A small riot.

Yesterday and today, I sat through 11 presentations from my students. They were professional. They were overall prepared. They answered questions like a boss. They shared personal stories. They were passionate. They knew why they were doing the things they were doing. They followed the presentation outline. They introduced themselves. They all participated. They inspired me.

Over the last 3 or so weeks, my students have worked endlessly on presenting an idea of something they would like to change in the school. My principal sat in on every single presentation. He asked questions of the students as if they were Congress presenting a law to the president. I've sat with each group multiple times asking, what has seemed like, hundreds of questions about what, why, who, when, how. I've taught them how to SMART goal it.

I'm telling you. If you could see these kids a year ago, if you could have seen them 2 months ago, they would shock you. Their confidence was so brilliant that I almost cried during a presentation today. They talked without staring at their presentation notes. They spoke out of their own knowledge and experience. That is true leadership...to be able to share why you want to change something when it goes along with something you know well.

In my 6th period today, two groups joined together to start their problem over completely. They informed me they were planning on starting a riot and then we intelligently discussed why that wasn't such a great idea :)

I need you to know... how incredibly proud I am of my kids. How thankful I am for them trusting me. How grateful I am for their experiences and their passions and their values and their beliefs. I'm thankful they are confident, that they ask questions, and that they are beginning to build each other up and see how they can work together, instead of a part.

Do you pour into the next generation? Do those who follow you want you to join in their riots, in their battle cries, in their passions, and jump in? They should. You're on the brink of something big. Go for it. These small presentations and project grades are about to turn into incredible opportunities for these students. One that will make a big impact on a small school. And maybe start a small riot in the northeast corner of Las Vegas. When we lead and teach the next generation, we can trust what they will become. We really, really can. Do it. Go for it. I'm ready.

-Melis

#Mommoments

Sunday morning, I was standing in church singing. By myself. Thank goodness. There is a mom and two little girls who stand in the front of the choir every week during the 11am service. I always watch the little girls because they remind me of me and my sister and I miss singing with my sister. They always look at each other to figure out if the other one is singing the right part and the mom always looks to encourage or help. Sunday morning, the little girls really wanted to get the part right so they were both looking at the mom who was praising her heart away to Jesus, while also teaching those little girls their parts. That moment was maybe more beautiful than the entire service. Don't get me wrong. The music was incredible. The message was written for me but that moment grasped my heart and my emotions and my head and made me put myself in her shoes.

Except those little girls were 16 and 17 and 18 and they weren't singing. They were just living. A very mundane normal day-to-day life. They weren't on a stage next to me. They were occupying seats in my classroom, asking me questions about my past. They were sitting in the chair next to my desk talking to me about their goals and strengths and weaknesses. They were real. So real. And they were looking at me just like those little girls looked at their mom, except it was in my classroom when I talk about my real life or my own goals. And I was their teacher, not their mom. Their eyes set on me as I speak and share my own experiences. Waiting for their opportunity to see if they "are doing it right." Sometimes, it wasn't just the girls, it was the boys. It wasn't just the daughters, it was the sons too. It was the stares and the big eyes when I spoke the Truth and the compassion when I shared the things I have learned from.

Those little girls reminded me of a Truth so deep. They follow their mom as she follows Jesus and every day, my kids, my girls, and my boys, who sometimes call me Mom, the title of a high prestige, follow me as I follow Jesus. Sometimes to get the notes right and sometimes to engage in something so much deeper. As I struggle day in and day out with the reality that I'm not a biological or even legal adopted mom, I am reminded of the sweet faces I get to stare at that teach me something too. And sometimes they call me Mom and sometimes they mean it.

To so many sweet friends struggling with what the title of "Mom" means in your situation... it means more than you think and you're more than you think-- I see you and pray for you faithfully. Love you more deeply than you could understand or imagine- Melis