six pack and a pound

This is Nathan and Joe Joe. They are brothers that come to my house everyday after school and have quickly stolen my heart. Nathan is in eighth grade and calls me to tell me if he's going to be late, tells me about his girlfriend daily, texted me to say thank-you out of the blue, is obsessed with spiderman (mexican spiderman to be exact), loves tacos, dilligently completes his homework everyday, and shows a very fatherly love to his younger brother daily.

Joe Joe is in 6th grade and some that know him think he takes extra patience but I really get him. Joe Joe needs lots of words of encouragement everday and 1-1 help, loves star wars and wants a luke skywalker tunic, is very sweet-spirited, has the best one-liners, and definitely has a special place in my heart.

These boy earned a trip to Taco John's through a competition at the Powerhouse. They saved there pennies to upgrade to order the coveted six pack and a pound. So, the week of thanksgiving when we had a day off we headed over to the ol' taco joint for dinner. Precious moments with these kids are spent outside of the two hours in my home...though, that time is precious too. But, it's in the conversation prompted by a pound of potato oles that I get to hear their dreams and hurts and I'm reminded once again why I do this gig every single day. They aren't angels but amidst the 6 tacos I was given incredible amounts of patience and love for these boys that extends into the after school hours at my house.

Then they ate the entire six pack and the entire pound- both of them, and i wanted to puke. Growing boys I guess, but seriously. yuck

Gerson

I have had lots of opportunities to brush up on my Spanish in the last four months. Though, the smaller the better when it comes to students to practice with :). This is Gerson (Harrison) ...we got to play together one morning. He taught me so much! Doesn't he just melt your heart!!!

We were playing cash register. He said, "Miss Jessi, yo tengo money" (I have money) a little mixed language if you will :)

This life of teaching classes, visiting homes, hanging with the kids after school is becoming very normal to me and I'm figuring out more and more of a routine. I'm grateful for how beautifuly and naturally it has all come together and even more grateful for all the beautiful people that I get to share life with. Not too many people get an opportunity like this and I'm humbled by how so many welcome me into their homes with open arms. I am so lucky!!

Veteran's Day

I am grateful for the Veteran's, including my grandpa who are serving and have served our country. What a sacrifice. We celebrated my grandpa and many other veterans at applebees with free ribs and beer for him. Nothing like a hearty thank-you!

Though, I was grateful for Veteran's Day at my VOA job as well as I spent the day visiting my familes homes and got to spend time with the children who are typically in school. They are all about the sweetest things you ever met and so incredibly talented and intelligent. They are so far ahead so many as they speak bilingually and are figuring out life in this country and help teach their parents along the way too. Such incredibly strong children and momma's (and daddy's).

I had the pleasure of doing some turkey fun with the kiddos and seeing the beauty of kids learning right along side their mothers and encouraging them and celebrating the victories of irregular past tense verbs as if they had just won a soccer game. It was quite humbling to see a kindergartner and 2nd grader reviewing vocabulary with their mom. These mom's are so tough and hard working and striving so hard to give their children the best life possible. Even if that means working all night and still attending class the next morning. I'm blown away by these women daily and the hurdles they are overcoming as they adjust to life in America.

Made these turkey cookies first, even with the first 4 kiddos at 9am, i'm sure that mom was lovin me :)

Jose and Antony reading together..watch out ladies, these guys are going to be heartbreakers. They are so darn precious!! (not to mention super polite too!)

This is Elba. The four of us we're practicing vocabulary around the room. We learned clown, baseball bat, submarine, kite, and football. The boys cheered when she repeated all of them. She is one of the sweetest spirited ladies and has raised some fine young men. When I met her we stuck to hi and how are you. Now we talk about her children and their progress at school, her job, and where she likes to shop. She absolutely blows me away!!

I am so blessed and honored to visit the homes of these incredible families each week and to be a part of their lives!

what do you do?

In most introductions and occasions of meeting someone know the question is often asked of 'what do you do". I usually tell folks I'm a teacher and hope not too many more questions ensue. Though, this often initiates questions of where, what grade and how long...and so the answer begins...

"What do you do?"

"I'm a teacher"

"Where at, what grade?".....

I taught 2nd-3rd grade for two years. I was the program director for all programs outside the school day. I teach English to adult immigrants and refugees. I teach middle schoolers every day in an after school program. I teach piano lessons. I teach children's Sunday school. I teach about the justice 2nd language parents deserve in the public schools. I teach middle schoolers they are valued and loved by their Creator and me too. I teach the students in all my arenas how to create and express themselves whether that means cooking or gluing and cutting. I teach adults the letters and the sounds they make. I teach geometry to myself first so i can help the kids. I teach children the musical alphabet and hope to grow in them a love for music. I teach others about Jesus and how to live for Him but hope they experience Him through my words and actions too. I teach moms how to care for their child who has a cast, though I've never had a child with a cast myself. I teach children manners simply to chew with their mouth closed and even explain why. I teach adults the importance and value of reading with their children on a daily basis. I teach everyone the healing in laughter and thats it ok to laugh at yourself too. I teach because I have been blessed with a burden to serve and love and give of myself in this way.

