What I do for eight hours a day...

My wonderful friend Tiffany wrote this and now I'm stealing it. I never said I taught copywrite laws. :)

I teach my kids how to multiply and divide. I teach them how to write and help them to read better. I teach them to how to love themselves more and be grateful for what they have. I help them use their imaginations and laugh at their mistakes. I help them to know that no matter what happens in life and the trials they have that they can survive because their fourth grade teacher did.

I teach them to be their very best selves and do it because of how they feel inside not because they are going to get a reward at the end of the day, they learn to make right choices because it's the right thing to do. I teach them to say, "Thank you," to their classmates and mean it. I teach them to say, "I love you," to their families and remind them to be glad they still have them to say that too.

I help them to realize that that can accomplish anything if they work hard at it. I teach them how to be safe around strangers. I teach them about good hygiene. I tell them that they don't have the right to hurt other people by the words they say. I help them to watch out for the good that other people do and to compliment them on that. I let them be kids and at the end of the day, the end of the week, the end of the year, they know that THEIR FOURTH GRADE TEACHER LOVED THEM! That is what I do, I truly make a difference, I touch the future!

Oh and I teach all the stuff that the government tells me I have to. You know like, how to add, subtract, multiply, divide, use a ruler, type 20 wpm, how to play the recorder, develop their art skills, social skills, write a complete sentence, use punctuation correctly, read with expression, how to tell the difference between sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, how to predict the weather, how to conserve water, how to tell the difference between exoskeletons and vertebrates, how to use the library, how to recognize spelling patterns, how to sing, how to dance, and even how to skip. If you would like further detail I am sure you can find the State Core Curriculum online somewhere.

Living Vacariously

Not only is my biological clock ticking loudly, but I've also realized my parents' clocks are too. I really want my babies to know their grandparents and have them around for a long time. I guess I better get my butt in gear. Cute, single NORMAl guys, where are you?

Some shoutouts to those I'm currently living vicariously through:

Heather: Thanks for letting me share your pregnancy. Jackson was the first baby I ever saw and held on Day 1. He is cute as can be. Thanks for putting up with me.

Marcy and Aaron: #23!!!! These two wonderful folks are adopting a baby from Ethiopia and just found out they are #23 on the waiting list. When they told everyone, they asked us to pray, not only for them, but also for the baby and its family because they would have to go through some bad stuff to make the baby an orphan. How deep is that? I never thought of it that way, but it tells you how amazign these two are.

Liz and James: My cousin is having a baby, oh, about, now! I promise to be a nice normal Aunt/Cousin to the little one!

Forest and Jenn: Married in June, bought a house this fall, and now preggo! Gives me faith that there's still time left for me. Not that you two are old, but some of us never thought Forest would procreate so....

Becky and Tony: Their little Amelia is causing them stress with a strange lump in her leg. I can't imagine the fear and pain in their hearts right now for their little girl. Please pray the doctors can figure out what's going on.

To everyone who has a little one: I know you already know this, but please hug and kiss and love your little one for me. I want one so badly these days and I'm really envious of what you have. Be sure to always appreciate our blessings!