Archive for the ‘Work’ Category
The Past Long Time
I have had the privilege of working on a freelance project this month. This company is creating a catalog that has nearly 3,000 images in it. I was assigned to outline and retouch about 200 of those 3,000. Below is an example of what has consumed over 100 hours of work during the past month. Though it is a bit tedious, I enjoy photo retouching. I get satisfaction in the result that a healthy dose of attention to detail can bring.
Bball Time Again
I (Sarah) had another fun time at the basketball game fundraiser. This time one of the Colts cheerleaders actually joined us in the game. I’m all, “Pu-leeeease, don’t insult me!” And then. She swished a three!! Man oh man. She was cool after that!
(The photo was one of our many fun “plays”–volleyball! We also played soccer and football…all with that basketball. Great times!
The Adventure Continues
Prayer is an interesting thing. Or maybe I should say, the way God answers prayer is interesting. Sarah and I really thought we had God figured out this time. I went to the Chicago area for a THIRD interview for a job that we have been praying for for about two months! God has answered prayer miraculously to keep the doors open for this job. We were pointing to God the whole way thinking, this must be it! How could it not be? After all, God answered all our prayers positively and even removed obstacles for me to get to this third interview. Surly, God wants me to have this job.
The third interview went very well. People were excited, I even got the sweet tour. Again, thinking we knew what God was up to, we were convinced we would be packing our stuff and moving to Paletine, Illinois. However, we got the shocking news on Thursday afternoon that they selected another candidate for the position. What!? But, God did all this work! We did all this praying!
After much disapointment, we came back to God. Recognizing that God is still God. His faithfulness remains, His goodness reamains, and His grace reamains. Where is He taking us? What is He is showing us through this? What is He teaching us?
Maybe Sarah has been praying for pacience without me knowing it…
Now, with continued hope in God’s sovereignty the job search continues. Please keep praying that our faith and trust in God will be strengthend, and that He will give us the patience to wait for what He has for us.
P.S. On an encouraging note, the Director of Marketing Services (who I have been interviewing with) wrote me an email letting me know of another graphic design position at a different community college. He will be contacting their marketing department to let them know of my status as a finalist in their interview process.
Three-generational learning
What a unique opportunity I had this evening. I tutor Zaira two times a week; we just started this week. On Tuesday, we spent much of our time studying outside, as it was so beautiful. Mom kept coming out, asking us if we wanted to come inside, if we needed a drink, etc. I declined on all accounts; I love being outside!
Today, the rain prevented us from our out-of-doors studies, so we meandered inside. Mom again asked if we wanted to sit in the living room, but Zaira preferred her bedroom. Lightning in my brain. Connections being made. I asked Mom if she wanted to listen while Zaira was reading. She nodded. Listen?? As we began, I had anything but listeners. Mom started shouting out answers before Zaira could (although Zaira is much farther ahead than Mom!). Even Abuela got into it. The best part of the night, though, was when Zaira, Mom, and Grandma all read the same story (see below). Mom looked at me in great anticipation, waiting for my approving look that she had done it right. And she had! Three generations, all learning English. Now that’s something to get excited about!
When I get frustrated, I write poetry…
The Boarders in My Basement
by Sarah
I have a major problem
That I’d like for you to hear
I have boarders in my basement
And the time is drawing near…
…For me to finally kick them out
They’re not paying the rent
They chew and crawl and have a ball
And leave an awful scent
There are pill bugs, spiders, beetles,
Creepy, crawly centipedes
You insects, listen caref’lly
To my warning take great heed
“I will smash you, stomp you, spray you
With my slipper, shoe, or glove
If you feel a shadow o’er you
I’M the monster up above”
They can’t scare me any longer
I won’t scream or shout or flee
I’m just calmly taking over
What rightly belongs to me
I’ll just sit back and get comfy
In my cozy easy chair
How I love the peace and quiet
AH! A BUG IS IN MY
HAIR!!!
Something New; Something Fun!
