Make Your Mark Handout!

My class is celebrating International Dot Day on FRIDAY and we are so excited!
Here is a handout I made to go with some of the activities we have planned for the day.

Hope you enjoy it and that your kids have fun making their marks!

Click here: Make Your Mark Handout

Saving Fred!

Whoa! Is it already almost halfway through the first quarter?! This school year is already flying!
Well, as I was looking for Back to School activities,  I found this one called "Saving Fred" and I absolutely loved it!

My first impression was, "nope, I'm not doing any activity that involves candy." But it wasn't that kind of activity. It was fun and cooperative and just what I needed for Back to School.

Now would be a good time to throw this activity in if you haven't done it yet! Team building skills are good to build all year round, not just the first weeks of school. ;)

So grab some gummy words, life savers, paperclips, cups and get ready to Save Fred!

To introduce the activity you can make up whatever narrative you like, and be as dramatic as possible. The kids will eat it up. Here was my story: A man named Fred was sailing in his boat (the cup) when a violent storm swept it upside down! Now Fred was on top of his boat (the cup) and his life raft (the lifesaver) was underneath! 

This is where the kiddos come in. Give 4 paperclips to each small group and lay down the rules. 

Use the paperclips, ONLY the paperclips, to get Fred completely inside and all the way THROUGH the lifesaver to SAVE FRED. :) 

I LOVED hearing my students say "WHAATT?! How can we do that?!" And I thoroughly enjoyed watching them learn and grow and discover different ways to reach their goal. 

SO mama bear proud of them. :) 

Hope this activity adds some laughter, creativity, and most of all TEAM WORK to your class. 

Happy teaching! 

Rachel 

The Ektorp Couch from IKEA

My husband and I just got home from a wedding out of state with his side of the family and it was a blast. We definitely don't take this luxury of seeing family often for granted anymore! And nothing beats that feeling of coming home after a great trip and crashing on your own couch. 

The first place my husband and I went furniture shopping at when we moved back from Palau was IKEA. We had never been to IKEA. Talk about sensory overload! That place is humongous! 

We wanted to get a feel for what our style was and what our budget could get us. The first thing that caught our eyes that day was our couch. The Ektorp Couch.

We immediately fell in love with it and brought it home to our apartment just a few weeks later. We’ve had it for over two months now, and I thought I’d share what we love about it so much.

This is the color Lofallet beige and we have the single seat, the sofa, and the ottoman to match. 

What do I love about it?  

Comfortable Factor.

This couch is really comfortable. I love to put my feet up and snuggle in a warm blanket and this couch is perfect for that.

Easy to Put Together. 

My husband and his friend had it put up in less than 30 minutes. Its always nice when things aren't complicated. The pieces are also light weight which is nice because whenever I want to rearrange the living room, I can do it all by myself! 

Affordable. 

Who doesn’t love being able to buy nice things that won’t break the bank? All three pieces in my living room cost less than $1,000. Holla. 

Changeable Covers. 

This is probably one of the coolest things about this couch. You can buy a different colored slipcover at any time. That way, you can change the feel and mood of your room without actually buying a whole new couch!

If Joanna Gaines uses it, it must be good. 
Okay, when I saw my ektorp couch on HGTV's Fixer Upper while sitting on my actual couch, I freaked out. I was so excited and very happy to see that my favorite designer also loves and uses this great, affordable couch in her own designs. PS. All the pictures that are not my actual home are from HGTV's Fixer Upper. Yes. They really are. :)

What I’m not too crazy about

Wrinkles

So the only thing that I can think about that could be a negative for the couch is one aspect of the slipcover. You have to iron it. Thats really the only thing. If you run an iron on it before you put it on, it looks amazing. Honestly, I haven’t ironed mine, and it doesn't bother me. 

Overall, this couch has won my heart and I wouldn't take it back. :) That’s what home is all about. Hope that you LOVE your couch and who you share it with. :) 

Xo, 

Rachel 

Post Palau, Almost 3 Months

Whoa.
Almost 3 whole months post-Palau. You guys are probably sick of seeing these posts. For those strong enough to bear with me, I appreciated it. It's a process.

