Laughter

Things are getting better, I think. I've had a hard time this school year, especially with teaching and my whole work environment. This week I was afraid that I had lost all passion for working with children. But today was wonderful. The only thing I can say is that God answered prayers. Nothing was different, but I loved being with my students today. I feel like I'm slowly breaking through to my biggest trouble maker, Robert. I love this kid so much and it is hard to see him struggle inwardly so much. The best part of today was during a read aloud. I have Robert sitting right in front of me. He always talks and wiggles and gets up and sings and does whatever else he can to get attention. Today he started to get up and I stuck my foot out and it threw him back in his seat and he started laughing so hard and then it was a ripple effect of laughter and I could not stop laughing with tears rolling down my cheeks and I kept trying to get back to the reading but would burst out laughing again and that would set the whole class off again. It was so good to be in a happy place.

Voting is ridiculously hard. All the arguments seem dumb to me. And why do they write in all caps? DON'T THEY KNOW THAT'S HARDER TO READ? And they make everything seem like the end of the world is going to occur if you vote yes or no. All of California is going to be taken over by murderers and global warming and the decline of morality and the bird flu!!!! Sigh.

The rain is lovely. Today as I was teaching the trees were sideways from the wind and then after school it misted with the sun still shining. So beautiful. And it feels like such a change at a time when I really need a change. The first Bethlehem work day was on Saturday and I remembered that I love working at Bethlehem and talking to people in my church and feeling useful. It rained most of the time, during which I stayed in the big containers helping to unload... or just hiding and watching everyone else stand in the rain.

Sunday school is getting better now that I have a curriculum, although I'm pretty disappointed with my choices. Compared with real school, it seems very childish to be teaching 2nd-5th graders using flannel board and modeling clay.

I planted some flowers in pots in my patio. I don't think they'll last long, but they are lovely for now.

We had a great field trip to Johnson Farm in the Santa Cruz mountains. I love this picture of one of my students, who hardly smiles in class.