Back to School

Monday's the day I've been looking forward to for months! Back to teaching! It's been a long wait, but it's going to be so worth it. I still get uneasy when I think about how nervous I was for my interview with the Headmaster, the Head of Lower School, and the Chair of History/English present. I couldn't stop praying the whole way there. I'm not quite sure I didn't just repeat the same thing over and over again in my prayer.

A few weeks later they observed me teach a lesson on Act V of Julius Caesar and how to diagram adverbial clauses. When I left that day I was so discouraged because I hadn't received any feedback. Did I do a good job? Did I say something stupid? Was I clear enough? Did I not ask questions? My poor husband when he came home. He had his work cut out for him to cheer Ms. Mopey. I confess I wasn't thinking on things that were true after he pointed me to read Philippians 4.

Well, I got a call the next day. We were sitting on the bed and my face looked happy, sad, and unsure all at the same time. Nate couldn't read it, and if you could only have seen him while I was on the phone. His face just begging for an answer. The reason for my happy face: “We were very impressed by what we saw.” The reason for my sad face: “We've decided not to hire a new class five teacher” (that was the position I was expecting). The reason for my unsure face: “But, a fourth grade position will be opening up in a few months.” I just wanted to hear the words that they were going to hire me when she said, “We'd like you to come teach at Providence for class four.” I was ready to pay THEM to allow me to teach there! Nate and I sat down to thank God completely humbled and overwhelmed and knock-your-socks-off excited for how the Lord provided this job for which we had been so earnestly praying. What a lesson on dependency He taught us early in marriage. He is so very good!

Teaching is really very interesting work. It certainly isn't monotonous as something funny is almost sure to happen every day, and children say the most amusing things. On days when I went in to substitute I'd always think, “I can't believe I'll get to do this every day!” I am certainly anxious to have my own classroom again.

My students made some “Welcome to Providence!” cards. Let's just hope I live up to their high expectations. They used a lot of superlatives!

“Your (we'll have to work on that contraction) the best sub/other teacher in the whole wide world!”

“I'm so glad your (again...the contraction) are (oops! Homonyms are on the list too) new teacher! I hoped it would be you!”

“I'm so glad you are my teacher! We played hangman and it said: 'At the end of this month, Mrs. McKanna will become the teacher!' And when the class got it I screemed! (it's phonetic). I was (and am) so excited! I'm so happy! I told my whole family! I love you!”

“Dear Mrs. McKanna, you will be an awsome (still leaning silent e's) teacher and I know it! Yours truly.”

Melt my heart!

Being unemployed these six months has been such a blessing to our marriage. Of course there were days when I felt especially lonely, stir crazy, restless, bored, irritated, frustrated etc. etc, and there were days that I could have done without, and days that could have been spent more profitably than they were, but I can say that I am very thankful for this time at home at the start of our marriage. What a gift it has been! The Lord has certainly given me a love for staying home, and I'm so very thankful for my husband who provides so well for us, and for our God who has met all our needs minus none. 

For those of you asking, here's some pictures!