It has been bitter and sweet. There have been nights of tears and reminiscing, and days when we are so happy we are just a road trip away from family and Chipotle (& Target).

I'm still working on making our house feel like "home" but it's taking me a long time because I'm focused on SCHOOL! The first few weeks of school are busy! I definitely also came down with the nastiest sinus/allergy thing and it was not fun, but I'm hanging in there. So I'm trying to stay patient about the house, knowing that I'll have more time to give it some love and attention AFTER I get in to the swing of things at school. (I HOPE!)

Back to the re-entry processing. It almost feels like an out-of-this-world experience. You travel so far, do things you've never done, give your heart in ways you didn't know you could, and make relationships with people that will forever tug on your heartstrings. And then you leave. It feels SO FAR AWAY. And it kinda is... If you're lucky, you might live close to people that you served with, and even if you don't live close, life has its sweet moments that will bring you back together again. But never the whole group. Never the way that it was. THAT is really hard.

Palau is literally in the back of my mind every single day. I don't know if there will ever be a day when it isn't. It's weird to always have this place on your mind...

As far as being a teacher back in the states... I don't think I was very well prepared for that. I came from a very simple, but wonderful classroom. I made the best of what I had and rocked it. I LOVED my classroom (and students of course). Now in my classroom there is too MUCH stuff! I'm overwhelmed with materials and programs and half a dozen curriculums that need to be integrated. It's been a bit much for me. Pray folks.

Our new church has given Joey and I the opportunity to share our stories about Palau in October. By then we will have been back for 4 months. This will be the first time that I would have shared about Palau in a way like this and I honestly don't know what I'll say. I know it's still a ways out, but please keep us in prayer as we share our love story about Palau in October. And if you want to come, please let me know and I'll gladly tell you the day and time!

So that's my supposed to be two-month blog, but I waited too long and now it's a three-month re-entry post.

Night for now.
Rachel

Mock Tuna Salad

I originally wrote this post a couple of weeks ago but never got around to posting it because being a teacher is an all-consuming task of life. However, I love writing and blogging so I need to fight for my blog time! Here it is.

One of the things that keeps me sane and stress-free during the school year is knowing what I'm going to eat for lunch the night before. Packing lunches the night before sometimes just doesn't happen, but when it does, hallelujah songs go out in the morning. So, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite quick & easy go-to lunches. I am so excited about this recipe because it makes for a GREAT lunch (for both students & teachers alike) and of course because it's vegan. But don’t be scared or run away, because its SUPER good, I promise! :)

The other great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it any way you like, and if the vegan components truly freak you out, you don't have to use them! 

MOCK TUNA SALAD

 Recipe from "From Plant to Plate" by Tami Bivens

INGREDIENTS
1 (15 ounce) can of chickpeas, drained 
1/4 cup Vegenaise (I dare you!) 
1/3 cup celery, finely chopped 
2 tablespoons sweet onion, finely chopped 
1/2 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes 
1 green onion, chopped 
1 teaspoon soy sauce 

INSTRUCTIONS

Start off by rinsing the chickpeas and putting them in a bowl. Mash them with a fork until they are nice and chunky. Mashing chickpeas is actually kinda tough so if you have a food processor, now is the time to use it. 

Next, combine the rest of the ingredients.

Serve this on your favorite choice of bread and dress is up with some tomatoes, avocado, and lettuce if you want. It's that easy and SO good. 

TIPS

You can eyeball the vegenaise (or mayonnaise) just like you do when you make tuna salad. I like my salads CREAMY!

The recipe calls for onions, celery, and soy sauce, and I actually haven't the celery or soy sauce! I didn’t have celery when I made this the first time so I chopped up some cucumber really tiny, and even chopped up some carrots for color. Feel free to change-up the add-ins and make if your own. I honestly didn't even miss the soy sauce at all. 

Don't forget to add salt and pepper to taste.

The recipe makes about 4 sandwiches if you like to lay it on heavy like me. 

This spread is healthy, guilt-free, one of my favorite, quick & easy lunch options. 

Happy eating! 

