2 days

Lots of goodbyes this week. It's all very bittersweet. On one hand, I'm incredibly excited about moving and can't wait to get to Colorado. On the other hand, I don't want to leave the good things (read: people) I have here.

2 more days ...

Former Students

As a teacher, I fall in love with 22 kids every single year. I know not every teacher is like that, but I certainly am. I can't help it; I just love them. At the end of the year it actually pains me when the kids leave my classroom because they have become so important to me. Teaching little ones you always have to wonder if they will remember you. Sure they loved you during the year; but 20 years from now, will those kids be able to tell their friends the name of their kindergarten, first, or second grade teacher? maybe, maybe not. And if they remember your name, will they remember anything about you, about your class? again, maybe, but maybe not.

I complained an awful lot about having to move up grades with the same group of kids 2 different times. I argued that I should have the chance to teach a new group of kids, not just the ones I already knew. However, looking back at it now, I wouldn't have it any other way. If given the chance, I would totally loop every single year.

I am moving on Saturday and in my last week here I have requests from 3 students, all of whom I taught more than one year, to see them before I leave. It's no coincidence that the three kids that have kept in touch with me over the summer enough to ask to see me before I leave are three that I taught more than one year. These kids love me, and for once I am not worrried I will be forgotten. :) Tell me I didn't make an impact in those kids lives

Photoblog

I freely admit I have sucked at blogging for the past 4+ months. Once I get to Colorado you can expect to see more posts given that I don't have a job and don't have any friends yet lol. I'll have plenty of time to blog then; but as for right now, I'm filling up every last day until I leave.

Moving on to the point of this entry. Someone had asked me if I gave up doing Project 365 because I stopped posting photos here every week. I didn't; I just haven't taken the time to make a weekly collage. For the most part I have still been taking pictures every day. I think I have missed about 5 days total, but I figure that's okay. Anyway, since I clearly will not be posting the pictures here anymore, you'll have to follow my photoblog if you want to see them:

www.photoblog.com/kmack

Sorry about that. I'm a slacker :-P

Moving

I am officially all moved out of my apartment and technically homeless for the next month. Last weekend Tony came over on Saturday and spent the entire day helping me pack up every last thing in my apartment. It was a long day, but it was nice to get it all over with in one big swoop.

Wednesday night was moving night and it was looonnnggg ... after work I picked up the uhaul truck and the movers came at 6:30. I will NEVER move myself again, there is just no reason not to pay for movers! This was by far the best and easiest move I've had yet. The movers were awesome and were done in just over an hour! Just imagine how long that would have taken me to do! After they finished, Tony helped me load up all my school stuff into the truck as it was currently being stored in Betty's garage.

Thursday morning my dad and Davis flew in and I picked them up at noon. They had a quick lunch with me then loaded up in the truck to take my stuff to Denver. They drove straight through the night so I can't even imagine how exhausted they were. Plus, when they got to Denver they had to unload all my stuff into storage and set up my bed at dad's place.

I am now going to be staying at a friend's place for the rest of the month until I leave for Colorado on the 31st. I cannot believe how quickly this summer has gone by! How is it already almost time for me to move?!?

Friendship

It's little things like knowing that when I am sad or overwhelmed I find the best hiding spot to be the floor of my closet.

It's little things like crawling into the closet to lay on the floor next to me, and letting me cry for awhile until I feel better.

Leaving is going to be so hard ...

Friends

I am so blessed to have wonderful friends who are always there to catch me. I think I sometimes take for granted that they will always be there. I'm realizing more and more each day that not everyone has that. So, to my wonderful friends: thank you. I love you more than you know.

Moving

It's been FOREVER, I know! A lot has been going on and I've been making an effort to spend more time living my life than playing on the computer and writing about it.

I have now told this to all the people that needed to be told personally, so I can let you all in on what has been going on. Yesterday I gave notice of resignation from my job. I am moving to Colorado at the end of the summer. I do not have a job yet, which is a serious stressor, but I am going anyway! There is a masters program at CU in Boulder that I am interested in, but to get in-state tuition I have to live there a year first. Hence the reason I am moving this summer, hoping to find a job and work for a year, then start the masters program in the fall of 2011. I could definitely use some prayers as this is a serious leap of faith for me. I'm scared to death, but sometimes the best things in life are scary.

Yesterday was the last day of school and I emailed the staff the night before to let them know I wouldn't be back. I also told my kids before the bell rang. It was sobfest 2010 for sure. I am going to miss those kids more than words can describe! Heck, I've taught that same group for 3 years, no wonder I'm attached. And as much as I've cried about the changes in my job each year, I LOVED my school and the people I worked with! So many of them I consider such true friends and I am going to miss them dearly. It was a sad day for sure.

This morning we had to go and check in and then leave because the movers were there and we were all just in the way. It was hard for me; there were a lot more tears. I'm excited about this next chapter in my life, but that doesn't make me any less sad about leaving where I am now. I hate goodbyes and I'm not that great with change.

There is probably a lot more I could write about this, but it's too fresh and it still makes me feel like crying so I'll stop there. Maybe I'll fill in some more details later. For now, I am going to spend the next 6 weeks until I leave enjoying every moment of my time left here in Houston. Starting now: I'm headed to the pool to lay out with a new friend. :)

Life goes on and hopefully everything will work out for the best. But that's my life right now in a nutshell.