God's plans and lesson plans....

are sometimes extremely confusing.

I just finished my first week as a teacher. I. am. freaking. tired. My feet are swollen, my back hurts, I live on coffee, my students are crazy, and I love it. I really really do.

Don't get me wrong, it is not all fun all the time. (especially when all the 3rd grade teachers warned you about the group coming up.... and were right.) But I do love it. I love my kids. Even the one who was sent to the office TWICE in the first week of school... and the 10 of my 17 students sat out of recess today after all of them lost their recess privilege on Wednesday because of their behavior.... I even love the ones who disrupt my lessons just to get a laugh. They are amazing creatures and God has a special plan for each one of them. And somehow, He allowed me to be a part of that plan for one year. W.O.W.

It is really easy to focus on the negative parts of the day when you are a teacher. They are the ones that stress you out, exhaust you, help you become angry, and are fresh on your mind. But the little joys and triumphs are the things that get you through the day. Like... when my extremely low-performing SPED student (who doesn't usually look at the person who is talking to him, nor does he respond after spoken to) answered me with a "Yes, Miss Hall?" when I called his name. And then when I asked him to behave in the hallway said, "Yes, Ma'am," and walked PERFECTLY down the hallway. That filled me up with so much joy that I wanted to pick him up and spin him around until we fell over.

I love that.

I know, and have been warned multiple times, that this year is going to be really really hard. Bring it on. God is with me and I am teaching for Him. He will lead me through the sucky times and rejoice with me in the joyous times. He is good... ALL THE TIME.

Bring it on.