If you loved this recipe as much as I did you might want to buy the book! 

Xo, 

Rachel 

Why I Miss My Island Home

I miss my island home. I miss Palau. 

I don't miss the geckos living with me or being so far away from friends and family. 

But I'll tell you what I do miss. The simplicity. 

I thought I lived a pretty simple before I came to Palau, but I was completely wrong. 

Life is simple. 

There are only two major grocery stores to go to. 

Those two grocery stores also have the two major clothing stores upstairs. 

People aren’t glued to their cell phones 24/7. 

There’s no chain fast food restaurants. 

No huge billboards, sporting events, or malls to pull you in.

Pinterest doesn't load well, so its not worth fussing over. 

People pull over to take pictures of sunsets, tourists and locals alike. What a novel concept.

Don't get me wrong, I love cuddling up and watching movies with my hubby, LOADING my pinterest, and walking through cute outdoor malls. But there is a special charm about a simple life that makes things so easy and well, simple!

My teenage niece is so curious and baffled as to how I survived for two years without a cell phone and the mall. True, that it might take some adjusting to, especially if we are born and raised in our Western culture, but it is a beautiful thing.

Sometimes I was tired of wearing the same clothes everyday. But here I have different problems. In Palau, I didn't feel the pressure to dress up every time I went out, something that I feel being back. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

And so there it is, I miss my simple life. 

Cheers to cleaning out closets, turning off cell phones, and living a more simple life.
Cheers to Palau.

Xo,
Rachel

N is for Niece

I was 12 years old when I became a Titi (Auntie in Spanish) for the first time. My dad came into my room to tell me that my sister had gone to the hospital and to NOT wake up my brother. Of course as soon as my dad was back in his room, I ran to wake up my brother! Ha! My sister is 10 years older than me, so I learned all about being an auntie very quickly and my summer hobby was watching my little doll grow. :) She's a teenager now. Lord, help us! 

In 2014, I became Titi for the 2nd time. This time it was on my husband's side of the family. I remember the night Giana was born. She was the first grandbaby for my husband's family and so there was MUCH anticipation over this precious little girl. Jeanette (My husband's sister) and I woke up in the middle of the night, retainers and all, to "oo" and "awe" over the pictures being sent to us of the newest and cutest little thing. Her mommy and daddy need to watch out because her blue eyes and cute personality are going to give them a run for their money! LOVE!

This last year while I was in Palau, I got word that my brother and his girlfriend were expecting. I was full of emotion. My little brother! A daddy?! I better start having kids! No, not ready. Ah! A new bundle of joy! What will she/he be like? 

So the months went by and I finally came home and saw the baby bump for myself. Baby was due on June 21. She WAS due, is the key word. 

Instead, sweet baby Emily decided to show up a few weeks early surprising us all, and giving her daddy the best birthday present he ever had. 

I was at my house an hour and a half away when my brother texted me that he was heading to the hospital. We knew that since Emily would be considered "Preemie" that the doctors would take their time, but I still wanted to be there as soon as I could! 

We waited all day in the hospital for baby as she took her SWEET time. She showed up the night before my brothers 22nd birthday and just before Sabbath. Perfect timing. :) 

Look at this sweet little face! 

And so, on this rainy day while I'm stuck in my classroom on summer vacation, I'm thinking of my girls and the joy they bring to me. One day these girls will be beautiful women! I can't believe it. So honored to be their "Titi". 

Xo, 

Rachel 

Post Palau, One Month

The month of June was a whirlwind. There were so many exciting things that happened on both sides of our families and in our own little one. It feels like life has been moving at the speed of light for the last 30 days.

Here's a snippet of what we've been up to:

• Traveled to Florida, New York, Tennessee, & Maryland 
• Rented our 1st apartment (Yay!)
• Went furniture shopping for the first time
• Went to my childhood friend Joy's wedding!
• My niece was born!! 
• Celebrated my brother's birthday 
• Bought a car (Praise the Lord!)
• Saw LOTS of cousins
• Road tripped well over 1,000 miles 
• Got iPhones after being phone-less for 2 years! 

