Wonderland

Snow Day #4. Seriously, it's been like Spring Break. Only not really, since we can't really go anywhere. And it's winter. So really the only part that's the same is the "break" part.

This morning the first thing I yelled downstairs to Jamie was "Oh my word! Where do we live again?" It snowed buckets overnight, and everything is covered in a blanket of white! It's just beautiful.

My friend Gena came over this afternoon (she's much braver than I to drive on the ice), and we took a walk around the block.

Gena stayed for a cup of hot chocolate, a game of Quiddler, and a special showing of "High School Musical" - her choice, I promise! :) That movie never gets old to me.

So Dallas people, I hope you're enjoying this beautiful gift of snow and rest. If you're suffering from cabin fever and need someone to talk to, give me a call. Remember, we're all in this together.

Sorry, I had to.

Snow Day #3

Today's reading:

Tonight's dinner, compliments of Jamie. We have had so many delicious homemade meals the last few days...it's amazing the food that has come out of the shadows of our pantry and fridge!

We've Got Mail!

Snow Day #2. We've already found out we have tomorrow off school, too.

Running in circles sounded appealing tonight, but I didn't ever make that happen. Instead, my roommate Jamie and I went on a walk! To get the mail!

It really was exciting, and I LOVED getting to be outside, even though it was 19 degrees and difficult to walk on the ice.

Behold the excitement of our day:

Thundersnow

Last night we had a thundersnow. Really! Thunder, snow, and sleet all at the same time. The sound of it was amazing, although altogether distracting at 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 in the morning.

My alarm went off at 5:15 this morning, and I searched carefully for any sign of school closures I could find. There were lots - not including my school. Administration finally posted a bulletin on the school website at 5:30ish, and by 6:00 I was dozing off into a couple more hours of blissful sleep. At that time, a phone call and voice recording jolted me out of sleep to let me know school was closed for the day. Thank you very much.

It is a blessing to be at home. Texas snow days always come at just the right time.

Here's some evidence of the storm that blew in last night. For Texas, it's a big deal! :)

After getting up this morning, I made a list, because that's what I do. To accomplish today, Lord willing:

*Blog (done!)

*Dust, launder and change sheets, put away clean clothes that have been sitting on the floor for entirely too long now (almost done!)

*Write letters

*File important looking documents that are necessary for tax season. Blah.

*Play with camera (hoping to learn at least one thing new today)

*Read, just because I can (a lost art for me)

*Cook dinner for the roommies

*BSF

This week we finished Isaiah 40 in BSF. I reread that today and continue to find encouragement in this passage. It's a beautiful reminder of God's incomparable power and might, His unfathomable greatness, and the way He provides strength for His own weary children. Read it if you get a chance.

That's all for now! Enjoy this blustery winter day. :)

Of Course!

Today my class celebrated my 1/2 birthday (we have a party any time we can think of a reason to at my school), and two students gave me the following as soon as they walked in the door:

One said, "Happy 1/2 Birthday, Miss Cunningham! We made you a campsite!".

Of course you did!

This might be my favorite student gift I've received. Hidden beneath the tent is another paper person sleeping on a paper sleeping bag. Another message inside reads "Happy 1/2 Birthday".

My students make me smile. A lot! And I hope my paper campsite made you smile, too. :)

Adventures in Dogsitting

This week I've been dogsitting at my mom's house. Let me be honest - I am not a fan of dogs; and unfortunately, my mom's dachshunds don't do anything to persuade me otherwise. In fact, they probably heighten my feelings a bit.

Brownie and Xander are hyperactive, licking machines. Brownie has no boundaries and bounces like a pogo stick, while Xander has no interest in obeying humans whatsoever.

Despite that, we've had a good week, and I even got a fun picture of them below. On Sunday we had snow!!! Leaving church was like entering a winter wonderland!

Look at those sad faces...I'm so mean to leave them in the snow so I can take a picture.

A fire was burning for a large part of the weekend - SO nice. Brownie liked to sit and stare into the flames. A good use of time, Brownie. Well done.

Happy winter! :)

Reason #387 Why I Love My Job

Earlier this morning, I had the following (paraphrased) conversation with two of my 3rd grade students. We'll call the girl student "G" and the boy student "B".

G: Miss Cunningham, B is staring at me from across the room and I can't concentrate on my math facts.

[I look over and see B staring pointedly in that general direction]

Me: Okay, B - come here, please. [B comes obediently] B, what is going on?

B: [Deep breath]...Well, yesterday when you let us practice our math facts with these math cards, I didn't know we could keep them until you told us we could later, so I put them back in your box...I had named mine Kimosabe, and so when you said we could keep them I went to go get them and they weren't there so I had to get some different ones...I figured out G had them and I really want Kimosabe back. So I'm staring at her.

[Thoughts running through my mind...You named your math flash cards Kimosabe? That's awesome!...Seriously. That's awesome.]

Me: Okay, B - are you going to be okay with the cards you ended up with?

B: Yes.

Me: You're sure?

B: Yes.

Me: Then will you stop staring at G while she works? You're kind of creeping her out.

B: Yes.

Me: Thank you.

[Children scamper off, and my day...Has. Been. Made.]