July 12

Good news, it seems that my writing mojo is back. (This may be bad news if you follow me on Twitter and have gotten my million notifications of sending a Postcrossing card. Sorry). I spent some time yesterday and this morning writing thank you notes and writing some Postcrossing cards. I look forward to tossing them all in the mail today and then attempting to tackle my overwhelming "respond" pile. Thanks to everybody who has been patiently waiting. Postcrossing cards are being sent to: Russia, Germany, Canada, Japan, Finland, USA (California),Portugal, Poland, France, Netherlands, and Romania. 

 

 

  It will be nice to start receiving so many cards back once these ones are registered. I hope to have the maximum amount of cards traveling as I am allowed to. I think I'm up to 19 now. I have a few more to send tomorrow and then I'll be at the maximum.

Painted doors

   Yesterday I spent some time blog hopping and I came across this blog article on the painted doors of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. I would love to visit that in person. Can you imagine what character it would add to a community if each person had a piece of art on their door? Maybe this appeals to me so much because the upstairs neighbors just painted the front door of our house a disgusting purplish brown color. Anyway, it got me to thinking, wouldn't this be so cool if schools did this on all of the classroom doors?

Recent cards

I have gotten a few cute cards this week, most of them from the Penpalling& Letters Surprise Postcard Swap.
    I loved seeing this little polar bear in my mailbox. The humidity here is killing me. (Then I realized it was sent from Kat- in Brazil- so I probably shouldn't complain about it being hot and humid here!) The Sao Paulo card was inside the envelope. I love the envelope idea, I might try something similar to a penpal soon.

 From Filipa in Portugal. Vintage card. The car reminded me a bit of Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.

 Homemade card from 15 year old Anya, in Russia. Very cute. THanks!

 This homemade one was from Estela in Spain. I loved the owls!

    In other quick news:

-Jenny, if you're reading, I'm worried your letter might be lost but I'm holding onto hope that it will arrive here soon

- One of my ChemoAngels graduated out of the program so I just got a new one yesterday. I'm now writing to 2 women- one in Tx and one in OH.

- I start school next week

- Had a speech eval for David today. He's going to need to start going for speech. He has some articulation problems, that I knew about, that should be fixed sooner rather than later. 

     Anything exciting going on for you or your family? 

Last card from Christmas RR

     I realized earlier that I forgot to take a picture of the stuff I sent out today. 1 outgoing postcard went to Japan and 1 letter went to my 2nd ChemoBuddy.
     My mail headed out next is a card to a university student in Taiwan.

 My incoming mail today was the last card in a Secret Christmas Card RR. I sent mine to Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, France and the Netherlands. I received cards from Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, and France. This one, which says "Prettige Kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar" is from Belgium.

Outgoing November mail and random musings

Outgoing mail:

So far my mailbox has been very sad in November. As I read once, send good mail to get good mail. I decided to get ahead in my Postcrossing. Check this out! Outgoing to Sweden, Finland, Italy, China, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Singapore, Belarus, Ukraine and the US.  

  In addition to the Postcrossing cards, there is 1 to a student who has been out sick all week and 1 to a new friend who I have convinced to try Postcrossing! I also have a cards for one Chemo Buddy and an intro letter to another Chemo Buddy as well as a card for his mom. He's 16. I'm actually really excited to be paired with him. Lastly, I'm mailing Missy the book she won in my giveaway. 
    Tomorrow morning I'm going to set up a mail log, kind of like this.  Ashley, I'm still working on your letter. I haven't forgotten you. I think this will greatly help me in the management of papers that come in and our of my house. 

Random musings this week:

1) I while back I misplaced my journal. I don't keep a diary but I do a little work with my Bible reading and devotions in there. I find that I get off track without having it. I need to find it. I won't start a new one because I'm OCD about things like that. 

2) I also realized that I am not myself when I'm not penpalling. Apparently it is very therapeutic to me. :) I really miss feeling like I know what is going on with people. I am friends with many of my pals on Facebook but, truthfully, letter writing is a lot less shallow than reading something quick on Facebook- or writing knowing that every acquaintance you have will also be reading it. 

3) I am lucky to have my students. I ended my day with 15 8th grade boys today who are just truly good kids. There are a few of them that have given me a few gray hairs over the past few years but generally they are very gentlemanly towards me. I have also had some really great conversations with a few 8th grade girls this week. The younger students I have don't know me as well but their enthusiasm when they see me every day makes me smile.  Another student's family (She and her brother sing for me) got my family advance tickets to go see Big Hero 6. How awesome is it that they thought enough about me to consider giving my whole family a night out? I'm really blessed.

4) We had a lockdown drill at school today. I hate that kids in this generation (and teachers) have to get used to things like this and have to actually worry about the issues they do.

5) This week started off really badly. It reminded me about the importance of letting people know how much you care about them. We only get one chance in life. Sometimes the things that you don't say to someone or decide to wait to say might be the words that they have REALLY needed to hear- even if it's nothing important (to you).  Never pass up the opportunity to be the one who spreads kindness.

6) Do yourself a favor and read this post by Hannah Brencher. *Hugs*

    

Check out my cool rooster card

Incoming....

     I received this neat card from Ricardo, who is 13 and from Portugal.   It is the Barcels Rooster. 





  I like this card a lot!

        In other news, my penpalling still stinks. I have been awful about responding in a timely manner but have a bit of explanation when I sit down and actually get the letters out.