Sprinkled With Grace

Note: This blog post is published without proofreading.  That may prove to be disastorous. However, I am tired. 5:30 comes very early.

This morning did not get off to a good start. I woke up tired. The process of dragging myself out of bed was not fun. I was behind schedule at every turn.  I did not make it out of the house until almost 7, which is a whole 15 (20 on a good morning) minutes late. I could not the deadbolt to lock, so I frustratedly gave up, only locking the knob itself. I had trouble backing out and ran over a whole lot of the grass.  I was just in a bad mood.  I was not looking forward to the day.

Then as I was turning on to the highway, Joy FM began playing Matt Maher's Hold Us Together. I took the opportunity to rock out to it. Just as I was becoming frustrated with the extra traffic, another great sing-a-long song game on. God's grace was blessing me through the radio station.

Normally if I'm a few minutes behind schedule, the traffic in Festus is horrendous and makes me even later to school.  This was something I was upset about in the rush to get out the door.  However, today there was no traffic at all. I made it through Festus without problem: another sprinkle.

I had been struggling with getting a social studies disc to work in the computer.  I was desperate to get something off of it copied before school.  When I asked Jenny is she happened to have any copied, she revealed that she had a book of blackline masters from the company.  I was so happy to learn that: another sprinkle.

Since it was a Wednesday morning, I took my class to mass. I was able to get lunch count done before we left without any problems, and we were able to leave on time: another sprinkle. My kids were well behaved during mass, and I actually to focus some this time around: another sprinkle.

At this point, I found it very easy to smile.

During my first prep of the day, I realized that I did not have the science performance assessment I had planned prepped yet, and I didn't have the materials I needed.  However, the prep didn't take long, and my make-shift plan B turned out to be even better than plan A: another sprinkle.

I got my first pay check, and everyone was excited for me.  They even took my picture.  I felt like I was part of the community: sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle.

During my second prep, I was actually able to sit down and grade papers: big sprinkle there.

By the time I got to adoration on my home, I could not wait to see Jesus.  Being able to tell Him "thank you" was just what I wanted: another sprinkle.

When I got home, there was left over spaghetti to eat for dinner: sprinkle.  When I turned on the T.V. NCIS was on: sprinkle. When the episode ended I learned they were doing back-to-back episodes: sprinkle.

Then my mom and went shopping for a dress for her to wear to my brother's wedding. This was kind of a dreaded task for her (and me too I suppose).  We managed to find something: sprinkle, that was on sale: sprinkle, and we found shoes to match: sprinkle.

I so wanted to be able to share joy with you.  After a summer of suffering and struggling to express it here in a way that was real and yet not depressing, it is a testament to God's glory to be able to share joy.

God is good!

Tomorrow is Nearly Upon Me

I'm laying in bed on this, the night before I begin my teaching career.  For the most part, I've been calmly freaking out about every last detail. Naturally.

The part that makes me smile is that, when I pause (and remember breathe), I notice an unmistakable sensation of excitement.  This is significant, especially for me, seeing as I generally struggle to be "excited" about anything.

I am overwhelmed at the enormity of the task set before me. To know these kids, my students, so that I may educate and form them in the Faith and in life is a formidable task to say the least. I hope that I love them well.  I hope that they blossom as children.  I hope that they grow in faith and come to know God.  I hope that they find the classroom to be a place happiness, fun, and genuine learning.

I hope they sit down and quietly listen when I need them to.  I hope that they pray and sing and behave at mass.  I hope that they get along with one another, that they do well in their studies, and that they never get hurt.

Most of all, I hope that they discover God and that, in doing so, they discover the joy of a lifetime of laughing and learning all sorts of new and wonderful things at the foot of His throne, under the guidance of His Church, and in the care of those to whom He has entrusted them.

I'm ready:  not at all confident in my own abilities, but utterly filled - to the brim - with confidence in His.

Won't you say a prayer for my 14 newest friends and I?