Friday, March 14, 2008

IT'S FINALLY HERE: I Love This Day...I Dread This Day!


If you regularly read my blog, you know how I feel about being a teacher...God has called me to do this, and I love every minute of it! It is the hardest job in the world! It is the best job in the world! It is the most perfect job in the world for me!

I am passionate about every part of this job! I love my students. I love my classroom, I love what I teach, I love seeing my students come through the door every day! I love the halls in the school, I love the copy center and the people who work there, I love seeing a clock that says, "It's time for class to start!"

Before I enter my classroom I say this prayer every day:

"Lord, thank you for putting me here!
Thank you for every student who is here today!
help me to honor them!
help me to honor You!"

and then I say outloud..."It's SHOW TIME!! Let's give it 110%!!"

Today is the last day of winter quarter 2008. This quarter hasn't been easy. We've had lots of disruptions... bad weather, bad health, snow storms and major flu bugs! But none of those really matter, because every day I fall more and more in love with who my courageous, amazing and smart students are!

They bless me by their presence.
They honor me with their trust.
They encourage me with their support.

I am so grateful that I am often brought to tears!

And today is my last class day with all of them.

You might imagine that I am relieved. You might imagine that I am tired. You might imagine that I am still sick with this nasty, nasty bug! All of that would be true!

But what you can not imagine is how much they mean to me. I tell them over and over... you will ALWAYS be my students! Wherever you go, wherever you are...you can still count on me for love and support! I will always claim you as my own! I will always be proud that you have been in my class!

Letting go of 93 of them in one day almost always breaks my heart! I stand there and cry. They cry. We all know that these 12 weeks have changed all of us! I usually give them a "high five" every day as they leave my class! Today I give them a hug.

There just aren't words for how big a blessing God can bestow!

I have been grading much of last night! I only took a break to see Madison's Variety Show..and then I read journals far into the night! I heard in their own words about their joys, their wounds, their fears, their hopes! What an honor to be trusted in such a deep and abiding way!

I have made many mistakes in my life. I have learned some tough lessons. I have been molded, broken, loved, shunned, cared for, and encouraged! I have tried to learn from every mistake. It hurts my heart to think that I have hurt others with the mistakes I have made. What I know for sure is that I am not perfect, and God isn't done with me yet!

But one mistake I DIDN'T make was in becoming a teacher! God called me to do this, put a deep love for it in my heart, and EVERY day I give it all that I have to give!

I love this last day, and at the same time I dread saying goodbye!
But every minute of this Friday, March 14th, 2008 I am thanking God for each of these 93 blessings He brought my way!

In a few hours I will say that prayer, enter room 239 at SCC and say " It's SHOWTIME! Let's give it 110%!" How blessed can one "girl" get!

God Bless! Love and hugs to all who read this!
Linda

7 comments:

Linda Seppa Salisbury said...

Thanks Aim for putting the #1 teacher picture on my post! A high compliment from a "former student"!
(I'd never say that about myself :)
Love You! me

The Farrell Family said...

You are a #1 teacher! There are thousands of students that would agree. You are incredibly gifted!

I love you, me

LORIE said...

Linda. . .. I am not in your classroom, yet you are a true teacher. You have taught and inspired me to be my best self. I am grateful to you for your example and wisdom.

Love to you!

Tiffany said...

Congrats on another quarter down. You are incredible! I had teachers like you in college, ones that really left a lasting impression. Just as you will always think of your students as "yours" they will always think of you as "theirs." I have no doubt that you have left an incredible impression on each of the lives you touched this quarter. Like I have said before, your students are so lucky to have set foot in your classroom! Now maybe you can relax a bit and try to get rid of that bug!

jessithompson said...

Love you, mama. As I'm sitting here completely wiped out from taking my kids on a field trip... I am in awe of your energy. You are one amazing lady. I love you.

Felicia said...

What an amazing quarter this was! You have done such an excellent job and touched so many lives. "It's SHOWTIME! Let's give it 110%!" - you really do give 110%and you push others to give that 110%! Hope you get rid of that nasty bug.

God Bless!

Kim said...

Linda- it is my favorite time of year to get start up and get ready for a new set of sweet peas. I love having the refresh look of my classroom-always had to have a new look or arrangement and just the time to get everything perfect and organized. I can see how you would have the getting the new crew excitement but since you haven't been feeling your norm the ready and organized cleaned up part might not be as exciting. You'll get there, and thank goodness the Lord gives us a little sunshine on days we just couldn't do it without it.

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