Lady at the Drive-thru: "Welcome to Zaxby's. May I take your order?
Mom: "I just need two chicken plates, to go"
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Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
That Noisy Air...
I know that I am not a lone in my struggle to listen to God, so I wanted to share this simple story.
I was taking mom to work this morning. It was cold so we had the heat on full blast. At the same time I was listening to a Cd (the new desperation band Cd, it's good by the way) and there are a few instrumental sections in some of the songs that just feel like "soaking" music.
So as I was driving back home, one of the instrumental parts came on. I was just listening to the song and then I decided to turn the air off since it was getting a little stuffy. So I turned it off and the second I did so it struck me how much more of the music I could hear. The instruments and beats were so much more defined with out the rushing air drowning it out.
It's so frustrating sometimes waiting for God to speak. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a hard time sitting still and waiting. I know that if I could just turn the 'Air' off (all the voices and thoughts going through my head) I could hear Him. Like I need to hear Him. Like I long to hear Him.
Just take this for what it's worth.
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I was taking mom to work this morning. It was cold so we had the heat on full blast. At the same time I was listening to a Cd (the new desperation band Cd, it's good by the way) and there are a few instrumental sections in some of the songs that just feel like "soaking" music.
So as I was driving back home, one of the instrumental parts came on. I was just listening to the song and then I decided to turn the air off since it was getting a little stuffy. So I turned it off and the second I did so it struck me how much more of the music I could hear. The instruments and beats were so much more defined with out the rushing air drowning it out.
It's so frustrating sometimes waiting for God to speak. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a hard time sitting still and waiting. I know that if I could just turn the 'Air' off (all the voices and thoughts going through my head) I could hear Him. Like I need to hear Him. Like I long to hear Him.
Just take this for what it's worth.
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Monday, December 7, 2009
Momma always taught me to share....
This is a narrative that I wrote for my English class this semester. I just really love it and wanted to share it.
(Some names have been changed to protect the innocent)
When I was in first grade my teacher was Mrs. King. She was the oldest teacher at St. Patrick’s Elementary school, and probably a few years short of ancient. She was a petite woman: with a hump back and gray hair. She would always sit in this blue plastic chair while she taught our class. I have to say I do not have a lot of vivid memories about Mrs. King; however, the one that I do have is one of the most memorable moments of my childhood. At the time I thought I would never get over it.
It was the first day of first of school, and there was a new boy in our class. “This is Wesley Doe, and he has just moved to Lake Providence from Washington,” announced Mrs. King to the class. He was the cutest boy that I had ever seen, and I knew from the moment that I saw him I was in love.
Wes had this very light, almost white, blonde hair. It was cut short with a cowlick in the front. He had eyes the color of the sky on a clear day, and when he smiled it was enough to make me melt into a big puddle of soupy goo. I sat in the front right corner of the class, and he sat two rows over all the way in the back next to the bathroom. It was hard to see him while sitting in class, but I would watch him out on the playground. He would run around and play ball with all the other boys, and he was always the fastest one. In class he was just as smart as he was fast. He got things very quickly. He always seemed to have the right answers.
The further into the school year that I went, the more I was sure of one thing. Wes Doe was the boy that I wanted to marry. One day the class had just come in from recess, and I had gotten up enough courage to ask. I got out a piece of paper from my blue folder, got out my pencil, and wrote my letter. It was short and sweet; written so carefully as if I was the only girl in history to have ever written a love note.
“Dear Wes will you marry me? Love Kristen.” Ended with two check boxes, one for no and one for yes. I folded up the note as neatly as I could with every corner lining up. Finishing it off with a “To: Wes” on the front of the note.
Now, I just had to figure how I was going to give it to him. I couldn’t just go up to him, give him the note, and demand an answer. These decisions take time and that just was not my style. Then the idea came to me. I would pretend that I needed to go to the bathroom, and on my way I would drop the note on his desk. “He would have plenty of time to answer while I ‘go to the bathroom’,” I thought to myself.
With that I made my way to the back where Wes sat, getting more nervous with every desk that I passed. I finally made it to Wes’ desk. He looked at me, and I looked at him. Then I quickly placed the note on his desk, and darted for the bathroom behind him.
Once in the bathroom all I could think about was that note and what Wes would say. My future happiness was on the line. I had stepped out on a limb, and I was hoping that the limb would not snap. I waited in the bathroom for an eternity. Then when I thought that I had given him enough time, I came out of the bathroom. As I was passing his desk again he handed the note back to me and I made my way back to my seat.
I don’t know when she saw me or how she saw me. All I know is that when I started my way back up the row, Mrs. King clamped her eyes on me. She watched me all the way up the aisle and before I even had a chance to read the note, she held out her hand for me to give her the note. I was tempted to open the note first, but I knew that I was already in trouble and I didn’t want to test my luck. I had no idea what Mrs. King was thinking as she told me to sit back down. She walked back to her chair at the front of the room and sat down. Next, to my horror she began to open the note.
Didn’t Mrs. King know this was a private note? This was a link between me and my one true love, and I didn’t even know what Wes’ answer had been. However, what happened next was the worst thing that she could have done. She read the note out loud, in front of the whole class. I couldn’t believe it. My heart began to beat out of my chest. I wanted to run out of the class, and never come back but I could not. I had to stay right there while she threw my heart open for everyone to see. As she read the note I remembered that his answer was still a mystery. Then with all my heart I started to pray that she would not read it out loud. If she only knew the punishment that I had already endured she would not have wanted to read anything else. Snap! The limb broke, and I came crashing down. He had checked no.
