Thought this was a good story to share

The 5th Grade Teacher

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until20last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around..'
His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.'
His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.'
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class..'

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had die d a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.' Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.' (For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Back in the Swing

First off let me start by saying I have two apologies, first being for a sorry blogger and second for this being a picture post. The first apology is a valid one I have not been around a computer at all this summer but now I am back at work I can blog on a regular basis. My second apology is only for your sake. SO much went on this summer I thought it would be best for me to put up pictures instead of me talking about what went on.


So I will start with this ever so small picture, it's from our Galveston Mission trip one day we went to the beach and picked up trash. Galveston is still a mess from the hurricane.

This next picture is also from our Galveston Mission trip in the morning while we were there we had VBS, it was so much fun and the numbers tripled by the end of the week!

Our last day of the Mission Trip we went to Schlitterbahn, enough said. This is only part of our youth that was able to go on the Mission Trip.

Ah...wedding bliss. This is Aaron and I at our very dear friends, the Williams, rehearsal dinner. We were so happy for them and still are they are perfect for one another and we were so blessed to able to participate in their special day.

These last two pictures are combined. Last Saturday night we came home to find this precious puppy under our stairs. Full of fleas and ticks, well my tender heart kicked in and Aaron's too, we took her in, named her Peanut. (Aaron loves that name) But after much consideration we decided we did not need another dog see our Wilma in front, so we went to church Sunday with hopes of finding her a home....we did! A sweet lady, Mrs. Smith, takes in strays and adopts them out. So Sunday night we went to her house before church and dropped off Peanut. Sad but we know she is loved and well taken care off.

Well that is a long enough post, to is Open House and that starts in about 25 minutes so off to work I go! Oh and how could I forget our good friends and the pastor of our church had a precious baby boy, Sam, on August 13 (Aaron's birthday too!). We are so happy for them! You can see their family here http://www.thehollierfamily.blogspot.com