A milestone!

Today was my official last day of student teaching. Now I just have to be at rehearsals Monday through Thursday next week for La Posada, and then the big event itself Thursday night. I'm going to deeply miss that school and those kids--they have made this whole stressful, crazy fall worth every minute. I'm going to miss their smiles, their funny sayings, their singing, and the sweet hugs. I'm so glad God gave me this confirmation in my calling--what greater way is there to spend a lifetime than pouring into children?

My mentor teacher sent me this in an e-mail and it so perfectly captured what life has been like these past two weeks that I decided to share it here:

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'Twas the days before Christmas,
And all through the school,
The teachers were trying to just keep their cool.

The hallways were hung
With Christmas art
(Some made in November to get a head start!)

The children were bouncing
Off ceilings and walls,
And seemed to forget
how to walk in the halls.

When out of the teachers' lounge
With "holiday shirts"and "jingle bell jewels,"
The teachers looked festive
Enforcing the rules.

Suddenly, from down the hallway
There came such a chatter,
The principals went in
To see what was the matter.

The teachers were hiding
And trying to refuel,
On coffee and cookies
And treats from the Yule.

When what to their wondering
Ears do they hear,
But the ringing of school bells
-It's the children they fear!

More rapid than reindeer
The little ones came,
And the teachers all shouted
And called them by name;

Walk, Vincent! Walk, Tanner!
Walk, Tyler and Sammy!
Sit, Jamie! Sit, Laura!
Sit, Tara and Tammy!

To your desks in the room!
To your spots in the line!
Now walk to them! Walk to them!
No running this time!

So straight to their place
The children they went.
With fear of detention
Where they could be sent.

With manuals of lessons
Cradled in arms,
The teachers began
To use all their charms.

But the lessons presented
All fell on deaf ears.
The children were thinking
Of Santa's reindeer!

With a toss of their hands
They put manuals aside,
Went straight to the cupboards
Where videos hide.

Any laying their finger
On the TV remote
They sat back to write
Their last Christmas note.

But you could hear them exclaim
At the end of the day-
Have a wonderful, happy and
L-O-N-G HOLIDAY!!
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I love the walking part--it is SO TRUE.
Have a great weekend all!