Looking back on it, I think that part of me at the time thought that if Mrs. King hadn’t read that note out loud it would have somehow changed Wes’ response to that letter. He could have said yes and a childhood romance might have blossomed. Who knows? I might have become Mrs. Wesley Doe. It could have happened. In any case it didn’t quite happen the way many seven-year-old girl’s dream when they find their first love. I still have to say I wasn’t scarred for life. I didn’t swear off boys. I don’t even hate Mrs. King. It was just one of those things that builds a girl’s life, gives them stories to tell and memories to write. Just like this.
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(Some names have been changed to protect the innocent)
When I was in first grade my teacher was Mrs. King. She was the oldest teacher at St. Patrick’s Elementary school, and probably a few years short of ancient. She was a petite woman: with a hump back and gray hair. She would always sit in this blue plastic chair while she taught our class. I have to say I do not have a lot of vivid memories about Mrs. King; however, the one that I do have is one of the most memorable moments of my childhood. At the time I thought I would never get over it.
It was the first day of first of school, and there was a new boy in our class. “This is Wesley Doe, and he has just moved to Lake Providence from Washington,” announced Mrs. King to the class. He was the cutest boy that I had ever seen, and I knew from the moment that I saw him I was in love.
Wes had this very light, almost white, blonde hair. It was cut short with a cowlick in the front. He had eyes the color of the sky on a clear day, and when he smiled it was enough to make me melt into a big puddle of soupy goo. I sat in the front right corner of the class, and he sat two rows over all the way in the back next to the bathroom. It was hard to see him while sitting in class, but I would watch him out on the playground. He would run around and play ball with all the other boys, and he was always the fastest one. In class he was just as smart as he was fast. He got things very quickly. He always seemed to have the right answers.
The further into the school year that I went, the more I was sure of one thing. Wes Doe was the boy that I wanted to marry. One day the class had just come in from recess, and I had gotten up enough courage to ask. I got out a piece of paper from my blue folder, got out my pencil, and wrote my letter. It was short and sweet; written so carefully as if I was the only girl in history to have ever written a love note.
“Dear Wes will you marry me? Love Kristen.” Ended with two check boxes, one for no and one for yes. I folded up the note as neatly as I could with every corner lining up. Finishing it off with a “To: Wes” on the front of the note.
Now, I just had to figure how I was going to give it to him. I couldn’t just go up to him, give him the note, and demand an answer. These decisions take time and that just was not my style. Then the idea came to me. I would pretend that I needed to go to the bathroom, and on my way I would drop the note on his desk. “He would have plenty of time to answer while I ‘go to the bathroom’,” I thought to myself.
With that I made my way to the back where Wes sat, getting more nervous with every desk that I passed. I finally made it to Wes’ desk. He looked at me, and I looked at him. Then I quickly placed the note on his desk, and darted for the bathroom behind him.
Once in the bathroom all I could think about was that note and what Wes would say. My future happiness was on the line. I had stepped out on a limb, and I was hoping that the limb would not snap. I waited in the bathroom for an eternity. Then when I thought that I had given him enough time, I came out of the bathroom. As I was passing his desk again he handed the note back to me and I made my way back to my seat.
I don’t know when she saw me or how she saw me. All I know is that when I started my way back up the row, Mrs. King clamped her eyes on me. She watched me all the way up the aisle and before I even had a chance to read the note, she held out her hand for me to give her the note. I was tempted to open the note first, but I knew that I was already in trouble and I didn’t want to test my luck. I had no idea what Mrs. King was thinking as she told me to sit back down. She walked back to her chair at the front of the room and sat down. Next, to my horror she began to open the note.
Didn’t Mrs. King know this was a private note? This was a link between me and my one true love, and I didn’t even know what Wes’ answer had been. However, what happened next was the worst thing that she could have done. She read the note out loud, in front of the whole class. I couldn’t believe it. My heart began to beat out of my chest. I wanted to run out of the class, and never come back but I could not. I had to stay right there while she threw my heart open for everyone to see. As she read the note I remembered that his answer was still a mystery. Then with all my heart I started to pray that she would not read it out loud. If she only knew the punishment that I had already endured she would not have wanted to read anything else. Snap! The limb broke, and I came crashing down. He had checked no.
Looking back on it, I think that part of me at the time thought that if Mrs. King hadn’t read that note out loud it would have somehow changed Wes’ response to that letter. He could have said yes and a childhood romance might have blossomed. Who knows? I might have become Mrs. Wesley Doe. It could have happened. In any case it didn’t quite happen the way many seven-year-old girl’s dream when they find their first love. I still have to say I wasn’t scarred for life. I didn’t swear off boys. I don’t even hate Mrs. King. It was just one of those things that builds a girl’s life, gives them stories to tell and memories to write. Just like this.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Clinical
This is a copy of my report for my clinical. I just though I would share my experience with everyone. There is some teacher jargon but it captures the day pretty well I think.
