Holy Moly!!

Well, today was the first day of Kindergarten, and I am ENTIRELY exhausted!!

Teaching Kindergarten is so different from every other grade. Most non-teachers think it's the easiest grade to teach..... there's no complicated math..... the kids are small and cute..... you don't have to grade piles of essays.... piece of cake right?? all fingerpainting and singing and playing on the playground.....

Well, I'm here to tell you teaching Kindergarten is no picnic, cake walk, or otherwise relaxing and delightful activity. IT IS WORK... HARD WORK! After one year in 3rd grade I had forgotten how taxing it really is. I kept telling myself (in my brain) that the first week of Kindergarten was the hardest thing to teach, but the reality was something my brain had blocked out... you know, the way your brain blocks out the pain of labor after you give birth!

I had kids who wouldn't talk from shyness, kids who talked constantly, kids who couldn't sit in one spot for more than 5 seconds, kids who refused to sit down, kids who wandered around aimlessly, kids who looked at me while I gave directions then went back to what they were doing, kids who couldn't line up, kids who could line up but couldn't stay in line, kids who could stand in line but couldn't walk in line, kids who drew scribbles for a self portrait and kids who took 20 minutes to draw only their eyes.

I am more tired than I can EVER remember being.....

but here's the thing about being a Kindergarten teacher..... with all the hard work, it is such a thrill when in the middle of September you call the students to the carpet and all of them come and sit down ready to listen... then there's the day when the scribbler first successfully writes his name.... later on, you get to hear the direction ignorer telling someone how to put the toys away in the correct tubs, and around about May you get to show them all how to write a story and revel in the 4 minutes of silence when all you hear are pencils scratching across paper while little faces are intent upon their work.

So, I'm not really asking for pity... I love my job..... I just have to go to bed now. Night!

Today's musings...

So today was the day I had meetings with all of the teachers from Ferndale Elementary and High School.... and let me just say how lucky I am to be a part of such a wonderful community. The entire staff there has been sooooooo supportive and kind and helpful to me. I have always loved teaching, and I have always felt that the schools I taught at were well run and full of wonderful people, but this sweet little community near the ocean really takes it to the next level.

How blessed I am!! (Of course I still miss my old comrades!!)

On another note, Kyla had her Back to School Night at her middle school and spent the evening either pouting or crying about how she wants to move back to Sonora. She misses her friend Kaylie and is sure she will not be able to make
any new friends. (She actually has several friends at the new school already, but they are in the grade ahead of her.)

Of course, right now she is spending the night at her cousin's house, and is happy as a clam!

Don't know why I posted this layout I made for a contest on scrapbook.com several months ago. I guess I'm just missing my scrapping lately since all my creative energy has been going into setting up my classroom. I am glad school is starting Monday, because if it didn't I'd just keep on decorating and spending all my time there obsessing over making it perfect!! Luckily when the children arrive there's no more time for any of that!

A picture of Jimmy

Looking at this picture of Jim reminds me of how fragile life can be.....

I am vowing this very moment to live my life to the fullest....

To not allow myself to be dragged down by negative people.....

To try each day to make someone else happy.....

To love....

To laugh.....

We all miss you, Jim. You were always there to put a smile on someone else's face.

N

P.S. Thanks to Raquel for the picture :-)

Remembering...

Yesterday was the memorial for my 25 year old cousin, Jimmy Kasper, who died Monday in an auto accident up near Susanville. It was a really hard day.... tears, mixed with laughter, more tears, quiet remembering....

The service was held at the Weaverville Cemetary, and because Jimmy was a veteran of the Iraq War there was an honor guard there with the 3 gun salute and taps playing and everything. It is so hard to wrap your mind around the death of a man so young with so much life ahead of him. I had last seen him at Christmas, and we were laughing and talking about his apartment in Redding and his job. He was such a friendly and outgoing kid. So easy to talk to and ready to laugh. Our family will miss him so much.

That brings me to my family. I am so lucky to have a family so full of love. They welcome everyone and once you are a part of our family, you are part of us forever..... divorce, separation, whatever... they care about you and you have a place and are welcomed with open arms. I am honored to be related to each of them.

So, if you are reading this, our family needs your prayers. Most especially my Grandma, and my Aunt Toni and Uncle Kevin and Jimmy's remaining siblings, John and Katie. This tragedy has left me in shock, and I can hardly comprehend what they must be feeling.

Settled in.....

We are here in our new home in Eureka, settling into a routine and getting used to the climate. The move went pretty smoothly.... the biggest problem we've encountered is getting the internet service set up..... but here I am connected and happy at last after 12 days without the net or email. Still having a little trouble with the email as it says my password is invalid, but soon I will call back the customer service line (who I am infinitely familiar with after about 12 calls in the last 12 days) and bother someone into fixing it for me.......

The house is lovely and airy and so bright that I cannot sleep past 7 am as the sun (or fog) shines through the 7 foot tall sliding glass door in my bedroom and wakes me up! This morning as I lay there trying (unsuccessfully) to go back to sleep I realized what a gorgeous view I have.... beautiful forest land right outside my window.... with mountains in the background and just a touch of vapor rising up from it all in the morning light. Of course, now that the internet is back I will be avidly surfing for window coverings because I love sleeping in more than the view.... Hee hee!

Lots to do today, as it is my niece Livi's birthday party and I still have a gift to buy. Also, Kyla has been invited to a birthday party this evening... she's already made some new friends... amazing girl that she is!! So, I have to work out, then it's off to the mall!!

New email address is bergenske@suddenlink.net

Hope to hear from you soon!