School, Meetings, Training, and PD

Friday, September 12 was an insane day. Something must have been in the water...really.

I go to school ready for a Friday. My kids start filling my room, when two students come in and tell me that they are suspended Mon/Tues because of a fight or something on the bus. Weird start to the day, but okay. Then, I take my kids to Art and go straight to my meeting, only to pick them up late from Art because the meeting ran long (they always do) and for those of you that know me, you know that I don't like to be late. I get back to my room and begin teaching. A little while into it, one of the boys turns into the hulk. This is the 3rd day of this. He bangs his head with both fists when he gets angry and scratches his nails down his face repeatedly. It may not sound too scary, but it freaked me out. I was honestly afraid that he was really going to hurt himself. I stopped everything and sat down by him trying to calm him down. Long story short, he calms down until we got into circle (about 5 minutes later), when he began it again. I had him sit next to me and told him that I was calling home because this was not okay. He actually calmed down after that.

As we are leaving the circle (about 10 minutes later), a girl asks if she can show me something. Of course. So, she hands me a piece of paper. From: NAME (I won't post his name) is on the front. I open it to find a picture that he drew of him on top of this girl, in bed. Let me just remind you....4th grade! I remember when I thought 14 was young to start that crap. Yikes. Where did their childhood go? So I take my kids to lunch and ask her to come with me (I got a duty-free lunch for the first time after 3 weeks). We go try to talk to the principal with no luck. I go back to my room, and come to find out I don't actually have duty free lunch. "Who is watching your kids?" Me: "Uhm, do I have to ask someone in particular?" "No, they just didn't show up today." Once again, no break in my day...at all. So I go back to lunch and at recess have another teaching watch my kids for a few minutes while I go talk to the principal. I end up sending 3 of my kids down because they were all involved and all lying about different things. While the Social Worker is with one of the students in my room, another student (the two that got in trouble this morning) threw a pencil at the other kid...and hit him in the eye. So I had to write up an incident report and deal with that and call home and whatnot. Finally, the kids left and it was time to go home. However, I had to go turn in my incident report and talk to the principal about what she decided. When I turned in the incident report, I got a, "Shame on you for letting him get hit with a pencil." Uhm, really? After the insane day that I just had and that's really what you're going to say to me? I was fine until she said that. They went to their cubbies to get their books and I turned around. Do I need to walk them over there and hold their hands? Kids are sneaky. Even if I saw him, it would have been impossible for me to stop him, except by just yelling at him.

*Sigh* Okay, I'm done. As for this week? Crazy busy. Mon-School/meeting, Tues-School/curriculum night(until 7:30) then progress reports that were due Wed until I went to bed, Wed-got up at 5:30/School/Professional Development, Thurs-School, Fri-School/Lesson Plans due(which means late night Thurs), Sat-Yeah, that's right, Saturday...Training from 8:30-3:30, which is when the Turkey Festival is. Turkey Festival? The single biggest event in Raeford. Boo. Oh, and Training next Sat, and then 3 more times.

But it's okay because it's all worth it. A parent yesterday: "Thank you for what you do."

School, tornado drills, and kids

Chris has already almost been in school for a month. I, on the other hand, just finished Day 3. Here is a rundown on my life lately. My kids can come in as early as 7:15 (much earlier than my internship's 8:40). School officially starts at 7:45, I think. I usually welcome them until about 7:50, then discuss their morning work for a few minutes before taking them to their special (Science Lab, Gym, Music, Comp, or Art) by 8 am. This week we have to stay in special for about 20 to get them accustomed and used to it. This gives me about 20 minutes to do my own thing. When, really...my own thing is going to the office to turn in attendance, my receipt book, and all of the forms that are required. By the time I'm done with that and being stopped by the random parent, it is time to get my kids again. I have them until lunch, where I supervise them and eat lunch with them...this being followed by recess, where I have to come up with an activity that they will do, making sure to watch them and that they're safe. If that's not a chore, I don't know what is. Then, we go inside and finish the rest of the day. My biggest problem? Peeing. I like to drink water a lot, which makes me have to use the restroom...a lot. I am literally not able to use the bathroom except for when they are at their special..or if I ask another teacher to watch my class. Oh, except for the days that I have meetings during this time...about two times/week.
Now for today: I got to school around 6:45 or so and get on with my business. I get my kids in there and am getting ready to take them to music, when I realize it's raining. The relevance of that is where music is...in a hut. Yes, outside. So I get my kids and we run through the rain hollering (because who wouldn't be, really?) and we make it, soaked...even those of us with umbrellas. Before I leave, we hear a siren. We were supposed to have a fire drill, but really? In this much rain? Since she doesn't have an intercom system, I wander around trying to figure out what's going on. I see everyone practicing a tornado drill. I go back to inform my class and the music teacher. They sit against the wall and I go a while later to see if it's over yet, but people were still in said position. I found someone and was trying to figure out what was going on, when she ignores me after I tell her where my kids are. So, apparently it was not a drill. There was a tornado. And apparently we were not supposed to stay in the hut, so we had to go back into the building. Wouldn't you think the 2nd yr music teacher would know this? But I guess they didn't have a tornado drill last year. I knew where to take my kids, but not if we were in specials. Needless to say, we are all safe and sound.
Oh, and as for my kids. Everyone told me horror stories of the kids. They are just kids. Just as much as the next one. Sure they might have problems, but really...who doesn't? :)

