Try again...

I'm so glad it's MEAP week. We had such a terrible start to the semester and it seemed to take forever to get into the groove for first marking period. When I finally did get into the groove, I realized that I had 634 papers to grade. It was at that moment that many of  my students suddenly realized that there was a good possibility they would fail my class. Nothing as wonderful as waiting until the last minute to worry about your grade and then pester the teacher about it. As if I hadn't been telling you every other Monday what your grade was in my class.

Advice for the future: Stay on top of your grades NOW. Don't come to me after Christmas Break and ask me what you have to do to pass the semester! Everyone knows I don't take late work. That's why most of my students aren't passing - because they think they can hand in their work whenever they feel like it.

Wanna know one of my newest pet peeves at school? Students who act like my class is too hard. I recently had a Senior ask me, "Miss Nienhuis, why do you make it so hard? You act like this is a college class!" Are you kidding me? What kind of a teacher would I be if I wasn't preparing you for college?

These are the same students who don't want to do any work all year and get a passing grade. Life doesn't work that way, my little chickens. Ya betta wake up now.

As I was saying...glad it's MEAP week. I've gotten a lot of work done this week. Grading, planning, filing, etc. Yeah! I love being organized. It makes my whole day better.

Have I ever mentioned that men confuse me? It's so true. The other day I was trying to figure which gender was worse, which one lies more and which one is more manipulative. I don't think there is a winner. Women seem to expect too much from men and men don't know how to treat women or is that the very same thing? Either way, it doesn't seem to work the way that it's supposed to. Can I get an Amen?

This week was surprisingly good at school. I've been running myself ragged. Working too much as I may have already mentioned. I don't really know why this year is so hard. But it certainly is. One of the reasons I'm busier this year is actually a very good reason. My relationships with my friends are deepening and I've been going out with people one-on-one almost twice a week. I love it! I love going out for coffee, eating at someone's house or cooking for people! The down side is that I get home between 8-8:30, take a shower and go to bed. I'm NEVER home. Even my neighbors comment on my lack of availability. Weird.

The next few weeks should drastically improve. MEAPs are coming up and I won't teach for 6 school days. This will give me a lot of time in my classroom to prep and straighten up. (I can never straighten too much!). I also hope to regain some energy, maybe read my book and relax. Then I'll quit Applebee's and gain about 15 hours back into my week. The following week is Thanksgiving and before you know it I'll be on Christmas Break!

I'm thinking about chopping off all my hair and going tanning. Any thoughts?

So much going on and I never stop to write. The other day I went to Meijer's to buy just a few things and I came home with twice as much! How can that be? I even had a talk with myself in the parking lot, before I got out of the car. Sheesh. I never listen to my own advice.

It's been crazy busy for me the last few weeks. Everyone told me that my second year of teaching would be easier than the first year. Well, they lied. I'm working longer hours and much harder this year. Maybe it's because I finally know what I'm doing. I'm trying so hard to be a great teacher and am discovering that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment. Thankfully, I'm still passionate about being a teacher. I love it! I love teenagers! I love their energy and their insights. They keep me feeling young, instead of growing old.

5 more weekends at The Apple. And a night of celebration to follow. Life is certainly getting better for me. Better every day, in fact.

Recently I have re-connected with a lot of friends. I didn't even realize I missed them until I started spending time with them again. And then it all came back to me and I'm working on getting things back to where they used to be.

Jenn and I have known each other about 2 years and were in the same small group together at church. I forgot how much I loved talking to her. She's my opposite in so many ways...thoughtful, warm, soft-spoken, and articulate. I wish I was more like that.

Carrie moved in down the road after galavanting off to Eygpt last year. She's back in my life and completey understands the amount of time I have during any given week. She accepts my place in life and has decided to walk with me instead of making me feel bad about what I have to offer. I love friends who volunteer to run my errands because they simply want to make my life easier.

Michelle. What can I say about her? I adore her! She balances out my life. She's all the things I wish I was but will never be. She listens to me and HEARS me. She fills in all the holes that exist in my life. We haven't necesarily reconnected, but we've decided to spent every other Tuesday together. yeah!

Sarah, Brenda, Alycia...love 'em. Wish I saw them more. I miss chatting with them.

Vicky...my dear single friend. We see eye-to-eye on this issue of singleness. We can finish the thought of the other and it feels incredible to be UNDERSTOOD.

This is my salute to my friends...May God continue to bless you and all you do for Him. May He also bless you for the ways that you love me.