Words

Hi all. 

I thought it'd be fun to write up a list of words that I always have to think twice about when I am writing them :)

Receive( I want to write it as recieve)

Receipt (again, the ie mix up)

Response (I always want to write it responce)

Practice (I always want to write it: practise)

Sentence (I want to spell it sentense)

I don't know...do any of you have words that you've spelled a thousand times but still have to second guess yourself??

Also of my "miscues" as we call them in educational terms make sense, but sometimes I think...seriously? I have to think about how to spell a word even now?

Blessings,
Lesya

A New Perspective

Hi all. 

The title of this post doesn't match up to the content..it's nothing huge or life changing, but nonetheless, a learning experience.

My professor had us write lesson plans and teach them. She told us she was more concerned with our writing of the lesson plan, than how it went. 

Well I thought to myself, how could a planned lesson go wrong if you've thought it through, etc. 

I had to teach fractions. All the students are at different levels so I had to start with the basics, but make sure the students who were at the higher levels weren't bored. 

Anyway, I started teaching and I first thing a child said to me was, "you're going too fast." I started getting anxious and said "thank you for letting me know." 

I used a brownie batch to explain the fractions, but then gave them little "pizzas" to practice. Well, I think that is what caused the confusion. I should have stayed with one shape. 

I also used a trapezoid so that they can represent 3rds in addition to the pizzas. 

 I looked at the classroom teacher halfway through and just wanted to cry! I felt like I was "failing" the kids and I haven't ever experienced this. After several examples the kids got it but I did not get a chance to do what a planned, such as think. pair. share. etc. 

I told the teacher that I did such a horrible job, etc. She didn't think so. I guess I did not look nervous or stressed at all up there-which is good! Her point of view was that: the lesson was clear and concise-I thought the complete opposite, and I did a great job. She told me to stop being so critical of myself. I can't really help that. I have high expectations of myself, for teaching at least. I guess I felt very unorganized during the lesson and the kids had less background knowledge than I thought.

So, this has taught me yes I will have lessons that while I'm teaching, I will want to run and hide from, but standing back up and learning from them is what's going to make you a great teacher. I have been reflecting on it since Monday, and can't seem to "let it go" but I'll only grow from it.

Blessings,

Lesya 

Teacher's Conference

Hi all.

Another week has passed by...for me that means that there are 2 more weeks of school left! 

Today Olga and I went to an Education Conference which was held at our college. It was great!! It was so motivational and informative. One of the keynote speakers said that his philosophy on education is: "I don't care if you learn anything. I just want you to have fun." He is a great teacher-hence keynote speaker.

Anyway, I was reminded of that as I began planning my lesson tonight. I was (and am, still working on it) enjoying the planning process. I just love it! There are so many different ways you can teach in my case, fractions, and it is just so exciting coming up with your own ideas and then having the opportunity to teach them. Then I get feedback on how I taught. I hope I am always so enthusiastic about my career because right now I am simply loving it and thank God that he blessed me with a love for, and desire to teach my little friends-the children.

The downside of going to the conference, then having a portrait picture(s) appointment today is that I have so much homework and I do not know how I am going to complete it all by Tuesday. I know it'll all work out, but I am starting to feel exhausted. 

Tomorrow  Sunday School. Hopefully I don't forget to take some pictures so that I can blog about it because I just love teaching there too!

Blessings,

Lesya

Reflecting on God's Goodness

Hi all.

God is just soo good. This week especially. I was thinking so much about His merciful hand. Then it got me thinking, well how would I react when things do not go according to plan? Recently I have felt like God has just been working everything out so well for me and I don't know-it becomes so easy to praise God for everything. But, what if He throws something unexpected along the way? Kind of like that car accident I had to go through-which clearly was a bump in the road. I don't know. I know that I am in God's hands, but it is so hard for me to accept God's goodness in my life. I feel soo unworthy. I know I am his child, but still. I guess for me the question is why is God so good to ME? I know He is good, no matter the circumstances we are in but I have just been so humbled by His goodness.

I don't know if I am making any sense, but one thing I know is that if you abide in Christ, He will abide in you, even the storms, or the "stress" in our life will seem like nothing. 

Just a little testimony: I was so "stressed" about this week. I had so much to do and had very little time to do everything during the weekend. During the weekdays, I had to sub so I was anxious about not studying for my exams enough, and doing well on my papers. I raised my hand in church on Sunday basically to ask for prayer for the week concerning worldly things: school. Anyway, everything worked out so well. I myself, was shocked with how well I did on all my assignments/exams. All glory to God-for I certainly did not study enough. Even in my busyness I made it a priority to spend time with God everyday and God made everything seem so simple, and worked everything out. In this I learned, no matter how busy you get during the week, trust God, and MAKE time to spend with Him in the word and prayer. Life is so much easier this way!  I know this is something we all know, but for me at least, I constantly need reminders.

Blessings,

Lesya

Life.

Hi all!

