Peace to Those

I am sitting now on the couch next to my parents puppy, watching the today show, drinking coffee with my dad. I just made these paleo pancakes. No sugar, gluten free and made with almond flour. They were very tasty. Last night we exchanged gifts and watched the Country Music Christmas show. Its really good to be home. Things have not changed, life in U.S. continues to move faster, bigger and more elaborately than ever.

I am doing my very best to soak in the quiet, to remember all that I came from, to celebrate the faces of the children that are without knowing they are important, or that their faces have a name, that their faces mean something to someone, or that they are designed and created in love for something big, that god has much in store for them. May this season be a season of hope. of celebrating joy. of knowing that even when things dont seem like enough or things are not as they seem to you, trust that god has you exactly where he wants you. because he is doing something big.

warmest from my family to yours this season.

suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising god and saying,

“glory to god in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “let’s go to bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the lord has told us about.”

luke 2:13-15

Flying Home

The day is here. Tomorrow morning I am flying from San Pedro Sula to Houston Texas to meet my family. One bus ride and one plane away.

Not sure how much blogging there will be during the holiday break but you can be certain I will be resuming when I come back to Hondy (Honduras) come January. I just laid down in Kates old bed in my old room (Two new teachers come january so i moved out of my room that i had for myself and will now be roommates with faye, switched all the furniture, but since i am prepared to have an early morning i thought i would sleep in here one last time so i do not wake up faye right away). As well i should note that Hondy is giving me one last present before I leave ...... i am not feeling too well. (thank you for that hondy).

An early morning awaits. Night yall.

**** I will recap the Christmas show and my kids performance from last night in a post later.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age,

so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 

1 Timothy 6:17-18

Last Week of School + Lots of Pictures

Writing a class story for Molly was just a few of the highlights for the week. A week that on Wednesday I was pretty sure none of us were going to survive. (Combine last week of school before Christmas excitement with christmas concert practicing, wrapping up classes = chaos). I had the third grade class together come up with a story in honor of Molly's birthday ( I teach third grade English and Science), each page was given to a student to illustrate. To put it short, the kids in the story were jumping on tables, playing football in class, all of them getting in trouble to then the redemption part of the story where they all passed their exams and Molly was happy. You should know this class is notorious for being horrible, I am sure Molly will like the story book. I sure enjoyed listening to them come up with ideas for it.

Here are the pictures of the week (lots of them)

Hanging Stockings. 

Genessis opening the first bag of the advent calender.

Suckers for day 1 of the advent calender

Karla and Madeline

Tuesday Sergio opened the bag.

His expression is fantastic and Aracely! Love it.

Robertos snowman. His name and he was born in New York. (One of the few places kids know in the United States)

Sergios!

Caleb. Classic

Another highlight would be trying to explain to my class in Spanish the difference between the words crunch, munch, crush.... For example letting Howdy place his hands on either side of my face and to push... and told him see this is "crush". You are "crushing my face". Hilarious. (as well to all of my former wyld life friends reading this, this greatly reminded me of "I will crush you" program at wyld life camp michindo)

Here is my class as we waited to practice our performance during school. Thankfully waiting over an hour to go on they were relatively behaved... thank goodness for that.

Al

Check out austin powers in the back, Aracely.

Yesterday my kids had a class party. My kids were ecstatic  In the advent bag yesterday (day 4) was trash.. but what they did not know is that I had goodie bags for them. Filled with all sorts of Christmas treats and things... They were so excited. We had more candy than any child should ever consume in a day. Lots of hugs, thank you, I love you's. (Pretty certain this is because of the candy :))

Look at Angels at the desk face laughing David Cardona just opened the bag to find only trash...

Genessis and Sharon with their bags.

Lizzy

Christmas Countdown, on our board!

Because you can never have enough icing, so I scopped the extra on a napkin and let them lick it with their fingers!

Last evening we watched the kindergarten/ preschool Christmas performance at school and then following a party at the restaurant nearby. I am pretty sure kindergarten and preschool children could be wearing plastic bags and they would still look adorable. The show began with a procession of candles and then followed up Mary and Joseph with a donkey. The preschool has a little girl who is blind and she rode the donkey. It was so sweet.

Weren't all the zoo animals at your nativity scene as well? The unicorn, the lion all in the manager as Jesus was born? According to Honduras they were. 

The lion was incredible.

Santa made an appearance as well. 

The unicorn!

