this sums it up better than I could

The heartbreak of returning to normal

5x7 Folded Card

Wishes For Grandma Mother's Day 5x7 folded card

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{this *Earth Day* moment}

A Friday ritual from my friend Wendy, who got it from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

(PS: Any predictions on when the last of this Northern facing pile will melt? We could do our own little contest, and the winner could get some sunscreen or clothespins or something equally as cool...)

{this *late* moment}

A Friday ritual from my friend Wendy, who got it from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from last week.

This is why.

Today was swimming along. I was handing out books for 6th period and a few of them said "I don't need one." They were working on job applications, or doing make up work, or just not 'into it'. And so I let it fly, because I keep my classroom pretty real*. "Sometimes I wonder why I even bother."

"Because you love us and you want to help us succeed."

Point taken, with probably the truest statement of the week. Even in the midst of chaos, we're moving forward.

For the record, they paid better attention and were more involved in the discussion than when they all have their books open.Who knew? Clearly not me...


*I've been reading Confessions of a Pioneer Woman like it's a novel. Don't ask me why it took me this long, but I am currently hooked. Maybe it's because I finished my last novel and am resisting starting the next one? Anyway, because I pick up speech patterns like no one's business, her phrases have been floating through my head all week. Just keepin' it real about keepin' it real.

I just stick out my chin, and grin and say....

As I look around me, everyone is struggling. Kids are in constant crisis, and not just my sunshines. I hear reports of students crying, getting in trouble, losing their cool. Teachers, too, are on the brink... budget questions loom, and we have no idea what is going to make the cut or not. In short, people are on edge, and are in some serious need of a break. And we need more than a Kit Kat bar.

So where do we go from here? I go back to where I always go: strengthen your relationships. Check in on your friends and neighbors. Be kind to others, if only because you can. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control how we react to them. I choose to see my glasses as half full, even when the logical side of me knows they are probably mostly empty. And on those really bad days, I do try to channel Scarlet O'Hara, and to help others do the same.

So, my dear friends and kind readers, thank you for taking the time to check in on me. I could survive with a lot less things, but my world would not be the same without each and every one of you.

Hang On...

{this moment}

A Friday (I know, I know, I was gone...) ritual from my friend Wendy, who got it from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

... and we're back!

So I know I've been quiet... I haven't forgotten you all, but I have been too distracted to write all those thoughts down.  It's too much to explain, so let me try to sum up:

*It's now April, and we're in this weird not-yet-fourth-quarter-because-of-snow-pushed-the-end-of-third-quarter week. Vacation is 9 working days away. Not quite sure how this has all happened, but here we are.
*This year continues to challenge me, mostly emotionally. Things get really bad, and I stand on the edge of breaking, and then am able to step back and breathe. Today was a good day: multiple kids showed some serious gains and self restraint. Tomorrow is a new day, and one never knows, but today was a good day.
*I was overwhelmed with the love and well wishes from all my peeps on my rather snowy birthday. It is always overwhelming to be carried along on such a wave of love. One of the best parts of being a teacher is getting to watch kids become adults. In the midst of all sorts of chaos that seems like it's the most important thing EVER (do you remember your SAT scores, or the score of the championship game? Me either!) they figure out who they are and what matters to them. And when they take the time to send me birthday greetings, it melts my heart.

No matter what, I love my job. I can not imagine doing anything else, and if I'm lucky, I'll never have to.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual from my friend Wendy, who got it from SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.