Flowers :)

I found this picture on the computer. I took it last year in the dark.

God is so good to us. He didn't have to make beautiful things for us. He could've placed us in a drab world, but He loves us too much. Thank you God for giving us such beautiful representations of your love!

Question

What do you think is more important?

1) Helping a friend move boxes from a family member's house to their own
or
2) Attending a Bible Study that you've commited to, but missed last week because of Father's Day

I'm having a hard time deciding if my responsibility is to my friend or the Bible Study.

God is Stronger ... Right?

My dad got sent for blood work two weeks ago because he's had a constant infection and a high white blood cell count ... I'm sure some of you already know where I'm going with this. This morning, after what felt like months of waiting (it was actually only a week) the doctor called us with the news - my dad has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and he's had it for 2 years. Ouch. The doctor seemed optimistic though - he said that my dad's white blood cells doubled in 2 years and they don't start worrying until they double in 4 months. Which means that my dad could feasibly live another 20 years. I'm not sure what his quality of life will be, but at least he didn't say 6 months. So right now all it means is more doctors appointments and more blood work. My poor father already spends so much of his time in the doctor's office - diabetes, multiple chronic breathing problems, glaucoma, nerve damage, broken back/back surgery, getting older in general, and now this. He's taking it surprisingly well - he doesn't understand why my mom and I are so worried, to him God is in control and what happens will only bring glory to our Creator. I wish I had that much faith.

*Oops! I was wrong - my dad doesn't have glaucoma, he has cataracts. I also forgot to add osteoporosis to his list of ailments.

I graduated!!!!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009, I graduated with an associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Mt. Wachusett Community College. I have been working on getting this degree for 3 years instead of the usual 2 in an effort to not go into debt. And it worked - I'm debt free!! :) I'm not quite done with the degree though. I still have one more Practicum to do. I'm working at it right now though and should be done by mid-July. I'm so excited!!! Next step will probably be working towards a bachelor degree because they're eventually going to be required. One step at a time though.

Walking into the "auditorium" (otherwise known as a gym).

Some of the people that came out to support me - thank you guys!! :)

There it is - my empty diploma cover. Good thing it didn't have the diploma in it because it would have been misspelled - when they called me up they said "Christina E. Salliby" Definitely not my name. Oh well though - the actual diploma should be right.

After party at my house - cake and ice cream and lots of fun. (Caitlin left for Cyprus at 4 the next morning, but she still hung out with us - she loves me.)

My parents couldn't hang out after the graduation, so we had the official parent/graduate picture at the house after. I couldn't have gotten this diploma without them - I have the best parents in the world!

My graduation gift from my parents - internet access for my laptop!

The after after party - we all headed to Mack and Marci's house when my dad kicked us out because he wanted to go to bed.

I'm so excited I graduated!!!

My Last Day with the New Loves of my Life (aka - Practicum 1 is over)

*I had to take the pictures out of this post for safety reasons. All notes written in red are descriptions of what the pictures were*

My first student teaching experience is complete. Three months of spending three mornings a week with the same kids is over. :( [It was actually over in May, but I'm not that caught up yet]. I learned a lot and grew to really love these kids. I'm going to miss them so much! Here's a peek into a morning spent in Pre-K at BCDC:

*children reading in a small tent*

Hanging out in the tent during free play.

*two little girls at the art table - gluing shapes to a paper plate*

Art time - not too many kids interested that day, which is unusual for this classroom.

*a little girl reading a book, wearing a basket as a hat*

Reading in "the one person area" during free play (notice the basket on her head).

*teacher and children lined up, holding onto a rope*

Headed out for a walk (my place was always in the back of the line).

*children on the swings - flying high*

Swinging. I lost track of how many times I heard, "Ms. Christine! Can you push me?"

*many children on a climber, including one that is perched at the top*

The little guys sitting at the top? He's not supposed to be up there.

*a little boy in a hooded sweatshirt (with the hood up), a jean jacket, a baseball cap and sunglasses*

He's afraid of bugs.

*teacher and little boy looking at an I-Spy book*

Indoor quiet time after being outside for so long.

*picture of the whole class plus one*

Me, my cooperating teacher Ms. Carolyn, and the Pre-K class (the little guy in the orange shirt at the end is not actually in the class - he just snuck into the picture).