hi from the corner

I wish I was that mom, that rose early in the morning before the sun was up. Sipping coffee, in my yoga pants that fit perfectly hiding all the flaws. My hair up in the cute messy bun that you see on pintrest. Have you seen ? I have dozens of times trying recreate it , only to finish with what looks more like a sticky bun. Yea fail! 

Often times my morning starts out late , a hat on backwards, a banana on the way out , spilling coffee on myself trying to keep Gracie girls hands out of it and burning my child. My first sane moment of the day is when everyone is strapped in their seats, worship is playing and we are on the way to school. 

Its then I can sip my coffee, gaze at the road and pretty much filter everything out but the safety of the road. 

Except one particular morning I was stopped at the red on the corner of my neighborhood. I have taken that route for two years now never notice the lady with a red visor and yellow vest. I put my coffee down, slipped my sunglasses down and gave a good morning wave.

From then on we became wave friends ,she was my friend the crossing guard and I became the lady in the sequoia. We would give the good morning wave and smile as I passed every morning. 

This past Christmas, I decided to stop and give her a card . I pulled up and barely had time to slip her a card and exchange names before the light turned green . "I'm Andrea" she said. "Monica, Merry Christmas " as I drove off.

Since then there are some mornings sitting at the light I am busy with the day's thoughts that I hear from the back "mommy your friend is waving." 

Today we started our first day of summer. Just after breakfast I got the kids ready and told them we were going for a walk. "It's so early, can't we rest, can't we drive , where we going?" I explained that school was still in for the public school and we were going to meet the crossing guard that mommy waves too. 

Why? Asked Noah. "I don't know son, because every morning we wave to her and I would like to know who see is." Thats weird he said. "Yes it kinda sounds strange but sometimes God calls us to do strange things and I feel in my heart we should visit her this morning.

As we walked up to the light from across the street I hear her say "you are walking today!" I turned to see both my boys hiding behind me. Hahah , and I ain't going to lie I kinda felt like I wanted to hide, and heard the words of my son. "That's weird!" 

As we crossed , we talked how we only knew each other for a distance , I  got to know where she lived, how long she has been a crossing guard etc. Then she turned to me and said, "my sons in the car. He lost his father last week, my ex husband. He is sad, I am too.  

I'm alittle overwhelmed and just trying to keep busy ." It was alittle busy on the corner , I explained to her that I would pray for her , and her son. We exchanged numbers and she asked if she could join us on a walk or hang out  in the summer. 

Absolutely! Sometimes God will call us to do weird things. Sometimes He will put people in our path because He wants us to be His hands and feet. Often times our vision on serving God is so big , we can miss the opportunities to serve him in small ways. Like a little wave in the morning to a new friend. 

These little things can go a long way in someone's life. Would you take a moment today and allow God to use you in a weird way? Will you be open and do something thing that seems crazy. Maybe buy a stranger lunch. How about have a more meaningful conversation other than a "hi " with the person ringing you up at the store.

Or perhaps go out of the way to thank a faculty member at your child's school you never talk too. There is so many weird things you can do... Let be weirdos and see how God can move. 

Today as I walked away from Andrea, she was no longer the lady at the corner. She is a new friend, a friend that has a name. She was blessed that we made the effort to meet her , I am blessed to be able to pray for her. 

Would you mind praying for her and her son Ian. They can use it! 

Thank you! You Matter More than you think!

Mrs. Ripp - Caleb's Teacher

Miss Logston- Ashers Teacher

                             

I watched her get out of the car , strap on her little guy, while her other one grabs her backpack. Carrying a toddler on her chest , holding her daughters hand and carrying supplies for the classroom in the other. I wonder what her morning looked like and what time she had to start her day. 

Under those dark sunglasses hid tired eyes I'm sure. Holding onto the next remedy that would relieve morning sickness, she made her way to her class , I wonder how she makes it through a full day without barfing on her 1st graders. Where does she get the energy.

When my dad died, I wanted to just crawl up and shut out the world. She showed up to work with a peace and joy ready to tackle a day with her kindergartens. 

I can go on with the story's on how I have witness the countless self sacrifices, I see daily with the staff at the boys school. Some may think an occupation is not sacrificial. But I have to disagree when it come to being a teacher. 

You see when someone chooses to become a teacher, it's not because of the pay. In fact I believe that there would be more teachers if they got paid more. The other day someone asked me what my husband wanted to do after he graduated from the masters program at Biola. Sadly I said "well what he would love to do we cannot afford."

Truth is he would love to teach, but it would not pay enough to take care of the family needs. However he would be a great teacher.  

I know the teachers at the boys school are not getting rich. In fact I also know that many of them could be working in the public school and probably be making much more. But to them it's more that's a job it's ministry and its not work, but more serving. 

This week kicks off staff appreciation week. In light of that I wanted to share a letter I wrote a few years ago. 

Dear you,

You .... who should be our children's second teacher, but sometimes we get busy and put that burden of being their first on you. You see we should be our child's first teacher, but often you have to picked up where we have fallen short. Thank you!

Thank you for showing up every morning ready to pour into our children, when perhaps you are depleted from your own. Thank you for your time outside the classroom preparing lessons, prepping projects and grading papers. Time you don't want to take away from the kids in your class ,but more than likely time away from your own family. Certainly not being paid for it!

As a mom here is what I want you to know...

 I take my children and I leave them with you, because I trust you. I trust that you will love them, care for them, teach them, giving them back to me at the end of the day  . Not only are you helping them academically, but you are helping , me raise them for society. I could not do it without you. Your calling is a high one, you are touching the world by teaching the next generation on how to live, work, and play. We see the fruit of your labor. Your labor isn't easy, and knowing you have to do it for at least 20+ kids, makes me wonder how you do it?

I can imagine on some days you wonder if you are making a difference. Perhaps attitudes don't change, the test scores are not higher or that child will just not connect with you. Maybe today or tomorrow the fruit will not be revealed, but know that it is there.  And I know we don't say thank you enough for the things you have to put up with in the class. I do not take you for granted and Jesus ?.... Well he is pretty pleased with the care and love because , He is clear in his word on how special the little ones are to him. 

Thank you for being a mom nurturing them, when they are missing us. Thank you for being a friend when they need someone to play with. Thank you for being a coach when they need that push.  Thank you for being their cheerleader, when they need that encouragement. Thank you for being their nurse when they fall on the playground. Thank you for being that disciplinarian when they need correction.  Thank you for being like Jesus and showing them love! Thank you for being there when we cannot! 

One day when my child graduates from high school, and Lord willing college, I will remember each one of you and know you all had a hand in it. I want you to know that I'm praying for you. I'm praying that God would bless you abundantly, because although its a job that should pay millions it pays dollars and cents. I'm praying that my God would keep you healthy, as you wipe boogies, He would give you patience with those challenged by bad behavior and praying that the joy of teaching never leaves you heart. 

Why? Because we need you, we need people like you who care enough about our children to be teachers! We need you because you touch and make a difference in this world because you are called... Teacher!

Cant thank you enough,

A grateful Mom!

I give thanks for you making mention in my prayers..

Eph 1:16