This Unexpected Life

This week has been an emotional ride and I am wiped out by the magnitude of it.  

Heaven gained two sweet angels and two very fine men. 

In the past two months, I have attended four funerals.  I am trying my hardest to stay steeped in the word of God to calm my anxiety that is threatening to spill over.  The anxiety tries to make me live in fear and worry, takes away hope, and doesn't promise another minute in this life.

This week I held my friend as I felt her grief and heartache.  I know of NO ONE with the heart, compassion, and grace of J.

I worry about her sensitive heart.  

I hurt for these girls but I remain so thankful for the beautiful family bond that they share.  

Please pray for their comfort and peace.  

My BFF J. and her daughter and the most adorable grandson ever

This particular piece was written by J's brother and I wanted to share it so that it may touch others.    

I think it is beautiful. 

Rest in Peace Friends

This week also brought a special recognition.

Between the funeral and Carlee getting strep throat I really didn't think I could make it...... 

....but y'all know I have the kind of friends that are pretty determined.  

They drove me, paid for the hotel, and did what they do

....and made sure I had a fun evening. 

I don't deserve such good people. 

Of course, Mrs. E. made a very, very, very special award with my most embarrassing "best" photos.  

We had a bit of a laugh because when my name was called I waved at my friends "cheering" but they were hidden off in the back so it looked like I was a southern beauty pageant queen waving at my MANY fans. 

(...and no one else waved?)

I had to use masking tape to fix my broken glass. (see right side of glasses).
#classy
The fun keeps rolling!

I love you ladies.  You made an ordinary evening very AWESOME. 

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By the weekend, I had one more emotional (but happy) event-

the wedding of a former student.

The crew reunited again and it felt so good.

I forgot my coat so I used Carlee's Frozen blanket for a 'shaw'.  #classy

A teacher never forgets the class that made her a teacher.   I don't know how well I taught them but there is not one child in that class that would say that I didn't love them. 
They were the best.

E. front row, white sweater

I remember most that Ms. Ellie was as happy to be in my class as I was to teach her!  Maybe neither one of us had a clue but we were very HAPPY.

 I actually invited my first class to MY wedding.

Are they not adorable? 

Ms. Ellie is in the pink and her sister is in the orange.  Below are Ellie and her sister all grown up.

Now Ms Mrs. E. is a teacher and wife of her own.  

I'm proud of you girlie.

My new life goal is to look as good as Ellie's mom when Carlee gets married. 

We have been friends since we both nearly failed Spanish in college.  

The mother of the bride truly looked buento bonita.

As Ellie gave her vows, my mind thought about that little enthusiastic girl that wanted to write about basketball for every topic, to the young Pollyanna graduate I was, and to the way that life speeds by us at a quick pace.  

This is an unexpected life.

I pray for this young couple as they begin a promising and beautifully complex life together. 

As the preacher stated this week:
All we have in this life is God and each other. 

I choose to take this day God has made in it's adventure, beauty, pain, anxiety, heartache, joy, and make it good by treasuring the relationships along the way.

 

Jeremiah 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Week One: Back to School

Surprisingly, our first week back was a success!! 

I say surprisingly because we have had so many 'what ifs' in the air.  What if I remain sick?  What if Carlee has trouble going to a new big school?  What if Connor has trouble going to a new big school?  What if I hate my new big school?

The first day of school and you can visibly see the nerves. 

(can't you take your big brother with you on the first day of school??)

The night before school, I gave Carlee a heart necklace.  I wore one-half and she wore one-half on the first day of kindergarten.  Like the Kissing Hand, I told her to remember that mom will be thinking of her allllll day and to kiss her necklace if she feels scared.  💓

We are all about the "kissing jewelry".  

Open House + Awesome Teachers

Eventually, the excitement outweighed the worries and everyone had a great week.

above my desk  💗

I kept meals simple and did zero chores during the first week back.  After we settled, I read a book every night and tried to go to bed early.  

I think it did a lot for my mental energy. 

Here are a few scenes from our first week: 

My coworker gave me the sweetest gift. It's a little cloth coaster for my desk (made by her grandmother). 

A kindness rock found in memory of a child who had attended our school.  

Off on his own, while I tend to sister.

I'm not crying?  Who is crying?  I'm not crying?

remember this?  

and we had a great K. year!

Mrs. E. is always there!  :)

For me, I was afraid that going from a self-contained teacher for 14 years to more inclusion would present a challenge, but it has been very exciting.  

1.  I love being available to help teach new concepts and offer support to children.  

2.  I'm flexing some new teaching muscles. 

3.  The teachers have been great. I can see myself moving right into a co-teaching model with a few of them in the future.  

I'm still on edge about upcoming paperwork, figuring out motivation, and pull outs for intervention.  Hopefully, it will all fall into place.

