Mental break...

I spent much of my day feeling lethargic, but it's amazing how 3:00 can change things... It may also help that I went to the cafeteria and got the perfect after school snack (Pepsi and Doritos) for the equivalent of $1!

Today will be a late day in the classroom, but that's okay... I need to catch up on all this crazy paperwork. Then hopefully I can stay on track for the rest of this week. Friday is the last day of the quarter, and that means grades are due for report cards as soon as we get back from Spring Break.

Just one more quarter to go! On top of that, I think I'll go back to my 2nd quarter ways of planning in a way that makes my workload easier so that I can go home earlier... I tried to be a super-teacher for the third quarter, and I don't see a lot of benefits for me or my students. In fact, I feel less appreciated by the administration now than I did back when I did just enough to get by.

Oh well.

I don't do this for the approval of men, right?

Wow... Streaming country music always picks me up too!

"So it's me and her and a can of beans sitting there on the front porch swing. Western sky all turning red. Head on my shoulder she sighed and said..."

Did I mention that I started a countdown to the end of school??? 52 school days. And that means we have completed about 130. I love this part when you look back and start to realize just how much is behind you.

I think contracts are a down-side to the teaching field, but it's nice to have a job with a clear-cut start and finish. I'm guessing most jobs feel endless, so I'm appreciating the ability to count down to a specific goal.

Of course, these thoughts are ironic seeing as how the idea of settling down in one place for at least five years (or twenty+) is really sounding appealing... I guess you never appreciate what you have until it's gone. I would love to return to Vincent, but I know that there are not supposed to be any openings there next year. I even emailed my resume to the principal at the high school just in case something comes available for sixth grade... I feel like my crazy gallavanting has helped me to see the value of community - where you know and are known... Where you run to the gas station or Dollar General and end up talking to someone in the parking lot... Where you spend time building relationships (and being careful to avoid gossip) at the ball park. After all, isn't faith meant to be lived out in the setting of everyday life?

I would also teach in Blount County - although unfortunately, this is really not the best time to try to find a teaching job.

All I know is that the Lord is definitely changing my heart and molding my dreams.

And He will work it all out. He always does...

On the bright side, God has really answered prayers about the relationships that I have with my students. I no longer feel like they hate me. I like the way that we can joke and laugh and be sarcastic. (That's part of the reason I think I should always teach 4th, 5th, or 6th grades...) I love goofing off with them in small ways like when they say, "Miss - what's up?" accompanied by a head-nod, and all I have to do is return the head-nod to make them smile. I love that some of them have even shown a little bit of compassion or understanding to me or to each other lately.

I know it's small, but one of my girls came to me today with two books in her hand and asked me to choose which one she should read first. I appreciated that she valued my opinion, especially in comparison to our tense interactions in January.

Okay. That's enough of a mental break. It's time to be productive...

I hope y'all have a wonderful Tuesday afternoon/night!