Days 6-8

Well, I got myself a tad behind.  I have no excuse other than I had a rough start to the new school semester.  And then, I just got behind.  So here is my attempt get back on track...

Day 6:  This was my first day back to work after a nice long break.  Every semester, the teachers have to submit a summary of their course evaluations (that the girls fill ou) to the principal.  I made the mistake of not doing this before Christmas.  As I looked through them to write up my report, I landed on one that was not so kind.  Needless to say, I let this get to me and I didn't feel very thankful today. Because I am writing this post over a week later, I am better able to see that what I was thankful for this day was the overwhelming amount of very positive feedback.  The comment that stands out in my mind is:

"Miss Forbes really knows a lot about what she is teaching.  She respects all the students and they erspect her."

This is the comment that I will choose to remember.

Day 7: Today, I found a card and a small package inside my mail box at school.  What an amazing way to start the day--a present! =)  It was a card from Sr. Mary Kay who lives in Ireland and is organizing a Mercy Youth Conference in Dublin this summer.  She contacted me last spring to get MHS involved and I have been working with her and other Mercy professionals from around the world to get this set up.  We (MHS) are taking 10 amazing girls there this summer!  Anyway, back to the present...the card from Mary Kay was beautifully written and the small package was a piece of slate from the original roof of Mercy International Centre in Dublin with a quote from Catherine McAuley on it.  What a great way to start the day!

Day 8: This morning, a 22 year-old went to a supermartket where Congress woman Gabrielle Giffords was holding a "meet and greet" and open fired.  He killed 6  people including a 9 year-old girl who was born on September 11th 2001.  I spent a good chunk of the afternoon sitting on the couch reading articles and watching news clips.  Like any other tragic day that I have been witness to in my lifetime, I was in shock and bewilderment over how a person can decide to do something like this.  What I chose to be thankful for that day was for the 6 who's lives were cut terribly short; the 6 who I hope will always be remembered.