My Bucket List

Ever since the movie, Thee Bucket List, came out I have been compiling a mini list of things in my head that I would like to accomplish in my life.... This list is often changing, things are being added and often deleted...... the list is an ever growing compilation from my heart.

I hope you are a dreamer. too. I Hope that you dream big things that you want for yourself  :) I decided not long ago to not waste my days doing something that did not bring me joy and welp here I am. In Honduras. Loving on Some Kids...... hope your dreams take you to far away places and bring you lots of joy.

Here's to dreaming about the only two weeks that stand between now and Semana Santa (Spring Break).......

Disclaimer this list is in no particular order.... here she is....

• Walk the course at Augusta for the Masters... even if it is just a practice day. 
• See a concert at the famous Gran Ol Opry in Nashville.
• Superbowl
• Teach a yoga class.
• Have a Frrrozen Hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 in New York (Scene from the movie, Serendipity filmed here)
• Backpack the Appalachian Trail.
• Cook a full Thanksgiving Meal for my Family. Host one year.
• Own a pickup truck.... 
• Alaska, go fishing and kayaking on the sea... see the glaciers
• Spend a weekend in Austin Texas. See UT play, tailgate and then go to the bar to listen to music.
• Girls trip with my best friends from High School. Doesn't matter where. Someplace.
• Learn to make pie crust and homemade pies.
• Go to the Final Four (preferably when my team is there :)
• Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• Recreate the Sleepless in Seattle scene at the top of the Empire State Building in New York.
• Weekend in Charleston. Eat yummy food, drink wine, explore the cobblestone streets. Admire the homes. 
• Have children someday and a must do is take my kids to Disney World.
• Visit every baseball park in the USA ( I can go ahead and check off the following Colorado, Atlanta, Cincinnati  Baltimore  Houston)
• Run another half marathon
• Walk on the Great Wall of China
• Own my own home someday, call it mine and hopefully my own family.
• Attend Wimbeldon in London.... (my roommate confirms she can easily assist in making this happen)
• Celebrate Queens Day on a boat in Amsterdam. Dress in lots of orange to celebrate in Holland.
• Drive a car from Seattle down the coast of Washington, Oregon and the coast of California all the way to the border in Mexico......
• Cape Town, South Africa, go on a safari and visit Alison my roommate.
• Master the perfect homemade latte
• See the pyramids in Egypt
• Attend the Rose Bowl and Rose Bowl Parade in Southern California
• Finish a Sprint triathlon
• Travel New Zealand... visit both islands. (would like this one to happen sooner than later)
• Attend Houston Rodeo....
• A summer week spent in Martha's Vineyard...
• Ice Skate in Central Park around Christmas time, See the big Christmas tree too.
• Attend the ACC Tournament.....(would have been go to the Big East Tournament in Madison Square gardens) but now I suppose it shall be this.
• Ski Keystone, Crested Butte and Steamboat (Yes I lived in Colorado 6 years and never made this happen..... silly me)
• Visit the Greek Isles..... get lost in the painted white buildings and blue roof tops.
• Climb in Patagonia.... hiking, backpacking trip. Ski and play in the mountains of South America
• ..................................................................

I am thinking of trying to do something with my kids this week about dreaming big.... Who do they want to be? Where do they want to go? Will let yall know if I do.

Cheers on this Sunday.

Looking Ahead

When life gives you more than you can handle or perhaps it is God trusting you with more and you don't seem to know why.... how do you respond? I often fight back. I am quick to want to fix things, and I am even quicker at trying to analyze the most minute of details of my life to try and understand.

However...... I am learning... s---l----o---w----l----y. I am learning that things will happen without explanation. I can only trust and hope in what the past has proved to be true.... All things have always worked out for good. For the good of others and (selfishly) for the very best of me.

So today I am choosing happy..... despite being up all night with a fever and a aching sore throat.... I am going to choose joy......
Whats on deck for March.....

