imagination

I had a child bring me a rock last week.  Before I could even ask him where he got it he said, "it's a lava rock Miss Tarpley!  I got it from a lake...here in Alabama."  Ten minutes later he told me he drank coffee every morning.  So remember when I said I got the privilege of sitting with two different students every day?  Well apparently I was sitting next to a model.  He told me he got a job modeling for Vanderbilt Hospital.  And the thing is that I believe every word.  Obviously I know that the rock wasn't made from lava...and even if it was I know it wasn't found near a lake in Alabama.  But the more I believe his storytelling the more and more creative he'll get.  The same day I sat next to the model at lunch, my cute little black boy told me he wanted to be a lawyer when he grew up.  My heart fluttered and was so happy.  To hear that they have goals and ambitions at age 8 is humbling.  When I asked him why he wanted to be a lawyer he said, "because lawyers get their way Miss Tarpley."  Well babydoll if that's what you think who am I to tell you differently.  Then he said, "or actually I want to work at GameStop because you can play all the video games you want."  Then my heart sank.  Crap.  

You never know what's going to come next.  The presh-pot that sits nearest my desk read to me from Jeremiah during read aloud time.  She also spit out all the Fruits of the Spirit to me.  Kids are amazing really.  I've questioned if teaching is really what I want to do...I'm still not 123% sure.  But what I am sure of is that no matter where I end up I know I'm supposed to love kids.  I don't know where or how old but I know that no matter where I go I will be there with an open mind, open heart, and open arms.  

But like I said...we're not getting into all that graduating stuff yet. 

"Rejoice always."

love you, mean it.

conversations with 8 year olds

It's been a while, but I have been quite busy.  So I could literally post something every single day of the week now that I've started student teaching.  I'm in a class of nineteen 2nd graders from 7:30-3:00 every day.  It's amazing what all they know, don't know, and think they know.

So every day I get the privilege of sitting with two different kids at lunch.  The first week I was there I was mistaken as a child's mother and then as Brittany Ripberger's sister...both of which I gladly took as a compliment.  I have had conversations about what the best thing to get at the Golden Corral is (which is the chocolate fountain in case you were wondering), 3D kitten books at the book fair, and conversations about Jesus.  Yes, as in Jesus Christ.  They have told me all about Bible Club that starts on Tuesday and I have been read to from the mother/daughter Bible.

Do you know how difficult it is to teach a Kenyan girl American money?  Oh and she moved to the United States of America in January.

These kids are champs.  They are so funny and so passionate about every little thing.  I have never received so many homemade cards for my birthday as I did last week.  There is never a dull moment.  Some days I go home and cry because I am so exhausted and worn out and they won't listen to me, but then there are some days that I don't want to go home and absolutely cannot wait to come back the next day.  It's a roller coaster for sure, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

love you, mean it.