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
Love it!! Our God is so good!
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