Eye of the iPhone

 Well, last week was a busy week to say the least.  It all started *last* Friday night when I left school very close to 7 pm.  I'm certain that wasn't on my list of things I hoped for when I decided to become a teacher.  Nonetheless, Hal and I headed out to the car...and it was dark/almost dark.  My school isn't in a sketchy neighborhood, but people who are sketchy sometimes walk in the neighborhood and play on the school playground...teenagers in particular who find it interesting to graffiti our new playground and leave "interesting" articles of clothing under the slide.  No, I am not kidding.  So when I got to my car--hands totally full--and I was trying to get Hal into the car all while some "seemingly shady" people crossed the street and then parked themselves on the bench close to my car making me very nervous and my phone was ringing, I did what any normal person would do and I sat my bag on the ground and my basket of papers to grade (or "file") onto the back of the car.  The part that I did that wasn't normal was walk right by my bag to get into the car and then drive off...without ever picking up the bag.  Oh, and that bag (which was a lovely bridesmaids gift from my sweet friend, Stacey, complete with block monogram) contained my laptop bag (which yes, had my laptop in it) and a school iPad so I could find yet more apps to keep my kids entertained during literacy stations and math stations.  Sigh.  Horrible end to a week.  And a horrible beginning to a week when I had to tell my principal.

The fact that life goes on is evident through my iPhone camera.

Because it did.

Thankfully my principal was understanding--at least on the day I told her. :o)  But it made for a very, very, very (need I go on?) week.  I was so sick over it.  I'm still sick over it.  Not only was something that didn't belong directly to me stolen. (Yes...it was stolen.  I went back to get it the next morning when I realized my stupidity and it was gone.  Not only that, but a teacher's friend's friend--say that three times fast--was there about 30 minutes after I left walking her dogs and saw the bag.  She called my teacher friend and asked what to do with it...I'm sure she thought it was just full of papers.  So she went to put her three big dogs back in the car to do something with my bag...when she got back probably 3 minutes later, the bag was gone.  And someone was thrilled with their find, I'm sure.  I'm still praying that person will be honest and return it.  But now that a full week has passed, I'm getting less hopeful.)  On top of it being stolen, it had *everything* related to my needs for school on it (the laptop, that is).  I mean everything.  Lesson plans.  Units I've bought from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Other units I've downloaded for free.  Lesson plans (oh the lesson plans...sniff, sniff).  Important documents that were e-mailed to me that I then downloaded.  You name it, it was probably on my laptop and needed in my classroom.  So frustrating.  All because I was stupid.  All because someone was selfish and dishonest.

Again, life goes on.  And I'm thankful it does.  I need to stop beating myself up for something that was an honest accident.  And I need to realize that what I had, I no longer have...and I need to be thankful for what I do have.  As my mother-in-law said, it could have been a lot worse.  And at first, I couldn't go there.  This was my fault.  But now, I'm able to realize that it could have been worse.  Someone could have come up and stolen the bag from me, harming Hallie or me.  So at that thought, I suppose I'm a little thankful that it's gone because I was mindless.

So...here's what the rest of the week held...

My sweet girl got a haircut. :o)

Hallie got to wear her favorite sports team gear at dance.

I wanted to throw this thing out the window b/c it's slower than Christmas.  It's a student station.  However, I was thankful to have *something* to write my lesson plans.

Hallie got a McDonald's Happy Meal after Cubbies. :o)

There are many of these on my phone.  It's one of Hallie's new favorite things.  She creates a classroom.  If you'll notice, there are three students (animals) and each has their backpack because they are showing what they brought for show and tell (which is what Hallie's class does on Fridays).  Along the wall are their lunch boxes (which is where Hallie's is kept in her classroom).  Too cute. :o)

And the greatest...ha...Hallie got her first black eye thanks to a kid named Josh at the Chick-fil-A playground.  She was going down the slide on her tummy (feet first) and he went too close behind her.  When she stopped at the bottom, he didn't.  When I asked her how she felt about having a black eye, she said, "Great!!" :o)

We ended the week with supper at Cheddar's.  It sure is loud in there, but it sure is yummy.  And we had good company with Jonathan's parents.  This photo is courtesy of Hallie. :o)