I subbed today as an office secretary at our high school. My daughter’s friends talked with me when they came into the office. One gave me a hug 🤗; we’ve been friends with her and her family since she and my daughter were in 2nd grade. A couple of mom’s of my kids’ friends had business in the office and spoke with me. I helped one on the phone. 

Then, there were teachers, coaches, couselors, and staff who had impacted the lives of my three children. We’ve been connected with this high school for ten years now, since my oldest son entered ninth grade. Many connections have been made. 

Reminders of all these connections brought me joy today. I felt joy in spite of getting up at 5:30, which I despise. Joy was in my heart regardless of the negative experiences my kids had at times in that school. It was the joy of knowing and being known, of belonging and feeling a part of a community. 

Yes, it was a bittersweet joy as well, because we’ll be moving from here sometime this year. Our daughter will graduate and we will move to where my husband now works , 3 hours away. Nonetheless, there was joy in my life today in the midst of all these circumstances….in spite of them…because of them 

….#gojackets!!