All in a Name February 3, 2009

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  It’s my first blog in months!  I know.  Now, let’s move on from that terrible fact. 

I thought I would share a silly (but a little sad) conversation I had with one of my students the other day . . .

I have these little nicknames for so many of my kids (which are Kindergartners, by the way).  They become so much of who they are, that they actually start writing these nicknames on their paper.  For instance, I call Justin – JDub.  I call Joel – Joely.  Xzavier – Zaay.  Rheayvan – Ray Ray.  Desarae – Dezi.  Cor’Darrion – Darry.  It really is so cute!  I just hope their parents don’t mind them writing these nicknames as their own names! 

And as for that silly, but sad conversation . . . . My little Austin looked to me with such a loving face.  “Mrs. Fuller,” he said, “You have a special name for me.”  (Now, I should note that his little voice should be imagined with an extremely thick Southern accent – as in, difficult to understand accent . . . I cannot stress this enough.)  “I do?” I asked, knowing that I had never actually given Austin a nickname.  “Uh huh. You do.  It’s Austin.”  he replied.  “No, baby.  That’s your real name, not my special name for you.”  was my repsonse.  “Nuh uh.  Dat’s my special name.” he quickly replied.  By now, I’m completely baffled.  I’m even thinking to myself, “Does this child really not know his own name?”  And then . . . there was the explanation . . .

“Nuh uh.  My name is – now get ready for this – Awwwshtin (yep, pronounce it the way it is spelled).  I’s special name is Austin (pronounced correctly!!).”

Are you kidding me???  My little darling truly thought I had a separate, distinctly different name for him.  Never did it cross his mind that I was simply saying his name . . . correctly.  I even decided to share this story with his mom.  Her reply?  “Oh that makes sense now.  The other day he asked me if Austin was spelled the same as his name.” 

And therein lies my job security.

A Touch of Whiplash . . . August 11, 2008

So, this summer, I switched from teaching fourth grade to Odyessey.  Odyessey is a tutoring program for struggling students and an enrichment for the higher students.  The last few weeks I’ve been planning and organizing . . . getting ready for this year . . . And then today happened.

I was in the middle of doing the beginning of the year assessments on students when I was called into a meeting in the conference room.  Of course, I was a bit stunned, wondering what it could be about. I walked into all the Kindergarten teachers, an assistant, and the principal.  One of the K teachers is pregnant with twins and was experiencing some problems this weekend.  She has now been sent to bed-rest until the babies are born.  Therefore . . . I will be a Kindergarten teacher!  Or at least until Mrs. Egbert returns.  She is due in December, so I will be there until then and after her maternity leave is up . . . There’s just really no telling how long I will be teaching K! 

So, yeah.  I’m experiencing a touch of whiplash.  After the meeting, I had ten minutes to grab my purse and my thoughts.  And I’ve been with babies ever since!

A prayer.  A nice thought my way would be coveted.

Things will be great.  I’m sure of it.  I just have to get my head around it all . . .

Bullied into Blogging July 23, 2008

So, after getting a rather nasty email about my lack of new blogging . . . I suddenly find myself quite eager to write.  Blake is busy with his new business, “Blake Fuller Auto Sales.”  We can really see God’s blessing in this.  Blake loves working for himself . . . I, for one, have a sneaking suspicion that it has something to do with those afternoon golfing trips.  I have been busy in my new classroom!  I had to move into a different classroom this year – I’m teaching a tutoring class, Odyssey.  I’m actually kind of excited about it.  I will be working with a few kids at a time, rotating every 30 minutes.  Kind of nice, huh?  It will definitely be a good transition year for us . . . For those of you that don’t already know, Blake and I will be moving back to the Dallas area next June!  We are pumped!  We’re so ready to go.  We had actually planned on going this summer, but our lives and God had other plans.  We still wish we were there, but I suppose we will be soon enough.  I have to report for duty next Friday, the first!  Can you believe it?  It’s a bit soon, I believe?  But what shall I do?  Students come back Thursday, the 7th . . . I’m not quite sure what I’ll do those first few days, since I don’t have a class of my own . . .   So there, I hope this will appease my dear Paula, uh-hum, my unnamed friend.  I shall blog again.  Soon. I swear it.

Initially Speaking . . . July 16, 2008

     I’ll have to admit that I was intrigued to blog after reading my dear friend, Abbey’s blog (not to be confused with Dear Abby).  I enjoy reading about things that are happening in my friends’ lives when I can’t be close to them.

     So, here I am.  I’m hoping to write in order to update far-off friends and family of things that happen in our lives that are expecially meaningful, or just something silly that may create a giggle!  Maybe I’ll also just write . . . you know . . . to just write.  And express feelings and thoughts.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be this incredible intrinsic experience . . . hehe.

     Nonetheless.  We shall write.  So, come, cozy up, and read . . .