Settling In

It's been a trying week for me as a teacher. I'll spare you the details and be positive by at least saying that each day this week got better and the staff has been really helpful, welcoming, and supportive. Unfortunately, this new teaching position has revealed to me a lot of the true and deep and worrisome issues in American education. All I can do is do the best with what I have to work with and then leave it at the door. I have too much to be thankful for, too much good news, and too many positive teaching experiences to let this get me down. Zac reminded me of this on a particularly tough day when, as I was sulking on the couch, he brought me this:

 

Along with the sugar high I received from the gigantic piece I soon consumed, it was also the perfect reminder that I can't let this get me down!

I am sure you all have heard about the crazy weather we've had here in KY. I got out of school two hours early on Friday due to the threat of tornadoes. Because of our Iowan tornado warning experiences, we were prepared and ready for whatever came our way. As I made dinner, Zac gathered flashlights, food, water, cell phones and a radio into the interior bathroom of our house (since we don't have a basement). We kept the news on as they followed the storms into our area. Here is Marco, worriedly watching the storm roll in:

Notice that he's hiding under a blanket...those are actually my legs he's trying to hide under

The worst part of the storm actually went right under us, so we were really fortunate. Here are the clouds rolling in from the cell that produced the tornado that wiped out West Liberty, KY. We were just on the very northern edge of it and really only got strong winds, rain, and a little lightning and thunder. 

 

Zac has been working really hard this week on getting everything set up for his office. Although his to-do list is VERY long, everything is coming together really nicely. Like everything else with this whole operation, it is moving along even quicker than expected. The contractor started work on Friday for the build-out of his office and will be finished in two weeks. We weren't expecting that to be done until at least the beginning of April! Yesterday, we looked at paint samples, flooring samples, artwork, waiting room furniture, etc. because we'll have to start making those kinds of decisions very soon. His management coach even said he could probably try to open the beginning of April instead of the beginning of May, but I think Zac's going to stick to the beginning of May so he doesn't feel rushed. I'll put some before and after pics of his office on here once things get a little further along :)