Saturday, September 21, 2013

Still Truckin' Along

I never thought time could move any faster than it already did.  Apparently, when you add a job to the mix, time really picks up the pace.  How in the world did we already hit the first day of Fall?  We are three quarters of the way through September!  The kids' teachers are already talking about getting signed up for the first Parent/Teacher conferences.  Have they even had enough time to get to know my kids?  I feel like the first day was just yesterday!

In other news, I am LOVING my job.  It is the perfect fit for me in the time department, it just right challenge wise, teaching only science has made my days teaching so much fun, and I'm finding it's a perfect balance for me as far as being a mom, wife,  and teacher.  So in summary: I'm praising God for His provision and goodness to me.

The Girl got a part in a local production of Beauty and the Beast.  She will be playing Gaston, which we are still laughing about over a week later.  My quiet, girly, peace keeping,  people pleasing girl will be playing a loud, boisterous, arrogant, bossy, mean-spirited, MAN.   We've decided this is a great time to learn about how to stretch ourselves.  It's not called acting for nothing!

The Little Man is getting ready to run his first cross country race this weekend.  He was training for the mile, but came home from practice this week and announced he signed up for the mile and a half race.  Well.  Okay.  It should be interesting.  He does love to run, though.  I love that!

The Hubs and I have been moving forward with our plans for a new future business.  I became a CEO this week, we got our tax stuff set up, and we bought our first property.  I'm keeping the details a bit sparse on purpose.  First, I would like to see some things develop before getting too attached, and also, I'm not sure exactly of all the details, the vision, etc. I'm sure you're thinking, "Well, that's kind of irresponsible!", as I'm sure it sounds that way.  The truth is, from the inception of the idea to where we are now, there have been some twists and turns.  The final idea and goal has remained somewhat the same, but getting there has been interesting.  So, instead of firmly planting our stakes into the ground, I'm trying to be very flexible and let God lead this where He would like it to go.  James 4:13-16 is rolling around in my head as I type this.  "13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil." (NIV)

It's a very busy season in life.  I'm sure I'll look back at these days with thankfulness and fondness.  I can't wait to see what we harvest!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Everything Looks Better When You Stand in a Hole

A real conversation around the dinner table:

D: I can hardly wait to pick our corn.  I love corn! This is going to be so good!
P: Yup! I'm gonna want to eat it everyday.
me: Guys, I don't know how well our corn is actually doing.  I mean it's not very tall.  I think that it's supposed to be much taller.
D: Well, I saw a corn cob growing on it, so I think it will be fine.
me: Well, I've heard a saying that corn is supposed to be "Knee high by the fourth of July." Ours wasn't even close to being that tall on the fourth of July.
P:  What?! Yes it was!  It was totally knee high if you stood in a hole.
The Girl and I: (Blank stares)

I still am not sure how to respond.  Clearly logic has left the building.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Catching Our Breath

What can I say?  There has been tons going on in the Wright household.  All of a sudden, we went from Summertime, to the beginning of the school year, and on through the first week of September.  The official end of summer, Labor Day, has come and gone.  I can barely type this, but some of the trees have leaves that are attempting to change color.  I think that is premature if you ask me, but there's always going to be those "Fall Fanatic" types.  You know, people who start talking about sweaters, everything pumpkin, and chilly weather as soon as the calendar flips from August to September.  I guess even the tree world has some of those.  I know you know where I stand on that. 

*Ahem*

First up,  the big news around here: I got a part time job!  I know.  Crazy doesn't really cover it adequately.   I have been substitute teaching for the past two years, and slowly God was preparing my heart to get back into my own classroom.  About two weeks ago, a friend of mine called up and told me about a part-time position at the school she teaches at.  While I had been looking for a part-time teaching job, teaching at a school outside of my own children's school, seemed out of the question.  Transportation was the big concern, with a side of dismissal time conflicts.  I was super bummed out because I really felt like God was asking me to get back into the classroom again, He had completely changed my heart towards teaching again (I had swore never to return to the elementary classroom), but I couldn't figure out a way to make it work.  Turns out, I didn't have to figure anything out.  I just had to wait on Him.  He provided the perfect job with the perfect hours.  I am now teaching a third/fourth grade combined science class.  I love the age, the curriculum, and the subject.  I love that I am home to take my kids to school and pick them up, that I can plan and grade while they are at school, (meaning I'm available to them while they are home) and I love that I'm teaching one subject only.  Something I learned about myself when I taught a year at the high school level, was I appreciated a less diverse day.  The kids provide plenty of diversity for me.   Having a solid, unrivaled focus in regards to the teaching material, lets me connect with the kids in a way that works better for me.  I'm very thankful, and at awe at the way my Shepherd always leads me in the direction that is in my best interest.

Also, we had the pleasure of replacing our dishwasher.  Our stove also went out this summer, so it looks like we might be at the end of our appliances' lives.  We all know that these things happen, but since we have been considering a move, it makes the decision on what to replace the appliance with a little more difficult.  We don't want to spend more money than we have to if we aren't going to stay.  However, since we change our minds about moving about every other day, I also want to get something that we like. 

At the same time I was getting used to my new life as a part-time teacher (Which by the way I only had three days to get used to.  Yes. Three.), The Little Man got sick for four days.  Yes.  School is back in session and so are the days of colds and other gross things.  This particular illness kept both of us up through out the entire night for two nights in those four days.  Just when he thought he was doing better, he'd go down again for another round.  It was rough. 

Also, nothing says, "Welcome back to school!" better than a little Girl Bullying.  Awesome.  This was one of those times that I was so thankful for The Hubs.  I mean I lost all rational thinking for a small amount of time and went straight into emotional decision making mode.  I love it when I do that.  Thankfully, The Hubs stepped in and snapped me back into reality, and we were able to meet up with principals and counselors and get things situated without too much damage.  Prayerfully.  

So as I plan science experiments, sign off on homework assignments (my kids as well as my students), shuttle kids back and forth between activities, listen carefully about all sorts of recess antics, and stick to a strict bedtime routine, I think I can officially say our long, lazy, summer days are but a small speck in the rear view mirror.