little blessings

I had to smile today when I thought of how God is taking care of me even in small things that seem pretty unimportant. Yesterday and today were going to be tough days to sub because I'm having a party at our house tonight and with our crazy weekend of basketball and church concerts I didn't get much done at home. So when Monday came I was really hoping to not get a call to sub.  On the other hand, we can use the money and I hate saying no so I knew no matter what I'd say yes if they called.

And they did, as usual around 7:15am I got a call to sub at the Middle school. An art teacher got sick and didn't leave any notes or anything.  But even though it was a bummer I couldn't use all the cool supplies they have and do some art, it was actually a super low key day.  You can't even compare it to a day at the Elementary school where you are stressed to the max the whole day.  I still prefer the stress :) because that's how I am but really I needed a day of chilling and rest in the middle of a crazy few weeks.  

This morning I got a call again from the Middle school because the same teacher was still sick.  But the secretary assured me there are sub plans in her e-mail inbox that she'll print out for me.  I was actually a bit excited to see what I get to do with the kids, only to find out it was 2 simple drawing sheets and one didn't even work to print.  If I knew that I would have printed something at home we could do.  Oh well, back to an easy day it was.  At least the kids were very good and respectful which helps a lot.  During my lunch break I was able to find another sheet that was harder for the last 3 classes to work on so that was good because they took most of the class with them.  

But it is funny how it all worked out.  Just 5 minutes after I told the Middle school I would sub there, I got a call from the Elementary school asking me to sub.  If the Middle school never called, I'd be way more stressed and tired to get stuff done at home in the evening.  So I'm thankful today for those little things.

This weekend I got my nice warm mittens stolen, at church of all places.  I was really upset mostly because it is freezing cold already and they were the only mittens that kept me warm enough and still allowed me to drive and grab things as I'm going places.  But, God had something else in mind and when I thought for sure I wouldn't find any good mittens in our small town, the Fleet store had these awesome leather mittens with lamb wool inside for only $15.  I was so excited and they are also so much warmer than my other gloves were.  So in a way it was a blessing to have my gloves stolen. :)

Talking about blessings, on Sunday we found a card in our church's inbox from an anonymous friend.  They were thanking Ehren and I for all we do at the church and there was a $50 cash in it.  We were both shocked and would love to know who did it.  It is just so unexpected and the person doesn't even know how it blessed us because money is tight around this time of the year.

So much to be thankful for and so much I don't deserve.  Tonight some of my best friends came over for a girls Christmas ornament exchange and it was so nice to fellowship with these sweet ladies.  I'm really glad I took the time to do it and plan for it.  I love spending time with them. Here is the picture with our ornaments.  It was taken by a very bad camera so it's not the best picture but at least something.  Fun girls night for sure! 

Tomorrow I am a Kindergarten teacher again for 3 days in a row so I better get some rest so I can keep up with those kiddos. :) Life is good!

busy

Well, when it rains it pours :).  I have been waiting and waiting for subbing more at the Elementary school and I am getting my wish these last two weeks.  It started with Kindergarten all week last week and this week it's one thing after another.  I do enjoy it and am thankful for the opportunity but this week cannot get done fast enough.  Of course when there is one thing going on, there's everything at once.  Our church is having their annual huge Christmas choir concert with all the kids and adults involved this weekend.  Normally it would just be getting the kids to the practices but since Ehren is the main sound guy he's been spending most evenings and nights at church this week.  And on top of that I scheduled our Sunday School class Christmas party for tomorrow night, the night before the first concert.  I really tried to have it another night but nothing worked for the people involved so it had to be tomorrow.  Still, I thought I would have plenty of time for cleaning up and decorating our house since I haven't been subbing much.  And here I am, the night before the party, trying to get everything ready and cleaned up and appetizers prepped because I've been subbing every day with stuff going on almost every night. 

