From My Sister's

I am sitting in my sister's house holding my niece on my lap who is holding my laptop on her lap as I reach around her and type. My family will be visiting my sister and her husband and four children for the next two weeks. My newest niece was born only a few days ago and is absolutely beautiful, which is what her name means - Bella.

Here "insanity" is the watch-word. We will discuss our varying theologies, play Boggle, watch movies, clean the house, get Checkers milkshakes, take online personality quizzes, weed the garden, cook or buy food almost incessantly, and attend church (which we will argue about) - and all this only on the first day! We fully intend to have an awesome time, argue often, laugh about everything, and enjoy our disorganized chaos.

The bonus: they have wireless internet that I can just link my laptop into. So fully expect to hear from me a few times the next couple weeks. Of course, it won't make that much difference how often I post in the next couple weeks since my readers have gotten used to only checking my blog monthly. Well at least this will give you a little more to read when you do check.

Summer Days . . . yeah, right!

Anna thinks I should think about changing the title of my blog. She doesn't seem to find "Snow Days" to be relevant to her life. This is hard for me. I don't want to change the name 'cause I do what I want (shoutout to Leam!). Okay, seriously, I was only being that goofy because Anna is leaning over my shoulder reading as I write. So she thinks I should call it "Summer Days" - "not yet!" she protests, "Not 'til summer, you dork!" Nope, not gonna do it. Won't even call it "Spring Days."

I miss Guatemala. Never go on a missions trip unless you want to lose your heart to a foreign country that you can't just go to whenever you want. I'm glad I did. But boy is it hard to not know when if ever I will go back.

You know what, Mikey? I CAN type while looking at you without misspelling any words! So just get over it! Except for "misspelling" which I misspelled then corrected. No, it's Anna's turn now! So now I'm looking at Anna without looking at the computer and she says that I look retarded. some friends I have!

The Joy of the Lord

It amazes me how self-sufficient I sometimes live like I am. If that didn't really make sense, don't worry, no one else gets it either. Seriously though, do you ever find you've reached the end of a day and even though you've accomplished everything you need to and are even ahead in some things, there's still an absolute sense of frustration and weariness? You, like me, have been living in the flesh - doing the every day activities and work of your day in your own power. Now you stop, recognizing that there is no joy or restfulness, just a feeling of ick-this-day-isn't-completely- over-and-I'm-exhausted-and-frustrated. Yep. You've just been diagnosed. But fear not - you, once again like me, don't have to finish your day like this! Philippians 4:13 says that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It's talking about being content. May I point out that you will never be content living in the flesh when you as a Christian have been commanded to walk in the Spirit. Why the blahs? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength! You don't have Christ strengthening you, you don't have joy. Finish today well and have a great weekend!

Why I Changed my Blog Title

It seems that I have a problem. I don't update my blog - just about ever. Yet somehow I really do think that I will one day start writing more faithfully. . . . Right. . . . So I thought I would make my title a warning. You see, it's another snow day for the academy at which I am doing my student teaching, and I've realized that the only time I seem to have time to update is on an unusual day like this one. So you are given fair warning if you choose to read: I don't write often.

I am truly enjoying student teaching this semester. I love the children that I get to teach and the challenge of helping them learn! It's also been awesome to lead the ladies and children's ensembles. I am learning far more than I am teaching.

SNOW DAYS!

Why, yes, I said, "DAYS," as in, more than one. Two so far as a matter of fact and don't think I'm not praying for a third! Now usually a snow day would have absolutely no impact upon my college life since the college I attend NEVER closes. But this semester is different. This semester I am spending the bulk of my time in the church academy doing student teaching, therefore, snow and ice may be redefined as "FREEDOM!!!"
As an added blessing, the only teacher who does not live near enough to make it in to the college today was the only teacher with whom I had a class. So what did I do today? Hmmm . . . =) No really, I did schoolwork all morning and afternoon too.
Now I must go give my dean of women's daughter a voice lesson. Hopefully, the next time I post I will get to tell all about the different vocal ensembles I will be working with this semester.

Here's to tomorrow being a SNOW DAY!!!

Merry Happy End of the Year!

Thought I seriously owed my friends a post by now. My sisters and their husbands were up for Christmas - it was wonderful. Their visits never last long enough though. I wish that they could stay for months - but days it is.
Did you know that I love NCIS (the tv show) and there is a marathon on today? Yeah, I'm pretty psyched.
If I could think of more, I'd post it, but I'm drawing a blank - mostly because there are only a few more moments left of the show I'm watching. Anyway. Bye.

Um . . . I have an excuse?

Yeah, so everyone is mad - "I bother checking Rachel's blog and the stupid kid never updates it!" Your displeasure, dear readers, has been evidenced in comments, phone calls, and super-annoyed text messages, all demanding I reactivate my posting. So I am. One day short of a month later. The day before I go on Thanksgiving vacation and don't go near a computer for 10 days. =) I love you guys too!
At this point a question demands answering: Why has it taken me so long to do this? Let's see - a week long seminar stole all my afternoons but was awesome; most of my major projects and papers came due the two weeks after the seminar (not so awesome); and the past week has been one of recovery and preparation for all that will be due when I return from break. It's like I'm in college or something! These teachers really have some nerve loading me down with all this stuff!
So now the next question - Is this post only going to be an apology or is there more to it? Well . . . I can put more to it. Oh! I've got it! - today Rebekah and I shared a slide show and video presentation of our missions trip we took this summer to Guatemala. We combined the men's and ladies' missionary prayer groups. It was great fun! We even made everyone sing a song in Spanish. =)
Dear Leam, I am praying for you.
thanks, everyone, for harassing me - i really needed to do this.