First Week of School

An air of excitement is around us. Something is moving in the wind. Whispers of change are all around ... but ... they're already being drowned out by groans of "Agh! There's so much more homework this year than last year!"

So goes the first week of school. We can't wait to see what transformation will occur this year, but it's so easy for us to get bogged down in the workload. Me, I'm waking up with dark cirles under my dry eyes. One of the 10th graders, Carrie, sits on the bench next to me in the mornings and says, "I see you have your friend with you again." She says the word friend contemptuously, as she refers to the hot, delicious cup of coffee in my hands. I try to educate her on the health benefits of coffee, but some students are truly rebellious and cannot be taught.

My first class is U.S. History, and I notice that Dan, who sometimes gets less-than-desireable grades, is doing his worksheet in the five minutes before class. I go to have a talk with him, only to discover that he's actually working on tomorrow's homework. Yes! We're getting off to a great start. In the afternoon, the Worship Drama class brings Bible stories, and a sweet aroma fills the air as they are read aloud. After school is hang-out time, where we're still swapping summer stories. At the end of the day, I come home to my cat and crash into my comfy bed, slipping off to sleep within minutes.

I confess, I love school. I always have.

Merlin's Vanishing Act

The good news is that my cat Merlin was waiting for me when I got home today. He wouldn't tell me where he had been the last two weeks, but he was looking fat and healthy, so I can only assume he found a house with some yummy niblets. In an effort to win him back, I locked him in the house and fed him KFC. But, when my back was turned, James let him outside and he darted off into the night.

So I'm overjoyed that Merlin is well, but I'm upset that he didn't hang around for long. I'm hoping that he comes home tonight!