the first day ...

of this new life.

And I probably should be going to bed since it all starts again at 5:30 in the morning ... but, it's only gonna be the first day once.

My friend, Emily, started teaching kindergarten today and her status tonight said:
"I think that I felt the full range of emotions today teaching... "what have I done?" to "I was born for this." to "you mean I still have them for two more hours?" to "the day went so quickly!"

I could not agree more ... pretty sure I said and thought all of those things ...
and more:
I want them to like me.
I don't remember enough biology (as evidenced by the 2 hours I just spent trying to come up with the key to the biology pretest.  It was HARD!)
I want to make a difference.
10th grade and pregnant?  Bless her heart.  Yah that she's here.
Is the bell ever gonna ring?  Ummmm ... seriously, do the bells ring?
Can I eat AND sit down?
Are we really done?
I'm gonna be HOW old when I can retire?

Mostly, I see God's providence in bringing me to this job I should have never gotten.  And I desire to live love into the lives of these kids.  I've had such great examples in my life of educators who change lives.  I want to be one of those. 

Mostly, I am ready to know names and stories.  To have real relationships.  To be someone's "favorite" ... to feel like I know what I'm doing ... to laugh with them ... to celebrate with them ... did I mention, to know what I am doing???

For now, here are some pictures of my room ... it's huge so it's hard to really get a good idea. 

Day #1 ... 177 more days to go.

Bambi ...in our storage room ... between the s_ _ _ _ _ ... cannot look to the right when I go in there!

 my desk/domain ... I like having a place!

 bulletin board

 student stuff ... makeup work, supplies, etc.

 expectations ...

Dr. Seuss quotes ...

 from the front of the class ... what I see every day ... well + 30 kids

 best part of teaching ... the markers!

the lamp I recovered/painted ... and the awesome sign Gini made me!