• March 5-8- This week nothing---- and nothing is a good thing. It means lots of catching up with my kids school work, and an open schedule to go on adventures. Although some of us are going bird watching on Saturday morning with the very famous Malcom. (unplanned being in bed all day Wednesday sick)
• March 15-17- Next weekend we are going on our mystery visa trip? We are heading away to Guatemala or Belize (not sure where yet, or even if we will know in advance) Honduran planning is what we like to call this, last minute trip planned.
• March 20- Last family dinner with Jason. His farewell fiesta!
• March 18-22- Last week of School before Semana Santa. (Spring Break)
• March 22- Science Fair Day at School. Yes the tri-fold board whole thing. I am in charge of 8 projects. Just call me Ms. Frizzle. I am loosing my brain.
• March 23- 31- UTILA! This week 9 of us are spending the week on the island of Utila. This island is just off the coast of Honduras. The island made famous for its backpacker crowd, loud bars, and scuba diving. Our week will be enjoyed while Faye and I read our books, snorkel, lay in the sun and try our best to stay out of trouble while the rest of our group is getting scuba certified.

APRIL (how is it almost april?)

• ***** Month of visitors, Kylies family, Matts family, Fayes Friend and My Mom!
• April 1- April Fools Day
• April 3- The Hohlers and The Bertschs Arrive (Families of my roommates)
• April 17- 21- My mom comes from Wednesday to Sunday.
• *** I am sure there will be more to add to this..

As I am thinking ahead to the last few months in Honduras... news of babies, weddings, new houses purchased, and graduations are occurring at home... So I thought I would take some time to mention a few people who are on my heart these days, people that are going to be embracing something new and exciting this year.... I am grateful to have you as friends....your in my thoughts and prayers in Honduras and hopefully I will get the chance to give you an in person Congratulations very soon.

• Bethany Stamp-- you get married so soon. Yay for another wedding of friends! Praying for you and Austin and I cant wait till August to celebrate with you both.
• Katie Bocchino--baby girl is due any day! You will be an incredible mom and I am certain that little princess will be beautiful. So look forward to seeing that sweet face in pictures.
• Meagan Day-- you are an engaged to be married woman. you know you are incredibly special to me and I would expect nothing less than a man worthy of loving you well and Rory most certainly does that. Praying lots for you and see you in CO July!
• Christie Lee-- your birthday is this month. From 1st grade until now i am so glad to have you be my best friend. Happy soon to be almost 25.
• Laura and Blake Wearren--- Happy Almost 1 year anniversary... crazy how fast a year goes.

In the mean time... I am resting up... fighting off my sickness that came out of left field. I will share more of what has been happening in my classroom this week, including our special March decorations for our classroom.

Cheers on Wednesday.
Kristina

Every Minute

I have spent many a moments thinking about what comes after this. My roommates are applying, some planning to go to Mexico, some already sure of what is in store for them come June. I can confidently say that just when I think I have something all planned out, I second guess myself, start thinking no that's not what i want to do.

I think about teaching in the US, having my own classroom, loving kids there and I get excited. I think about working with children in another avenue, with orphans and widows, or in a center that works with families getting assistance and aid. I think about getting a business job, something I am not closed off too and rather investing my personal time with children.... I think about going back to school, because no matter what career path I seem to come up with it appears school is needed or maybe it is not. I think about my former job, my cubicle, moving people around the world and a small glimpse of relief is placed in my heart. Knowing full well that that season of work is done. That that job was so necessary to get me to Honduras, but knowing full well that something else is on the horizon.

I think for a few moments I could go again some place new. Some place adventurous. If you have spoken to me recently I have a developed fascination with New Zealand. Some say my Colorado love affair would look like a mere crush to what I will feel in New Zealand..... but alas I am not booking my flight straight away...

If any of you have any ideas, leads, jobs in Louisville? Jobs that perhaps you think to yourself, "thats a great position for Kristina", I am willing and open to listen. If you have any thoughts on neither well that's OK too... because for now I am here. For now I am going to be here for this season. Trying not to anticipate worry to much and or loose sleep over the unforeseen future. Who has time for that anyways...... besides everything in the past has ALWAYS worked out for something much grander and much greater than I myself could have ever come up with on my own. Regardless of what is in store I am overwhelmed with the gratitude that comes from knowing that something new and excited is coming my way......

Today I am choosing to be grateful for where I am at,  the rooster calling, misty cloudy morning, and the third grade science and english exams I have left to write this morning....

"For every minute

that I get to share with you,

I will be thankful."

— Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson 

source

That Which Matters Least

"This is so not what I had hoped for..... but nonetheless some things do not change here. It is raining in our house.... like properly raining... our floor is soaked and the ceiling is coming in... makes me want to cry. i know there are people just outside our window with nothing and some sleeping not knowing if they will have a home in the morning. I know this. But for some reason today I hate this. Hate is a strong word but seems appropriate. Atleast for this moment".

These words were written two days ago. I would be lying if this week has been not incredibly frustrating, hard and good at the same time. If that is at all possible (to feel all those things at once). The reality of this place seems to have smacked me right across the face. Everyone says just give it some time and as per usual my stubborn self is already seeing this come into fruition.

Trying to look at the glass half full and focus on the good.... (thanks to molly for the inspiration who is a doing a year of weekly blessings, committing to writing one blessing for each day) My kids have had a really good week. Lessons are going well and we have been able to get right back into our books. I have been able to laugh with them and get excited when they learn something new. I as well feel like my kids did not completely forget everything over the holidays. small victories people. (fingers crossed). All of us are ready for the weekend.... and really grateful that tomorrow is Friday.

As for me and my above ramblings from two days ago, I am already feeling much better.... getting readjusted. While on the lake for the afternoon I learned a valuable lesson....."I take for granted  how beautiful it is here". It is something you cant even properly explain. As well I have started 30 days straight of yoga. Day 1 being Monday January 7, 2013.  I have a new mat.... If your looking for a light weight, easy to travel with mat, I recommend it. Purchase it here . Wednesday Lotte and my new roommate Rose joined in with me. Lotte put it perfectly, "I missed doing yoga with you, its like I tell myself she is still going so I keep going too". I could not agree more. It is really nice to practice with other people, thrive of others energy.

Although 2013 somewhat frightens me because of the lack of plans I have come July, I could not be more excited for this year.... New year new things and so much to look forward too to name a few (no particular order and I am sure I forgot countless things).....

• Louisville basketball. You may take the girl out of Louisville but my loyalty remains true. just thinking about being at the Louisville Kentucky game just two weeks ago makes me real happy. it was even better than i could have hoped. (we won for those who do not watch). I so look forward to streaming games from my humble honduran abode.
• more and more more yoga..... my enjoyment of yoga only continues to grow and being in a place that offers free heated rooms thanks to fantastic year around heat and humidity, it is basically free hot yoga for all. 
• traveling come June. spending the last few weeks in central America soaking in all of its goodness. (wish it were already here)
• more Guatemala, belize, more of Honduras.
• learning more, reading more. maybe back to school for me come fall..
• teaching second graders. staring at the face of god in their eyes. they know forgiveness better than anyone i know. they forgive and forget. give the biggest hugs. drive you crazy and melt your heart all in the same 2 minutes time.
• family dinners and cooking. more laughter. more sharing meals with people
• being intentional. being present. 
• being humbled by 7 and 8 year olds every day
• spending a week in February with my family. being in Texas for valentines day with my parents.
• knowing a visit to Colorado is near and necessary

Surely I will add to this list... no resolutions per say. Just learning more and more about how stubborn I am. How much time I waste worrying on those things that are so insignificant. Thursday evening I spent facetiming with a dear friend..... my heart is super full but sure made me miss Colorado. Missing the snow, skiing, the mountains and now that the broncos are in the playoffs it makes me miss Denver. But alas I am certain I am right where I am supposed to be.

Here are scenes from the week.

MOLD. No explanation needed.

No more mold. Hole in the ceiling. 

Reading with the seventh grade. We have reading buddies.

Sharon in Science.

Reading Buddies. My kids love this.

Streaming Louisville Basketball

Today we were treated to a ride on the Lancha at the Hotel las Glorias. It was a beautiful day. You don't need me to tell you, you may see the pictures below.

Matt serving up the wine the owner of school had on the boat for us after school today.

Really liking the below today...

Thank you Luluemon for the reminder.

Warmest to you today. Tommorow is Friday!

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.

To Stay or Go

It is never to early to have a piece of Dark Chocolate with your coffee on your way to school. Dunking it in your coffee also adds extra joy in your mouth. Thank you Mom for the dark chocolate sea salt carmel ghirardelli bar (if you have never had this kind, do yourself a favor and go buy it right now)... It tastes as incredible at 6:30 am as it does at any other time during the day.

