A Christmas Story

So last night was the performance of the Christmas play I was directing/producing/everything at my church. The kids were great! They remembered their lines, they gave it their all, they rocked. So the play was about giving and trusting that God will do something amazing with what you give (no matter how small) even if you never learn what an impact your giving made. I was praying we would reach even just ONE person and inspire them to give and trust God. Well, I guess we did.

After the play a mom stopped me to tell me how good it was, how great the kids were, etc. AND the cutest story ever. Her 4 year old daughter was in the audience and her AWANA Christmas party was right after the play. When she went up to get her gift, she chose a BOY gift and turned around and gave it to her brother! She wanted nothing for herself, only to give a gift to her brother.

Thank you Jesus that we reached someone, that little girl made three months of work worthwhile!

Challenging Challenges

Being a substitute has a lot of unique challenges and stresses. Think about it, not only do I have 30 NEW kids every day, I go to a NEW workplace everyday! Most people have one, maybe two bosses you interact with and directly answer to. After a while you get to know what is expected of you, who to go to for help (who NOT to go to for help), what the rules are (written and unwritten), where everything is, and just the general culture of the workplace. I don't have that luxury. Every school I go to has a new time schedule, new rules, new physical layout, new procedures, new expectations of me and of the students. Every school does supervision differently. Every school disciplines differently (well, some don't discipline at all). Every school has different rules for conduct. Every school does paperwork differently. The worst part is NOT that I always have new things to deal with though. The worst part by FAR is that many school's staff expect me to know EVERYTHING! It doesn't matter if I've been there once, ten times or never. I' supposed to know it all. I'm sorry but I have gotten the schedule mixed up with the one I was using yesterday, and inevitably someone's gonna ream me out about it. I can't find something so I ask for help, that person's probably going to make sure I know what a nuisance and bother I am for asking. I don't always know the rules at the playground, so I get the "student safety is common sense" speech. I hate to tell you all this, but there's plently of disagreement about whether climbing UP the slide is safe or not! I am so supremely SICK of the snide "You should know this!" looks and remarks! Maybe there is something to be said for throwing an old-fashioned tantrum. MIght make me feel better!
So the next time you roll your eyes at a sub, think for a second. COuld you go to a new job everyday and STILL know everything? Then stop expecting me to!

Bad Guys

So with politics on everyone's mind lately (freakin' Liberals/NDP), it reminded me of another funny kid story.  Once again I was teaching Preschool, but in Edmonton about 2 years ago.  One of my fav students was Sam, you never knew what was going to come out of this kid's mouth!

We were all talking about comic book bad guys because the boys were really into Spiderman at that time.  So they're naming their fav bad guys, Doc Oc, Joker, Magneto, anyone they could think of.  And Sam says, "You know who's a REAL bad guy?"

"Who, Sam?"

Very seriously he replies, "Stephen Harper, he's a REALLY bad guy!  He controls the whole country and that's bad!"

Hmmm...if you ever wonder if your kids are listening to what you say...

Stupid Tree

So Stony Plain put up their huge Christmas tree on Main Street.  It's so cool to see, it's old fashioned in a comforting way.  But every year when they put up the tree it makes me think of a few years ago when I was teaching preschool in Stony.

We were taking the kids for a walk to see a "huge surprise" (the big tree).  So we're walking down the street with about 15  kids, and as the tree starts coming into sight we start asking the kids "Do you see anything yet?".  No one said anything until Luke finally pipes up with the funniest thing I had heard in ages, "How can I see anything with that stupid tree in the way?"

Priceless!

Tavin Brock Griffin Adams

I have a new nephew!!  Tavin Brock Griffin Adams was born on November 26 at 2:15.  He couldn't be more perfect.  He's long and skinny, with dark hair and two dimples!  As excited as I am, I'm pretty sure his daddy and grandpa are WAY more pumped about the new male addition to our family!  Welcome baby!