Flashback Friday

Over three years ago, I lost one of my very best friends. That was my Nannie, my maternal grandmother. I loved this "old girl," as my mom and I often called her. I wrote this post about her and my Mimi.

These pictures were taken in May 2003, the night that my oldest daughter Mallory graduated high school. It was so hard to celebrate Shelbi's graduation with Nan not here.

Nannie and me

This ended up being one of everyone's favorite pictures of her.

Almost everyone in my family has this one framed in their home. :)

This is my favorite because that is the look I loved--- classic Nannie. In a crowd, she could give you this look and make you feel like you and she were the only ones around.

I have lost many dear relatives in my life, starting with my Poppa Dad when I was 21. Too many precious people to list here. Out of all of them, though, my Nan is the one I miss the most. So many of my childhood memories involve my grandparents, especially my best friend, my "old girl." Even her death, strange at that sounds, is one of the most precious memories I have. Many times she and I had laid in her bed together discussing "how awesome it would be to go to sleep and wake up THERE." There, of course, being Heaven. She always told me she hoped she'd go in her sleep. I prayed that for her and on a Friday afternoon in February 2007, God, in His mercy, answered our prayers. She passed away during an afternoon nap. How peaceful she looked, curled on her side, her hands folded in prayer close to her face. It was hard to believe that she was not just asleep. My sisters, my momma, and I sat by her side telling her good-bye while waiting on the funeral home to come. It was honestly the most peaceful time I've ever experienced. But when I think of her, it's the picture above that I see in my mind. Nannie with that twinkle in her eyes and that look that connected you to her, that look that said it all. I miss my Nan. I look forward to the day I'll see that expression again. :)

Transitions

I started teaching eight years ago, at the ripe old age of 35. I taught 3 years in the local public school system, but I've been working at a small private school for the past four years. Now I'm heading back into the public school system. There were a lot of advantages to teaching at a small school. I'm definitely going to miss the smaller class size, less paperwork, and less stress due to the first two things. I will also miss my fellow teachers and administrators, my students' parents, and watching my students grow up. In a public school system, the kids left my class and continued on. When I taught second grade, that meant they headed to another school. I only saw them if I ran into them in public.
The private school is pre-K through 12th grade, so the farthest my students moved was down the hall or to the next building. I loved the idea of watching them go from pre-school, across the hall from me, to watching them graduate. So why am I leaving?! Financially, I just can't afford to turn down the pay increase and benefits that public schools offer. Even though teaching is not a high-paying career by anyone's standards, public still pays a lot more.

This will be my fourth school to work at in my eight and a half year career. During that time, I've also changed grade levels three times. Second grade, fourth grade, and kindergarten for the past three years--- and that's the grade I'm teaching at the new school. Thank God, at least that's the same. LOL God willing--- this will be my last transition--- for a long while.

This school is also in a town about 30 miles from my house. Driving over 15 minutes to work is another change. I'm nervous about learning a whole new curriculum. At the same time, I'm excited to make new friends and meet new kids and parents. A lot of prayer went up before and after this job opened up. I feel confident this is where God's leading me to teach. I would still, however, welcome prayers for an easy transition. ;)