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 until last. 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite 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 favorite 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 died 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, whisper ed 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 Doctor at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.) Every person we encounter could be a relationship in the making. We were giving hands to reach out and invest into others... lets use them.
Last night some of Kyleana's friends stayed over. It was so much fun! Getting them ready for school the next day brought back so many memories of our mornings at the Ervins! My childhood friends. Getting ready at their house was so much fun... and very chaotic. We had Angela... who had to be perfect every morning.. and she literally was! Every hair (including eyelashes) in place. Anna... who also had a bit of Ang in her! Alyssa and myself who were always so last minute... it was just so chaotic ... and I loved every minute of it! I giggled a few time as I watched the girls get ready this morning. I could see a little of Ang and Anna in the hair brushing. As Morgan laid on the couch instead of actually getting ready I then seen a little bit of Alyssa and myself! .. hehe!! :) I thought man.... Cathy had much more patience then I was ever aware of. :) I was also just watching Kyleana. She is getting so big. We as parents have such a small amount of time to actually help mold and shape these children while they are in our home..... :( She is becoming a young lady. A beautiful, bright, funny, kind, compassionate, giving, understanding lady. My prayer over her is that she would have a soft pliable pure heart... and that she wold love the Lord with all her heart. I remember sitting with her talking to her about having a step father and what that would look like. One of the things we had told her was that we were fully aware she had a father who loves her. Dave would love her and have a heart over her like a father. It was her choice what to call him. (she calls him dad) but I remember telling her Kyleana technically your not even mine. God has given you to me to raise for Him. You are his. This made so much sense to her. She just grasped hold to that and it clicked. I remember her saying to me, "so God puts parents in our lives to help raise and teach us?"She was able to grasp this was for her benefit. The molding process over her was FOR her. I was so proud of her little mind. That she was able to grasp that truth and apply it to her life. The older she gets the more I want to work on me.. just to be a good example to her. I want her to know behavior by me living it out in front of her. Mothers can hugely impact their daughters lives. I want that to be a beautiful impact... I am sure it will be flawed... but this is something I so badly want to invest into concerning Kyleana. The boys..... oh those boys! Marcus my wild strength filled boy and Abram my quiet entertaining loving sweet baby! I am blessed beyond measure with my kidlets. A life applying my all to them is a life well lived. Of course and Dave, AND friends, family, "others".... . :) Simple blessing all around us everyday... its just if we choose to really see them. From Jesus' faithfulness, to family and friends, to the warmth of the sun or the breeze of the air.... life is good if you choose for it to be so. Out of my own personal suffering I can also recall my most intimate time with my Father... a time he held my hand all the way through it all. Suffering was hard and painful... but the healing was powerful and life transforming. I would not skip the suffering for anything. It is partially what has led my heart here.... laid down. Surrendering to serving.... and doing it joyfully. :) Thanks Lord. My friend. My strength. My potter. Grateful for his mercy... wanting to drink his truth and the freedom it brings like water! I will stop here with pictures of Kyleana and her "grils night" as Marcus calls it! :) 
