busy busy

So, last week when Allison and I went on a hike we saw those two buffalo. We thought that was really something special and crazy. Turns out, buffalo roam down at Ghost Hawk Park all the time! Allison, Jamie, Tim and I along with Gus and Whoop went down to the park yesterday for a walk and saw these two mischievous 'flos hanging out. It's still crazy to me! Jamie, from Rhode Island, wanted very badly to approach the buffalo and to pet them. After we strongly advised her against it, we noticed the bison were moving towards us. I announced to my friends that I didn't care what they chose to do, I however would be waiting for them at the van. With that, I moved very fast to the top of the hill to a safe place and waited.  

 Jamie, observing the buffalo.


After our afternoon outing, I attempted to take a photo with Whoop. I already have a plethora of him, but none of the two of us. He was too impatient for the self-timer to go off, so I wasn't able to catch a good one. Perhaps sometime when I have a friend or family member around I can con them into taking one for me!

This morning I went to church. The sermon covered the importance of Love and how if we were to follow the Ten Commandments, we would be giving our all to show love. It was interesting and very fitting for a lot of my recent thoughts. Yesterday I wrote my speech for Tricia and Tony's wedding, which is next weekend (!!!), and was thinking a lot about love. My past relationships and those that I have learned from such as my parents, my brother, my friends and family, etc. I love sermons, such as this morning's, that really touch on real life topics--when they are applicable to all people of all ages. It's so refreshing to have a pastor who really just lays it out on the line for you. Although it can be entertaining and somewhat unprofessional, I feel very comfortable at my church here in Rosebud. 

This week I have a lot going on. I am nervous to leave my class for the first time. Wednesday afternoon I have CORE Reading training in Mission and will be missing half of a day. Thursday I have taken off the afternoon and all of Friday so that I will be able to be in Minnesota for all of the wedding festivities! Of course I would never wish to be anywhere else, but I am struggling to cope with the thought of leaving my classroom in the hands of someone else. I have no idea why I am having these feelings, my full-time aid will be my substitute teacher and she has high expectations of the kids and knows how everything operates in our room--it's still an eerie feeling. 

I am not sure what I'm going to do with Whoop either. I have friends here that I could leave him with, but I feel that four days is a long time to leave him with someone. I may bring him to Vermillion and have D&D's neighbor girl feed and walk him. He's so incredibly calm and perfect, I know he won't be a bother to anyone that I leave him with. 

It's odd the anxiety I'm having about leaving my kids and my dog. I'm becoming that person I used to make fun of. I guess it's situations such as this that show me how I actually feel about my little snot-nosed 6 and 7 year olds and my canine.

Well, I suppose I should get to planning the next two weeks. I know that I won't have any time to plan the week of October 31 because I'll be having such a great time while home so I'm going to attempt to do it this week!

I hope all is well out there for each of you. If you live in Minnesota and are reading this--I can't wait to see you in 4 days!!!