Life has been soo busy lately. I haven't had a chance to sit down and blog lately-partly being I am basically living at my aunt's house this week, and partly last week. I basically leave here early and get here late because of school and subbing and placement but it still causes less organization in my days.

The Nurse. The Teacher, The Medical Technologist.

Anyway, this past Friday we had the North Carolina Youth over. Irina, Tanya, and I matched so we took this picture.

Saturday was my brother's engagement party! I told my parents good thing they have boys, because all we have to do is bring a cake with us (we also made poppy-seed rolls) but anyway, this was a poppy-seed cake as well and my wonderful aunt Nina came up with the idea of sugared rose petals to decorate. So we all worked on that part Saturday morning. Then we went with Roman to buy flowers and things like that. I didn't get any pictures from the engagement on my phone so they won't be uploaded. They made sooo much food and obviously it takes days to prepare-that's why I told my parents about being "lucky" to have more guys than girls. Plus, all 3 of us sisters are so separated in age that hopefully my parents won't feel overwhelmed with "daughter" weddings-although all weddings are a blessing!

Andrew and Leah before the engagement. They are growing up so fast. Leah always said she didn't want to go to school, but lately she's been saying that she wants to. One more year for her. Andrew is starting kindergarten in the fall.

This week I subbed in the 5th grade classroom. The kids were so great. I am learning that I am loving every grade level. God, please bless me with a teaching job I love! Tomorrow I sub for the 2nd graders. They are great, but are a handful. I am looking forward to it tomorrow as with any teaching experiences.

Blessings,

Lesya

My Favorite Right Now

Hi all.

Sometimes I go through phases where I find a particular food to be soo good for a few months. 

This time the food is:

Simply spaghetti with pasta sauce and crackers on the side. A little Parmesan cheese I like in there too :) I wonder how long it'll be until I can't look at this meal...

Blessings,

Lesya

Bullets of Randomness

Hi everyone.

There has been so much little things that have been happening that I'd like to remember so I'll bullet what's been going on. You'll probably be bored because it is my little life, but maybe you're like me and like to know what's going on in your friends' lives, in that case, read on.

Where to start??

• No goals for April, except to finish off the semester well. I'm devoting all my time to school work. I have 3 1/2 weeks left! (I don't have any exams during exam week, except we come in to meet our pen pals.) After this, one more year. I can see an end to this "season of life" and I don't mind! 

• I can say that I am a victim of credit card fraud :( Thank God the banks track this and Chase let me know right away and will send me a new card. I could not buy something in the Brockport Dining hall, and a few hours later shop at a Home Depot in Washington.

•  Y'all know that I tutor. Well lately, my little boys haven't been feeling like doing any work! I always bring them prizes, and if they finish their work, they get one-at least that was how I set it up to work. In reality, I come and they almost cry if they didn't finish their work because they know they won't get a prize so I tell them not to worry "you'll get a prize anyway! It's okay, I understand." Well there I went from being strict and nice to simply nice. They started slacking even more. This past week I did not give them a prize because their mom said not to because again they didn't finish their work. I feel like for the past few weeks they haven't been enjoying our time together, and it makes me sad, all because we start off on a "um Lesya, I didn't finish my homework note..." 

•  Moving on...last week I slept so well. I fell asleep in less than an hour and woke up to my alarm, not before. I thought, wow this is great. I spoke too soon. Monday night I slept over Nina's (because her husband was working and she doesn't like being alone) and did not sleep all night! At 3 am I fell asleep, but woke up shortly after, this continued for the rest of the night. Slept for a half hour, then woke up. I missed my first class to get some sleep in the morning, and even then couldn't sleep. I felt sleep deprived the rest of the day but made it through my night class. It was the worse in my 3:30 class where my eyes were just closing! It feels like torture a little bit. I have stopped drinking teas and coffee. Last night I did fall asleep quickly but constantly woke up in the middle of the night.

•  Even more random...I have been e-mailing one of my friends. That is how we "talk" and I love it. It's so cool to in the middle of the school day, open your e-mail to someone's message-so different from texting and we have such great conversations. I am thankful for that.  

•  I know I write about Leah so much. Today I told my mom that "you just don't know how much I love her." She is just the sweetest, smartest, cutest thing! Usually I don't see her all day, and by the time I come home I miss her so much. Today she told my mom,  "I love Lesya." (Maybe because I didn't sleep at home for the past two nights. I love hearing that :) Today she told me "Lesya we need to go to the store because I need to buy a chair and a table because I don't have one." Oh boy, not another Lena. 

• Lena. Oh Lena. This is what is on her list of "what she has to have" desires right now. Color Duck Tape. A Love PINK sweater. A North Face sweater.  Pink Legos.

• Another thing. I am currently reading through Genesis and the story or Joseph is just so eye opening every single time I read it. He had so much to complain about, but he didn't, at least we don't read of it. It did not seem that he pitied himself in his situation. I just think that story is just so powerful. 

