Hard Day To Be A Teacher

Even though I wasn't at school today (I was at a conference in Houston) my heart was at Space Center more than it ever has been before. This morning I saw on the news that a fire had broken out at a local apartment complex and mentioned to John that I thought the kids that lived there went to SCIS and how I hoped everyone was okay. Well, it wasn't. I found out later from a
co-worker that it was possible that one of her students had perished in the fire along with a younger brother. It wasn't until this afternoon that she texted me and told me that it was indeed her student and they were about to tell the kids.
Don't think that I didn't want to get in my car and go to school so that my kids could see me and know that I was there for them. However, our principal had been at the conference with us before she went back to SCIS and specifically told me and my other co-worker to stay at the conference but to be prepared to come in tomorrow if she needed us there. I don't think it really hit me until I got home and saw it on the news. Granted I knew what was going on but I was in the little bubble of the conference and really hadn't had time to think about what my co-workers and students were going through until I got home. Then the tears started pouring. I felt so bad that I couldn't be there today to support my kids and my wonderful co-workers. After speaking to my principal she told us that she still wanted us to go on back to the conference tomorrow but to be prepared for Monday. Our kids are okay and we have to be strong for them.
I am praying with a heavy heart tonight for my co-workers/friends that taught the wonderful young lady that God needed with him and also for my students. Also, don't think that every time I look at Mollie and feel little man kicking/moving around that I don't think about the mother of these two wonderful children and hope and pray she can find comfort in knowing that they are in a better place.