Goodbye, Preschool...

I turned in my letter for my last day at the preschool. I can't technically have a job during student teaching, and as much as that makes sense, I really am bummed to be leaving this place. I would have stayed on for this year in a heartbeat. I almost cried when I had to do it (which doesn't bode well for my last day with the kids at all).

I've had the chance to work with some truly amazing people whom I have learned a lot from (not just about work), and I've come to value their friendships.

I've gotten to develop some truly great relationships with the kids, too, and have loved to see those relationships grow over the course of nearly a year. I can't even begin to tell you how often preschooler hugs have turned a day around for me, how many priceless things I've laughed about with them, how many times they have astounded me with the way they think or play or wonder. I have learned much more from them than I ever thought I could.

Getting to work here has brought so many stories, but also so much of me. I've gone through a lot of laughter and frustration, but I've loved every single bit of it. I feel better prepared for teaching, for being a mom someday (although I hope I never have 16-20 children of my own running around at once...esp. not all 3-5 yrs old), being a coworker, and even just being a friend. It's helped me recognize talents I didn't even know I had, develop areas I was weak in, and boosted my confidence. It made me realize that I'm capable when it comes to working with children (and other adults).

Most of all, it confirmed how much I love what I'm setting out to do. I love those kids, and I love getting to work with them every day, and I can't wait until I can do it for a real, full-time living.

~"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ["Closing Time"-Semisonic]~

"Heal these broken hearts..."

"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Anderson

When I don't know what to say, I can always count on someone else to be able to say it for me.

It's a gift to be able to express things, even if you can't do it alone.

Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel...?

So I'm taking an English class this summer. After a series of events, I ended up taking an Incomplete in the class, basically just started two weeks ago, and now I have until Sept. 23 to finish the class. It's 15 units with 4 papers in each unit. That's 52 papers. 5 a week.

I've done 4 so far.

And I just realized that instead of the 50 left, I only have 48 to go. Hooray for bad (not new) math and the (good) surprises it yields!

So basically this post is a reminder to myself that it's not impossible. This will NOT kill me.

The rough part will be that last month when I'm student teaching at the same time that I'm trying to finish...it's highly suggested and pretty much forbidden to take other classes while student teaching. Oops??

~"Einstein worked his equations in the invisible, abstract world of quantum physics. His conclusions there coincide with the experience of daily existence. He lived, as we live, in the bipolar world of wet and dry, love and hate, peace and war, hard and soft, light and dark, yes and no." [Maybe (Maybe Not): Second Thoughts From a Secret Life" by Robert Fulghum]~

Chalk it up as a WIN.

Toy Story 3. I waited so long for it. Got really excited for it. Felt old when my co-workers and I realized the first one came out 15 years ago...and we remembered seeing it in theaters...

FINALLY saw this latest one tonight.

And I was not too impressed...but I'm not too disappointed because, really, when 1 and 2 rock equally, can you really get it right a 3rd time?

Plus, with such sweet 3-D glasses, how could you go wrong?





And now back to researching William Blake for my 3rd paper of the weekend...but it was fun getting in touch with my inner child for a study break. :)

Tantrums

One of my little ones has terrible tantrums. We're not talking about a phase; these are serious ones where she gets so angry that she deliberately tries to hurt people. We have to take her out of the room sometimes for time outs. It's difficult to carry a child who is thrashing around, kicking, scratching, punching, knocking glasses off, and screaming at the top of her lungs. Sometimes it just breaks my heart to see her so angry.

The other day during a tantrum I had to leave her with some of the ladies working in the kitchen because I had to go back to help out with the other preschoolers. I had to trust that she would do the right thing when I walked away and left her.

I started thinking about it, though, and began to wonder how many times I've been like that with God. How many times has something happened that set me off on some emotional tirade of sorts, and instead of calmly listening to God and doing what I needed to do, I fought Him tooth and nail? How many times had I punched with my fists, kicked my feet, and screamed at the top of my lungs, "I don't want to"? How many times did God have to watch me curl up on the floor with my face in my hands and trust that I would do the right thing?

I went back to check on her when I had a minute. I found a little girl sitting cross-legged with her hands in her lap, calmly waiting for me. And when I reached my hand out to her, she didn't hit my hand away; she put her little hand in mine and let me lead her.

~"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." [Ephesians 1:16-17]~

Stuck Again...

...ignore the interesting choice of clothing and focus on the lyrics. This song really hit me when I first heard it, and it continues to hit me every time I listen to it.

Lunch Table Talk

One of my favorite things about getting to eat with my preschoolers is getting to listen to their conversations. Sometimes they are silly, sometimes mature beyond their young years, and sometimes just plain funny.

Take today's lunch conversation, for instance.

Eden: Caden, do you want to be the prince to my princess?

Caden: Sure, then I could marry you.

Braeden: Eden, I want to marry you first.

Caden: You can only be married one time. And boys can only marry girls, and girls can only marry boys.

Braeden: But I want to marry Eden.

Caden: I'm marrying her.

Eden: Well, I'm going to marry a boy that neither of you know. His name is Owen. (apparently this is a friend near her house or something.)

And then yesterday I had a little boy telling me all about The Incredibles. He was explaining characters to me, and he told me that "Alaska Girl" can stretch really far. Bonus smile points because it reminded me of one of my favorite trips. :)

It's the little things in life...or the little ones in mine.

Here's a fun little link I found tonight, too...enjoy...http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/10-ways-to-hide-cooking-goofs-1954164/

~"Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, 'I just don't care'?" ["Glitter in the Air" - Pink]