temporaryblogforblogbook: t.h.a.n.k.f.u.l

Today when I got home from work I was way more frustrated with kids I teach than I literally ever remember being before in all the years I've taught. The craziness began at 7:55am when kids walked in for my first period and honestly did not stop until after the bell rang at 3:10pm.

And earlier today, I wanted to blog about the kid that I had cuss me out this morning during first period. And the kid who I had to chase into the boys bathroom during the next period. (And yes, there was another poor little 6th grade boy in there who I'm fairly sure was traumatized.) And the kid who ran away from me and another teacher during today's lunch detention and only stopped running when we called the cop. And the kid who, when I told him he would have to stay after school with me for a few minutes after 9th period with his partners in crime, opened the window in my classroom, jumped out and ran for it. Jumped out the window and ran home, screaming "I told you I'm not staying!". I've seen a lot, let me tell you, but that was a new one for me. It's bad when Jose, the ringleader on the couch below, says "Even I'm not stupid enough to do that and I do a lot of stupid things".

But now I really don't want to focus on that. I don't want to focus on what's hard and bad and frustrating, because there is SO much I am thankful for today, even though I definitely got home in a horrible mood and wasn't able to shake it until I went out for a jog with Will to clear my head and switch gears.

I'm thankful that I am blessed to have 75 wonderful kids this year, who are sweet and easy and want to learn (most of the time anyhow :)). They make me love my job--and WAY outnumber the kids that give me trouble. Though they don't get as much mention on here as they should, I really am blessed with a sweet bunch of kids.

I am thankful that tomorrow is a random early dismissal day--and thankful that our inservice is about working with disengaged students--because I've definitely got some of those this year. And, I've got high hopes that the inservice will actually be useful!

I am thankful that I have such an understanding husband.

I am thankful for the cooler weather and that I can finally start wearing some of my cold weather clothes.

I am thankful for my girls in the Name That Book club at school--they could tell I was having a hard day and were so sweet to me at lunch when they came in my room for practice.

I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday and that we're hanging out with our friends from church on Saturday night.

I'm thankful to Landon for telling me "why don't you blog about the good kids instead" when I told him all the crazy stories I could write about on here from today. I'm thankful that he planted that seed in my head and reminded me that happiness, thankfulness, if a choice. Each and every day, it's a choice we make.

And I am thankful for my family, who drove over to eat dinner and spend the evening with us. It was the perfect ending to a hard day--and they never once asked about how work was going, which I think is a God thing because they always do and it definitely was NOT what I wanted to focus on tonight. We had a wonderful evening with them and look forward to doing it again soon.

Oh--and I am SO thankful to my mom for doing the dishes before she left because if she hadn't I'd probably still be in there doing them now! We made a mess, haha--but it was well worth it!

Landon and Matt hanging out after Matt got off work--he was preparing the banana leaves for our fun dessert

the remnants of our fish tacos dinner--yummy!

Landon and my dad talking running and Garmin watches

My mom and I found some old family pictures--like from her childhood and mine--while I was scrapbooking a few weeks ago and had a fun time looking through them tonight, reminiscing. :)