Habits.

Fridays are not my favorite day.

My kids know it.

One of their spelling words this week was -rage -

On sentence writing day I read a sentence that said, On Friday Teacher Annie have rage a lot because students don't listen.

Borey was so proud of himself for that sentence. I had to laugh, because usually by fourth period on Fridays I am beyond grumpy.

It's kind of like Saturday nights at camp. Except, instead of just controlling the chaos, I have to get the chaos to study and make up work from the week, and take two tests.

During the last period of the day on Fridays a spelling test and a memory verse test take place.

This weeks memory verse was Jeremiah 29:11, on Monday they complained it was too long and they would never remember it. This verse has the word -DECLARES- so I made that the focal point, how do we declare something? Well, by emphatically shouting it of course. So every time we practiced, we SHOUTED, we DECLARED! And when they I heard them practicing outside of class time, they were DECLARING it!

Only two people got less than 50%. This is a miracle.

Then it was time for the spelling test. Spell ten words and explain five!

1. edge

2. huge -Noreak, turn around!-

3. January -Joshua! Stop talking!-

4. Juice ....35 more minutes...

5. jar -Boreach raises his hand.- Yes, Boreach?- How do you spell juice?- j-u-i-c--WAIT. WHAT?!

You see, when the number one question in your classroom is, How do you spell...? It becomes a habit, a reflex.

And these habit things are hard to break.

Growing is a verb.

It's only Monday and I'm exhausted.

Our quarter tests were due today during morning worship. I didn't get them finished until the end of school had passed.

Sharon gave us homework today. We have course outlines due tomorrow in case of evaluation in two weeks.

Kim Sreng is down subbing for grade two this week, and I miss him.

I have lost BOTH of my good red pens and couldn't find any of the low quality ones. Which means I didn't do any grading today.

I sent Joshua out of the room today before I lost my cool. That boy! I just don't understand!

We're back down to no money until the end of this week.

I look at these "grown ups" that surround me and I wonder how they got to be like that.

They of course can act out child like joy without the strings of inhibitions.

Like when Kim Sreng shouts Annie! Thida is hitting me! And then smacks himself with a ruler.

Or Gary saying things in Sabbath School, Andrew, go around with the offering box, and if they don't give, ask!

Or when Rithy scolds me for wrong shoes when he also wears wrong shoes.

Or my mommy who still loves me even though I forget to e-mail back and I'm not very good at being on skype.

Or Mark darting across the table during Dutch Blitz while squeals escape him.

Or Fay coming into morning worship, good morning! Why is everyone so quiet?! Lets get this day started!

These people and many others that I admire and respect I would describe with words like responsible, patient, wise, giving, hardworking and kind.

Characteristics that I know I am often lacking.

I am pushed to be more this year. I don't just sit in a classroom, I CREATE the classroom. I'm good at energy, at laughter, at joy, at races after lunch, at spelling every word that is thrown at my by my kids, at acting out Shakespeare all by myself, at using synonyms until everyone understands, at making grammar a little less boring, at singing at the top of my lungs, at being ALIVE!

So I guess tomorrow I'll use those things I have been given, and maybe someday the rest will come into view.

When we talk about verbs ending in 'ing' in my classroom I ask, why does this verb have an ing?

They respond, Because we're doing it RIGHT NOW!!

"In a word, what I'm saying is, GROW UP. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it!! Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

Matthew 5:48

St. Valentine.

In case you have been wondering, Valentine's day originated from Catholic martyrs in the early Christian church. A holiday based on Christians being killed.

Lovely.

All the Valentine days in the past few years have gone by unnoticed, or as subtle reminders of, oh hey look at all the happy couples. Lets watch movies with Jen.

Last year Valentines day was spent in Quincy with people who I classified at favorites. I don't want to go into details, just know it resembled more the original holiday than all that lovey dovey stuff... But I digress.

This year I am in Cambodia. This year boys and all that business is the last thing on my mind.

Today at school Fay gave us goody bags, students threw flowers and candy in my direction. Threw is not an exaggeration, I was definitely hit in the head with a lollipop.

Standing on the second floor walkway Mara and Aliza yelled up, Teacher AnNIE [NIE is where the kids put emphasis in my name] We love YOU!

Sovantha hugged me and said, remember that I love you!

Some of my kids saw a picture of Deanna and I on my computer and asked, why your sister more beautiful than you? And then laughed at themselves for being so clever.

After school Olga, Phil, Travis and I went to The Shop to eat ice cream and play Dutch Blitz.

And when I rolled back into the mission there were three of my favorite kids waiting for me. Joshua, Jonah and Thida. Their parents were in a meeting and instead of staying in the dorm where they live, they came to our house.

We played games, I helped Joshua and Thida study for the map quiz I'm giving tomorrow, we went down and peaked in the windows at the top of the church.

And then as fast as they came, they were gone again.

As today ends, I am left feeling complete. I am not missing a piece because I am not dating, I am not incomplete.

I am made complete by a Savior who loves me enough to have brought me to Cambodia, and by children who call me Teacher.

I don't need a fancy night on the town. I'm satisfied right where I am.

"I'm just as happy with little as with much. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, whatever I am I can make it though anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Philippians 4:14-16

A Small Story of a Big God.

Our church isn't very well advertised. I'm told it used to be. And unless you know where you're going in the city, it's impossible to find anything. Street signs mean less than stop signs around here.

Last Sabbath there was a new white face in the congregation.

There isn't many of us, so news people stick out. He stuck around for the potluck that followed, and we came to hear this story; he is from Germany doing some work here for a few weeks, I'm not sure what. He had been looking for an Adventist church in the city, but because of reasons already stated, his search came up empty.

Then on Friday he was sitting in a restaurant, Lim and Augusta, one of the families that live on the mission were at the same restaurant. Lim was reading a copy of Adventist World. The man, whose name escapes me at the moment, saw Lim reading it and approached him. A conversation ensued that ended with him at church with us.

It's good to know that even when the church isn't so well advertised with signs and posters, God is using us.

It makes me wonder though, is my reading material the only thing setting me apart?

Listful.

A few lists to take the place of stories.

I love,

1. Senior boys that make me laugh a lot.

2. The cooler weather.

3. Jonah's laugh.

4. Boreach falling in holes.

5. Having a blender.

6. Having enough money to buy food.

7. My slightly broken bicycle.

8. The weird, off brand ibuprofen that makes me a little numb.

9. Italian men that introduce themselves to me.

10. Joshua.

11. Vice-Principal Sopheak's sense of humor.

12. Stories.

13. My Little Pony Fruit Snacks.

14. Speaking Khmer.

15. Going to bed at 8:30 and getting up at 5:30.

16. E-mails.

17. Watching movies while grading.

18. Not wearing shoes.

19. Kim Sreng.

I do not love,

1. Mail that never comes.

2. Lack of money.

3. The lack of food that results from the lack of money.

4. Being treated like a foreigner.

5. Children that won't try.

6. Long lasting power outages.

7. Putting my life in danger just to cross the street.

I miss,

1. My people.

2. Driving.

3. Dutch Bros.

4. Not summer.

5. History classes.

6. Blending in.

7. Different colors of eyes.

8. New music.

9. Having a camera.

I don't miss,

1. Being a stressed out student.

2. Boy drama.

3. Snow.

4. Having a cell phone.

I am proud of myself for,

1. Still being on the same bottles of shampoo and conditioner I left America with.

2. Not been seriously injured in WEEKS.

3. Being caught up in grading.

4. Learning more names!

5. My kids have started saying "bless you"

I am,

1. Alive.

2. Blessed.

P.S. Go see thingsweforget.blogspot.com. It's good.