Friday was last day of school for my senior students. They were excited, a little nervous, and ever so ready to be done. So, so ready. In fact, my Speech class finished giving their final speeches on Thursday, and asked if I was bringing treats on Friday. And could we eat them outside? If it was nice? Please!? It was their last day! I said sure, and made a mental note to make brownies for my Speech class of 15 teenage boys. Lots of brownies.
Friday rolled around, the brownies were safely stashed behind my desk, and it was nice out- nice enough to grant my gentlemen's wish of going outside for Speech class seventh hour.
Second hour- one of my students brings in hot dog buns and "Mrs. LW, could you put these behind your desk, too?" Umm, sure.
Fifth hour- one of my students waltzes in with charcoal and a bottle of lighter fluid. "Mrs. LW, where can I put these?" I begin to realize that this whole "going outside and bringing treats" thing has gotten a little out of hand.
Seventh hour- I take attendance of a group of buzzing 18-year-old boys. "We borrowed the FFA grill! Let's go outside!" Oh boy.
They had planned and executed a tail gate party in the parking lot. The grill was going, the hot dogs were sizzling, and they had seriously thought of everything. Napkins, paper plates, condiments, a cooler with cans of Coke sitting in ice. I was, to say the least, very impressed. They can't remember to bring their homework, but this? This they've got down.
The hour winds down, and I've got a class to teach 8th hour. I start them cleaning up, and ask what the shop teacher said about cleaning up the grill.
"Oh, I've got it," says a confident young man. He sounds like he's talked to the shop teacher. Okay then. He's an adult now, anyways. He can handle it. And the shop teacher wouldn't have let them use the grill if he didn't trust them.
I head back into the building with the majority of the class, say goodbye to my senior students. Eighth hour begins, I start teaching.
One of my daydreaming students, looking out the window, says absentmindedly, "The garbage is on fire."
"What?"
"The dumpster. It's on fire."
"No, it's... Oh. Yes it is."
The dumpster, the big one by the school wood shop, is completely engulfed in flame. I call down to the office to let them know. She makes an all-school announcement that the dumpster is on fire. The students are now plastered against the windows, watching as the custodian douses the flames, looking, as the principal said, "like a Russian orphanage."
All I could think was, "Oh no. The grill." And I was right. The student who so confidently told me he was in charge of caring for the grill apparently shoveled the hot coals into the dumpster for the wood shop, setting wood scraps and sawdust ablaze.
And that's why I'm never getting a job in this district.*
*Just kidding. No one got hurt and nothing was damaged... I still have a chance. Maybe. They just won't ever let me supervise a grill.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
When Things Don't Go Our Way
I've been long-term subbing for about three months now, and the school year is almost over. These three months have been... wow. I've learned so much about my teaching style- my strengths, my weaknesses. I've been so frustrated with my students, I've been so proud of them, I've hurt for them, and I've laughed with them. These three months have stretched me and grown me. My time as a high school English teacher is quickly coming to an end. Sixteen more school days with my terrible, wonderful high school students... and then what?
To be completely honest, I'm not sure.
I feel a little like I'm back to square one. My plan for the year was to sub, and hope that a full-time position came available soon. The long-term subbing job was a big surprise and a wonderful blessing, and I thought, as we Christians (or at least me-Christian) tend to do:
Well! God's opening a door! I'll get my name out there, do a great job subbing, have an awesome experience to add to my resume... God's got a full-time job for me soon!
We're three weeks to the end of school... and there are no job openings. In any of the districts nearby.
And at first, I was confused. I mean, God's opened this door for me- now what? Isn't it His will that I teach? Isn't that what this long-term subbing experience was supposed to show me? Then I got crabby. I did all this work, adapted lessons to fit the needs of my students, stayed up late grading, worked my tushy off to get done with my college classes so I get my full license... for what? After all this, doesn't God want me in a teaching job??
Maybe not. Maybe this great experience was just that- a great experience. Maybe I was supposed to do the stretching and the growing, but a full-time job isn't the plan for me, or at least it's not the plan for right now.
And I have to be okay with that. Things don't always go my way, as much as I wish they would! In the midst of this time, I have to believe that God's plan is bigger and better than my own, that He's got it under control.
To be completely honest, I'm not sure.
I feel a little like I'm back to square one. My plan for the year was to sub, and hope that a full-time position came available soon. The long-term subbing job was a big surprise and a wonderful blessing, and I thought, as we Christians (or at least me-Christian) tend to do:
Well! God's opening a door! I'll get my name out there, do a great job subbing, have an awesome experience to add to my resume... God's got a full-time job for me soon!
We're three weeks to the end of school... and there are no job openings. In any of the districts nearby.
And at first, I was confused. I mean, God's opened this door for me- now what? Isn't it His will that I teach? Isn't that what this long-term subbing experience was supposed to show me? Then I got crabby. I did all this work, adapted lessons to fit the needs of my students, stayed up late grading, worked my tushy off to get done with my college classes so I get my full license... for what? After all this, doesn't God want me in a teaching job??
