The life of a teacher....

As I count down the days left in the school year (12 to be exact!), I started to think about all the different aspects of being a teacher. Only as a teacher can you train your bladder to feel a sense of urgency exactly TWO times a day. Only as a teacher can you eat lunch in 12 minutes flat, while answering emails and controlling 27 ten year olds. Only as a teacher can you have parents blame you for their child's behavior in the classroom, on the bus, AND at home! Only as a teacher can you hear whispers behind your back and know EXACTLY who was talking, what they were saying, and why it isnt appropriate. Only as a teacher can you teach a child the required curriculum all while teaching them not to pick their nose, pass gas, hit the person next to them, and still maintain patience. LASTLY, only in MY CLASSROOM can you have the following conversations:

Teacher: Dear(student's name), this conversation is making me want to jump off a bridge!
Student: Mrs. Freeman, that is amazing....can I please drive you to that bridge!

Teacher: Dear (student's name), you have started tap dancing on my last nerve....
Student: ohhh man, I didnt know I knew how to tap dance, I was hoping to jump and land on your last nerve!

Teacher:  Okay (student's name), please listen this time. I have given these directions 12 times.
Student: Well, I guess you need a little more patience. Twelve doesnt sound like alot

Teacher: (Students name), why are you making those weird noises?
Student: What noises?
Other Student: Havent you met him, we got a class of whackos!

Teacher: How was your weekend, (student's name)?
Student: You want the truth or you want me to tell you it was okay?
Teacher: What do you mean? Was it bad?
Student: No it was awesome, but if I told you the truth I would probably get in trouble, so Ill just lie and say it was fine!

Student: Can I show you how to do this (whatever the popular dance was at the time)
Teacher: Sure (teacher tries to dance)
Student: ummmmm, you are definitely white!

Student: Why do white girls have different hair than black girls?
Teacher: What do you mean?
Student: white girls never hit their heads when they itch and they cant take their hair out in the middle of class, thats boring!

and my very favorite......
Student: Mrs. Freeman, you got a hot legs!

Okay, so it sounds like my classroom is crazy, and that is because it is! God has blessed me with this group of kids. They are funny, keep me guessing, and definitely keep me praying!! I am so excited for summer but I will be honest, I will miss these sweet kids when they venture to Drake Middle School.

I promise, all those conversations have really happened in the last few weeks!

Its beginning to feel like spring!

Fall and Spring are my very favorite times of the year! Of course it is also the time that my allergies are at an all time high. The idea of sounding like a man and coughing up my lungs for 3 months in a row....wonderful! But, I have to admit....this weather is completely worth it! With this weather comes the huge sense that summer is coming!! Only 7 more weeks of school! The end of this school year will be bittersweet. As I have mentioned before, I will be teaching 3 year old preschool next year at the church next door to my house. I could not be more excited! I have a few friends that already work there and I believe it is exactly where God wants our family for this time in our lives but it will be extremely hard saying good bye to my close friends at Richland! The women at Richland have been the women that I have spend the majority of my life with for the past 3 years! No worries, Shay, I will be bringing you lunch often =)

Have I mentioned that I am currently coaching TWO cheerleading squads. Yes, TWO! There is currently no 8th grade cheerleading coach so I am doing my own squad (JV) and the 8th grade squad as well. These girls are going to be wonderful! My JV squad is going to be hugely talented, no thanks to me! They came to me this way! But, needless to say, 27 8th and 9th grade girls......whew! Thats alot!

This week my dad sent me an email with a prayer in it. He said it was a wonderful prayer to pray for people in your life. So, I printed it off and I thought it was one of the most wonderful prayers we can pray for our friends, family, and people that we know need prayers. So, here is a prayer for you my friend:

The HEALING PRAYER


I pray you see in your mind and feel in your heart the height and depth

and breadth of God’s love for you in Christ Jesus;

I pray you err on the side of believing God is too big rather than not big

enough; that He loves you too much rather than not enough to heal

your pain and longing;

I pray you visualize love overtaking every part of your body and mind,

restoring wholeness to areas of deep pain, hurt, unforgiveness and

decay;

I pray that you let His perfect love cast out all fear; that you step

boldly into the place of confidence, claiming restoration over the

places the enemy has gained a foothold and destroyed;

I pray you see rivers of living water washing over every cell of your body,

making you clean and whole again;

I pray you let the word of God dwell in you richly, creating a warrior spirit

within you;

I pray you fix your mind on the things of heaven—the joy and perfection

and beauty of the kingdom of God—not on the physical symptoms

and circumstances of the moment;

I pray you let the peace of God rule in your heart; and that you choose

thanksgiving and rejoicing, believing the battle is already won,

already accomplished, already completed;

Let it be so in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.”

