Retirement Phase Two

Retirement part two has commenced. I'm officially finished with my sub job. 

How did it go? 

Saxon Phonics

I had a class of nine energetic and fun second grade boys. 

These boys are adorable. They quickly adapted to having a new teacher and they were a great help while I learned the routine. 

I've taught 2, 3 and 4 year olds. I've taught 1st, 3rd and 4th grades. 

This was the first time I've spent any time in 2nd grade. 

I have to say that it is fun! 

We studied quite a few interesting topics. 

Homophones, homonyms, synonyms, contractions, biographies, letter writing, pioneers, multiplication and division were a few.  

We talked about Joseph, Abraham and Moses during Bible. 

Pinterest is an amazing resource. Our second day of multiplication was confusing for them. 

Pinterest became a resource with tips on how to teach arrays. 

These kids diagram sentences like high schoolers. 

The Shurley English curriculum is no joke. My co-teacher came the rescue many times. 

The past nine weeks have flown by. 

I was able to keep a handle on things at home. 

We don't do our own yard work but I do all my own inside chores.  

I did a chore or two every morning in order to keep things clean. 

Each work day was about 10,000 steps so I was pretty tired at night. 

Bill helped with the laundry which saved the day. 

I enjoyed having someplace to go and dressing up was fun. 

I got our annuals and seeds planted. I thinned and weeded some of the flower beds. 

There is nothing like the fellowship of other teachers when they get along. I was on a fabulous team. 

 I was able to visit with my old team before a few of them quit at the end of this year. 

It was also a privilege to work along the mom of one of my former students.

 It's something I will always treasure.

Society places a lot of importance on having a career.

At times I felt a little without my bearings when I retired. Upon my return, the parents and the school bestowed appreciation which in turn helped fill an empty spot lurking during this transition phase. 

I have briefly entertained the idea of going to teach at another school. I don't know that I will but it is nice to know that I still love teaching. 

I'm a big believer in the truth that God directs our path. 

Circumstances were leading me to retire last year. I wasn't always sure why it was happening a few years before we had planned. 

This temporary teaching assignment has been something good that came out of something that wasn't ideal. 

I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve these students, parents and my co-teachers. 

My blog has been neglected but I needed a blogging break. 

I can't wait to see what the next weeks and months will bring. 

Thanks for coming by and following along. 

Have a great weekend. 

Katie 

A Lesson In The Ripples

A family member was going through something difficult recently. 

I asked him what he thought he was supposed to be learning. 

He had some lessons ruminating around his brain but he didn't have the exact lesson pinned down.

 I shared with him that his hard time wasn't just a learning experience for him. 

There were lessons to be learned for everyone connected to him.

Everyone in his circle had something that could to be learned, much like the concentric ripples after a pebble has been thrown into the water.

This seems to be true for Harvey. 

The people of the Gulf are the in the center of the circle. 

Everyone else falls into the outer ripples and there are lessons to be learned. 

I kept crying out to God to calm the storm. 

Much like Jesus did in Mark 4:35-41.  

I know that the Lord could have rebuked the storm as the words suggest in verse 39.

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” 
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He chose not to for some reason.

It occurred to me that He had a greater lesson in rescuing people in the midst of the storm. 

I am not at all suggesting that the victims have not had deep trials and suffering this week - they have! 

I'm praying that God is showing Himself to those affected and displaced and that He is near and dear to them in their time of distress.  

I think there will be powerful stories in the days to come from those "in the eye" of the storm.
I think there will be unbelievable stories from both the victims and the rescuers. 

We're already seeing ripple lessons playing out across the internet for those of us in the outer bands.
I challenge you to find the one that applies to you. 

I've written this post four times. 

This has been such a burden on my heart the last few weeks.  

The first three posts followed along the lines of some of the memes you might have seen floating around the internet contradicting the narrative that we are a racist country. 

I've known very few actual racists. Most of them are dead. 

 I've seen how their bigotry subtly translates into conversation and actions.
There are no white hoods but there is hateful discrimination.

I don't feel like a privileged, white person because I know my life story. 

My childhood was difficult. 

We've had hard times, pain and loss. 

However, if you look at me, I look prosperous and I look like I've had it easy. 

The thought occurred to me that if others knew my story, I wouldn't be judged based on how I look. 

I nearly fell to the floor.
I really have no idea what it is like to be judged based on my appearance. 

I can only imagine what it would be like to feel continual judgement because of 

race, religion, skin color, or sexuality. 

There has been a cacophony of voices screaming across the airwaves the last few weeks.
We've all seen the disturbing images, heard the stories, and read the opinions on all sides.
It was like God in His power yelled, "Be still" to the storms that were brewing before Harvey made landfall.

We need healing.
We need ears to hear.
I needed self examination and sorrow for the way others have been treated and continued to be treated.
That was my lesson in the ripple.

Praying for Texas, Louisiana and for our country on this day of prayer.
May He be close to the broken hearted.

Katie