"Kids Sure Say the Darndest"

"God gave you my favorite smile in the world. Please use it!" -Elder Farnsie

While most of the teachers are shy around me,

the students run up--giggling--blurting out any English they know.

Mostly, it's just:

"Hello!"

But, sometimes, it's:

"You are so cute!"

&

"You are beautiful!"

&

"I love you!"

&

"I want to take you home!"

{Actually, that one was in Japanese.}

And then, my favorite:

"You are so Caucasian."

Uh oh, they're on to me...

And then, today, we practiced American Tongue Twisters.

I had students stand and recite one Tongue Twister of my choosing.

Group Three had: "A Big Black Bug Bit a Big Brown Bear"

What came out was: "A Big Black Butt Bit a Big Brown Bear"

I love my students.

{Image via Amanda}

"Vroom Vroom, California!"

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." -Jane Howard

We took a final family fieldtrip,

a last one before we all have to grow up.

Once I step on that plane to Japan,

I'll begin my career.

And once I fly back home to Utah,

our little clan of six will become seven.

Cousin Joey and I drew pictures together.

{We both prefer doodling animals over people. It's just easier.}

He was my chummy every afternoon and evening,

whether we were curled up playing Pokemon

or eating rabbit legs {which broke my heart clean in two},

he stayed by my side.

I'm grateful for the grins,

and the memories made in California,

the ones I'll take with me on the plane.

And even though family crucibles may wedge our band of six apart,

family holidays pull us back together, if only for a little while.

"Taylor Swift Fans"

"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." -Belva Davis

You find repose in the most unlikely places sometimes.

I was visiting a fellow blogger's homepage, when a Taylor Swift song popped up...

...and out of nowhere, two boys {under 9-years-old} were at my side, wanting to hear more.

After the song ended, they asked to listen to their favorite Taylor song.

And this is what resulted. {Are you giggling yet?}

I gotta tell ya, that ain't me hittin' those high notes.

Somebody's got a future in music!