Moving on

"I am NOT afraid of death, but the separation from family and friends makes me sad. HOWEVER, that is the view from THIS SIDE! Once a person crosses over into eternity, he (or she) is far too busy being caught up in a reverent ecstasy to have any thoughts of those still on Earth. Those thoughts would cause a little hint of sadness and there is none of that in heaven. So my opinion is that the only sadness in the death of a Christian is suffered by those left on Earth. So if my passing would cause you to be sad because you miss me then “I am honored and humbled by that but if I have "crossed over" then the kindest way to say it is that I am not too busy being awe-struck over Paradise to miss anyone or anything. Sorry."

~ Marshall A. Lowery

So much more than money

Tomorrow I won't be at school. My mother-in-law and I are going to Fairhope to a flea market. It is going to be fun!! :) I need a break from school...

And, you're right, I am off during the summer. For 4 weeks. And I don't get paid for those 4 weeks. Same with the week and thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, and the week at spring break. Altogether, that makes 8 weeks a year. Not including, of course, all of those holidays that you probably mentioned under your breath that I get off. And yes, I get a paycheck all year, even though my measly wage is merely prorated throughout the year so that I won't have to go half of December and all of July without a paycheck.

But... what about all that time that I spend at the school and get no compensation for? Football games... basketball games.... softball games.... volleyball games.... baseball games.... after school faculty meetings.... after school detention.... the hours on end that I have spent (and will continue to spend) grading papers and projects... the conferences during the summer that are not during my contract time.

And yes. I am on contract. Which means that I am basically salaried. BUT I doubt there is another salaried OR hourly position in this WORLD that has as many duties as teaching has. I feel bad for ever thinking my mom had it easy by being a teacher. Because... I’ve figured out.... the good teachers have the hardest jobs. The ones that don't care are a totally different story.

This is the hardest job I have ever had. But it is also the most rewarding. There are days that I just want to throw my hands up and storm out of my classroom, never to return. But then.... a senior that I helped with algebra comes to me and hands me his grad exam results right before graduation and with a tear in his eye, says... "I passed..." Or a former student emails me out of nowhere needing help making a decision about her major in college -- because she has no one else to talk to about it that she trusts to give her an unbiased answer.

So... maybe I take it back. I don't get paid close to enough money for the work that I do at that school and for that school.... but I know that I will be a better person because of the lives that I get to influence and the continuous impact that these kids have on my life and my attitude.

And that is worth so much more than money....

my son

As I walked down the hallway at JHS with my daddy, I remarked at how long this week had seemed. "I'm ready to get out of here and go get my son."

Daddy turned to me and smiled his sincere grin, "My son. How wonderful does that sound?! I've never been able to say those words."

"But you can say 'My grandson' which is pretty awesome too," was my reply.

"You're absolutely right!" he said with the same grin.

😍

— feeling thankful.