~Love is in the Air~

    February has been a very unusual month of Craziness. I don't think there was much down time for me this whole month. The month started out with me still recovering from all the doctors visits and trying to regain my health and stabilize my heart rate. An update about my health, I am now on a heart rate medicine to help try to regulate my heart rate as well as anxiety medicine to keep my body calm more than what I can control. I have been on my heart rate medicine for a little over 2 weeks now and have only had 1 episode where my heart rate was really high. I think the medicine is definitely helping. I have only been on my anxiety medicine for about 5 days so it will take a little more time for that to really sink into my system and for me to start seeing it work.
  For the 100th day of school, I only made it for the parade and then I had to leave to return to the doctors office. It was such a joy to see all of the elementary students dressed up to represent something of "100." My children represented 101 Dalmatians and very cute Dalmatians might I add. At the end of this week I was able to return back to work and my kids welcomed me with open arms and lots of love and happiness. I have never been made to feel so loved. It is reassuring to know that I must be making a true influence in my students lives for them to miss me that much when I am out. The school had an Elementary Movie Night after school on a Friday. We ordered pizza, sang some silly songs, watched a movie, and enjoyed popcorn together. The kids had a blast and I think the teachers and parents did as well. It is always nice to be able to give to the kids fun things to do outside of the school day but to enjoy it with their friends and family in a safe environment.
   The most exciting week in a school year, I think, is Spirit Week! It is a time for silliness, creativity, and imagination to run wild. The first day of Spirit Week was Twin Day. All of my kids dressed like someone or something and I dressed alike with the 2nd grade teacher. Next was Character Day, this was a huge hit with the kids and trying to figure out who everyone was through out the day was a bit of a challenge. I sank into my childhood and was Junie B. Jones (from a book series) Everyone's favorite day including the teachers was on Tuesday and that was Pajama day! As much as I love this day I also despise this day because I get so tired being so comfortable and warm through the entire day, it makes it hard to teach. The last day of Spirit Week was the most absurd. Wacky Tacky Day is always a hit and a lot of students enjoy this day to for they do not have to match anything they are wearing. I got really involved in this day as well. It is so fun to bring out the inner child and craziness in the teachers. It shows the kids we really do know how to have fun and be "cool" in their eyes. Spirit week came to a close when we wished the basketball players off to Budapest for the tournament and we ended the week with Valentine's Day Parties.
   I titled this particular entry, "Love is in the Air" because Valentine's weekend I had a chance to be a part of the English Cafe Retreat again. A group of about 40 of us, Russians and Americans, left Moscow for the weekend to become more acquainted and help the Russians with their English  It was cold, very icy and snowy, but we had a blast. We played games, sang songs, watched a movie, had discussion groups, and thoroughly enjoyed each others company. We all learned new things about ourselves as we all took the 5 love language test. We discussed relationships (bf and gf, friends, family, etc) and even had a devotion time on Sunday morning for all who wanted to attend. We do not push religion or things on these people for we aren't trying to turn anyone away but to help improve their English, build relationships, and in the end, hopes that they would be willing and initiate the move to learn more about Christ. What a great time of fellowship it was. On a side note from this weekend, I had the opportunity to walk around outside in the snow and ice to take pictures of my bosses daughter who is a senior. On our journey, I stepped through snow and ice and was stuck in a river. It was only about a foot and a half deep but was enough to soak me past my knee and freeze my toes and leg through my pants and boots. Needless to say, I still have all of my toes and Alisha and I just created some very humorous memories that will never forget.
    February has slowed down a bit since Kindergarten met their last obligation for the month. Kindergarten and first grade lead chapel this past Friday and did an outstanding job. We sang some old fun songs and performed 2 skits. We talked about how Jesus is the only way to Heaven and also performed a skit about Zaccheaus. The children memorized scripture and even learned a whole praise and worship song in Russian. It was a very beautiful chapel and I am one proud teacher! My children were rewarded also on Friday after chapel by having a, Friday Fun Day. We left the school and went to a park for a little over 2 hours. We played on huge mounds of snow, went sledding, and painted the snow! When we left the park we were all cold and tired so we made our way back to the school and watched a movie while we ate popcorn and drank hot cocoa. The kids absolutely loved such a wonderful fun filled day. I am definitely looking forward to the last few months here with these kids before we all set off for the summer!
   

The Hoopla since the New Year

     I have been really bad about sitting down and actually writing out how things have been going here in Moscow lately and I apologize. Please bare with me as this second semester is only going to get more crazy and busy but I will do my best to keep you all up to date.
     In the month of January I have been trying to get my kiddos back into the swing of school. It has been another adjustment period for these kids especially because I had kids travel all around the world for Christmas Break. My kiddos have surprised me though with how much they remember and being so eager to be back to school and learn. We enjoy each others company and knowledge in my classroom. I love being a part of what the Lord is doing each and every day through me for these kids. I am so blessed to be able to say that I work at Hinkson with such wonderful staff and very special children. As the days went on in January so many things took place at our school. We had the opportunity as a school to help pack seeds to send to families who are less fortunate or who are struggling. We packed 1,004 bags of 7 different types of seeds in each bag for families in need. This was such a wonderful experience to be apart of in helping Moscow community. I love the outreach ministries that I can be a part of while working here at Hinkson.
   Here in Moscow it has been so beautiful with all of the fluffy snow and crazy amounts of it as well. I had the opportunity to go sledding with Karen, Alisha, and Haley. We took a walk through a beautiful white covered park and made our way to some slopes to go sledding. This was my first time ever and it was one of the best days ever, despite the frozen legs and soreness afterwards. Sledding down the hill to get to Karen at the bottom was a blast, going forwards, backwards, on our stomachs, and also trying to race each other was so much fun. We laughed, face planted in snow, rolled off sleds, threw snow at each other, and tried catching snowflakes in our mouths. So many memories were made on this wonderful Saturday with special friends, including stepping into knee deep snow, getting stuck, making tunnels and so much more. My boss Karen made hot chocolate and when we returned to her house she had some very delicious hot soup ready for us as we sat around and had wonderful conversations.
     Our school has been taken over by sickness and a lot of the students and staff were out with some kind of flu and other sicknesses. I had 2 students gone for over a week straight. It is so nice to have my class back to school all together  and still just as excited as the first day of school. Now that my whole class is back together I have been out of work for a week now. I have been battling hot flashes, heart races, dizziness, headaches, and chest inflammation which causes chest pain. The dr said I was very dehydrated and have a viral infection. I am under drs orders to stay home, drink lots of fluids, and rest. All of my blood work came back normal so he is unsure why some of these things are still happening and causing pain. I will call the doctor again on Monday and we will discuss further investigation. I appreciate all the prayers as we try to determine what is really going on here.
     As January has come to an end we prepare for so much excitement and new adventures in February and the months that follow. The 100th day of school is on Monday and I am very excited about seeing my Dalmatians trot through the whole school in our elementary parade. We are also getting ready for our Elementary Movie night at the school, spirit week, valentine parties, winter break, Chapel presentations, and Friday Fun Day in Kindergarten. SO many things to look forward to but with all of this comes a lot of planning and preparation. I hope and pray we can all stay well and enjoy the time we have with each other. Take care friends and family, know you are loved and miss all the way in Russia.