01.30.09
Contest Answers Revealed!
This game reminds me of…..Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego! I loved that show when I was a kid! Remember Rockapella?
Anyways…without further ado, here are the answers:
1. Pink Pillow – Turkey
Lauren R. brought this back after her mission trip to the Middle East. I love it! It is shiny and textury and lovely and brightens my chair. I HAVE been to Turkey, but did not buy a single souvineer there, so I am glad to have this pillow.
2. Painting – Poland
This was a gift from the Poles in Wroclaw who ran the camp where I taught English in the summer of 2007. In the painting you can see rivers and bridges. The city of Wroclaw has tons of smaller rivers branching off one larger river (there is a geographical term for this, but I have no idea what it is), and there are hundreds of islands throughout the city connected by hundreds of bridges. It is my favorite city in Poland!
3. Bag – FAKER!
As Maxine revealed, this is from Old Navy. I don’t think I fooled anyone on this!
4. Pork Seasoning – Poland
I was at the grocery store with Mariola, and she grabbed this huge bag of pork seasoning and put it in my buggy. She said that I needed this for cooking in the States. It is good stuff, but I don’t think I will run out any time soon. She is a funny lady!
5. Plate – Syria
Marylyn brought this back from her mission trip to the Middle East. It is so lovely, and hangs just above a sign from Ellen’s mom that says, “Blessings”. My roommates have always been just that – blessings! I have not been to Syria.
6. Cross- Peru
Ellen brought me this cross from a mission trip in Peru. I like how very Latin it looks. Is that un-PC? It is hard to see in the picture, but it is really bright and colorful and parts are gold and shiny. It hangs in my kitchen with other various crosses and things. I have not been to Peru.
7. Pin – FAKER!
I tricked a lot of you on this one! My friend Amanda gave me this pin, which she got in the States. It is supposed be Polish for, “I am loved.” But the apostrophe is supposed to be an accent above the s like this: ś. Directly translated this says, “Somebody loves me.” Somebody loves that pin. That somebody is me. It reminds me of this.
8. Purple Pillow – Mongolia
Lauren H. brought this back from Mongolia when she and Chris (her fiance) when to visit his parents who are missionaries there. There is an organization there that hires native women and teaches them a trade, one of which is embroidery. I love ministries that meet both felt needs and spiritual needs! I have not been to Mongolia.
9. Bookmark – Guatemala
Kendra brought this back from a mission trip she took to Guatemala. Do I have the most well-travelled friends, or what?? She did all sorts of neat women’s, prison, and children’s ministry work there.
10. Coasters – Poland
I bought these at my favorite shop in all of Poland. I have been there every year, at least once, usually twice. The ladies are so nice, and they sell very traditional Polish crafts for reasonable prices. Pani Teresa, an employee, has been selling stuff to the Wheels for the World team for years! The coasters feature designs of paper cutting, a traditional Polish craft.
Thanks for playing!
The winner is Marylyn, who got 8 right. She sent me her answers privately so she wouldn’t take any of the fun away from the rest of you guys. (She does have an unfair advantage…).
Second place goes to Emily (who has a similar competition happening on her blog!) and JAM who each got 6 right! Way to go!!!
As for the rest of you: Maxine provided 1 answer, Jessica got 4 correct, Lindsey got 3, and Marylyn’s sister Emily got 5.
Thanks for playing!
01.28.09
around the world…in my home
My roommate, Marylyn, has a shelf with items from every continent (minus Antarctica). How amazing is that???
I got to thinking about the various things that my friends and I have brought back from mission trips, and realized that I have almost every continent represented in my house.
So…I think this calls for a little COMPETITION! Below is just a sample of the things that I found around my house. See if you can match the item to the country of origin. Leave your answers in a comment!
1. Pink Pillow
2. Painting
3. Bag
4. Pork Seasoning
5. Plate
6. Cross
7. Pin
8. Purple Pillow
9. Bookmark
10. Coasters
Here are your choices:
Guatemala, Mongolia, Peru, Poland (there are 3 items from Poland – YES, I am bias!), Syria, Turkey, and there are 2 fakers (items that look like they are from somewhere fun and exotic, but I got them right here in the States.)
Goooooood luck!
01.25.09
Masterpiece!
Today in Sunday school the kid that I shadow drew this very flattering likeness of me:
Apparently my head is the shape of a hammerhead shark’s. And look at that neck – I have a man neck!! Also, note the pointy-toe shoes and the scarf. Ravishing.
It reminded me of this drawing “form” a sweet girl whom I babysit:
I love the accuracy of this picture, namely the freckles, curls, and green eyes. Lauryn is very meticulous.
This one is back from the days of student teaching:
I think the pointy teeth and angry eyebrows say it all. Like I tell my kiddos all the time, “I am a mean, mean teacher who forces students to ___.” Fill in the blank with “take tests”, “tuck in their shirts”, “walk down the hallway”, “write their full heading” or whatever their current complaint may be!
01.24.09
Scripture Memory
I love the staff at my school.
Most of all, I love the number of Christian women who truly love and follow the Lord and encourage others to do the same.
Several of us meet weekly in the school library to study and discuss God’s Word. It is such a blessing!
Our sweet leader, “JAM”, teaches in the classroom next door to me, and knows everything about our school. Seriously. If I have a question about anything, even something really stupid, I just go ask her, and she knows.
