Smiles and Tears

The weeks following up to the end of school is crazy for a teacher.  We have to finish teaching all of the lessons, administer a state assessment, and pack up a classroom while also putting your last ounce of love into students and also making sure that you and your students don't go crazy.  "Mom" followed by a student's face turning red was a common occurrence in my classroom during this time. It's all leading up towards the Last Day of School.

Today was bittersweet as it was the Last Day of School.  I ended my chapter at the Webb City Junior High. I have loved my time here and I'm going to miss many students and colleagues that poured so much into me. I may have been called teacher but my students taught me more about being a better person.

As they came upon the intercom to dismiss for summer, I couldn't help but reflect on all the things that had happened this year. All that came to mind were the many break throughs that many students had throughout the year. It made me so proud of each of them and how much they grew into young adults throughout the year. I can't help but smile over everything that has happened.  These students truly did amazing things.

About the time I was looking back on a wonderful year, I had one of my students step around the corner of the hallway I was monitoring. This student was a student that was super hard to work with at the beginning of the year but turned into a student that received the most improved award at our end of the year awards ceremony. He walked towards me with his arms out and said "Miss Huff, I am going to miss you. Can I give you a hug?" I'm tearing up just thinking about how much I am going to miss this group of students. This moment solidifies even more the reason why education is the profession for me. I consider myself to be lucky to be able to impact students on a daily basis but consider it to be a privilege to be able to experience the impact that students had on me each and every day.

I am excited to announce that I will be starting a new adventure teaching Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade at Webster In Webb City next year. I'm excited to broaden my horizons and be impacted even more by teaching the little ones! 

Memories

Most people love looking back in time to see what we were doing on this day years ago. Timehop and Facebook have now made it really easy to look at what we were doing. I love looking to see everything that I've truly been blessed to do. All of the trips I've taken, the people that have surrounded me, and even the hard times that God has brought me through is truly breathtaking. 

Like most days, today is a day with many years of memories, good and bad. It's Pi day so of course being a math teacher that has been in my memories. However 6 years ago today, I got that wretched phone call. The phone call from my dad that made my entire world flip upside down. The phone call that told me that my dad had many tumors and they were doing more tests to find out what was going on. From this moment on my world has not been the same. 

Although this memory is not a memory that I enjoy having, it is a memory that has made me grow. I would not be the same person I am today if I did not go through the many memories that follow the phone call. The memory of dad fighting with all that he had. The memory of my dad sitting Logan and I down and making us promise 3 things which I have blogged about many times. Finally, the memory of my dad taking his last breathe and joining the army of God. 

Memories remind me that even though I many not know what is going on, God is in control of our lives. God healed my father even though it wasn't here on this earth. Even though I can't make more memories with my dad, I look forward to the time where I can hear my dad's corny jokes again and reminisce on the many memories our God has blessed us with. 

2015

A time of reflection comes with a New Year. There is no doubt that I was blessed in 2015. Here is 10 blessings that occurred in 2015.

1. On January 5, I started my first official teaching job at the Webb City Junior High.  I taught 8th grade Special Education with 10 students.  I learned a lot from this first semester but I also learned that I loved teaching 7th and 8th graders.  They can be lots of fun with a little attitude here and there. The Webb City Junior High Staff welcomed me with open arms and helped me get the hang of things. 

A letter I received from one of my 1st students!

2. May 11th: I became Coach Huff to 10 seventh grade cheerleaders.  I love being able to be their coach and work with them to make them better for the upcoming years.

3. May 14th: This is the day that I found out that I would be accepted to Pittsburg State University to study for my Master's program in Special Education.  It is a blessing that I am able to continue my studies to become a better educator for the students that I will be helping.  

4. May 15th: I am beyond blessed to say that I am a homeowner!! With this house, I have gained so much knowledge on how to DIY projects.  I am so grateful for all of the friends and family that helped make the house my home.  It took lots of time and effort but we eventually got it done.  I am now able to share so many things that I love with this house.  This house also allowed me to gain two of the best housemates! These two girls have the best hearts.  They bring me so much joy! There is never a dull moment in the Redbud household!