And I am open to any teachers opinions too :)
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My clinical was completed at Soar Academy. It is a self-contained school specifically for student with disabilities with approximately 11 students. The teacher I interviewed taught 5 children ages 4 through 8. Her student’s disabilities were developmental delay, spinal bifida, Noonan’s syndrome and Autism. Students come to Soar through an application process. If there application is accepted then they begin at the school on a trial basis. This is so that the teachers, parents, and student can see if the school will be a right fit for everyone. When deciding what to put on an IEP the teachers observe the students and collaborate with the student’s parents. When dealing with disciple problems it seems that the most common method is using time-outs. Though they try to talk with a child first to teach them how not to do that behavior and understand why they can’t do it.
Parents at Soar Academy are very involved. The teachers keep their parents involved though daily reports and they talk to the parents twice a day. They also do so through IEP meetings, fundraisers, report cards, and conferences. Their Administrator gives them total support in anything and everything that they do and even helps in the classrooms if needed.
The teacher that I spoke with said that the problems she saw with inclusion are that it is disruptive, more time consuming, and there is not enough attention for all the students in the classroom. The good things about inclusion are that the disabled students get to see a model of how certain things should be done and it allows for friendships to develop. She says that it makes the students with out disabilities more comfortable around the students with the disabilities. She says that the hardest part of the job is trying to make sure that each student gets an equal amount of time. Plus being able to get everything else done in a day such as progress reports and take-home packets. She said that the best thing about her job is when she sees the progress in her students after working with them for so long. She also likes the staff and getting to know the parents. She also does not feel that her job is too demanding.
Overall Soar Academy seemed to be a very well organized school. One example is that they have a room with the entire curriculum. The curriculum in separated into units. Each unit and all the teaching tools that go with it are put into one box. The boxes are then shelved in order of the units to make it easier for the teachers to find each one. Teachers take the boxes in and out as needed. There were two main classrooms one with five students, one with six students and were separated by age. The older half was in one room and the younger have in another. There are two teachers in each classroom with one of the teacher as the lead.
Soar has many things to make life for the families of disabled student easier. I found it cool that they have there own physical therapy room equipped, so that the students that need physical therapy can get it at school. Then parents do not have to take their child to a separate facility afterschool for physical therapy. There is also a playroom used therapeutically to create a calming space. They have a ball pit and many big pillows all over the room with beanbag chairs. They also have a cushioned harness that hangs in the middle of the room for students with autism. A student is put in the harness when they are agitated. It restricts their movement and helps to soothe the student. My favorite part of the playroom was a machine that they have that projects scenes on to the wall, such as a beach scene, while calming music is playing.
Both the classrooms were very colorful. There were multiple teaching aides on the walls such as the seasons and days of the week in every room. I did not see very many assignments being worked on at the time that I came in. The lesson that I did observe was on the Solar system. This was a very neat lesson because they were able to use the Smart Board, which had a program on it that displayed the planets. The planets appeared on the board as they would appear in space. The students were able to go up to the board one at a time and choose a planet by touching the board. Then information about each planet came up and the information was talked about. Each of the students were asked to repeat the information that they had learned. By the end of the activity the students were able to tell the name of the planets and some of the characteristics of each one. This was a very effective activity that the students really enjoyed. The teachers used lots of repetition and were redundant in order to get the information into the student’s brains.
After the Smart Board activity the students went back to their classrooms where they were given a worksheet on the planets where they were told to color each planet using a diagram. Again the teaching technique was repetition. The assistant seemed to be responsible for the handing out worksheets for the students to work on. The classroom size was small enough that when a student needed help they were able to just call for the teacher with out having to raise their hand. The students asked for help quite easily and it was obvious that they were comfortable with their teachers. The students really love their teachers and the teachers really love their students. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. The teachers were constantly watching the students to make sure they were on task with the worksheets. In the older class most of the children we interested in their assignment and were able to pay attention with out a lot of prompting.
Most of the discipline problems came from the younger group. When a discipline problem arose the teachers tried to talk to the student and make them understand what they were doing was wrong. If that did not help then they would put the student into time-out until they calmed down. They really tried to help the child see why the behavior was bad instead of just making it stop.
One particular kid named Franklin that most likely had autism really caught me. He was such a cute kid. He was always looking around the room and looking for something to do. There was two moments when, out of the blue, he would come running up to me and gave me a hug. I had not even seen him coming. I played with him later in the afternoon. He brought over some play dough for me to open and the teachers said that I needed to watch him or he would try to eat it. So we began to play with it and sure enough I could tell that he was just waiting for a moment that he could stick some in his mouth, and he finally found one. So I put the play dough away even though he brought it back to me so that I could open it again. I told him that I could not open it for him because he had done something he should not have done. He didn’t say a word the whole time I was there but I think that I could tell he was very smart. He seemed to know when he was doing wrongs things, just like all boys do, always looking for trouble.
One part of the day that stood out to me was when the kids had naptime. It was like any naptime, the kids got out there mats and each of then had their blankets and pillows. They had their own spot in the room that they chose and the teacher put on some calming music. What I really noticed about this is that the teacher really had to utilize this time to get things done while the kids were sleeping. The teachers were able to eat lunch and do a bit of socializing with each other. The teachers seemed to really enjoy each other company. The teacher’s relationship with their executive director was a very casual one as well. They were able to talk to each other as if they were friends, as I believe they were. The teachers then had to work on getting together their lessons for the next day and assembling the take-home packets. The take-home packets consisted of the work that student had done such as worksheets and coloring projects. Then once a month they include a book that the child takes home and it too read with their parent for that month. The teacher that I interviewed said that one of her least favorite things about eh job was trying to find the time to get everything done. This was proof that they really did have to use there time wisely and not waste any.
