We went for a three mile run today and I just feel the need to document it because it was the first run in about 3 weeks that wasn't miserable for me and we actually ran a little under 9 minute miles, which was our goals. I don't know if it was because I ate well today or because I drank a lot of water or because I ate a cliff bar a little before we ran or a combination of them all or what, but it was nice. It wasn't easy and I was definitely tired at the end, but it wasn't miserable. I am SO grateful for that; I was in desperate need of a run like that, a run that doesn't make me dread tomorrow's run.
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I was a little bummed that Melissa didn't win Dancing With The Stars (she and Tony are who both Landon and I really wanted to win!) and surprised the Gilles and Cheryl didn't win (but glad because we aren't loving Cheryl's attitude anymore), but surprisingly happy that Shawn and Mark did win. I mean, you've got to give it to her--the kid's only 17! She did awesome and it was fun to see the genuine shock and happiness on her face--and on Mark's--when they annoucned that they won! I love this show. What am I going to do now that House, 24 and Dancing with the Stars are all over? That's the only TV I watch. On a happy note though, I'll probably be a lot more productive in the evenings now!
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I got a phone call from 2 of Landon and I's good friends from college (and one of my bridesmaids) last night to tell us that they're pregnant! I am so excited for them (and slightly jealous :))--they're the first one in my group of friends from high school and from college to be having a baby and they are thrilled! I'm not sure if I can tell the world yet, but if you read this, you know who you are and we're thrilled for you and can't wait to meet your little one...in 9 months!!
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In other news, I only have 6 days left with my kids this year. And even though it's been a challenging year at times, I'm really going to miss my kids. I always feel like I haven't had enough time with them when the end of the year rolls around, because it always just seems to creep up on me and suddenly I'm feeling like I have so much left to teach them and not enough time to get it all in. But at the end of the year, it is what it is and it's so fun to look back and see the progress they've made as readers and writers, but also how they've grown from pretty much still being 7th graders when they walked into my room in August, to students ready for high school. Right now they're finishing up our last writing piece called a Personal Essay, which is where you use a story from your life to help you speak out on a social issue in our world that you have something to say about. And it is so cool (and heart-wrenching at the same time) to hear the stories they are willing to put out there for the world to hear and to hear what they have to say about the issues they're dealing with in their own lives--in their families, with friends, in our school, in our community. They're saying such smart things about such tough issues--they're dealing with domestic violence and abortion and gender biases and sexism and abuse of power and immigration and education/standardized testing friendship and choices and drugs/alcohol and violence. I have various students from Africa speaking out on the violence and fighting and war they experienced with they lived there. They're being honest and they have something to say and they're finding their voice. And in their writing, while my first reaction is to want to reach out and give them a hug, I see such resilience and such determination to change things and not repeat the mistakes of their families and friends. While their writing is filled with stories that sometimes I wish were fiction instead of reality, they are also filled with wisdom and reflection and hope. I love this time of year.
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