a WHOLE month?

What in the world!! Where does time go?

I've been thinking up a post...inspired by a quotation that made me very happy. I'll share it with you very soon, but for now I just wanted to say HI! I'm alive and well (except for one of my little toes).

I have SEVEN more days with my first ever first grade class! Eight days of work. YEAH!

Excitement about summer abounds!!

The Hole in Our Gospel

Here's an interview of Richard Stearns who wrote the book I'm currently reading. I highly recommend it!

A Free Saturday

Today I had nothing planned, except to get my inspection sticker that was four months overdue. I know...embarrassing! But I've gotta say that my car, Pearl, although I love her...I can't stand her. She is expensive!! And I can't stand the dealership either. I didn't go there today, but finding out that I have no other choice but to go very soon makes me want to punch them (the VW dealership) in the face!! I think I've mentioned all this before.

So I say this with all sincerity - Say HECK NO to Volkswagen!
But I do encourage you to say yes to other things like:

• Super cute Poodles that get so hyped when they get to go for a ride!! (notice they aren't in the ridiculous booster seat I bought last year for safety! ;o) )

• Say YES when your friend, who is practically your sister, invites you to Crave & Starbucks!

• Then move the party to the Apple store where you get "Macs"! ;o)

• And finally, say yes looking for the lost opportunities left at the Apple store!

I love days like today! They are RE-energizing!

2010 - The Year of Conquering Continued

At the end of every year, I like to set goals for the next and LOOOOOVE to pick out a theme scripture, song, and a sorta cheesy picture that all go along with what I hope the year will bring.

I just wanted to come back and say that I've picked a theme song for 2010, practically 4 months into the year. It hasn't been too terribly long ago that I've shared this song with you, but when I sing it...I SING MY HEART OUT!! Because it reminds me of how much grace has been extended to us by the One who loves more than we could ever comprehend. And it's Easter...and there was a great sacrifice that has allowed my soul to feel its worth!

My ultimate goal in life is to share beauty, even in the midst of ashes, that only God Himself brings to such a messy time on earth.

So here again is the song:

The Rewards

When I was in college, I idealized my class. How all my students would listen when I said listen, sit when I said sit, walk in a perfect little line, and get perfect grades because they already know everything. I'm there to help them review to not forget.

But, the truth is that school doesn't work like that. And I like that isn't like that!

Today, I got the best note I have ever, EVER received from the students I've had/met. Remember my little buddy that gave me the warmest welcome on my first day? The one who got suspended before the day even started? And since then, I've been reasoning with him. On one of those occasions, I asked, "Do you understand why I'm saying this to you?" He replies, "Yes, sir!" To which I responded, "It's, 'Yes, ma'am." And his witty self said, "Well, you look like a man!" Hahaha! Okay, truth is I didn't laugh. I said to him that if he continues to be rude, he will end up a lonely man.

Well, the week before last, I was as sick as a dog. I woke up completely sick on Monday morning. I called in and slept the entire day. Hating to miss school, I woke up the next morning and braved it. I went to school...which only made it worse. I lost my voice completely. I didn't go to school the rest of the week. The week after that was Spring Break (which was AWESOME!) and so it was 2 weeks since I had seen my students. I missed them, but was scared of the unknown. What the heck will they be like when I get back?

They were ECSTATIC to see me. I didn't realize the extent of the excitement until I received this note from my little buddy.
You are the best and I like you and when you was sick I missed you and I thought you will never come back

but when you came in this morning I was so happy.

I showed some teachers and they asked how in the world I got it out of this kid? And I just smiled. They have no idea how much I pray for him specifically and how much I actually care!

This is a happy day! Very happy day!

Sacrifice

Since I started my job in February, I haven't read a book in its entirety and I'm craving a GOOD page turner and I can't seem to either a) find the right book or b) stay awake long enough to peak any sort of interest. I hope to make up for the lack of reading for fun in the summer.

And I hope that one year in, I'm in a groove to be able to read for fun all the time...even during the school year. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE reading? I do. A LOT! And I MISS it!

If you have any book suggestions leave a comment.

What goes around comes around...

Dear Ms. Hartwig,

Remember when I was in third grade and I had a favorite teacher whose name was Ms. Reed? Remember? She was soooooo cool!! She had the "IT" factor without even knowing she had it...She made learning fun and she wore such cool clothes. She was so chill. On casual Fridays, she'd wear overalls. And on one of those Fridays, there was in grasshopper in the room and she didn't freak out about it. She didn't kill it either. Instead, she caught it with her BARE hands and then released it to the outdoors where it belonged. I thought - WOW, I really want to be like her!!

And then...well, I'm not sure what the circumstances were (except that you were new to town from Iowa), but you took over. And you were completely different from her. You wore skirt suits. You wore hose. You always wore heels! And...You never DARED to wear a pair of overalls. I hated that! I thought you were too uptight and I thought you wore too much make-up! And I made fun of your hair that didn't seem too move...

Yeah...that was my perspective as a third grader. But now that I'm in your shoes, I just want to say I'm so sorry for giving you hell. I remember the torture I caused you! I remember you asking me to go back to my seat so nicely and my stubborn self decided: I think I'll just stay here...on the floor and I will not move! Remember? I do! You literally had to drag me by the arm to my seat. And I remember the entire class gave you such a difficult time that you had us eat a silent lunch in the classroom with the Assistant Principal standing beside you! There was no escaping! I don't remember when I started to take you seriously, but I do remember I did end up liking you.

I've been thinking a lot about you! I've been wondering if we wore you out so bad that you took naps as soon as you got home? Did you wonder if you were going to make it? Did you talk so horribly about me to your whoever your go-to person was? Did you see any progress in our (okay...MY) behavior? Did your third grade team give you suggestions on how to handle us? I hope I didn't lead you to cynicism.

Thanks for being a brave soul to take a class mid-year. Thanks for having the patience (even if it was just surface level) for me. And thanks for putting me in my place. I really appreciate it...now more than ever.

Your fellow colleague,
Ms. Márquez

P.S. YES...I still wonder about your hair, but I'll cut you some slack because it was the EIGHTIES!