Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

I love Christmas time! It is chaos, but it is beautiful...even in Panama where you are hot and sweaty. In the past I felt I was happy for Christmas day and the reason for it, but now, I'm just loving the season. I like the decorations, the tacky apparel, the spirit, songs, the gratefulness shown and the love. I think it's my favorite holiday. It also is the season that allows me to go home.

Even though it has only been about five months, it feels like forever since I've been home. So many things have happened, so many ups and downs, that I'm just ready to be with my family and get a break. As the day gets closer, I get more and more anxious. I'm quite sensitive.

The time is moving quickly-slow...and however weird that may be and however much you want to English correct me, you know it is completely true. I have been ridiculously busy, but being busy keeps the time moving so I don't mind. Highlight: A few days ago we went to one of our student's dance recitals. It was awesome! Way better then any of our dance recitals. It was flippin' freezing in the building (which was also amazing) and during intermission I found myself rocking, which apparently is now something I do as Rebecca said I'd done it the day before. Either my rocking was annoying or the man beside me felt sorry for me, but either way he gave me his sweater. It was very sweet. Don't get any ideas people, he was an older gentleman with a wife by his side. Also, please do not fill out an application to a ward quite yet, my body is just getting used to changing temperatures.

We're having a Cookie party tomorrow that I'm so excited about. I have never been more excited about a party in my life! I truly am a Cookie Monster. My father has raised me well, but I'll probably grow old with diabetes and a gut...probably turn blue, too...as in, depressed.

I am leaving many things out, but will be able to sit down and chat face to face with many of you. I am very much looking forward to that. Pray for safe travels, not really for me but my friends traveling to snowy, cold places. Pray for sanity the last two days of school. Pray for that day before I get to leave that I don't go back to my 'rocking' ways.

Love you guys and I'm happy to be coming home.

P.S. I wrote 'intend to stay' and pray for Peru

It just never ends!

Grrr...!

Grading/editing papers is the worst! It's probably what they have you do in hell! It's horrible. I get through a stack, feel pretty good about it then go to school and there is a whole notha' stack! Not to mention when fools turn in there stuff way late...I sift through papers like it's cat litter, why do I want to dig up an old tu...[deep breaths].

Quite a few ups and downs this week, well...also the past few weeks, since I'm not so good at posting regularly.

Thanksgiving was nice. A lot of food! We were warned before hand that there would be close to 100 people at the gathering; we were told to try to double our dish. I was making mom's Jello fruit salad so I thought mine was enough. It definitely was! The next day, Black Friday, we went to a black sand beach. It wasn't intentional, it was just for some beachy fun...or, beach-ing fun. (See what I did there? It's kinda, almost a curse word! Hahahah!) It was an excellent beach, probably the best one yet. It was great, until it started raining. Having fun in the water, then sitting out because of a rainstorm will make anyone freezing, even if you are in the tropics.

Probably the best picture I have ever taken...

Look closely...that is not a sandal.

I fell.

Been a bit frustrated at school because I am realizing just how different I am. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes the lonely that much more present...quickly moving on. Some of my kids got to know Angry Cheryl this past week. It was a lot of fun (sarcasm). It takes a lot to push me to that level, but I was proud of the way I handled the situations. I never once yelled, it was just angry voice [Mom, you know what I'm talkin'bout] the class has never been so quiet and their little shocked faces were priceless! I really wished I had my camera out, but I think that would have been A) Unprofessional B) They would have thought me bipolar C) My anger  would have lost its punch. I don't think it was bad at all they saw that side of me, it just took a while for it to get to that point, they need to know they can make me upset. I was so drained I came home and passed out at 8:30! I'm such a wuss!

All my other activities are going well, so much is in my plans that these next few weeks should fly by, except for the weekends...like now. Please pray for me--as I am having a lot harder time with things than I think I lead on and the students--as they are ready for break (as am I) and making class harder (if that's possible). Love yas.

This is a few blocks from our house. It's very pretty.

I fell, again.