Back in the classroom again

On January 13th, I started my Clinical Practice for Trinity Graduate School. I am in a local 3rd grade classroom Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 4pm. I will be there until May 7th. I have spent the first few weeks observing and helping the teacher wherever I can. Now I have started teaching Spelling and Reading. I pick up on new subject a week until I have full control of the classroom for 2 weeks. After that, I will begin to give the classroom teacher back one subject a week until she has full control again before I leave. I do have a Spring Break in March, which will be nice.

The transition was a little tough at first. The hardest part was leaving Madison again. Fortunately, she is such a happy go lucky girl and seems to be content no matter who she is with (boy and I glad!). She does cry when Tim and I walk out the door (which breaks my heart -and makes me feel good at the same time that she misses me), but the babysitters always say that she stops crying within 10 seconds and is as happy as ever. Fortunately, Tim is able to move his schedule around (since he works Saturdays and Sundays, so that he can watch her on Tuesday and half of Wednesday. Then we have two university girls from our church who we know well and trust and pay to watch her on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. And our dear friend Kelly watches her Wednesday morning while Tim has a meeting. So there is quite a bit of change. But fortunately, everyone is willing to come to us, so Maddy can be in her own house and sleep in her own crib. We are so blessed by the Lord to have such a good group of people to help us out with our little gal! It sure does make it a lot easier to leave every day when I know she is in good hands.

Here are some pics from January ;)

Before I started teaching, our friend and former student/soccer player Ashton came to visit, so we went into the city and went to the Shedd Aquarium and then walked to the Adler Planetarium. They were both FREE that day!

Maddy LOVED seeing all of the fish!

This was our view on our walk from the Aquarium to the Planetarium -Gorgeous!

It was pretty cold out - so Maddy was all bundled up ;)

These are just some fun pics of play dates Maddy and I had with friends before I started back to work - so much fun!