I rise each morning before most people are even thinking about waking. My heart beat is fast as I step my foot out of my truck at the gym. Most mornings I workout without speaking much, my mind swirling around the days task. I reflect on each and every one of my students. I’m always looking for away to reach them, to get through all that surrounds them in their busy full lives. Each one of them different but really the same. They all want to be important and know that you care. It’s my job, no my mission to make sure they know that for the one hour they are in my studio they are cared for, loved and respected. That is something I can give them.
Our sweet Ally
This blog will post at 7:00am on Wednesday morning. I’ll will have already been up for 3 hours. I start that early so that I get a jump on my day. I prepare for all that is ahead starting with taking care of me. Today is different, today is the last day I will teach for the 2016/17 school year at Wylie Prep. It’s hard to believe that this year has come and gone so fast. So much filled this school year some good and some so painful it’s hard to think about it.
My Scarlett
Ethan is growing so fast
In August I came back to teach for my 11th year just 10 weeks after major surgery. The year started great with the normal challenges and drama. Two weeks into the semester my daughter had her little girl Scarlet Claire she was born happy and healthy. I became a Lolli for the second time. Ethan was a Kindergartener this year so that meant he was in my art class and I couldn’t have been happier. The art show in November was amazing. The kids I teach blew it out the door with talent. Days after the show I went into surgery for my 3rd and 4th skin removal procedure. Thanksgiving and Christmas was recovery time. We returned to school January the 4th and on Friday January the 6th we let school out a little bit early because of the snow. Most of the high school kids played in the snow and took pictures of each other. Who knew what the next 24 hours would hold and how important those photo’s would be. On Saturday the 7th we lost an amazing student Ally Michelle Hooten in a ATV auto accident. Her sister Sara was injured and it’s a miracle she survived. Our school closed the next week followed by closing on and off the following week. I’m not sure how we moved on this semester. I don’t think we did I believe we just survived because we had to. The pain is clear in the eyes of these kids. There isn’t a day go by that we don’t see tears, hugs and sadness. I believe they are just pouring themselves into #Allyslegacy movement to fill the hole in their hearts and build a gym for Ally.
Midway through my semester as if it wasn’t bad enough I had to deal with some personal issues I wasn’t prepared for. Sometimes the past can come back and bit you. Prayer and time spent allow taught me I’m stronger than I thought. There is nothing I can’t handle as long as I cling to my faith. On a happier note my sweet little Lyla Mae was born, a bit early but she is a fighter. All the warnings she would be in the hospital for 6 weeks were pushed aside. Lyla Mae had other plans and 2 weeks into this life and she was home. God is good and he blessed us with this amazing little girl. The spring art show was again amazing because these kids filled the show with talent that is only God-given. I mean really look at these photo’s of the show WOW what a blessing to teach them. Art camp registration filled really fast and I’m well on my way preparing for it. It starts next Tuesday and by next Friday I will have walked at least 30 miles in a small square area. I’m already tired just thinking about 75 kids, heat, ants, paint and craziness. In the end we will have served them well with great memories of summer art camp.
Well here we are at the end of another school year. What have I learned? That is a loaded question that I’m not so sure how to put into words just yet. I do know that I was blessed this year with what I learned in the good and the bad.So today I will clean up my room and pack away things that need to be stored. As the day ends I will stand in my room and allow the sounds of laughter to fade away along with the pain. I’ll be thankful as I walk to my car that yet another year God allowed me to do a job I said I never wanted to do. My name is Mrs. McCormick and I am a teacher, she said with pride.
