Dragons, Elves, and Football. Oh My! (Boo, NBA)

Merry Christmas to you all and a Blessed 2012!

I can not believe that we are already at December 31st.  Where has 2011 gone?  I pray that you all are still letting CHRIST be the reason for this CHRISTmas season.  It is so sad that some stores have already put the Christmas things away...I saw that a store already had bathing suits out!!! :(  How depressing!

Christmas was spent here in Saginaw...but even then we still traveled in the car a lot the Christmas weekend.  Caleb and I went to pick my mom up from the airport on Thursday, 12/22 after school.  On Friday, my momma and I went to a pottery place near us ( It is called "You Do The Dishes") that I had never seen before.  We painted a piece of pottery for my cousin's new little baby!!  Friday night, we went to pick Hannah up from the airport.  On the way to the airport we had to stop on the road to help someone who had spun off the road into a ditch.  They didn't have a cell phone so we are glad we stopped and were able to stay with them until the police came.  Saturday, we all drove to Ludington so that we could spend some time with my Lil Grams.  She even made a casserole and garlic bread for lunch.  She is so feisty and I love her for it.  ON the way home, we met Aunt Mary JO (Grammy Jo now!!) and Malia for 10 minutes.  It was great. :)

Christmas Day was lovely.  We woke up and went to church.  Afterwards, I dressed the turkey and put it into the oven for our late lunch (along with mashed potatoes and green bean casserole).  We watched the first two LOTR films Saturday and Sunday.  We love re-watching those movies. :)  Bekah also called on Sunday afternoon but the poor thing was sick all weekend.  Not a fun way to spend Christmas.  It was good to hear her voice for a little while.  I can't wait til this mission thing is done so I can actually SEE her.  Then we had pie- strawberry & rhubarb!

  We spent the rest of Christmas opening gifts.  Caleb and I got a U of M and Detroit Tigers pillow pet from my momma.  Hilarious gift and yet awesome.

Monday morning, Hannah had to go home. :(  We dropped her off at the airport at 6am and continued to drive down to Detroit to meet little Coralyn!  She is the sweetest little thing.  Her name is Coralyn Grace Bartok.  (The "lyn" comes from her auntie, Taralyn, who goes by Tara).  Momma and Daddy Bartok are so proud. Little Cora is so small, sweet, and cuddly.  She also makes the cutest little gurgling/contented noises.  Ahhh....babies.  We also got to visit with the actual Tara, Tim, and Kari also. :)

We baked/frosted cookies when we got home and watched the third LOTR film.

Tuesday we went to visit Bronners for a short time before we took Momma to the airport.  It was fun and I forgot how I want to buy ALL the nativity sets there. Haha.  We dropped her off and then went back 5 minutes later because her flight was delayed.  Therefore, we went to grab a bite to eat at Qdoba.  Fat burrito=delight.

Since then, Caleb and I have been vegging at home, staying in our PJs all day, and watching all the football bowl games with our two tvs.  Caleb is keeping the new tv up til bowls are done. ha ha ha.  This free time also allowed me to finish the 3rd "Inheritance Cycle" book called "Brsinger."  It is the Eragon series about a boy (Eragon) who becomes a Dragon Rider.....long story short, it is a good series that is fun to read...if you like fantasy. :)

I finally had some time to see one of my bestest friends, Katelin Moquin on Thursday.  She stayed at the house for a while, chatted with Caleb and me, and then went shopping for Bri's bridal shower on the 30th.  It was lovely time spent catching up.  Eric then joined us for dinner of chicken noodle casserole, salad, and garlic bread.   Yesterday, Katelin and I met up again to drive down to Livonia to see our friend Bri be showered for her upcoming June wedding.  The lovely Alyssa Bornheimer was the hostess as well as Kimber R. and Rachael Q.  It was an invigorating time to spend with other girls who are your friends.  Female time is so wonderful.

