Rainy Saturday...

Rain trickles down,
My heart beats with each drop.
I find the silence,
So, so sweet.
With each clink,
A new thought comes.
It goes down deep,
As if to complete a dream.

Merry Christmas!

It's official, Christmas has come and gone again this year. On Christmas Eve 'afternoon', I stole away for a few minutes of quiet before loading the car, going to the candlelight Christmas Eve service and on to the family home for what was bound to be loads of fun. During this time, it was very evident to me that I am not spending nearly enough time reflecting and being with my SAVIOR! I really had a lot of soul searching and repairing to deal with. It didn't even cross my mind how much I had been worrying about or carrying as burdens without giving them over to Him. I am about to make a Burden Jar in which I will write on a piece of paper each burden, then place them in the jar signifying my giving them to God and then continually praying for those things that sit in my jar. I feel as though my life requires me to make such a tangible giving of these things to Christ because as much as I'd like to believe that I am giving these things over in prayer.....I'm not! This is what I had come up with during my quiet time on Christmas Eve. It really helped me to focus my heart for the season and just relax because no matter how much everyone tries.....Christmas (and all holidays) bring about many different struggles and tensions.

Christmas Day is always amazing with little children because the magic is still there! You never know every single thing that people are going to get because it's always a surprise. Santa is such a clever man! Some of his gifts rock! My grandma, stepdad, and mom all pitched in to get me my very own snowboard. It's pretty awesome! I'm totally excited and can't wait to use it. The kiddos got many new gifts and I saw some of the most excited faces that I've seen in a long time.

Today has been a day of sorting, cleaning up and figuring out what comes next in life!

Blessings!

Great Balls of Cotton

It is officially snowing cotton balls outside. I can't believe how big they are. I guess it will be a white Christmas after all. I wasn't sure when I looked at the forecast a few days ago. Now they are so big and coming down so fast, I might be buried under snow before I know it. LOL!!!!

Broomball knees....11 days later....trust me....

These are my knees 11 days after playing Broomball. No one seems to think that these are still so bad....they look yellow in the picture but they are worse in person! I know this is random but I think its funny and no one believes me!

BOO PACKERS----GOOOOOOO BEARS!!!!!!

As you know from my previous post, I enjoyed the Bears game this evening but little did you know....it was the coldest game ever played in Bears history and at Soldier Field! All the better for me! I can't believe the fun it is....I'm going to have to do this many more times in my life! The final score was 20-17 Bears!!!!!!!!!!! :)


Here is the preparation for the game.....



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And here is me at the game with Matt......
















I will try to post more pictures tomorrow (today) when I'm not falling asleep because it is 1:34am right now!

GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was amazing! Thanks Antho for the tickets! :)

Getting ready for the CHILL!

Ok, I'm headed to the Bears and Packers rivalry game tonight! I have more than enough gear to wear! :) I will post pictures later of the preparation and the game when I get home or tomorrow morning. It's only supposed to get warmer as the night goes on! :) Maybe by the time the game is over, it will be feeling like -2*F but have an actual temperature of 10*F. WOW! Tell me how amazing that is! I can't wait!

What a gem....

....that was a joke from our little party tonight. It was complete with Charlie Brown Christmas, a game of Upwords, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and many, many rounds of Uno. We had such a blast and can't wait to do it again.

Snow Day.....in Chicago!!!!! What a miracle!

Well, it's officially a snow day. I did not think that was possible in Chicago anymore but apparently it is. I think it's more of an "ice day" but they just call it a snow day. I plan to enjoy the day, being productive and getting ready for the party I'm hosting for some people at church. We are going to watch some Christmas movies and maybe play some games...just time to chill out and de-stress during the chaos of the season. I think it is gonna be a blast! :)

Countdown to Christmas....6 days....

I love Oak Second Grade! and more....

Well, it is true. Last time I wrote it was my birthday and I am still hearing "Happy Last Week Birthday Miss Krieg"....what can be better! Well, today I think I may have topped it. I help with second grade and I feel like all of second grade is my class. Today, the gym teacher had a meeting and who do they call....well, me of course! So I was the sub for all 3 second grades in gym class.....let's just say they thought that was the coolest thing and started hugging me and jumping around....their jaws dropped just like they had seen a pig fly they were so happy! It was a great feeling as I finish up my current term there that the students really did love me and they will miss me!

I just want to leave you with a thought a friend gave me today....

"What does God have in store for you this Christmas?" (and even all year 'round!)

Birthday Thoughts

Well, I am officially a year older as of Thursday! I can't believe how time flies....neither can my parents or grandma or even families I've babysat for! I had an enjoyable birthday. The kids at school were so cute every time they saw me they would be sure to say Happy Birthday, even if they'd said it twenty times already. Then Friday, they continued and said Happy Yesterday Birthday. I felt truly loved by all my students. My co-workers were great too! They had cards and balloons and all sorts of things for me! I also wore two birthday stickers all day long. Some of the kids were guessing how old I was and I got anything from 7 to 75! They also thought I was older than a co-worker because I was taller than them! What simplicity! After work, we had our staff holiday party and enjoyed one another's company for a couple of hours. We had also had a staff holiday lunch so I just ate and partied all day long! Then I went with the fam to Roundhead's to have taco bar, pizza, and watch the intense Bears game! I got a 'W' for my birthday....even though it was in overtime! I had lots of fun this week! I had a great card from my sister and she wrote some really neat things in it....if I get permission from her to post it, I will.