Forming Clay at Potteria

Our first field trip this year took us to a pottery store called Potteria.  This art field trip, with the art teacher Mr. Reynolds, was one of my favorite field trips in all my years of teaching.  Not only were the kids able to use a block of clay to form whatever we wanted, they were also able to use a potter's wheel to create a bowl.    Since there was one extra potter's wheel I was able to make a bowl too.  It was hard!  If you don't put your hands in the exact place they need to be your bowl will be lopsided or too thin or completely destroyed.  While my bowl turned out rather well for my first attempt, it was still flawed.  

Looking back on our experience I can't help but think about the passage in the Bible that talks about God being the potter while we are the clay. Before God uses His hand to mold us into the "bowl" we are meant to be we are just a lump of clay waiting to be formed.  Once we've come to the potter's wheel (through salvation) God begins to shape us into the form He intends us to be.  Along the way we show our flaws, but God works on smoothing them out and continuing to shape us into our ultimate form...into the form He always knew we would become.  A "bowl" that focuses on bring glory, honor, and praise to God.

I'm SO thankful I'm not the potter.  No matter how hard I try I will NEVER be able to create something perfect.  It's only through God's hands we are transformed into who He wants us to be.  Even though we are stubborn sometimes (like clay can be), we need to submit to God's ways and understand that He is the one who knows what is best for us.

Isaiah 64:8 says, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You are our potter; And all of us are the work of your hand."

Ready to Go!

Working on our Bowls

Making our Unique Creations

The Group

Notice the "Big Kid" in the far right corner :)

Excellent Christmas Markets

Just like last year, the Christmas Markets were once again excellent.  This year we were able to enjoy them without the presence of snow. :)  It was so much fun shopping for Christmas gifts, eating yummy goodies, and enjoying the "Christmas Market Atmosphere."  The markets help make a winter in Austria bearable.  Enjoy some of the pictures of my adventures below.  This year I was able to go to 7 different markets!

Shopping with the girls

Ball of Chocolate from Germany

Crepe-YUMMY!!!

Deck the AP Room for Christmas

One of my jobs this year was to plan our Christmas party.  Even though it was A LOT of work I think everyone had a wonderful time and was able to enjoy a relaxing evening laughing and enjoying each other.  My amazing team of decorators, entertainment, and set-up/clean-up crew made things SO much easier and helped bring it all together.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures since I was too busy working...hopefully I'll be able to get some from someone else. :)

Crazy/Odd Class

The kids in my class are crazy and very odd ... I LOVE this about them!  They each have their own unique personalities and quirks that they bring to our classroom.  We constantly joke about them being the craziest and oddest class I have ever taught and because of this I love them to death.  The way God made them was perfect and I feel blessed to be able to teach each of them!

Enjoy some of the pictures below from our Thanksgiving Potluck.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It's FREEZING here!!!!  Literally!  I'd forgotten how cold it actually gets here.  I've become especially jealous while talking with my sister who tells me how cold it is in California (50 degrees).  50 degrees would be wonderful right now!  Anyway...off of my soap box.  I can be thankful for the cold because it means a few things are coming soon:
1. Christmas markets
2. Christmas Vacation
3. Ice Skating
4. Snow Ball Fights

Just Change Northeast to Austria

Away from Home, but Still Thankful

Being away from home for long periods of time is never easy, but it's even harder around the holidays.  Thankfully God has given me a "Vienna family" to spend holidays with.  Just like last year I went over to my friends, Amanda and Carrie's, house to enjoy yummy Thanksgiving food.  This year I brought fruit salad, rolls, and mashed potatoes to the meal.  I had never made mashed potatoes before, but thankfully my cooking skills have improved since moving here and I was able to successfully create a dish just as good as my mother's.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay the whole time (the girls are cat sitting and I'm REALLY allergic to cats), but the time I spent was enjoyable and memorable.  Next year Amanda and Carrie won't be in Vienna, so we'll see what I'll do then.

Zooming into the Future

This year marks the 25th anniversary of ICSV.  As part of the celebration on Tuesday, November 22nd we had a gala at a Schloss (small palace) in Vienna.  Click here to see a video representing the 25 years ICSV has been open.  You can also click here to see photos from the evening.

You'd Only Experience this in Vienna

Vienna is truly an international city.  My church, the International Baptist Church of Vienna, is no exception.  Recently we had "Celebrate the Nations Sunday."  On this day we celebrated the different nations that make up our church community.  Even though we come from over 30 different countries, we are all united in Christ.  Check out some of the video that my friend Nicki took of the service (here).

X-cellent Fall Festival

Every year at ICSV we have a Fall Festival shortly before Halloween.  The families spend the first hour of the evening enjoying food and games.  This year I was responsible for the M&M Counting Game. :)  The evening then continues with performances by the elementary students and high school choir.  Once the choirs are finished it's time for the Pie in the Face Contest.  This year I "volunteered" to possibly get pied in the face.  Each "volunteer" is placed into a group with other teachers and students and the group that makes the most money will be pied.  Thankfully elementary students don't have a lot of money, so my group was safe. :)

Mr. Johnstone getting Mr. Tuckey :0

Welcome to Vienna!

For Fall Break this year (October) my parents came for a week long visit.  On Sunday I picked them up at the airport and we made our way to Salzburg, Austria.  In Salzburg we visited a Salt Mine and went on the Sound of Music tour (my third time, but that's another story).  On Tuesday we drove to Hallstatt, Austria for a few hours and enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery and quaint village.  If you are ever in Austria, I would definitely recommend visiting this town!  The next day we drove over to Graz, Austria and spent the day exploring the old town.  Even though it rained on Wednesday and Thursday, we still had a wonderful time together exploring different parts of Austria.  On Thursday we drove back into Vienna..  My parents were able to spend the rest of their time visiting my school, meeting my friends, playing with my students, and enjoying part of my life here.  Even though they were supposed to leave on Monday, they ended up staying until Tuesday (gotta love airline strikes).  This meant I was able to celebrate my mom's birthday with her!  We went out for a traditional Austrian meal and spent the evening talking and simply enjoying being together.  Early Tuesday morning I walked them to the Schnellbahn station (train) and away they went to the airport.  It was a lot of fun having both of them here and letting my dad see my new life for the first time.  Hopefully they'll come back again soon!

Salzburg

Fire Station in Hallstatt

Hallstatt

Graz

Vienna

Mine Tour near Salzburg