I really enjoyed my time at Soar Academy. It was a little uncomfortable at first because I felt like I was invading their space. However, the teachers were inviting and I eventually was able to talk to the kids and ask the teachers questions. The only thing that I wish that I could have done is split up my time so that I could have gotten experience and two different days. I really enjoyed being with the kids because you could tell that the environment they were in had allowed them to flourish. I hope that when I finally become a teacher that I can find a place that is like this. Where the needs of the students take precedent over anything and are able to have good relationships with the people that I work with.
And I am open to any teachers opinions too :)
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
So I know have all my major things for the week out of the way. I feel good about both the test that I took. The Psych test went better than the last time even though there were some things that my mind completely blanked out on, wich is frustrating, but there were more this time that I was sure of what the answer is. Human growth isn't so much a hard class it just has loads of information that you have to memorize. Also the spanish test this morning I think went really well. I am starting to think more "spanish-like" and that allows you to use common sense when constructing setences and such. My biggest problem is memorizing vocab, which basically boils downto practice practice practice!
One conundrum I have found myself in is that anytime I am reading in or studying one subject, my brain wanders to another. For example earlier I was doing my reading for English Comp I was simultaneously thinking about Spanish and the forms/meanings of ser, estár, and tener. It's like my brian is multi-tasking because I am soaking in info from both subjects at the same time. It's not really a problem that I can see yet, just very interesting.
Anywho, I guess I better get back to reading. Dios bendice!
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One conundrum I have found myself in is that anytime I am reading in or studying one subject, my brain wanders to another. For example earlier I was doing my reading for English Comp I was simultaneously thinking about Spanish and the forms/meanings of ser, estár, and tener. It's like my brian is multi-tasking because I am soaking in info from both subjects at the same time. It's not really a problem that I can see yet, just very interesting.
Anywho, I guess I better get back to reading. Dios bendice!
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and – and find a good use for your talent. Tho’ I don’t know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.
--Marmee
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--Marmee
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
down the Bethel Road...
I went to check my mail today and was excited to find a package from Mom in my box. Only to find out that most of it was bills...haha. It's all good anyway because it is bills that I actually want to pay such as my last car payment, yipee. So with the car gone and the last payment paid, I can finally forget about it. Hallelujah!
There was one piece of mail however that I was very happy to get. Among all the stacks of paper, Mom had also mailed me the SMCC newsletter. I have always enjoyed reading it but this time it seemed a little more special. Having gone off to school so many things have changed. I am surrounded with new and unfamiliar things with more adding almost everyday. SMCC, ever since my first year working, has become so dear to my heart both the camp and the people there, and every year that feeling increases. The newsletter seemed to bring in a certain piece of familiarity.
I found my self reading every single word on those pages, and hearing all the voices of the people that wrote them. For a moment I feel like I am back at camp with all the kids and the awesome staff.
I love my school and I am so exctited about where I am going, but it is still nice to see things from home.
Yea I really love that place. It is so soaked in God that you can't help getting drenched.
Thanks Guys!
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
There was one piece of mail however that I was very happy to get. Among all the stacks of paper, Mom had also mailed me the SMCC newsletter. I have always enjoyed reading it but this time it seemed a little more special. Having gone off to school so many things have changed. I am surrounded with new and unfamiliar things with more adding almost everyday. SMCC, ever since my first year working, has become so dear to my heart both the camp and the people there, and every year that feeling increases. The newsletter seemed to bring in a certain piece of familiarity.
I found my self reading every single word on those pages, and hearing all the voices of the people that wrote them. For a moment I feel like I am back at camp with all the kids and the awesome staff.
I love my school and I am so exctited about where I am going, but it is still nice to see things from home.
Yea I really love that place. It is so soaked in God that you can't help getting drenched.
Thanks Guys!
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
chronicles of .:NEW ORLEANS:.
Many songs have been written about the great city of New Orleans. Her residents are so proud of their city. I have always wanted to see what makes New Orleans so unforgettable for so many people. So when a chance to go on a service trip for fall break to New Orleans came up, I knew that I had to go.
We left at 8 pm on Friday on a tour bus. I know it was going to be a long trip. We watched a couple movies that helped the time go buy. But after that it was pretty slow goings. It was pretty hard to get comfortable and i woke up about every 30min to an hour. Since we were traveling at night i did not get to see any of the surrounding landscape. I pretty much could tell where we were though, all the SE states have different feeling to it. So while I wasn't sleeping I had memories of when i was a kid. Making the Drive from Louisiana to SC in the "Ugly Pumkin" and the back again, being a kid. Just nostalgia.
