Ready or Not.....Here I come

I leave in 5 DAYS!

As you can probably imagine from my previous posts, I have been pretty busy the last couple weeks. BUT what's funny is that what is keeping me busy is not really the same stuff I talked about in those posts. Many of you know this already but after over 3 years of being single (except for a month at the end of 2006) I now have a serious relationship with a girl. In other words, I am no longer the sexiest single guy in the world. Don't worry I wont bore you all with the mushy gushy details of the relationship but I will say that I am extremely happy with the situation. And yes I do understand that I am leaving for Houston for at least 2 years and she doesn't graduate until next year. Now to talk about Teach For America. (which is actually the reason I met Danielle)

So a few updates:

1) I found a fantastic home for Smokey the cat. He has now been living with my friend Courtney Robinson who initially didn't want to bother with a cat at this time in her life. But when she found out that it was a FAT grey cat just like her old cat she was all about it. I feel so blessed to have found her to take Smokey. She is going to be a great owner!

2) I think I have most of the stuff that is not coming with me to Houston back at home. I also think that I will be able to fit everything in my car. I put all my dvd's in a case and I have two large luggage bags to take back when I fly back to Houston after graduation.

3) I am going to walk at graduation on June 9th! I am also going to attend induction June 7-8th. I was blessed with the opportunity to buy a plane ticket from Les Stoneham, the manager of Rohs Street Cafe, because he has skymiles with Delta. He only charged me $200 which is about half of what I was going to have to spend.

4) I did give some of my furniture to UCC for the yard sale a couple weeks ago and I am going to be giving my bed, dresser, and office chair to a friend in need.

5) I have a place to stay in Memphis, New Orleans, and Houston for June 4-6th when I drive down next week. A couple of people from UCC know other Christians in Memphis and New Orleans. And of course I know people in Houston. I think it is amazing how people are so willing to open their home to me. Just another blessing.

I haven't been reading a whole lot of TFA material lately but I was encouraged by my "Transition Director" who said I should not stress over getting everything accomplished. I figured as much so I was not really stressing before I heard this. I have started accumulating many teaching books outside TFA too that I am excited to read.

I have watched 3 very inspiring teaching movies the last couple weeks. "Stand and Deliver", "Freedom Writers", and "The Ron Clark Story" all are very powerful and motivating movies. I get pumped and excited when I watch them and realize how much of a difference I will have the opportunity to make as a teacher. I am planning on buying each of these movies for the times in which I need some encouragement to continue being positive about teaching.

One final thing I would like to say. Going through this process has given me a whole new outlook on what teachers go through and how important they are in OUR lives. I have a whole new sense of respect for the teachers of this world.

Peace,
MO