This was going to be THE year, I just knew it.  I had new curriculum ready.  I had studied my textbooks.  I had planned out our schedule.  I had prepared my heart.  (I'm quite taken with the concept of preparedness these days.)  I had gone to bed early the night before our first day; I had my first agenda laid out neatly on the dining room table; and we had homemade muffins ready for breakfast in the morning.

This was going to be the year where everything came together neatly, where we had deep conversations and meaningful interactions.  And I couldn't wait!

I'm sure you all can guess where I'm going with this.  Life rarely goes according to our plans.