I can't believe it's less than two week 'til Christmas! While the weather isn't cooperating, we're going to put up the Christmas tree tomorrow and I'm going to buckle down tonight and watch some 'holiday' movies - I'm not a huge classic holiday film person (mainly because I don't own any) so I'll most likely be watching Love, Actually and Beauty and the Beast (a lot of it is set in winter, hence the holiday-ness haha).
When you're sick for almost a whole month straight, looking at those simple moments that make you smile can make all the difference, because if it weren't for them you would probably spend the whole time in bed, feeling like a zombie. Or feeling sorry for yourself because you haven't gotten any better (which is so counter-productive and just makes you feel worse). I am so grateful for those around me who make each day better. Here are those simple smiles that have been filling up my life lately.
The "Get Well Soon" Package: The Boy came over the other week and said he'd bring me some kind of 'get well soon' package; I did the same thing for him last winter when he was sick a lot due to school stress - except my package was full of Fisherman's Friend and tissues :P The first thing I heard when he hugged me hello was rustling, and for a second I thought they were chips (and since I rarely have 'em, I thought "oooh!"). The chips were actually a bouquet of roses, along with a package of candy and strawberry-kiwi wine (my new favourite). It's probably one of the best packages ever, and was so spontaneous and random and ... ahh, just warmed my heart right up :)
The Grade 8s: It seems a cruel thing, to let you enter into a classroom on random dates in September-October, let you spend four weeks straight with a class, and then take you out completely. I became so attached to my associate teacher and my students during my first teaching block, and it really solidified my love for teaching, that I was dreading my last week with them. While things sprung up here and there that surprised me (i.e., hormones), they were such an amazing group of students.
So when it came to my last day, I prepared an art lesson for them as kind of my 'last message' to them and advice as they move on to high school and bigger and better things. The quote is from Martin Luther King, Jr: "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." Since I did rotary with both grade 8 classes, I got to know 58 students and gave them each a letter of the alphabet that they had to design using typography skills and putting in their own personality. It was supposed to happen during the last two periods of the day, complete with Christmas music and treats.
Turns out, they had a surprise for me earlier on in the day. I went downstairs to heat up my hot cocoa and when I came back upstairs, the other grade 8 teacher said, "You can't come in this classroom, I'll come get you, though" (since both classes were in one room). I could hear them shouting out the 12 Days of Christmas and was a bit bitter that I couldn't join in with them ... and decided to mark instead lol.
Eventually they came to get me and as I entered the room they shouted, "WE'LL MISS YOU!" and enveloped me with a huge group hug and tons of gifts ... they spoiled me rotten (I'm now reading the final book in The Hunger Games thanks to my associate teacher who remembered that that was the only one I hadn't read yet) and were such an unbelievable first class to have.
On the left is a 'thank you' card from one student who asked me what my favourite cartoons were (I confessed they were Pokemon and Sailor Moon haha) and gave me this card with Pikachu in it. On the right is the 'staircase' part of the quote that the students designed. They made my day, my week, and my whole teachers college experience unforgettable.
The Celebrations: That same night, I got together with a group of classmates to celebrate, and since I'm a bit of a hermit when it comes to that, it was a fun night out :) But even better than that was finding out that me and my best friends that I've known since high school would get together this month to do our annual Secret Santa. As time goes on it seems to become harder and harder to meet up with those you care about, even though you still do care. And that only gets worse because time seems to fly by faster as you get older. I am so stoked to get to celebrate with them next week and finally have all five of us reunited!
The Christmas Spirit: While the snow keeps saying 'hello' and then disappearing abruptly, my neighbourhood is surrounded with lights (though it's no Candy Cane Lane from
New Girl - something that I need to marathon with
my sister when we meet up again). My Christmas cards are all sent out and there's just those little things that keep popping up - like not minding the Christmas decorations and music when you're out shopping at a surprisingly quiet time in the mall, or using manipulatives in our math class to make a Christmas tree.
And to complete the Christmas mood, I'm making one of my caffeinated mixes (which I haven't done in a while) and making it holiday-oriented; I'll be blasting it tomorrow when I put up the tree and expect a download up by this upcoming Tuesday!
Now, I have to ask:
What's your remedy to get better when you're sick?
'Cause I need it haha.
And what are your plans for this weekend?
Hope it's a great one! :)
A twenty-something-year old Canadian lady who drinks a cup of coffee a day to keep the 
betterthancoffee@gmail.com | 2012