Semester 1 complete?

Wow!  Today marked the end of the first semester!!  Where in the world did the last 4 and a half months go?  Who knows?

Well, to catch you up a bit on the craziness of the past week or two...last weekend was full of one event after the next including the watching of the Geminids Meteor Shower near Window Rock on Thursday night followed by the midnight showing of The Hobbit!  Friday consisted of some pretty awesome karaoke in gallup where NaShia and I made our debut as "302" (aka - our band name)....we will be coming to a place near you sometime in the next 80 years....haha!  Saturday consisted of seeing the Nutcracker ballet in Gallup - which ended up with driving back in blizzard conditions!

OH YEAH - did I mention at all that the weather here the past couple weeks has been snow crazy!!!???  We have had two snow days at my school already - last Friday and yesterday (Wednesday)...nuts!

Sunday was yet another great day as I had the opportunity to play piano at the parish in Fort Defiance!  It was a grand old time...and is giving me the opportunity to continue to make my face known as a piano player/musician in the area - good for the future!  I have already been asked to accompany here or there for a few things and it's been so neat...I have so many people to thank for pushing me along with piano too - (shout out to Laurie, mom, Marilyn, Elaine...) Piano is an escape for me and although I haven't been able to play as much as I have wanted to at times, I am starting to find ways to do it which is amazing!

Then, this week at school I have been trying to wind down the semester for my students...which hasn't been easy with all the snow - they were so ready for a break.  It was fun though to see them genuinely seem to care about not seeing me for a couple weeks (at least the 4th graders said they would miss me.... haha)  I am truly getting excited about taking that next step as a teacher next semester and really trying out some new things.  Lots of reading to do over break to get ready for literature groups and lots of thinking about how to continue to create an environment where pre-teens find comfort - comfort enough to be themselves.

So much more to say, but we are off to watch a movie while we wait for our drive to the Albuquerque airport at 3 am tomorrow (aka - 6 hours from now)  I fly into Minneapolis and will be picked up by the bro Ben...spend a night at SJU, then visit with relatives, then on home for a couple weeks.  IT truly has been an unreal feeling the past couple days realizing I will be "home" tomorrow....I am excited yes...but it is unlike the feelings I had two years ago when returning from Ireland.  Now, it is the feeling that "yes, this will be a nice trip to see my family...but then it will be time to return home here..."  This place continues to capture me and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.

Alright off for now.  Who knows - maybe I'll check in from Winona these next couple weeks so look for it!  Otherwise enjoy these few pictures of the snow and friends:

Whole bunch of us teachers and volunteers

First snow day snowman

how pretty is that??

bonfire!

St. Nick's day already?

Wow!  It has been almost a month since my last post...and what a month it has been!  It has simply been crazy with one thing right after the next - life is a changing and taking us all down paths "we never knew we never knew" (quote from Wicked - anyone get it?)!  haha!  Anyways, I believe the last time I posted was the week before Thanksgiving, so I did not even get to share my adventures from that week...  

I spent the weekend and early week days before Thanksgiving in the city of Phoenix visiting a good old friend from high school - Caitlin that's you - and then my wonderful Aunt and Uncle and family.  It was a wonderful short trip filled with some hiking, lots of talking, experiencing a city (of sorts) once more, touring a school, and family.  Some pictures from the hiking are below...Camelback mountain with Caitlin one day and Squaw peak the next day on my own - not to mention a 4 hour morning indulgence at a coffee shop (What are those again?  You might forget living here on the rez)!  Needless to say it was a trip full of reflection on life changes and life possibilities...so much to see and simply experience in this world - I just want to do it all!

A morning read on the Deignan porch 

REAL cacti!

Thanksgiving itself was full of wonders too as I spent it with a variety of volunteers, past volunteers, and parents of volunteers.  What a feast it was and what a family it was to share with!  Still missed everyone back in Winona, but it was still a time of great Thanksgiving!!! and that's what it's all about right?