We arrived in New Orleans at about 4:30 (quite a bit earlier than expected) and we waited till about 7:30 (we weren't expected till 8) for someone to get to the church. We stayed at St. Bernard Church of Christ, and their facilities were greatly appreciated. After about 30 to 45 min to change in to our work clothes and freshen up we got back on the bus and headed over to the St. Bernard Project. SBD is the organization that we worked with there and they really have some great people. When we arrived we were briefed on what we would be doing and exactly what the SBP does. They also essentially told us that they need us to be their advertisement. There are people that don't know that things in New Orleans are not fixed. There are even those in the city itself that don't know. 100% of the homes in St. Bernard parish were deemed uninhabitable and the project was established to help those that cannot afford to rebuild and also especially those that can't rebuild there own house (i.e. Elderly, single parents, full-time workers, relocated families, ect.) It also combats another one of the top reasons that people have not been able to get there lives back together and that is storm related mental illness. They offer counseling services free of charge to whomever may need them. It is an awesome organization. They take groups and individuals so if you are looking for a great opportunity to serve this is it.
After the briefing we headed to our work site where we met Dan and Nicole who were the site supervisors from the Americorps. We were also fortunate enough to be able to work along side the homeowner, whose name was Anthony, super great guy. For our group our assignment was...Drywall...oh yea. Most of us had never done that before so it took some getting used to. We were broken up into 3 groups, I was in #3. We worked on the Den and the kitchen, cutting, rasping, drilling, and hanging drywall. Not too much to talk about as far as the work hours go, we worked, that about all you can say. I really loved working with my team and all the other girls. Kudos to team #1 with that 2nd bedroom ceiling. It gave them a time but they never gave up. Worked from 8:30 till about 4 I think, minus a lunch break.
After the work day ended we headed back to the church and everyone took showers and freshened up for dinner. We weren't really sure where to go for supper so we just started walking. We ended up asking a guy having a birthday party where they thought a good place would be. WE ended up at Franky and Johnny's, from a the looks of it a very popular mom and pop place. I had a shrimp po-boy, which was excellent. After that we were ready to crash so we walked back to the church and just that.
The next morning was Sunday, which was our free day, so we headed into the city. There was just a liveliness about the city such a rich heritage. There is music on every corner and the street performer were a lot of fun. Our first stop was the Cafe Du Monde. The cafe is the only thing I still remember about New Orleans from when i went there when I was 4. The beignets still taste the same, oh so good. After that we got our beignets we went and sat by the river and enjoyed them then we headed over to the french market. It is a market a lot like the market in Asheville except New Orleans style :) it was neat to talk to the vendors and see their stuff. Especially the handmade stuff, i love handmade. One vendor in particuar, his name was Rico Salas. He and his brother make these Notebooks with handmande paper and Rico paints these beautiful designs on them. We talked with with him for a while about him and his bother and Mexico, where he was from, which I thought was pretty ironic. He was really cool to talk to. After the french market we just walked around for a little while. WE stopped at a show that some guys were putting on. They were break dancers and pretty hilarious. By the end of that show it was time for us to meet up with the rest of the group to go to the tour of the Garden District. I am not a huge fan of tours i love learning the information. The Garden District is a beautiful neighborhood, one of the more affluent ones with house owners such as John Goodman and also a house that used in the filming of Benjamin Button. I loved the architecture in New Orleans all the house even the ones in the poorer neighborhoods were beautiful. It reminded me of being in Mexico will all the bright colors. After the tour we headed back to the french quarter for supper. We went to Bourbon street, wich was interesting because by that time everyone had been drinking since 10 am that morning. There was a Saints game that morninf againsts that NY Giants and the Saints won. So needless to say there was plenty of celebrating. WE ate supper at a place called Cafe Beignets. IT was a great little place that had a live jazz band, a guy called steamboat willie, it was perfect. After supper Brittany and I decided that we had had enough of the night version of Bourbon st. to get off and we walked around some of the other shops and boutiques. Wandered around the French Quarter till it was time to go back to the church. I am so glad that Brittany was with me, we really enjoyed ourselves.
The next day, Monday, we had another workday at the same house. We put up more drywall ans was able finish most of out project that we had started. Then by the time we left it was starting to really look like a house on the inside. We were all glad that the homeowner, Anthony, was able to come and see us on his lunch break at work, since he works during the week. Again that work day was great, getting to work with my fellow connie's on such a work while project. I love my school.
After we finished work we headed back to the church, showered, and grabbed a snack and were out on the road headed home about an hour and half later. I said my Goodbyes to New Orleans and I would like to think the answered back with that magnificent sunset. I don't think I have ever seen one quite those colors, truly breathtaking. The ride back seemed pretty long, we stopped for supper, then kept going. I was in and out the whole way, just really restless from being so tired but not being able to sleep. We finally made it back at around 5:30 and it was freeeeeezing cold. It was so good to get into bed and sleep.
The trip was such a great trip. I can see now why so many people love New Orleans so much. Why so may songs are written about her and why so many people are proud to call it home. It is amazing after all they have been through the people of the city still have hope that they will get everything back together and many of them still have there hope in God. There is something about that you can't deny and something that is very contagious.
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
We left at 8 pm on Friday on a tour bus. I know it was going to be a long trip. We watched a couple movies that helped the time go buy. But after that it was pretty slow goings. It was pretty hard to get comfortable and i woke up about every 30min to an hour. Since we were traveling at night i did not get to see any of the surrounding landscape. I pretty much could tell where we were though, all the SE states have different feeling to it. So while I wasn't sleeping I had memories of when i was a kid. Making the Drive from Louisiana to SC in the "Ugly Pumkin" and the back again, being a kid. Just nostalgia.
