Dear 2012

Dear 2012,

Wow, what a year you have been! You were a year I had been anticipating for so long in so many ways. There were big life changes made this year and I can't believe I actually made it through alive and well. Now you are almost over and I can't help but reflect on how blessed I have been this last year.

I spent my first true semester in a classroom and fell in love with a group of kids I never imagined myself teaching, even in my wildest dreams. It's amazing how things work out, isn't it? Little did I know I was hand picked for that group of kids. God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed me in that classroom. Those kids were perfect for me and I can say in confidence that I was perfect for them. We got to dive deep into slavery, war, and civil rights together but I know I learned more from them than they learned from me. It was exhausting, irritating, frustrating, and perfect in every way. I was forced to take a good, hard, look at myself and am a better person and teacher because of it.

After four seemingly short years I graduated from the University of Georgia with my degree in Middle Grades Education. Every year at UGA passed more quickly than the one before it and I wasn't ready for it to end. I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for the opportunity to start and finish at such a wonderful institution. My dad has always been quick to remind Haley and I not to take our education for granted. We know there are so many people who would have loved to attend UGA but couldn't for different reasons. My education is one thing I will always be thankful for. Athens and UGA will always hold the most special place in my heart.

I finally got to walk down the aisle and marry my best friend after seven and a half years together. The date had been set for nearly four years but when it finally arrived it felt like it couldn't be here already. We aren't old enough for this, are we? We worked day and night for over a year to make sure everything was perfect for our day. It felt funny to sit back and have everything done for us that weekend, but that's exactly what we wanted. We wanted to enjoy our time with our friends and family and enjoy we did! The week we spent in Jekyll will always be the best week of my life. It's been six months and it still feels like yesterday. Is that how it will always be? I can only hope it is because I never want to forget that feeling.

Now, here's where I'll be honest. This is one change I wasn't happy about in 2012. Getting through the wedding was my main focus and I didn't let myself think about what would happen after it was over. I didn't want to think about leaving Athens. Somehow I kept pushing that to the back of my mind and pretending we could find a way to stay. Like so many others, I love Athens. Like, serious love. As in, it took me two months to move my things after the wedding... And, if I'm being totally honest, it's only because my sister had to find a roommate. If that hadn't happened I can guarantee you that my room would still be the same. I didn't want to leave Athens, UGA, Hilsman, my friends, and especially my sister. I don't do well with change; I am a creature of habit to the extreme. Moving to a totally new place didn't sit well with me, but over time I have adjusted and am learning to love my new home. Marriage isn't all fun and games! Especially when a certain someone gets a fantastic job they love and drag you away from everything you've ever known! But, in this scary time I couldn't be more thankful for my husband and his job. We're getting there!

Along with moving to a totally new place came working in a school system I knew nothing about. I started substituting in Dalton so I could get a feel for the area and the schools. I am so thankful for the work and to be back with the kids. I spend most of my time in the same Elementary school and I absolutely adore it. Never in a million years did I think I would love those kids so much. I have learned that I can teach something other than middle school and that feels pretty darn good. I hope to be more settled next year and find a teaching job, but only time will tell!

We've got some exciting plans I can't wait to share with you when the time comes. This has been the best year yet but life just keeps getting better! The best is yet to come!

2012 - You have been so good to me and I am looking forward to what 2013 holds!


Love,

Our kids

"To parents who aren't educators, this may be hard to understand: 

Five days a week, we teach your kids. 

That means we educate your kids. 

Play with your kids. 

Discipline your kids. 

Joke with your kids. 

Console your kids. 

Praise your kids. 

Question your kids. 

Beat our heads up against a wall about your kids. 

Gush over your kids. 

Laugh with your kids. 

Worry about your kids. 

Keep an eye on your kids. 

Learn about your kids. 

Invest in your kids. 

Protect your kids. 

Love your kids...

We would all take a bullet for your kids.

It's nowhere in our job description. 

It isn't covered in the employee handbook. 

It isn't cited on our contracts. 

But we would all do it. 

So yes, please hug your kids tonight, really, really tight. 

But on Monday, if you see your kids teacher, hug them too."

This has been circulating since the shooting on Friday and I think it's great. Let me reiterate that I'm a certified teacher who is currently substituting. However, every class I walk into I treat as if they were my own. It's just in our nature. We love them all, big or small. To you they might be your kids, but to us they are our kids. 

Here's to a better week, y'all. Let's give out an extra dose of love, huh?

