Friday, August 23, 2024

Ahhhh, Friday! I can’t believe we have been in school since August 8th. In some ways I now feel like I never had a summer because it seems so far away. I’m back in the ol’ routine, you know?

Friday is always a fun post of things that brought me joy during the week. Even if you don’t blog, do you snap happy photos during the week to look back on at week’s end? I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika today!

First, I tried a new creamer and really liked it.

Planet Oat Coffee Cake flavor. This has worked well with my Nespresso Vertuo this week.

Doesn’t that look good? Starbucks who?

Next, I have been struggling with tangles in my hair. I find them so annoying and painful to get out. My hair is really fine, but I have a lot of it. Shay recommended this and it really works and smells great! I bought the small bottle from Amazon to see what I thought. It’s pretty amazing!

I placed a big Impress press on nail order because they offered me 35% off. I wanted to try this new shape. It’s so pretty but too long for me and I am finding it hard to type!

I took this picture because it made me happy seeing Eddie Otis get a nice belly rub and Tom having a belly to rub. Eddie Otis wants to touch us or be touched most of the time. He turns 6 months old tomorrow!

That face! Did you notice he got a collar upgrade? His royal blue one was too small so he has Ernie’s old green one now. Our boy may look even better in green with his eyes.

Sorry; I’m that obnoxious parent that keeps showing pictures of her kid.

I made a good dinner this week and it’s a keeper. The recipe says they are wraps but I turned it into a bowl and added coleslaw mix and shredded carrots. This was easy enough for a quick week night meal. The family loved the meal, too. I served it over the Trader Joe’s frozen jasmine rice.

Ahhh…. such a good book! This is tied for favorite book of the summer along with Jenny James is not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson.

Both of the books are deeper than you would think and have a message of starting over. They send the message that it’s not too late to have a next act in life. At least that is what I got out of them.

So, I have been a high school Spanish teacher for 30 years. This is year 31. I started at one school for 4 years, and went to another for 2 years, but now have been at my current school for 25 this year. It’s hard to believe this is possible on one hand, but on the other hand, this old gal is tired. This old gal has conjugated a lot of verbs, you know? I love to conjugate!

I had a goal. My goal was to stay put and get to teach siblings and just become a part of the woodwork, I guess. I have had some really heartfelt moments this summer in seeing my students go out and live their lives and feeling that I may have had a small impact?

I have had so many former students in Spain! I currently have four former students leaving for Spain in September! You guys! This feels like my life’s work. So, three girls are going to Spain for an entire year to be teachers – all unrelated; they just all happen to be doing this after graduating from college. One girl came over to talk about it this summer and you might remember me mentioning it. The other two are going to come soon to practice and brush up on their Spanish if we can work out a date. The little brother of one of the girls is doing study abroad at the same time his sister will be there. I taught both of them! I couldn’t be more excited to live vicariously through these kids! I talk about this with my current students and I am hoping to manage a Facetime during class.

I also had two dear sweet and good student brothers that I taught just get back from Mexico and I messaged and asked if they thought about me and my Spanish songs while they were there. Ha!

How do I know all of this? Social media. Instagram. It would be really hard to keep up with former students without it. So for this reason, I will forever be a fan.

Ok, look at this…

It’s not Spain, but it’s close. I taught all three siblings of this family and the three siblings are having a European adventure together. I would say they are 28, 25, and 22 now. They are precious! And, their Spanish will help them navigate, for sure.

And, you can read my comment below:

The oldest (who is taking the photo) is a talented photographer and has dabbled with photography since high school. Am I their crazy former Spanish teacher that they are reluctantly responding to? Probably. Most of the things I post on IG are tailored to former students, but you are welcome to follow me at amscott2.

I tried once to list all the siblings I have taught and the list is too long. I have taught one set of four siblings, many with three siblings, and it’s just been such a cool connection.

Well, I got deep on this Friday! It was just on my heart how blessed I am to have had this experience in my career and it’s definitely a favorite!

I hope you had many this week, too!

Happy Friday!

Amy