Snotty Noses, Magic Carpets, Glowing Praise, etc.

I was absolutely exhausted today. Teaching is without a doubt one of the most tiring things a body can do. You see, I had been up until 1:00 that night making "Agent of Change" badges for each of the kids. It took virtually FOREVER but I couldn't go to bed because I said I would have them. And if there is one thing you do not do in a place of instability, it is break your word.

It is definitely cold season. My children were sniveling the entire day. One of my kids literally dripped snot the entire day. It was horrifying. Of course, mama knows best--she told me to get out my Clorox wipes, which I have done. I am going to have the kids wipe down the desks at the end of the school day.

Our principal came into today and announced to my class that we were her favorites. I was SO proud of my babies. I know that she wasn't lying either. In fact, she gave us a carpet today--a really big one! We are using it for our reading rug. The Lord really has provided as we were previously using a reed mat I brought back from Uganda--it just wasn't cutting it! I love seeing the babies sprawled out on it and reading.

Our class is gaining quite a reputation as other teachers have begun to adopt some of the methods we use. In fact, my kids were so excited to come in from recess and tell me that one of the other 3rd grade teachers told her children to be "world changers" as I am trying to teach my babies to do. I think the fact that they are an example in the school is really empowering to them.

The kids aren't perfect. Today I kept two of them in for pushing in the lunch room. They weren't angry fighting, but they were pushing nonetheless. One of them pushed the other off the lunch table bench. I was sitting at another table and let me tell you--I called out their names so sharply the whole lunch room went quiet. I explained that there behavior was unacceptable and they stayed in from recess with me. Afterwords we had a conference where I was very firm, but forgiving as I knew they were just playing. Just the same, I someone could get hurt and I just won't tolerate that kind of horseplay in my class.

I presented the kids with their "Agent of Change" badges and their Special Agent notebooks. I am hoping to set up something like what we saw in Freedom Writers. I want them to have a safe place where they can express themselves. Lord knows they need it. In fact, I had one of my kids tell me today that she was abandoned by her mother and her father didn't want her--she was shipped back and forth between them before settling with her grandmother. That same girl told me that someone once tied her up "like a jackrabbit." She and her sister had their arms and legs bound behind their backs and tied together so they couldn't move. It happened a few years ago, but yet another case of abuse I have to report. I want to protect them so badly--to take all their pain away. At recess, I just hold them in my lap and wrap my arms around them, willing my love to just pour into them.

I finished my school day tutoring the oldest student in my class after class. He failed the 4th grade and on the first day, didn't want to come into my class. Today, he volunteered to stay after. I worked with him on multiplication. It was so powerful to watch a child who could not multiply one day, have that skill the next. I could tell he was proud and I was just gushing. I wrote a note home to his grandma to tell her of her grandson's accomplishment.

As I stare at the picture of Gandhi one of my students drew, I feel such peace. Though I miss A in Thailand and R and A in Uganda, for the first time, I don't want to be overseas. These are the kids God has entrusted me with for this time. The kids he has entrusted us with.

God is good.

P.S. Like a clever girl, I tried to freeze my milk like my mommy does. I realized something was wrong after several swigs the other day. I finally noticed that the expiration date was not 9/16 as I thought, but 8/16. Gross.