"Let's find something worth dying for, not living for"

Yesterday we went to Cape River Trail and did a little walking. It was beautiful. The green continues to amaze me down here. We took Paris, who absolutely loved being outside and able to run around. This trail goes along the river, but apparently we didn't make it far enough. I'm not sure whether it is along the river, or if we can actually see the river from the trail. We walked half the trail because it never looped back around. 4.5 miles later we returned to our car. Needless to say we are a little sore today. We had a great time and got some warm hellos as well. It was the first day when it hasn't been too hot. I think it was only 88. It's funny how fast you get used to weather.
On another note, this morning (after looking around for a while since he heard a noise), Chris found out that the faucet in our front yard had somehow been turned on...most of the night. We don't know if it's a prank or it got bumped, but our whole lawn was flooded and went to the street and down the drain. That sucks mostly because we have to pay for our own water now. I would have preferred to throw $20 down the drain, I think.
Oh, I thought of another thing I love about here. The construction gets done so quickly! I do not miss all of the construction in Michigan...and never seeing someone working on it. The main road from Raeford to Fayetteville was being worked on when we moved here. First of all, they only closed off the area that they work working on. What a concept! Second of all, it was done after a week! It's a beautiful thing.
As for school...I start training/meetings tomorrow and I am getting very excited to be in the classroom! Chris' first week went surprisingly well and he has been reminded why he went to school all those years. I hope I have the same experience. I keep having dreams that I am teaching in an aisle of a store (first Hobby Lobby, then a warehouse) and the kids are terrible. In last night's dream, I forgot to go over the rules and procedures. How do you do that??
We have started to meet people (mostly from Chris' school). We went out to eat with them because they go out every Friday. We also have tried 2 different churches and the one that we went to today we really liked. We heard about it from a lady at Big Lots, so thanks to her! It is pretty big, which is our main complaint. The pastor is who gave me the title...it was a great sermon. We might try a few more, we might not. We are doing well though. :)

Moo-lah

God continues to amaze us. We did not work this summer, with the exception of a few outdoor jobs for some family. After living all summer, taking a trip to NC to interview for jobs, moving ourselves and all of our stuff to NC, 1 month of rent, security deposit, Paris, and all of the set-up fees and things that you don't think about when you move(getting water turned on - 100, getting new licenses - 32/person, phone/internet set up and 1st month - 115, buying things for school, oh, and not to mention the registering of our cars that can cost "up to 350/car"...which we are avoiding, etc). Let's just say it adds up quickly. All of a sudden all the money that we have been working so hard to save, is gone. We know that we'll be okay, but sometimes it takes a lot of faith.
If anything happened, we have amazing parents who are always there for us, but we're making choices for ourselves and don't want them to have to help us.
Anyway, the reason money has even been an issue is because we don't get our first paycheck until the end of August (only once/month), which we did not expect. Here is the cool part. We paid off all of those things (except registering our cars) and somehow we still have some money. Not to mention the $250 check that we got from Chris' credit card after getting 200 points, that couldn't have come at better timing or the $300 security deposit that was perfect timing as well. We have to buy a lawn mower...a week ago. This check is making that not an issue now.
A week ago we were thinking that we would need to eat ramen...a lot. Now? We stand amazed by what God does when you rely on Him. :)

A whole new world...

Those of you reading this will probably know most of the things in this blog, but some may not...so here you go.
I've been thinking about starting a blog to keep others involved in our life and what is going on. Since we are no longer connected quite as easily to others (though the internet and phone may not make that seem so) and through some persuading of Theresa, I decided to let our friends and family have a new way to see into our lives.
I make no promises as to how often I will update, as most of you know it is the first year of teaching for both of us...but I will try.
Chris and I moved from Kalamazoo after both graduating and Chris substituting for a semester. We moved in with my mom in Hudsonville (near Grand Rapids) for the summer. This time was fantastic. I didn't see as many friends as I had hoped, but we got to hang out with my family a lot. We spent some time up north with Chris' parents, visited with some friends, got to be with Nicole and Janell on their birthdays, met part of the Foo Fighters (random), swam, and overall got to relax and have a good summer.
We also spent lots of time applying for teaching jobs and after visiting to interview, we both were offered and accepted jobs at Hoke County Schools in Raeford, NC. That is where we found a rental house that has some problems, but I absolutely love. Chris started school last week and is having a great time thus far, but is extremely busy. I have been going through things and unpacking the rest of our stuff. I start school on Monday, though I don't have kids for two weeks after that.
We also got a dog (Paris), who is beginning to show us more of her personality. She is quickly adjusting and we already love her.
As for North Carolina? It's beautiful here. There are things that I love and things that I don't like so much.
Loves so far: how green it is, the southern hospitality and how genuine people are, our house, the small town, downtown Fayetteville and a cafe with tapas we found there - Blue Moon Cafe, gas prices (at least compared to MI), how open people are about talking about their religion, a neighborhood I feel comfortable walking the dog in, the beauty of the whole state, and teaching jobs!
Things that are not my cup of tea? There are lots of those as well: lots of bugs (red ants..everywhere, cockroaches, and crickets)...though less mosquitoes, no fenced-in backyard with a dog, our landlord, how many things you have to do when you move out-of-state, how ridiculously hot is it and how much you sweat.
The good news? The good outweighs the bad.
There. Now you are updated on our life. The boring stuff is out of the way and we can get into the rest of life...