We arrived in New Orleans at about 4:30 (quite a bit earlier than expected) and we waited till about 7:30 (we weren't expected till 8) for someone to get to the church. We stayed at St. Bernard Church of Christ, and their facilities were greatly appreciated. After about 30 to 45 min to change in to our work clothes and freshen up we got back on the bus and headed over to the St. Bernard Project. SBD is the organization that we worked with there and they really have some great people. When we arrived we were briefed on what we would be doing and exactly what the SBP does. They also essentially told us that they need us to be their advertisement. There are people that don't know that things in New Orleans are not fixed. There are even those in the city itself that don't know. 100% of the homes in St. Bernard parish were deemed uninhabitable and the project was established to help those that cannot afford to rebuild and also especially those that can't rebuild there own house (i.e. Elderly, single parents, full-time workers, relocated families, ect.) It also combats another one of the top reasons that people have not been able to get there lives back together and that is storm related mental illness. They offer counseling services free of charge to whomever may need them. It is an awesome organization. They take groups and individuals so if you are looking for a great opportunity to serve this is it.
After the briefing we headed to our work site where we met Dan and Nicole who were the site supervisors from the Americorps. We were also fortunate enough to be able to work along side the homeowner, whose name was Anthony, super great guy. For our group our assignment was...Drywall...oh yea. Most of us had never done that before so it took some getting used to. We were broken up into 3 groups, I was in #3. We worked on the Den and the kitchen, cutting, rasping, drilling, and hanging drywall. Not too much to talk about as far as the work hours go, we worked, that about all you can say. I really loved working with my team and all the other girls. Kudos to team #1 with that 2nd bedroom ceiling. It gave them a time but they never gave up. Worked from 8:30 till about 4 I think, minus a lunch break.
After the work day ended we headed back to the church and everyone took showers and freshened up for dinner. We weren't really sure where to go for supper so we just started walking. We ended up asking a guy having a birthday party where they thought a good place would be. WE ended up at Franky and Johnny's, from a the looks of it a very popular mom and pop place. I had a shrimp po-boy, which was excellent. After that we were ready to crash so we walked back to the church and just that.
The next morning was Sunday, which was our free day, so we headed into the city. There was just a liveliness about the city such a rich heritage. There is music on every corner and the street performer were a lot of fun. Our first stop was the Cafe Du Monde. The cafe is the only thing I still remember about New Orleans from when i went there when I was 4. The beignets still taste the same, oh so good. After that we got our beignets we went and sat by the river and enjoyed them then we headed over to the french market. It is a market a lot like the market in Asheville except New Orleans style :) it was neat to talk to the vendors and see their stuff. Especially the handmade stuff, i love handmade. One vendor in particuar, his name was Rico Salas. He and his brother make these Notebooks with handmande paper and Rico paints these beautiful designs on them. We talked with with him for a while about him and his bother and Mexico, where he was from, which I thought was pretty ironic. He was really cool to talk to. After the french market we just walked around for a little while. WE stopped at a show that some guys were putting on. They were break dancers and pretty hilarious. By the end of that show it was time for us to meet up with the rest of the group to go to the tour of the Garden District. I am not a huge fan of tours i love learning the information. The Garden District is a beautiful neighborhood, one of the more affluent ones with house owners such as John Goodman and also a house that used in the filming of Benjamin Button. I loved the architecture in New Orleans all the house even the ones in the poorer neighborhoods were beautiful. It reminded me of being in Mexico will all the bright colors. After the tour we headed back to the french quarter for supper. We went to Bourbon street, wich was interesting because by that time everyone had been drinking since 10 am that morning. There was a Saints game that morninf againsts that NY Giants and the Saints won. So needless to say there was plenty of celebrating. WE ate supper at a place called Cafe Beignets. IT was a great little place that had a live jazz band, a guy called steamboat willie, it was perfect. After supper Brittany and I decided that we had had enough of the night version of Bourbon st. to get off and we walked around some of the other shops and boutiques. Wandered around the French Quarter till it was time to go back to the church. I am so glad that Brittany was with me, we really enjoyed ourselves.
The next day, Monday, we had another workday at the same house. We put up more drywall ans was able finish most of out project that we had started. Then by the time we left it was starting to really look like a house on the inside. We were all glad that the homeowner, Anthony, was able to come and see us on his lunch break at work, since he works during the week. Again that work day was great, getting to work with my fellow connie's on such a work while project. I love my school.
After we finished work we headed back to the church, showered, and grabbed a snack and were out on the road headed home about an hour and half later. I said my Goodbyes to New Orleans and I would like to think the answered back with that magnificent sunset. I don't think I have ever seen one quite those colors, truly breathtaking. The ride back seemed pretty long, we stopped for supper, then kept going. I was in and out the whole way, just really restless from being so tired but not being able to sleep. We finally made it back at around 5:30 and it was freeeeeezing cold. It was so good to get into bed and sleep.
The trip was such a great trip. I can see now why so many people love New Orleans so much. Why so may songs are written about her and why so many people are proud to call it home. It is amazing after all they have been through the people of the city still have hope that they will get everything back together and many of them still have there hope in God. There is something about that you can't deny and something that is very contagious.
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
Friday, October 16, 2009
a little time...
Sitting in Gee just finishing my lunch. I have 2 hours of work then i am going to go pack for the looooong weekend :-D I am absolutely positively excited. We are driving all night so i am just praying that I will get some sleep. I will probably take some melatonin so it will be a little easier.
