Laughing til my ABS hurt!

Today has been such a wonderful day. It is awesome how me being human and waking up tired and cranking can be turned around in the blink of an eye by my awesome children in my class. I woke up tired from crying before bed about my dog passing. Yes, I know he is just a dog and way worse things could be happening to me, I know this because there are people in my life going through way worse...but it was still a hard night thinking about all the memories and how much I loved him and what a great dog he was to my family. He was a part of my family and he will be greatly missed.

Anyways, back to my children and all the Lord is doing here in Tahoe. I most say some days have been craaaazy and difficult, having 20 4 year olds from 8:45-5:30 every day is a challenge but such a blessing. I love my kids each and every one of them. When they walk in the door my whole tiredness goes away and I am ready to spend the day with them. This morning I spent the free choice play time reading with 2 of my girls. It was a precious time...I love reading with just one or two and being able to love on them in that way. My kids constantly crack me up. They do the funniest things and say the most hilarious things. It has now been 4 weeks and they seem to be getting used to the routine and mine and CA's expectations. So, it is getting less crazy day by day. Today though I realized how much I can just stand back and watch them and enjoy them. Especially when they are playing. It is awesome to see them learning through play. They have the best imaginations. I loved buying ice cream for 200 dollars the other day. Today, I laughed until my abs hurt on the play ground at one of my boys who wear too big of shorts and had to run around holding them up while he played(you had to be there I think to laugh as hard as I did). I realized that I am loving getting to know them, their likes, their dislikes, their hangups. I am so glad the first few weeks are over and I am beginning to truly know the kids and the parents. The parents are trusting me more and more each day. They are staying to talk and also asking for me to babysit. The Lord is showing me through the little moments that I am exactly where I should be right now at this time.

My team has been wonderful. We are praying for each other, laughing with each other and just chilling with each other. It has been awesome to get to know them and what the Lord has placed on their hearts.

Fun things I have done so far in Tahoe besides teaching of course:
*Boat Riding to Emerald Bay and hiking the Island to the Tea House
*Hiking up to a beautiful cross (much easier hike then the one in Peru)
*Boat Riding and getting to Wake Board on Lake Tahoe. (had to wear a wet suit cause the water was so cold) SO fun though!!
*Seeing a bear! Saw a bear up in the tree right outside the school/church. Got to take my kids to look at it.
*Went to the Balloon Race in Reno. Watched over 100 hot air balloons fly in the air.
*Celebrated my 22nd Bday here and got 2 cakes!

God is great! He is doing awesome things here...be in prayer that the relationships we are building with our kids and families will bring opportunities to minister to them.

"I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in his unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." Psalm 52:8-10

Here are some pics, there are more on facebook!

The class


Seeing the Bear