Jet lag completely kicked our butts for like 2 weeks, but Joey and I finally adjusted to the time change and have enjoyed Chipotle, our new iPhones, and hot water showers thoroughly. My niece is also getting a kick out of teaching me how to use snapchat. What in the world.

We were also super thrilled to move into our very first stateside apartment. We struggled on our first day of apartment hunting and after some serious prayer, the second day brought us just what we needed. I even have a window in my kitchen and a little porch outback. Both were things that were not on our "needs" list, just a purely selfish want, and yet God saw it fit to give it to us! So happy. I love our little place and can't wait to crash there once all our traveling adventures end. Pics of Casa Frescino to come in another post. ;)

The best part about this past month have been the sweet reunions. I've loved the exciting moments where we get to hug friends and family we haven't seen in a long time. There's nothing like it! My heart just fills all the way to the top when I spend quality time with the people I love. And there's still more to catch up with!

We are especially enjoying our nieces. We are finally getting to know our sweet and sassy two year old niece on Joe's side and are absorbing the newness of the new baby niece on my side. Being an aunt is the best thing ever. I love all my nieces to pieces!

Over the past month, I've made a few observations about myself. Life has been too crazy to journal, but I still try to make mental notes when I can to help with the re-entry process.

Some things I've learned about myself:

• I'm not as good at doing makeup as I used to be two years ago. Darn. 
• I'm not really sure what my "style" is now that I don't have to wear long skirts all the time. Shorts and a scoop neck are my current go-to. That's all I know. That's also why I haven't rushed to buy a new wardrobe yet. I guess I'll get around to that. 
• Life in America is very fast-paced. Sometimes it gives me a headache. I kinda get overwhelmed easily. 
• I don't like my phone on ringer.
• I also don't leave the data on my phone on. I purposely turn it off. Instagram is way too addicting for me. 
• I have to fight for my time with Jesus every day.

There have been days that I rushed my time with Jesus in the morning, or maybe even tried to push it to the evening because of my day's busy demands, but those days are always the worst. I've been gently reminded again, that the fullest and happiest life is one that begins with Jesus.

So this has been my first month back. I think of Palau every single day and miss it tremendously. There are a dozen things everyday that remind me of my island home. In a way, I'm thankful that we've been busy. Overall, it's been a crazy adjustment, but we're getting there. One day at a time. :)

Xo,
Rachel

Post Palau, Week 1

Last week marked a week since I left Palau. I have thought of it every day. 

It pops in my mind when I see the ABUNDANCE of fresh fruit at the grocery store, when I take my hot shower every day, and pretty much every time I'm in a crowded place.  

The hardest and most common question I’ve gotten since I’ve been back has been: 

How was Palau? 

That’s a loaded question. Where do I even begin? Usually this question comes in passing and theres no WAY I could tell you all about Palau in just a matter of seconds. So my short answer is this: it was a beautiful, challenging, biggest growing experience I’ve had in my life yet, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. 

After the first question usually comes the second one, 

How do I feel?

That’s another loaded question. I’ve felt angry, sad, and anxious. There have been moments when I've felt a little bit like a stranger in my own place. Sometimes its a little bit lonely and you wish that you could bring Palau to your family and friends so that they could truly understand what you’re feeling.  

One thing is for certain, this past week has been a whirlwind.

My family picked us up at the airport with their big smiles and welcome back sign. They’re so cute. We took lots of pictures and talked all over each other like hispanics do and it was fantastic. :) We went to bed way past midnight and woke up at lunch time the next day. Hello, jetlag. 

On our 2nd day back, we went to Target, World Market, Forever 21, and the grocery store. Whoa. I didn't have a meltdown, but I definitely felt the difference with all the visual stimulation and amount of STUFF around me. I haven't purchased more than 5 items of clothing in the last 20 months! Never thought that would ever happen! In Palau, we didn’t have much, but when I stepped into the store I didn’t feel like I needed to buy anything. But the minute I stepped into a store in U.S., I felt the itch to buy things! And I didn’t need any of it! Yikes. I honestly can’t wait to update my wardrobe, but come on, guys. Can I get a little less pressure on my wallet? I just got here! 

