Turning It Around

I almost gave up on this thing.  I love reading my friend's blogs.  It's great to hear what is going on in their lives and getting cute updates about their kids.  I have quite a few blogs that I stalk follow and it's part of my unwinding routine in the evening.  My original plan for this blog was to write about my plans to make some major changes in my life in the way of weight loss and money management.  I thought blogging about it would perhaps help me stay accountable.  Well, when you struggle with something, you don't really want to write about it.  I had no desire to blog about things that were a daily struggle.  It got me down.  I felt defeated.

So I'm turning this thing in a new direction.  The most important things in my life are as follows:

1. My relationship with God
2. My relationship with Matt (he will be my husband in 94 days, people...94 days!)
3. My family
4. Teaching the world's best preteens and teenagers

That's what my blog is going to be about now.  I need the release.  And maybe, just maybe, some of you like to read about my mundane goings on.  I don't expect a big following.  I'm not looking to make a business out of this thing.  But writing is a great way to think things through sometimes so I think I need to do a bit more of it.

I'm not going to prattle on too much more today, but it was the first day of school today so I have a few gems to share:

1. I assigned an essay today for my Junior level AP English class, due Monday.  Call me sadistic, but the look on their faces when I told them they had an essay due Monday was awesome.  I wish I could have frozen that moment and taken a picture.  I love freaking out teenagers like that!

2. I have a class of 27 6th graders (!) and many are quite talkative.  LOTS of personality in that class.  Anyway, I was trying to tell them that generally I don't want them to shout-out during class if they have something to say, but I might let them sometimes.  Nathaniel, who had already shouted-out many times (and was one of the reasons I was bringing up this point) raises his hand and says, "Miss Cluff, when we're allowed to shout out, can I let the beast out of its cage?"  I had to stifle some laughter, especially since the president of the school just happened to be in my room listening in.  I think Nathaniel and I are going to have an interesting year.