I am a Christian who loves Jesus. I am also a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a Children’s Church teacher, a Friends &  Heroes teacher and a school teacher. Wait, scratch that last one. For the first time in many, many, many, many, many, many (did I mention many?) years I am not a teacher. At least not in the academic environment. I taught at a church school full-time for several years and then part-time for a few more years. During those part-time time years of teaching I babysat my three grandchildren, plus I homeschooled two of them for a couple of years. In the middle of all that craziness I found time to tutor. However, this year I am not teaching at the church school nor homeschooling the grandkids nor tutoring. For the first time in a long time I will not be hanging out with children on a daily basis. I haven’t retired from teaching (at least I don’t think so) but I won’t be teaching this year. That’s tough on a little ol’ lady who loves children and enjoys showing them the wonders this world has to offer.

I certainly didn’t lose my identity as a person by not teaching, and yet, I have to admit I feel a little lost. There’s still plenty to keep my busy…I’ll be working more hours at our auto repair shop…I had worked at the shop part-time when I was teaching anyway. I’ll still be involved in children’s church and Friends & Heroes and will eventually return to tutoring.  I will adjust to things being different but, just for today, I have to admit I feel a little sad. And that’s okay.