But, I teach because I have been taught and continue to be taught. I've been taught right from wrong and how to give and live selflessly. I've been taught the musical alphabet and developed a love for music. I've been taught the letters and the sounds they make. I've been taught that even though communication is difficult loving a child isn't. I've been taught about the love of my Jesus and that we must share that with and without words. I'm taught each day by the beautiful women in my class that fight and struggle each day to learn the same things their 2nd graders are learning, and to do it with endurance and pride. I've been taught that we are all just people and deserve a 2nd, 3rd and 4th chance. I've been taught that there is not much more beautiful in this world than the innocence of a child and though so small we have so much to learn from them.

So that's what I do...I teach, because I've been taught.

....and...if you knew this girl you would too!

little of this and that

Just a few days of fun at the Powerhouse...

Sara at the Washington Pavilion checking out her brain waves...nice
Future archeologists (how do you spell that??) Joe Joe and Job, they built that dino at the Science center of the pavilion

We went to the corn maze and found the treasure box and got a treat! It was cold, but fun!!

Yo-yo master, David, came and the kids all got their own yo-yos and taught some tricks. I was pretty impressed!

Vicki and Jesse joined Meriah on a Thursday to make sugar cookies. Damius and Job made me retake this picture after they made it look like they had been working. They used a rolling pin for the first time. It was delcious!

We are so blessed to have people bless us with their gifts and talents. However, makes the not special days tagged as 'boring'...which means I usually fall in that category. Silly kids :) I love them to pieces and love learning new things with them from the folks that join us. These kids are truly the best (even after they've eaten 6 cookies, I just sometimes need a little reminder then :)

Grandpa Herb

My Grandmother recently had knee replacement surgery here in Sioux Falls. She was doing great and recovering normally. But, then had a little bummer, as she called it. My aunt rephrased it as a big bummer. After lunch one day she got very sick, ended up in the ER and soon the ICU ultimately with ulcers. However, it took a good day and a half, sleepless night, and scary moments to get to that prognosis.

In the meantime my Grandpa, her husband, was five hours away in Eureka, South Dakota. He can't see well at all and shouldn't drive though he somehow deems it acceptable in Eureka. Yesterday he told me he drives better than other Eurekans who drive like a bat out of you know where, ha. Anyways he got a ride to Sioux Falls and joined us in the cold, stark ICU waiting room as we waited for some answers, some comfort.

That's Grandpa Herb, he was a nervous wreck, hadn't slept and was so concerned about this dear woman that he loved. He sat across from me in the hard chair and began to tell me stories of their 60 (!!!) years of marriage. He told me of how they met when he got back from he war when he was 22 and his brother told him that's who he would marry. And, back then he says you listened to your brother. They married at 25 and were both teachers and began a family together. He had a sparkle in his eye as he shared these stories and my heart was so bittersweet as I was so priveleged to hear these stories but yet see the worry in his face for his beloved wife. He repeatedly said I just hope we can figure this problem out.

His lovely wife has recovered and glimpses of my old grandma are seen more and more! With that comes old grandpa too but we are so grateful to have these two close to us- even more so as they (or i should say their children) have decided to live here for the next 6 months.

I'm reminded yet again of the blessing of moving back to Sioux Falls and hope to hear more stories of the last 85 years of their lives and continue to see the love of 60 years of marriage. These are the people we should learn from in life. They are quite incredible!

a few of my favorite things...

in no particular order...enjoy

1. living in sioux falls and being able to visit my grandma in rehab as she recovers after knee surgery. it is such a blessing for me to be close for stuff like this.

2. celebrating this boys birthday. these kids are already so dear to me. my sweetheart on the right there really got into the happy birthday song apparently- watch out.

3. iced coffee

4. interpretors when "como te llamas" y "como estas" just isn't enough to get by

5. my home, which truly is becoming my home and a home for those i care so deeply about.

6. my church family that encourages me so much in what I do. I am blessed to serve and work in this way among the people that have seen my grow up and support me by volunteering here each week, painting a really huge old stucco house, fellowshipping at a community picnic, enjoying an afternoon chat. these people are seriously incredible.

7. my two jobs have become more entangled than i could have imagined. my families crossover into my english classes and tutoring after school, many are my neighbors, and all have been so incredibly enjoyable to work with. this is truly a dream this life i'm living.

8. don mencke, cause i know he faithfully read this :) and nanc too...some of my biggest fans. love y'all.

9. again, the birthday boy

2.