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Library Time

I was right!  I do have the best job ever!  I love being in the elementary school as the librarian’s assistant.  The only down side is that it is only a morning position, but it is a fun, full morning that speeds by each day.  I’m finding all kinds of new books to love!  A few about tractors…who knew, John Deere was a writer!

librarypicm1

librarypicm2As well as some great new books about cows!  My Librarian dug out this book for me, as soon as she learned a had a teeny, tiny cow obsession.  The book itself is a hoot….librarypicm4Sixteen Cows includes almost a completely authentic replica of Whoa Nelly, of course one difference is that in the book, Who Nelly actually drives.librarypicm5The kids are the very best part!

They turn to me for sage wisdom like, “Do you have any scary story books?”

…and I ask them if they like to have nightmares?  Usually followed by my asking them to tie their shoes…

I get to act a teeny tiny bit crazy,…. because I have the power to let them check out books and because I am old enough to get away with it.  I taught a class of 9 year old’s a new word…’exempt’.  As each came to me to check out, I inquired brightly, “Are your shoes tied?”  If they had velcro or slip ons, they were…’exempt’…and they left for the day with shoes tied and a new word in their vocabulary as My Librarian was laughing.

Fifth grade boys can turn library book check out into a competition with a bit of testosterone running.  These books were turned in this week by one group and let me tell you, the picture does not do them justice.  They are too big to fit on the shelves and they each weight about 10 pounds!libarypicm

I love this sweet school, where even the yearly ‘jog-a-ton’ money raiser is done in a fun way.  They call it the ‘Wacky Fun Run’ with kids and teachers dressed in crazy costumes, clothes inside out or back ward, capes, caps, tutu’s and a couple of teacher’s dressed as Thing One and Thing Two…  I ran walked with my afternoon class, stopping only to do some dancing or tie some shoes, which is when I came up with a great idea of next year…I’ll have a ‘Pit Stop’, where we’ll pull the kids off the ‘track’ and they can come into the ‘Pit Stop’ where…I’ll tie their shoes.

Hopefully someday years from now…the kids from this school will say to one another…remember that crazy lady in the library?  The one with the cow, shoe tying obsession?….but I’m hopping that when they say it there will be a smile on their face and a feeling that they knew I was someone who cared about them.

{ 10 comments… add one }
  • Lisa May 28, 2014, 5:43 pm

    OMG. Do I have a blog name? My Librarian was capitalized!! You are the best gift the library and this librarian have received in a long time. It’s such a great thing that you love to fix things (the library) and improve things (me). We are going to make SUCH a team and I know I’ll be looking back on your time in the library with a HUGE smile someday. I already look forward to 9:00 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

    • Ellen May 28, 2014, 9:37 pm

      Thank you, thank you, thank you! I LOVE my job and LOVE our time together in the library…. I am sooooo grateful that God put me with My Librarian!

  • Diane Brown May 19, 2014, 6:11 am

    I am so jealous that your school has a librarian and a librarian’s assistant! We have been without a librarian for over 3 years. Shoe tying is a daily task for this first grade teacher (who has also been known to supply new shoelaces for the ones that are getting too short to double knot).

    • Ellen May 19, 2014, 6:27 am

      We do a lot to support the teachers as well. So, sad, the state of affairs in California schools… Luckily, your kids have you.

  • Miriam May 18, 2014, 2:17 pm

    I wish I had you as a librarian when I was a kid! Although I didn’t need any encouragement to like books, it would have been fun if the librarian was a cow lover. Your kids up there are blessed to have you and I bet they will have fond memories of you…. because YOU ARE MEMORABLE!

    • Ellen May 18, 2014, 6:58 pm

      Thank you, Mims!!

  • Shelba and Donald Jensen May 18, 2014, 2:00 pm

    Time for you to write a book about the farm!!

    • Ellen May 18, 2014, 7:01 pm

      Hmmmm… I will try. Thanks Shelba.

  • Joed May 18, 2014, 12:50 pm

    Such a fun blog Ellen! Hey, do you think Sixteen Cows is still in print? It looks like one that Levi would like . . . he’s pretty obsessed with farm animals these days 🙂

    Great to see Laura and Riley this morning. Wasn’t it a great worship service? I especially loved the music, and seeing Riley’s smiling face was such a blessing. Maybe he can encourage some of the others to smile more :)Sorry I didn’t get a chance to give you a hug. Maybe I’ll see you on Wednesday . . . I never know til the time comes, but I love reading about your commitment to be there and what a difference it has made in your life. See you soon!

    • Ellen May 18, 2014, 7:00 pm

      Joed, thank you!! Yes, you can get it at Amazon in paperback. Get Moo, Baa, Lala also by Boyton if you haven’t such a FUN book!!

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