Christmas Break

Do you all remember that sheer excitement that came over you when it was Christmas break from school as a kid.....You knew that in just a few short days Santa would come and you would get all these gifts, and you literally had 2 weeks of wonderful no school bliss!!!....Wasn't it a great feeling.......WELL AMPLIFY THAT 10,000% WHEN YOU ARE A TEACHER!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! Not that I don't L-O-V-E my job as you could tell from yesterday.....But Christmas break comes at just the right time for every teacher....The stress load has reached its peak for all teachers at this time...We have all of our family stuff to worry about plus the weight of worrying about our children at school.....
What do I worry about you ask?? ....Well yesterday I did a little survey to see how many kids had a Christmas tree...and 4 did not have one....I tried to imagine back to first grade and picture my home without a tree....Ya'll now how high strung I am...I was telling mama 2 weeks before Thanksgiving to get the stuff out of the attic....There is no way my mama could have Not put up a tree..Whether she wanted one or not it would have been worth putting it up to shut me up....My heart broke for those kids...I wish there was someway to magically put one in there house for Christmas morning, but you just can't.
Christmas break is just enough time for you to relax, refresh, and renew your mind and think about why you are teaching so that you can get back to the task at hand for the new year....After you read today..post some of your fond memories from Christmas break as a child...I would love to hear them...Even yours Ray!!!!!!

It's Why I Am Here!!!

My eyes are just overflowing as I write.....My kids went to art at 12:45...When they came back some of them had made me Christmas Cards....I was busy telling Zyquez,(my new student from last week who drives me insane) to sit down and put his card away.....He said..."but it's for you." I opened it up and it read...."I like you for my dad." I was overwhelmed with just flat out joy that I had followed the Lord's leading in my life and started teaching..I could not control my tears....Sometimes I must admit that you want to walk away from this profession but then you get a card like that......When I started teaching the main reason I did was because I wanted to be a "father to the fatherless...." Today I was that father. These kids are such a blessing in my life...I am so thankful that the Lord reminded me today of my purpose here....It is truly why I am here!

Monday before Christmas

You all know today is Monday(the Monday before Christmas none the less)...and believe me it has been one.....I have been running late since I woke up this morning.....I have gotten several emails asking me where my blog was....I had no idea how many people would read this thing...Apparently some of you clicked on as soon as you got to your computer....Anyway....this class has been crazy this morning....I said how sweet they were on Friday talking about Jesus birthday and all....Well today is a new story...Jingle Bells, Rudolph, and Santa are all the rage today........The kids remind me of that commercial where all of the rat traps are set off.....All it takes is one little ping pong ball hitting a trap and then with in seconds they are all going off......One kid said something about next Monday is Christmas and its been down hill ever since......The good thing about it is that as long as I am here with these kids I will always feel the excitement that Christmas brought to me as a child....I remember one Christmas when Santa moved our kitchen table in front of the hallway so I could not get to my gifts until my mom and Johnny woke up...The wonder and amazement that filled my mind was incomprehensible. I could not believe that Santa had actually been in my house and that he moved the table.......I was so disappointed when many years later I found out......Save the sarcasm Ray, I know it was just last year.........I hope you all have a great week this week and that through my children's excitement you will be filled with wonder and amazement......One more thing before I stop writing......I am so disappointed that I didn't get to see Julie chase Lance around the church last night........Maybe next year :0) Merry Christmas!!!!

From the Mouth of Babes

This morning during reading class we completed a bubble map about Christmas....Before we started I envisioned the map filled with words like candy canes, stockings, toys, elves, etc.....But from the very first answer to the last my students blessed my heart this morning.....The very first answer was "It's Jesus' Birthday" I was shocked that Santa was not the first answer.......These little kids are not as blind as we think....Grown-ups think all children are toy mongers around this time of the year but as you read their list below you may be as as blessed as I was......

1. Jesus' Birthday

2. Carolling with Friends

3. Family Dinners

4. Thankful for my Gifts

5. Give Gifts to Family

6. Gather Around the Christmas Tree

7. Helping Poor Peopl have a Good Christmas

8. Celebration

9. Santa Comes

I was shocked to see Santa at the bottom of their list......I told them how proud I was of them...and got a little teary eyed in front of them....I felt like a big doofus....But they really reminded me of what it's all about!!!!

Nieces

Okay... I know I typed something this morning.....but my sister just sent me this really cute Chirstmas picture of my nieces......The oldest is 3...Her name is Taylor.....The youngest is 2 months plus a few weeks....Her name is Sophie. They call me BB...well Taylor does...

Twins???

Yesterday one of my students brought me a present to school....She said she and her mom were at Toys R Us and saw the present and it made them think of me...She said it wasnt a Christmas present, but an "I thought of my teacher present." I wonder why she got it???? She said it "looked" like me....What do ya'll think??? That is why I LOVE being a teacher...no matter how handsome and wonderful I think I am the kids keep me humble....Have a good day!

Christmas Parade?

Last night my family and I had the chance to go the Spartanburg Christmas Parade...My mom stumbled upon a really neat thnig that got all of us to go....She bought some tickets from a restaraunt down town and they told her that the ticket included parking, 2 meals with drink, and our seat would be reserved with our name on it....My mom and Aunt who bought the tickets were so excited that they bought one for the entire family...from Granny and Papa on down to Baby Sophie Lynn.....When we got there all of mama and Aunt Cheryl's expectations were shattered....There was tons of people in the restaraunt and lots of people sitting in "our" seats....We all tried to remain calm, but it unnerved even granny who just got out of the hospital on Saturday from a mild heart attack on Wednesday...anyway...When the management asked the people in our seats to move, one of the ladies who was sitting became very upset....I imagine I would have been upset too, afterall she didnt know they were our seats because the restaruant did not do what they told mama they would....Anyway...the lady asked the manager if our money was better than hers....Of course not I thought, but we had reserved our seats...so i guess it was better than hers... It was better because we had paid in advance and she had yet to pay...Technically the restaraunt did not even have her money yet...Dont get me wrong......I dont think I am better than anyone....If you really know me, then you know that I have no reason to think that....I immediately tried to think about what the Lord might be teaching me through this whole thing and it hit me last night as I was trying to sleep.....I am so glad that Jesus made a way for me to "reserve" my spot in heaven...He didnt wait til I got to Heaven and then make me move because someone better than me walked in.......He gave me his blood to wash away my sin an adopted me into His kingdom, and made me good in His sight....His love for me could be no greater or no less, because of his death on the cross. I thank Him for allowing me to have a reservation and for adding my name on his ultimate guest list.......

Late Bus + Boredom= Blog

Well....I don't really know if I am doing this right, but I am trying to get caught up with my old college Friends who are blogging away about their lives, and no one knows anything about me....So here I am typing on a school day afternoon while I am waiting on a late bus...The bus was supposed to be here at 2:30 and it is now 3:25..still no bus....I decided to make the best of this unfortunate situation and create a blog....I don't know who will see it, but I hope it will help me keep in touch with some friends from a while back, and help them get a glimpse of what is like to have a Dearybury of a Day!!!!