A New School Year

As I return to the classroom to meet my new students today, I do so with my head spinning and my heart aching from the very recent loss of my father.  When I arrived on a delayed flight from Tulsa last night, having missed the first two days of school, I was filled with anxiety for all the details of a classroom with new kindergarten students.  However, this morning I awoke with peace, thinking of Dad.  He would greet this challenge with purpose, optimism, strength and depth of character.  He would dazzle the children with his passion for life and his love of people.   The "lesson plans" seem so clear.  We will enjoy our new classroom and our new friends.  We will sing and we will dance.  I will find a little "Carl Young" who is sure to keep the teacher on her toes and who has such great potential and I will smile.  It's going to be a good year!!