The Beginning of the End

As much as I try to forget and push off the ending, it is impossible to ignore.  This week was the beginning of the end. Tuesday marked the seniors last official day of school.  I've become so used to seeing them run into my classroom every morning seconds before the bell finishes ringing and pour out their excuses for being late.  I love singing with them for worship, even when they take some pushing to get them singing.  I look forward to sharing a devotional thought with them and starting the day with their math class.  Their antics throughout the day make me smile even when they are driving me crazy. I love my class.  How did the year come to an end so quickly? It seems like just yesterday I had half the year to look forward to still.  The last couple days of school with them will remain fresh in my memory for a long time.  They started with their last chapel on Monday morning.  They lead singing and then one of my senior boys spoke.  He had trouble last time he spoke but after we talked he did a lot better this time.  To end a video had been prepared showing their junior and senior years.  The rest of the day was spent working on finals and finishing the quarter.  My favorite day was Tuesday.  For their last day I made them a special treat, nutella peanut butter brownies.  I let them sing a little longer then usual in the morning, lead by the ukulele (their instrument of choice).  One last devotional from Jeremiah 29:11 and then I gave them their gift.  I had the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" for each of them with a message I wrote in the beginning. I wasn't sure if they would like it, I thought they might find it silly. But they loved it, for a second it was like I was teaching an elementary class, "Ms. will you read it to us?!".  They all sat quietly, quieter then I think they have been all year, and slowly flipped through the pages as I read it to them. "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose...".  The rest of the day flew by, they coated my guitar case in their names until it looked like a rainbow of paint exploded on it, it makes me smile. 
I was sad starting the school day Wednesday thinking I would just be in my empty classroom for first period but to my surprise lots of my seniors came! They hung out with me and worked on last minute make up work.  It isn't entirely over yet!  We even had a cake fight on Friday :).  This week starts the last full week of school, then finals, then graduation.  I hope and pray it all goes well, or at least that God continues to help is through no matter how things turn out! I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that perfection or things "going right" can be extremely over rated.  Some of the best memories and  experiences here have occurred when things didn't go quite as planned.  So instead I guess I'll pray for the wisdom to work through whatever is ahead and the strength to accept that the end is coming.