Nobody's Pregnant

I have been hearing a great deal of buzz about an upcoming post to this blog. I would like to confirm that there will be a cool post unlike any you have seen for quite a while from us. We have been very busy starting our new school year and attending our Y.M.C.A. Korean classes. I must admit that after working on lesson plans on a computer all day, I do not feel like typing new posts. Computer screens give me headaches. But I also know that you, our adoring public, deserve more. Oh, so much more. Therefore, we plan on making this next one count. And, if it's a success, we will continue in the same style for future posts. This is all that I am a liberty to say at this time. I hope this whets your appetite and piques your interest. I had to rename the post just in case anyone got crazy ideas from my cryptic message. Thank you for stopping by. The picture is a bonus. It has nothing to do with the aforementioned post of awesomeness. We love you all and we will talk again soon. ~Micah

First Graders on Friday

I couldn't resist posting a link to show you all what my first graders were rushing out to see on their Friday night. I used this little video clip as a lesson opener for my phonics lessons this past week - I kind of found it at the last minute and thought it was cute...but my students went nuts over it. We decided to post it on our class website so students could watch it over the weekend if they so desired. We posted it Friday afternoon, and by Friday evening there were already fifty hits on it! They loved it, and I can't quit crackin' up at how cute they are!

Popular Demand

Greetings to all! It's nice to see that people are not only reading our blog, but demanding more from us! I wish that I had something interesting to say, but I don't; however, if I wait for something more interesting to happen, it may be awhile before I post something, so, here goes!
Micah and I are both really pumped about this school year. We both have a new resolve for how we want our classrooms to run, and new ideas that we'd like to incorporate. I am excited to have a new batch of students to teach. My special needs student this year has Down's Syndrome. She is probably the most adorable little person I've ever met in my life! She has this particularly cute habit of looking at people over the rims of her coke bottle glasses. And I love it when I'm trying to explain something to her and she starts to nod her head vigorously and say, "Ok, ok, ok, k-k-k!" She gets faster and faster as she says "ok" until all I can hear is the "k!" She can be really stubborn - but that somehow makes her all more adorable! Anyway, I'm really impressed with the ability level (in reference to level of English proficiency) of my students this year. Last year at this time I was getting blank stares from my students. This year though my students are already interacting during class and not afraid to use their English; I'm really excited at the potential this school year holds!
In other news, we've been reading like crazy! I'm currently reading three books (ok, so I have this bad habit of reading multiple books at a time, I just hate waiting to start a new book!). I'm reading Laughing Matters by Phil Callaway, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire by Rafe Esquith. I'm really enjoying each of these books for totally separate reasons. Laughing Matters is a nice, light read, while A Tale of Two Cities provokes my imagination and emotions. Lastly, Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire is a read that challenges me not only professionally, but also morally. I definitely recommend this book to anyone working with children (although I'm only about halfway through, the 2nd chapter alone makes it worth the money) (1st chapter was great too, but it's that 2nd one that'll really getcha! I think I need to re-read that chapter until I really get it). In addition to those reads (and my Bible - yes! I do read my Bible! I just finished the book of Ruth, which I adore!), Micah and I are reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo outloud together; we're on the fifth chapter, and I think it makes a wonderful read-aloud. Children (and adults:) would really enjoy hearing this, and from what I can tell, Edward's journey is a journey of discovering how to love.
Lastly, it looks like Micah's going to join a gym with one of our fellow co-workers, and we just started a Korean class (held on Saturdays from 10-1 for me, 10:30-12:30 for Micah) this past week. Micah made it into the advanced-beginner's class! I was so proud of him! I am in the regular old beginner's class - oh well. I have started up piano lessons again, and I'm getting ready to move up to the next book, which is very exciting for me! Makes me feel like I really am making progress. Additionally (this is for you, Bekah:), I am in the process of writing a new song. It's pretty simple, the lyrics aren't that original, and I'm sure no one will ever hear it, but it feels good to be penning down some tunes again. Micah's also writing some stuff - stories and such, but I'll let him tell you about that when he's ready. We're both just happy to be alive and in the center of God's will for our lives. We love you and are so thankful that you've been such faithful friends to us. Love, Sarah

Snow in Winter

The weather on the peninsula has been beautiful. That's why we were so surprised when we opened the front door this morning and looked out upon a snow shower. The snow itself was heavy with the desire to be Spring rain but it could not quite change what it was. Only the Earth could turn it back to its liquid form. The long, soft needles of the Korean pines held it from its muddy fate, if only for a while. By midday, the dark shade of the pavement and a few shallow puddles were the only evidence that the skies had opened at all. That, and this picture.