Open windows, soccer games, and peewee homecomings. (What?)

So I love my kids, and I've always said how passionate I am about them.  Ever since actually becoming a teacher, it's been nearly impossible for me to do what I'm starting to do now--go to their sporting events.  The overwhelming process of figuring things out as a new teacher, and constantly having to adjust to a new school...all of that has stood in my way in the past.  But not this year!  This year, now that I've really found a home that I can settle into, I'm determined to attend more of their outside of school activities.

I've been to one football game, a soccer game this morning, and this afternoon I'm at another football game--a homecoming game nonetheless!  (Do 8 year olds have homecomings?)

Going to games is great for a number of reasons.  Here are just a few:

1. The look on my students' faces when they see that I'm there.  Indescribably awesome.
2. The gratitude from parents who begin to see that I truly care about their kids.  I don't see them as my job.  They are my passion.
3. Getting to see the parents in a new light.  This one is interesting, because I'm so new to the world of peewee sports.  I wasn't involved in them when I was younger, so it's like stepping into a different culture.
4. It gets me some fresh air, and gives me a chance to mingle with people from my town.  If I'm ever going to find, as my friend Robin says, "a good Harnett county man," I have to be out and around them, right? :)

Speaking of fresh air, can I just say that my windows are all open right now?  A/C is off, windows are open, and it is absolutely delicious to have the fall air flowing through my apartment.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and wave on my way to cleaning and doing some lesson planning.  Sorry for the extended absence.  Hope you're enjoying the onset of fall as much as I am.

I'll be back again, at some point. :)  Until then, enjoy the beautiful weather and I'll talk to you folks another time!

♥ Marlee

Dirty Dishes

I don't have a lot to say tonight, because I'm honestly just wiped out.  But I've been wanting to share the lyrics to a particularly poignant song I heard recently.  I'm a firm believer in looking for silver linings and counting blessings, and this song just kind of drives that approach home.  Check it out:

"Dirty Dishes"

By Scotty McCreery

Mama hollers, "Supper time,

And don't make me tell you twice,

Wash your hands and wipe your face.

The table's no place for your toys,

And try to use your inside voice,

Don't dig in 'til we say Grace."

So we put down our forks and bowed our heads

And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

"I wanna thank You Lord,

For noisy children, and slamming doors,

And clothes scattered all over the floor,

My husband workin' all the time,

Draggin' in dead tired at night,

My never ending messy kitchen...

...and dirty dishes."

We all got real still and quiet

And daddy asked, "Hon, are you alright?"

She said, "There ain't nothing wrong.

Noisy kids are happy kids,

And slamming doors just means we live

In a warm and loving home.

Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,

Means a job and enough to eat.

"So I'm gonna thank You Lord,

For noisy children and slamming doors,

And clothes scattered all over the floor,

My husband workin' all the time,

Draggin' in dead tired at night,

My never ending messy kitchen...

"For my little busy bees

Beggin', "Mama, Mama can you please?"

Always wantin' me to call their name

Loads of laundry pilin' up,

Crayons crushed into the rug,

And those little, sticky kisses...

...and dirty dishes."

Right?  I love that song.  So powerful.  I've been trying to think of my own "dirty dishes" prayers lately, and I encourage you to do the same.  Maybe if I get confident enough in what I come up with, I'll share it here.  For now, I'm crawling back into the world of demigods!

Book nerd, out.

♥ Marlee

PS - Found a video with the song; it's just a montage of Scotty pictures.  It's a country song, so it may

not be everybody's cup of tea, but just in case you want to give it a listen, here it is.  Also, Scotty's album, Clear As Day...is awesome.  And this is coming from someone who isn't at all a country music enthusiast.  Enjoy!

So, so tired.

Hello, friends.

I was sitting here, thinking about crawling into bed quite soon, and I realized I haven't popped over here to jot down any of my rambling thoughts recently.  Wanna know why?

I'm tired, guys.

Like straight up, ready to go to bed at 7, BONE tired.  You know that feeling?

It's not a bad feeling at all--especially when you've work to earn it, and I feel like I most certainly have.

But man...I'm tired.  And I'm growing a little tired of being tired.

Life is good--my kids are good.  I've gotten two new students in the past week or so, and that's always interesting.  I love seeing some of kids' personalities change to try to be accommodating and inviting for these new kids who come in.  And so far, everybody is doing pretty great.  Even if we had silent lunch today.

I wish I had more to share right now, but sadly, my life has once again become consumed by third grade.  I love my job so much, but I know that everybody doesn't want to hear about it constantly...and I honestly don't have many anecdotes to share as of late.  I promise the instant I do, I'll share.

I will say, of the two kiddos I shared with you a few weeks back, the young lady is doing pretty well for me.  The little guy, well, I wish I could say the same...he's a behavioral...challenge.  And I'm going to keep at it and see if I can't figure out the key to turning things around for him.

But for now, I'm just going to go get into bed and hope that sometime before Friday I finally feel like I've gotten enough sleep.

Happy almost Friday eve!

Until next time,

♥ Marlee