5. May 16th: One of my best friends married the love of her life.  Seeing her so happy was a great blessing.  She showed me that even though something terrible happens on your wedding day like your purse being stolen with all of your valuables not allowing you to go on your honeymoon, there is always happiness.

6. As many of you know, my family LOVES to travel. I was blessed this year by being able to go to Chicago twice, Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Key's, and Weslaco, Tx with my family.  We love to see and experience new things and new cultures. 

7. August 12th: I started a new teaching job at the Webb City Junior High teaching 7th and 8th grade students.  This job is more difficult with my last one. These students need more love and guidance throughout the school day.  I also started this day teaching with one of my best friends and housemate, Molly. I am beyond blessed to have her start this journey with me. Kassie started student teaching so we had lots of education talks going on when we hung out.

This is Molly, Kassie, and I on our first day of school.

8. December 30th: I had oral surgery.  The surgeon had to take out 4 impacted wisdom teeth as well as 4 premolars. I also got braces on for the second time in my life! YUCK!! This doesn't sound like a blessing but the amount of people that came to help me and support me is such a blessing. My mom and brother who took care of me while I was unable to do anything. They literally picked me up off the floor when I passed out twice. They got up every hour and half throughout the night to help me with my medicine, ice, and changing of gauze. They are true champs! 

9. December 31st: My friends are the best! While still recovering from my surgery, they came over and brought me soup, sparkling grape juice, and my mail. Some also helped me bring in the New Year by sitting with me so I wasn't bored. They are the best!!

10. December 31st: I completed my 2015 Resolution of reading my bible in a year for the second time in my life.  I love taking the journey of learning new things about my faith and God.  The journey never seizes to amaze me! She Reads Truth is a great resource to use if you are wanting to do the same. They have a great app that allows you to check off when you read! I would highly recommend it! They even have a He Reads Truth for all of the guys out there.

Travels

Once again my family is taking another family trip to our favorite city, Chicago. I always love traveling with my family. Traveling is one thing that my parents loved to do and passed it on to my brother and I. My memories as a child are not of presents that I got but the time I spent with my family traveling the country. I think that's why I love it so much. 

One of my favorite times to travel in a plane is when it's dark. I sit here and look at all of the little towns and cities and see the lights they produce in the darkness. They make the darkness beautiful! Looking out the window at the darkness on this small plane, I am once again reminded of the calling God has given us. God has called us to go. Go make disciples. Go talk about our faith. Go. So many times I see people hiding in the darkness when we need to be light just like the beauty I see out my window. I love the small reminders that remind me of the bigger picture. 

Chaos of many roles.

As many of you know, I have taken on so many titles this year. I am a teacher, coach, and now a student as well. You may be asking how do you have time to do all of that. The answer is I don't. I do what I can to get everything done. Lots of schedules to make this chaos work. 

Those that call me teacher some may say they are the worst of the worst. I say that they just need a little more love than others. My class ranges from students who have severe behavior issues to students who need more academic support than a normal special education classroom gives. I have some good days and some days that I wish had gone better, but when asked if I wished I would have stayed in my old position, I always grin and say "I love my kids." 

My role as coach is one that I am very fond of. I grew up looking at my 7th and 8th grade coach as a role model and that's exactly what I want to be for my 8 girls. 

One of my favorite parts of having the titles of teacher and coach is when they both collide. When I have my cheerleaders cheer for some of my students, it makes my heart sing. Tonight was one of those nights. I watch two of my students play the sport that the love. They may not be the best at it but they give 110% each time. We have some of the best students who cheer on students that have a harder time like they are the star of the game. I saw another football player give one of my students with Autism the biggest high five after he came off the field. 

Teaching students makes me grin from ear to ear. Watching students be kind and caring makes my heart jump for joy. I can't imagine doing anything else. I guess that's why I took on the role as student again. I have started my Master's degree in Special Education. So far I am so excited to be learning new ways to meet the needs of these incredible students. 

