September 27, 2016: Happy Hanky

I ran again today! (Yay for me).  I went 9 miles, beginning and ending at Meg and Kyle's house.  When I got back, I saw Henry looking out the window.  I tried to scare him, but he obviously doesn't find me too terrifying.  I also love that he is doing the same pose as the monster on his shirt. (Monster? Animal from the Muppets? I can't tell). 

September 25, 2016: Barometer

I love this picture.  It was the accidental shot as I was setting up my camera timer.  It makes me happy.  

We hiked Barometer today.  I haven't attempted this beast of a mountain since last summer when it nearly gave me an anxiety attack.  A year later, I felt like it was time.  I can happily say that Barometer no longer terrifies me! I feel all grown up.  There was still a point when I was over it and just wanted to get to the bottom.  The sides of this mountain are so steep and craggy.  There are crosses along the path honoring people who have died climbing and for a majority of the hike I am usually imagining my body somersaulting down the side of the mountain.  Even so, I really enjoyed the climb today.  Good company, fantastic views, a decent work out, and we even got to see bears at the bottom of the mountain.  Three of them! A mom and two cubs met us at a fork in the path.  This was the first time I have seen bears here while on foot.  I felt relatively safe because there were six of us in our group.  The bears seemed curious at first and then completely indifferent to us.  As exciting as it was, I don't need the experience again.  I prefer seeing them out my car window, or across a river bed or something.    

September 24, 2016: coolest kids ever

Rockstars.   I love babysitting my dudes. 

September 23, 2016: get well soon

During our writing time, the kids are allowed to work on any kind of writing they want.  They love making cards.  This is a get well soon card that one of my kids made for someone.  Can you tell what her friend has?!  It has been going around the island!! 

I also love that she wrote ages above the people in her picture.  And the adult's age is unknown :) 

My other favorite card I have seen is a thank you card that a kid wrote.  On the inside it said "Thank you for letting me play with your toes."   I am assuming he meant "toys" but I don't judge either way. 

September 22, 2016: blessings

It was another rough day today for me emotionally, so I spent some time on the phone with my dear friend Jo.   I appreciate her for a lot of reasons, and one is that she stays up really late, so when I am in crisis mode at 8:00 here, she's still awake in Chicago :).   While walking and praying, I got to see this view.  It was a good one.   I was reminded tonight of the little blessings.  Good friends.  A room full of amazing kids this year.  Grace and peace.   New beginnings.  Our God is an awesome God. 

September 20, 2016: DBarb

This picture is random.  I was looking through a teaching book I borrowed from my coworker, and saw this picture.  The man in the photo looks exactly like my boss from my first school in Chicago.  So much so that I took this picture and sent it to my roommate just to see if she thought the same thing.  She did.  Minus the outfit. 

September 19, 2016: training wins

It's no secret that I'm a terrible trainer.  At this point, I still haven't looked up my training plan that I should be following.  I ran a couple miles last week, but nothing substantial, so I decided I needed to do something big today.  I ended up running 7 miles total, with a mountain in the middle.  Boom.  Now I probably don't need to run the rest of the week.