I woke up this morning with Alison to go for a quick jog/walk before school. The endorphins start going and we enjoyed the silent darkness of the city that in a mere thirty minutes later is bustling with people.  I reheated a cup of coffee that we made the night before. Us girls have finally mastered the Honduran coffee maker which means you use a large bag filled with the coffee grounds and run hot water through.... we are quite proud.

I enjoyed an omelet with sautéed onions three eggs,  and my coffee. I laid in bed for the last few possible moments before our driver for school arrived. With my cup of joe in hand we waited on the street corner, we pile in and ride one mile up the road to our school. We arrive, first ones at the school. Struggling to walk up the sidewalk we pile into unofficial teacher cave and moan about the school day before us. Kids start arriving and we pull ourselves together for the day ahead.

Honduran as usual and very last minute Molly, Kate and I find out that we do not have to teach this morning...the kids are taking tests today administered from the honduran government so we are without kids and without classes. So here I am writing this from the teacher room. Molly and Philip are watching a movie and the three of us on more than one occasion have asked "Why are we here again?"

I find myself talking to Thomas about what next year will look like. What does it look like after this place. In so many ways I could run far away. Run for the comfort of the States but yet in some ways this place sucks you in. Starts making you think you could not leave. Do I go someplace else? Do I teach again? Do I go back to school? Do I move back to Colorado? Do I  do this? Or do I do that?

Molly smiled. Saying she could stay. Saying she would stay for the next school year. Her and Alison unbeknown to Faye and I, they have already discussed that they most likely will stay another year. Faye and I in a bit of surprise created the pro and con list of how they could have made this decision. Looking at our kids, watching them in their classrooms we know why. In all the frustrations, in the midst of everything that we wish we could change, we love our kids, care about them and that alone would keep us here.

I am writing this as I watch my kids read books. A few of them are finishing up their exams..... gosh they are so very cute when they are quiet ;)

In all honesty I have no idea what the new year brings for me. What the future holds, where I should go, what i should do but I can tell you something about here makes me think maybe I could stay.....

As for today Faye and I took advantage of our sunny afternoon and we took the bikes for a ride... we rode to Los Naranjos and decided to stop at the D and D for an afternoon drink. On the way home I picked up fruit and vegetable (cabbage, carrots, papaya, two apples, some bananas all for less than four dollars). The girls spent the evening pondering the option to borrow a friends car and roadtrip to costa rica for the christmas holiday (opting out of the buses). Makes me only a whole lot jealous of the adventure they are to have in one weeks time....

Goodnight world. Goodnight yall. Sleep well.

20 Wishes.

Stole this idea from here It is the idea that you create twenty wishes for yourself for the next year. I do not like the idea of limiting these things to the first of the year but would rather have it start on any random day. So here it is. (a bit tough to make a list when you are not sure what or where you will be in the next year but nonetheless ....I have created this list to complete in One year from today. December 4, 2012-December 3, 2013. Enjoy.....

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)

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.

Hope this finds you enjoying your Tuesday. Grateful to be in this place. To be surrounded by all that I have, to hold the sweet babies faces on Saturday and knowing that I am going home to my family next Sunday. As well the Scherms are officially moving back to Louisville this coming year. My parents are thrilled to be back in Kentuck (my sister and I as well). 

If I could add another number, number 21 it would be to Love well. To love everyone well, to respect others for who they are.

Happy Tuesday to you.... 

PS: Loving this song... thank you British roommates for sharing Ed Sheeran http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhHyZFiE5fQ

Home

homesick for home.

for the first time i want to be there. like now. i want my comforts. i want my friends. my closet of my clothes. i want to smell clean. like really clean. not the honduran clean where I have showered yet all my clothes are not quite clean because our washer is broken "clean".I want the... I have showered, put on lotion, and perfume kind of clean. I want to eat food and not worry about getting sick. to sleep in a bed with comfy sheets and blankets. to not have bugs crawling on my floor. for dirt to not be on my feet every hour of every day. to not wake up at 6:30 am to be already sorting out second grade boys before 7;30 am. to not worry about putting on lotion so I do not attract more bugs to bite me.

I emailed my family friend today, that is kind enough to let me keep my car in their winter home while I am in Honduras. I emailed to check in. Not sure what I think this would achieve, given the fact that they are not even in Colorado at this moment or the fact that my car is not something that has feelings and or shows emotion. I suppose I just wanted to make sure it was ok. Is my car still there?

