From middle school to...middle school?

Some photos are just always awkward... 

Photos like ones before a middle school Girl Scout father daughter dance when your mom must have insisted on a prom-like stance...or your annual yearbook photo. (Yes, even as a teacher I still have to get one done each year - crazy...)

Case in point - though, thankfully, this time my yearbook photo isn't as awkward as years gone by:

It makes me laugh to think about how I got to where I am because, let's face it, teaching middle school was never on my radar as far as I can recall. (Who wants to teach hormonal teenagers and preteens?) I fall flat on my face (metaphorically speaking) every single day. I sometimes feel like I can never get things done because chances are someone will get a bloody nose, or fall out of a chair, or feel the need to comment on everything anyone else says, or make faces to get a classmate to laugh. (Yes, all of these happen more frequently than you might expect.)

And yet, they get my corny humor. They have real and deep conversations about their faith (even though there are often 50 superficial ones in between). They ask amazing questions. And, for the most part, they work really hard.

I love them - every. single. one. of. them, quirks and all. Middle school is an awkward time, let's face it, embrace it, and shoot for the best year yet!