Spring Inspiration

During my time as a student teacher, I threw a poetry party as a reward for my third graders for filling up their "cool bean" jar. It was something that my cooperating teacher started with them as an incentive for good behavior--they got to throw a few beans in the jar if they got caught doing the right thing. Anyways, I wrote a poem for the pink blossoms in the courtyard, but did not actually get a chance to read it. Here's the poem and here's the tree.



Pink Blossom

Bright pink blossom
The stubbornness of life
And hope
That won't be quieted
By dismal gray days

All of the sudden it bursts forth
In beauty
Untamed and uninhibited
Despite the troubles all around it
Despite the winter barely melted
Despite the wars and woes around us
It's beauty pierces through
In the midst of it all

My heart is quieted within me
And I cannot quell the hope that has awakened there
I cannot quench
This thirst for life within me
Though in a short amount of time
It falls
***

My students were also inspired by meeting Mr. Josh, and wrote a few excellent poems for him. Here are some of those :)

JOSH plus Mrs. Hong

His name is Josh
He moved from Tywong
He married a girl
Her name is Mrs. Hong
She was my student teacher
I know her well
Hong

From: Kelsey

Josh the tallest
Awesome the coolest
Awesome at wires and making light
With a battery (from Science lab lesson that day)
Very Smart
And a wonderful husband
And a very smart wife

From: Matthew

Just married
Out of this world guy
Shoves kids--j/k
Have a great trip

People smart
A great person
U r awesome teacher
Likes Josh
A great teacher

From: Amanda

Hong
Open for a student teacher
Nice
Graceful

From: Kelsey

Josh the best
person in the world
Josh
Josh
the best
person
in the world

From: Matthew

I'm pretty ashamed that this is my first blog of the year!

I did it! I finished grad school and student teaching! (Well, except for my thesis project...) I can't believe it. I never could have done it without the loving support of God, my husband, my family, my professors and cohort members, and my friends, so it really was a group effort. Thanks everybody! Here's a photo of my cohort on our last day of class.


So the big question now is: WHAT NEXT? I know, it's on everybody's minds. Well, I'm not exactly sure. I need some major guidance from the Holy Spirit, but will accept your friendly input as well, should you choose to provide some. I have a few options:

1. Finish my thesis as soon as possible, spend a few months in CA, then get back to Taiwan.

2. Visit Taiwan this summer, then stay in CA for another year.

3. (The newest and most surprising option) Get a teaching job at a private Christian school associated with the Chinese Christian Church in Chinatown and stay in IL for another year. (Thel church that meets at Morisson in Kaohsiung is connected to this church.)

We also would like to start a family soon, but are waiting on God's timing and provision for this. It seems very complicated from our point of view, but at least from God's perspective it is not. No matter which option we choose, (or it could be another option not listed here), I am excited for what lies ahead, and praying that God will use my hard work in Trinity Grad School for the building of His kingdom in some way. Amen! Lead us, God!