Day 2 Excitement

Toes in School Colors

#goteam

First Pep Rally

(I should really lend my rapping skills.)

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This is Connor's end of day club.  Sorry, you're not building your pecs buddy.

That would be Chess Club for you Connor.

He. He. 

He wasn't excited but I know he is changing next term and hey, I find nothing wrong with having a chess player in the family.  ♖

I've been getting to know students and it has been really neat to see these children from K-2 to now.  

They are all "grown up".

A little Labor Day weekend ice cream.  

Followed by a LOT of Labor Day work...

Yay for a great week! 

Thanks for all the love, prayers, and support.

See you soon.

Good Bye Summer... Hello Hectic

Wow, this was the fastest summer of my life!!  I feel like I just closed the school year.

We will name this summer 'The Summer of Good Intentions'.

Oh how I intended to do a lot.  I intended to read with my kids, show them a few more life skills, teach Carlee her letter sounds, daily devotionals, and finish cleaning 2/3 closets.  I also had plans to finish Carlee's baby books (hello age 5).    The first few weeks went really well until the camps, vacations, tutoring, and day trips kicked into gear.  It took all of my energy to just maintain before Darren came home in the evenings.  Also, we were exhausted from the previous school year. 

I'm trying not to do that annoying thing where I feel bad because my family didn't do anything academic or productive.    I think school teachers feel a huge sense of obligation to complete a lot of tasks in the summer because we focus so much of our energies on our school day, structure, and schedule of our homes to survive Sept.- June.  

I mean look at these two things....

They keep growing up too fast and I want plain old fun time with them.  Yesterday Carlee said she couldn't wait to turn ten years old.  I told her I don't want her to hurry up and turn ten because then she will grow faster and go to college and get married and leave me.  She said (in a tone like I was so silly)-   'Mommy we will always be 'f'wiends'.

I hope so because, as Connor described,  this morning when we tried to get her in the car, it was "like watching an episode of COPS".  She is my sassy gal and has a strong sense of what she wants to do.

We have been working hard to get two kids ready for school.  We finished up yesterday with a final purchase of shoes for Carlee.  Things were looking good until I started to get sick 

(and I've been drinking my spinach smoothie with vitamins EVERY morning too).    I originally thought I was feeling the effects of preparing for a new job while working on a hall that went from 'tropical rainforest to Arctic' in one week.  

Last night I considered the emergency room.  My breathing was very labored.  For two nights in a row, I just sat up all night on the couch taking OTC meds, hoping I would get better.  I was very worried that I would miss my first day of school in 35 years.

Darren and the fam. ran me to a clinic this morning, and they fixed me up with the right medications $$$.

Connor so happy to take me to the doctor.  

I'm not 100% but I feel better and I hope I get some sleep tonight.  

Most importantly, I got the green light for school tomorrow.

I just hope school is ready for The Sechrist family.

Today I have been crying every few minutes.  I've spent the full afternoon logging dates:  report card dates, IEP dates, sporting event duties, bus duties, etc.   Then I addressed fifteen letters to parents I didn't get to meet on parent night (because no one knows who I am yet). 

I watched the end of We Are Marshall and you would think I was there when it all happened.  I just cried and cried.  I think this is a combination of growing kids,  upcoming change, and lack of sleep.

Also, I sure am going to miss: 

Oh, Stars! This picture is making me cry.  

Let me switch to-------

Our Moments from Summer  

At the start of summer, Carlee was given a tomato plant in daycare and she was so excited.  She loved and planted it with her daddy.  They watered it and it grew and grew.  Then she plucked each tiny tomato off to give to me (she hates tomatoes).  They were delecious.  

 

Swimmers

Barbie Hot Tub

Did anyone else eat their weight in ice cream this summer??

We did  🍦🍨

 Summer of Fishing

Hearing Check for School

Racing into Evening

Afternoon With Friends

Silly Giggles

Exploration 

Brother lost a tooth and gave it to his sister so that she could get something from the Tooth Fairy. 

The tooth-fairy left a little something special for both children.  

 

Going to Africa Camp

Visits from a Fairy.....

Pizza Date

Connor and B. are so ready for the school year!! This afternoon they were given a very special gift.

Carolina Panther hats signed by THE ---

Luke Kuechly 

Can you believe it!?!  Isn't it awesome?  I'm not sure but I think Luke meant to write on Connor's hat:  Your mom is the bomb.com and you should always listen to her (but I don't think the hat was big enough).  

Not only was it awesome but it was given by a person who has always encouraged and loved our boys. When I would cry over Connor, they would say 'one day when Connor is on SNL, he will remember you taught him God's way'.   💓

If Luke can lead the defense in tackles, we can totally dominate middle school and kindergarten.   #GOTEAM

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May God fill our children with joy, peace, and wisdom.

Have a wonderful school year everyone! 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

-Psalm 91:  1-2