Do Not Forget...

(This is from a couple of months ago) I was looking through Micah's pictures from Africa today looking for sunset pictures and I was just thinking about how grateful being in Africa made me. I have come back to the U.S. for 4 months now and it seems that I so quickly forget the lessons learned so this serves as a reminder to me as well as to you of some of the things that I learned in Africa that I cannot allow myself to forget.

Do Not Forget...
...that sunsets are not created because of smog, pollution, and global warming... God created it...

...that schools have resources even if they just have enough teachers for each class to have only 40 students...

...that life it too short to miss small smiles...

...that life is too short to even think I could make it a moment without prayer...

...that hospitals hold too many hurting, need healing people who also just need a friend...

...that races must be ran and won...

...that there are some classrooms in the world who have 70 kids and they do not get paid and they still smile...

...that people are people... they hurt, heal, cry, smile, frown... and they need other people... just like we do...

...that children have been created to be loved not to love... they need someone to hold their hand, pick up their stuff, and sometimes pick them up and hug them...

...sometimes we just need someone to play with our hair and not look at it in the mirror...

...a smile goes a million miles and a pictures is a thousand words and sometimes those words need to be heard...

...it is important to say what you need to say even if you know it's going to be awkward or just not right... it needs to be said... say it.

Never forget how important and valuable life and how quickly it could be gone. Love those you have been given and smile at those who need it and give a dollar to the lady who asks for it... because it could have been you and somehow it's not.
-Melis

You want your wedding to be like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XClUAPwE4Z0&NR=1&feature=fvwp

So cute... including the whole family!

Ode to Christmas Traditions

If your family is any kind of crazy like mine, you have Christmas traditions, maybe normal, maybe not so much but the list of the day of course is about Christmas traditions. We don't have that many, but I think they make for a list.
1. Tris and I exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, except this year, she told me I can't have all of it on Christmas Eve, what the what.
2. Chocolate pie for dessert at Gammy's.
3. Cole sticking his finger in the chocolate pie at Gammy's and then me and Trista almost beating him up for it.
4. Gammy's dinner prayers while everyone has already started eating.
5. Stories of what life was like for Grandpa when he was younger.
6. Christmas morning videos and gifts.
7. Watching the Christmas story and whatever other movie or TV show marathon is on.
8. Quoting Elf while in a store before Christmas.
9. Christmas breakfast at Noon.
10. Gammy and Poppa coming to see our Christmas presents, yes we are 23 and 25, but age is a little overrated.
11. Mom and Daddy arguing because "they weren't supposed to get anything for the other one."
12. Mom crying or tearing up because of a gift that Tris and I get her.
13. Dad being a goof (oh wait, that's not just a Christmas tradition, it's year round.)

I'm sure there are more things but I can't think of anymore right now. And of course after Christmas shopping... so excited for that! So to all of you celebrating Christmas and the holidays, I hope that you have a merry one with those you love and drive you crazy! Merry Christmas!
-Melis

"Negative Nancy" starring Me... and the Sequel "Positive Polly" also starring Me

A list of negative things that I complain about on a regular basis, or things that just annoy me that I don't verbally complain about, just with body langugage...
1. Stupid people saying stupid things
2. Ungrateful people
3. People that can't drive
4. People that don't know to merge
5. Students who don't know how to keep their mouths closed
6. People who do drugs and then yell at other people
7. Dirty dishes
8. Whiners... whining about people who whine and things that make other people whine
9. People who don't say the pledge
10. Bossy people who are lazy
11. People who are lazy in general
12. When my heel gets stuck in the crack of the sidewalk
13. Popping gum

On that note, I'll make a list of positive things...
1. My own bed to sleep in
2. Money to buy the things I need
3. Great cards
4. Bookstores
5. Sweet things that people say or send in text messages
6. Getting flowers
7. Sincere apologies
8. Being a "homie"
9. Laughing and being with friends
10. Family, holidays, special occasions, home.

Happy Holidays!
-Melis

Things That Make My Job Worth It...

No need to explain. I'm a teacher and most of you know that so here goes.

1. Students celebrating my birthday as if it's the only one I'll have for a few years... balloons, posters, cards, flowers, chocolate, cake, chocolate, singing, it was wonderful.
2. To sit at a computer with J while he tells me the reason that Rosa Parks made an impact on the people around her and how he can make a difference because of what he knows about her.
3. How many students are interested in how Jesus impacted the planet and people.
4. Days that students apologize for what they did and actually mean it and do something about it.
5. Parents who care enough to send flowers with their kids to say thank you to me for what I do.
6. Notes of encouragement telling me the reason that I influence students.
7. J (different than number 2) sitting next to my desk declaring himself my student aide and beginning to be a change. This J also is a Christian who has for some reason decided it is part of his job to tell other people that I am one too.
8. B- she wants to make a difference in the world and she actually does it and I admire that about her.
9. Bruno, one of my students from last year, who visited the other day and just hung out for a while... it's so nice to catch up.
10. Students who realize they are leaders and have confidence enough to do something about it.
11. Good evaluations that tell me I'm doing what I'm supposed to and rewards for good lesson plans, etc.
12. Faces that they make to make me laugh when I am not feeling so good... because we know for sure it happens and they are hilarious when it does.
13. Just them.. when they think about someone else, do something nice for someone, take up for someone, and have my back... it just helps my day be better!

What makes what you do worth it? Just think about it!
-Melis

25...

So I turned the big 2-5 on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day so I thought I would make a list to commemorate the day of things I've learned, loved, and am thankful for!


1. I have learned forgiveness is key.
2. I have learned that I have to love, whether I feel like it or not.
3. I have learned that it is better to let it go, when I feel like I need to hold on.
4. I have loved so many 13 and 14 year olds that my little heart just can't let go.
5. I am thankful for a job that I love.
6. I am thankful for good days that outweigh the bad.
7. I am thankful for students that care.
8. I have the greatest family in the entire world, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased.
9. My grandmother is crazy and she hopes that one day I'll be like her, I'm just not so sure.
10. I love the sigh I get everytime someone asks me what I do and I tell them I teach 8th grade.
11. I love having roommates and would hate to live by myself.
12. I love crafts and scrapbooks and decorating for Christmas.
13. I am so thankful for old students who visit and brighten my days.
14. I have learned that I must let people start over... otherwise why should I have another chance??
15. I have learned that it is not my job to tell everyone what I think of them.
16. I have also learned that honesty is key when asked.
17. I have learned that integrity is one of the most important qualities of a person.
18. I love sunshine, flip flops, t-shirts, beaches and summer time.
19. I am thankful for people who will bring me back down to earth, and thankful for a mom who listens to me rant and rave about ridiculous, annoying things.
20. I love travel and Africa and people and children are therapy to me.
21. I love people who have hearts for places besides here but also who know their calling.
22. I'm thankful for college roommates who still just crack me up and make me feel like I'm sitting on our dramatic couch.
23. I am thankful for a God who loves me despite me.
24. I am thankful to be 25 and still feel 13 and look 18.
25. I have learned that it is best to love, even if it hurts and it doesn't feel like it's worth it. It is.

