Kindergarten

With approximately 63 days left until spring break, I am well on my way to having my first year of teaching under my belt. What a journey it has been! I was hired at the end of July and was told that I would be teaching a first/second grade combination class. I was so thankful to have a job, but at the same time I was quite intimidated. The thought of having to teach two separate curriculums at the same time terrified me. The week school was starting I had not yet been assigned a class. I had a classroom and I had worked very diligently to get it set up and ready for my first class full of students. However, there were no students' names on my roster. The first week of school I did not even darken the door of my classroom. I spent those three days testing incoming Kindergartners. At the end of that week I was exhausted. I was anxiously awaiting to hear if I would be getting my class that following week. That did not happen. The second week of school I was put in a Kindergarten classroom to co-teach with another teacher. At first, I wasn't too happy about this. I was so ready to be in my classroom teaching my kids. But God obviously had something else in mind. Those two weeks really turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was given the privilege of working with one of the nicest, most caring women I think I have ever met. Co-teaching with Mrs. Nemser (Kim) was the beginning of a not only a relationship with one of my co-workers, but to a friendship. At the end of those two weeks I was told that I was going to be added as the 9th Kindergarten teacher at our school. And so it began. That first month or so was very difficult for me. Adjusting to teaching Kindergarten and feeling like I didn't know what I was doing kept me anxious and emotionally drained. However, God provided, just like He always does. I am not over half way through with my first year and I am in love with each of my children. I don't always love getting up and going to work, but once I'm there God gives me the strength and the motivation I need to get through the day. I have been blessed with great friends who have helped me so much throughout this process. The other eight women I work with are phenomenal and I couldn't have asked for a better team! Seriously, these women ROCK! Today I was able to spend the majority of the day with two of my team members, Kim and Katie. Both of these girls mean a lot to me and I am so thankful for them. We spent the day having lunch and scrapbooking (something we all love!) and talking about school, life, love, etc. For months I have been thinking about asking if anyone on my team would be interested in starting a prayer time and/or Bible study one morning a week before school. Today, I finally asked. Kim said she has been thinking about this since the beginning of the year. She, Katie, and I are going to start this week!! I am beyond excited about this. I am so thankful for God for always having a plan and being on my side no matter what may be thrown at me. Anyway, I just needed to get some of this out in the open. I hope you'll be encouraged.

In other news, Justin and his clotheCharlotte team distributed coats and clothes to a local homeless ministry! He has been working so hard to get all of this together and I am so proud of him! He is also doing an amazing job with Kinetic's student ministry. Some great things are going to be happening this year!!

Well, it's time for some Will & Grace and more lesson plan writing. Yep, folks this is my Saturday night. But I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Hugs,

Meredith