"Bye, Mrs. Friesen!"

Today was my last day of teaching for... well, who knows.  Maybe until March.  Maybe longer.  Anyway, it was a special day.  The kids made my heart smile today in many ways - from asking the question "Move if you think Mrs. Friesen is the BEST TEACHER EVER!" in a game of All-change, to handing me cards signed by the two language arts classes and even one signed by teachers.  I was very touched.  Oh - I was even given several notes and even a batch of cookies from students.  Parents - your children are so special. 

Tomorrow I will go in for my last day of work - a PD day to collaborate with current teachers and my replacements.  I am going to have to try to remember all of the little things throughout the day that they are expected to know and do.  Right.  I hope they are forgiving because I'm bound to forget something(s).

Mom wrapped more presents for me today and organized my pantry cupboard.  She is so good to me.  I think my next mission is to get my Christmas cards in the mail.  I'm so glad I had most of my shopping/card prep done before now.  I should be able to relax and enjoy holiday prep from the comfort of my couch and in the glow of the Christmas trees - inside and outside.  I'm actually really looking forward to it.  That might be strange.  For some reason (I'm fairly certain it has mostly to do with all of the prayer and support I've been receiving) I am feeling remarkably calm about the whole thing.  Even excited to be home.  I am throwing LOTS off kilter by leaving work like this, but I don't feel guilty or sad.  I will enjoy the pre-holiday time with my mom, and then CHristmas with our many family members, and then I will be happy to start treatment after I have healed.  There will be Christmas parties, church services, more browsing and shopping (even though I'm done because it's fun), mornings with tea and a fuzzy blanket, and of course, Christmas music and programs.  Christmas is my favourite time of year.  I am very ready to start enjoying it.

I did some pre-screening for my surgery on Tuesday - I will not know what time surgery will be until the day before, but I do know that I will be home on Wednesday if all goes well.  I will have a drain in my arm for a week or so afterwards, and I will be needing to do physio afterwards to maintain proper function of my left arm.  Honestly - I am not worried about it at all.  Now that they know to just put my IV in near my elbow joint instead of down nearer my wrist, I won't have to stress about how many times it will take them to get that sucker in.  I hate needles.  I'm fairly certain that there are others who dislike them more and end up fainting or something when they see them, but I just really hate them.  Not scared, just "blech".

In happier news, my house smells like a spruce tree.  (p.s. I have a fake tree.)  (p.p.s.  I have spruce-scented candles.)

Thanks for encouraging me to blog.  I am thinking that I need to treat this more like an outlet for my thoughts, rather than a journalling of my day-to-day activities.  I just think it will be easier to infuse my writing with personality when I don't feel like I'm listing off the things that have been accomplished each day.  Agree?