All the best-Melis

Free

I was reading in my journal from the fall semester of my senior year of college last night and found some interesting things. At the end of November, I begged God to do so much in me. I was extremely challenged to hear a missionary from Haiti speak and it began a quick habit to write a lot of poetic like things. So for the next few posts, I will just share those. Know they are straight from my heart and things that when I read, I began to pray as if they were completely new insights to me. Enjoy! -Melis

11.28.06
My day started slow with a
million things to do.
I woke up with a hundred
things running through my mind.
What do I do first?
How do I decide?
The enemy continues to throw up
blocks to try and persuade me
to choose Him.
"Pick me," he cries out, but
I will not and can not.
The enemy- He has no
hold on me.
My Lord-He does not delay.
He gives constant freedom.
I lack no good thing in Him,
He satisfies me in every way.
I have no longing to fulfill the
hole in my heart with the
"To Do" list the enemy gives.
I refuse to let Him win,
I will not step away from the
Solid Rock the Lord has planted me on.
My Jesus screams victory and puts
a crown on my head that only
shines His name as I continue
to walk forward so that more
people are pointed to Christ, one
more daughter knows she is loved,
one more son takes His place as
warrior-because my God- all
things are undre His feet- and
He has set me apart for His
works, not to be a slave of sin.
I will walk in triumph,
I have been set free.

The Winds of COLD

Winter is possibly the worst season... I am not a fan of the cold. I would rather wear t-shirts, tank tops, flip flops and shorts than bundle up deciding how many layers I should wear dependent upon where I'm going. It's honestly just unneccessary. Also, with every cold season comes nice refreshing cold for my face and sinuses, with sneezing, uneasy breathing, and watery eyes. Yesterday, one of my kids commented that I must have been crying a lot because my eyes were so red and when I tried to tell her that I was sick, she was very convinced otherwise. And today, I got made fun of repeatedly because I sound like I'm holding my nose while talking but I'm not and I'm eating so slow because I'm concentrating so hard on chewing, swallowing, and breathing all at the same time! It's kinda crazy.

However, with the winds of cold, good things are destined to take place. My birthday is in a week(ish) and I turn 25. It's on Thanksgiving so not only do I get to celebrate, I get to eat a lot! I am going home next week for Thanksgiving break. My sister graduates college in a few weeks and I am so proud of her! (She also got into the grad program that she had hoped for...Yay!) I get to spend a couple of weeks at home for Christmas and get to spend time with my family for all of the upcoming holidays! (Hopefully I won't be sick by then.) In other news, 2 of the girls that have been going to church with me are probably going to get baptized this weekend which is really cool because I am connected with them through school and have had a great time getting to be a part of their family. I also have had more conversations about me being a Christian than at almost any other point in my life. One of my 4th period boys has become my walking advertisement about it which is actually quite hysterical. And I have great relationships with so many of my kids! I have received some of the sweetest letters for American Education Week and am so excited about the ones I'll get on Friday. (I'll try to post some quotes here for your entertainment.) And last but definitely not least, God is using things in my life to make me more dependent on Him, even when I don't like it and He's giving me more opportunities to reflect Him than I remember from before. I am so thankful to serve a God who loves me beyond compare and allows me to serve Him despite my ever so many flaws!

However, the night is not so young at this point and this girl needs some sleep so I'm out! Have a great week before Thanksgiving and go ahead and give thanks for someONE this week!

Love, Melis

Things I Don't Understand...

I don't understand a lot of things lately. So this is basically a rant of things that I feel like complaining about because I don't understand them...
1. Why people get their driver's license at K-Mart... and still they can drive regular cars on the road and drive however they feel like it at the moment.
2. Why boys don't say what they mean.
3. Why I have to repeat the things that get on my nerves repeatedly at school so that they get it.
4. Why I have to pull my hair out and do some type of dance to remind my kids that I care about them sometimes.
5. Why people don't understand the word "NO." It's the same in all languages so seriously, what is the problem?
6. Why I miss very obvious things and then ask stupid questions.
7. Why my boys at school treat me better than some other guys I know (definitely not all of them but for sure some of them).
8. Why people don't listen the first time
9. Why I don't remember everything... it would make a lot of things easier and I would stay out of trouble more.
10. Why I make people feel like they're not good enough.
11. What I can completely change about myself in a 3 step process to become less intimidating.
12. Why everybody else in the city of Las Vegas wants the same coat that I do.
13. Why winter is necessary.
14. Why life doesn't go like planned... oh well... might as well face that reality.

That's my rant on that. Thanks for tuning in.
-Melis

Voice.

"Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!" -Proverbs 31:8-9

Today I used my voice. Not as if I don't everyday because I do but today I used the voice that I was meant to use. The voice I have been called to use, the voice that escalates change, and promotes healing, the voice that downs all downs and encourages the good. My voice makes a difference and if I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be a teacher. I mean honestly, the paperwork, the changes, the grading, the stuff, the after school programs, the hard classes, some annoying kids every once in a while... those things are not the things that make my job worth it but there are few things that are extremely significant that allow me to realize that what I do makes a difference because it does. The day I begin to deny that I have the chance to change someone else is the day that I need to quit and go live in a hole where no one is bothered by how miserable or sullen I am. I am change. My voice represents a God who is way bigger than me, who cares about the poor and the widow and the orphan and the outsider and the student who sits alone at lunch and the student who can't speak in class because their voice is changing and the person in Sudan who is fighting for life, but has no voice. My God speaks to that and He speaks to us begging us to have mercy on those who haven't experienced mercy before and justice on those who don't always deserve a second chance. He is a God who loves without any comparison and He gave me a voice and I choose today to continue to speak for those who have none, those who are lost and without hope and need a voice.

I have a few students who will one day be this voice. Today when they wrote notes to someone who had a made a difference in their life, they didn't write my name, no they wrote Jesus and Lord, and when they were asked why, the answer was "because He gave His life for us." How good it was and refreshing it was today to read through cards where God is glorified, where His name is being exalted and they are being His Voice. One day, they will write a similar note or page that will be read where their response is that they want to be used and they want their voice to be heard and it will be. They will be the voices of change, they will promote love and healing and join together to bind up those things that promote hate. You will hear their voice... you must only listen... and we can hear your voice... you must only speak.
-Melis

To be there.

I was just looking through a bazillion pictures of Africa this past summer. There are so many faces, places, and things that my hurting heart has already forgotten. There were so many memories, so many things I said I wouldn't forget, but as always I need a refresher course. Pictures definitely remind me of things forgotten as did the ones I just look at. I have carried on over the past 90 days since my heart and body left the ground and continent of Africa and I have gone to new places, I have seen new things and I have continued to experience life. Africa changed me, don't get me wrong but I look and wish that I had changed more. Maybe I did more than I think, maybe I did without realizing it. My number one reply to general question is "busy." Yes, I have a lot to do but I also have a lot of moments to just sit and watch movies or check my e-mail or read a book or write a blog or text a million people (not actually but anyways). My life in Africa was so simple, not complex, so straightforward, so much easier sadly enough. I didn't make decisions, someone else did it for me. I didn't worry about new clothes or what everyone else was wearing because I was in a place where people wore the same thing two days in a row and didn't always wash it then. I was in a place where I didn't eat out because that wasn't an option, especially because there were no restaurants or only 1-2 and they were expensive for people that lived there. If I didn't focus on luxury and I wasn't so vain, my life would be a lot less busy. I would be a lot more happy and I could focus on the people around me that love me and that I love. Unfortunately, the best of both worlds just does not always work out. Maybe one day. or maybe one day, I'll choose the other world, where people are only poor because we say they are and I will learn what it's like to be real and genuine and I will be there and not even think about being somewhere else.

To the Ladies...

Things I've pondered and thought about today and tonight because of a conversation with another girl... things we must remember.... things we must keep in mind... and things that I've learned from fighting and being so happy with girls over the past few weeks. (This is more of a reminder for myself.)

