2 Weeks from Thursday

It is official, we have to do our frame walk through two weeks from Thursday. =( At this time we need to have our house sold or it goes on the market for other James Hill lookers. Charles went out there today to check on things and some of the workers were sprawled out all through the house to take their nap after lunch. I wish I got to take a nap after lunch. It is finally down to CRUNCH time.

House Update

Here is a picture showing the progress of our house. Your first thought is probably "Yay" it is getting close, but we are thinking "slow down". We still haven't sold our house and in a matter of weeks we have to get it sold or it isn't ours anymore. Yes it is sad to think of it that way but it is reality. We don't really have any serious lookers at our house but hopefully the right one will come along and get here fast. My favorite looker so far has been a lady looking for a space to hold her Grand Piano. Hmmm...In a townhouse? Of course our space wasn't big enough. Haha! I guess some people really don't use that noggin' up there. The best part is the fact that we hid out in our car to see who was coming. I felt like we were secret agents. =) Anyways, keep your fingers crossed that we will have a buyer super soon.

Meet Mrs. Marsh

That's the intimidating Mrs. Marsh. Yeah right. Not the best picture for the yearbook but it was a funny picture so I thought I would share it with yall. Of course, I will certainly have lots of fun stories straight from the classroom, not the press. It makes me sad that I can't post pictures of my precious kiddies but take my word for it, they would make your heart melt. Each day that I head off to my job I constantly remind myself that the kids that walk through the doors of our school are totally different from me culturally but we are all the same at heart. We all have the need to be loved. How quick they are to say "I love you!" in hopes to hear the simple phrase said back to them with a smile. How easy it is to forget how enormously blessed I truly am. I can honestly say that I take PRIDE and great JOY in knowing that I am an educator, a friend, a mommy, a sister, a nurse, a comforter, an ear to listen, a pat on the back and so many other roles to these kids. To some of them, something I may "say" or "not say" could make all the difference in the world to the future of that child. Each day I ask that you would pray that God would use me in any way possible to touch the lives of each student I come in contact with. Some days are of course going to be tough to love unconditionally but I know it is what I am called to do. I know that one day, the kids that I have now will be out on their own and I want them to remember someone who stopped "teaching" long enough to truly get to know them.

Fun Things Heard

Since I have had kiddies for five days now, I have heard some really funny stuff. Just wanted to share some with you guys. To get the full effect you might have to ask me to demonstrate using their personalized voices. I have gotten really good at sounding like them. =) The kids are so precious and they make me laugh so much. On to phrases and words I have heard over the past few days. "What.. why you gotta do that? Why you gotta get that big'O eraser out and take words off my page?"...."I wanna go home"..."I don't like you anymore"--followed by a hug and smile..."Mrs. Marsh, we haven't gone to the bathroom yet"---- ......."D-A-N-G" in slow-mo but the not so nice word was used instead of the one I typed---this followed a discussion about the Olympics being in China. I brought out the globe and showed them how far away the country was and I heard the first cuss word of the year. Hopefully the last!...."Mrs. Marsh, we have off days on Saturday and Sunday."....I wanted to say, "believe me I KNOW" but I just smiled and said "Yes, that is correct."...and last for today, "Mrs. Marsh, you are my favorite teacher ever." =)

106

One Hundred and Six is my new favorite number! I am of course kidding. I wanted to come up with a little jingle with the number but I have moved on. I got my duty assignment at school today and the number has just gotten me tickled. I have to make light of the fact that out of 180-something days i have "double duty" (both morning and afternoon duty) 106 of those days. I wonder if I get paid extra. That would make me grin from ear to ear. I really don't mind working the extra time but I do think it is funny that it is pretty much for the whole year. I LOVE MY JOB! And my PEEPS I work with! So, I guess i will "do my time" and continually remind myself to NEVER do second load bus duty without a few extra muscles for those "rowdy" times. (That's another story that I have put behind me to protect the UN-innocent.)

Summing up the First Day Back

Wake-Up Early, Iron my really wrinkly faculty shirt, Gulp a glass of Chocolate Milk =), Rush out the door, Come back in the door (forgot something), A 20 min. drive, Sign-IN, Get my class Roll (at the 8:00 Bell), Walk 7 down the long hall, Meet the Parents, Smile at the Kids, Sort through supplies, Practice classroom procedures and guidelines, Get to know the kids, More kids come in (up to 14 now), Of course a Potty Break for the little ones, Fun Activities, Lunch time, Gain 1 more (up to 15), Time for Running and playing (Recess), Water Break, Math Mat, Power goes out (twice), Track parents down for dismissal routes, Pick up and clean up, Get Bags, Chairs UP, Group time for reflection, 1st load bus, walkers, front door, back door, 2nd Load, Faculty Meeting, Sit and BREATHE, Sign-Out. Officially through with the first day of school! Now it's time for BED! Sleeply Time!

The Time Has Come

Well, yep it is "Back To School Time". All the children that live within city limits (at least we hope) come tomorrow to find their special seat. Of course some will come with parents who are eager to "meet the teacher" and others will get dropped off at the front door to enter into the learning community alone. T-minus less than 24 hours and I still do not have a final class list. I am sure tomorrow will be full of countless challenges but I know that by the end of the day those kids will have been in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for a full 8 hours. That is HUGE! I can't wait to see their smiling faces! I know, I have to remind myself that tomorrow they will be sweet, quiet, and charming for the very first day and then the next day I will really get to know their personalities. BRING IT! =)