A substitute's life for me

A picture from a sweet fourth grader

I haven't blogged in a few days but that's because the past few days have been pretty uneventful. I last wrote Thursday night before my first day of subbing on Friday. Well, let me tell you, that was a trip! Like I said before, I signed up for a Middle School Social Studies class but that's not what it ended up being. When I got there at 7:30 I was sent to a sixth grade Math/Science class. My cohort friends are laughing hysterically right about now because they know how terrified I am of math! Needless to say it was a very hectic, long, wild day! Not only was it a Friday, but there was also a dance after school so the kids were super crazy! 

I really didn't do much over the weekend because it was kind of yucky here and Chris worked all weekend. Obviously I watched my dawgs play and win Saturday so that was great! I had a ton of unpacking and cleaning to do from vacation so that kept me pretty busy! I'm still not caught up on laundry... I hate laundry, y'all. Hopefully I'll get caught up by next weekend when we leave for Gatlinburg! Living trip to trip, y'all!

Monday I was signed up to substitute in first grade until lunch time. Once again things changed at the last minute and I ended up staying the rest of the day to substitute in fourth grade. I had an absolute blast! My first graders were such sweet hearts and I had the best time with the fourth graders! Yesterday was definitely a subbing success! I loved the school so I was signed up for several more days there in the next couple of months and I'm excited to go back. I'm enjoying getting to spend time in different schools and meet a lot of new people. That's the thing about teachers - they usually they make you feel very welcome! I experienced a lot of hospitality over these two days. I'm going back to the same sixth graders on Thursday so we will see how that goes! Keep me in your prayers as I'm thrown into a new lions den each time!

Thankful Thursday

Simple as this: Tonight I am very thankful for my teacher training at UGA. Tomorrow is my first day of substituting in Whitfield County. I'll be in a Middle School Social Studies class - I don't know what grade. I'm thankful my first day is in my comfort zone at both levels! I can't imagine heading in without being a certified teacher... I'm terrified enough as it is! So many "firsts." I'm taking my advisor's tip to heart - she says substituting will make me a better teacher... We'll see! Wish me luck!

Happy news on a sad day

Today is officially the day I no longer "live" in Athens. Even though I got married two months ago and graduated from UGA almost three months ago I had yet to completely move out of our little green house. Today Haley's new roommate moves in, so all of my things had to be out this morning. Don't worry though, there's an empty bedroom with my name on it for spontaneous visits! Right, Haley? My heart will always be in Athens (the happiest place on Earth), but it also feels really good to get my things more organized. 

While in Athens I got to visit with my old mentor teacher, Mr. Oulevey. He took the other Social Studies teacher and me out to Loco's for lunch. I've spoken with him over the summer but this was the first time I'd seen him since before the wedding. Walking into Hilsman brought back so many wonderful memories - I truly had the best student teaching experience anyone could ever hope for. Y'all know I'm a sap so here it goes - Mr. O was the best thing that ever happened to me. He brought me out of my shell and helped me become a better teacher than I ever thought I could be. I decided not to teach this year since we are living in Dalton. I wanted to take some time to familiarize myself with the area, schools, and the kids. The best part is - all my best teacher friends have their own classrooms so I'll live vicariously through you all!

Mr. O gave me the best news I could have dreamed of today at lunch. He told me that this year he had the highest Social Studies CRCT scores he had ever had. This is saying a lot since he typically has the highest in the district and has been recognized by the state for his scores. As teachers we know that tests are not the end all be all of assessment, but it feels dang good to do so well! It's like a little pat on the back for all of our excruciating work. I'll sleep well tonight knowing my kids learned a little something from me. Speaking of, one of my girls just texted me. Let me go handle another middle school crisis! ;)

Talk to ya later UGA!

I last wrote at the conclusion of my most hectic semester at UGA - student teaching in an eighth grade Georgia Studies classroom. I now write as an official graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Middle Grades Education. What? It's amazing how faithfully life goes on, even when time doesn't seem to be passing. As I sit here looking through graduation photos I am constantly reminded of my mother's most used phrase, "You'll miss this one day." Even when I was very young she warned me not to wish my life away. I am only now truly beginning to understand what she meant. Though I hate to admit it, she couldn't be more right. How can I already miss college? For me it is more of missing the familiarity of being a student than the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. My identity has been completely intertwined with being a student for oh, what? Almost twenty years if we count pre-school. I guess it's okay to mourn the end of familiarity. At least for me, I've still got a good thirty or so years until I'm really done with school. Thanks, mom for instilling a love of education in me. There aren't many people who love school enough to go for the rest of their lives! And thanks for loving me through the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. Happy Mother's Day!


A few pictures - more to come.


My sweet parents

Sanford filling up for the ceremony Friday night

A few photos of my sweet teacher friends - I could't have made it through middle school without them

We did it!