Today is a day of controlled chaos.
Chris starts his first day of high school. Of course, being at AHS a couple weeks for football already helps a lot. This should be my last year to be a carpool dad. After this, they can drive themselves!
Diane returns to the classroom for her ninth year. Twenty-eight — count ‘em, 28! — second graders will be waiting for her. (The size will eventually be reduced.)
And I will return to the classroom for my tenth year. I’ll be teaching a class (”Life and Teachings of Christ”) with two hundred ninety-three — count ‘em, 293! — freshmen. To be honest, 293 freshmen is easier than 28 second-graders.
Many of you are teachers, coaches, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, administrators, etc. May you go out again this year as the light of Christ into your world. What a blessing to be there!
Hi Mike
We are missing that controlled chaos ourselves. Our grandson Justin Young will start his sophomore year at AHS, yes football as well, and Our Chloe will be with hundreds of other middle schoolers to be the first students at the new school, Craig. She is excited and not last our Mckenna will begin her first day of school at Taylor with the best kindergarten teacher, Jodie Reese. We are blessed to have someone of her caliber to initiate McKenna into the fun and learning ahead of her. I know Diane’s students at Thomas are blessed to have her. What a great thing it is when believing teachers gather our precious children and grandchildren into their circle of caring. They have so much influence on them. Thank God for their influence. Tell me, as you begin Freshman bible, will you hear the humming of the song of the books of the New Testament, that I remember, when we were asked to list them? God’s blessings on you and Diane and the AHS and Craig teachers.
Here’s a great video Southern Hills did commemorating this day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkVtaCfgjk
We went to our daughters house this morning, early, to help her get our two granddaughters ready for their first days of school. One is starting first grade, the other kindergarten. Normally, we would not have gone, but since their dad is in boot camp in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, we went to help and comemorate the day with pictures to send to dad!
They were ready to go and had such a sweet spirit this morning! No tears from them, but we were certainly holding back the tears, at least this grandma was!
It is awesome to be so near and help with this and have a special part to play in their lives. Grandparenting is the best!
One thing that I’ve noticed is that you keep some titles for life. Everyone knows this is true for doctors and professors but it’s also true for coaches and teachers. After I coach a kid, I will forever be known to them as Coach Maners. Teachers are forever known as Mr. or Mrs. so and so. It’s humbling to know the responsibility you’ve had in shaping another’s life.
Good luck and God bless you, Mike and Diane! Being a teacher is awesome! One of my sisters is a teacher and is going to be a tutor this school year. My second sister is a Middle School Education Major at LCU. God bless all of our teachers!
Zack
I have far too many freshmen this year. Ugh.
Hey, at least if you have any PowerPoint problems this year, you have a go-to guy!
It was the first day of Kindergarten for our youngest son, Cooper. Cooper did well. Momma didn’t.
It was the first day of headstart for our middle son and he loved it and did very well. Our oldest son enjoyed his first day in the 1st grade. The boys woke us up at 6 a.m. excited to get going. The boys now are extremely tire and I know will be easy getting them to bed.
Congrats Trey!
Great video, Cary.
My daughter, Whitney, said about your large class of 293, “Dad, it’s like going to church.” Of course the CofC is much smaller in Florida than Texas.
Peace.
Steve P. - I want to meet your daughter. Tell her to come find me after class. The class of 293 had 301 today!
That’s a great video Cary. I’m a little forlorn that Franklin and Lincoln are no longer in Abilene, but it’s really cool that the Craig (middle school) Colts came into existence yesterday and the legacy of Byron Craig (former deacon at Hillcrest) lives on. It’s still amazing and wonderful to me that Abilene ISD has honored a former math teacher in such a huge way by naming a middle school after him.
Last Monday was Julia’s first day of third grade. For the third year in a row, the whole family took her to school. I know a day will come when she won’t want us to walk into her class with her. After this year, I have a feeling it will be next year.
I’ve taught full time in Abilene, I’ve taught 3/4 time and worked as a youth minister full time in Baytown for 6 years. This is only my second year where I haven’t been in the classroom in August.
I hear what you are saying about controlled chaos, brother. I am beginning my 3rd part-time year of a master of social work program. I am taking 9 graduate hours and working full-time. Fortunately I have a wife who can help me handle it.