My things. I have not given to much thought about the things I do not have but today I miss things. My favorite pair of boots. My scarves. DVR and Fall TV. Curling my hair. Curling up on a couch. Football. Shoes. Wearing proper makeup. (not like here where I wear bare minimum because lets be honest it is too hot and sweaty and I certainly do not have anyone I am to impress).

Selfish maybe but today I just miss. I am tired of waking up to the rain. For it to rain all day. For it then to be hot and humid. Tired of feeling dirty. Sick of ants crawling up our walls. Tired of having to place toilet paper in a trash bin because the plumbing is bad. For wearing the same yellow polo, that I only have two of, four days a week. Taking a shower in our kitchen (this is where our shower is). Tired of it being a normal occurrence that the electricity and internet would be off.

The irony I am well aware of, is that come next summer, and I leave this place. These are the very things I will miss.

night world from honduras. week from saturday i turn 25. hard to believe.

Rainy Wednesday

My kids. My boys. Let me first talk about a few boys in my class. They push, shove, fight and I feel helpless. I do not know if they are just playing or if they are truly fighting. I yell. I get upset and they look a me with droopy eyes and I feel bad. I am supposed to love well. I supposed to teach them joy and patience. And let me tell you I feel that it is often in short supply.

It has rained for two days straight. I wonder how there is still water to fall. One of those questions I think I will ask when I get to heaven. :)

As well this morning confirmed that when I set the automatic timer on our coffee pot the night before we will not have electricity come morning. Which in turn means no coffee. ( My roommates have now asked me to not do that again). Needless to say we are slow to start this morning. I so need some coffee to pick me up.

Side Note: Matt just took a picture with a student in second grade because he is wearing a Notre Dame hoody. Children here get clothes second hand and from stands around town that sell recycled clothes. Clothes that someone brought down from the US most likely or from groups of people that have traveled. I am not sure the boy could quite understand why Matt was so excited, but he may have just made Matt's morning.

Faye, Matt and I standing outside during recreo.(reces).. Usually this is filled with students, running. The fog in the background is what was the soccer field. (hard to see)

Yesterday may go down as one of the most lazy after school days. I was not feeling well at all, so I laid in bed. With the rain carrying on into the evening, the motivation to do or go anywhere was not there. I got up to have something to eat, made some tea.. Matt came over and we watched teh documentary , Happy. If you have never seen this documentary I highly recommend. The movie is about the study of overall happiness in life. This movie is an attempt to try and conceptualize and measure the happiness of individuals across the world. You can get this on itunes right now....

What makes you Happy? Here below are a few of mine that make my list...

Yoga in my room, and some of the children of the hair dresser next door decided to join in.

Matthew and Photobooth on Bonfire night.

Knowing that this is what I get to see at Christmas. Hard to believe Rudy was so small one year ago.

My best friend since 1st grade. Getting to travel Europe this summer together. Cannot wait till Christmas!

College Friend and old roommate and now she is a Wife. Grateful she takes the time to send long emails to me, catching up, sharing life and that this photo was captured during our famous Mizzou Colorado tailagte.

Denver Snow. Missing it.

Grateful for tradition and the gingerbread tradition will carry on. I cannot wait.

Warmest to you on this Tuesday. Prayers are appreciated for some more patience. Going to be a long day.

Come Monday It Will Be Alright

A few things on this Monday, this post coming at you in bullet points...

Clean Clothes: clean clothes are the best. Here is the view of my clothesline in  my room. Check out my great curtains too..

clean clothes drying!

Friday Night: We had our weekly family dinner but this time it was breakfast style. Matt and Kate served up french toast with homemade chocolate sauce and fried bananas, egg casserole and bacon. We drank mimosas and were full of yummy breakfast goodies. One of our dinners sitting around our big brown table until I can no longer keep my eyes open.

Rainy Monday: it is raining. It is not yet 6:00 am as I write this and the rain on the tin roof makes it impossible to want to get out of bed, let alone go to school. But alas the day awaits me.