To top the evening off, Christine and Jeff Wade show up!  So we spent another couple hours talking to them and came home to our husbands.  It has been a great week off so far and I look forward to the NYE bash this evening and getting my hair cut on Monday! :)

May you all have a lovely, amazing, and fantastic 2012!  See ya all then!  God's Blessings!

Nisu Bread and Prezi

My day today consisted of my lovely Oster bread machine.  We got reacquainted quickly and got to work right as I woke up.  I made lots of bread today for gifts and whatnot.  I love baking bread...or anything truly.  I wanted to tackle cookies today too but we ended up having a late lunch (which I also made) so I figured that I can handle the cookies tomorrow.  I caught up on (almost) all my grading last night, so I took the day off today. :)


I mentioned PREZI in the title because that is the program that Caleb is using for his final project for this last graduate class.  We both have become familiar with it and learned its finer...or lacking aspects.  (If you've never seen a presentation, you should look at a couple on the website.  It just looks like a cooler version of Powerpoint.) His presentation is up and available, if you are interested.  How-information-overload-is-affecting-our-students-minds-and-research-skills-and-what-teachers-can-do-to-help/

He has been working SO hard on it...that I am just as thrilled that this class is over.  He worked on it all day today....from 10am- 9pm.  I don't know if that says anything about the difficulty of this research project, or that Caleb is a slow and precise worker.  Haha.  Maybe both reasons?  I am so proud of him for sticking with it and also not getting behind on his school (job) work.

What did we end our evening with?  As previously "blogged"....none other than "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  Next, "White Christmas."  Sing to me Bing and Danny!

Tomorrow:  Making lunch for extended family for my day-before-birthday celebration! :)

Decorated and Fatigued

We finally have caught up with the Christmas season and have our tree and house decorations up.  Once we have a weekend to ourselves (will that ever happen????), we can put up lights OUTside the house. :)  I love getting out all of our nativity sets and putting them around our new home.

My favorite two Christmas movies I still have yet to watch because we have been so busy, but I am making it a point to talk about "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "White Christmas" in my class this year.  I love "White Christmas" sooooo much.  Every song is good, catchy, and makes me want to dance like Vera-Ellen....maybe even shape up my legs to look like hers! haha

There is something so special about Charlie Brown, a secular cartoon, that points its viewers to the true meaning of the Christmas season.  I give Charles Schulz a lot of credit for allowing that to be made.  I think it is a pretty popular movie too, whether people like the movie for its true message or not.  I also just love watching Schroeder tear it up on that piano.

"White Christmas" is a childhood favorite.  We always watched it with Lil Grams as we grew up on Christmas Eve...and we continued to do it with our mom when we moved away from Lil Grams.  It was our tradition to watch it before we went to the Candlelight/11pm service at church.  My sisters and I always loved to sing "Sisters, Sisters."  It makes me smile to think about how we always sang along to EVERY song.  It is sad that we can't all still do that.

In trying to fend off a cold before Christmas, Caleb and I went to bed on Friday at 6:30pm.  It was the best sleep I had gotten in ages.  Still, it was almost to no avail because as of an hour or two ago, my voice keeps getting hoarser and hoarser. (Are those words??) More hoarse?  It is awesome. We still have to move all our things back into our now dried up basement, clean our dirty home before my mom and sister come, get Christmas cards into the mail, and somehow celebrate my birthday and finish grad classes before then?!?

We. Can. Make. It.

Did I mention that I also just want to finish re-reading the first 3 Eragon books so I can read "Inheritance"???  "Eldest" just seems to drag on! :P

I also....still want a baby.  Maybe for Christmas next year?

Mannheim Steamroller = Christmas

Since the day after Thanksgiving, I have been listening to Mannheim Steamroller on Pandora.  It is such a nostalgic channel for me.  I grew up listening to the lovely music of Chip Davis.  I always think about how funny it is when certain songs, composers/artists, genres remind you of a time past.  I guess that is the continual beauty of music.  It does things that pictures and words can not do.  I played my flute last night for our middle school Christmas program and even then, I was transported in just my accompaniment alone.  I still sway when I play too.  Music is such a joy to me. 

