Time flies

It is almost 1am and I have to work tomorrow, but I am feeling sick so I can't sleep.  Last post I made was over a year ago.

I am still working and now that I am back I don't regret the decision at all.  I believe the Lord calls me to teach at my school because I am able to empower the kids there with hope and inspire them with dreams that they otherwise may never have known they could dream about.  I don't know what things I do that may make a difference in which kid's life, but I know they do, because I have a very strong belief that this is God's plan in action.  I pray frequently that God will use me to do His work, so I hope I am following his plan.

Being a mom is the best thing in the world.  I love it and am so fortunate that God has blessed me with a beautiful daughter.  My husband is a caring man, who treats me well and is a fabulous dad.  I am truly blessed.  

One thing teaching at my school has taught me is that there are no simple solutions to the problems of children.  It is daunting the task ahead of us if we truly decide we care about the children enough to really do something.  Not only is it daunting, but it is discouraging.  I am speaking about my cousin Merrill now and her husband and their house.  The kid who lit his report card on fire undoubtedly was not intending to burn down their house, yet there it is and their lives are forever impacted by his one careless action.  What can be done for kids like him, who daily choose things that impact the rest of their lives and those around them in such a profound and harmful way?  How do we change the future of children who are destined to march down the same path???  I wish I could say I really knew, but one thing I really believe is that it is the family.  And I don't even mean family in the traditional sense, because a traditional family is not even in the realm of reality for many of them.  I mean the caretakers of the children have to undergo a major overhaul...  Learn how to respect themselves, learn how to respect their children.  Learn how to be proactive and not reactive, which is the way many parents/caretakers are.  They wait until the problem occurs before doing something about it, not predicting it.  The fundamental values of respect for themselves and others is severely lacking.

By no means am I even saying I know anything about this kid or his family.  I just see a pattern.  I just know Merrill and Jeff are hurting badly and no doubt this kid's family is too.  How can we help them all????

Back at work...

I have been back at work one month. It is amazing how much a baby grows in one month! During the month of February, Lily started clapping when people say, "Hurray!" She "dances" by moving her head around whenever music plays. She waves bye bye. She got her first tooth. And last night she started officially crawling. She has gone from a little baby to a moving infant with her own personality.

I miss Lily like crazy during the day. I am also ridiculously tired most of the time because her sleeping continues to be very erratic. Sometimes she wakes up once after 6 hours and then sleeps another 3 hours, or she has a night like last night and wakes up almost every hour. I attribute that to another tooth trying to come in.

It wasn't hard for me to go back in the classroom. This is my 7th year teaching so really it was like riding a bike. I just walked in and it was like I had never left. Finally after about 5-6 weeks the students are behaving the way I like them to behave. It took a few weeks to get things back how I like them.

I am considering job sharing for next year, which would allow me to work 20 hours a week sharing my position with another teacher. I anticipate it will be hard to get a teacher to coteach with though, since I am a music teacher. We shall see. I am thinking of it like this: if God intends me to job share, the opportunity will present itself. Again I pray for the wisdom to see it.

Babies are so awesome. This little person came from nowhere. It is really a miracle.

Blogging for tips....

Hi everyone. I am going back to work next week, after 8 months away. Lily will be almost 7 months old already. I am probably going to cry that whole week every day in the car. The good news is that teaching elementary school kids leaves you little time with your own thoughts, so at least the day will pass quickly and I won't be feeling sorry for myself the whole time.

Lily should be having a grand old time with her Aunt Cassie and 2 cousins. I am jealous that Cassie gets to spend all that time with her. I have prayed God will give me the wisdom to recognize any opportunities that might allow me to spend more time with Lily and less time working. I haven't had anything appear yet, so perhaps God's will is that I continue to teach in my school. I do feel like I contribute to "society" by working in the Title I school that I am at, but honestly, I would rather be home with my daughter.

I suppose time will tell what I am supposed to do. If you could, pray for me that I also have the wisdom to see God's will for me and what to do about work/motherhood. Or, just send me tips for this blog and fund my Stay-At-Home-Mom career. :-) Thank you!