I must try and attempt to explain Honduran fashion as well. Moms wear stiletto heals to what seems like everything  Never mind that its pouring rain and you must walk through a field to get to the performance. You should wear heals. Please see the image below:

Molly and Marvin

This little rugrat :)

Molly and her kiddies 

Cheesy Smile

Today is it. We said goodbye to Kate this morning, had mimosas for breakfast with sweet bread for Molly's birthday. It was a bittersweet morning. Our table was adorned with Goodbye cards, Birthday gifts and birthday cards. Last day of school. Christmas performances are the only thing in our way from the Christmas holiday. So excited.

Two more sleeps away from Home. Only one more day :) and I am H town bound Sunday!

Top 20 Checking Off

1. Read One Thousand Gifts. (with my mom, more fun to read when you have someone to share things with).

2. Get scuba certified in Utila (Honduran Bay Islands)

3. Complete the Whole30 Challenge (Again)

4. Run a half Marathon

5. Surf in Costa Rica

6. Make cookies for my neighbors and deliver them. (especially for the businesses in the building that we live in Honduras, The Chinese restaurant  the women's clothing store, the salon and the lawyers office. But see that I will most likely live in a few different places this coming year, I will repeat this one.)

7. Visit an Orphanage at least once a month (whether I am in Honduras or anywhere)

December 8, 2012

January

February

March

April 

May

June

July 

August

September

October

November

8. Go camping. Real camping not car camping.

9. Make homemade sushi

10. Have a dance party.

11. Pray everday before I go to sleep.

12. Go on a weekend trip with my sister away. A city, or even in our hometown. Just she and I.

13. Ride my road bike for a100 mile ride

14. Read four Jane Austen Novels (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park)

15. Complete 30 days straight of yoga. 

16. Officially kick my diet coke habit (lasted about 60 days in honduras, got to let this one go)

17.  Learn to make pie crust, and make five homemade pies (Apple, Pumpkin, Coconut Creme, Cherry, Pecan)

18. Drive a convertible (no stipulation on what kind of convertible)

19. Minimize my things, shrink my storage unit in Colorado, get rid of things.

20. Go Fly Fishing with my Dad.

Letters

I have always been a big fan of written letters, hand written notes, cards, just simple things that tell someone how much they mean to you or wishing them well. So in light of this crazy week at school and our children who are so close to jumping of the roof top with excitement and the teachers who are begging for time to pass quickly I thought I would write a series of letters to things.... has helped me keep sane a bit.

__________________________________________
Dear Devil Angel Second Graders, 

It is true you are being incredibly rotten and testing all of my patience. I know you are excited for Christmas and I dont blame you. I want to color and watch movies and eat candy all day too. That sounds like so much more fun than learning about pronouns, number patterns and the weather. But bear with me. Forgive me for yelling too much. For not taking time to listen to you and just assume you are again begging to get water or go to the bathroom. I am learning. I am learning patience. Just a few more lessons as you continue to amaze me with how much you learn and I promise I will make the end of this week good. Like cookies, candy, coke, everything your mom wishes you wouldn't have kind of good. Perhaps singing carols. Dancing to Gangnam Style. (yes just for you I will). 

With lots of love Miss Kristina

_____________________

Dear Yoga this morning,

As much as my body insisted on curling up underneath my covers and spend time with you later in the day. I knew my time with you would benefit me well and I would be happy. It is true. I feel good because of you. I feel stronger, more relaxed and you are helping me deal with my kiddies and more patience so Thank you. I cant wait to see you in Texas as well. My mom is going to meet you and it will be awesome, she will enjoy your benefits too. 

Sincerely Kristinas body 
_____________________

Dear Plane Flight Sunday

You are all I think about. Ridiculous I know. You are going to take me home. ....and for that I will be so grateful. Grateful knowing that after you I will be welcomed by my family. Celebrating the season. Celebrating the joys and things that matter most.  Do me a favor and be as glorious as I think you will be. 

Sincerely your future passenger.


_____________________

Dear Time,

As much as I wish you would pass by quickly and you would simply come and go, I know that I need to savor more of you often. I know that I will be wishing for you back in just months time and for that I am sorry. I am sorry I take you for granted so often. That I do not realize how little of you I have and that I should never ever ever wish you to go fast. With that being said thanks for these last few days with Kate and with my kids before the holidays. 

Warmest Anxious Teacher


As for all of us, we feel like we are holding on for dear life. Lots of energized children, lots of Christmas song practicing, recording for our performance Friday night. Last night a few of us made our way to Alison's for dinner with the girls, for one last time before the holidays. Aracely and I performed our class song for Alison since she will be missing the show on Friday. I will not forget it. She was so so adorable and knows the words better than me. It was a lot of fun. Tonight we are going for dinner for Kates last evening together, Thomas flies out in the morning and Kate the following. 

