Prayer Is Powerful

Over the past several weeks, God had been teaching me the importance and the power of prayer. As I think about the impact I can and will have in my classroom, whether good or bad, I know that I need to be in prayer for my classroom and my students. I often fail to be consistent in prayer, so I want to ask you to help me in this. I want you to keep my accountable and ask me whether or not I've prayed for my class today. I would also greatly appreciate if you would prayer for my class along with me.

Mrs. Hausmann's and Miss Laura's 1st grade class '13-'14 school year:
Talisa (TA-lee-sah)
Alexandria (she goes by Alex)
Laycie
Dameon
Anthony
Emily
Morena (MAH-ree-nah)
Montana
Angelika (an-JEL-i-kah)
Gracyn
Kenyon
Kaydence
Dayton
Isaac
Brittany
Michael
Keenan
Khaylia (KAY-lee-ah)
Miguel
Soraya (so-RAY-ah)
Gennea (Jah-NAY)
Tylen
Richard

I know that these kids will forever hold a place in my heart as my first class ever. It's so fun to see these names and to see their faces and smile. I wish you could know them all too.

Peace,
Laura

The Best Kind of Prize Is a Surprise

It seems like so much has happened since my last post, but I'm going to focus on the best part. Last weekend I got to go back to Iowa and visit my family! It was a long weekend for us at school because we got Monday off for Columbus/Native American Day and Friday was a professional development day. I hadn't really thought about going back for a visit other than Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I was reminded that it would be my Dad's 60th birthday later this month and I wanted to do something special for him. Also, my roommate Melany has a really good friend in Iowa, so she decided to come with me and visit her friend. It was great having her along and having two drivers for the 8 hour trip.
Needles to say, I had a wonderful weekend home. I got to go to my nephew's flag football game on Saturday, visit my friends at Wilson Toyota (my previous workplace), hang out at home and eat free food and do laundry, celebrate my wonderful dad with an awesome family dinner, spend time relaxing outdoors (which doesn't often happen here, even on the weekends), watch football, but most of all it was great to just spend a relaxing weekend home with my great family and friends. I wish I could have seen everybody when I was back, but I am glad that I wasn't too busy and could relax. It's also nice knowing that I'll be back at Thanksgiving and it doesn't feel so very far away now. I was a little worried at first that I would not be able to come back to the rez after being back home for a weekend, and it was really, really, really hard to leave. But after I left and got over my sadness of leaving, I did actually look forward to being back, and I was glad to be home. It's really strange though, that I still call both places home and in some ways they both are still home to me. I don't really know how to explain it other than the rez is where I live now, but Iowa is where I'm from so they're both home. It's a strange feeling... I'm not sure if it will change the longer I live here or if I'll feel more at home here, but I'm taking it day by day.
So that was my highlight of the past few weeks that I thought I would share. My family is pretty awesome and I am so thankful that I got to see them! Also, happy birthday, Dad! I hope it's an awesome day, just like you!
Peace!
Laura

Holy Blizzard, Batman!

I got my first taste of a South Dakotan winter today.  Overnight on Friday and all day Saturday it snowed, about 6-8 inches with very high winds. It was really strange to see that much snow so early in the year, and with the trees just barely turning their fall colors. I am grateful, though, that we didn't get the 4 feet of snow that fell in the Black Hills.

I took a few pictures just because I felt I had to on this historic day of snow. They are not great because I'm a little out of practice with my camera since I haven't had much time to take it out lately.
But here they are. I hope you enjoy.