To Keep Or Not To Keep

Trying to clean out the house these past few days, I've unearthed a few useless, yet sentimental items. You know how it goes--you know you need to toss it, but can't bring yourself to do it. Because this thing represents something valuable in your past.

Well, that is pretty much our whole house.Like finding a piece of scrap metal that is supposed to be a license plate from the Dominican Republic. Why keep it? Because Benny got this piece of junk when he went to the Dominican Republic on a mission's trip. And that was his first time there. That said a lot. No, we can't possibly throw that away! So it is in our bathroom now. Benny said it goes with our "beach" theme. (which, I don't agree. The only "beach" thing about it is that it came from a place known for its white sand beaches. Oh, well.)


Then, I've discovered a few devotional books for teachers. They were under Caleb's bed (I am not sure how they got there.) They were gifts from parents from my previous students. Useful? Maybe. Sentimental? You bet. These remind me of those days when I spent most of my days in a classroom. With 17 or so rambunctious kids. I would work on my lesson plans everyday, and I would dread having an after school "meeting" with a parent who was concerned about his child. I would hate completing those report cards every quarter, doing and re-doing bulletin boards every month, starting the kids on a science project months ago to be ready for the Science Fair every April. But I would also look forward to having Christmas Breaks, Easter Breaks, and Summer Breaks. Oh, did I mention "Snow Days"?


Discovering such small items brought back all these feelings. As I stared and read these "Dear Mrs. Waszaj" words over and over again, I was reminded that God has blessed me an opportunity to teach. I miss my kids, and I know I probably will go back teaching one day. But as for now, I have a more important job, and that is be Caleb and Abby's Mom. As frustrating as it can be at times, I know I will miss the present days in the near future, when they are seven years old and think they know more than I. The scary thing is, Caleb is almost half way there.