Friends

So school has been going well. I love my class and I have great parents. It's been weird because as much as I love teaching, I really felt like I was supposed to go into administration, and that just isn't happening . I know i have to be patient and things will work out in God's time, so that's what I'm trying to do. T's job is going well too- we both just still really wish he could find a job here instead of commuting so far.

Life's been weird lately, but good at the same time. I've learned some hard lessons about friendship that I was pretty sure I had already learned years and years ago, but apparently, I'm always learning. You know that saying about friends coming into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime? Well, it's funny how friends you think are only going to be there for a reason, end up being in your life for a season or a lifetime. And friends you think are lifetime friends, actually turn out to be otherwise. Sigh. But, being a forever optimist, I look for the positives. I drew my husband even closer to me, and count my true friends as even bigger blessings. One day, someone will look back and realize the mistakes they made, but it will be too late. Friends just don't come that easily. Not real ones anyway.

Kids are doing great and make me so proud everyday. They are so smart, cute, outgoing, lovable, energetic, fun kids..... :-)

It's time...or is it?

After 17 years, I believe it's time to put my sweet kitty to sleep. For the last 2 months or so, she has been forgetting where the litter box is. She will wander around and meow until I pick her up and take her to it. Last week, she started sneezing blood. I already have to give her pills twice a day for her thyroid, so it just seems like her quality of life is declining. I'm so sad about it, and just very torn about whether this is the right decision. With people, this is not an issue, so I am left wondering why I am given the power to make this decision with my pet. Shouldn't she just go naturally as well? Am I assuming a power that God should have? I'm just so torn and sad.......

Let's try again....

I blink and six months has gone by. I'm not sure how that happens. I don't like it! I try to be one of those people that lives in the moment and enjoys every day, but still somehow, the days disappear.

So, tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary. Thought it would be a good time to update.

I am still teaching, although this year, I'm taking the leap from first grade to 2nd grade. I'm looping with my class, keeping all of the same students. I truly loved my class and was super sad (for about 5 minutes) on the last day of school. As much as I love the lazier days of summer, I am looking forward to seeing them all again. Many of their parents have become friends, so I've gotten to see many of them over the summer, but I miss them all the same. I would still love to get an AP job someday, but I know that has to happen in someone else's timeframe, not mine, so I'm trying to be patient.

Tony is still working in DC, still getting up at 3 am every day. I miss him so much over the summer when I'm home. I love keeping things straight and going around here though so he can rest when he's at home. During the school year, he definitely doesn't get to do that enough. He works so hard and I'm so thankful and blessed.

We are celebrating our two year anniversary tomorrow! We aren't going to do much though because we are currently planning (and paying for) a trip to Dallas in December. We are going to see the Cowboys play in their new stadium, and have 10 others going with us. I'm soooo excited!

Kids are awesome- they both just finished a 4 day run of a play, a musical adaptation of Pinocchio. Mason was Gepetto and Abbie played a child and a donkey.
:-) They did an amazing job and I got all teary every time I watched it. I can't believe Abbie is starting 5th grade, her last year at work with me! :-( She is into soccer and about to start flag football, but don't let that fool you- she's as girly as they come. Nails, hair, and anything girly--- loves it all. Mason is still in band, and is the only bari sax player in his band. He made all-district band, first chair, and loves theatre as well. He's really social these days...I guess that's what being a teenager is all about. He's always got a friend over, or he's at a friend's house. Lots of fun, and never a dull moment.

All in all, life is just really good. Sure, we have our stressers day to day, but at the end of the day, I am just truly blessed.

Gosh time flies!

It's been so long since I updated. One day recently, I wrote an update on everyone, and when I hit "publish", it disappeared! I couldn't bring myself to type it all again. So, I'll attempt it again now!

Tony is still working in DC, and I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been a strain on our family. He gets very little sleep, as he gets up at 3 am every day to go to work. He gets home about 5:30 or 6 pm, and after dinner, and time with the kids, a little time for me, and a little time for himself, he's rarely in bed before 11. More than anything, I wish (and he wishes) he could find a job here, but there is no market here at the moment for what he does. DC is where all the jobs are, and his phone is ringing every day with job offers for up there! I offered to move to Fredericksburg and have done so repeatedly, but he just doesn't want to. I am hoping that 2010 will be the year he can find something here. He has a lot to look forward to this year- he will graduate in May from VCU with his Masters, and is going to Poland for a week before that to culminate his program. I am very happy for him, and proud of how hard he works to provide for us.

I am plugging along. With the recent budget announced, I am glad that I didn't get one of those AP jobs I applied for, as it looks like the last 4 APs hired may lose their jobs. I have more free time now than I have ever had, and am looking for the "next thing" I want to work on or accomplish. For right now, it's exercise, specifically running. I am trying very hard to get back into it as I would love to lose about 20 lbs. I really need to do it.

Mason is doing great in school and likes it more than he did last year. He auditioned for the school play and didn't get a great part, but he's happy to have gotten a part at all. He is so smart and I'm so proud of him. He is doing great on the sax and his teacher tells me all the time how talented he is. He is very excited about a Spring trip to Tennessee for a competition.

Abbie is also doing well....she just got contacts and looks so much older to me. I call her my shadow because she is around me all of the time. I love it. I keep telling myself she won't do so for much longer! She is all signed up for soccer and can't wait to play again. She's also very into music right now and art and can draw just about anything!

I'm hoping this is going to be a great year. We are going to the beach for a week in the Spring, and hopefully getting back out to Vegas at some point. Tony has a big birthday this year (30!!!) too so that will be fun to plan for.

SO that's where we are in a nutshell. Hopefully it won't be 6 months before I update again!