Bike adventure: Saturday, After spending our morning writing the exams for our kids with Kate. Matt and I ventured to pick up our new bikes. We bought bikes from a sale that was taking place nearby and one of the teachers dads picked them up for us. We rode the bus to the hotel and were all ready to ride our bikes back on the windy, hilly road around the lake. The gears needed some patience... Matt ramped on a speed bump in a small village only for one of the kids standing nearby shout, “Hola Teacher!” (setting such a good example.) I picked up some speed heading downhill and looked back and Matt was not following. I pulled over to the side and waited. Shortly after I see Matt hobbling along on one pedal. His entire pedal fell off. Our hour bike journey turned into hitching a ride in the back of a pickup. We should have known new bikes in Honduran come with a disclaimer....."this bike may fall apart before you get it home"

Yoga Outside: Saturday afternoon Lotte and I did yoga outside of the D &D on the back patio. I first covered myself in bug spray and was then able to practice but it was one of the best sessions. Laying in final shivasina a bird flew above the trees. It was incredible. (rode my bike to the D and D and for one of a few times I felt like this place was home. Riding with my yoga mat outside my backpack). 

My parents: Skyping with my parents and the dog. They were watching football and for a brief second I thought I was there with them. Looking forward to Christmas and spending nearly a week in Texas with just them before we head to Louisville to see family and friends. 

College Football: Louisville is 9-0 and I sat with Thomas and Matt attempting to live stream the Alabama LSU game. The Internet stops and goes and typically does so at the most important times in the game, for example right as they snap the ball. But beggars cant be choosers in this country.

Sunday coffee reading my book: Sunday while waiting on the bus to go to Taulabe for Catholica Mass. Catholic Mass, I read my new book and drank coffee. (Sad day when they put sugar in it and I did not want any). I met up with Veronika the older English teacher on the bus to go to church. Talaube is about an hour by bus, we had coffee before church, then after church went to Secutapeke for lunch. The lunch was so good, it was a buffet with lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, lasagna  soups, fresh breads. It was so not Honduran. I got home around 4:00 pm yesterday and left at 6:30 am. It was a long day, but nice to head up the mountain to a different town.

Best orange juice, my coffee with sugar (yuck) and the women making baleadas for breakfast.

Below is a short timeline of the next coming weeks.

NOVEMBER

thanksgiving, my birthday, two Guatemala trips on the schedule.

• 11.5. 2012- 11.9. 2012 Review week for our kids, review everything we have learned.
• 11.9. 2012 Anniversary of the school. We have a parade through town at 8:00 am in the morning. Early day for us at school! Woo hoo!
• 11.10.2012- 11.11.2012  Weekend in Pena Blanca, ride my bike, family dinner Friday night and hopefully girls day on Saturday in San Pedro for a massage or nails.
• 11.12.2012- 11.16.2012 Exam week and the week before my birthday. Short days at school only until 12!
• 11.16.2012-11.18.2012  Teacher trip to Rio Dulce. We are heading to Guatemala, to a town translated "Sweet River" for our visa renew trip.
• 11.16.2012 One month countdown until I am home for Christmas!
• 11.17.2012  My birthday! Celebrating my 25th in Guatemala!
• 11.22.2012-11.25.2012  Girls trip to Guatemala City to visit Stephanie! So excited to go to Antigua and explore.
• 11.23. 2012 Thanksgiving. Hopefully get to skype with my family since they will all be together for Thanksgiving. I will be missing them from Guatemala.

DECEMBER

• Only 16 days until I fly home. A little excited if you cannot already tell.
• Only 3 weeks of classes until we are done for break.

• 12.14.2012 Fly to Texas for Christmas
• 12.22.2012 Fly to Louisville with my parents.
• 12. 23.2012 Christmas Eve Eve Gingerbread Day at the Scott's house. (Favorite day all year)
• 12.25. 2012 Christmas Day

Our calender on the window of our house.

The bus on the way home Sunday...

The lake from the bus window...

Tonight we are celebrating Bonfire Night (English holiday). Happy Election eve everyone!

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Mountain Climber.

When I grow up I want to be a mountain climber.

Atleast this is what I told my kids today. Immediately one of the girls said "Oh me too! Me too!" A few in my class seemed a bit confused, not understanding what "mountain climber" meant. Then one of the students translated into spanish..... All I heard from the translation was "Exploradora".

Its true. Well it sounds cool. To be an explorer.

