Mrs. Riley's Rambling: It's The Final Countdown!

     It's our final week of school! We are getting out early every day this week, and it's a blessing. I have had NO kids since Monday. I've been busy getting the end of the year stuff done. It's like I'm in a holding pattern until school is over.
     Saturday I'm throwing a wedding shower for one of my best friends. She is getting married in Key West in June. I'm super excited to get down there and spend a whole week in the Keys. :)

     My heart has been in Oklahoma since Monday. I can't put into words how much I ache for those parents and families that lost members of their family. And as a teacher, I can't imagine the fear of being responsible for all those kids when you know you can only protect a few. Everyone seems so surprised at how heroic those teachers are... and as a teacher, I know that it's not heroism. It's our duty. It is what we signed up for. We knew coming in to teaching that if ever our students were in danger that our lives would be laid down first. Teachers undergo a lot of scrutiny... parents seem to always go on the defensive side.. which in all fairness, that's good. Parents should stick up for their kids. But there is consistent and constant blame on teachers when a lot of the time it's because they expect us to be teachers and parents at the same time.... and that is not our job. I am by NO MEANS saying that all parents are bad and all teachers are good. I know there are some really awful teachers out there. I also know there are lots of amazing parents out there. But next time you speak to a teacher about your child, understand that while we make mistakes, and we are human, we love your child. Each and every one of them. And understand that if we had to choose whether someone took their life or ours, we would lay ours down every time. Or at least the good ones would.

     The terror of the Oklahoma storms scared the mess out of me when we were under a tornado watch almost all of Tuesday. The pups and I were scared and daddy was at graduation. Luckily, we were all just fine. Yesterday I went and picked up some supplies to send to Moore. Our community has come together, as so many have, and we collected two 18 wheeled trailers full of things to take. It makes me emmensley proud of where I live. I wouldn't pick anywhere else!

     I'm going to just dump some pictures on you... tomorrow is my recap of the school year.