• While in NYC Nick sent me a picture of this:

Earlier that week my Mom casually mentioned if I wanted chicks. Nope nope nope. Well over the weekend they got them. Now they are under a light in a box thing and everyone just loves them. I don't really care for them. My mom even loves them. I guess we got them for fun and probably won't keep them for being our egg supply, but we'll see.

New York City with Family

Hi everyone...

For Easter this year I went to NYC to visit my cousin Lenka and Greg. I went with Yulia, Natashka, and their parents. Victor came late Friday night as well.  It was such a nice break from "life" and being able to celebrate a beautiful Easter elsewhere.

We arrived Friday at lunch time

Lenka told us to make sure we were hungry when we arrived. She prepared a wonderful meal for us-I still tell her it is so cute watching her doing house "wifey" things.

We also met their dog Cloe. Y'all, I'm not a big fan of dogs, ok I'm not a fan at all but this little one was so sweet. At one time my cousins Yulia and Victor were talking loud and she got scared and kept standing next to me. I got up to see if she would follow-she did. I guess I am starting to have some compassionate feelings towards dogs. This dog didn't jump or bark-maybe that's why I liked her. Later that evening we saw an Easter play at Brooklyn Tabernacle. It was beautiful.

Saturday we had breakfast, then talked and such. We had bbq for lunch and it was so so good.

Saturday evening the guys went to the car show and us girls went shopping and stopped by Bryant park. 

I really like Yulia's "New York" outfit.

Cousins :) We had so much fun on the car ride there and back, oh and of course late night laughing-not letting anybody in the house sleep!

That evening Natashka and I had strawberries while watching the cooking show- Chopped. 

  Sunday we went to the New Jersey church and celebrated Easter with them. We ate lunch at the church and headed home. 

Random:I was looking at NYC trip pictures from last summer and I looked so different with long hair and straight bangs. Looking through all my pictures I feel like I always look so different.

Andrew Turns 5 Today

Hi all!

My youngest brother is now 5 years old. He was so excited when he woke up, knowing it was his birthday. 

We had a birthday celebration for him that I basically had to miss because of tutoring and then homework so I do not have any pictures. However, we made a pool cake which looked so nice. I also made lemon brownies which were pretty good. 

Aside from the party, Andrew is such a smart, silly boy. He is all boy these days and loves being cool. 

He is such a good big brother and protector to his little sister. He is as sly/clever as fox. We know his ways now :) 

My sweet little Andrew boy.

Looking back at my March Goals

Hi friends.
Thoughts on my March goals are in red.

My goals for this month are:

Read half of the book called The Holy Spirit From Genesis To Revelation by J. Swaggart
 It's a study guide book and very much a great resource. -I only read a few pages into it :( sadly did not have much time

Type up 10 Kid's Worship Songs into our song binder.
Last month I found many, now I have to put them in the correct format. I almost reached this one. I didn't get ten, but came close to it-in the next few days I will surely finish with this.

Don't do any more shopping. 

This may sound silly, but it is what it is. Last time I bought something was February 3rd, so I almost made it the whole month. I tried!

Listen to a Times Square Sermon. The sermon kept freezing on me but I did listen to a youtube video sermon on being a "Godly Woman" that Luba recommended to me.

Memorize 4 Bible verses.  

Last month I failed, and memorized 3. This month I failed even more-memorizing only 1. I had the second one but never began to memorize it. I'm not giving up though. It's just that during the week it gets so hectic and busy and if it isn't a "priority" in a sense then it won't get done.

Compile "a bunch" of worship/songs appropriate for youth prayer. Thanks to the help of cousin Ira-family what can I say-(she had a little booklet of worship songs) I have found many good ones to use. Still have to go back for the Ukrainian ones in there. 

Exercise my back every night before bed (for 5 minutes?)
I'm not flexiblel at all! I always thought about exercising it but didn't really "get to it." Honestly I kept on forgetting!! When I was almost falling asleep, I'd remember so this will continue on in April.

Some goals from last month will be on going such as eating healthy, drinking water, etc.

I have spring break in March so hopefully I will be accomplishing more than is on this list. I have a few other things on the back of my mind.- Spring Break was busier than I imagined but I did not waste time during it :)

Blessings,
Lesya

Happy Birthday Inna-a day late

Hi everyone :) 

It was Miss. Inna's birthday Saturday March 31st. 

This was back in Inna's college days. We had so much fun hanging out in our small college town. 

It was during school that I got to know her personally and she is just such a wonderful person. I don't know how to describe her. She definitely has it all together ;)  

She is girly and very much a "high class" girl, yet she is so simple. It was in Florida when I realized that she did not take hours getting ready, she went with the flow and had such a kind heart. We had so many fun talks and laughs late into the night. She is just an easy person to be with.

Being goofy...

Inna is also so generous-and I learned that even before she became a full time nurse.

I wish I had pictures from her surprise birthday last night-she looked gorgeous as always.  

There is so much more to say, but I'm on a time crunch, and I don't know how to put into words everything about this girl. Her personality is just beautiful, to sum it up.

God bless You, Inna!

Blessings,

Lesya