The past couple weeks have been some pretty crazy weeks too as the semester begins to come to a close...mid terms reports went out over a week ago now...and really both the students and teachers are "Hanging on" a little bit I believe in my eyes.  Now, that is not to say that I haven't been enjoying it...in fact quite the contrary!  I have had endless moments the past couple weeks where I have had the opportunity to take a step out of myself from time to time and just witness the amazing experience I am having.  When a discussion on a book leads to a discussion of Navajo flood stories (similar in nature to Noah and the great flood from the Bible) I simply become engulfed in the joy of the moment.  Or, when my students take my idea to debate a topic and soar with it - truly getting into their arguments almost to the part where I have to break them up...haha - I just smile!

Of course, there continue to be the times where I want to beat my head with a stick...but hey the life of a teacher no?  The latest news in Mr. D's classroom has to be the incentive I gave my students for our upcoming penny war starting next week.  I told them this morning...if we win - after break, I shave my head completely! haha!  The looks on all their faces was priceless as it immediately sparked an interest in the competition (Now, do they realize that I don't have that much hair to begin with? no!  But hey if they think it's still a big deal...then it's a big deal! Anything to raise money!)

Next Friday marks the elementary Christmas program as well, which evidently I have brought the task of accompanying grades K-8 on the piano on myself by offering at our staff meeting yesterday.  Should be an interesting night to say the least!  Can't wait to sing "Joy to the World" with my 6th graders and have them share their one "Thing that Santa's elves say or do on Christmas eve"  It is quite the list let me tell you - should provide a good laugh!

Speaking of Christmas decorations, I got sick and tired of hearing my 6th graders say how boring my room was in regards to Christmas decorations today that I took the hour that used to be ART (but has changed now due to the art teacher taking a break?) and said "OKAY, you want decorations...here are the materials boys and girls, make them!!!!"  haha...they did a great job of making styrofoam ball ornaments today to say the least.  I was pretty proud of my problem solving on that one...no money for Christmas decorations, no problem - use the 28 creative minds sitting in front of you!

Alright well, we are off to a St. Nicholas party at the trailer court!  We are bringing three desserts and are supposed to bring a shoe and something to put in them for everybody else - sooo pumped!!!!  Anyways, hope you all had a wonderful past few weeks and thank you for your continued support and prayers.  I hope you find this time and season of advent to be truly a time of preparation!  As my one second grade student in Religious Ed on Tuesday night and I said in the words of John the Baptist "PREPARE THE WAY! MAKE READY FOR GOD!" :) :) :)

Peace friends and family!

Oh and also...first bonfire in the backyard....

Thanksgiving break approaching fast

Wow!  Where in the world did the last couple weeks go?  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving week is next week already...I just don't get it.  I was thinking about this blog today at school and wondered how long it had been since I posted and then when I saw that it was almost two weeks ago, I couldn't believe it.

Alright alright, enough about my realization that time flies here in St. Michael's....The last couple weeks at school have been two of the best weeks I have had yet.  It has been crazy but so good too.  I have felt truly happy on many days the past couple weeks with what I am doing here and now!  And man does that feel good.  This place certainly has changed me and I can tell will continue to change me every single day.

This week, my 6th graders had the task of teaching kindergartners how to do something such as tie a tie, tie their shoe, make a paper airplane, etc.  It was one of the best moments of the year on Wednesday when I saw them teaching the kindergartners...yes they still drive me crazy on some days, but when I see them take on my role as the teacher for younger kids - they turn into new students - more....(oh I don't know what the word is...) RESPONSIBLE! haha.  Also, this week in science for all three grades, we have jumped into our "Appliance autopsies" in which the students take apart some sort of old electronic such as a remote control car, old heater, old radio, etc. in order to find out how it broke and what might be wrong with the motor or wires.  And man oh man was it a blast today.  I don't think the smile came off my face all day as the students continually were yelling out my name "Mr. D! Mr. D!  Look at this!  We found the motor!  Oh look at this, we found the on/off switch!"  What a great experience as a teacher when you realize that your students actually HAVE been listening the past several weeks.

Anyways, I could go on and on but I really just wanted to give a quick update.  This weekend I am leaving for Phoenix with the fifth grade teacher, Ann to visit a couple different people.  First, my friend Caitlin from high school for a couple nights and then on to my aunt and uncle's house for a night before jumping in the car with Ann and her parents on Tuesday - when we will stop in Sedona on the way back for a night.  It will certainly be a good weekend for reflection...which is what I need...

