First Week of School

Saturday morning, after the first, very long, week of school. Reflecting back, the "should haves" want to invade in some areas, but there are also "well dones" for myself. As an aside, "should have" is a bad word in my vocabulary and I try not to do that to myself.

So what did I learn this week as I sought to teach my new students and as I just went through my week.

• Getting back in the routine is hard and I shouldn't be so hard on myself.
• Maybe the complaining and whining of one particular student is based in hurt, look beyond the words to the heart and see him as Jesus does, a hurting soul.
• Having a new room brings a world of possibilities, but not having a "home" for all my stuff yet is hard for this recovering perfectionist.
• Look at the blessings of having too many people for yearbook instead of not enough to get the job done.
• Deadlines that are a whole month early will allow me to really hone the organization of the class and learn how to lead them by example. The earlier deadlines will also allow more time for planning for next year.
• My own school work is suffering due to complete and utter exhaustion - I hope that gets better. I have to remind myself that it is okay to get a "B" in a class. I don't have to be perfect. (Anyone besides me see a theme in the stress I put on myself.)
• Although the people I love the most can be the most insensitive people in the world and their words hurt to the core, they do love me and I need to forgive.
• God will provide an empathetic ear to listen, and in fact to notice without my speaking, that I am drowning for the moment in all that has to be accomplished. (Thank you Shelli.)
• God will get to the pain as I walk a friend through darkness. God will be faithful and work on hearts, I need to sit back and let it happen, not push.
• We were blessed with no major computer issues the first few days of school, which is huge.
• Falling into bed at 9 or 9:30 and going to sleep immediately isn't necessarily a bad thing.
• Putting myself out there in a new way at school is scary beyond belief, but God is using me and obedience to his call brings peace.
• Change is good.
• Riding my brand new, purple cruiser to school and listening to praise music on my Zune is fun!

After such an emotionally draining week, I wanted to try to find the good in the craziness. I tend to let the craziness overshadow and get sucked into a cycle of despair. There was a lot of good from the week, but truthfully, I am glad it is over and I have a three-day weekend to recover and work on my own classes.