(This picture is from when my students shared their Las Posadas experiences with their classmates. It’s a Mexican Christmas tradition.)
So…Lena Winn is amazing. She came up with our EslExpress postal service in our classroom (basically slyly getting kids to write by having them write letters to us or their friends and people can respond). Well now, she’s taken it a step further. We’ve officially started a Club 456 blog. I’d post the website here, but it doesn’t matter because it’s password protected. Hey, gotta keep our kiddos safe. Anyways, I’m super stoked. We already put over 10 postings on there the first day. The kids are SO excited about commenting on other people’s posts. This could be a reeeeeally great thing for our ESLers. Woo!
“What? No school?!”
‘Twas the last day of school
Before Christmas Break
All the teachers were cool
Knowing the naps they’d soon take
When what to their ears
In the morning they heard
Was the telephone ringing
“No school?! That’s absurd!”
But secretly, silently
All of them grinned
And closed up their eyes
And pulled blankets to chins
The next day of school
Is just two weeks away
But for vacation we got
Another whole day!
by a tired teacher
“My birthday is March. April.”
Kindergartener about her birthday: “My birthday is March. April.”
Me: “Oh, your birthday is March April?”
Her: “Yes, my birthday is March April. *pause* 25. *pause* August.”
Somebody’s slightly confused…:P
The Newest Edition of the Harlem Globetrotters
Friday, November 14th was the annual Leesburg vs. Harrison faculty basketball game. It’s in its third year, and I’ve (Sarah) been priviledged to participate every year. We use it as an opportunity to raise food for Combined Community Services (CCS). Each year it’s gotten bigger than the last. This year we had to move to the middle school because last year was standing room only. I think it has something to do with giving away Jonas Brothers apparel, Cheetah Girls backstage passes, and having pictures taken with real-live (and fully clothed) Colts cheerleaders. Anyways, we always have two quarters of serious ball (no, I’m not big enough to play with the big boys) and two quarters of fun ball. “Fun ball” means we don’t really play basketball. We played soccer and football, stood on people’s shoulders for slam dunks, guarded our own players, and even let the refs play! And James was the faithful fan and sat the entire three hours, watching his lovely baller of a wife. I’ve only included “fun ball” pictures to view–everyone already knows what serious ball looks like. Oh, and btw, 16,000lbs of food and $26,000 were raised to help CCS. WOW!
“We get to be teachers to teachers?!”
So last night, I and a group of 3 elementary students and 1 middle schooler went to Grace College to teach future teachers about ESL students. What fun! As I went around to their houses to pick them up, these students came out of their homes looking like I’d never seen them before. Sunday best, freshly braided hair, little touches of Mom’s makeup or Dad’s gel. 
One girl even had a sending off party of at least 10 neighborhood kids. Once we got to Grace, they tried to back out on me. “We’re too scared, Mrs. Steele!” “Do you believe in God?” I asked. Everyone said yes (probably not all referring to my God, but…I’ll leave that conversation for another time). “God can calm our fears when we pray to Him. Would you like me to pray?” “Oh yes, please!” from one, and a nervous glance from another. So…we prayed. Maybe for their first time ever.
Anyways, they did wonderfully. Shared experiences, stories, even advice for these future teachers. “They looked just like students!” said Shri. “They sat in desks just like we do. I just imagined that they were 4th graders instead of really big.” Of course, the projection system only hooks up to PCs and Mr. Polston only had a Mac, so my beautifully designed transitions between slides had to be forgotten. But we had so much to share, it didn’t matter in the least. What a wonderful experience! Cruz even pulled a joke on one of the students, by creating this huge story about a “light gun” he found in Mexico. Turns out the “light gun” was actually a shocker. Boy, was that girl in for a surprise!
Well, they all did such a wonderful job, I just had to delay dropping them in order to swing by Ritters–they earned it! What a great experience all around–for myself, for my students, and for our audience (believe me, they listened better to the kiddos than to me!).