One of the best things about this week has been spending time with my family. Time with them is so, so precious and I can’t imagine I survived so long without them! They have given Joey and I the most patient listening ears. They listen to all of our stories and look at our pictures without ever complaining. My mom gets a kick out of every little little Palauan trinket I show her, and it means the world to me. She told me that every time she went to World Market last year, she’d go to the world globes and turn it to Palau to give it a little kiss and send up a quick prayer. How stinking sweet.

I also got to visit some friends this week and it did LOTS of good for my spirits. We had fun laughing and screaming, hugging and catching up, even if it was just for a short time. Coming back and feeling like you have no friends is a real fear when coming back from the mission field, and so feeling loved by friends meant a lot to me. 

Joey and I started also started the very intimidating, very exciting task of hunting for a place to live! We had our ups and downs, and learned a few lessons, but ended it on a very good note. We’re praying and trusting that things will work out just how God wants them to.

Overall, I still have lots of adjustments ahead of me, but I’m happy that I’m back.

To end our first post week, we are traveling up north to visit Joe’s family. Cheers to more sweet reunions and re-entry adventures. 

Xo, 

Rachel 

Palau Missionary Girls Packing List

If you are reading this and are heading to Palau as a missionary for the 2016-2017 school year, just know that we (the previous missionaries and myself) are SO excited that you are coming. We are happy that you'll be here to love and take care of these precious kids and enjoy this amazing country.

I've been a missionary in Palau for two years now and everyone here once felt how you did (nervous, excited, ALL of the emojis at the same time) and we also had many of  the same questions you do. One of them being being "What in the world do I pack for a whole year to go to a country I've never been to!?" 

So I got some answers from all my girls from the last two years and came up with a list of some things that you might find helpful in your packing. :)

Girl, don't leave this: 

Skirts.
Skirts are going to be your jam all day everyday. Lady teachers at both the highschool and elementary school need to wear skirts everyday to school (unless its for a special school event) and for church. I grabbed a few fun-printed maxi's from Target and Marshalls and then picked a few up from the thrift store. Try to keep them at knee-length (at the shortest) and I would shoot for at least 8-10 skirts. Remember you'll be wearing these all year long. I fell in love with Maxi's here, but some girls said it was too hot for them to roll with. So figure out your style and bring lots of them!

"Chill clothes" AKA shorts and t-shirts. 
Basketball shorts/Running shorts and t-shirts are the go-to outfits for after school. One of my friends told me she only brought one pair of basketball shorts and she wished she had packed more. Bermudas and jeans have their place, but don't be afraid to pack those shorts! NO BOOTY SHORTS!!! Mid-thigh to the knee is the best length to shoot for. Taller girls might need to be mindful of their blessed height. I know, it's a gift and a curse.

Sandals.
You can buy shoes at the department store but the selection is limited and it can be a little pricey. Flip flops are generally a no-go for teaching, so try to buy something that has a heel strap for school days and Sabbath. Bring a FEW pairs of comfortable sandals.

Rain jacket.
To keep you dry from the frequent Palauan rain. :) If you don't have one, now is a perfect time to invest in one.

Swim gear.
Your bathing suit that you bought this summer might have to go on hold for 10 months, but don't worry, it'll be there when you get back. :) For Palau, you're going to want some swim shorts, swim shirts, and shoes. As for shorts goes, think "modest is hottest." Mid-thigh-to the knee is usually golden and I swim in my athletic shorts all the time. For shirts, you can swim in regular T-Shirts (thank you SAU for all those shirts) or you can swim in rash guards. Lastly, cover your feet with some water shoes if you can. Some people have chacos, others have those "toe shoes", and some people just use water shoes from Walmart. Any one of these will do just fine for your waterfall adventures. :)

Water bottle. 
As simple as this may seem, you're going to need a water bottle. Nalgene and Hydroflask are some of the missionaries favorite brands. They last forever and the hydroflask especially will keep your water cold on a hot day. :)

Eh, you can buy it here if you had to: 

Toiletries.
A lot of the girls were saying that they were surprised that Palau has a lot of the brands from back home. You might pay a little extra for it depending on what it is, but if you needed to, you could just buy it here which is a great option to have--especially to save some poundage in your suitcases. The biggest recommendation? Buy in bulk from places like Costco where you can get a good bang for your buck. Pack your favorite brands in a box and ship that baby ahead of time. You'll be glad you did. :)

Feminine Products.
Okay. You CAN buy tampons here, but they are expensive. Be ready to cry a little bit every time you need to buy them. Pads aren't too bad, but the tampons are kinda much. Having your mom or a friend send you some in a care package will help a lot.