1. Know who you are and be who you are. Stop trying to be yourself.
2. Take what someone says at face value, even if they are not being nice and you know it.
3. Think about other people, even if you are the celebratory member of your own pity party.
4. Let it out. Scream at the top of your lungs into your pillow, your car, or the neighbor's yard... just somewhere. Get it out or it will build up.
5. Watch other's expressions. Read them and think about how you should react because of them.
6. When you don't like something, punch that person in the face (just kidding but be honest with them).
7. Vent, vent, vent... even if it's too your mom and all she hears is negativity from you. She still loves you! (Thanks Mom!)
8. Don't settle. Don't settle. Wait... wait... wait... even when you are so annoyed that you can't stand it and you want to pull your hair out.
9. Let people know that you care about them and that you are thankful for them.
10. Don't put up with people's crap. Now if you're the one being crappy, it's one thing, but otherwise... you don't have to carry everyone's burden. Yes, care, but don't feel like the world will fall apart without you. Unfortunately, it will keep spinning and mostly everyone around you will be okay... but again, don't always put up with people, especially if you know they're being ridiculous.

Just be you... no one else and because you care about people enough, they will care about you too... and it will all work out. No matter how long it takes. The end.
-Melis

Gross

The fall is a time of "gross" for me. New beginnings for a lot of people but just not me. I'm not sure what it is. It becomes dissappointing and discouraging and I just become ticked off at the world. Life is just not what I expected. I didn't think that it would turn out this way. Yes, there are so many things that have turned out better than I could have ever wanted but there are other things that I could pull my hair out about. It mostly has to do with people who meant something that have lost all credibility to me. People that I once respected and cared for and knew it was the opposite as well, no longer. I guess that is very sad to say but it is for reality for me right now. I understand reconciliation and forgiveness but what do you do when that other person doesn't want the same things? What do you do when that other side doesn't care? They claim to be hurt but really, it just doesn't seem like it's the same. They can hurt all day long and I feel like it will never equal out. Am I selfish? Probably. Am I having a pity party? Of course. Because sometimes, I get tired of being optimistic and being nice about everything. I get tired of feeling like I have been hit by a truck and then backed over by the same one. Is that fair? I get tired of life being unfair and unjust and quite frankly, when it doesn't work out the way I want it to. I get upset.... which is why I'm upset right now. I want life to go my way... I want to get everything the way I want it, when I want it, and I want it to all work out in the end... and when it doesn't I feel gross. Probably because I have been so selfish and stupid, but also because sometimes I look at everyone else and I see that they get what they want and I wonder why I can't get the same. So that's my pessimistic, rude, really mean rant for today. I'm done now. My grossness will be cured in a few minutes and my pity party's balloons will be popped and the cake will be eaten. Thanks for joining in.
-Melis

Hope Now

"Everything rides on hope now. Everything rides on faith somehow. When this world has broken me down. Your love sets me free." -from "Hope Now" by Addison Road

If there has been a song that I have sung over and over to myself, or out loud, over the past few months-- it has been this one. I found myself singing it watching the sunset in Africa, walking paths with kids holding my hands and staring, watching the waves from the wind come in on Lake Tanganyika, walking the halls of my school, through my house after a frustrating phone call or conversation, and even on my prep when I'm in my room by myself and no one hears me. All of those moments have boiled down to one thing-- the world. Time and time again, it has broken me and not healed me. It has knocked me down and not picked me up. It has bruised me and not cleaned my wounds. It has said hurtful things and gave nasty looks and never apologized. The world breaks... it falls apart and is, unfortunately, unfair and unjust. What am I to do? Where do I turn in these moments? In those moments, there are so many emotions, laughing, smiling to hide the pain, tears in rims of my eyes, and sometimes I feel that the scars that I have show brighter on my skin than normally. My heart must beat faster and my eyes must look down. My ears stop hearing and definitely stop listening and all I can think about is how messed up I am. How devastated and destroyed I have been. How deep the pit I was found in must have been. How I crawl and lie in it over and over. How I ignore the call of God to my precious heart as He pursues me... as He always hears me... as He always sees me and always heals me and never walks away from me. I find myself with the Prodigal Son eating with the pigs and yet my Daddy picks me up and pulls me away because what He wants for me is better. It's better than the brokenness the world offers, it's better than the lies that they will tell and any apology that could ever be given. He gives me hope and His love sets me free. And today as I felt those emotions and those hurts and heartaches because of a phone call, my heart sang "Everything rides on hope now..."

We cannot count on anything else but His plans and provisions, but His goodness and mercy and grace, but His love and to encounter all that, we must place our trust in Him and become dependent upon Him. He never changes. He never fails. Be encouraged. He is the same and He sees you. You are not alone. Rely on His hope. His love will set you free.
-Melis

My Hobos

Today was weird. All my classes went well, except 7th and it wasn't even my kids until someone else came in and then part of it ended up being that someone else and them. So we had a little talking to about that. Surprisingly, my other classes were good and they were patriotic and wore red, white, and blue and so on. It was fun. They got really into talking about September 11th and what happened and they are so interested in stories so it was good. Mostly everyone was respectful and I was so glad. So at the end of 7th period, I was okay, but still not in a great, great mood but okay. When the day ended, I saw some of the boys I had last year standing down at the end of the hallway knocking on the door so I went to talk to them and then I walked to the front to go talk to them about something that a couple of them are going to do for my kids next month to encourage them to go to magnet school. While I am talking to them, I hear someone say something about a hobo and I turn around to see a face that looks very familiar but not quite sure, and then I realized it was Kevin! Kevin was one of my students my first year of teaching here in Vegas and I loved him to death. He made me laugh all the time, and he would help me do all sorts of things in class. He stayed after school for a while to help me on stuff and so that he would stay out of trouble. He also brought along another student I had, Julio. Julio is so hilarious and I had him my first year as well. They were pretty good friends then too and since I had them both, I knew them pretty well. They were definitely two of my favorite kids. They just always made me laugh. They're my hobos because one day Kevin was running to class up the hall and I yelled, "Hurry up slow pokes!" They thought I called them hobos so I became their hobo teacher and they were my hobo boys so Kevin also made a box for the "Hobo Fund" and it was just an ongoing joke. So needless to say, I had not seen either of them in a year and a half and they've both grown up quite a bit! They are taller than I am and their innocent baby faces are gone but they seem to be doing well in high school and I am so glad! So it has pretty much made my day! Just thought I would share! Oh and I don't think they're getting in as much trouble anymore and I am so glad! -Melis

Genocide

As most of you know, genocide is something that I am extremely passionate about and extremely interested in. I visited the Holocaust Museum this summer with my family in D.C. and got so into it. I was told a few weeks ago while talking about it that it was the most passionate another person has really ever seen me be about something. I am planning on going to a training in October on genocide in relation to the Holocaust so I was looking through their resources. The link below is one of the things I found. It has stories of those who have survived the Holocaust, the genocide in Bosnia, the genocide in Sudan and Rwanda, and then officers and UN workers during those times. If it's something you're interested, read some of their stories and see their faces. It will change the way you think about genocide. As always, be the catalyst for change, not just the person that wishes something were different-- Do something! -Melis

http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/gallery/portraits
Click on their pictures and it will show short video stories and pictures of the culture.

Lost Generation

My assistant principal posted this last week for the teachers to watch when they thought about it. It's very short and very good! Who said that this generation can't make a change? I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Laughs about Dating... from an 8th grader's perspective

The other day, each of the students in my class gave a presentation. Some lasted 3 minutes, some lasted 3 seconds, the whole point was to make them stand up and feel safe for a short time and so it's something they get used to. Each of the presentations was done with a piece of paper that they created with pictures and words that described them so each was very different and some of them were hilarious. At the end of 1st and 2nd period, they had time so I let them ask me questions. Now keep in mind, my 1st period is EXTREMELY nosey and I mean that. My 2nd period hasn't been to this point but this allowed them to be so they were really excited. My 1st period asked some of the following questions:
1. Are you married yet? (They have ask me this every single day this past week.)
A: No, I haven't been all week, why would I have last night?
2. Do you want a puppy? I can give you my sister's.
A: No, I don't want animals.
3. If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be?
A: On a date? Clearly Jude Law. Just to ask questions, Lil Wayne, his influence is ridiculous.
4. If you could have any car, what kind it would be?
A: Love the new Mustangs, but would prefer just to have a normal car. (The boys were dissappointed.)
5. Who do you like better- Trey Songz or Lil Wayne?
A: I don't know enough of Trey Songz to make a judgement and Lil Wayne is too explicit.
....and so on.

