The first week of school

Well the first week of school is just about behind me and it has been an exhausting one. This new school year brings with it a new set of challenges... and a chance to start over once again. I love being a teacher it's the one job I know of where you get the chance to start over and try new things or reexperience things that you have done before. It's never the same. When you have a classroom full of 4 1/2 to 5 year olds to work with life is never boring. This school year promises to be an interesting one and hopefully one where I will continue to grow as a teacher. I have 1 new and 1 partially new staff members under my direction this year. I love new teachers they have such enthuasiasm that I can't help but get reenergized just by being around them.

This past week I welcomed 14 new children into my classroom. Some were excited to be there, others were scared because they didn't quite know what to expect from this new teacher and the other kids in the classroom. I watched their faces as they came in. It is always interesting to see how they react to being in a new classroom. For many of them walking into my classroom was nothing new they've been doing it off and on for the past several years.... Two of my new students are siblings of children I have had in the past so I have literally watched them grow from being babies to toddlers and now they get to be just like their big brothers and sisters and get to not only come into Miss Teale's class but they get to stay! I love teaching in a small private school... while the pay isn't as good as what I would make at a public school the small feeling of community in the middle of the big city feeds my soul. I love the fact that I am able to build relationships with parents who are actively involved in their children's education. I love being a part of this time in the lives of the children placed in my care. They are so full of life and so wonderfully eager to learn. I hope they never lose that eagerness to learn something new! And I hope I never lose my appreciation for their love of life or forget the importance of the job I have been given to do.

My Saturday

It has been a full day for me.. started out with a 2 mile walk with 2 of my favorite people. It was a glorious day in Texas.. the weather was relatively mild for an August day and by that I mean it was only in the 90's all day :) so I got the healthy stuff out of the way. What is it about walking with loved ones that helps to make the time go by faster? That 2 mile walk doesn't really feel like 2 miles when you are sharing in each others lives and keeping each other motivated! Then my silly boyfriend and I drove around for a while looking for a place to have "brunch" and ended up eating at a mexican food restaurant in Mesquite called Martinez. It was quite delicious. He actually had breakfast and since I'm not really into eggs I had a yummy chicken dish called Monterrey Chicken which is basically grilled chicken under melted cheese. Yummy! Then it was off to see the new batman movie "Dark Knight"! It was really good even though it was rather lengthy. After the movie he dropped me off at my place so he could go get some sleep before heading into work. :( Well since he was taking a nap I figured I'd do the same before heading to the hospital to visit a friend. zzzzzzzzz sleepy time! I love naps! After my nap I got up and headed to the hospital to visit my friend who is 7 months pregnant and on bedrest. She was having a rough time when I got there and God gave me the opportunity to sit with her and listen to her get some of her worries off her chest. We were able to pray together and then just spend some time hanging out. I firmly believe that the Lord places us where He needs us to be. For whatever reason I was put in this young woman's life I hope that I am doing the job He intended me to do.
I pray that my friend and the child she is caring continue to make progress and that the current health issues will be resolved. I pray that the child will be born healthy and whole and that my friend will learn to trust in God always but especially in the hours of her deepest need.
P.S. Now you know why my blog is called "Random Ramblings" :)