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10/18/2007: "There's so much happiness in the world, it's overwhelming."
mood: Blessed.
"I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive"
-- Live, "Heaven"
I am convinced that sunrises are God's way of assuring His people that things will go on. Every morning when the light of the new day touches the land, He is expressing His faith that everything will be okay, that people are good, and that life is worth living.
I am so aware of how precious time is ... especially lately. A dear friend of mine has lost two friends in the last three weeks, and it is heartbreaking to hear about. She is a pillar of strength, though, and I am confident that she will be okay. She will pull through ahead of the game, and her life will continue to be blessed. She is going to be in inspiringly powerful teacher, of that I am sure; her struggles will only make her stronger and more influential.
In the meantime, I am incredibly grateful for the moments when I know I am alive ... like this morning, for instance. As I was driving down 215, taking my normal route to Emerson Elementary, I glanced to the west and realized exactly how beautiful this world is. My life was enriched by the way the light bounced off the snowy mountains, and my day was better because of the beauty God showed me at 7:15am. Despite the cold, despite the fact that there are fallen leaves and snow on the ground at the same time, and despite how tired I was ... I knew that today would be a day worth living, and a day worth remembering.
Then, I arrived at school to the smiling face of my mentor teacher who told me yesterday that he thinks I will be an incredible asset to the education field. This coming from a teacher I really look up to -- one whom I hold a great deal of respect for. Then the most incredible six and seven year olds came bounding into the room, all dressed up for picture day, with smiles on their faces ... simply excited to be alive. A few of them hugged me, a couple girls even told me they liked my shoes. And, as if on cue, one little boy walked up to me and told me I looked pretty today and then proceeded to tell me about the worm he stepped on on his way to school this morning. My day was made before it even began.
This is why I teach.
I taught a math lesson today, and it went really well! One of my professors came to observe the lesson and afterwards told me that I have a natural flair for teaching, and that my connection with my students is astounding. This is what I've loved and all I've ever known ... it's what I have wanted to do my entire life ... and my dreams are finally coming true.
Teachers in the hall who I have never met come up to me and tell me they've heard great things about me, and that if I ever want to work in their classes, to let them know.
It's an amazing feeling! There are no words for how exhilarating it is to be in front of the classroom, or breaking my knees to help someone understand ... to see their HUGE smiles whenever I say something they think is hilarious, and to see the light in their eyes when they finally understand something they've been struggling with.
This is my joy. This is my life. This is why I want to teach.