She is also a reader of this blog 
. Everyone say, “Hi, JAM!”
At the beginning of the semester JAM made each Bible study attendee a notecard spiral with a beautiful cover (mine is pictured above), but it came with a condition.
The 1st and 15th of every month, we must write a Bible verse in the spiral and commit it to memory. I think she got this idea from Beth Moore.
Scripture memory…I have quite a hot and cold history with scripture memory. I know that it is important, and therefore would feel guilty for not doing it, so then I would set a goal – usually a super lofty goal that was unattainable, like memorizing a whole book of the Bible within a given timeline. Then I would get behind, feel overwhelmed, and give up. And then I would feel guilty again…
But this goal that she has encouraged us to set has been the perfect pace for me. 15 days is a perfect amount of time for me to memorize a verse, like really memorize it, and know it, and use it in everyday situations. I am so thankful!
So, for an extra measure of accountability, I am adding these verses to my sidebar. See it up there?
I recently learned in seminary about “covenant and steadfast love”. There is a special Hebrew word for this, “hesed”. It is usually translated as “loving-kindness”, but my ESV Bible has a more accurate translation. This is the love that compels an Almighty God to keep a covenant with people who turn from him again and again. He chose them, adopted them, blesses them regardless of their response to him.
They are his.
Hesed.
Love that inspires covenant faithfulness.
Finally, scripture memory that is a blessing instead of making me feel guilty or overwhelmed!
01.22.09
quote of the day, redux
student: Ms. Moore, my mom is getting married!
me: Oh my goodness, that is so exciting! When is she getting married?
student: Next week.
me: Does she have a pretty ring?
student: Yes, it has tiger stripes!
me: Oh, wow! Does she have a dress?
student: Yes, it’s black.
me: She doesn’t have a white dress?
student: No, she said that she doesn’t want to wear a white dress because she’s not a virgin.
me: (stifling laughter) Oh, well okay.
my aid: (unable to contain her laughter) I have to leave the room…
01.21.09
quote of the day
student: (urgently approaching my desk) Ms. Moore, I have to tell you something!
me: Okay, what is it?
student: Yesterday I saw a real live midget. And he had a moustache. And tattoos all over his arm.
me: (stifling laughter) Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know. Now get back to work.
01.20.09
paperwork and packing peanuts
I have gotten three new students in the last 6 school days, and I have something like 15 ARD meetings in the next 3 weeks.
If I do not post until March…well, try not to worry too much.
I will be here
under piles and piles of paperwork
trying to dig my way out
to find my students
and fit in teaching a lesson
somehow.
Wish me luck.
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In other news, Wojtek has a new favorite toy. Foam packing peanuts. They get all static-y and stick to him, and he chases himself around in circles trying to get them off. Hilarious!!
Thanks for the package, Kenney family! Wojtek is thoroughly enjoying the packing materials, while I am enjoying the contents !
01.19.09
isn’t he just adorable?
ps I think its funny that even though my face is not in this picture, I am smiling as if it is.
iGoogle
A teacher at my school recently introduced me to iGoogle.
It is amazing.
It has revolutionized the way I use the internet.
RIGHT NOW, go here and follow the instructions.
You will thank me later.
When I click on my little Mozilla Firefox icon (sidenote: If you are still using Internet Explorer instead of Mozilla Firefox…shame on you. Before you set up your iGoogle homepage, go here, and then here. Never see pop-up ads or banner ads again!)…
As I was saying…when I click on my little Mozilla Firefox icon, my iGoogle homepage shows me the date, the time, College Station weather, if I have any new emails in my hotmail account, which of the people I blog-stalk have written a new post, the most recent cnn.com headlines, and a Polish-English dictionary. All from a double-click of the mouse.
If those things don’t interest you (certainly not everyone would rank the Polish-English dictionary as their top priority), then you can choose WHATEVER you want. Sports scores, stock info, a to-do list, sudoku games, quotes of the day, recipes…seriously ANYTHING.
So go do it. Now. After a few days of perfecting your new homepage, you can leave your comments singing iGoogle’s praises.
You have my permission to be impressed.
Thanks, JAM!
01.15.09
Wojtek, but not the cat
I emailed Wojtek (human) about the fact that I named Wojtek (cat) after him. I sent some pictures, and explained that Wojtek (cat) only understands Polish, just like Wojtek (human).
His reply?
Cześć Rachel!
Hi Rachel!
Dziękuję za list i piękne zdięcia kotka Wojtka.
Thank you for the letter and beautiful pictures of the kitten Wojtek.
Dobrże ze uczycz kotka po polsku,
It is good that you are teaching the kitten Polish,
chociaż nie musisz bo wszystkie koty na świecie rozumieją po polsku.
although you don’t need to because all cats in the world understand Polish.
Po polsku woła się do kotów kici kici.
In Polish you call a cat by saying, “keechee keechee”.
Pozdrawiam i całuję Wojtek ale nie kot.
Sincerely, Wojtek, but not the cat
What a funny guy…the perfect namesake for my scappy little formerly homeless hyper kitten!
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In other related news…I am fairly certian that I will be going back to Poland this summer! I didn’t think it would work out, but all the dates seem to fit together. I am beyond excited.
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In other unrelated news… The Office was new tonight, and that made me very happy. All I need now is Survivor and Thursdays will be perfect again.