2nd Period
1. What are your favorite things to do?
A: Sleep, eat, read, etc. (I don't even remember what else I said.)
2. Are you single?
A: Yes.
(At some point, one of the boys mentioned that he had a brother that was 25 but it was kind of ignored.)
3. How old are you?
A: How old do you think I am? (Answers have honestly varied from 16 or 18 to 35.) I am 24. (Some got pretty close.) I will be 25 in November.
Student: My brother is 25! I'm telling him about you. (He was very excited. What exactly do you tell your brother in this situation? "Oh, yeah, my teacher is almost the same age as you and you should ask her out."?)
4. What do you look for in a guy?
A: How honest do you want me to be? (Very.) Good looking, makes me feel secure, etc.
Student: I think I need to get in trouble. I need a parent-teacher conference.
(I just laugh.)
Me: Okay... (very hesitant)

I must share that... this made me laugh for the entire day and also, that this student has a lot of good connections to a lot of my previous students or I would be like oh geez. I must also tell you that the next day, he was sitting in class doing his work and I was monitoring and working on something and he made sure to remember to tell me that he told his brother about me. What did he say? That's a good question, I'm almost scared to know! When I find out, I'll post the conversation here! Have a laugh and sorry to be so lengthy!
-Melis

Rant on Low Expectations

I have to say that last night I did something that I did not do last year or I would have already been ranting about this for the last 12 months. I read the staff handbook. I just forgot last year I guess or I did and I missed this part or something. So, last night I was reading it online and I was absolutely furious when I read the part about promotions and retentions. It is one of the lowest expectations I have seen in the last couple of years of our teaching. My kids barely have to pass half of their classes to finish middle school and move on to high school. What makes this worse is that it is public information! They should never know! They should think, just like I did, that you have to pass all of your classes to attend high school. We had no idea there was such things as credits until we got into high school (junior year) and we were so confused that we still thought we had to pass everything! It is an absolute tragedy that I would ask a child to come to school for an entire year for a free education, a FREE education, and only ask him or her to only do half of the work. That is crap if I've ever heard any. I'm not going to go on strike or anything else, but really? Get yourself together. Why would kids go to college and try to pass their classes if they never had to do it before! This is ridiculous! Parents, get behind your kids and kick them into gear so that they have no choice but to do well and kids, get in shape! The real world doesn't let you do things half way and keep the job... Work hard! Wait for another day... There are plenty more rants to come... Melissa

First Days of School

We have officially had 2 days of school so far and they have already been full of fun stories. I think I'm going to have some really great kids (keep your fingers crossed) and that they are going to do well this year. Many of them have older brothers and sisters or cousins and friends that I had last year or the year before. It is also so interesting to see if they behave similarly to their family and friends and usually they do. I already have some little trouble makers that kinda laugh about it and students that I am able to laugh with. My first period is very animated and 2nd and 7th are so small! I have less than 20 kids in 2nd and 7th... I almost don't know what to do with myself! What do we do with kids when there are less than 30 something kids!?! Katie and I have already been maintaining our psychopathia (that's what I'll call it) for the year so that there are no surprises for our kids and she has also scared some of them because she told them that we were close. To prove that, Katie told one of the boys today something that I had said to her yesterday and he looked at her and said, "You guys do talk about everything! When do you do that?" So she just said that we talk every hour, on the hour. He's a pretty funny kid though and I feel sure I'll have more stories to come. He is so much like the boys I was closest to last year so hopefully we'll have a good year! In other news, well I think there is not any unfortunately... so carry on with your fantastic weeks of work, school, and play! I'll give you more updates later or a rant on something that I feel sure you will enjoy. -Melis

Could We Talk About This?

"Could we please talk about this?" is the phrase most often used while I am speaking to refer to something ridiculous that is happening or going on or something that has been said. Or if I am ranting about something like normal, I will end or begin with that statement. So in tradition of every other list I have on this blog but I'll do letters instead of numbers so that I can be a little more diverse but I can't stray from routine.

a. How cold it was today in Las Vegas, okay so it wasn't cold, but it was cold in the Colorado River while overcast and water is squirting in your face and you're wearing a tank top, because you think it's going to be 1 million degrees like normal.

b. Katie and I's "dam" jokes as if they haven't been told a million times before. We just had too much fun with that.

c. How scary it is to live in a house and not an apartment sometimes.

d. How many conversations I have had about boys, marriage, and future in the last week... what in the world am I doing?

e. How many times I have already tried to picture how this year of school is going to be and what the kids will be like. Who am I kidding? There is no way that I am ever going to figure that one out!

f. How much I miss my family in Georgia, and there is a small, slight part of me that thinks that one day I could live there or Cleveland where I went to college. I think I am having what I will call a mid-twenties crisis here. Therapy... I know.

g. How many times I watch Pride and Prejudice per week because it is one of the only movies that I can go to sleep in consistently because I have memorized so much of it. So much that I can hear the music and tell you what is happening without any other lines.

h. Stress of school... I already know that I have so much responsibility and I am looking forward to routine!

And to the ridiculousness of my life--- it is what makes me laugh, question, and wonder how different everything could actually be and thankful that it is the way it is. Happy weekend! -Melis

Rants on Social Issues

We recently, as in a few days ago, received an e-mail forwarding a new district mandate that kids no longer have to stand for the pledge of allegiance or say it. Now I understand, there are religions that do not say the pledge and so on and I understand and respect that. But seriously, you live in a country that gives you a free education, whether you're from here or not, say the freakin' pledge or at least stand and halfway act like you like or care about in respects to those who live here and are extremely patriotic or that have family members fighting wars or have fought wars so that you maintain the freedom to be able to stand or sit during the pledge.

On another note, I read An Ordinary Man, by Paul Rusesabagina, the man who kept the Belgian owned hotel open for refugees during the genocide in Rwanda. So if you've seen the movie "Hotel Rwanda," you have an idea of what went on in Rwanda. The Hutus and the Tutsis were the main two ethnicities in Rwanda and because of Western culture's influence on the country, the Westerners who had been there before had told them which ethnicity was superior, so the Hutus were the ones who felt like they should be in charge and therefore they began killing and murdering, brutally, Tutsis all over the country. In another book I read, it quotes that if the killing in Rwanda would not have stopped at 100 days and it would have continued at the rate of killing that it did, more people would have died in Rwanda than in the entire Holocaust. I think I've quoted that before but I think it's one that should not be forgotten! That's a huge deal. My geography book tells me that the Holocaust is the "systematic murder of more than 6 million Jews." We know this side that there were more than just Jews that were killed but 6 million people, let's turn around and just pretend that didn't happen! This only ensues rage for me in a very strong, furious manner. I'm so serious, don't get me started. So back to the book, he talks about how many clear signs that the genocide was coming that no one really paid attention to. United Nations guards that were placed in Rwanda were instructed that they couldn't use their weapons to stop any of the violence that was already taking place, even if people were murdered or wounded right in front of them! I mean what is the United Nations for. Keeping peace? Hello... I don't really consider watching something like this happen keeping the peace! I have been told that silence is agreement and that is exactly what the U.S. did, what the UN did and what the rest of the world who could do anything to prevent or stop it did! Then we want to make the comment "Never Again." Well if we really believe that, then let's do something about what is happening in Darfur. Even if you can't go to Darfur or do anything with money or whatever, you can at least let someone know so that someone else knows and word spreads so that we stop ignoring atrocities that are taking place at this very moment. Am I passionate about this? Of course and if you are any type of carer of humanity or people at all, please consider others and think about whether you're actually going to do something about what you say you are and stop sitting on your boat only listening or reading me rant about things like this!

