As of late...

Well, it's been a while.  But here I am again, ready to share some thoughts with you.  There is no order to these thoughts... So here we go.

It has been snowing hard all morning long.  First of all, this explains to me why some of my fourth graders have been acting like crazy Mexican jumping beans for the last two days.  They always get weird when the pressure changes.  No lie.  Second of all... I just got back from the grocery store and I heard several people complaining about the weather.  I was thinking to myself, I must be a total weirdo then because I am LOVING the weather today.  If it is going to be cold, then I want it to look pretty.  Also, Saturdays are the BEST days for snowstorms.  I love cooking a good breakfast with the husband and then curling up on the couch with a book while watching the snow fall.  I mean, really, it doesn't get better than that.  Not for me anyway.

My job can be exhausting, but super rewarding.  Like, more than I can say.  I'm not a mother yet, but I hope I will be one day and I feel as though being a teacher is really preparing me for that.... although I wouldn't really know- because I have never been a mother, right?  Anyway, for those who have read blog posts in the past, you may be familiar with Hardest Student from last year.  The one who caused me to shed more tears than I can count.  Well, in the last couple of weeks, he has stopped into my room more than once after school "just to say hi."  And you might think, "So.....??"  But man, it just means the world to me.  If you knew this kid, you might understand why.  It means that after all the struggles we had last year, it did get through to this kid that feels that no one cares for him, that I actually do.  And to me, that is one of my life's greatest successes.

I have a cute girl this year that hangs out in my classroom after school a few days a week.  She just needs to call her dad to let him know she's staying.  Most days she'll help get the board ready, play on the iPad, or chat with me while I grade papers.  Yesterday she got out the checkers board and challenged me to a game.  At first I was thinking, man, I really just need to get my plans ready for next week.  But I succumbed and ended up playing the most hilariously intense game of checkers of my life.  I loved laughing with her and getting to know her better.  It just felt good to throw work aside and enjoy this cute girl because, honestly, that is the BEST part of my job.  And as I drove home I had the thought... I really hope that as a mother I will be able to, every once and a while, put the work aside and enjoy my kids.  Because those are the moments that count.  That mean something.  That build relationships.

I very often feel extremely unworthy of all the great blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me.  But I hope I can make the most of the them.  I know I fall short a lot and I am always discovering new weaknesses I have, but I am grateful for all the many wonderful people in my life that make me who I am- the better version of myself. 

And to end this random post, here is a lovely song for a snowy day.  Enjoy.