okay to work for free sometimes All colors match Scarfs are just Adventist jewelry Making your bed makes your day go better Travel always Run because you love it, even when you don't Goodbyes hurt but don't always h

So I posted a video about space and how cool it was . I've talked a million times about how much I love space, stars the moon and all that jaz. Well KLM airlines is offering a one in a trabillionmillion chances to win a free ticket to space. I'll be honest. I'm not sure how I feel about this. SPACE! Oh, man to be there, to see it, to feel it, to float in it! Wowzers. YES! But then I think about the Challenger  we just read a story about that. I'm a teacher after all, we know what happened to the last teacher that tried to go up. Plus it just sounds like a horrible catastrophe waiting to happen. But again it's space. Hmmm. I don't know if I could handle the whole thing, what if I died from excitement? Maybe I'll enter, maybe I wont. I can't decide. What should I do? If I win, I'll probably experience this in first person:

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away,  for behold, the winter is past;  the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth,  the time of singing has come." Song of Songs 2:10-12

"And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others." Romans 12:5 See, we do need each other. Community is important. This is the one time it's okay to be a big fatty body, so big we keep growing wider and wider. Going on morning rounds at Camp Yavapines. (Summer 2012)

Teaching and principal-ing is a lot of work. I live at this school most days. I have yet to sleep here but it's coming, it is only a matter of time. I'm scared of doing things wrong or messing up but God is reminding me who put me here. I went up to the big trees the other day, it had been to long. I miss being among the giants, feeling so small and new. It was a good feeling, a good memory. The air was fresh, the path familiar and the trees wise from having seen it all. I forget sometimes to take time in God-wild places, it gives Him a chance to speak without distraction. Only two months left of school! Wowzers, where has the time gone? I've got a principal trip to Las Vegas a week before my birthday. Haha, wanna meet me there? I have a 1/2 marathon to run in May but my IT band has been hurting and I'm scared. I've had to cut back on my running and I'm working on strengthening it. But I had just gotten good at running, I was averaging 9.52 min miles on

This is my plan. To teach and love others in the same way that Mike the Mailman does. What about you?

Yesterday I was putting on my coconut pineapple lip gloss, a gift from a friend while I was in Tanzania, and as the sweet sent hit my nose I was reminded of such a delightful story that I took a moment to remember it and those in it. This is my memory. While living in Tanzania I was able to be the caregiver to a sweet little girl, Happy. Happy she was, especially when she had her chapstick to put on. Her previous caregiver had taught her all about the tastiness and glamor of applying things to our lips. So she always wanted some and if I was to put any on then I must do so without her seeing it or I would have to share (not that sharing is bad :) This was also during the time that we were testing out Happy sleeping in her bed without the crib wall up. Which we soon realized she needed because of the many nights I woke up to a little girl crying in the living room or standing by my bed in my room wanting me. On one such night I woke up to her crying in the living room and per n

We've been reading about King David in worship with my students and are now reading about his son, King Solomon. We learned all about the Temple that he built, how they did it without loud noises, it's covered in gold and such. Yesterday we read about the dedication of the Temple. We read King Solomon's prayer. How he asked God to bless the people, to be a God they could turn back to and be forgiven, how the Temple would be a place of refuge and a home for God. Then at the end of King Solomon's prayer, God accepted the sacrifices in a GIANT funnel of fire. The presence of God filled the  place and the people knew He had found their gift acceptable. A few of my students had big eyes at the thought of giving God a gift and Him taking it. They wanted to know how that worked. I told them about giving God my life, letting Him live in my body and help me make good choices and forgiving me when I didn't. I told them they just have to do their best and then tell God it&

I feel like he must have when King David made him king. He was young, and inexperienced at being king. So when God came to him and asked, “What would you like me to do for you?” He responded, “Wisdom, please give me wisdom”. So God did. Each morning, I pray for that wisdom, each time I talk to a parent, I pray for that wisdom and each time I have to interact with a student, I pray, please God give me that wisdom. I don’t care if the school grows or becomes the best school in the conference; I just want to do right for these kids. Please Lord, give me wisdom.