I really can't complain one bit, it is a blessing to be called to sub especially since I was starting to think they are all against me over there. :) Turns out they kind of like me and keep asking me to come back.  Today it was 2nd grade and that was a bit challenging.  Overall it was a good class, but the teacher had so many tasks and worksheets she expected the kids to get done and me correct them that it got a bit too much.  About one third of the class had a hard time with every assignment and needed my personal attention while a few smart kids kept asking for more work to do and while other kids couldn't sit still and still a couple other kids kept coming up to me saying they have a head ache, stomach ache, I need to tie their shoes or give them band aides for paper cuts. :) I was almost losing it a few times and have no idea how that teacher deals with such high-needs class.  So far the 3 kindergarten classes I taught were way better on staying on tasks than these 2nd graders.  But it is good for me to find out what each grade is like and how to deal with the kids.  It is so different from class to class.  Tomorrow I am a music teacher again which means I'll have all different grades all day long.  I'm excited because I get to teach Ani's and Kason's classes and it's fun when I know the kids there already.  Plus, with music there's no work to be done.  It's just playing games or watching something so not that hard.  The kids I've subbed for get really excited too when they see me in the hallways or in the lunch room and it's kind of cool.  It is really something how kids can get attached to a teacher.  I feel like most of the times I sub I am frantically trying to figure out how to do everything in the time given and there's no time for fun or even nurturing with the younger kids.  Yet, for some reason as I walk in the hallways kids get excited to see me and some just come up to me and hug me really tightly as if we were really good buddies.  It makes me smile and think how they don't even know how much it means to me.  Without ever hearing I did a good job because I very rarely hear from a teacher afterwards seeing the kids' big smiles is what I get and that's ok with me.

 

back to subbing

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend visiting Ehren's brother and family in the Cities.  Just nice, relaxing time and had a lot of fun visiting with everyone at Ehren's aunt Grace's family for a Thanksgiving meal.

We got home last night and I was kind of hoping for a day to myself where I could get stuff done at home, get some Christmas decorations out and stuff.  Plus I was a bit under the weather with a cold coming on so a restful day sounded great.  But, as I was getting the kids some breakfast I got a phone call to sub for a Kindergarten teacher.  Of course I said yes.  A small part of me wanted to say I couldn't but then I've been waiting and waiting to get a call for the Elementary school so I had to go.  And how bad would it be since I already subbed in Kason's class and it went great.

Well, not so much today. :) I know a big part of it was that the kids came back to school after a 4 day weekend but I just wasn't expecting so much wildness.  Most of the class was pretty disruptive, getting into arguments and fights, and the never ending tattle telling.  It doesn't help when I come to the classroom in the morning and there's a 5 page sheet of the instructions for the day which I'm trying to figure out in 10 minutes.  Of course, half of the important assignments according to the sheet I could not find anywhere and had to ask another teacher for help.  So, the day was a bit crazy and chaotic and I just thought how the Kindergarten teachers must be saints for sure.  I was relieved when towards the end of the day we got most of the things on the list accomplished and no kids got hurt. :)

But then the last few minutes of the day were crazy.  I thought I gave the kids enough time to put all their winter gear on but when you have 10+ kids that you need to stand over or else they will not even begin to get dressed it is a nightmare.  There were at least 3 boys that if I didn't physically put their snowpants, boots, coats and mittens on for them they would be still sitting there now.  So, I got them all lined up according to the bus schedule, with the kids that were going to be picked up first, then some staying for afterschool program and so on.  In the meantime the kids kept coming out of their line, push and shove each other so it was a bit crazy.  I walk out of the building with a long line of 5 year olds following me and getting on 10 different buses or so.  When we're half way done, I call out the names of kids for a particular bus and an extra boy is heading that way.  I ask his name and of course, he's one of the kids that should have stayed after school for a booster club.  Phew, I had him hold my hand and back to school we went after all the kids boarded the bus safely.  And, when I got to the classroom I found out another girl got on the bus that should have stayed too. :)  Just things like that you don't realize how much the teachers have to deal with.  This particular teacher had someone die in her family unexpectedly and she took the next 2 days off too.  Which means 2 more days with the same class.  I sure hope I'm able to calm them down better tomorrow.  The one thing that worked was when I would either read a book out loud to them or else we would use the smart board for something so if they're wild again tomorrow I may have to read a lot of books. :) 

But at one point during the day when the kids had their free activity time, some girls were working on writing their letters to Santa.  One girl was finishing up her letter and with a smile she said to me "my mom will know what I wrote." I'm thinking sure, she's going to know because you're bringing these letters home but another girl interrupted my thought saying "her mom is in Heaven".  I was stunned for a moment, mostly because of how calm and peaceful this girl was about her mom being in Heaven.  A little 5 year old girl that might never have that "mom" person in her life.  And so many times her teacher is the closest one to being her mom.  So in the midst of the crazy and chaotic day it really hit me and it sure changes the prospective of a "bad" day. :)

When I got home today, in the middle of making dinner I dug out just one Christmas decoration - an Advent wreath.  I lit the first candle and it was good.  I hope there are many moments like this when  I pause and remember what and who is really important in my life.