Tough week

It is amazing how a tough time can continue for a whole week.

This week has brought many sad and heartbreaking moments in my life and in the life of my family. It gets hard to find the focus when at work. It is hard to teach when you have so much on your mind and it is so hard to try to teach when all you want to do is cry or sleep or simply think. Regarless though, every moment is for the best of course. I know that I could spend the whole day thinking about whatever is going on.

Work can be such a wonderful place for me. I am truly grateful for my job. It gives me such a different perspective about life through the eyes of an 11-12 year old. I also get to see how children look at life and life's problems and they do what they know what to do best; enjoy life.

Yesterday was a particularly tough day for me. I had to push through a usual day of instruction. Throughout the day, though, I had so many wonderful moments that helped me to place a smile on my face and to keep it going.
Here are some of those moments:
1. One of my ESL students tested out of the ESL program. This is great for her, but it meant that she would be taken out of my class. When she went to get her schedule changed, she begged and cried for her to stay in my class. That was not an option, but seeing her love for me and my class, the counselor worked her magic and was able to do so. My student's actions completely made my heart melt.
2. My students can get pretty chatty and, let's face it, annoying at times, but they behaved and did all their work. I didn't have to ask them too many times to work or to do what they know what to do. This helped to bring peace to my heart.
3. Some of the girls in my class kept smiling at me all day and waving and telling me how they were doing all day. This reminded me of the joy of being a kid and that I must believe, like they do, that everything will be taken care of. NO WORRIES!
4. Last but not least, ALL my students did their homework. That rarely happens!!! That was a moment of proud joy from my babies.

Today, the great behavior continued and the great hearts and attitudes continued. I know that God shows me his love through my students. He knows when I need just a little bit of peace and love and he sends all of this through them. I love my babies. I fall in love with them every year. They remind me how to trust others and believe that everything will be taken care of an be ok!

Also, today, a new student of mine told me she has leukemia. She said it without reservation and without sadness. She truly believes that she will be ok and that the doctors are doing everything they know how and that she will be fine. She believes in bright futures! She doesnt know but she just taught me an invaluable lesson today.

Everyday and every moment can be a lesson, a sweet reminder and even a moral to learn. I am so blessed to know that God loves me so much as to give me all of these everyday, even when I don't realize it. :)