Fall: Dancing in the Rain

Well, it has been awhile since my last post. And, life has changed a bit. Fall has arrived-- in fact, it was hailing here today. I absolutely love the feel of fall. Really, I love the feel, the look, the smell... this season makes me long for the day when I get to experience it from the states of New England. Someday...

I am on my fifth year of teaching here in Chevak, Alaska. I am so very fortunate in that I have looped with my students yet again (I've been with them since they were second graders), and fourth grade is very much in session. They are such a delightful group-- my little familia. It has been an amazing experience to loop. There is a richness in the learning and teaching that occurs when you know your students and families and they know you. Though, it is wild to think that in just a couple more years this group will be heading to middle school! In fact, my first group of VAK second graders will be heading there next year. Wow.

Life always seems to throw curve balls. The whole love thing didn't work out for me so well. It is a sad thing, really. I had forgotten how heart-breaking... really, how heart-ripping-- it is to go through a break-up. When I love, I love with my whole heart. I am all in. Well, when you go all in we know what that can lead to-- all out. "You have to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." ;) Unfortunately, I didn't know when to fold 'em. Funny how sometimes you can see all the signs, and you remember thinking that things were a little off, yet you want love so bad or you want to believe that the love is strong enough... so, you keep giving. And keep compromising. And if you aren't careful, you lose yourself... slowly, and painfully. Ah, silly girl. That is all I can say to myself right now. Pick your chin up off the floor and find the beautiful things in life to smile about. Life goes on. It has to. We are the leading ladies (or men) in our lives, after all, right? The show must go on. Sigh... right. Working on that ;). Here is a teachery quote I found: "Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward."

Sometimes my life is a little quiet out here and I have a lot of time to think. Thankfully, I have my work and school to give my energy to. Teaching and taking courses bring me fulfillment. I thoroughly and completely enjoy being with my kiddos and having them in my life. Being back at work brings me focus and ignites my passion. I am reminded of my purpose. I am in my element. I am back in my professional world where I know that daily I have a duty to my kiddos.

Though I completed grad school in the spring, I decided to take courses in a Reading Endorsement program and am thoroughly enjoying it! Perhaps someday I will teach literacy courses or become a Reading Specialist... who knows. Right now, I am just taking it one course at a time. Taking classes that I enjoy brings me drive, motivation, purpose, and satisfaction. I also signed up for TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) courses... perhaps teaching abroad will be somewhere in my future. We shall see...

Right now, I am just regaining my footing... looking at the doors of possibilities. And, as I do, I have to remember, "Every day has its sunset, and every morning has its sunrise." There is beauty and sadness in both, depending on our lens. A friend recently wrote me and thanked me for being one of her "positive" friends. She said, "You and I... we dance in the rain." It made me smile, though I told her we all have our storms. Then she reminded me of a time a couple of years ago when we were in Hawaii together. We were at the beach and it suddenly started pouring rain. People were fleeing the beach, covering their heads, and finding shelter as quickly as possible. She said, "You-- you took out your video camera, laughing, and just filmed the craziness of it all." Lol That brought a big smile to my face. Friends do that. They remind us to dance in the rain.

Hopefully, I will get some photos to you all in the near future. The net has been shaky and my cable has been out, so my Kindle has been a dear friend of mine lately. If you have any recommendations, shoot them my way. Until next time, keep dancing.

Misty