Continue to send your prayers please as I discern what I'm doing with my life.  And please know that I am truly grateful for all of you in my life whoever you are reading this.  I will hopefully check back in with some photos and things this weekend some time - perhaps tomorrow.

Oh and by the way, it snowed about three inches last weekend here...so don't be asking me how I'm liking the warm weather...pretty sure its colder here than wherever you are reading this.  Love you all.

Yeah thats my neighborhood!

CRAZY HALLOWEEN WEEK

Well, this will be a short post but just thought I'd give a quick update:  This past week went by crazy fast - and probably because it WAS crazy....The combination of Halloween, All Saint's Day liturgy, and a FULL MOON created quite the atmosphere in the room.  Needless to say, however, it was still a fun week that included lots of "fun" time for the kids which they surely enjoyed.

Last weekend was great fun as well - we had a little get together at our house last Friday and there were some great costumes including Three Blind Mice and Wonderwoman from our household.  Then, on halloween the next picture is of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers in our costumes....if you can't tell I am a gray crayon with a black tip?  Couldn't find any gray paper alright...no judging.  The fifth graders thought it was pretty fun to call me Mr. DeMaGRAY for the day though which was enjoyable.

Next week, will be starting a few more neat projects with the kids including dissecting of simple machines such as old radios, cd players, electronic toys...the kids will love that.  I will also be having the 6th graders plan a lesson for the kindergartners - we are reading Sign of the Beaver where a young settler boy teaches a Penobscot Native American boy how to read...so I wanted to give the 6th graders a little taste of what it's like to be a teacher...it should be great!

Anyways, last night, Jamie (another mercy volunteer who teachers at the high school) had put together a talent show at the high school to raise money for the drama club that she is the head of.  They needed some acts so I played Waterfall by Jon Schmidt (Little shout out to little bro John...I thought about playing "All of Me" but simply would not have been up to your standards John...haha)  It was a great event that I believe raised a couple hundred bucks for the drama club so we were all pumped for Jamie.

Now, we are off to our fall retreat at the Desert House of Prayer here in St. Michael's.   Sister Jeanne O'Rourke (wonderful Sister of Mercy from Omaha Nebraska) is here visiting for it too so it should be great!   Alright, peace!!!

Meant to post this morning....but didnt have time to add the pictures so now I am posting it...the retreat was great!!! And we stopped at the pow wow in honor of Sister Marguerite at the high school gym afterward where a few of my students were actually dancing...check it out...

Getting Chilly!

Well it is most certainly getting chillier by the day here on the Rez.  This morning, woke up to a brisk 17 degree chill - but it does feel good actually!  There is nothing like a cold fall morning with that wonderful fall SMELL.  It even exists here in Arizona.  Anyways, another week in the books with the students.  

Last weekend as I mentioned before we ran in the Duke City Team Marathon in Albuquerque.  What a race it was too - we all did great and finished with a total time of 3 hours and 44 minutes which placed us 25th out of 63 co-ed teams.  Not too shabby!  We also had the chance to make stops at Best Buy, Target, Olive Garden, and an Irish pub for the Packer game while there which was quite the treat!  The little things are what counts! :)

However, the weekend did take its toll on me and I think I am just fully recovering from a pretty nasty cold.  It was a little tough teaching on a few of the days though - But, Tuesday was the 6th grade retreat  in Ganado (about 35 minutes away) so I didn't have to do too much that day.  It was a pretty neat day for the kids with the chance to hike on a hill by the parish.  Neat stuff

Parish in Ganado

Anywho, turned in report cards on Thursday for the first quarter so we are full fledged into the 2nd quarter now.  And, Mr. D. is kicking it up a notch with the sixth graders in particular.  No more messing around!  Time for book reports, US state reports, etc.  I have come to realize the one question that will stump middle school teachers worldwide :  How do you get the students to care about other students and the class as a whole?  Even when they know that their own behaviors are costing the class certain privileges?  haha..I'm still searching for an answer..

