A Day In the Life.....

Mrs. Brown's Day

Here is my fabulous desk sign. Originally I saw it on Etsy and said, "I can make that!" So I did.

Mr. Brown's Day

Here is a picture of Mikey walking in the door after a long day of work. He had just finished doing well baby and children check ups.

Santa Barbara Love

Mikey and I were able to go to Santa Barbara for the weekend....it is so close but worlds away from where we live. We hadn't been back in a year and half, so it was time! We enjoyed our favorite eating spots and of course visiting Westmont. Mikey is hoping to be the campus doctor someday.....fine with me!

October

It's finally Friday night and I have been sitting in the dark living room now for about 2 hours. I am so happy that it is Friday, the end of October. I knew this would be a long month, for both Mikey and I. Mikey has just finished his surgery rotation and will have a week of tests. He will then start a new rotation on Pediatrics. I have finished the first trimester of school and will do report cards tomorrow and then head into a week of conferences and intersession. I am so happy to almost be in the month of November. My heart is heavy though, for my brother Jonathan. His wife Lesley wrote a beautiful blog post about what we are going through now.

“For the LORD is good;his steadfast love endures forever,and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5

Come to me....

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

This weekend I was able to get away and go camping with other women from my church. We talked about the verse above and spent time in fellowship.

It is quite simple. Come to Jesus. Lay down your burdens. Find rest for your soul.

An Apple For the Teacher

On Friday I received my first apple of the school year. I also received a free Starbucks from another teacher and so I thought, this is going to be a good day.....

That original thought of a "good day" quickly faded as I started to greet my students. Tears and obvious bad attitudes entered through my door. Quickly I had to assess the situations and get the whole class on track. One student was crying because their sibling got injured that morning, another one was in a terrible mood because they didn't get breakfast, one girl with a special circumstance was accidently pushed by another student, and so on....

Everyday that I come to school I have to prepare myself for a potential war zone. Yes, my students know the routines and expected behaviors but it is a different world where I am. I did not ask to be their mom, dad, counselor, nutritionist, guard, but this is what the Lord has given me. There is no doubt that the Lord specifically put me in this school but sometimes, like on Friday, I know that there is no way that I can do this job without the Lord.

Slowly my skin is starting to thicken. I am now used to being yelled at by parents and how to quickly resolve misunderstandings. I am still learning how to deal with absolutely horrible behavior, outright disrespect from students, while hiding behind a smile. There is no sending a student to the principal, sending them to the office, or switching classes. They are in my class and I have to find a way to get them to conform to the class. Teaching is the easy part. It is everything else that enters my door at 7:30 am.

I did get an apple on Friday.....

My Other Home

This is where I have been lately....

I spend close to 10 hours a day in this room....

When the movers were placing the furniture in my room...they carefully measured the desks, putting equal spacing between each row. I thought to myself...they must not know kids. The first day of school those perfectly lined rows became quickly uneven. Kids learning this way..inching their way forward and to the middle. Stay put! Fix your desks! They must be touching! Is what I say. Oh well...who needs perfect rows?

I am slowly perfecting each part of my room...it is a work in progress and I care almost too much about how it looks. But I do know that an organized classroom is a productive classroom.

Stay tuned for more stories.... did I mention the break dancing videos for P.E.?

I may be learning a thing or two.

Anna's Birth Story (From the Aunt's Perspective)

I know that someday, little Anna Leigh is going to ask me, "Aunt Katie, do you remember the day I was born?...."

I will respond with this, "Yes, I do Anna, come sit with me and I will tell all about it....." (haha)

It was a Sunday morning and I was driving to church, my phone started to ring. I looked at the phone and saw that it was Jonathan calling. I knew there was only one reason that my brother would call on a Sunday morning....it was go time!

I sat through church and talked with friends that morning ...realizing that there was no way that I could go up to Sacramento....too many responsibilities at the present moment. All Sunday I couldn't stop thinking about Jonathan and Lesley at the hospital. Sunday night came and the baby hadn't come yet, so I told Jonathan to text me no matter what time if the baby came. I went to bed that night but didn't sleep. I kept looking at my phone and nothing!

My alarm went off at 4:30 (had to get up for vbs) and I texted Jonathan...any news? No response...

I got in my car at 5:00 and started driving on the 91 freeway. The phone rang and it was Lesley...Anna Leigh was here! She was born at 4:00 am... I just couldn't believe they had their baby in their arms! After we finished talking Lesley texted me a picture....it was Jonathan holding Anna Leigh...that is when I just started crying...crying and trying to drive.... I was thinking in my head, these are the moments we live for...seeing my older brother holding his daughter!

I know I was not there and still have not had the privilege of meeting Anna, but my love for her is overflowing. I am just the Aunt from Southern California but she has come into the most loving family and extended family. Lesley is a wonderful mother and Jonathan is a strong father!

See you three soon!