Staying Home

For the past 3 years I have been a 1st Grade teacher. Today marked the end of that chapter in my life. I have always known that once we started having kids of our own I wanted to be a full time mom. Well, the time has finally come!!!!! I could not be more excited to be a house wife and a stay at home mom!!!! The baby is not due until January, but I didn't feel right about teaching through Christmas them leaving little first graders with a brand new teacher for the remainder of the year. I also didn't think driving an hour each way to and from work sounded like too much fun when pregnant. Teaching has had its challenges (okay, lots of challenges) but there were also sweet, happy, funny, and rewarding memorable times. I have also made many wonderful teacher friends and look forward to keeping in contact with many of them through the years. Growing up I always dreamed of being a teacher. I'm glad I got to have that dream fulfilled for the past 3 years. Now I am ready to have my next dream fulfilled - being called "Mommy." I am so thankful to Barrett for supporting me in my dream of staying home. Funny, this topic of staying home with kids actually came up on our first date if you can believe that. I knew he was the man for me when he brought up that he hoped his future wife could stay home with the kids. Here I am 3 years ago when I first started teaching. Hardly any gray hairs then.

My how 3 years can make a difference :-)
My 1st Grade Classroom.
It has been a privilege to be the 1st grade teacher to around 60 students these past years.