So, like most of us, I have been not wonderful about keeping up on my blog.

In my last post, I mentioned Analisa had left for Tanzania, well she is back in the states and will be back to R apartment tomorrow! I have learned a lot about myself the past month, livin solo in Spokane. And while I CAN do it, and COULD do it, I have no desire to ever live in this city through another winter, especially if it were by myself, ever again. I had great company though. Bill and Keith came over for weekly, some times more frequent, for dinner, which now requires corn bread at all meals.








School has been going well, my kids are FINALLY back in the swing of things. The first couple weeks after returning from winter break were ROUGH. Felt defeated many times, have lost 3 more students, and possibly another one on Monday. But this week for the first time I felt like they started to remember our routines and put them back into practice. They just make me so proud. It's such a weird concept having to teach them compassion, helpfulness, things that most kids learn from home, that these kids just aren't getting. My favorite quote of the week? "Ms. Baylis... is it okay to use the word nipple in kindergarten??" Now, I couldn't figure out why that would ever be in context, but I calmly told them: Nope, that's not a kindergarten word, thanks for asking! We are a little family and I love them so much.

My curiosity for where next year might take me, continues to be on my mind, but I trust God has a plan, and while I can think about and start to take action on some thoughts, I don't have to make any decisions today, tomorrow, or in the next few months for that matter. It's still looking like Seattle or Kona btw.

That's enough reading for one day!!

my favorite shows are on Netflix on demand.

You guys i'm just not into blogging right now!!!
I'm going with the bullet format:

-Analisa left for Tanzania, I miss her but I know she is where she should be :) The apartment is a little messier, and a little quieter, but i'm holdin down the fort quite well! Bill and Keith are coming for Tuesday dinner and Didiers this week which will be fun.

-Being back with my kids was good this week. They were totally out of routine (weren't we all????) so it took some time getting back into it, but those kids completely have my heart. My biggest challenge has been protecting myself, my mind and my heart, by not getting too involved in the horrible things happening to these kids. Did a number and letter ID check and my kids are SOARING in their learning. I am so proud of them.

- Had lunch with some old housemates today (Kaylee and Dana) which was fun. Just like the good old days. So fun hearing about Dana's engagement. Kory is a stud. So happy for them!

-I start Russian class next week! Really excited for that.

-Made a new friend at West Central tonight (A volunteer, not a resident :)) She is from Portland, when to George Fox and we have some mutual friends, and she doesnt know a soul in Spokane. Just moved up this weekend, so i'm excited to show her around the city and have a new friend! Don't worry Analisa, no one will EVER replace you!

That's about it! Red shirt is still loyal at the gym, haven't seen Bill2 in a while.

At Life Center we are talking about PAUSING. I challenge all of you to attempt to PAUSE this week with me. Pause because God paused. He tells us to, and because we can.

Much love. PEace out.

It is so wonderful to be home. And Even though I miss my kindergartners a lot, December was basically useless eduation wise with many anticipations and constant interruptions. But, we had fun being festive, and were all happy to have a break come Friday at 3:01.

I was able to stop in the Tri-Cities and have dinner with Lindsay and her family which was WONDERFUL! So good to see them. Great to see my Lindsay and have a wonderful place to stop. Because literally, I thought I was going to fall asleep.

Saturday when I got home was our neighbors riverboat party. They used to live in my neighborhood but they moved to a houseboat on the river, and every year boats drive down the willamette river all decorated with christmas lights and such. Always a fun night.

Sunday was my family's annual Christmas party which is always a day of preparing-cooking and clearning to get ready for the whole neighborhood and all of our friends. I hid at about 7:45 in my parents room and watched Christmas movies. I couldn't do the same questions of "hows teaching, hows spokane?" so I bailed.

Monday dad and I started our venture to find me a new car! Basically all of Monday and Wednesday were spent looking at 3 different cars. I was very anxious but finally made a decision on the very first one we looked at, which happened to be the first one dad and I both saw online, when he was in Portland and I was in Spokane. Meant to be!

AND! MONDAY I GOT TO GO TO A BLAZERS GAME WITH BARB'S FAMILY!! THEY WERE SO GENEROUS AND BOUGHT ME A TICKET TO GO WITH THEIR FAMILY AND I WAS IN HEAVEN. We were in the closest section and I could just about reach my boys. I saw tons of Whitworth people and people from my highschool! Great Portland reunion. Thanks Liggett family!

Now we just prepare for Christmas. Our family has soooo many traditions and it is oh so fun. I'll put up pictures someday. My computer won't connect to my parents internet soooo it makes life interesting!

great week.

Seems as if I have been a bit absent from the ol blogarooni.

