So we've been talking about national symbols in first grade for a few weeks.... We've learned about the white house, the president (my kids call him Obama. I try to get "President" in there... not happening...), the flag, ya know, all of it.
So today I remembered I had visited a bunch of these places (DC, Statue of liberty...) so I brought my pictures to show them. I knew they would love it. I got to the picture of me in front of the White House...
Cute little boy: ...Wait. Mrs. Prestwich, you mean Obama is real?
My thoughts: umm...yes. yes he is. I thought we clearly went over that....
It's been exactly one year since we got engaged! and now I've had a little ring on my finger for a whole year!
then there was this great day...
and this one...
and now we're just loving every day of life!
P.S. Remember how today my kiddos learned about the White House and we pulled up whitehouse.gov and went on a virtual tour? Then I gave them a littleart project... the conversation about drawing the president went like this...
(all kids bantering back and forth. I like to just listen occasionally :) )
"Don't forget, draw the president black, cause he is"
"People aren't black!"
"Some are"
"No, they can be brownish, but not really black"
"O ya? Then why do people say he is a black president?"
I got a wristband from BYU. It willchangemy life. I am hereby admitted to like 17 aerobics classes whenever I would like to go to them this entire semester.
I used it today. For a water aerobics class.
yes. I used thoseweights. And I may have had that smile on my face too. It was THAT much fun. And let me tell you, I'm a little sore and it's surprisingly difficult to do jumping jacks and squats and the grapevinein chest high water... you heard right, the grapevine!
Want to know my favorite part? I have come home, showered, gotten into my pjs, put on my lotion, and I STILL smell like chlorine! Reminds me of those good ol days in high school.
ok. This is completely inappropriate... but sooo funny.
Today my first graders learned about christmas around the world. They went to another class and apparently it was on one of the Asian countries because they all got fortune cookies. I was helping some of them read their fortunes when I heard a little boy in the back of the room
"I heard you are supposed to say 'when you go to bed' after you read your fortune...." and proceeded to help a bunch of kids alter their fortunes....
Needless to say, I stopped that one pretty quickly.
ok. here are my top three. Obviously there are so many things in my life that I have to be thankful for
The love of my life. (Look how buff he looks in this picture. He doesn't like to show off so don't tell him I pointed it out.... but Clint is REALLY strong.)
I am so thankful we are married for all of eternity and I always get to be by his side. He is so good to me.
(You are the best tcrece - teacher.
I love you a lote
I hope
you
have a hapee
tkse give eng -happy thanksgiving)
I am thankful for my kids. I have 18 cute 6 yr olds that love me no matter what kind of day I am having and I just love them too. I'm thankful my principal evaluation went well today, and that I am so used to observations thanks to all the observations I had during my internship last year.
ok, so this is mostly joking. But really, I found this new show and I LOVE IT! Clint was laughing at me pretty hard last night while we watched 2 episodes in a row on hulu. LOVE IT. Secretly, he loves it just as much, Clint just doesn't show excitement as well as I do. :)
I have so much to be thankful for. I am so excited to spend this Thanksgiving with Clint's family and spend the weekend getting to know them even better. (I'll be thinking of you too, family in California!!) I am so thankful that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I feel the blessings from the Lord everyday.
I know, save Thanksgiving and all that jazz... I just love Christmas music. plain and simple. I am still thankful. I promise.
Here's the thing. I cry everytime I hear this song. I just think of this drummer boy going to see the Newborn King.
"I have no gift to bring that's fit to give a King"
I just feel that way sometimes ya know? But this is what I learn from this song. The boy just gives what he has. He plays his drum. He plays his best and the Christ Child smiles at him.
And his drum, his playing, that was enough.
I was at education week in August, listening to Scott Anderson, (who is amazing) and he was talking about the woman at the well. She had been cast out and her name was defamed. As she drew water, Christ asked her if she would draw him a drink. It was pointed out that this woman was, to the world, worthless. She had nothing to offer the Savior of the World... except she did have exactly what was needed to give Him a drink. Christ saw her one strength in that moment and magnified it.
She was able to do exactly what He asked of her.
He had made sure of it.
As the holidays are here and I am thinking of what I am Thankful for, and also the birth and life of my Savior, this song epitomizes everything I think of. I may not have a lot to give. I may be a poor newlywed, living with my husband on the salary of a first grade teacher, but I know I have something, because the Lord doesn't look at what I don't have.
He looks at what my strengths are and He makes those strengths the only things that matter.
