Today started off on the wrong foot (I'll talk about this in a minute) but it honestly ended pretty wonderfully.

When I woke up, I had a cold sore and definitely wasn't ready to go show my face to the world (especially not to 100 students picking me apart in front of the classroom). At the same time I was optimistic that it was Friday and the day would go fast and smooth like the rest of the week.

It started with a flopped lesson plan in my 8th grade class. Well more like a flopped (wasted)10 minutes due to a technology malfunction. It wouldn't have been a big deal except the students started to get wild and crazy and it just started my morning out a little rough.

I was still ready to march on to the high school, thinking things would be better there (they'd been great all week).

Well no go....

In my one class (the one that makes me feel like I'm teaching in a movie such as the Freedom Writers or Stand & Deliver) there was a student being disruptive, picking up his desk off the floor, yelling at the top of his lungs and being obnoxious. I told him to leave the class. He questioned me, I explained and he refused to leave. He then went on to mimic every facial expression I made and every word I said. I can't tell you how it took every ounce of strength I had to not go wring this kid's neck or blast him with a dose of belittling comments and explicatives! If I didn't value my job (and things like shelter, food and clothes lol) so much...that little punk would have had at least a piece of my mind (if not a piece of my boot!) OK...getting that out there made me feel better. End of the story being that I had to actually call for an escort and our school officer came down to get him and personally walk him to the office.

BTW...technology was also a problem for me in this class...

When school was over, I was very relieved! I was even kind of excited to have Riss and Andy's dress rehearsal (even though it meant lots of running around). We had to pick Kev up from school to make it to rehearsal on time but in the hectic rush, we were late getting Kevin. I felt like a real jerk and had Riss run in to get him. I was more embarassed when Kev's teacher came walking out of the building. I got out of the car and apologized for being late when she told me that was not why she came out.

She came out...to tell me...
that the past 2 days had been great...
that the difference was like night and day...
(What an answered prayer!)

I'm so proud of him and he's so proud of himself. He says he thinks the pills help him too.

Dress rehearsal was fun. G ordered pizza. The kids went to their school ten town from 7-9. G played wii with Kevin and I relaxed and wrapped presents!

All is well that ends well!


At our last faculty meeting, our principal told us of a plaque she has on her desk that says "Every day great opportunities come to us disguised as impossible situations."

As I think about all the changes in my life recently and how at one time I thought changes like these were impossible, I see meaning in that quote. It's so hard to see the opportunity when you're faced with a problem, maybe even close to impossible. But it's feels good to realize a change or a gained opportunity and remember how impossible it once felt.