"One person can make a difference, and every person should try." -JFK

Rants of Education... Somewhat

Teaching... I know I have said this before but I am amazed that I could love my job this much. I was so distraught yesterday when my sister and I were walking here in D.C. behind a girl who said, "I mean, what am I supposed to do? I am only a teacher. I only have 20 kids that I can influence and really, what change will that bring about?" If you are in a career like education or anything with people quite honestly and you start thinking that way, please quit for the sake of the rest of us so that you don't impose your miserable-ness on the rest of the world. Let me rant for a second and let's do the math.... Let's say that I have about 160 kids that walk in my door. Yes, I am a realist and realize that everyone of them will not change because of what I do or say and so on, but let's just think. I have the chance or rather opportunity to impact 160 kids. Chances are that those 160 kids have at least one parent, so that's 160 more people, more than likely they average to at least one sibiling, and they at least (AT LEAST) have 2 friends. 160 kids in my classroom plus 160 parents plus 160 sibilings plus 320 friends. That adds up to 800 people. 800. So yes, she only has 20 kids but she has the chance to impact 120 people because of those 20 kids! And let's say she's taught for 4 years, that means she has had the chance to impact 480 people! We need to change our perspective and stop acting like the world is going to change without someone attempting to make a difference. I mean who wants to live life full of nothingness without every effecting anyone? I would dare say that if we were honest with ourselves, we would hope that we could look at the last week and see how something in us changed or someone else changed because of us. It's about education, yes, but it's about you just as much. Think about it.... change your perspective so that someone else can be changed by you!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mohandas Gandhi

Stop standing around and do something! -Melis

So Today... and Yesterday, Well Sort Of

Today, I have a lot to do. I fly out in about 12 hours to go to the east coast and I have a lot to do but I'm very excited to see my family and hang out with the sister. We're going to see a lot of the sites in DC, including the Holocaust Museum, which I've heard is horrifying but really neat... I'm a litte nervous, but excited, about that. I went to DC when I was in 8th grade and 9th grade so it's been a while! Plus, we didn't get to ride the subway and everything like I'm going to with my family. To add to that-- I've been grossly sick, my throat is just nasty and I'm not even lying. It's simply amazing that I actually still have a voice and it is very hard to believe that I have been back in the states a week already. Last Saturday, I was waiting to leave Dubai and now I have been back here for a week. It has been a good week to be back even though I was not thinking that it would be at all.

This past week, I have been able to hang out with the roomies, they are so crazy. We went to see the Titanic Exhibition. At the beginning of the exhibit, everyone is given a card with a name on it of someone that was actually on the exhibit. Some of them have extra information throughout the tour and others don't. So Katie (who is ridiculously insane if you have not met her) had John Jacob Astor's wife, who was 18 and he was like 48 or something out of control. We're walking through reading biographies and then Katie says very loud, "Hey, that's my husband!" Everyone in the exhibit just stared and then she said, "Not in real life, just here." It was funny... you have to understand that she does things like this all the time, like more than once a day. Last night, we were coming back from Monica's wedding shower and we were listening to the radio and she was making fun of me because I sound awful and I was still trying to sing all the rap songs that I know. Then we decided that it would be hilarious if we rewrote rap songs to make them about school so we spent the rest of the car ride doing that. If we actually do it, I'll post one of the videos to the blog-- be ready for it.

In other news, school officially starts for me a week from Wednesday... I'm so excited to get new kids but will be highly disappointed if they're not as fun as last year. I already know a few of them, but not that many. It should be interesting... a fun combination of very different kids... hair gel, bright colored shoes, sagging jeans, skinny jeans for the girls, and plenty of drama... oh the drama... bring it on... and hopefully plenty of visits from my little precious ones from last year, I miss them a lot!

Soon and very soon, I'll have plenty of exciting stories and funny quotes and I'll let you know all of them! -Melis

Things I've Missed This Summer...

There are so many amazing things that I have experienced this summer. I have loved it but there are also things that I have missed, just because I haven't been in the states, so over the past few days I have tried to catch up but there are still a few things that I haven't had that I hope to either have (food wise) or experience...

1. Ice cream: Yes, I had some, but not as much as I've had in the last few days, especially because my throat is disgusting and ice cream has felt better than anything else because I don't have to chew it up and swallow it, it just works. (Sorry for the gross details.)
2. Sweet Tea: I haven't had any yet, but I missed it.
3.Target: Oh my love for Target runs very deep... if you know me, you understand, even my kids at school know that this is my favorite place.
4. Dr. Pepper: They have Coke in glass bottles, and Fanta, and Sprite but not Dr. Pepper. From what I understand, you don't find that much in foreign countries but it is by far, my favorite soft drink.
5. Real Ketchup: They have tomato sauce, but it's sweet, and quite frankly, it's just not ketchup.
6. Flavored Cereal: Zambia just doesn't have nasty for you, a lot of calories, fatty cereal and that's my favorite kind so anything with sugar in the cereal aisle- here I come.

Different Eyes

The sweetness and joy of following God is that following God is never what is to be expected... plans never match, things fail and fall apart, and somehow in God's mind, everything works out perfectly. I guess it is sweetness and joy to Him, but it looks more like shattered glass to me, falling apart piece by piece, not necessarily at a moment in time. Yes, there are times when more breaks off than expected or there are times when the fragments are so small, that I can barely see them, much less comprehend what happened.

What I saw as sweetness and joy didn't show it's face as that this week. As most of you know, I am supposed to be in India right now but I'm back in Las Vegas. I didn't get my Visa, was given wrong information about my Visa, in Johannesburg, stuck in Dubai's airport for 24 hours (half of which I spent crying and being stared at), and now back in Las Vegas until next Saturday when I go to visit my family on the other side of the U.S. My idea of His best for me was that I spent this week with my very missed roommate from college while she is on the other side of the globe. His best for me was me getting back on a plane, sitting next to someone that made me incredibly uncomfortable for 15 hours and then almost missing my plane back to Vegas because of customs and not being able to find my ticket online, as well as Atlanta throwing away my toothpaste the 2nd time I went through security. I'm worn and tired. I had prayed the entire 6 weeks of Africa that God would let me see with His eyes and that was what He had for me in Dubai. I feel that I have seen what He wants me to see over the past 6 weeks, but I was still missing something. As I sat in the Dubai airport, I realized how unfree I must be and how free I must look. Appearance is everything in the U.S., even in Christian circles. Don't be genuine, look free, don't show your true self, pretend to have it all together. I sat at a restaurant in the airport watching these women, Muslim women, some of whom I could only see their eyes and some of whom I could see their faces. They stared at me as I stared at them. There was something about them that I couldn't really put my finger on at first until I started thinking more about it. Then I realized that I must look free, with my hair fixed the way I want it, wearing a t-shirt, and exposing my entire face to the world. Do they think I'm free? I'm watching them, almost wishing that I was them, able to unexpose myself to the world, able to hide whatever I wanted so that no one could really see what I am or what I look like. That way, I could care less about what people think and I could focus more on what God wants for me because I wouldn't be so distracted. Ridiculous, right? Their eyes encouraged me that I am to be free because of whose I am. I am the Bride of Christ, the one who owns everything, the one who breathes life into me and beats my heart so that I continue living to follow Him. He is the essence and everything of what freedom is. He just IS. I must be in Him, free in Him, free to expose myself to the world so that I can be hurt at some points, so that He can have glory in them all.