Polo Shirts. 
All the teachers will wear Polo shirts that have the school logo on it. If you find polo shirts at home that fit you well and you like, I'd buy it. You'll have a chance to get some extra polos once here in Palau, so it's not mandatory. However, it might be worth bringing a couple cute polos in colors that you like.

Not mandatory, but definitely gonna wish you had it: 

Electronic Devices. 
Bring an extra charger for your devices and probably a hard drive or a couple thumb drives with you. You're going to want to share LOTS of pics that people take throughout the year and some movies for nights when you don't have grading to do. ;)

Hammock. 
Hammocks are all the rave for missionaries in Palau. Again, we are brand snobs and most of us have Eno hammocks. They are perfect for "hanging out" on campus and especially for when you go camping. Portable bed!

Underwater camera. 
GoPro can literally make a promo video in Palau of all the missionaries that have a GoPro camera. But it doesn't have to be GoPro! Any underwater camera will do to capture this underwater beauty. :)

A nice outfit. 
Having a nice outfit that you love and feel yourself in could make the world of a difference. You will have opportunities to dress up a little bit and won't want to wear your basketball shorts and t-shirt. Bring a couple dresses (that's an easy one piece outfit for church or banquet options for PMA staff) and a few nice tops you can throw on for birthdays and restaurant occasions. :)

School supplies. 
Educational resources are slim in Palau. There are no "craft stores" and some things straight up don't exist here, like pipe cleaners. There's a place where you can buy construction paper, glue, scissors, etc. But regular acrylic paint, pipe cleaners, and educational games are pretty much non-exisistent. Target has a great $1 section that has materials for school if you find something you think your classroom could really use. I'd recommend buying it ahead of time and sending it to yourself so it's all ready to go when you get there. I might need to write a whole different post for this. Let me know what questions you have!

Spandex. 
Believe it or not, this was one of the things the girls screamed out as soon as I asked them this question. Spandex are good for under your skirts and for chilling at home. A must.

You're really not going to need this: 

Heels. 
It's not really a thing in Palau. You won't be the only one without them (It'll be more like the opposite).

Rainboots. 
One of my sweet friends who brought rainboots never wore them. Never.

Leggings.
Unless you're chillin' in your apartment, leggings are a no-go for Palauan Missionaries in public. Your basketball shorts will get most of your lovin' this next year. :)

Sweaters. 
Being that Palau is just 7 degrees north of the equator, you're not really going to need sweaters. I've got one and I've only used it a handful of times. It might be nice to have for those handful of times, but you won't be needing multiple. Trust me.

If you have any questions you can comment below and I'll do my best to try and help!

Happy packing!

Xo,
Rachel

My Mission Girls

It's amazing how you can not know someone for your whole life, and then it changes instantly once you meet. You can't imagine how life would have been without their laughter, friendship, and presence. 

I just want to give a special shout-out to these Gal's for sharing Palau with me and for being my mission girls for the last two years. These girls have hugged me when my family and friends were thousands of miles away and have shared special memories that will never be forgotten.

It's hard to leave your friends and know that their lives are going on without you and that you may miss big things that happen in their lives. It's even harder, to bond with one group of girls, have to say goodbye to them, and then have to meet and befriend a whole new group. (Kill me now, I stink at making new friends.) I don't know how the locals do it with new missionaries every year.

I felt almost disadvantaged and like I was making friendships in vain at first. Everyone is from a different place and we will most likely never be in the same place again. But something special happens when you put people together. Whether we meet again in Palau or not, I've made some mission friends for life.

2014-2015 Girls 

2015-2016 Girls