Bring on the SCHOOL YEAR!

Before we dive into the school year, let's get one thing straight - the end of the summer and the start of the school year are NOT the same thing.  The end of summer is sad, difficult, and fairly tragic.  The start of the school year is energizing, exciting, and full of anticipation.  They are very different situations, which means I can be both devastated about the end of summer and pumped for the start of school at the same time.

Summer has been AMAZING.  I have had time to clean my house, prepare GOOD food, spend quality time with my children, go fun places, throw things together with only a few hours' notice, etc.  Like I said, amazing.  And waving bye-bye to it is sad.  It's okay to be sad about the end of the summer.

But I am excited about the beginning of the school year!  We have always had a fabulous group of kids.  Last year was the roughest, but I attribute some of that to the fact that I missed three months with them at the beginning of the school year, which is key relationship-building time.  I struggled with classroom management as a result (a first...I don't put up with nonsense), but I eventually got them whipped into shape.  It was tough.  But since I am not pregnant, there will be no extended absence this year!  I am also much more content with my life situation.  I think God has worked on me a lot over the last year, reminding me that this is my calling.  My calling is not to be a stay-at-home-wife-and-mom (and though summer was wonderful, it was an excellent reminder of this truth).  My calling is to be a devoted wife and mother while contributing to society outside my home by investing in the lives of my co-workers and the young people in my classes.  This is me.

I got an email from my dad yesterday wishing me well...and saying that he's kind of jealous.  He is a retired teacher.

He gets it.

So bring it, class of 2019! (Yowsers...)