Maybe not. Maybe this great experience was just that- a great experience. Maybe I was supposed to do the stretching and the growing, but a full-time job isn't the plan for me, or at least it's not the plan for right now.
And I have to be okay with that. Things don't always go my way, as much as I wish they would! In the midst of this time, I have to believe that God's plan is bigger and better than my own, that He's got it under control.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Five Things on Friday
Today was.. bleh. You know those days? I can't be the only one who has those. To combat the "blehs," here's a list of five things I love today.
1. The robins. About two weeks ago, robins started showing up- a lovely and hopeful sign of spring. Cut to two weeks later, with four inches of snow on the ground. As the snow fell yesterday, the robins starting hopping around, looking horribly confused. While I feel a little bad for these poor, cold, little birds, it's so funny to watch them standing under the deck and in the tire tracks to stay out of the snow. Poor robins.
2. My husband. Last night, he parked our truck in his maintenance shop so the melting snow didn't flood our garage, but instead ran down the fancy drains in the shop floor. Because there was that much snow on the truck. Anyways, this morning, I thought I'd have to hike over to the shop so I could take the truck to school. I put on my snow boots and got ready to start my trek... and saw the truck in the driveway. My sweet, sweet husband, after getting up before 6 to start clearing snow, went and brought the truck from the shop. (He's #2, because while he's wonderful and sweet, he's not quite as cute as the robins).
3. Camp. We don't have internet at our new house yet, so I've been heading over to the camp office building to do my online homework. It's like, the best thing ever. There are always interesting and caring people around saying things like, "We found another counselor for this weekend! Yes! Oh, let's pray," and singing or humming all the time. It's lovely.
4. Having a mantle. The new house (which isn't at all new, just new to us) is so full of character and quirks. I just love it. And... the house has a fireplace! We can't use it, at the moment, because it isn't up to code, but I'm just so excited to have a mantle to decorate for Christmas next year. <Sigh> So far away....
5. Wool socks. While I never thought I'd be saying this in mid-April, wool socks are the best. So cozy, so warm.
1. The robins. About two weeks ago, robins started showing up- a lovely and hopeful sign of spring. Cut to two weeks later, with four inches of snow on the ground. As the snow fell yesterday, the robins starting hopping around, looking horribly confused. While I feel a little bad for these poor, cold, little birds, it's so funny to watch them standing under the deck and in the tire tracks to stay out of the snow. Poor robins.
2. My husband. Last night, he parked our truck in his maintenance shop so the melting snow didn't flood our garage, but instead ran down the fancy drains in the shop floor. Because there was that much snow on the truck. Anyways, this morning, I thought I'd have to hike over to the shop so I could take the truck to school. I put on my snow boots and got ready to start my trek... and saw the truck in the driveway. My sweet, sweet husband, after getting up before 6 to start clearing snow, went and brought the truck from the shop. (He's #2, because while he's wonderful and sweet, he's not quite as cute as the robins).
3. Camp. We don't have internet at our new house yet, so I've been heading over to the camp office building to do my online homework. It's like, the best thing ever. There are always interesting and caring people around saying things like, "We found another counselor for this weekend! Yes! Oh, let's pray," and singing or humming all the time. It's lovely.
4. Having a mantle. The new house (which isn't at all new, just new to us) is so full of character and quirks. I just love it. And... the house has a fireplace! We can't use it, at the moment, because it isn't up to code, but I'm just so excited to have a mantle to decorate for Christmas next year. <Sigh> So far away....
5. Wool socks. While I never thought I'd be saying this in mid-April, wool socks are the best. So cozy, so warm.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
What a Week!
My goodness, what a week, and what a week for prayer! Prayers have been going up for Boston, for West Texas, mine with them.
Just scrolling through the titles of my favorite blogs, I see that my online friends around the country (as well as my face-to-face friends around the country) are all experiencing some pretty crazy weather- flooding, tornadoes... I'm praying for your safety, too!
Out by us, we've now officially had more snow days in April than in all the (typically considered) winter months combined. It's very strange to see robins in my front yard, taking shelter from the snow under my porch.
It's definitely been a crazy week- but we know that our Lord has control over all this crazy, and all things work for the good of those who trust Him!
Just scrolling through the titles of my favorite blogs, I see that my online friends around the country (as well as my face-to-face friends around the country) are all experiencing some pretty crazy weather- flooding, tornadoes... I'm praying for your safety, too!
Out by us, we've now officially had more snow days in April than in all the (typically considered) winter months combined. It's very strange to see robins in my front yard, taking shelter from the snow under my porch.
It's definitely been a crazy week- but we know that our Lord has control over all this crazy, and all things work for the good of those who trust Him!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Ode to a New House
O, New House,
That sit-eth so still and so quiet
I apologize for your boxes remaining,
For the little scraps of paper
Lying on your dark and lovely
Hundred-year-old hardwood floors.
And for the piles of unfolded laundry
And your undecorated walls.
Your kitchen floor is smattered
With the mud of work boots and gym shoes
That walked your new range into place
Between the mismatched countertops.