Caleb and I recently have taken to watching/listening to music channels on tv rather than watch actual programs.  It makes grading more bearable because I get distracted at home frequently.  These music stations play pieces I do not know well, so I can't always hum along. :)  It has also been convenient to our work schedules...which have been insane as of late.

Thanksgiving was the first break we have had since school started and still, we spent 26 hours in the car going to and from Nebraska.  I loved going to Nebraska, seeing Caleb's family, eating a lot of really good food, and watching tons of great football.  Even since then, school has seemed like a huge burden.  I wish I could shake off the tired, exhausted feeling that I've had since before Thanksgiving.  I don't know if this is the work, the kids, the parents.  I've been so worn out lately...and I can only imagine how Caleb has been.

I helped him edit a paper the whole way down to Nebraska.  He's been working as much as me but doing double the work with school and grad school.  I really enjoy learning along with him.  He is always sharing with me the things that his classes are addressing.  His latest paper had to address how the internet is slowing down our thinking processes, how multitasking is actually not a true concept, etc.  I know that he is finding a lot of relevant research from these classes and I realize too how it has made me more aware in my classroom.

With this upcoming Christmas so quickly now upon us, I realize there is SO much more to do and I can feel the load building up.  Especially since I did not do much for school over Thanksgiving.  Sometimes, I honestly do not feel like I should be a teacher.  I get so overwhelmed and tired.  I have been praying about my vocation a lot lately because I don't know if that is actually true...or I just am restless.  My desire for change often leads me to be unusually anxious for change.  I love change...but sometimes I think I love it too much, thus leading me to question what I want to do with my life.  meh...........

I am looking forward to singing my heart out at Boar's Head at CUAA on Saturday night and seeing some lovely people. :)  I'm sorry that I just completely word vomited in this post.  I've just been needing to get some things off my chest.  Blessings to you all as you prepare for this Christmas season. ( I honestly can not wait to do Christmas cards this year!)

Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.

A Happy and Beloved Reformation Day to you all!!
My party in 4th grade went very smoothly.  I will even post some pictures.  The kids had a blast and I am now tired. :)  Yay Mondays.  Now I'm just waiting for the slew of more neighborhood kids in costumes to show up....so I can show off my awesome Reformation Day t-shirt that I'm wearing.

I taught about the Reformation to my students all last week and many times it distracted me.  I went on tangents about grace and how we don't deserve God's love but He loves us anyway, etc.  I also was able to hear President Harrison's sermon at St. Lorenz...and he also pointed out that Reformation is all about  repentance.

Luther's first point in his 95 Theses is that "a believer's life should be one of repentance."  I normally had not thought about the Reformation being a time to repent.  I guess I also had not ever looked in depth at many of those theses. :)  After reading and pondering many of Luther's statements, it is clear that the Reformation has everything to do with it.  Having a repentant heart is what Luther was trying to teach.  I often don't think that I must be repentant ALL the time...just when I've done something wrong.  I guess that DOES tie in with his statements of "drowning the old Adam" every morning when we wash/shower.  Yay, Baptism!

It opened my eyes and I just wanted to share that with you all. :)

This week is going to be busy for us here.  Caleb is reading for grad school almost every night and when he isn't reading, he's writing a paper.  We also have like a bazillion meetings this week...and we are hosting a pre-Thanksgiving meal at our home with the immediate family.   Lots of preparation is needed for that but I really can not wait.  I've always wanted to cook a Thanksgiving meal for a large group of people.  I can handle 7 people.  Haha.

Is tomorrow really November?

In other non-related news...I got my LOFT credit card today in the mail.  YES. Trouble is a-brewin'. :)

Happy Week before Reformation!

Reformation is a big deal to me.  This year I am going ALL out for my 4th grade class at school.  I have stocked up on items from the great www.oldlutheran.com and am ready to PAR-TAY on Monday.  We've been reading this week (from a sweet 16 page booklet from CPH) all about the man, Martin Luther and his life.

