One of my special education classes was invited to watch a local special education class put on a Christmas program for us. They performed colored bell ringing. There were approximately 12 students who have mild to moderate disabilities. Some with asperger's/autism and some with cognitive and learning disabilities. It was so beautiful! The teacher holds up cards with colored ovals on them during a song playing from a cd. When the students see the color on the card that matches the color of the bell they have, they ring it like crazy! Some were very enthusiastic about it and some needed a little extra encouragement. They were all so adorable and happy to share their hard work with us. This sort of activity is great for students with this range of disabilities because it isn't too difficult and it sounds great no matter how they ring their bell.
What a joy this children are in the lives of their families and schools and everyone they meet. I know they have their difficult days, but they teach us so much about life and the creative ability of God. I have learned not to take my abilities for granted and to adore those who have a life that is far more difficult than mine. Those bells were a joy to my ears and to my heart.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Wow
Wow, I had such a great weekend with Alyssa! We laughed so much - the ultimate ab workout :) Friday, Alyssa had her "visit day" with tours and meetings with nursing students and the track coach, and goofing off of course. While, I had a meeting and got to assess local preschoolers on their knowledge and recognition of words. They were sooo cute! But, we did meet in between some of her events during the day and ate at the commons together for lunch. Friday night we went to Pizza Ranch for supper with Scott and watched a hockey game :) We also got Princess Diaries from the library and conlcuded our night watching that movie with Merissa and our teddy bears :)
Saturday, I had another meeting in the morning and Alyssa managed to sleep in until 10:30 :) Then we went to play "raquetball". LOL It was pretty funny! We laughed A LOT! AND, it snowed ALL day! It snowed hard for a while too, big, fluffly snowflakes like Michigan snow. It was my first snow of the year! and it was beautiful. We had planned to go to the basketball game in the afternoon but it got cancelled because of all the snow. So we had to make our own fun :) We went to Culver's for supper and picked up Bridesmaids from the Redbox to watch later. We goofed off for a while, watched our movie, made snowangels, and made Christmas countdowns :)
Sunday, I had to let her go home :( She left a little before 7:00 this morning, on some pretty slippery roads. The girls stuffed themselves back into the vehicle ready to make the 11 hour trip back to Michigan.
It is such a blessing to have a sister that I am so close to and that we get along so well, most of the time :) This weekend was such a great bonding experience for us to be able to just hang out like buds and talk about everything, look out for eachother, and laugh our heads off at the most ridiculous things. I was so sad to see her go. BUT, I will be home in approximately 10 days :) and I will be home for almost a whole MONTH with no homework to think about; only family and the holidays and soaking up all the blessings of home and the love given to me by those whom God has placed into my life. I just have to survive these last few days of classes :)
Love ALWAYS,
Aubrey
Saturday, I had another meeting in the morning and Alyssa managed to sleep in until 10:30 :) Then we went to play "raquetball". LOL It was pretty funny! We laughed A LOT! AND, it snowed ALL day! It snowed hard for a while too, big, fluffly snowflakes like Michigan snow. It was my first snow of the year! and it was beautiful. We had planned to go to the basketball game in the afternoon but it got cancelled because of all the snow. So we had to make our own fun :) We went to Culver's for supper and picked up Bridesmaids from the Redbox to watch later. We goofed off for a while, watched our movie, made snowangels, and made Christmas countdowns :)
Sunday, I had to let her go home :( She left a little before 7:00 this morning, on some pretty slippery roads. The girls stuffed themselves back into the vehicle ready to make the 11 hour trip back to Michigan.
It is such a blessing to have a sister that I am so close to and that we get along so well, most of the time :) This weekend was such a great bonding experience for us to be able to just hang out like buds and talk about everything, look out for eachother, and laugh our heads off at the most ridiculous things. I was so sad to see her go. BUT, I will be home in approximately 10 days :) and I will be home for almost a whole MONTH with no homework to think about; only family and the holidays and soaking up all the blessings of home and the love given to me by those whom God has placed into my life. I just have to survive these last few days of classes :)
Love ALWAYS,
Aubrey
Thursday, December 1, 2011
December?!
Today is the first day of December and I STILL haven't seen any snow! However, I did wake up to a forecast predicting snow on Saturday :) and little patches of frosty ice in the cracks of the sidewalk. It has been so unseasonably warm this year but it looks like things might finally change :) This winter I am looking forward to snowboarding with the family as I do every year, baking Christmas cookies at Grandma's, snuggling up with a good book in front of the fireplace, holding and sipping a mug of hot chocolate to warm up my cold hands and body, and winning our Gingerbread house contest once again :) I can't wait to be home again without any homework to worry about, just family and all the joys the Christmas season brings.