Ok time for work :)
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
Ok time for work :)
-- created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com --
Monday, October 12, 2009
Naive Orleans
I want to start this one byt thanking everyone for all the prayers that you have sent my way, cause I am just corny like that. I know they are felt everyday. God is truly working here :) and it is so freakin' exciting.
We had our first Powder Puff Football practice tonight which was tons o' fun, but that football for ya. We host Upstate on Nov. 14th. I'll post specifics later if anyone wants to come. Should be a good game.
In other news.....
I'll be going to New Orleans on Friday over fall break and I am so excited. I am going with a group of girls here for a service trip. So I will definitely be posting the details on that when we get back. Wee leave on Friday night on a bus, on which I am assuming we are driving all night, and then be in New Orleans till Monday night or Tuesday morning. I have been telling people that I have never been to NO, but that is a lie. I was talking to David the other day and he reminded me that I had been there, when i was about 4, and I have no idea why I thought I hadn't because I do remember a part of it. I don't really remember what the city looks like I just remember the Cafe Du Monde and being there with Papaw.
Personally I am hoping that Harry Connick Jr. is there to greet us with a song...haha. Actually I have no idea what awaits me in New Orleans. I do know we will be in the French quarter. Maybe we will have a meeting or something before we leave. But there is something to be said from the mystery of not knowing anything. Going into the great unknown.
created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com
We had our first Powder Puff Football practice tonight which was tons o' fun, but that football for ya. We host Upstate on Nov. 14th. I'll post specifics later if anyone wants to come. Should be a good game.
In other news.....
I'll be going to New Orleans on Friday over fall break and I am so excited. I am going with a group of girls here for a service trip. So I will definitely be posting the details on that when we get back. Wee leave on Friday night on a bus, on which I am assuming we are driving all night, and then be in New Orleans till Monday night or Tuesday morning. I have been telling people that I have never been to NO, but that is a lie. I was talking to David the other day and he reminded me that I had been there, when i was about 4, and I have no idea why I thought I hadn't because I do remember a part of it. I don't really remember what the city looks like I just remember the Cafe Du Monde and being there with Papaw.
Personally I am hoping that Harry Connick Jr. is there to greet us with a song...haha. Actually I have no idea what awaits me in New Orleans. I do know we will be in the French quarter. Maybe we will have a meeting or something before we leave. But there is something to be said from the mystery of not knowing anything. Going into the great unknown.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Just talkin'
I am a little bummed today. Nothing serious just was wanting to go home this weekend and can't. But to all those that I won't me seeing, FEAR NOT I am making the most of this weekend and i am going to get all the things done that need to be done. I am going to try and post stuff regularly so that I can keep you guys up on how things are going...plus it is a really great outlet. We have been doing a lot of free writing in my English Comp. class and I really like it. Basically you get out a sheet of paper and you just write and you are not allowed to stop. If you can't think of anything to write, you write "I can't think of anything to write." and you right down anything and everything that comes into your mind. It is actually very therapeutic to me. It is a great way to Journal.
Ok well I am going to get back to my essay!
created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com
Ok well I am going to get back to my essay!
created @ yadayadayo.blogspot.com
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Just fall...
I can't believe that I have been here for two months. Sometimes I still feel like I have to pinch myself. God has blessed me so much with this school even through all the time i have taken things for granted in my life and threw his gifts around. He has STILL seen fit get me into a school where I can really flourish and become everything that He wants to be.
Things have gotten tough the past couple weeks. School work is picking up and midterms are here and i am really finding what my faith is made of. This week I had an epiphany. On thursday last week I felt so worried about all the school work that i had coming up. I started to feel inadequate and like I didn't have what it takes to be here to finish the job. I have worried all this week about a Midterm that I took today. There have been some aspects of the class that have been tough for me to deal with, and it was really just weighing me down. Then all of a sudden in the middle of the self-pity and worry, it hit me. One, the self-pity and worrying doesn't do any good. Two and, most importantly, God brought me here. He brought me here for a reason. He will not let me fail as long as I am doing my part and am trusting in Him. I was reminded of a line from one of my favorite movie, "Where the Red Fern Grows":
"I don't know grandpa, sometimes, I think God don't want me to have any [dogs]"
"That so? why?"
"Well, I've been askin' 'im fer dogs as long as I can remember, and nothings happened yet"
"Could be that you ain't doing your fair share."
"Well what do ya mean?"
"Well if God had a mind to he could get you dogs just as slick as cuttin' logs but, he'd be doing all the work. That wouldn't be good for your character"
"I don't want character, I want dogs"
"You want dogs bad enough billy you gonna get dogs but, if you want his help you gonna have to meet him halfway"
"Well that does that mean?"
"What does that mean?.....Well you think about it?"
Gosh i love that movie, make me want to watch it now.
Anyways....I have to do my fair share in getting what God wants for me. Part of that is having faith and not worrying and the drop of the hat. Another part is studying as much and as well as i can so that i have done everything i can and he will take care of the rest. Period. No if's and's or but's. If i am doing my part He WILL take care of it.
I love my God.
I love that he loves me so completely.
He takes and ordinary day and turns it into flowers of the months of May.
He is me obsession.
He is my escape.
There is nothing like Him.
The Sky has never been so blue.
This is home.