Highlights from this past week?

1) Goodbye Jimmy dinner with Analisa, Keith, Bill, and of course...Jimmy.
2) Church today, seeing Zach's parents, 2 teachers from my elementary school that I didn't know go to my church, having coffee with profe before the service, and sitting with Jimmy and Bill.
3)Danika came to town! Fun night at O'Dorety's and time with Analisa, Danika, Joanna and Kevin.
4)Dinner at Josh's parents house last night. Great conversations with his parents.
5) West Central tonight, visiting a house that I have been going to since November 2008.
6) Caroling at church with Josh, Bill and Analisa on Wednesday night. Lots of fun and Pastor Joe was hilarious! Couldn't remember the words to songs!
7) Great times with my kindergarten kiddos. Getting ready for Christmas, basically we have thrown academics out the window because lets face it, they can't focus this week!


Excitements coming up?
1) Spending the night with Lindsay in the Tri-Cities Friday night.
2) Portland on Saturday until late December/Early January.
3) Christmas boats Saturday night with the neighborhood.
4) Family Christmas party on Sunday.
5) 2 beautiful weeks with my family and friends back home.

I am continually reminded how blessed I am with the people and circumstances I am surrounded with. What more could I ask for?

Thanksgiving fun for everyone!

I had a wonderful time in Portland.

Thursday consisted of lots of family time, cooking with mom, watching christmas parades/movies with the fam, and then the thanksgiving event!







Friday mom and I braved Target and the Columbia outlet!!! And starbucks of course. Had a wonderful day shopping with mom. Then watched the UofO football game, the blazers game, and the BSU football game. Crazy!

Saturday was Christmas tree day with lunch with the neighbors. We found a great tree!! Then I visited baby quinn and Ruby who are SO BIG NOW!!!!!!

Then I hung out with my hold highschool d group!!





Overall, a great weekend. Finished off with a wonderful breakfast with team Baylis.. I love being home.

Analisa and I returned to soooooo much snow. We are waiting for a snow day!!!

loving the season.

Here I am, sitting in Starbucks with Analisa, drinking peppermint hot chocolate, listening to Christmas (it's allowed in Spokane before Thanksgiving because of the snow), and doing lesson plans for the next two weeks.

Thursday morning I awoke to find a bit of snow outside. I cried, but then I got over it. It was just a tiny bit and it melted. I decided I'm ok with it, as long as it doesn't:
a) inhibit my driving abilities
b) stop my trip to Portland on Wednesday.

Being completely and udderly eager to go home later this week would be an extreme understatement. I am in major need of family time, in my cozy home, with all of our holiday traditions underway. In the Baylis family, we live by traditions. Thanksgiving weekend traditions include: Thanksgiving dinner with the neighborhood, shopping with mom on Friday, Christmas tree hunting and McMenimans with the neighbors on Saturday, and since i've been away from home, crazily decorating the house Saturday/Sunday. I am hoping to fit in a trip to the columbia outlet with mom, and sushi with dad, along with visiting many of the families I babysit for. Baby Quinn is growing too quickly.

This week has been interesting at school, we have had half days because of parent-teacher conferences. I have actually had a great turn out of parents which I wasn't expecting. They have definitely been overwhelming and honestly a bit depressing. It breaks my heart to see these broken families, and the relationships they hold. On the positive note, my students have made WONDERFUL progress since the beginning of the year, and even if no one else is, I AM SO PROUD OF EACH OF THEM!!!! I do have a few parents who share my proud feeling, and work with their students, which is so wonderful to see.

Last night Analisa and I had a roommate date night, including dinner at a new burger restraunt (Rusty Roofs). The food was good at the time, but after I ate it I felt like I had eaten a brick, not burger and fries. We then journied to RedBox to rent a movie, which we both fell asleep in my bed watching, after we had drug the TV into my room, stacked on a few boxes, as always, keeping it classy.

I hope this almost December month finds you thankful and joyful.

I am back from a much needed vacation to sunny california, and have returned to good old spokane. Thankful it is not snowy!! It is great to be back in R apartment with my lovely Analisa, and was so good to be back with my kids today. Missed them! I have such a hard time leaving them!

I've been a bit homesick lately, and am so excited to go to Portland next Wednesday. My one question phone conversation quickly turns into a 45 minute chat with my parents. I love them so much. So lucky to have parents that are my friends and support me.

Had a fun day at kindergarten, one of the other teachers had a birthday and brought chinese food in for us four K teachers. I LOVE my team so much. They are incredible.

Well, it's 835 and I just decided to make potatoes. Healthy life choice? no. Delicous? yes. living the dream.