Today my joy is ALYSSA! who is on her way to Dordt as we speak. She is coming on a bus trip with some girls from school on a campus visit. I can't wait to show her everything I love about Dordt and all the friends I have met and talk about so much. I am looking forward to late nights, and lots of laughs :) Tonight is our weekly roommate dinner and we are going to the Chilli Bash at Casey's Bakery and Alyssa gets to come hang out with us. And I have no idea what we will find to do the rest of the weekend but I'm sure we will come up with something :) and I think I'll take her to class with me tomorrow. Wish her luck! haha jk. My classes tomorrow are pretty laid back and I think she'll have fun.
Today my joy is ALYSSA! who is on her way to Dordt as we speak. She is coming on a bus trip with some girls from school on a campus visit. I can't wait to show her everything I love about Dordt and all the friends I have met and talk about so much. I am looking forward to late nights, and lots of laughs :) Tonight is our weekly roommate dinner and we are going to the Chilli Bash at Casey's Bakery and Alyssa gets to come hang out with us. And I have no idea what we will find to do the rest of the weekend but I'm sure we will come up with something :) and I think I'll take her to class with me tomorrow. Wish her luck! haha jk. My classes tomorrow are pretty laid back and I think she'll have fun.
Monday, November 28, 2011
10 Days of Thankfulness: Day 9 & 10
Ooops! I was doing so well!
Tuesday - Day 9:
Tuesday I got to go shopping with Mom and Grandma DeBoer. I was thankful for soup on Tuesday :) We went to the 8th Street Grille for lunch in Holland before some shopping of course. The soup there is so delicious. I would have to put soup on the top of my list of my favorite foods especially on a cold fall afternoon. I was also thankful for smiles that I can share with family and friends.
Wednesday - Day 10:
Wednesday I went shopping with Grandma Kloosterhouse and Mom and Alyssa for UNDERWEAR! I am SO thankful for underwear :) Each Christmas we get new underwear in our stockings at Grandma's house and it is always something I look forward to oddly enough. I LOVE fresh new underwear. It gets worn a lot so it is always nice to have brand new ones to add to the collection so I can throw away the old ones :) lol
Which brings us to today, Monday, back at school again after a long ride. I am sitting in my appartment trying to find something to be joyful about... I had such a great break at home relaxing with family and enjoying the comforts of home. And now, I am back in my little appartment finishing up some last minute homework and trying to find motivation to finish out these last few weeks before I get to return home once again for the Holidays.
Hmmm... right now I am finding joy in feeling refreshed. I had a busy week at home running around with Mom, Alyssa, Gram K and Granny D, Nick, and Scott, but I had so much time just to sit and relax and enjoy being in the comfort of my HOME. Now I can confidently say that I am refreshed and "ready" for the whatever these next weeks will bring. I may not have gotten done everything I wanted to while I was home, but I am refreshed enough to tough out these next couple weeks and prepare myself for the crazy wonderfulness of Christmas!!!
Next on my list is a Christmas countdown :)
Love always, Aubs
Tuesday - Day 9:
Tuesday I got to go shopping with Mom and Grandma DeBoer. I was thankful for soup on Tuesday :) We went to the 8th Street Grille for lunch in Holland before some shopping of course. The soup there is so delicious. I would have to put soup on the top of my list of my favorite foods especially on a cold fall afternoon. I was also thankful for smiles that I can share with family and friends.
Wednesday - Day 10:
Wednesday I went shopping with Grandma Kloosterhouse and Mom and Alyssa for UNDERWEAR! I am SO thankful for underwear :) Each Christmas we get new underwear in our stockings at Grandma's house and it is always something I look forward to oddly enough. I LOVE fresh new underwear. It gets worn a lot so it is always nice to have brand new ones to add to the collection so I can throw away the old ones :) lol
Which brings us to today, Monday, back at school again after a long ride. I am sitting in my appartment trying to find something to be joyful about... I had such a great break at home relaxing with family and enjoying the comforts of home. And now, I am back in my little appartment finishing up some last minute homework and trying to find motivation to finish out these last few weeks before I get to return home once again for the Holidays.
