Help

I know I have been an absent blogger.

The last few weeks have brought on a myriad of emotions. I've struggled with how to write about what is happening, and which pieces I want to (or should) share. I have been holding this post in "edit" for over a month.

I have learned to value a certain degree of privacy as it relates to my job. It's easy to share the funny anecdotes, but when things are not so funny I feel compelled to "protect" my students. Suffice it to say that this has been the most challenging year of my teaching career.

Every year, I wonder how God will use the sweet faces from years past to prepare me for the bunch that enters my door in early August. I spend weeks telling myself, "These children are with me for a reason. HE saw it fit to entrust me with these hearts for the next 9 months." Every year, I fall in love with all 35+ faces and I cry when they leave me. I obsess over how they're doing in 4th grade, 5th grade, etc..

I was so underprepared for this year. I want you to meet the brightest star in my heart:

 Ruby

I wish I had a better copy of this picture because it doesn't show an iota of how beautiful or wonderful this sweet face is. Ruby is one of the best things to ever happen to my classroom or my heart. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the end of her first grade year. She was able to come to school for 2 days during her second grade year. Michelle and I were blessed to have her in our class for most of last year. She missed days for treatments, but was healthy for the most part. We sent her up to fourth grade to our friends Aileen and Kristin. During the fall break, she had been in remission long enough to have her port taken out. Within a week of returning to school after the break, Ruby was back in the hospital. 

She has been there ever since. It has been more than two months. This is her third relapse.

I don't feel comfortable sharing much more of her story. It is her family's story to share. I am starting to feel like a broken record, but time with Ruby is the best part of my week

Her family is in desperate need of prayer. As you read this please lift Jesus, Maria and Ruby up. Pray for Ruby's doctors, for her nurses, for anyone who comes into contact with her family.