I am enjoying giving my students some background on Lutheranism in general because I think Marty isn't mentioned all that much at school, home, or dare I say, even church?  Maybe they just don't pay attention but most of my students did not know anything about Martin Luther, calling him MLK Jr. 

NOT the same person, kiddos.

Anywho, here is the run down for our party for Monday, October 31st:

Friday (as we pre-game it) we are going to be painting t-shirts to wear for Monday.  We will also start watching the film, "Luther."

Monday we will:
-finish the film
-copy a page out of my Spanish Bible (for Spanish class)
-Copy pages of Luther's rose to hand out to other grades/classes
-Read Paul Maier's story of Luther
-Have a "Mighty Fortress" building contest out of LEGOs.
-Play the Saint/Sinner wrap (where we wrap each other in praying positions...with TP)
-play "Pin the 95 Theses on the Wittenburg Church Door."  Complete with foam hammer, courtesy of www.oldlutheran.com
-Reformation baseball trivia (with inflatable bat and ball)
- Snack on a "Diet of Worms" (aka chocolate pudding, oreos, cool whip, and gummy worms)
-prizes are Luther head silly bands

I am so looking forward to the cheesiness and awesomeness that will follow on this day.  I hope my kids have as much fun learning about the Reformation that I am (and will have).


On non-Reformation related news, Caleb was gone at Hartley Outdoor Center for the past 3 days.  I am glad to have him home.  I know he had a great time with our 6th grade students leaning about "pioneer living."  He says the food is always good...and the company of the other adult chaperones keeps him coming back.  I'm just happy not to be in a cold, dark house by myself anymore.  At least Jeanette Weilnau kept me company.

Caleb has also started his 2nd grad class...and discovered that it is WORLDS harder than his last class.  He has to write papers now in APA...which neither of us learned in school.  So he is thrilled to have to learn that as well as read 4 new books in the next 8 weeks.  I know he can do it but I think he is feeling the weight now of school work AND grad work.  Prayers for him will be accepted. :)

May you all have a blessed week, stay warm, stay healthy, and if you can come to St. Lorenz in Frankenmuth, MI this Sunday at 4pm for a sweet Reformation Vespers.  Sermon will be courtesy of the LCMS prez, Matt Harrison. :)  Oh yah, Caleb is also playing in the brass section.

Ugh, Sports

I've just about had it with professional/college sports this weekend.  I was sitting here after finishing watching the Lions game and I realized that I was exhausted.

Not tired, but emotionally exhausted.  I've been SO into those Tigers winning the ALCS(which they didn't. Grrr, Rangers), hoping U of M can keep their perfect record(which they ruined yesterday by losing to MSU), the Lions keeping their perfect record( which THEY ruined today by losing to San Fran), that I am beat.

I am tired of sports for a while.

It didn't help that all day yesterday we had people at our house until 7:30...and then we went to BDubs to watch the Tigers game.

I never thought that I could get so emotionally invested in sports.  Michigan football, yes.  I've always loved them.  The Tigers though really had me worked up.  I've been watching every single game since April!!!  I need a break. (Caleb, are you listening?) 

Thank goodness that the NBA is in a lockout.  I can't stand NBA in general let alone it being the only sport to watch in the evenings now.

Okay. I'm done. With sports rants.

I do have to make a confession.  It isn't a super serious one that you need to get worked up about...but the baby itch is getting to me.

I will admit that I am longing to have something to look forward to.  Having a baby is something that I've been looking forward to for my whole life.  I look forward for the "happy/idealistic" parts of pregnancy.  I do also look forward to the challenges of raising a child with my husband. Caleb however, can stand to wait a little longer.  So, no babies for a while. :)

I've thought instead( to distract myself) about getting a cat sometime because I've never HAD a pet and I love kitties.  Easy fix, right?  Well, getting a pet in the middle of the school year makes me nervous because we both are gone so much during the day.  I'd rather spend a lot of time getting acclimated with the animal before leaving it alone for 6-8 hours a day.

