School begins tomorrow

Summer break 2018 is almost entirely gone.  Definitely the fastest yet, and also definitely a summer of transition.  Robert has flown the nest, and now our youngest is starting high school.  No little kids are living here anymore. 

I think we are all ready to get back to school.  For one thing, I can't earn a paycheck as a substitute teacher if there isn't school.  The kids activities have been going strong for four weeks, and school actually gives me a bit of a break from my responsibilities for those activities (after this week).  I am excited to see what the year brings for our family, and I'm so looking forward to it.  I will definitely miss sleeping in, but I am grateful for this life we all share!

We got to talk to Robert

Saturday evening the four of us were sitting around watching the Reds game when the phone rang.  Robert had told us when he got to basics that he was allowed to call in three weeks.  We had no idea when...so thank goodness we were home!  He sounded really good, and it was wonderful to hear his voice.  He is truly enjoying the challenge, and we are very proud of him.

On the downside, he is having some medical issues.  If anyone has some spare prayers, we would appreciate them being sent up on his behalf.  Please pray that it is all due to stress, which is something that should heal with time, and not something more serious.  That would cause him to be medically discharged, not to mention having to deal with something serious with his health.  As a friend of mine said yesterday, "This is the first time I'll pray for an ulcer."

All I really wanted to do was to exercise

I am not unaware of the fact that I have gained weight.  I am beginning to reach numbers I REALLY don't like, and I'm trying to be mindful of what I eat.  I am also aware that exercising is important, and I'm trying to, at the very least, be mindful of moving around.  Today, I actually wanted to exercise.  Apparently, it just wasn't meant to be.  I wanted to ride our exercise bike.  I don't enjoy it, but it is good for me.  Of course, literally less than a minute after I began, one of the pedals fell off.  We've been having problems with it, but are you kidding me????  After dinner I decided I would work out on the wii.  I have really hurt my shoulder to the point I'm nearly in tears most of the time, but I decided again, at least it would be some moving.  Of course I couldn't get the board to work and then I couldn't get the remotes to work.  Ugh!!!!  I can tell my hormones are out of whack because this insignificant thing makes me want to cry!

Our last full week of summer

This summer flew by the fastest yet.  Although, as I was talking to a teacher this past weekend, he pointed out the school years fly by faster as well.  That is very true.

We had a very enjoyable weekend.  Saturday was the wedding for the daughter of some friends.  I have known Sarah since she was about ten, so seeing her get married just doesn't seem possible.  It was a rather small but very lovely wedding.  Although we didn't know many people there, we really enjoyed ourselves.

Yesterday morning was church, followed by a meeting.  After that Andrew had another meeting and I had to run a lengthy errand for band.  Late afternoon we all headed to my mom's house where we left the kids and the dog.  We were so grateful to my mom for being willing to keep them all overnight.  Andrew and I had dinner and loved having the time to ourselves.  The best part was that dinner was almost entirely covered by a gift card we had received...bonus!!!

Today has been a bit of a catch up day, and a planning day.  I've been planning for band items and Andrew has been planning football.  We both agreed we are ready for school to begin again.  Andrew says he is bored (that isn't so much the case for me), and although I'm not looking forward to early wake up times, they won't be as early as the last two years and I'm looking forward to a routine.

I'm so grateful for this life we have!

Lifelong friendships

I've written before about my gratitude for my friendships.  When we celebrated Robert's graduation, I had a friend who flew in from New York to join us.  He is a friend from high school who is two years older.  He came home from college for my high school graduation, flew in from New Jersey for my college graduation, flew in from Chicago for my wedding, and drove in from Chicago for my 40th birthday and then stayed for my dad's funeral.  My friend Stephanie has been at all of those events as well, and it truly my best friend.  I am so incredibly blessed to have these two in my life.  I can't imagine having a milestone and not having them there.  I made sure to take a picture at Robert's graduation party because I am so blessed.

This evening, Thomas has two friends spending the night.  Thomas has been friends with both of these young men for over ten years, but these two only became friends together in the last year.  By some miracle, the stars have aligned and all three schedules were open for tonight.  These three are cracking me up.  I am so grateful that Thomas has these friendships.  It has been five years since moved, and yet you would never know it.  I am having a blast listening to them.  My heart is so full!

School begins in two weeks

Two weeks from today is the first day of school...and I am really looking forward to it!  I know it is going to be crazy, but I also know it won't be as crazy as years past.  For one thing, Robert was the child for whom school was the biggest challenge and who was most likely to have problems  I no longer have to worry about that.  For another thing, all four of us will be (on most days) in one building.  Talk about convenient!  There is also the fact that Catherine and Thomas pretty much do the same activities so we don't have to worry about multiple schedules.  And finally, I am ready to get back in the classroom myself and get some extra income!  I really am looking forward to being around the teens.  They are a pretty good group of kids.  I am already scheduled for the second day of school.  I doubt that I will be scheduled for day one, although you never know, and I will be one of the first requested if that happens.  On days that I am not scheduled, I will get to sleep 45 minutes later than I did last year since we don't have to worry about the really early tech school bus.  Overall, there are just a lot of positives about this year and I am looking forward to them!

I feel good about it

Yesterday I had an interview for a job at the local university.  Honestly, it was the first job interview I've ever had where I wasn't almost certain I was going to get the job.  Life circumstances have been a great blessing to me in that regard.  After the interview, I felt very much that I was the leading candidate, and I'm not sure if they were interviewing anyone else.  However, there were several drawbacks to the job, most specifically the schedule.  At the interview I learned there were no benefits at all with the job (exactly like subbing), but there was also virtually no flexibility.  And I truly, truly love subbing.  Andrew agreed it would be nice to have an increased income, but pointed out he also appreciates the flexibility of my job and that there are no evening hours.

After being at the high school last evening for band uniform fitting (for five hours since I was coordinating), I knew in my heart that is where I want to be.  Andrew fully supported my decision, and I officially withdrew my name this morning.  From the response, it sounds as though I was definitely the leading candidate, but as I told Andrew, I don't regret my decision one bit.  I feel confidant in my decision, and so lucky to have such an incredibly supportive husband!