After staying after school for help with her friend Monica, Carey, one of my Honors Physics students, had what she called “an odd request.” “I, uh, heard that the faculty room vending machine has M&M’s, and, uh, we’re not allowed in there without a teacher, and I, uh, really want some M&M’s and, uh, was sort of wondering if you’d be willing to go with me so I could get some.” mmmHMM! I was a bit suspicious. We went to the faculty room. And Carey got her M&M’s. Of course, they were purchased for her by one of the 20 or so teachers and staff in the room who were there for a surprise baby shower for me.

Lillian had put up a clothesline with adorable onesies and cloth diapers. Jessica had bought balloons over her lunch, hidden them in Karen’s room and then anchored them with rubber duckies. Karen had picked up a ducky cake. Linda had helped with decorations, and there were pretzels and a pile of gifts. Most of my wonderful science department was there, plus a bunch of other people at work who are important to me. Karen and Barbara had handmade gorgeous baby blankets. Many people had gotten together to give us a very generous Babies R Us gift card. (Ladies, we used it to buy a high-quality breast pump. Guys, we purchased something very manly with it. The most manly baby gift you can think of.)  Our daughter will have many more adorable clothes, plus a few other items to welcome her. And John D. got “myJohn” and me a John Jameson & Son Irish Whiskey mug, marmalade, and lanyard. All the way from Ireland. Awesome. Thank you, Hopewell! (No pictures from this one–sorry, folks.)

The very next morning, my Logos kids surprised me. Logos, which is Greek for the Word, as in John 1, refers both to Jesus and to the word of God (the Bible). The club is a wonderful group of Christian students who gather each week to read and study the Bible and pray. I advised Logos this year. I walked down the hallway around 7:05AM to see Jennifer, the club president, running into and out of the room, which I thought was strange. Then I saw Dave, a social studies teacher and fellow Christian, coming down the hall with a hammer. “There’s a centipede in there, and I’m going to kill it,” he announced. When I walked in, students jumped out from behind desks. “SURPRISE!” They’d all brought in food, much of it homemade. There were decorations everywhere. Casey, a freshman, crocheted our daughter the most adorable little hat. Jennifer and Sarah (with some help from Mom, who routinely makes flattering yet modest dresses for her three girls) had made a beautiful baby quilt. Andrea made a pink gimp key chain. And they’d gotten a very soft and huggable “Baby’s First Teddy,” which has resided in the living room for hugs ever since. This crew has been praying for “Mrs. Jameson’s Baby” for months. I will miss them.

My four classes all brought in food, and between my current and former students, there were decorated cakes, balloons, streamers, a Baby Shower sign, and several gifts.  These are “my kids,” and I will miss them.