My School Year

     With the end of school quickly approaching (8 and a half days left), I'd like to pick up my story where I left off in August.  As it turns out I was able to spend the entire school year with this class as a long-term substitute teacher!  It has been a memorable year.  I've continued to see God's hand in my life.

     (As I write this I'm trying to be ever respectful of other peoples' personal business.)  The teacher for whom I had been a long-term substitute stayed on bed rest until November when she gave birth to a beautiful girl.  At a few weeks old, it was discovered that the baby girl had neuroblastoma.  She had cancer.  She quickly had large tumors removed from her abdomen.  Later she underwent a round of chemo.  She has finished chemo and is getting better.  Her once oversized liver (swollen with many small tumors) is decreasing in size as the tumors disappear and the chemicals her body is producing have reached more normal levels.  Miracles DO happen!

     Though I can't understand God's reasons, I can see His presence during this time.  It is wonderful to see how this family was wrapped in love by the community.  The girls (the baby and her older sister) were baptized.  Though I don't know the family very well it seems that their faith and prayer life has been much strengthened through this trial.  It is my prayer that the family may continue to lean on God in health with as much fervor that they did through sickness.

     In a bible study this winter I'd been reading about how grief and joy can coexist.  I was amazed to realize that I was experiencing this in my life.  Clearly the mother couldn't return to work after her maternity leave, so in January it was decided that I would continue to teach the class through the end of the school year.   While I was so sad that this baby girl was fighting for her life, I was excited to have the opportunity to finish the school year with a wonderful group of first graders.   The day that I told my students about the baby was one of my hardest days as a teacher.  It broke my heart to have to tell them about the baby, talk about cancer, and answer questions about dying.

     In these the last few weeks of school, I'm reminded of God's voice this summer telling me that I would be a substitute teacher this year.  I'm amazed by His plans for me and how good He is to me.  I have had a great year and will truly miss my students.