Summer is here!

Wow, it has been a VERY long time since we updated the blog!  Life definitely got in the way.  Hopefully things will slow down for a while, now that summer is here.  Kyle is finished with his third year of Seminary.  He has one assignment that is due on Tuesday for a workshop he took in March.  I will be finished with my first year of teaching tomorrow.  Isn't that strange that the last day of school is Memorial Day?  

I can't believe I survived my first year.  I got another new student in April, so I ended the year with 32 children in my class.  What a ride it has been.  I have seen things I thought I'd never see, said things I thought I'd never say.  It is incredible how pressure from testing can affect teaching style and student learning.  Speaking of testing, it looks like I will have a small class next year.  Many of the 4th grade students failed the big test, which means they also fail 4th grade.  As of now, I'll have between 15 and 20 students in my class next year!  I'm trying to keep a level head and not get too excited, haha.

You know, if I had it all to do over again, I would still take this same job at this same school.  Even knowing what a huge class I would have, even knowing the crazy number of fights I would break up, even knowing the disrespect I would endure from time to time.  I can't help but love my job.

I love my job because one of my students came to me hating reading.  After I read the book Hatchet with the class??  HE LOVES TO READ!  He is constantly looking for another book to read!  I love my job because one of my students came to me and she could barely multiply.  In two minutes, she could only answer about 5 multiplication facts.  But now?  After about 2 weeks of math intervention and timed tests where she tracks her own score, she can do over 50 problems in two minutes! 

It is amazing what these kids have accomplished.  I wish I had more time with them...there's so much more I want to say.

Don't get me wrong, though.  I need a vacation!

Kyle and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary next weekend!!!  This year has flown!  We are driving to Dallas to stay in a cabin bed and breakfast for a few days.  While we are there we are going to a Rangers baseball game.  Then we will head up to Keyes, Oklahoma to visit Kyle's Granny and Gramps!  I'm quite excited.  I've never been to Oklahoma!  We are hoping to visit Kyle's Grandma and Grandpa on the way home later in the week. 

Then in June we are headed to Jacksonville for a small "family reunion" with my mom's family.  We have rented a house on the beach.  Kyle and I can only go for a weekend, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone!

At the very end of June we will drive to Birmingham to spend a couple of days, and then (hopefully) stop in Hopkinsville, Kentucky to visit Mistie and Randy Shoemaker!  After that we head up to the Washington DC area to visit friends and tour the capitol!!!  

Immediately after we arrive back home in New Orleans, Kyle will repack his bags and drive to a camp in Mississippi to hang out with the kids from our church.  He will be home for one night after camp before flying to Jamaica for a mission trip with the church.

Our last trip of the summer will be at the end of July or beginning of August.  We are hoping to visit Kayla, Kyle's youngest sister, at Crier Creek!  I spent three summers working at Crier Creek while I was in college.  The camp is beautiful, and I miss it so very much!  I can't wait to see it and to visit Kayla for a couple of days!

It is going to be a whirlwind summer, but hopefully restful as well.  I will attend Montessori training daily for 6 weeks.  Don't worry, I'm thankful for the extra paycheck and the reason to stay busy!  

I will try to update again in a week or so!!