Hmmm... right now I am finding joy in feeling refreshed. I had a busy week at home running around with Mom, Alyssa, Gram K and Granny D, Nick, and Scott, but I had so much time just to sit and relax and enjoy being in the comfort of my HOME. Now I can confidently say that I am refreshed and "ready" for the whatever these next weeks will bring. I may not have gotten done everything I wanted to while I was home, but I am refreshed enough to tough out these next couple weeks and prepare myself for the crazy wonderfulness of Christmas!!!
Next on my list is a Christmas countdown :)
Love always, Aubs
Monday, November 21, 2011
10 Days of Thankfulness: Day 8
QUIET! Today I am thankful for quiet. I got to go sit in the middle of the woods with daddy tonight. We went hunting out at Grandma's house. It was so quiet we could hear squirrels bouncing through the trees. I go to soak up everything that I seem to miss. I am constantly surrounded by noise wherever I go that it was so nice to just sit and be with my dad enjoying the silence around me. So today I was thankful for the quiet where I could think and catch up my thoughts with the life that is going on around me.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
10 Days of Thankfulness: Day 5, 6, & 7
I've been slacking a bit, but I have good reasons.
First, Friday was a little stressful since I was finishing homework due on Monday and Tuesday so that I could COME HOME!! Friday I was thankful for the feeling of excitement :) Feelings are something I am not typicaly thankful for but on Friday I was definately thankful that I could feel excitement. I was SOOO excited to come home! Me, Merissa, and Barry Dykstra loaded my gold sunfire packed with clothes, dirty laundry, and pop cans after classes and headed for home. We arrived around 3:00 Saturday morning. Can you imaginea life in which you could not feel anything?? Not the joy of seeing the Hudsonville exit, or the anticipation of pulling into your drivway, rushing into the arms of your parents, and flopping into bed after a long day. I'm so thankful I have feelings :)
Second, Saturday consisted of surprising Alyssa over breakfast, pumpkin pancakes, shopping with dad and visiting mom at work in Holland, and going to see Alyssa's last performance of Bye Bye Birdie. It was so cute! I laughed a.l.o.t.! So, Saturday I was thankful for theater. I have always loved going to plays and musicals. It is even more fun when you know the people performing. All the students did such a great job! I am also going to see the Wizard of Oz at the Civic Theater over break with my family. Can't Wait!
Third, brings me to today. I get to spend a lazy afternoon with my family (minus Nick because he is hunting in Wyoming :( What more could I ask for. Today I am thankful for spending a Sunday at HOME
First, Friday was a little stressful since I was finishing homework due on Monday and Tuesday so that I could COME HOME!! Friday I was thankful for the feeling of excitement :) Feelings are something I am not typicaly thankful for but on Friday I was definately thankful that I could feel excitement. I was SOOO excited to come home! Me, Merissa, and Barry Dykstra loaded my gold sunfire packed with clothes, dirty laundry, and pop cans after classes and headed for home. We arrived around 3:00 Saturday morning. Can you imaginea life in which you could not feel anything?? Not the joy of seeing the Hudsonville exit, or the anticipation of pulling into your drivway, rushing into the arms of your parents, and flopping into bed after a long day. I'm so thankful I have feelings :)
Second, Saturday consisted of surprising Alyssa over breakfast, pumpkin pancakes, shopping with dad and visiting mom at work in Holland, and going to see Alyssa's last performance of Bye Bye Birdie. It was so cute! I laughed a.l.o.t.! So, Saturday I was thankful for theater. I have always loved going to plays and musicals. It is even more fun when you know the people performing. All the students did such a great job! I am also going to see the Wizard of Oz at the Civic Theater over break with my family. Can't Wait!
Third, brings me to today. I get to spend a lazy afternoon with my family (minus Nick because he is hunting in Wyoming :( What more could I ask for. Today I am thankful for spending a Sunday at HOME
Thursday, November 17, 2011
10 Days of Thankfulness: Day 4
Today I am thankful for time. Now that soccer is done, I have had so much time to myself. Time to catch up with friends, time to sleep, time to do homeowrk, time to meet friends for lunch, and TIME TO GO SEE BREAKING DAWN AT MIDNIGHT! Sometimes I wish I could freeze time so I have time to soak up all the important moments in my life. However, this week I am thankful that it FLEW BY. The weekend is almost here and there are more surprises to come. Time is a funny thing. There never seems to be enough of it at the same time it seems to pass us by. And nonetheless, I am thankful for all the time God has given me and I hope I never take it for granted.
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