I should mop. But I can't find the mop.
I can't find anything, really
Not my pair of gray work pants
That I meant to wear today
To my high school teaching job that keeps me busy
And is the reason for your mess and disarray.
June is coming. Thank goodness.
That sit-eth so still and so quiet
I apologize for your boxes remaining,
For the little scraps of paper
Lying on your dark and lovely
Hundred-year-old hardwood floors.
And for the piles of unfolded laundry
And your undecorated walls.
Your kitchen floor is smattered
With the mud of work boots and gym shoes
That walked your new range into place
Between the mismatched countertops.
I should mop. But I can't find the mop.
I can't find anything, really
Not my pair of gray work pants
That I meant to wear today
To my high school teaching job that keeps me busy
And is the reason for your mess and disarray.
June is coming. Thank goodness.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
MIA.
My last post was like, three years ago.
Okay, not really. But it sure feels like it! There has been so very much going on the the Little Wife/Hunky Husband household that blogging (and cooking, and cleaning, and feeding Tucker) has truly fallen to the wayside.
If you're just joining us, or if you can't remember what I look like since I've been gone for so long (not that you knew what I look like anyway!), here's what's going on.
1) Teaching full-time as a long term sub. In high school. Oh yeah.
2) Taking full-time (14 credits worth of) online college credits.
3) HH starting his new job as the director of maintenance at our camp.
4) Moving- across the parking lot- to our new camp home. On Monday.
5) Easter this weekend. That's Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
6) HH's dear, sweet, wonderful grandmother finally made her way home to Jesus this past week, and her visitation and funeral are this weekend, too- Friday and Saturday.
AHHH!
You'll have to forgive me for being MIA-- it'll last for a while yet, I think. Don't worry, I will return.
Okay, not really. But it sure feels like it! There has been so very much going on the the Little Wife/Hunky Husband household that blogging (and cooking, and cleaning, and feeding Tucker) has truly fallen to the wayside.
If you're just joining us, or if you can't remember what I look like since I've been gone for so long (not that you knew what I look like anyway!), here's what's going on.
1) Teaching full-time as a long term sub. In high school. Oh yeah.
2) Taking full-time (14 credits worth of) online college credits.
3) HH starting his new job as the director of maintenance at our camp.
4) Moving- across the parking lot- to our new camp home. On Monday.
5) Easter this weekend. That's Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
6) HH's dear, sweet, wonderful grandmother finally made her way home to Jesus this past week, and her visitation and funeral are this weekend, too- Friday and Saturday.
AHHH!
You'll have to forgive me for being MIA-- it'll last for a while yet, I think. Don't worry, I will return.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
I Love My Mother-In-Law
The big joke is that once a woman gets married, she'll have to deal with the dreaded mother-in-law. Entire TV shows are based around it (Everybody Loves Raymond, anyone?). And while I do believe that there are some unfortunate circumstances out there, terrible mothers-in-law are the exception, not the rule.
Personally, I love my mother-in-law.
She spent an entire afternoon cutting burlap for my wedding with my mother and I. She bought tons of extras for the reception as well (like tiny little beautiful flowers to put into centerpieces, because I didn't have any flowers on the tables). She swaps books with me, she sends us home with beef every time we come to visit, she's offered to come paint our house like six times... she's wonderful.
She's very, very different from my own mom. I don't mean that my mom isn't wonderful, too, but they're wonderful in different ways. It's like I now have the best of all moms in the world.
I have the mom who drinks tea and gets up really early in the morning, and I have the mom who stays up late and always loves a good mocha. I have the mom who creates Christmas centerpieces for my kitchen table, and I have the mom who loves cutting down our own Christmas tree in the woods. I have the mom who can't read at all ever in the car or she'll get sick, and I have the mom who finishes novels on the road trip out to Washington State.
Despite all their differences, they do have one thing in common. They love the Lord and they love their families. They're both great examples of strong, intelligent, beautiful, caring women. What daughter (or daughter-in-law) could ask for anything more?
Personally, I love my mother-in-law.
She spent an entire afternoon cutting burlap for my wedding with my mother and I. She bought tons of extras for the reception as well (like tiny little beautiful flowers to put into centerpieces, because I didn't have any flowers on the tables). She swaps books with me, she sends us home with beef every time we come to visit, she's offered to come paint our house like six times... she's wonderful.
She's very, very different from my own mom. I don't mean that my mom isn't wonderful, too, but they're wonderful in different ways. It's like I now have the best of all moms in the world.
I have the mom who drinks tea and gets up really early in the morning, and I have the mom who stays up late and always loves a good mocha. I have the mom who creates Christmas centerpieces for my kitchen table, and I have the mom who loves cutting down our own Christmas tree in the woods. I have the mom who can't read at all ever in the car or she'll get sick, and I have the mom who finishes novels on the road trip out to Washington State.
Despite all their differences, they do have one thing in common. They love the Lord and they love their families. They're both great examples of strong, intelligent, beautiful, caring women. What daughter (or daughter-in-law) could ask for anything more?
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