September 1st. A day to celebrate!

Today is September 1st. Do you know what happens on September 1st?? You guessed it! The Pumpkin Spice Latte is now being served at Starbucks (along with all the other yummy pumpkin stuff)!! Although many of my friends and family may think that all my happiness comes from this warm cup of autumn goodness, you are only partially correct. Let me just say that I resisted the Pumpkin Spice Latte all day today...which is pretty huge for me, considering how much I love this stuff. Maybe tomorrow will be the day...but maybe not. Part of me feels that I should wait until just the right day, with just the right person, in just the right weather. And let me tell you - today was NOT that day. Nope. It was about 1000 degrees outside, so today would not have been it for me.

Although September 1st is a very special day in the life of a coffee-addict like myself because of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, it is also the beginning of something even bigger than my cup of coffee goodness. Today, my friends, was day ONE of meetings at school!!! Which means, I am officially a 4th year teacher! Woot! Woot! Yep, that's right. I hold the unique occupation that offers half-days, Christmas and Easter breaks, pep rallies, chapel services, Jackson trips, music concerts, sporting events of all kinds, and so much more. This will be the first year in which I teach only ONE subject, to ONE level, at ONE school, in ONE classroom! Can you believe it? Look back to September 2006 for a moment, and see the energy-crazed 22 year old with a plastic cart from Staples and a few Spanish songs up her sleeve, with really no idea what to expect from the job. Now, three years later, I can officially call myself a veteran teacher with a classroom to prove it!

This week is full of meetings and classroom time. One really great thing about our administration is that they help us focus on what is most important right away when we get to meetings: worship and prayer. We get to sing praise songs in the chapel, someone shares a devotion, and we commit our time to the Lord. I feel blessed to work at a place such as this. As if that were not enough, we get time in the afternoon to work in our classrooms and collaborate with fellow teachers! This may not seem like a big deal to some teachers, but to me it IS a big deal, because I did not start out my teaching career with a classroom nor other Spanish teachers! So I am already feeling blessed and relieved for this school year.

So - a few more days of meetings and prep time, then a fun weekend to do whatever I want, which may include a trip to the beach, a nap, and time with friends. Then the kiddies start coming next Wednesday, and the journey begins anew. I can only imagine what is in store for me this school year....what with some new perspectives from books I've read and sermons I've heard this summer, more time after school, and a new relationship...this could be exciting!

To end - I thought I should post a picture of Aaron and I...since you are all wondering who this guy is that I keep talking about (or maybe you're not wondering, but I want to post the picture anyway!) This picture is from last Saturday. We were at my house about to part ways - Aaron to work at Starbucks and I to a wedding reception. Enjoy! And let me know if you get a Pumpkin Spice Latte and we can rejoice together over this cup of autumn goodness!