the joys of teaching

the joys of teaching are many...

This one speaks for itself.

Sorry if this is offensive. Welcome to 4th grade. Peeing fish. Embarrassing detail. A cross between human anatomy and marine biology.

It never gets old folks.

Perspective

After our difficult weekend, it's Homecoming week at school.

I'm always in a funk after I don't have a normal weekend.  It's like I'm running on half a battery.  This week it feels like less.

I am still very much thinking about the funeral, the loss, the circumstances, the family.  It gives me less tolerance for the goofy stuff of this week.  The persepective I have during this moment isn't very forgiving of crazy 4th graders who are wearing sunglasses, hats, and hair dye.

I'm trying to embrace the lighter side of life. Hopefully I get better at this as the week goes on.

I'm not sure what to title this post.
1. My weekend in Denver
2. What I now understand about Funerals
3. Funerals are a hard, but necessary part of life
4. Friends passing away at young ages sucks

Pick whichever one you like.

This weekend I took my first ever bereavement day.  As much as I love a three day weekend, I would have given this one back in a heartbeat.  Last Sunday, a friend of mine and Trevor's had a tragic accident in Colorado which resulted in him leaving earth too young.  He left a mom and dad, two brothers and a sister.

Let me start by saying that until this point, I could count the funerals I've attended on one hand. I've been very fortunate to have healthy friends and family, something I do not take for granted.

Several things about this weekend have been constantly on my mind this week.  The strongest is probably trying to wrap my mind around how I would feel if it was my brother.  There are no words for this. No picture I can think of, no actions that I would do or not do. It seems unreal to think of my life without the parallel of my brother's life, although states away. To think of holidays, the birth of grandchildren, major family events without a key piece is like a nightmare.

I think this is the reason that Trevor and I flew to Colorado to attend this funeral, to support our friend. All the way I wondered why funerals were necessary. I kept telling Trevor that if the family is miserable, and the attendees are feeling awkward, and the person the funeral for is not around to see it, why do we have funerals? This weekend that question was answered in the form of parents and siblings sharing stories, memories, and hurts. The love they felt no one questioned, the pauses to gain composure everyone respected. As we walked through a receiving line, caravaned to a cemetary, and gathered for a meal; hearts didn't mend, but were sewn together. 

I won't question anymore why people gather for these events. I won't forget the feeling of being there. I won't forget the guy with the permanent smile, endless grace, quiet wit. 

taking the time

a text message from a close friend shook our house today.

a horrible accident. a life gone too soon. a brother and son that will be greatly missed.

a man of character, of few words, of a giant smile.

a guy who went to church with us. two years my elder, a quiet presence

today I talked to people from my youth group I haven't had contact with in years.

reunited over a common loss.


i told my brother I loved him.  he knows i'm a proud big sis.

i know he puts himself in harms way for our nation

i know his safety isn't guaranteed

i send him love and hugs thousands of miles away

thru a text message

he understands


i'm taking the time today to thank God for my brothers. all of them.

Year 5

I've taught fourth grade for two weeks.

I'm not sure if it's the magical fifth year but somehow EVERYHING is smoother.

I feel more effective. Like some teacher switch went off and I am on the top of my game.

It's a good feeling.  It's fun to be able to fit in fun things because my students can control themselves through the content teaching.

Oh and I started my master's degree

and Mr. H started another year of pharmacy school.

....and I'm excited to take my favorite 5th grader to hang out on Saturday.  I'm thinking some video games and a movie are in order!

Sinking in

It's Sunday. The Sunday before I start my first full week of school. It's finally hitting me...summer is over.  While I was ready to go back, it still makes me sad.  I feel like I'm saying goodbye to the last summer Trevor and I would both be "off". I feel like we made the most of it. We traveled, relaxed, and enjoyed each other.  So my classroom is ready.  I've had two days with my students.  I'm ready to start this year focused. 

If that isn't love...

A husband agrees to drive cross country with his in-laws on his 4th anniversary

Tire blows 2 hours into the trip

A calm husband fixes the tire

Said Anniversary is celebrated over a McChicken while waiting for a new tire

...and that was only 2 hours into a 20 hour trip!

Continue the trip towards the promise-land (ie the grandkids) after picking up two more key players.

Deal gracefully with Mom who's using her ipad as a flash light to look at her atlas.

After a million miles in the car we made it to this messy face:

And his sister who LOVES her Uncle Trevor (who was a bit under the weather)



We spent a long weekend at the beach, playing trains, and wearing multiple dresses

Then we turned around and drove another million miles home to these boys

If that isn't love....I don't know what is.