Last night, our house put on a little get together for fellow co-workers and teachers and was quite fun.  Some good costumes including these Three Blind Mice that kept bumping into people all night...It was a fun night to say the least!  On to watching a little football later tonight and constantly checking my phone for updates on Cotter football in the section semifinals!  Go Cotter!

Remember Window Rock?  Climbed up the back yesterday!!!

Only three weeks until Thanksgiving break already! Crazy!  Alright, peace!

Where has October been going?

Hello!  Today marks the official end to the first quarter of teaching at St. Michael Indian School! Wow. Pretty crazy how fast that went by.  The students have really started to come around a little bit lately - or maybe I have backed off?  haha I'm not sure...we will have to see how the second quarter goes now.

Good news in regard to the classroom, however, is that I finally have a vga adapter for my mac so I have a somewhat functioning projection and Smart Board to work with!  Used it today with my science classes and they loved it....that could really help from here on out!!!! Woohoo

Anyways, I wanted to quickly catch you all up on a few things:  First of all, I don't know if I ever stated that the hot air balloons didn't even go up two weeks ago when we went to Albuquerque....it was "too windy" apparently.  Let's just say that turned into a little bit of a disappointing trip but we made the most of it and hit up the balloon museum and a secondhand book store!  I did hear that there is a miniature balloon festival in Gallup (25 minutes away) the last week in November too, so we might be able to get a little taste there.  Oh well!

Last weekend as I stated we took a nice hiking trip to a place only about 30 minutes away and enjoyed the fall weather and scenery as best as we could.  Here are a few more pictures from the top of the mountain that Mary Rose and I made it up - apparently there was a path, but we chose (unknowingly) to simply go straight up....and it was quite the hike...but the views were astounding:

Now, on to this coming weekend where we will be heading to Albuquerque once again for the Duke City Marathon!  We (Mary Rose, Stacy, Dan, and Mary) are running in the team marathon on Sunday morning so we are heading to town tomorrow sometime and staying overnight in a hotel!  I am getting quite excited for this because I have actually been training quite a bit - trying to get my stamina up to 5 miles instead of the normal 3.1 miles (5k) I have always run before.  Hopefully, I surprise myself a bit, but then again, I don't know if I will be able to put up a time like the little bro (TIMMY - 19:40 - wooooohooo! - 5k...but still!)  After the marathon, we plan on heading to some sort of pub and grill and treating ourselves to a nice lunch and perhaps PACKER GAME?  Speaking of, they need to pull it together.

Well, I think that's all for now.  We are headed off to Basha's (grocery store) to get our pictures taken! haha...NaShia and I got scammed into some sort of customer appreciation picture package!  But hey, look for a nice picture of us all sometime in the future.  Should be fun!

The days are flying by here in AZ and I just try my best to take it all in every day (even the tough ones).  The experience is something else - colder weather is definitely on the way so preparing for that as well!  Alright perhaps I'll check in from Albuquerque this weekend!  Keep checking and sending prayers - always welcome.  PEace

Last week of the quarter

Well it's the last week of the quarter! I can't believe how fast this first quarter has flown by! Now hopefully the students can just turn in everything missing in the next few days....I can wish right??

This past weekend was exciting! We had the opportunity to take yet another short Hiking trip to a place about 45 min from our house! It wa here that we had the chance to see some TREES with beautiful leaves...a real taste of fall! It was beautiful of course and just the changing of the air itself is really quite amazing...in the morning it's only about 25 degrees and by mid afternoon it's back up to 75! Pretty crazy...well I'm off to bed...thought I'd check in From my new sweet blogpress app before bed... Work pretty well! Pictures to come soon from past couple weeks and surely from the upcoming weekend when we head to Albuquerque for the team marathon!!! Peace to all from the Rez!!





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Location:Oljato Dr,Window Rock,United States

Looking towards the balloons!

Well, almost complete with another FULL week on the Rez.  This week, much of my time after school was taken up by the Transitus of St. Francis play that was put on at the Mission last evening.  Mary Rose and I were asked by Noel, one of the postulants, to help act in the depiction of St. Francis's life (whose feast day was today!).  Needless to say, after the couple nights of practice, we nailed it and the audience loved it!  I was told I made a pretty darn good soldier and an even better bishop...haha - with the mitre on my head I had to be close to 7 feet tall so I had a "commanding presence" according to Fr. O'Connor.  haha!  It was a great show and really provided for an opportunity to reflect on the life of quite an astounding man as I have learned the past week - go St. Francis.