—from THE SPIRIT TO HEAL by Doreen Lecheler

Spring Break over already??

I feel like just yesterday Spring Break started and here we are starting school again tomorrow! Todd and I had such a fun and relaxing spring break until.....the sinus infection started!! We spent some time in Ashland with Todd's family, a few days in Florence with my parents at the lake and then headed home...UHAUL in tow! Todd didnt know that when we got married that he married into a VERY bad habit of furniture swapping in the Edmundson family! So, when my grandmother was put into a nursing home, Todd and I inherited a whole bedroom suit and some other odds and ends. So, thank you Blake (and Anne) Busbin for interrupting your date to come help us move furniture! All furniture is placed, pictures hung, and the UHAUL is returned! What a successful few days! But, the week just kept getting better! Thank you Uncle Sam, we got a few extra dollars back from the government last month and Todd let me choose what we did with SOME of it. So...(drumroll please...) - We bought a coffee table and a DYSON ball vaccuum! I am a dyson vaccuum fan for life!! If you want to spend an astronomical amount of money on a vaccuum....this is the one for you!! It picks up dirt and hair that you didnt even think you had in your house! Now, all that I have left to remember SBXI is a good old sinus infection! Let Spring begin!! Well, with two days before testing begins in school....time to get those little ones motivated for the tests!! Yay!

The Love Dare

So, in Sunday School we started the Love Dare book. Todd and I watched the movie Fireproof before we got married and I loved the idea of the book, but thought it was for couples "on the brink". I have come to find out that it is AMAZING for any couple in any stage of life. Todd and I read it every morning together and then pray together and so all day I get to think about "the dare" at the end of the lesson. It has been fun and really made us focus on each other, in a world that is CRAZY right now for us.

Also, I thought that the stress of cheerleading would be over last Friday when I posted the lists of my cheer squads, but NOOOO the stress is not over, just transfered. The Varsity cheerleading tryouts are tomorrow and of course, I have invested interest. Good luck to my wonderful JV cheerleaders trying out for Varsity, you will do a WONDERFUL job!!! Good luck: Macey, Lauren, Celeste, Jazmyn, Jordan, Darby, Hannah, Sorcha, Molly, and Teiliyah!!

Starting of a new cheerleading squad??

I thought the week would never end!! I love spending all afternoon everyday of the week with 50 8th and 9th graders, but I must admit...I am glad the stress is over! Last Friday night we had 8th grade and JV cheerleading tryouts. I know it is a stressful time for the girls and momma's but it is also stressful for the coach! I stressed for the girls! But, I must say, I am very excited about the wonderful, sweet, and talented girls that made the squad this year. The competition was TOUGH but both squads got some GREAT girls! Now on to Varsity tryouts this week! Another fun filled week of cheerleading all afternoons. I do have a lot invested in this tryout. My girls from last year are trying out for Varsity....good luck girls! I love them each so much and wish them all the best.

4 more school days and then off to visit our favorite people....our families!!! Cannot wait to see our moms and dads!! We love them and are excited to spend more than a few hours with each of them! Spring Break can't get here quick enough!

Starting all over again

I cant believe it is that time AGAIN....cheerleading tryouts!! Starting tomorrow a bunch of nervous 7th and 8th graders will gather together in the gym and I will talk to them about the importance of clinic, the expectations if you make cheerleading, and then send them along their way to prepare for cheerleading tryouts. I started thinking about this week about 3 months ago! Forms have been checked, physicals have been turned in, teacher recommendations have been averaged.....its time! I know it sound so cheesy but it truly is such a blessing to be a part of this age of girls! They are funny, a little bit of odd and a lot a bit of sweet! I wouldnt trade it for the world. Here is to lack of sleep, anxiety, and hopefully some very happy girls at the end of the week!! These girls are in my prayers over the next 4 days.....as is my sanity!!

Its official

It's official....I am changing jobs next year! I am going to be teaching 3 year olds in a preschool from 8-12 everyday and then of course, still coaching cheerleading! Todd and I have prayed and thought about it for a long time and the Lord drew both of us to Cornerstone Methodist (right next door to our house!) So, I applied and the sweet director offered me the job! I told my principal and colleagues this week and can now say that I am so excited about the change! God is going to do wonderful things in our family through this transition...and hopefully teach me to be a better steward of money!

On another note, Todd and I got to spend a wonderful weekend in Birmingham this past weekend, thank you to the AHS showchoir who paid for our hotel, and got to see some of my favorite people! Friday night we got to eat dinner with one of my favorite people who I will consider a best friend for life, Julie Johnston! Then, Saturday we spent the entire day with my parents and ate a WONDERFUL dinner at Todd's favorite, Michaels Steakhouse!

What a week! God is good!