If I've learned anything from the above or Africa... it's that He knows best for me. I don't. I see shattered glass as shattered glass. He sees it as a picture of His glory, what I see as bitter, He sees as sweet. If I would only look with His eyes more often, I would see the glass as a reflection of Him because it is. Everything Him, none of me.

Almost--

Since time was short on my last blog, I thought I would just give some things I've seen and experienced since I've been in Africa. We are in Pretoria now and will be here until Thursday night and then I'll be in India for a week and then back to the states, not permanently Las Vegas, but close enough...

1. Yesterday, we were getting ready to drive back to Pretoria but the car broke down the day before, so we flew back, you have no idea what a blessing that was... 2 hours in comparison to 12 at least in a car... thank you, thank you.

2. The dancing continued throughout our time in the villages, the "muzungu's" (a Bemba word for foreigner) showed out to say the least and we had quite a few friends because of that.

3. Rap music and Cecilia and Franny--- I miss you dearly... can't wait for 97.5.

4. I have had some good food since we've been back to civilization-- chocolate, chicken, pizza. Jason's Deli and plenty of ice cream- come quickly.

5. I don't think that I've worn the same shirt so many times within weeks, I can't wait for my closet.

6. Sleep, sleep, sleep... need more but got some.

7. The Bachelorette-- who proposed seriously?

8. Alicia learned a new way to pedicure... rocks... back to the cave days I'm telling you...

Other things that I just am thinking of currently-

-Dream, you better still have a job.

-Ice cream Sundaes-- please girls.

-Engagements in the Geography department-- this could be the year!

The End-- See you soon or talk to you very soon! Love you all! -Melis

Back to Civilization...

Our team has been in Lake Tanganyika for the last 10 days and it has been quite the journey... Since I'm so good at lists, I'll just make one and I can elaborate on it when my internet moves faster than it is right now...

1. Nsumbu, Tongwa, Nzovwe-- no electricity, no running water, no toilet (unless you consider a hole in the ground one-- just fyi, it's not), bathing in the lake, and other necessities.
2. Playing with kids- a lot of them. I've never been so convinced that I want to adopt in my life.
3. Experience... a lot of it. I'll have to share later because I have to leave the internet cafe now, unfortunately. I'll write soon!

The Joys of Africa

Sorry that blogs are so few and far between but that's because internet is few and far between in Africa. We have been in Zambia since Saturday. We had quite the adventure coming up through South Africa, particularly in Botswana. I didn't really know what border posts were like driving, might I add with a trailer so it's a little more difficult than expected. Moving through the countries alone is not so bad. It is the trailer with the computers that caused some problems. So after several hours at the border stops we made it to Kabwe. We stopped at Victoria Falls and it was so beautiful, it was ridiculous. It is amazing to see the things that God has created in it's purest form. It was so great. Alicia, Anneretha, and I threw pennies into the falls to celebrate new changes and new commitments with a new belief that God desires to change us and do something new in us. There are so many things that I have learned and thought about that I'm not really sure where to begin except that God has awakened so much in me that I felt sure had died within me in the past year. It has been quite the year. God used so many of my kids to remind me of what I was called for and so many prayers to even get to that point and He had to bring me to another continent to make me think of what should be awakened in me. Let me explain...

Over the past year, I have slept so much. Rae, my roommate, thought that I must have mono or be depressed or something during last Fall because it was so unlike me. I became more negative, more agitated easily, and just plain annoyed quite often. I was short tempered and didn't really want to be around people. I felt that there was a lot of hurt that I felt and I didn't know how to deal or what to do with it so I just stopped. No, my life didn't stop, I didn't start seeing a therapist but I did feel like something changed me. It was if my heart had been broken for the last time. I was just done with what life was giving me. What a great blessing my kids were... Marquisha, who reminded me on a very regular basis that I could change the world, and so many who just made me laugh and made me have fun when I didn't feel like it. How I miss them. They taught me that what I want in a spouse is someone who will fight for me and not back down. They had my back all the time, they were my little defenders. God used them to remind me that He does the same thing. He wants to make me laugh, have fun, and He is my defender. And now here in Africa... God has began to awaken again my passion to just genuinely serve and love people, from my heart, not because of what they will do for me. He reminded me that my life will be renewed when I pour out. Yesterday morning when I woke up, I felt that God spoke very clearly a verse that I so often quote-- when I delight myself in Him, He will grant me the desires of my heart because when I delight myself in Him, my desires become His desires and they are no longer selfish purposes, but for His glory... the joys of Africa have been great, much more than I had hoped. How good He will continue to be. Thank you again for all of your prayers and thoughts and reminders that God will continue to be enough.

Just an update-- I will not be able to be on the internet for about another week and a half. We are traveling to Mpulungu at Lake Tanganyika to minister there. Love you and miss you! -Melis

Finally!

So this will be very quick. First things first, our team in Africa has a blog that we have been trying to update. The address is www.hope-4africa.blogspot.com. If you want to see details and some pictures of our work, check that one out. Africa has been phenomenal. We have been very busy doing quite a bit of different things. We are still in South Africa and are planning (hopefully) on going to Zambia tomorrow. We have had some problems with the vehicle we are taking, hence the "hopefully." We have worked with over a couple of thousand kids and God has broken my heart. He continues to give me vision as to what I should do when I get back to America as well as what life could look like for me in the future! (Scary!) Please continue to pray for us as we travel for the next few days between border stops and crazy African roads. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts so far! They have definitely made a difference! I have been encouraged and have seen over and over again why God wanted me to be here. More than anything, He is changing me. Crazy, wild changes and we will see what happens in the near future! I love you and all and miss you!
-Melis

A Few Things I Should Say...

I say the same thing over and over at the beginnings of these things... so let's just go with it.

1. If you haven't already noticed, I adore lists. I just work better with them.
2. I leave for Africa tomorrow. I have my bag packed, my malaria medicine, and every other medicine imaginable between Alicia and I. I have too many clothes, but feel like they might not be enough. How do I pack when I've never been there for that long?
3. Things I've done in the states today because I'm not going to be able to for a while: go to Target (please... who knew I wouldn't go there?), eat pizza (even though I'm not supposed to with this new esophogitus mess I have), and eat ice cream (who can get enough of such a good thing?).
4. I'm ready... peace, peace, peace today about leaving and being there. Thank you Jesus!
5. Exciting... what an adventure I'm on and what a great God to serve!

Lastly, please feel free to leave comments or e-mail me... I would love to hear from you! Love you all! -Melis

P.S.

A few things I should mention:


1. Ed left The Bachelorette last night... I am sad about that.... liked him...He was about to be fired so it was definitely reasonable but it just makes me wonder what life could be like for me in the future... not that he would be in it... I'm a little more rational than that.

2. In one of the the pictures on a previous blog... Robert is on the left, Bruno is on the right.

3. I am so overly emotional, I can't stand it... I am watching Madea Goes to Jail and it's not really helping the balance of emotions at all.

4. I am so nervous. I have peace about what God wants me to do in Africa and that he wants me to be there but as mentioned before... I keep feeling gross.

5. I move into my house officially tomorrow but I am a wimp and I'm a little scared to sleep there, so I will probably be sleeping on Katie's couch which will offer enough laughs for an entire year.

6. Last but not least, something that I should have mentioned before. This past Saturday, I got to hang out with 3 of the most amazing girls ever! We watched music videos (I miss that!), just talked, laughed, and ate ice cream-- my favorite things. Plus the Brownie Sundae was AMAZING (and I'm not exaggerating)! Girls-you're the best and you made my weekend!