Anyways, school this week has been kicked up a notch by Mr. D.  The sixth graders have probably been wondering what all this new work is that I'm throwing at them, but really - it's time for them to get going...For the most part, they have taken it in stride and are really turning in to a fun class (most days). However, I am extremely grateful that tomorrow is Friday.  The weekend is needed right now!

And quite a weekend it has the potential to be - we are headed to Albuquerque tomorrow afternoon for the Hot air balloon festival!  Apparently, it is going to be spectacular and from the pictures I have seen, I would have to agree.  The plan is to stay at a faculty's house tomorrow night for a few hours before getting up at 3:30/4 AM to get into the festival grounds for the "Dawn glow" in the sky.  I'm pumped.  Then, we are heading back tomorrow afternoon - going out to eat for the fifth grade teacher (and former mercy volunteer) Ann's birthday!  Sunday = Packers.

Should be a good time - I believe the Cotter football team has a big game tomorrow night as well - Go Johnny boy!

Norbs folks - miss ya greatly!

Alright peace! Off to bed!

Busy week indeed

Well I made it through parent teacher conference week!  It was quite a week - Wednesday and Thursday were the conference days, and overall, they really went quite well!  The 6th graders are beginning to shape up more and more each day.  I think they are finally starting to realize that their parents won't stand for them not turning in homework either...which is good!  Now, we are heading into the last three weeks of the first quarter already.  Beginning next week, I am starting a novel with the sixth graders which I am quite excited about - they are voting on Monday to decide between The Giver  and Sign of the Beaver.  I think it will be fun to really engage them in a book together as a class - and see how they do with that.

I didn't even get a chance to mention anything about our day adventure to Canyon De Chelly last Saturday.  The Canyon is a sacred place for the Navajo - Spider Rock (pictured below) is symbolic for their Holy Spider Woman who taught them how to weave!  It was quite a day to say the least - we had the chance to hike down into the canyon and look at some more ancient ruins.  And the craziest thing about the whole day was the fact that we only drove about an hour or so from our house - there is just so much beauty in the land all around here!

Currently, I am sitting at the other volunteers' trailer watching the Packer game...it isn't exactly the same watching it by myself in Arizona - but hey Go Pack Go!  Earlier today, the parish held its annual Harvest Mass outside which was a beautiful mass indeed.  And was of course, followed by a potluck! YUM!  Then, Mary Rose and I stayed after to rehearse for a short play we are going to be in on Wednesday night.  Wednesday is the feast of St. Francis and since the priests here are Franciscan, the four Postulants (novitiates) are putting on a short depiction of Francis's life and death.  We were asked by Noel, one of the postulants, to help out, so we said sure!  I will be a Soldier and a bishop and Mary Rose is going to be St. Clare.  It will be a pretty neat experience.  And, I am happy to have met the four postulants - Noel, David, Anthony, and Patrick.  Hopefully, I can take some time to hang with them from time to time.

Anyways, on to another week of teaching - Days go by pretty darn fast but there is never a shortage of work to do as a new teacher.  I just try my hardest to make sure I find some time for myself every day - for my own sanity.  Alright, I'm off to cheer on the pack - check in again sometime this week hopefully!

Enjoy the pictures:

Spider rock

First REAL full week almost complete!

Well, the first REAL full week of school (even though its actually the 5th week) is coming to a close tomorrow!  It has been a pretty darn good week to say the least.  It started off a little rough on Monday, but I believe my 6th graders in particular are really beginning to realize that this is school...and Mr. D. will not stand for not turning things in or turning things in that are clearly not even close to sixth grade standard.  Bit by bit they are coming along...and I'm just trying to keep a hold of myself while it happens! :)

But really, I am starting to truly enjoy coming to school on most days which is definitely a plus!  Life at our house is great - we had a wonderful spirituality night last night in which we watched the movie Crash and then I led a short discussion!  Great topic of discussion to say the least.   Mary Rose, Stacy, and I are really starting to get going on our training for the team marathon we are doing in Albuquerque next month!  We will be running with Dan, a high school teacher, and Mary, a volunteer from last year who stayed at the special ed school this year as a paid employee!  It will definitely be a great time, but getting myself up to running longer than 2-3 miles is a challenge....especially in this altitude!  Seriously, it makes a difference...I don't care if you don't believe me!  Anyways, we are getting excited.