But in my heart I know that it is more true than ever. To be constantly seeking, striving, pushing myself for more, challenging myself to more. Finding people who will encourage me to be more me. To be fully alive in who I know I am. To be the me that is the best part. That is all I want. Thats all I seek.

Today my kids had to decide, "Who do you want to be when you grow up?"

I have answered this a million times, a million different ways. But like my dad and some of his friends said, "We are still trying to figure out what we want to be when I grow up."

So instead of setting my eyes on one thing, or one title, I am going to run after where my heart beats. Where it is most alive. I will not be ashamed of it, but rather try and live a life passionately pursuing what I love. The me that is the best me is the me that is doing that.

“Whatever happens to you belongs to you. Make it yours. Feed it to yourself even if it feels impossible to swallow. Let it nurture you, because it will.” 
― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

It is Good. It Will Be a Long Time.

When a dear friend writes you and tells you she misses you and you realize you have not spoken in weeks and you used to know what she did for nearly 40 hours a week. It makes you remember where you are. Life is good here. I am loving it, soaking it in, but not so sure I have really taken in to account how long I will be here for. I know I went to college away, I used to be far from home but this is just a  kind of different awayness (Made this word up). My coworkers at my job before I moved here were kind enough to gift me a calender as a going away gift, on this calender each person wrote me a message on their birthday. So every month I have new notes, from different people. I love seeing what they wrote and knowing they were born that day, so I can wish them Happy Birthday. (Thank you Soley for giving me one of my most treasured heartfelt gifts I have ever been given). It is so encouraging. I so appreciate it.

Relationships are good. They are important and this is one of those things you learn when you do not have the ones that mean the most in front of you. I say all of this because I am so grateful to have people to miss. I know I am lucky because I have a calender that people thought was important to write a message on. Things like this make long days with kids seem really good and reminds me of how great god is... how much he desires us to have relationships, that matter, ones that we can run too. The once wise person who I do not know said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." I so felt that way leaving Colorado. I watched the Broncos game on my computer sunday night and saw the sunset on the game and tried not to shed a tear. That place holds and will forever hold a special place in my heart. As for Honduras I am learning very fast that this place too will be one that will hold a special place.

Today with our kids we spent the day at a waterpark/ somewhat scary pool with slides that look like they might break, dirty pool, tents that seem to barely hold up and nearly 300 people. It was a complete chaotic mess of kids, parents, toddlers, running like mad and we the teachers pretending to play babysitter. friend. lifeguard.. everything you can imagine. Oh and language barrier to top it all off. We are all sun burnt to the crisp but are home laughing about what was not at all surprising in Honduras. Why wouldn't this be a good idea? I mean what is 150 or so kids swimming screaming all at once without any order or lifeguard be an awesome day? Let me tell you if I were 8 years old today would have been one of the greatest days ever.... all my friends, a swimming pool, waterslides, lots of candy from a pinata, fried chicken french fries, coke... awesome day. But as an adult and teacher it was not the same. Gave me a few heart attacks but the day was good.. but in more than a few moments I was a little envious. I want to scream and play with not even a second thought. Children do that so well and we adults do not do it nearly enough.

I came across a blog recently of a girl that writes so elqquently, saying things so well and she wrote the below as she was heading home to England after living in the Middle East and reflecting on her journey following Jesus . I like the way she puts this and I thought I would share:

A couple of years ago, I had gotten to the point where I realized I had been playing tug of war with God, asking Him from the church pew, “What do I do? How do I get to the place I should be? How do I do what I need to do to be OK with you?

And then He showed me it wasn’t about me at all, what I have or don’t have. It was about His glory in the nations … and how everything else should slip through my fingers like Middle Eastern sand so that I can grab hold of Him and take Him to others. It’s about me knowing Him and making Him known … to everyone I meet in the United States, to every international person living in England who’s never heard the name of Jesus, to everyone in the world.

Some days I get a little too attached to my park, to my big green hills, to my Starbucks and my tea house … not that those things are bad. I’m here, for the moment. I want to seize every moment here, enjoy Him in it, use it to show Him to others.

But if He asked for me to turn that plane around, I shouldn’t hesitate. And I shouldn’t cower in my seat hoping He won’t ask.

I should offer.

God is good... So good to me. Still living life here. From my bed, sorting pictures done by my kids of their families. (Flaming hair on mom and dad, stick people siblings... awesome pictures)

Love Kristina