A Lesson From Mother Nature

I sent a text to a friend of mine going through chemotherapy right now and I think it might really apply to me {and you?}:

As I have been observing the snow and weather, I am struck with the fact that nothing stays the same. Where you are now is not where you will always be...

These images were taken over the last week and they triggered my "philosophy":

Where you are now is not where you will always be...

Change is inevitable. 

It's a pretty simple idea and Mother Nature helps pound it home on a regular basis, but it's one that I need to be reminded of. 

Nothing stays the same {sadly, even the good stuff...} and right now, this Truth is helping me

 see the light. 

Ch-Ch-Ch Changes!

I'm not one to seek out change. 

Change is generally scary for me and I like my routines very much. 

But, since I'm in the teaching biz, change is inevitable.

Often, I don't get much say in the changes put on my plate.

Policies

Curriculum {or lack thereof...)

CSAP/TCAP/cCRAP

{Testing in general, really...}

Salary
Budget

Student selection for my classes

Class size

Etc.Etc.Etc.

BUT!

I had the opportunity to choose a new path for myself this school year.

{Okay, so I had to jump through a few hoops, but it's teaching! Of course there are hoops!}

At the end of last year, I was feeling a bit restless in my current position. 

I was also feeling devastated a bit sad that my best friend Hannah was leaving me for another district.

{Yes, LEAVING ME!}

I pictured the next school year and realized that I NEEDED a change. 
I needed a new space for my teaching soul to reside.
 I needed to change the way I looked at students, 

curriculum {or lack thereof...} 
and really, my general outlook just

HAD

TO 

CHANGE!

So, with a VERY small window in which to make this change happen, I scrambled around to see if a change was possible.

It was. 

{!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

 On the last day of school it became official--

I would be teaching 8th grade, upstairs. 

{Oh, I guess I should tell you I have been teaching 6th and 7th grade for the last 4 years, downstairs--

upstairs houses 8th-11th grade--yeah, the BIG kids!!!!!}

All summer I have hoped that I made the right decision--it is a CHANGE after all!!

{YIKES!}

I decided to go back to work early so I could set up my new classroom. I was/am a little sad to cut my summer short, but I knew I needed to feel at home; so putting in some work now would be worth it later.

When I saw my name on the door, I got giddy. 
It was just so real! 

When I saw the mountain view, I squealed with excitement.

{It might not seem like much...but trust me. This view makes my soul happy.}

When I saw all the boxes, I was overwhelmed. 

But knowing I could start fresh in this space made me feel at ease and happy.

 And, after a strong 18 hours of work, I think I am on my way to making this space a home for me,  and my students.

Change can be good, and I have a feeling this change is going to be really good.

{And, don't worry, I have a little bit of Hannah with me here too. 

Yes, I have her name-tag from her old classroom taped inside a cupboard...}

{ :) }