AuburnChick's Adventures

Well, I certainly did not mean to go so many days without blogging, but work happened, and I fell behind…on EVERYTHING!  I’ve got over 100 blog posts to read, so please forgive me if I haven’t visited or commented in a while.  One would think that with the holidays approaching, the lesson planning would get easier.

Nope.  That isn’t the case.  The kids are getting squirrely, so the best solution is to keep doing what we normally do…stick to a routine and most of all, keep them BUSY!  This requires tons of planning and thinking about alternative plans if they don’t respond well.

Whew!

Anyhoo, play along…visit Joyce’s blog to link up…and forgive this bad blogger.  I’ll be making the rounds and catching up during the break when I have time to sleep (praise the Lord) and catch my breath.

1.  How will you spend ‘the night before Christmas‘?

I’m not sure if we’ll attend church.  Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t.  We typically chill out as a family.  Super Sis and her crew go to Grand Pooba and Coupon Queen’s house, and we play games.  Then, after our children go to bed and pretend to be asleep, we pretend we have things to do downstairs and assist Santa.  It’s a low-key kind of evening.

2.  What is one thing you are not?

Lately, I am not quite “together.”  I am behind on EVERYTHING.  I never did decorate.  I haven’t cleaned in a while, and I haven’t even scooped dog poop in over a week.  I am usually very organized, but I cannot seem to manage right now.  January is only going to be more difficult as the assignments for a Reading Endorsement class I’m taking get extra hard.  So, “together” would be something I’m not right now.  Ask me this question in six months, and the answer will be different!

3.  Fudge-are you a fan?  Your favorite flavor?

In my sweets-eating days, yes, I was a fan.  Regular old chocolate was my favorite.  These days, I don’t eat it.

4.  Did you attend any craft/vendor fairs in the month of December?  Do you prefer homemade goodies or the more professional stalls? Are you giving any homemade gifts this year?

I did not attend anything that wasn’t school-related in December.  I’m barely managing to give gifts period this year, so there will not be anything homemade.  As a knitter, I find this appalling.

5.  What’s your favorite type of holiday gathering?

Ugh.  I don’t do holiday gatherings very well.  This time of the year is extremely difficult for me.  I did not grow up around extended family, so large gatherings cause me much angst.  I am used to what we do as a family…Christmas present opening on Christmas morning.  I love my family dearly.  But parties and hobnobbing with others?  Hmmm…I’m just not what you would call a social butterfly (unless you put me in the midst of a crowd at a soccer or basketball game).

6.  We’re approaching a new year…what’s going to be different in 2013?

Wow.  This is a difficult question to answer.  The first half of the year will continue to be busy (aka “stressful”) as I finish the class I’m currently taking the end of January and begin an ESOL (instruction for teaching students who speak another language besides English at home) class.  In June, right after school ends, I will be attending another Smart Board training, and then I’ll actually get to be a trainer at a big conference we’re having in town.  It’s the same conference I attended last summer, but I’ll be getting paid to teach.  I’d do it for free, though, because I love sharing my knowledge of technology with others.

I’d also like to take another ESOL class in the summer, along with my final Reading Endorsement class, which includes a practicum, which I’ll finish after the new school year begins.

Yeah.  I see much of the same craziness in 2013 as this past year.

Sigh.

I’m tired just thinking about it!

7.  Share a favorite scripture, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to peace.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

8.  My Random Thought

I haven’t said anything about the events in Connecticut.  Honestly, I’ve avoided as much of the news coverage as possible.  As a mother and an educator, it’s too much for my heart to comprehend.

I will say, though, that as I got ready to change the channel the other night…the night when The Voice was on, I paused and watched the opening song.

I was moved, as I’m sure every other viewer was.

I showed the video to my classes, and kids cried.

It was one of the most simple and beautiful tributes I’ve ever seen.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge |