Why do I teach?

Why do I teach? I was asked that today. I explained to her it is for the students that need me.

Two years ago, this one student hated me. I mean hated me. He would make under the breath comments every day about me, my teaching, or my body image. Sometimes I called him out, sometimes I ignored him. This was all year.

Fast forward two years, I have him again as a senior. He speaks to me daily in the hall, we talk about standardized tests, all his classes and his weaknesses. I co-teach with a great guy that the students love. He is the good cop, I am the bad cop. I take a small group of students to work in a separate environment but his group stays with my male co-teacher. Thirty minutes later, this student is in my class in front of me, ME, asking for help. I was shocked but talked him through the situation.

I discussed this with my co-teacher after class. He told me that this student stood up and looked at him and said, "I am going to Ms. S for help". He didn't want his help but mine....That is why I teach....when the students realize what they need and seek you out despite their past feelings and outwardly dislike of you as an individual.

Sad again....

This sweet face went to Heaven today. She was my outdoor cat that adopted me. She was one of a kind. She came around about 10 years ago or so, she had no hair and was ugly. I gave her good food, love and watched her turn into a beautiful calico.If I was not home she went to her second home, Angela Moore. She knew when I was out of town and would run down the driveway to meet Angela for her breakfast and dinner. She would also enjoy Angela's food so much that she would tell Angela that I did not feed her after getting a belly full with me when I was home. I loved seeing her know my car come down the street, she would run down the driveway excited to see me. We had let her come into part of the house during the hard winter nights and the snow days. I would have taken her in a long time ago but she has an indoor step-brother.Lilbit, who enjoys being the only indoor cat and let her know every time she snuck inside. She had been showing her age lately. She disappeared Saturday and returned Tuesday afternoon very sick. I have to thank God for bringing her back to me for peace and closure. You were a great kitty, Cocoa.The picture of her in the kitchen was a day she snuck in without the indoor cat knowing. 

DEVASTATED

I am devastated. I stopped by to see my nephew at his house at 4:50 PM. His male cat is always at the door to greet me. It used to be the female but the male took over. I left at 5:25. My sister was decorating the tree and my nephew doing homework.  I walk in the pharmacy at 6:37 when my nephew calls to tell me his house is on fire. I asked if he was kidding and he said he wasn't I could tell he was crying. I told my mom that we had to go that the sirens were heard on way to pharmacy were going to their house. I sped. I arrived to find them out in the street but their two cats did not make it. I am so grateful my family is ok but devastated about those two wonderful cats. ....RIP Buster and Mittens



FYI....house is condemned. The Red Cross is providing a hotel. They will come here if they have to but we will need to get some beds. It started in the kitchen cooking. That is all I really know right now.

Please pray.

Reunion

I think I have shared this picture before. My brother baptized a new Christian named Jamie in the river by our church in 2009. We found out today that Jamie went to see Jesus July 5. Can you imagine the reunion he also had with my brother?

I sure do miss my brother and my father. One day I will see them both again. 

I DID IT

This picture might explain where I have been the last two years....BUSY

Praise

I have had a tough few days at work. As I reflect, I have a tendency to let the negative outweigh the positive.

I have a student that transferred in from an alternative school a few years ago. He does not like change and was not happy about his transfer during the last few weeks of school. He made it clear to me that he didn't like me nor want anything to do with me. Sorry Charlie, nothing I could do.

Fast forward almost two years, he is a few months from graduating. He walks up and hands me a single Hershey Kiss. I really thought it was a joke or that he had licked it first. I asked what's this. He told me that it was a kiss for me. I said ok. The other teacher in the room asked what he was doing. He told her he gave me a chocolate kiss because I have always encouraged him and pushed him and that he may not be in school right now without that. He said he could be on the streets doing whatever but he's in school and graduating.

It did not really hit me until this evening what he had said. I want to cry. That was one of my best gifts ever. I will be there in June yelling when he walks across the stage.

Prayer

Pray for me right down....going through some stuff at work that need prayer.