Blue Skys

We have very few days in the Pacific Northwest when we can see blue sky throughout Winter.

This week has been beautiful.

And I thought I'd catch it on camera before it goes away, and we slip back into a blanket of gray until Spring.

So beautiful!

Roller-Rama

We went roller skating a couple weeks ago for a friend's birthday party.

I seriously haven't been that sore in such a long time.

My chins, my thighs, my everything.

It was so much fun ...

Dan // USS Carl Vinson // Haiti

I've spoken of my brother's best friend Dan before.

Super awesome guy doing amazing things.

Like THIS for example.

I'm proud to say that Dan is now serving a 3-month deployment on the USS Carl Vinson.

The Vinson has taken its position off the shores of Haiti and has begun flying in much-needed supplies and relief to the earthquake-stricken country.

We are proud of you Dan for the important work you're doing for our country ... and other countries in need. You have a God-given talent of compassion for others, and you use your talent of flying to serve those in need.

You are a hero.

And today, as you fly water and other supplies to the people of Haiti, you will see that compassion first-hand.

We are praying for the safety and effectiveness of everyone on board the USS Carl Vinson and for the millions of people in Haiti.

You can read about the USS Carl Vinson's work in Haiti HERE.

Hope & Service

In the face of a pandemic ...

A story of hope and service:

My friend (and college boyfriend -- hee hee) Dr. Stephen Sullivan is heading to Haiti with his wife, Dr. Helena Sullivan in the next few days.

They continue their work in partnership with Partners In Health (PIH) and serve the people of Haiti. Specifically, Stephen and Helena (pediatric plastic surgeons) will be serving in the PIH surgical outpost in Cange.

"They are answering the call of PIH medical director Dr. Joia Mukherjee, who publicly announced that surgical needs are by far the biggest issue right now and has called on physicians of all stripes, post-op and critical care nurses and anesthetists to offer their services to the Haitian people."

People using their God-given gifts to serve.

Way to go you two.

Much love to you both.

I will be praying.

Praying. HARD.

I really don't have eloquent words right now.

Please read and follow Kristen's blog.

Allow it to rock your world.

Pray for the Howerton family ... and all the Haitian people.

And donate somewhere if you can.

Red Cross

charity: water

World Concern

Anywhere.

Wet Spot // Africa

After dropping the kids off at music this afternoon, I walked back to my classroom.

This "wet spot" was on the sidewalk in front of the building.

And I know it might be a stretch for some, but if you have Africa on the brain, you'll see it right away ...
Africa.

A backwards Africa ... but nonetheless ...

Africa.

Human Trafficking Proclamation

President Obama signed a proclamation on January 4, 2010 declaring January as the "National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month."

He stressed two important notions:

1. Human Dignity. The unalienable right to freedom and the notion that every person has equal value.
2. Equality. Not just all people are of equal value, but all victims of human trafficking are of human value.

For more information on the proclamation, click HERE. This website also has a direct link to view the proclamation.

For more information on ways to get involved, click HERE and HERE.

Extra Lovin'

My fat pants are tight.

The End.

Diet Time

This is so stinking cute.

A student in the other 1st grade class made this picture for Jay & I today. It says, "For The Stookeys - From: Connor"

Adorable.

However, when he gave it to me, this is how the conversation went ...

Connor: This is a picture for you and Mr. Stookey. This is the sun, this is an airplane and this is another airplane.
Me: This is awesome. I'm going to pretend that my airplane is going to Hawaii.
Connor: This is Mr. Stookey (points to the SMALLER green guy!) and this is you (points to the HUGE blue guy!).
Me: WHAT!?!? How come I'm bigger?
Connor: (uncomfortable giggle) I don't know.
Me: (sucking up my pride) Thank you Connor. I just love it.
Note to self: It's DIET TIME honey. Diet time. You DON'T want to be bigger then your husband. Not in the eyes of a 6 year-old. Not in the eyes of ANYONE!

Just LOOK at how skinny he made Jay.

Seriously.

Jay is stick person in this picture!

I have a full body and clothes on.

This is SO not fair people.

Diederichs Old-Skool Video

I found some old pictures at my Grandpa & Grandma's house.

There are pictures of my Great-Grandpa, my Grandpa, Grandma, and my dad as a little boy.

The song is perfect.

I smile each time I watch this video.

Giggles & Blessings

We started back to school today.

The kids are nice and tired - which is gReAt for me, since getting back to work after 2 weeks of laying around and sleeping in is less then an appealing idea.

Seriously.

Can I be on permanent vacation but still get paid?

In all honesty, long breaks aren't that great for me, since it gives me WAY to much time to sit around and think. I really struggled with my anxiety the last few weeks. This topic is worthy of a novel-lengthed blog entry or an entire 60 minute Oprah show, so I'll save that for later.

I'm working very hard at keeping positive, trying to stay out of my head (as my mom says, "Stay our of your head - it's a bad neighborhood." Which is very true. And if you deal with anxiety - you know JUST what my mom is talking about. We manifest the worst and then obsess over it. It's sounds so healthy, doesn't it?!?).

Our break was a bit of a struggle - including having to leave in the middle of the night from Jay's parents house in Spokane and drive ALL THE WAY HOME because my asthma got so bad, a broken refrigerator upon our arrival, a paper due for our (LAME!) class that the state makes us take for our teaching certificate (because you know - I'm not a good teacher unless I write a few papers, proving my abilities), blah, blah, blah.

So in an effort to giggle and remind myself of the small blessings in life, I share with you (drum-roll please) ... a couple cute things my kids said to me today:

Student: Mrs. Stookey, do you want to know what I got for Christmas?
Me: I SURE do!
Student: An electric scooter and my two front teeth.

* * * * *
Me: Does anyone want to talk about what you did for New Year's Eve?
Student: On New Years Eve we ate a lot of cheese, fish and crackers.
Me: Oh, that sounds yummy! Is that a family tradition?
Student: No, my mom and dad are not eating milk, cheese or meat for the month of January so we ate a bunch before January.
Me: Oh, interesting. How come?
Student: Well, it's their New Years "Revolution".

And questions from students that I'm supposed to know the answer to because I teach 1st grade and 6 year-olds are curious:

• How tall is the Statue of Liberty?
• What is the difference between a Space Shuttle and a Rocket?
• How did they build the Statue of Liberty?
• What does it say on the Statue of Liberty's book?
• How does a Rocket land back on Earth?
  

And so ... Google was my friend today.

• The statue itself is 151ft tall. From the pedestal to her foundation, she is 305ft tall
• "A Space Shuttle IS a rocket." But "the rocket is what provides the blast you see at the launch. When it gets to a certain height, it will detach itself from the shuttle - which is the vehicle that will go into space and contains the people on board." This answer confused me. First they said it IS a rocket, but then they go on to tell me the difference. Huh?!? I don't get it ... and so I remained uninformed ... and my attention span for Google quickly faded. So the remainder of the answers sounded something like this ...
  
• Very slowly kid ... very slowly; and with many, many parts. Mainly metal.
• The Statue of Liberty's books says, "None of your business Pal. Now scat."
• It doesn't land. It stays in space forever. Whoever is on it also lives in space forever.
  

Okay so I didn't answer them quite like that ... but that's how I answered them in my head.

And then I quietly giggled ... counted my blessings ... and enlightened the kids on everything Space Ship, Rockets, and Statue of Liberty.