Almost a Celebrity...But Not Really...

Recently my students stumbled upon this blog as they were googling me. Terrifying, right? It's quite a unique feeling to have someone looking you up on the internet. In some ways it makes you feel a little like a celebrity, but in other ways it makes you worry if there is anything out there that you don't want them to find. Thankfully, my students stumbled upon this blog and thought it was interesting or perhaps strange, but then again they already think my duck obsession is weird. Yet it brought the blog back to my attention and made me realize that it's been a really long time since I updated y'all on my life and the crazy antics of my ducks.

Over the past two years, my ducks and I have been on an adventure in OKC and spent the time becoming "real adults." Let me tell you, adulthood hasn't been easy. While the ducks have been lounging in my apartment and living their lives (with many new additions to the family), I used my time learning how to be a teacher. Yes, I know I spent four years in college being taught "how to be a teacher," but nothing could have prepared me for the reality of teaching.

I had no idea...

• How exhausted I would be at the end of each day.
• How regularly I would hear the phrase "I left my bag at home" or something similar.
• How much caffeine I would consume when I couldn't maintain my "early to bed, early to rise" plan.
• How there would always be something more to do.
• How many times I would call my mom in tears because I was exhausted and overwhelmed.
• How many times I would call my daddy in tears because I didn't know how to make a door frame stand straight on its own or why my car was making a weird noise.
• How difficult it would be to put my dream of being a hands-on, creative teacher in action.
• How many days I would wake up praying that I could make it through to the afternoon so I could take a nap.
• How often I would reply to emails about missing assignments.
• How many pencils I would sell to my students.
• How frequently I would hear the phrases "I wasn't talking," "But I was talking to MYSELF," or something similar.
• How completely my life revolves around the next event at school.
• How often my heart would break/soar because my students would ask me to pray for something major happening in their lives.
• How many times I would hear my students say I was one of their favorite teachers even though I had just disciplined them for something.
• How I could be having the worst day and one simple thank you or apology from a student or parent could change the course of the day.

I had no idea how God could challenge and bless me so completely in the same day.

As many of you already know, my ducks and I are packing up to move on to the next adventure God has for us. My second school year of teaching ends in just under two weeks, and I will be heading back to my parents' home for the summer. As difficult and crazy as these past two years have been, they have taught me loads of new life skills, and I'm excited to move on to the next part of the story that God has written for me and what He will teach me in the future. Nevertheless, I'm really going to miss OKC for one reason. No, it's not the low cost of living or the city life. Of course, it's definitely not the traffic, the weather, the 400+ miles separating me from my parents, or my love for the state of Oklahoma.

It's the people. The people who have helped me survive the past two years. The people who have put up with my crazy antics and mental breakdowns. The people who have reached out in love and welcomed me into their hearts.

• The friend who encouraged me to move to OKC and was always willing to listen to me talk about how hard being a teacher is.
• The school administraters who hired me and were always willing to support me in my efforts to become a better teacher.
• The fellow teachers who put up with my annoying questions and constant confusion as to what was supposed to be happening.
• The parents who understood that I was a new teacher still getting my feet under me and put up with my really long, arduous email updates.
• The pastor and his family who had me thrust into their lives by an act of God (and my loving father) and followed my father's instructions by throwing me into ministry not long after I entered the church.
• The connection class members who were willing to accept me into their crazy ranks from the first day even though I was feeling really shy and who put up with my own ridiculous antics once they realized I wasn't truly bashful.
• The church family who took this pastor's daughter and welcomed her with open arms.
• Most of all, the students who tolerated my silly duck obsession and never gave up on me.

On Friday, these students honored me by throwing a party during our study hall. They blessed me with a wonderful basket of treats (including duck soap on a rope. I know. I couldn't believe it was a real thing either!), talked about how much they would miss me, and made me a scrapbook full of pictures and notes from many of my students.

Afterwards, I read a note one of the students put in the basket about how a simple hug I didn't even remember giving her had made a huge difference in her school year. In the quiet of my classroom after school, it brought me to tears.

Too often as teachers we feel under appreciated and like we aren't really accomplishing anything. Yet, as a coworker pointed out to me, God eventually provides moments like these to give us a "job well done" boost to keep going. For me, this "job well done" moment gave me the energy to push through the rest of this school year and move on to the next school to which God has called me.

Therefore, while I will truly miss my school, friends, and church from Oklahoma, I am eager to announce that I will be moving to Colorado in the fall and continuing my "quacktastic" journey as a middle school teacher.

My encouragement to you today is to think back on God's "job well done" moments in your life and remember that you can make/are making a difference in the life of others even if it isn't always noticeable.

Finally, I will leave you with the words of Matthew 25:21 (English Standard Version), "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'"

Crazy Ducky Lady Out. *mic drop*

(Sorry. I teach middle schoolers!)