This year I've decided to call "A Year of Jubilee". This  might not make much sense to you, but it's a Biblical concept that I've taken as my own. In Biblical times this is what it was: debts forgiven, slaves set free, land restored to original owners, and land given a rest. (Wikipedia) This is what it means to me: a year where people are forgiven, no matter how much they have hurt, personal property is given freely (money and actual items), life is restored to the default joy setting, burdens are set down and love is picked up. This is a year to live life fully without any burdens, a year to try new things, a time to rejoice at what God has given and a time to accept what you have learned from the past harvests, no matter how plentiful or hard they were. I will celebrate all things because they too have been made new, they deserve the opportunity to start over and try again. People are free to change and I am free to rest my soul. How can one not be excite

Sonya said to  God , “Look, you tell me, ‘Lead and teach these people,’ but you don’t let me know whom you’re going to send with me. You tell me, ‘I know you well and you are special to me.’ If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don’t forget, these are  your  students, your responsibility.” God  said, “My presence will go with you. I’ll see the school year to the end.” Sonya said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this school year off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people? Are you teaching with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and your students, among all other people on this planet Earth?” God  said to Sonya: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.” Sonya said, “Please. Let me see your Glory.” God  said, “I will make my Goodness pass rig

If you know me at all you know I love space, stars and I love to lie in my bed at night, look out my window and stare at Orion and feel a closer connection with God. In school we are studying creation and are on day number four, the day He created the sun, moon and stars. Ahh, how amazing and wonderful it would have been to be with God as He called each star into existence by name, by name , now that would have been beyond anything I could dream up. "He counts the stars and calls them by name" Psalms 147:4 Our class had a party this Thursday and to do something special we watched this clip of Sunita Williams in the space station. She’s flying, free of gravity hair products and eating astronaut ice cream! My students were as much in rapture as I was and we all decided we wanted to live in space. So please watch this video, enjoy the wonders of space and know that when we get to heaven, we’ll be flying around in my zero gravity house eating astronaut ice cr

I’ve been promoted! I came to Oakhurst as a part time teacher and part time Bible worker. Now however, I am the new head teacher! I am in charge or our little school! Wowzers! I teach kindergarten and first grade, starting at 8 in the morning then at 1 I go into the upper grade classroom where I then teach the 1 st through 8 th grade until school is out at 3:30pm. It makes for a long day, but a fun filled day. I can’t believe I get to do this job! I mean, I am in charge of a school?! How did that happen? Last year I was working in Tanzania, this year I’m running a school. I never would have thought this would be how things went. In fact if you would have asked me last month if I was going to do this I would have said a big, fat, N.O. but I’ve seen God working in the last few weeks and days, I’ve seen how He has put people around me to support me and the school, I’ve had people see inside me and have confidence that I can do this. I am a lot more tired these days b

A pen just for me, a girl. My good friend Kim, who is a practicing lawyer in the bottom of Texas and a friend I've had since our school days in first grade, gave me a Christmas present from the heart. She knows what it's like in a "man's world" and wanted to help me survive. :) Ellen DeGeneres had a few words to say about the beauty of these pens.   Let me know if any of you use these or need some, I'll help find a man to buy some for us.

Communication. I'm not good at it. I am always saying things I shouldn't. I'm never listening. I interrupt and I say what I'm thinking. I want to be a better communicator. I just don't know how. I've always thought it was important to say what was on my mind, to be honest. But apparently not? How am I supposed to know when I can say something and when I can't. I wish I was a good communicator. These days it's just been me and God having a lot of conversations because I'm afraid to have them with humans. Afraid I'll say the wrong thing. Not want to listen to their thoughts. Say to much, not enough, be to bold, to harsh or just bad. I'm glad that at least He understands when I say dumb things or  things that are out of anger. He wont hold my lack of skills against me. I just wish I could communicate with people.

I was reading a book on my Kindle today that takes place in Scotland. They had a word in there that I didn't understand so I looked it up. Here is the word: reivers . Here's how it was used in the sentence: As powerful as we are, the Campbells are a prime target for reivers as any other clan. Here's The New Oxford American Dictionary's definition: Reive  v. Chiefly Scottish another term for REAVE. reiv.er Middle English: cariant of REAVE; the usual spelling when referring to the historical practice of cattle raiding on the English-Scottish border.  WHAT AM I? WHO ARE MY PEOPLE? Did we steal cows? Am I a family of cow thieves? Things could get really sticky since my family resides in Texas. . . I was a bit taken back. I thought maybe we had changed the spelling from Reeves. You know, those people who accidentally change the spelling of their names because of illiteracy, or at the Elise Island when people had their name changed. I had always been und