They are MINE

This is my second year as a classroom teacher. (My first 4 years I was a computer teacher.) And last year I absolutely fell in love with my first real class. So when I got back to school this year, I really missed them. It was hard not to constantly compare my current class to last year, and this class was seriously lacking!

But something has slowly occurred. I have fallen in love with this class. It happened so gradually, that I didn't even realize it. I started noticing a common theme in my thoughts about my class: "They are SO smart!" "Look how cute they are!" "These kids are cracking me up!" And stuff like that. And it took a while before I realized that I was proud of them! They are MINE and I love them!

It is such a good feeling to love the children you spend the entire day with. It feels more like a family instead of a job. It makes it easier to smile and laugh instead of get fed up and yell. It makes you want to work harder to design lessons that they will like. It makes you want to teach the same skill over. and. over. until they finally GET IT.

I'm usually a glass-half-full kind of person, so it pains me to think this... I'm going to lose them and start over again next year! At least I know what to expect for next year and I can prepare for my emotions. As for now, I'm going to focus on this connection with my kids and use it to help motivate me to do my best for them.

Inauguration + Snow

Today was a cool day at school. My kids were so pumped when they got to school. "Miss, do you know that we are going to get a new president today?" "Did you know its going to snow today?" "Obama is going to be our president!" "Can we build a snowman at recess?" This was my morning as I tried to maintain some sense of normalcy.

But around 11:30 we turned on the TV and they watched closely. The best part was when they announced, "President-elect Barack Obama!" The crowd in Washington went wild and so did my class! It was too cute! They clapped and cheered and one little boy pumped his arm in the air and shouted Oooobaaamma! Well, we had to go to lunch shortly after that. And in elementary school, you better not be late for lunch. But when we got to the cafeteria they had a TV in there and we were able to watch the actual swearing in. (Which was the part that I really wanted them to see.)

No matter who you voted for, today was an inspiring day.

As far as the snow day went, we didn't see one little flake during the school day. But the kids just couldn't understand why we couldn't build snowmen or throw snowballs. As kids who have never really seen snow in their life, all they can imagine are scenes from books and movies. I tried to explain that the ground was too warm for it to stick, but they didn't quite get it. Sure enough, about an hour after school was out, the snow started to fall. And it was beautiful! Not even one flake is on the ground, but still very pretty. This southern girl can appreciate it but I'm very thankful that we aren't dealing with it for months.

Kelly and Harper have been on my heart lately, and it seems like everyone else's in the blog world too.

I just wanted to post my support and prayers, and I want to say how much Kelly's attitude has impacted me. A lot of people would be angry at God, or question why, or even turn away from Him. I know its ok to ask questions of God and I know He would understand. But she hasn't. Her faith has been unmoved. Again it causes me to think on these verses...

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27

Kelly is definitely experiencing a storm but she has a firm foundation that cannot be shaken.

Where have I been?

My computer has been broken!

And it has been crazy...You don't really realize how much you use your computer until you don't have it. And you don't really realize how much time you spend on the computer. Then you are presented with at least an extra hour a day, which really isn't a bad thing!

Best Buy has been a huge disappointment by taking 7 days just to decide what was wrong with my computer. (If they would have listened to me they would have had a head start!) When I called on the 6th day they said they hadn't even looked at it yet.

Then they called and sweetly said, "We have to send your computer away to be repaired and it will be 3-4 weeks before we get it back. Is that OK with you?"

"Sure, that sounds GREAT! I look forward to not seeing my computer for the rest of the month!!"

Sorry, I'll behave now.

Anyway, my kind madre has lent me her computer for the week because I have to turn in report cards on Thursday and I don't want to spend hours after school every day. Instead I'll be comfy on my couch and watch TV while I work. Thanks Mom!

OK well, this isn't much but I just wanted to check in! My blogging will be sporadic for a while but hopefully I'll be back to normal soon.