I just spent an estrogen-laden weekend in a huge house in Traverse City with 14 teenage girls.
It was actually a lot of fun. Our senior high youth group had their Girls/Boys retreat this morning, so Doug & I spent our first weekend apart. While we girls were crafting & eating & giggling in Traverse City, the boys were belching & eating & watching/playing tackle football in a cabin in Cadillac. Oh, and breaking collarbones. Fortunately, the broken collarbone did not belong to my husband.
It was a wonderful weekend. The farmland around Traverse City is beautiful, and the town itself is adorable. Too bad it's almost 5 hours away. So, the house we stayed at was IN-credible. It had 18 beds in 14 bedrooms. A retired couple built this house so their 5 children and their families could all come stay there over the summer. During the winter, they "rent" the house to different church groups for a mere $75 a night. I was thinking the whole Bannister clan should plan a week there! It's right on the lake... absolutely beautiful up there.
I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!! So excited to come home again & have family time. And possibly some Tea Time with Barbara & Paula...
11.11.2007
11.08.2007
lifelong learner?
Some new experiences today!
1. I saw a gun-shot wound! Pretty awesome. It was in a student's arm, yet there was no exit wound. He obviously didn't want to get into the story, and I didn't really want to hear it (well, actually, the nosy half of my brain was going nuts). It basically looked like someone had tried to chop his arm off with a machete. Apparently, counting both internal and external, there are over 60 stitches. He also has to wear a cast to keep his wrist bent forward to avoid tearing the stitches. Ouch.
2. During 7th period, a student in the room next to mine set a table on fire! Smelled pretty awful, and the cops came to investigate. Exciting!
1. I saw a gun-shot wound! Pretty awesome. It was in a student's arm, yet there was no exit wound. He obviously didn't want to get into the story, and I didn't really want to hear it (well, actually, the nosy half of my brain was going nuts). It basically looked like someone had tried to chop his arm off with a machete. Apparently, counting both internal and external, there are over 60 stitches. He also has to wear a cast to keep his wrist bent forward to avoid tearing the stitches. Ouch.
2. During 7th period, a student in the room next to mine set a table on fire! Smelled pretty awful, and the cops came to investigate. Exciting!
11.04.2007
falling back...
Apparently Doug & I have a little to learn about "falling back."
Last night, before going to bed, we changed our clocks, very proud that we had remembered. We knew at that moment that we were truly entering responsible adulthood.
This morning, my alarm went off, and I knew that I needed to get up to get ready for church, but I was ridiculously tired, so I simply hit snooze. After repeating this cycle a few times, I looked at the clock and saw that it was already 9:30!! I couldn't believe how tired I was, since I usually wake up around 8:00, even without an alarm. I said to my darling husband, "Looks like we're not going to church today, huh?" We both agreed that we would just have a relaxed morning and listen to a Rob Bell sermon/podcast, rather than rush around trying to get to church within 30 minutes.
So, I enjoyed a long, leisurely shower, and then while Doug was showering, I decided to make waffles. By this time, it was about 10:45. Suddenly, in the middle of my whisking, I heard the alarm on our cell going off. It was then that I remembered we had additionally set our cell phone alarm the night before. It was then that I also remembered that we had set that alarm for 8:45am. Which could only mean one thing. Yes, dear readers, we had set our clocks in the wrong direction, thereby robbing ourselves of not just one, but two precious hours of sleep...
But at least we had ample time to get ready for church!
~
A typical Sunday afternoon for us:
Doug, faithfully watching the Lions, while I work on various crafts.
Aren't we adorable?!
Last night, before going to bed, we changed our clocks, very proud that we had remembered. We knew at that moment that we were truly entering responsible adulthood.
This morning, my alarm went off, and I knew that I needed to get up to get ready for church, but I was ridiculously tired, so I simply hit snooze. After repeating this cycle a few times, I looked at the clock and saw that it was already 9:30!! I couldn't believe how tired I was, since I usually wake up around 8:00, even without an alarm. I said to my darling husband, "Looks like we're not going to church today, huh?" We both agreed that we would just have a relaxed morning and listen to a Rob Bell sermon/podcast, rather than rush around trying to get to church within 30 minutes.
So, I enjoyed a long, leisurely shower, and then while Doug was showering, I decided to make waffles. By this time, it was about 10:45. Suddenly, in the middle of my whisking, I heard the alarm on our cell going off. It was then that I remembered we had additionally set our cell phone alarm the night before. It was then that I also remembered that we had set that alarm for 8:45am. Which could only mean one thing. Yes, dear readers, we had set our clocks in the wrong direction, thereby robbing ourselves of not just one, but two precious hours of sleep...
But at least we had ample time to get ready for church!
~
A typical Sunday afternoon for us:
Doug, faithfully watching the Lions, while I work on various crafts.
Aren't we adorable?!
11.02.2007
miracle of miracles!!!!!!
Just got an email from John Williams (the SAU professor, not the composer):
"Hey Rachel,
We have 26 No Fear Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet and 26 To Kill a Mockingbird. Marci & I would like to visit your school and bring them to you. "
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
"Hey Rachel,
We have 26 No Fear Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet and 26 To Kill a Mockingbird. Marci & I would like to visit your school and bring them to you. "
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
11.01.2007
tricks, no treats.
First of all, I want to share with the world just how talented my dad is:
Carving & photo courtesy of ole Poppa bear.
Second, I am dismayed to report that last night we had ZERO trick-or-treaters! How disappointing! I did everything right - I left the lights on, I decorated our front stairway and left that light on, I put up a cute sign welcoming trickers & treaters... all to no avail. What is this world coming to!?
Third, this week of teaching was - I almost don't dare voice this miniscule glimmer of hope -almost encouraging. I'm nervous even writing that because it seems any time I admit to any optimism, we suffer an alarming regression. But it remains - the tiny seed of hope deep within my heart!
~
Some pet peeves:
1. When people neglect to use their turn signals, especially when merging during the morning rush hour.
2. When people leave my classroom and don't shut the door.
3. Smacking and slurping noises while people are eating.
That's all for now.
Carving & photo courtesy of ole Poppa bear.
Second, I am dismayed to report that last night we had ZERO trick-or-treaters! How disappointing! I did everything right - I left the lights on, I decorated our front stairway and left that light on, I put up a cute sign welcoming trickers & treaters... all to no avail. What is this world coming to!?
Third, this week of teaching was - I almost don't dare voice this miniscule glimmer of hope -almost encouraging. I'm nervous even writing that because it seems any time I admit to any optimism, we suffer an alarming regression. But it remains - the tiny seed of hope deep within my heart!
~
Some pet peeves:
1. When people neglect to use their turn signals, especially when merging during the morning rush hour.
2. When people leave my classroom and don't shut the door.
3. Smacking and slurping noises while people are eating.
That's all for now.
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