In just a few hours, the school day will end. And I will be getting out of this town on a plane to Dallas. I am ready for a vacation. I feel my patience wearing thin... lately, many of my smiles in the classroom are purely an act of the will. I'm worn out.

But there were a few highlights this week:

One little boy arrived in the morning and held out a crisp dollar bill. "Thank you for being my teacher, Ms. Wayne." he said with a big smile. He explained that he got the money for losing his tooth, and he wanted me to have it.

After telling a Bible story to my class, one little girl asked, "Are these stories true?" Her face lit up when I answered, and she said, "I like them!"