May the Road Rise up to Meet You and the Wind Always be at Your Back

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Man I miss Ireland a whole lot this week! I decided to bring in some culture to my students this week by teaching them things about Saint Patrick and Ireland. I made a slide show of some of my pictures... that is where the real sense of missing the place began. How could any one place be so beautiful? And why was God so good to me to allow me to live there for three months? So, today I had a St. Patrick's Day "Celebration" since we were technically not allowed to have a "party." I made rainbow jello and had some other yummy green treats. Then, I decided to challenge myself by teaching my kids some basic Irish steps in dancing. It was a blast! They loved it! I wish that I would have video taped some of it because they were just that cute! :) To be honest, it looked far from anything close to Irish dancing, but they sure tried hard...and had fun! This is something that I would like to do with all my future classes. It was so fun for me and the kids to pull something from another that could be so real with the different resources I was able to bring in.

That was the good part of the week...the rest has been gross. It has probably been one of the longest weeks ever...and it is only Wednesday! I am praying that I make it to Friday in one piece. My kids were wild Monday and have been a little better the past two days...obviously excited about today's festivities. But there is also a lot on my mind besides my kids which sometimes unfortunately comes with me into the classroom. The topper today was at the end of the day while we were all cleaning up. I had brought in my laptop and external hard-drive to show the kids a video of me Irish dancing in Ireland. The day was almost over when I heard screaming. Just then I saw my laptop fall to the floor along with my hard-drive. I went running, but I didn't make it in time. I saw that my laptop looked okay which I was thankful for. Then, I noticed that my hard drive was deformed and looked broke with other pieces from the inside now on the floor. I instantly just started crying realizing what this meant. I just bought my current laptop this summer, so all of my pictures from overseas, college, and the past 5 or so years are backed up on that only. All I could think about was that they were probably gone. The kid who bumped the stand holding the equipment is probably one of the sweetest boys in my class, and I know that he would never do it on purpose. So, I tried to stop crying since I know he felt bad...but that didn't happen. The kids were quieter than ever before and sat in their desks without a whisper till their buses were called. When they all left, I checked the situation out, and I think that things are okay. The hard drive seems to still have my information on it...it just looks messed up. That will work! So, I am praying that my pictures are all really there still and damage only occurred on the outside. I calmed down some after this, and Laura and I stopped at our little grocery store in War on the way home. In there was the little boy who knocked my things down. I was so happy to be able to tell him that everything was okay. He then found me and said he wanted me to meet his grandma who he is living with. She was precious and told me that this little boy came home in tears and said, "Grandma, I did a terrible thing today." He told her what happened and then said, "and then she started crying and I about died inside." When I heard this, I almost started crying again. I explained why I was so emotional and apologized for my reaction. I am so thankful that I had this chance to tell him things were okay right after so that he wasn't worried all night...and also his grandma. She said that she was prepared to write me a check to replace whatever was broken. So soo soo cute and sweet. God is good even in the midst of craziness! We almost didn't stop...but the Lord determines our steps!

Oh...and I got ANOTHER new student today...a second grader. So, I am now up to 22 little ones. My room is getting smaller and the noise is increasing!!!! Also, I have heard rumors that he is a wild one. Honestly, I can't take much more in this class with the different behavior issues. After talking with his aunt...he is another student with much hurt. Pray that he would be one that would adjust quickly in my classroom and be obedient. I know that God is with my little class and that He is in control! Pray that I would continually look to Him for strength. I don't have enough of my own. I am wearing thin. Please also pray that the distractions of life would not get in the way of what God has for me here with my students.

Thanks for reading my rambling thoughts once again. I appreciate each one of you and your prayers!!!! Much love! :)