Coming up this weekend, we are planning on taking a trip to Canyon de Chelly - an extremely sacred place for the Navajo people as I understand.  Should be a good day trip on Saturday!

Alright, just thought I would check in.  Thanks for reading - look for another post sometime this weekend!

Another week on the rez!

Well hello to you all once again.  I am happy to announce that I am currently writing this post sitting in my living room!  Yes, we have internet at our house!  It is definitely a little weird to have the access and am still getting used to it - woke up today and said to myself, "I better go in to school to get some work done on the internet."  Then, after sitting at the table for a few minutes, laughed to myself because I realized I CAN DO IT HERE!  And that's exactly what I have been doing for the past hour and a half or so.  Anyways, here are a few updates from this past week:

Last weekend - the Navajo Nation Fair engulfed our little town of Window Rock / St. Michael's, Arizona.  It was a weekend to remember to say the least.  From seeing multiple Fry Bread contests to watching a pow wow to experiencing my first real Rodeo to you name it - the fair had it all!  What an amazing opportunity it was to share in the culture of the Navajo.  I don't really no what else to say about it but that. I even spent quite a few hours at the fair just walking around by myself...thousands of Navajos as well as travelers from all over.  A few pictures:

Right above our house Saturday morning! Woke me up - I said Good Morning to them and they talked back! haha

Pow wow grand entry last Friday night - wow!

Parade - Navajo Nation flag on the right 

RODEO!

Now, the weekend didn't really end on a strong note with a Packers opening day loss, but it was still great!  And they ended up making up for it with a nice win on Thursday!!

Anyways, in regard to school, the week was good.  We finally have all of our Specials for the students up and running - the art teacher arrived this week.  The students are a challenge from time to time but truly are a joy to teach.  And, I feel as though I am starting to really get to know more of the staff as well which is great!

I'm still trying to figure out what kind of resources I have to work with in regard to science materials though.  Here's a little plug - if you have any or know of anybody who has any type of science materials laying around - send them my way!! seriously!  But, so far I have been doing alright - one week at a time!

Cathedral in Gallup

Last night, I did get a new phone after our teacher in-service in Gallup at the Cathedral.  The church itself was beautiful - the art in the churches here is so unique to the culture which I absolutely love!  I love seeing the intertwining of Catholic and Navajo spirituality.  Alright, well I'm off to school just for a little while to check out my new WHITEBOARD which was installed yesterday!  OH yes, I am excited because using chalkboards constantly is a bit much so even a whiteboard is an amazing addition to the classroom.  And hopefully, I can find some magnets lying around to use this week in science as we move into magnetism.

Please know that I continue to think about all of you a lot and hope all is well.  Maybe with the internet at our house now, I can give a few more quick updates about events at school or something.  This past week did end with quite a bang as I took the classes outside to throw their paper airplanes in science.  Which design flies the farthest?  The kids seemed to love it! and so did I!

Alright, peace to all!

El Morro, El Malpais, Ice Caves, Acoma, and Week 3!

Another week of teaching complete.  What a week it has been!  I'm going to try to give a quick run-down of last weekend (which was amazing) and the very shortened week of school.

Last weekend, 10 of us went on a little National Park/Monument tour of the surrounding area.  On Saturday, we made stops at El Morro National Monument, El Malpais National Monument, and the Ice Cave.  They were all absolutely wonderful places with so much history.  At El Morro, the main attraction was the Inscription wall - the rock formation itself had tons of inscriptions on it of people from as far back as the 1600s who had passed through the area in order to get access to the only water for 150 miles.  There was a little guide book they handed out that explained some of the more significant markings - who the people were and such.

walking up to the wall

Water hole - only water for 150 miles back in the day!