Nights like tonight are reasons why I am extremely proud to say that I am a junior high teacher. 

August

When August rolls around that only means one thing in my family, its back to school time. With that being said, it also means that school is the only thing we talk about until May... or June... or July... oh wait I don't think it ever stops. My family never stops learning about how to teach in a better way. They drive me to be a better teacher and a better person. I just hope that I can make them proud one day with my teaching ability. This time is an exciting time for me. It's a time where I can put into action what I have been taught from my family and mentors. I get to decorate my classroom. This year my theme is Huff's Heroes (Superhero). I'm loving what I can do with it too. You may think that I shouldn't have a theme because I'm teaching 7th and 8th grade but I believe its going to help me get my students to where they need to be behaviorally. They are all going to become a Huff Hero.
August also means another thing in my family. Another anniversary of my dad's passing is here. This year marks 4 years that my dad hasn't been with us. Geez, it doesn't feel like it could be that long ago. A lot of things have happened in those 4 years. I worked two summers with an organization that helped transform me.  I graduated college. I got my first teaching job. I bought and renovated a house. 4 years of growing up and 4 years of firsts.
Today, I went to visit a family friend and my boss.  She lost her mother this weekend from a long battle of cancer. When talking with her, it brought up so many emotions and memories. I remember what she's feeling. I remember many other firsts that I had without my dad; my first Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, etc. I remember the first time I forgot that Dad wasn't with us and I tried to call him.  Even though the firsts never stop, the firsts get a little easier or we get stronger. I hope and believe its the latter.
Tonight as I sit here a write this, I pray for all of those who have lost a loved one. Who continues to live through the firsts. I pray that God will help them be stronger. I pray that they will continue to see that the only person that someone could rely on in the hurt and sadness is the heavenly one who created us.  I'll end this with my favorite verse that I hang on to.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

Another Father's Day

       Father's Day is one of the hardest days of the year for someone who has lost their dad. For me, however, it is hard to not be among the many families that spend their day with their dad but its also a day that I can be joyful. I know that my dad is singing praises to our God and in my opinion he's the lucky one. Another Father's Day weekend has come. Father's Day for me is a weekend of remembering wonderful memories of my dad. 

     My dad had many different qualities that I love to remember. I can't help but remember all of the funny things that he always did. Like the time we were watching Around the World in 80 Days as a family and he got in the floor and started acting like Budda or the many jokes that he continued to tell everyone that he met. 

     I also remember all of the times that Dad taught me things I still use today. The time he taught me how to drive my little Volkswagon beetle for the first time is a memory that I laugh about all the time.  He came to pick me up from Camp Barnabas in my new car that my parents surprised me with.  The only thing is when I got into the driver seat, it had three pedals. Yes, it was a stick. I didn't even know that standard vehicles had three pedals. He made me drive it home and I had no idea what to do.  I got the hang of it except when I would get to a stop light. I killed it six times at one stop light. I was getting honked at behind us and all that Dad was doing was laughing in the passenger seat while I was sobbing in the driver seat. He did teach me well. I can now successfully drive a stick and not kill it every time I drive it.

     Recently while I have been remodeling, there has been several times that I needed something done and I already knew how to do it because my Dad had taught me.  I took down and put back up a light and put mud on a ceiling. I smile every time I am able to do it without looking it up on Pinterest. 

       I am most grateful for the fact that Dad taught me what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Until the day he died, he was a devoted Christian.  I will never forget the many different sermons that he gave on Sunday mornings. Dad always wanted Logan and I to be musicians so that we could worship our God with our talents.  One of the last memories I have of Dad is when he was laying in bed listening to I Can Only Imagine.  It started playing and he asked if we would go get a drum for him to play and he started singing it.  Another moment I will never forget.

     It's hard to believe that Dad has been gone for 4 years now. These memories are memories that I can hold on to and remember each time that I miss my dad. My dad was a wonderful man and I cannot wait to see him again when my time has come to an end.