I just hosted my first Thirty-One party and it was a BLAST.  Plus, it was awesome to get so much free stuff just for hosting!  I love my new bag and if you've never heard of Thirty-One, you should check it out.  www.thirtyonegifts.com 

Enough about me:

Caleb is really into his grad classes and is enjoying finding things that he can practically use in his classroom.  His first class is over after this Friday.  He is excited to get 1 weekend free of extra homework.  Haha
He is also in the thick of the First LEGO League season with the 5th-8th graders.   His Mondays and Wednesdays are busy with practices. 
His birthday is approaching too (He'll be 25! Old man!!).  Gotta think of some present ideas. :) 

We've also started transforming our basement into a different hangout/man cave/work out area.  It is a work in progress. :)

That is about all the new stuff for us!  Many blessings to you all!

Whew! Was that August & September that just flew past?

And this blog may just turn into the online journal with which I can never keep up.  Okay.  I can do this and I can update a blog.  I should do this more than waste time on Facebook.

Greetings everyone and welcome to (basically) October.  School has started again and taken up a bunch of my time.  The past 2 months have been quite hectic but also fun (I get to teach Spanish this year!!! Que bien!!). 


Being a second year teacher is EXTREMELY different from being a first year teacher.  There are a plethora of things that contribute to how well my 2nd year is starting out: I already knew my incoming class from last year when they were 3rd graders, I know the school, I know my staff, I know where to go buy teacher supplies, I know what was expected of me for getting my room ready, home visits, etc.  All of these factors made me so incredibly comfortable before the start of school on September 7th. 

I have 16 students this year- 10 girls and 6 boys.  They all though, for a majority of the time, get along superbly together.  They choose to play with one another without fighting.  It is quite an impressive feat seeing as my boys last year couldn't play a game for 2 minutes without arguing about a/n (unspoken) rule to the game. :/ Meh.  No, thank you.  However, I have quite a few, what I'd call, "space cadets" this year.  They seem to just stare at me if they don't comprehend.  It is a little strange and unnerving.  I don't know if there is a cure for that.  haha  They are very chatty too which is obnoxious.  I ask for quiet and they just talk softer. Haha.  Overall, the class is very caring and I can tell that they all like one another and like me too.  For now, at least.

In NON-SCHOOL related news, I hosted a party at our new home last Friday for my friend, Liz Garcia.  She is starting in a new business called "Thirty-One" based off of Proverbs 31, the wife of noble character.  The company sells purses, wallets, totes, bags, etc.  SUPER cute stuff.  Since I hosted a party, I also received some kick-booty rewards ($300 in free product!)  Was it worth it? YES- for two reasons: 1) I loved being able to open my home(tent??) and have friends over and 2) I got all the things I wanted for free. Awesome. Everyone loves free.  Thirty-One catalog

Last thing before I COMPLETELY overload.  My Detroit Tigers are looking HOT for the upcoming playoff season (starting Friday!!!).  I am excited to hopefully see them go far into October.  Also, my Michigan Wolverines AND Detroit Lions are also winning!  It is a great time in life to be a Michigan sports fan!!

Blessings to all/Dios os bendiga! Here are some pictures from this summer! I will update later this week!

A Tent?

Yes, a tent.  I decided to name our blog after the original Abraham who lived in a tent.  THE Father Abraham with many sons.  We do NOT have many sons but if it were possible to arrange that, I am sure Caleb would be ALL about.  We will see about that once we start having children.
 
Caleb and I really don't live in a tent but we do like camping, which also helps this title seem to fit better.  I appreciate those who have decided to read this blog.  We are teachers during the year so we always have some fun and interesting stories to share.

Our summer has been full of vacations to friends' cabins, Nebraska, Iowa, family reunions, and camping!  We will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary this week also.  Our summer has been absolutely wonderful.

Again, God's blessings on you, the reader, and I will update again soon! I'll post pictures of our new home and talk about our first year of marriage.

Thanks for reading!