one kiss

Welcome boys and girls to the first day of Second Grade!

I smiled as twenty little six- and seven-year-olds filed in the classroom and found the desks with their names on them.

I am your teacher this year...My name is Mrs. M--- and this is my assistant Miss Olewiler who will be helping in our class for several weeks....

To watch their adorable little faces was so precious. Some more confidant than others, knowing they were now in 2nd grade, not first, others still a little timid of the new situation, and a few just taking in all the colorful posters, decorations, and materials around the room.

I love elementary grade classrooms. And someday soon I hope to have my own (kinda strange that the teacher standing at the front of the room could potentially be me next year, if I can get a job immediately after this year of credentialing--imagine...1 year from now!). Being with the second graders today reminded me how much I love children and teaching. I know people who do not have a passion for either of these and that's okay, but I'm so thankful God has blessed and encouraged me in my love for teaching kids. It is such a beautiful joy to be able to contribute to the learning processes of helping these little ones grow and mature to someday be future world leaders and world changers...to know that God humbly allowed me to be a part of their character development. Sure, the classroom's not a perfect place, and teaching sure isn't a perfect job--ask any teacher you know! Sure it's a huge responsibility and at times quite intimidating, but the hard days and long nights of lesson planning and preparation are so worth the little smiles they flash back at you, the knowledge that you did your best to positively influence them towards a life of integrity and learning.


But even more than wanting to be a teacher, I can't wait to be Mommy.

Arriving home this evening and not having any homework to do yet, I spent some time playing with the 2 year old and 4 month old--such precious little girls, full of vibrancy and life, even when Alicia disobeys and gets punished or when Abby cries her little eyes out. ;)

Despite the darling second graders this morning and playing with the girls this evening, nothing made my heart long for motherhood more than Alicia's comment to her mom...

"But Mommy wait, I gotta give Heather a g'nite kiss!" And she pitter-pattered her little feet over to my chair, planting a big (somewhat slobbery) kiss on my cheek.

Just one little kiss...a genuine, loving kiss from a 2 year old girl who has barely known me a week and yet can't forget to give me a goodnight kiss before bedtime. Gosh, that tugs at my heartstrings like nothing else...

No I'm not coveting what other women have that I don't have, though I admit I've been at that point before in my life. But it truly excites me to look forward to being Mommy and training my own little ones...to read them Bible stories and sing with them and pray before bedtime, as Alicia does each night with her parents.

Thank you Lord for making me a woman and for cultivating that love for the beautiful little ones you've made....with your guidance in my life, let me be someone who loves them as you do so I can ultimately point them to you.

2 year old alicia

...sitting at the dinner table tonight....


mark: alicia, what's your full name?

alicia: alicia madrid!

mark: and who's that?

alicia: abby madrid!

mark: and who's that?

alicia: mommy madrid!

mark: and who am i?

alicia: daddy madrid!

mark: and who's sitting next to you?

[alicia looks at me and tilts her head sideways]

me: is my name joe?

alicia: noo.....

me: is it fred?

alicia: noo....

me: is it steve?

alicia: uh....[tilts her head again, looking very serious] is it steve?

me: no! what is it?

alicia: uh....heather madrid!

barnabus

a sweet friend told me that i've been her "barnabus" this week.

so i think i'm going to study him and see what he was all about. i have an idea, but i want to learn more.

so i shall. and i'll write about him when i've learned more. :)