Recipe for Spring Break

Deep cleaning, early mornings, fresh snowfall, and giving a presentation.  Does that sound like the normal recipe for a teacher's spring break?  Perhaps not.

Deep cleaning:  Sweeping and vacuuming, cleaning the refrigerator, wiping doors and furniture, washing windows... you name it, we did it!  On the first two days of spring break, BFA staff members gathered for "spring cleaning" of the high school campus in preparation for the International Christian Educator Conference (ICEC).

Early mornings:  Each morning of the ICEC began earlier than a normal school day, but the speakers proved to be worthy of our attention.  This conference was especially meaningful for me as I reflected on how much has changed since the last one of its kind.  Three years ago, I attended the ICEC at BFA as a college senior, having just committed to come to BFA to teach that fall.  I was eager to meet my future co-workers, see the campus, and gather as much information as I could.  Now, three years later, I am loving my life in this community and am continuing to learn about what it means to serve missionary kids.  This conference also brought a special Grove City College mini reunion!  Several other GCC alums work at BFA and another school in Spain - plus, one of my education department profs and two current seniors came over to present several workshops!  Sharing meals and conversations with them was a true blessing.  Needless to say, the early mornings and long days of processing and reflecting were well worth it!

Fresh snowfall:  Isn't it spring already?  We Kanderners are beyond ready for warmer weather and sunshine, but the two days of snow during the ICEC were a real treat for some of our African visitors who had never/seldom seen such weather before!  Now, please, let it be spring!

Giving a presentation:  I'm sure that many of you are familiar with Pinterest, a social media tool for bookmarking hyperlinked images of favorite things on the web.  Pinterest is often used for recipes ideas, travel inspiration, and home improvement.  However, Pinterest is also a marvelous resource for teaching ideas!  My friend CB (an elementary teacher) and I presented a workshop at the ICEC about making teaching "Pinterest"ing.

Now it's REALLY time for spring break to begin!  I'm thankful for time to catch up on grading, rest, reading for pleasure, and just being.  That's the recipe for the rest of spring break!