Things have gotten tough the past couple weeks. School work is picking up and midterms are here and i am really finding what my faith is made of. This week I had an epiphany. On thursday last week I felt so worried about all the school work that i had coming up. I started to feel inadequate and like I didn't have what it takes to be here to finish the job. I have worried all this week about a Midterm that I took today. There have been some aspects of the class that have been tough for me to deal with, and it was really just weighing me down. Then all of a sudden in the middle of the self-pity and worry, it hit me. One, the self-pity and worrying doesn't do any good. Two and, most importantly, God brought me here. He brought me here for a reason. He will not let me fail as long as I am doing my part and am trusting in Him. I was reminded of a line from one of my favorite movie, "Where the Red Fern Grows":
"I don't know grandpa, sometimes, I think God don't want me to have any [dogs]"
"That so? why?"
"Well, I've been askin' 'im fer dogs as long as I can remember, and nothings happened yet"
"Could be that you ain't doing your fair share."
"Well what do ya mean?"
"Well if God had a mind to he could get you dogs just as slick as cuttin' logs but, he'd be doing all the work. That wouldn't be good for your character"
"I don't want character, I want dogs"
"You want dogs bad enough billy you gonna get dogs but, if you want his help you gonna have to meet him halfway"
"Well that does that mean?"
"What does that mean?.....Well you think about it?"
Gosh i love that movie, make me want to watch it now.
Anyways....I have to do my fair share in getting what God wants for me. Part of that is having faith and not worrying and the drop of the hat. Another part is studying as much and as well as i can so that i have done everything i can and he will take care of the rest. Period. No if's and's or but's. If i am doing my part He WILL take care of it.
I love my God.
I love that he loves me so completely.
He takes and ordinary day and turns it into flowers of the months of May.
He is me obsession.
He is my escape.
There is nothing like Him.
The Sky has never been so blue.
This is home.
Monday, April 20, 2009
History
History is one of my favorite things to read and learn about. It is always interesting to think about how the world would be different if something had gone another way. Especially when those changes could have had a personal effect on my own life.
I was watching American Experience tonight and they are showing this series called "We Shall Remain." In a nut shell it is about the Native American and there struggle to hold on to the land. In the second episode shown tonight, there was a warrior named Tecumseh.
Tecumseh was the leader of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, that has a vision about a Indian confederacy that would encompass more than half of what we know as the United States. After the sale of 3 mil. acres of land to the American government, Tecumseh was able to rally together the leaders of several different tribes. He and the other leaders launched a campaign against the American armies, and fought for the land. When the war of 1812 started Tecumseh made an alliance with the British army to not only protect the British's Canadian interests but also help the Indians by keeping the Americans from taking any more of the land. I won't go into great detail, but the British fell through on there end of the bargain and bailed out on the Indians in the end. Though in the beginning of the campaign the Indians had real promise and it looked as though they would pull off there dreams.
It just makes me wonder what my life would look like if Tecumseh and the other leaders had succeeded. Being part Cherokee Indian that could have changed my life dramatically. This country would be very different from what is is today. I don't know those kind of thing just are so intriguing to me and my mind goes on wild tangents. I just imagine how things might have been different.
If you wanted to chech out the series:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/the_films/episode_2_trailer
I was watching American Experience tonight and they are showing this series called "We Shall Remain." In a nut shell it is about the Native American and there struggle to hold on to the land. In the second episode shown tonight, there was a warrior named Tecumseh.
Tecumseh was the leader of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, that has a vision about a Indian confederacy that would encompass more than half of what we know as the United States. After the sale of 3 mil. acres of land to the American government, Tecumseh was able to rally together the leaders of several different tribes. He and the other leaders launched a campaign against the American armies, and fought for the land. When the war of 1812 started Tecumseh made an alliance with the British army to not only protect the British's Canadian interests but also help the Indians by keeping the Americans from taking any more of the land. I won't go into great detail, but the British fell through on there end of the bargain and bailed out on the Indians in the end. Though in the beginning of the campaign the Indians had real promise and it looked as though they would pull off there dreams.
It just makes me wonder what my life would look like if Tecumseh and the other leaders had succeeded. Being part Cherokee Indian that could have changed my life dramatically. This country would be very different from what is is today. I don't know those kind of thing just are so intriguing to me and my mind goes on wild tangents. I just imagine how things might have been different.
If you wanted to chech out the series:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/the_films/episode_2_trailer
Monday, January 19, 2009
More thoughts on Organic...
I have heard a few accounts lately about organic food.
Studies show that Organic food might not be as safe as people first thought. They are saying that they are more likely to have harmful things like E. Coli and Salmonella.
But to me I think that I would rather have that and know that I am eating real food than something that is so pumped full of pesticides and hormones that you can't even tell what is real and what is not. That is just what I think about it.
**The veiws of diet.com are not necassarily the veiws of this blog**(IF you are looking at this through facebook you will need to view original post.)
Studies show that Organic food might not be as safe as people first thought. They are saying that they are more likely to have harmful things like E. Coli and Salmonella.
But to me I think that I would rather have that and know that I am eating real food than something that is so pumped full of pesticides and hormones that you can't even tell what is real and what is not. That is just what I think about it.
**The veiws of diet.com are not necassarily the veiws of this blog**(IF you are looking at this through facebook you will need to view original post.)
Friday, January 9, 2009
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