Peace...

This past weekend was little wild to say the least. I was a little, let's say, not myself. I got very sick on Friday night-- no fun, scared Rae, my roommate, and then didn't do much because I was a little afraid to eat... not really ready to sleep and I am on the worst possible schedule ever. Maybe I should have considered teaching in a year round school, but probably not. I have never used WebMD so much in my life and read so much about health and symptoms and treatment and on and on and on. The never ending story. Unfortunately, even though my body felt very unlike me, it was more stress causing all other kinds of aches and pains than anything... Last year, the shingles, this year a little panic attack. Stress doesn't like me in the months of May and June, for very obvious reasons.

I may or may not have been stressed because of the following:
1. Leaving
2. Moving
3. Money
4. All of the above

It just becomes a bit too much, but in the process God always reminds me of His faithfulness. And in His faithfulness, He always grants peace... so much and I am so thankful. He provided a way for my money, time for me to pack to move, a house to move into, confirmation from His Word that there is no doubt in my mind that He wants me in Africa this summer, and sleep. I even was able to eat a normal meal today which was amazing. So it's working out like it always does but in my very narrow, hollow, small mind, I like to pretend that God is not who He says He is and He doesn't do what He says He can do. I know in the absolute depths of my heart how untrue that is and I choose to believe Him, not just believing in Him, like Beth always talks about, but actually believing. He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He can do... and in essence that only leaves one emotion for me to feel or sense or breathe or believe... peace.

5 Rants of the Day

The following are things on my mind: (in no specific order or anything)

1. I love rap music... and would listen to it more if it were a little bit cleaner, I can even handle the profanity but it's just all the other stuff that kills me. Give me a break... let's make it a little more positive. There are only a billion 13 year olds that listen to it. And I speak from experience of my BET days when I was 13 and I thought everything I listened to was good and wholesome. Welcome to 11, almost 12, years later when everything becomes a little clearer.

2. Found out today that I have a house... yay and it has a pool. I'm excited and I will be moving this weekend. It's not next to my school but much closer than now.

3. Messes... my life is full of them and it is currently my project of pictures from this school year. I thought I would sit down and be finished quickly but now it's just a mess in my floor that I should be cleaning... obviously.

4. Today I went to see the refugees. I went with Lindsey and I worked with refugees from the Congo and Uganda. The refugees from the Congo were 4 little girls who live with their mom. Their father was killed in the war in the Congo. The girls were beautiful and were so precious as we taught them Bible stories and English words. They are so eager to be able to understand!

5. Pictures and things... I have a ridiculous amount of pictures and things in my mess to make my big picture from 2 of my students-- Robert and Bruno. They were hilarious and knew that they could get out of trouble if they made me laugh... they were crazy as the picture will illustrate.

More rants to come- Melis

Africa... here in Vegas?

So I leave for Africa in 13 days... I am moving to a house sometime within the next 13 days and my life will be a little wild. I also am "borrowing" internet from a neighbor and am not even sure that I will get it at all at my new place until after I am back. Since I am on summer break, I have some extra time, so I am doing some other things like getting shots for Africa, getting malaria medicine, getting a haircut, packing, moving, blah, blah, blah. However, I could possibly see or do one of the most important things before I leave tomorrow. Las Vegas is one of 10 cities in the U.S. that currently accepts refugees from other countries. A refugee, my geography students should know, is a person who has been displaced or fled from their country because of war, persecution, the economy, etc. Right now, there are refugees from all sorts of places fleeing to the U.S. from very harsh refugee camps in other countries where they are mistreated and can be left there for up to 30 years, which is insane. One continent that they are coming from in large quantities right now is Africa. If you watch the news or read it on the internet, you know that war is consistently going on in the region of Darfur, in the country of Sudan, and that war from Uganda (where children were having horrible things happen to them) has spread into a very large country in central Africa called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. If you also remember within the last 20 years, war has taken place in the countries of Rwanda, child soldiers in Sierra Leone and several west African countries, and even racial separation (otherwise known as the Apartheid) in South Africa. The continent of Africa has seen it all. So with that, people from those countries who have been in refugee camps are now being sent to a few countries in the world, one being the U.S. and a few cities, one being Vegas. So tomorrow I am going with a group of people who have been working with these refugees to see what it's all about. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know that I will get a little taste of sweet Africa with them. They don't know how to wash clothes, how to store food, and they have little or no furniture and other items that we take for granted. Be prepared... I'm sure that after that experience, I will learn a few things that I will be sure to share with you soon.
-Melis

Sweet Things...

So I've decided to make a list of things I would consider sweet, especially after watching a few ridiculous men on The Bachelorette be somewhat stupid, it is good to be reminded of some sweet things in my life... (Note: I could go on forever, but will obviously have to stop somewhere)

1. Sweet Tea (I am from the South... this is top priority.)
2. Jake, Kiptyn, and Ed on the Bachelorette (the girls I watch it with would more than agree)
3. Notes that were never asked for (I've gotten so many from students this year and some, okay maybe more than some, have brought me to tears as I have read them over and over again over the last few days.)
4. Boys opening the door (Oh a gentleman- where is he to be found?)
5. A good laugh, especially the ones that bring me to tears (especially with Katie, what a goof)
6. Good books
7. Chocolate or food in general (I have been told by R that he always sees me eating... it's probably true.)
8. A pool--- it is so, so hot here, sometimes I wonder what I was thinking
9. T-shirts (I hate dressing up all the time.)
10. When He speaks because I have not listened in so long
11. Last but not least, the inspiration that so many of my students have given me in e-mails, blogs, cards, notes, or pictures... they mean the world to me and I wish I could adopt them all... maybe one day! They make my job worth it!

The Craziness I Call a Classroom

I have one more day of "teacher time" at school, which is quite honestly a little boring seeing that I normally have at least 6 hours of entertainment a day from 14 year olds. They are absolutely hilarious. I feel like I must not stop laughing, unless they do something really ridiculous, which also happens. So I thought for their sake, I might just write a few things that have happened this year down. There are definitely more things to come.

Field Day was last Monday and I have to say that I think I was more excited than most of my kids. My 4th period and I had quite the competition going. There were some threats and promises made about who was getting who and I just let them know that if I got wet with water that "revenge would be sweet." Oh it was, especially for D. He loves to drive me crazy and he must have poured bottles of water on me all day long. After lunch, I had filled up a bottle of water which another student grabbed before I got to D and poured on me. (I'm not really sure why I thought this was a good idea.) So I gathered a few, I mean about 15 girls, that he has tramatized all year long and we all filled up water bottles. We must have chased him up and down the stairs until we backed him into a corner. One of the girls just held him for about 30 seconds while the rest of us poured water all over him. So D and I were equally soaked, what glory.

My 1st period had quite the personality. O made this personality at the beginning of the year with threatening to cut people, jokingly taking the scissors off my desk. It was actually quite hilarious if you are familiar with Bon Qui Qui, which I am huge fan of. He was our class Bon Qui Qui and when 2nd semester started and we were making citations, they decided that we should definitely add "cutting" as a reason to be cited. When another teacher or class asked one of the students, it was as if it was a secret that no one else could know.

I had the best Drama Club in the entire world, and that is not being dramatic. They worked so hard to do well at our play which was basically what they called the 'ghetto' version of Cinderella. Obviously I am not very ghetto so they modified where it was needed. It was so funny watching their parts become them. I had most of the kids in my classes or in Student Council and instead of them becoming their parts, they made their parts fit them. They were amazing, if I must say so myself and I so enjoyed working with them.

