Oh Summer, O Summer! Where Art Thou, O Summer?

Swimming pools, bowling days, beaches, hotels, sleeping late, sleepovers, being lazy....oh, how we dearly miss you. You were here for what seems like a flash and now gone for nine months. What shall we do without you?? We grew to love you and are very much attached to you. How will we ever readjust to getting up before you rise and going to sleep shortly after you set? We made so many memories together this year that we shall never forgot, oh summer! May the memories get us through until next time we meet!

For whatever reason, this was the fastest summer I can remember!! Could it be dreading getting up early, or maybe dreading the everyday hustle and bustle of Hallsville school traffic, or maybe knowing the HUGE responsibility I have before me with nursing school and balancing family life, or maybe just maybe it was dreading driving a school bus in 108 degree weather! Yep, I believe that is the winner!! The first day of school and Mr. Weatherman says the high is 108 degrees. I couldn't believe it. Seriously??!! Not only was it my kids first day back at school, it was my first day for nursing school. So on top of leaving my babies amongst 700 other kids on their campus and me stepping into an unknown domain, I was going to be driving a school bus in 108 degree weather. What the heck??!! I am definitely a crazy woman and not afraid to admit it. Why do I do it? I have no idea :) I use to have a reason but now it's just because I'm crazy :)

Well, the first week went pretty good but I only had to drive three days. My school schedule doesn't allow me to drive every afternoon this semester, which is nice ;) So I only had to endure the EXTREME weather and those wild little monsters for three days instead of five. Oh, and to top off the heat, I had a new stop added to my route this year. DD's Daycare. So guess what that means....more wild little monsters! Now my route has close to seventy kids instead of fifty. What else could a girl ask for, right?!

I was not prepared for the bus load I got this year, but I was prepared to share Jesus!!! Amidst all the heat, my first day of school, and school traffic I did not forget my purpose. I was prepared with my verse and Bible when I got on that bus. I posted my verse on the mirror (Philippians 4:13) and placed the Bible on the dash. Lookout kiddos, here comes bus 7 from Heaven!! I pulled out and parked and waited for the little rugrats to pile on. I got lots of sweaty hugs and stories of summer but the heat just about did me in. However, Wednesday's route was not near as successful. I had one kid spitting on other kids and one stabbed another one with a unsharpened pencil!!!! I thought I was going to pull my hair out.

I came home and told Jason that I didn't think I could handle the stress of nursing school and then the stress of driving 70+ kids around in the heat. He is so sweet and supportive and always is behind me 100%. I went in on Friday planning to give a two week notice after my route. I told myself that I would give it another afternoon. It was SO hot and the kids just kept piling on. I had some sitting four to a seat. I prayed, "Please Lord let this route go better than Wednesday!" I made it to the apartments without any major catastrophes and as one of my high school kids got off he said, " Uh, Mrs. Sutton, uh, I love ya". What?! Seriously?! This boy has been riding with me since he was in 5th grade. I can't count on two hands how many times he has been written up but he always seems to bring a smile to my face. I could not believe my ears. And I don't care if he was kidding, the words still came out of his mouth! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, one of my other kids that has been riding with me all these years, stopped and hugged my neck. He said, "Bye Mrs. Sutton. I missed you this summer." WOW. Totally made my week.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, two GREAT things happened. The sweat rolling down my legs didn't even bother me anymore. All the stress just seemed to float away, at least for that afternoon :) Each day always brings new challenges and surprises. God is like that. He waits until we just can't take it anymore and then He pops in and shows us His greatness. Three words and a hug is all it took for me. Great things come in small packages, right?! A little bit of Jesus shining through the darkness, stress and the craziness of this life are definitely enough to keep me going. So I challenge you, be that small thing for someone this week. Give them a quick pick me up note, or offer to help them out with a small task that has been weighing on their shoulders, or try this one on for size...pick up the phone and actually call someone to say, "Hi", instead of texting :) It's the small things that add up to the big things that make it all worth while!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Top of the Morning to ya Mr. Turner!

It takes 50+ buses on a daily basis to lug, tote, carry, and deliver HISD's most prized possessions safely, unharmed, and on time to school each day. Then we do it all again at the buzzing of the 3:20 bell. We gather before 7:00 each morning and reassemble again promptly for another round of the yelling, screaming, laughing, game playing, tattle telling, and making memories school bus time at the sound of the afternoon bells. Why do we do it? Good question. We all have OUR reasons, I suppose. However, what I do know is that we are all here for HIS reason. Each and every one of us for each and every route that runs throughout this town. We go near and we go far. We go here and we go there. We pretty much go everywhere! So who are we?

For those of you that are not school bus drivers, never driven a school bus or maybe never even been on a school bus, I want to start out this year by giving you a look into the rare, bizarre, interesting, hair pulling, blood boiling, crazy life of school bus drivers. You see it takes all kinds to drive a school bus and do what we do. We have short ones, tall ones, skinny ones and plump ones. We have silly ones, serious ones, mean ones and friendly ones. We also have teachers, coaches, maintenance workers, mechanics, mommies, daddies, and lots of other ones. We have short tempered ones, patient ones, sssllllloooowww ones and the get out of my way ones. But most of all we just have great ones! However, once in a lifetime someone really special comes along and they become ONE OF A KIND. It's the one of a kind that will touch your life forever. They will open your eyes to things unseen. They will leave a lasting impression in your life forever. They will be remembered for all the wonderful things they have done. They will touch your heart. They will make you want to be more. They will leave a legacy!

This summer HISD's transportation lost OUR one of a kind. After a long struggle with cancer, we lost one of OUR most prized possessions. If you had a kid that rode the bus, they knew him, loved him or maybe were even scared of him! He knew every route backwards and forwards. He knew every rule by heart and NEVER let anyone break them. He would do anything for you. He loved each and every kid that stepped on his bus. He had a huge heart. He loved the Lord. Every lady was his, "Babe", except for one and she was his, "Kisser"! And he owned the radio. We all knew when he was on the bus and ready to go. He had nicknames for most and oh, how I loved to hear him call for "Honey Bear"! And each and every morning at the top of the hour it never failed...he always piped in with, "Top of the morning to ya, Mr. Turner". The mornings will never be the same. We will always remember at 7:00 each morning that we are missing a very special one.

Steve Howard, you are missed. HISD's school buses will never be the same. You were ONE OF A KIND and no one will be able to replace your loving, smiling, caring face. May this school year be dedicated to you and may we all strive to be the best that we can be, no matter the task at hand.

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
Matthew 25:20-22