Hand prints, names, you name it

Once you walked around the main inscription wall, you could climb up to the top of the formation and look out for miles in all directions - Beautiful - the pictures don't even do it justice of course!

The gang

Cool huh?

After El Morro, we headed on to the Ice Cave.  This place was simply amazing.  First, there was a bandera (Volcano cinder cone) that you could hike to top of and look down into.  It was amazing - the volcano erupted some 10,000 years ago.  Not to mention on the trails, there was all sorts of igneous rock formations that were really neat (The inner geologist was definitely coming out of me the whole day!)  After seeing the cinder cone, we hiked to the ice cave which itself was formed by a collapsed Lava flow tube.  Apparently "The combination of cold air settling and insulation of the porous lake keeps the ice frozen year round."  (From a sign at the cave)  As you took the stairs down to the cave/lake, the temperature dropped about 10 degrees every 2 or 3 steps!  The temperature at the bottom stays a brisk 31 degrees year round!  Pretty neat!

cinder cone

Funny sign - disturb the lava?

stairs into the ice cave

The ice cave!!!

After the ice cave, we headed to El Malpais, which was yet another large national park with a dormant volcano cinder cone.  Here, we hiked another few miles and some absolutely breathtaking views to take in.

Cinder cone - erupted 100,000 years ago - much more overgrown!

  

Oh yeah!

The Jesus Rays we see almost every night!

And after all this, we treated ourselves to a little dinner and then crashed in our two cheap hotel rooms!

The next day was just as wonderful as we traveled to the Acoma sky city.  The Acoma Pueblo who have lived in this small town on top of a mesa for around a 1000 years celebrate the feast of St. Stephen every September 2nd!  The feast itself is open to the public and the day included vendors of all sorts selling handmade pottery, jewelry, clothing, you name it all over the small town.  It also included hours of traditional Acoma Pueblo harvest dances in the middle of the small streets while all observed.

Really cool mesa along the drive

The city is on top of the mesa right there!

However, the highlight of the day had to be the lunch we got to experience.  When we first arrived, Stacy, Mary Rose, and I were walking around checking out the different streets when a man who was setting up his vendor station stopped us and welcomed us to Acoma.  After introducing himself, he invited us to come back for food later in the day stating "It's feast day!  We feed any and all!  It's a celebration!"  Therefore, when it came to be around lunch time, we walked back to (his sister's small home) and he invited us right in where there was a large table set up with all sorts of dishes.  There were a few other guests at the time as well simply sharing a meal and really being served by the home owners.  We were invited in and treated with the utmost respect.  We eventually learned that the man's sister (whose home it was) actually graduated from St. Michael's!  What a neat connection.  It was quite a lunch and day to remember to say the least!  However, there are no pictures to show because cameras were not allowed at the festival.

Well after that weekend, labor day came as a blessing - got some work done at school and then simply relaxed!  The week of school went by fast yet again because the Navajo Nation fair has now begun right here in St. Michaels/Window Rock area!  This is quite the fair!  Hopefully, I will have more pictures to share by the end of the weekend, but Stacy and I already enjoyed a free barbecue and fry bread contest last evening.  So much to share - you really have to experience it!  We did meet a gentleman and his wife at the contest who was very nice and told us all about fry bread and tid bits of cultural information.  He even ended up inviting us to his home next weekend for dinner and another ceremony of some sort!  We cannot wait!

I just finished up planning out next week, so I think I am starting to get the hang of this teaching thing a little bit.  I have no doubt there will continue to be ups and downs - but I continue to learn how to deal with those days of struggle in different ways!  There really is so much to experience here, and it is great to finally be realizing it at a deeper level.

Alright, could talk forever about this place - but Stacy and I need to go figure out some things for the house before heading to the fair again!  Oh and I forgot to mention - we don't have school today due to the fair...pretty crazy!  There are people camping out all along the main streets here.  Tonight, there will be hot air balloons lighting up the sky as far as I understand.  And tomorrow there is the parade and various other events including a rodeo....

Peace friends and family!  Continue to keep my in your prayers and I always welcome cards/packages! :) hahaha