So to my kids who are reading this... I will be posting more things from the year, if you want to remind me of a memory, comment or send me an e-mail! Happy Saturday or the 30 minutes left of it.

Oh the Heartache...

Tomorrow is officially the last day of my 1st and 2nd Period classes for the year 2008-2009. It is honestly tragic. I have waited and have been so glad that the year was almost over, but now it's here and I am not incredibly happy about it. I have had so many good connections with my kids this year. They make me laugh so hard, they make me cry, their stories make me cry, their stories make me laugh and sometimes they just drive me nuts (which is actually their personal favorite I believe). I absolutely love them. I said before that I didn't realize that teaching would become so personal. On some days, I wish I had an office job that I could get paid more for, never have to buy supplies for, and never really have to think about and work between the hours of 9 and 5 but it would never be me. I was never called to that.

For some reason, God saw in His grace to use me, sometimes I don't at all understand how or what he's doing but He did and He does. I am constantly amazed at the things I know He has me pour into them that I think they never heard, and when I least expect it, they remind me of the expectation I had of them before. They keep me on my toes. They make me better. They make my job worth it to not get paid as much or to have to do some extra work instead of just sit at home. They become the adopted, the broken that needs healing, the poor that needs to be given to, the lover that was never loved. They become me, in my great reality of what Jesus does for me. I become Jesus to them, in ways that are not possible within my own strength or power. In Jesus, I become the adopted, the healed, the given to, the loved lover. They show me Jesus, even though most of them have no idea who He is! And in His grace, He uses them to teach me and me to teach them, but along with that comes heartache. The heartache of goodbyes, and new beginnings, of old memories, and growing up. Yes, they hurt, but are they worth it? Of course, I have a few more days to love these little precious souls to death. So what if they eat up my time? So what if they drive me up a wall? Be Jesus, and when it hurts, still... be Jesus.

So tomorrow when the tears and heartache come as goodbyes begin... I choose to be Jesus.

Quit sitting there...

The craziness of the Holocaust has consumed my mind for the last few weeks. Mostly because, I've taught it 3 different times over and over. I have looked at pictures, read books (fiction and non-fiction), and had several discussions about the impact it has had on history. In doing all this, I became overly interested in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, a fiction book that was recently made into a movie that came out today on DVD that I went and bought (just to make a long story short). So I completely know what happens in the movie because I've already the book and I really know what happens in the end because I have read it to students about 10-15 times in the last few weeks. I have to be honest... I am a "the book is almost always better" person and in this case, it rings very true. The book is detailed... you get inside Bruno's thoughts in a way that you can't in the movie. The movie is very similar but it misses some important things that make the ending significant.

One of the things I have talked about with my kids is the fact that we stopped and looked at history with the Holocaust and said never again, but now we are looking back over the last 20 years and seeing that the same thing has repeated itself. In another book I read about the genocide in Rwanda, it said that if the rebels in Rwanda would have continued killing at the rate they were over the time period of the Holocaust during World War II, that more people would have been killed in Rwanda than was killed in the Holocaust. Unbelievable! The fact has blown my mind over the last week as I have shared it numerous times! Yet, what did the world do? Pretend that it wasn't happening to them and continue to move on? Definitely! We become unconcerned if it doesn't directly affect us. I love the quote from a pastor during the Holocaust that you have probably read before. He lists all the groups of people that were taken during that time period and he comments that he never spoke up because he wasn't one of them. When it came down to the end and the Nazis came for him, there was no one left to speak up. Unfortunately, in the day and age we live in, people will continue dying until we decide to do something about it. I can't just sit here anymore and soak in history. We have to be the ones to change it.

So you're wondering what encouragement I can give you for today? Do something! Go be...
-Melissa

It's Not Your Fault

My kids have a way of making me rethink everything. All 160 of them. During this week, we have rotated classes and I have met and seen even more kids and they make me rethink it too so now I have rethought everything at least twice and I am going to have to do this all at least one more time. Sounds confusing huh?

It is, until I am quickly reminded that all my kids are the same. They do like school somedays, they don't others. They don't get along with their parents or they completely run over their parents. They're blamed for things they didn't do and given consequences for things they have never even considered doing. This is at school and their houses. This is the time of the year as we like to say when the "crap hits the fan."

True kids come out and they show their true colors and they shine like the sun. Some of them are so stressed out by this time that they can't concentrate and they can't focus on having relationships at school because they are so worried about home. This is where it all goes down.

I have this kid who is one of the best students I have. He is a great kid with a great personality, does well in school, plays b-ball and has a lot going for him. He is clearly on his way to going to college. He has supportive parents who attend his games, practices, and everything else that he is a part of. When I told his parents today how I am constantly impressed by him, his mom replied that "He has no choice." Clearly, he has parents who care.

I watched another one of my students, a male as well, whom I love to death and he knows it. He eats up all the attention and it all came to me today when I realized that he needs the attention because he is receiving some negative attention at home. I sat in front of his parent at the game while he played for a little bit and did really well. He's quick, focused and he has a positive attitude on the court. Plus, he totally cracks me up because he's so jittery. He's like a kid in the candy store when he gets the ball in his hands and he runs down the court and he is constantly encouraging and directing other players on the court and they respect him and he treats them with respect too. During the game, his parent made several remarks to the coach which I was embarrassed by and I'm sure that my student, the son, felt the same way. By the end of the game, my hyperactive, precious student had a defeated look, he was a different person. Clearly, influenced by the way his parent acted at the game.

Two different scenarios of the ways that my student walk in everyday, some so defeated by what's going on at home and some so encouraged and I feel I am often left to pick up the pieces. A parent who's in the hospital, who's terminally sick, who is never at home, who works 3 jobs, who focuses on the other 2 kids, and the list could go on and on and the burden is completely overwhelming.

I read a book within the last couple of months called A Long Way Gone about a child soldier in Sierra Leone. He was picked up by the country's army and made a soldier around the age of 12. A few years later, he was rescued by UNICEF and sent to the capital to go through therapy and so forth. He said that over and over again, the child soldiers in the rescue camp would get into fights. They would stab one another and they would fight. They would do the same thing to the UNICEF workers. Ishmael Beah, the author, wrote that everytime a UNICEF worker would get hurt, the worker would go away a few days, get better and then come back and say to the child soldier, "It's not your fault." Beah commented that it would make them so angry that the workers would always say that but that in the end, they realized when they said that because they cared. No other reason. He and all of the other soldiers were thankful in the end.

I wish that I more often thought of this with my kids. Their homes are not their fault, they didn't choose their families and they didn't choose me. I just have to make the best of it and treat them with care. After all, it's not their fault.

# 1

So here we go... first one and there's so much going on in my heart.

1. I am so overwhelmed by school. I don't think I've taken on too much but I didn't realize that teaching involved carrying the burdens of 160 other people at the same time. Sometimes I actually like this, but not today. Bad girl fight, finding out about some kids on drugs, just a little too much for my system. I need a vacation, as in 2 weeks in the middle of nowhere to read and do nothing, not a 3 day weekend. Who seriously started calling that a vacation anyway?

2. Next, I am so thankful that God is restoring my relationships with so many people that I dearly miss and very much love. It has been longer and more hurtful than I thought it would be but it is so good for all of us to be healing. I am so incredibly thankful and excited to have these people back in my life!

3. Lastly so we can make this a quick one (my kids laughed at me today because I got distracted by talking about distractions, oh the irony...) I am so ready for summer. Praying and thinking about Africa... which just makes my heart beat faster or going somewhere else. I cannot wait and will definitely keep you posted.

Pray for my kids.... I have some huge concerns for a few of them at this point but at the same time am very proud of so many of my other ones! Halfway through the week!