Only 2 days left after today. Cheers and Warmest to all of you.

It is Almost Christmas

Things are getting busy and exciting. This is our last week of school. Our last Monday. Kate leaves on Friday for Arizona for good. We will miss her. She has a very exciting year ahead as she is getting married in June. Thomas leaves for home on Thursday. Philip heads to Spanish school in Nicaragua on Saturday. I fly out on Sunday. Faye, Molly and Alison leave for Nicaragua/Costa Rica on Monday. Our three week holiday is more than needed. We are tired and ready for a break.

Here are a few scenes from the weekend. Here are glimpses and snippets of the last week.

The advent calender I created for the girls began today. Each morning something different will be left in a brown paper bag on the table in our kitchen. Figured something small and fun to get us all in the spirit. As well I have an advent calender for my kids. Each day my kids will open a brown sack with a surprise. 5 days until Christmas break. To say I am excited is an understatement.

Christmas trees with people the kids will pray for this season. 

We worked in groups in our Science class to make posters with safety tips. One of the best tips written down was to "Take family on a jet plane" Leave the country if a storm comes. Smart girl I tell ya.

Friday night we had a Christmas Party/ Family Dinner. We also exchanged Secret Santa gifts. Our limit was 50 limpiars, about $2.50. I had Molly so I bought her a lemon squeezer. She puts lemon on just about anything... so I thought this would be appropriate. As well she is very crafty and creative. I went to the school supply/ stationary shop in our town and bought yards and yards of colored ribbon for her. Not sure what she will do with it, but I know she will find something useful for it.

Thomas had my name and he got me a fabulous headband with a big flower on the side. Faye and I took a photo with me wearing it. Hopefully will get it from her to show all of you! Philip got a giant pen, because he never seems to have one. All of the gifts were thoughtful and hilarious.

Our party included a Honduran rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas (Just for Matt since he is already home in the States, we performed live on facetime). We made sure to include all of our favorite things about this place, 2 broken washers, 10 ceilings leaking, 9 yoga sessions, 4 pollo fritos (fried chickens), 8 papas fritas (french fries), 5 chokies (honduran cookies),  3 your my favorites (matt tells all of us girls that we are his favorite when we are alone, and then we put him on the spot when we are all together and ask him who really is his favorite). 1 bus ride with Chele (our bus drivers name). 7 Baleadas (Honduran breakfast, lunch, street food, beans, tortilla and salty cheese). The video is on Facebook if anyone is interested in listening to our none sense.

Our tree from our porch :) 

Christmas Tree Molly made

Our table of food. I made a fruit dip that we are still enjoying, and my grandmothers homemade chocolate sauce with icecream. We had brushetta, peanut butter cookies with chocolate drops in the middle, guacamole, bean dip, cheese and crackers, english pigs in a blanket, sautéed brussel sprouts in a butter sauce by chef philip. With lots of food and good company our night was a lot of fun. 

Saturday I went on a long run and enjoyed the sun. It was a hot 85 degrees and we again remembered how hot it was when we first got here. My run to Los Naranjos reminded me as well how beautiful this place is. With the mountain in the distance and canal beside me to say I am lucky sounds silly. Doesn't even do this place a small fraction of justice.

All of us girls made our way in the afternoon to the orphanage in our town. A mere 15 minute walk up the street.

I learned that 98% of the kids at this orphanage go back to the homes they came from. They are often here because they are sick or severely malnourished. Two children had just arrived 2 days before and cried during the entire meal time. It was heart breaking. We learned that their mother brought them here herself, most likely because they cannot afford for food for the children. All of us girls had little ones that we would have gladly taken home with us. This little boy stole my heart. He sat on my lap and we swung on the swings. He had the most incredible laugh. Meet Arturo :)

Arturo. 

Christmas week at school. Below are a snapshot of the Christmas bags for my kids. (stuffed with pencils, christmas erasers, stickers, candy and cookies). As well you will see the advent bags that i made. Each day a new surprise for the week for my kids.

Sunday evening we went to a Dance Show that Alisons girls were all performing in. As well other kids from our school were performing. The hotel Las Brisas hosted the recital. The below is the view from the hotel. The lake is really something... It is so beautiful.

This is Henry. His mom is the dance teacher and he is in my class. He hung out with me during the show and let me hold his baby sister (4 months old). Faye and I laughed about how we get baby fever and want to hold babies. Baby fever cured after a half hour of rocking his sister.

Aracely in my class and Henry after the dance show.

She was beautiful. 

Happy Monday yall. Heres to the final stretch and now less than a week until I am in Houston.