The school year has re-started. A new semester with new beginning and even two new students. They are both Chinese and a little bit lost, I think, but excited to be here and smile with and at me.
I'm teaching Statistics for the first time - the prep is more intense than with Algebra, mainly because I've never taught it, but I love the subject. The thick part is I didn't get my textbooks until the day before class started - not my school's fault - or my teacher's text until several days later, so I am one day ahead of my students and now trying for two days ahead. I'm really in the thick of it.
I'm doing 9 or 10 hours at school, coming home and working another hour - sometimes two. Sometimes I'm cooking dinner but sometimes I'm too tired or have too much to do and we decide to eat out. I'm in the thick of it.
But there is balance. I'm making time for myself every day. Sometimes it's Facebook, sometimes it's genealogy, sometimes it's cooking. Today I cooked something new and my dear son stated, "You can make this again." Bacon cheeseburger soup - nothing wrong with that. Now that is thick.
So what is all this thickness? It's meaning. Love. Purpose. Caring. Being busy with things I LOVE. Yeah - right now there's a mixture of tired and exhausted - joy and happiness - burdened and lightness. So much wonderful and so much so much. So much to be thankful for. So blessed.
It's thick, I tell ya.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
It feels like quicksand
This week. The more I fight it the harder it is to survive. It is final exam week and the students are stressed. The teachers are stressed. Most will pass but a few will fail.
This season also feels like quicksand. Before I knew it, I stepped into it and got stuck. But it's okay because I'd like to be stuck in a season where my Lord's name is associated with a major holiday, even if it is not politically correct to say it or truly celebrate the season the way it should be. If you don't know me, or don't know me well, I am not politically correct. Sometimes I say exactly what I am thinking without the filter I remind my students they need to engage. Don't tell them, but sometimes it is okay to speak without a filter!
To be honest, I'm having trouble getting into the decoration this year. Now that my son is home from college, maybe I'll feel like making it more festive. The boxes are out - and still neatly packed. The tree is up with lights but no decorations - and really, truly, I just like it plain with lights. It is simple and uncluttered and soothing.
So I shall contemplate and not fight it. Because fighting it makes it harder - like quicksand.
This season also feels like quicksand. Before I knew it, I stepped into it and got stuck. But it's okay because I'd like to be stuck in a season where my Lord's name is associated with a major holiday, even if it is not politically correct to say it or truly celebrate the season the way it should be. If you don't know me, or don't know me well, I am not politically correct. Sometimes I say exactly what I am thinking without the filter I remind my students they need to engage. Don't tell them, but sometimes it is okay to speak without a filter!
To be honest, I'm having trouble getting into the decoration this year. Now that my son is home from college, maybe I'll feel like making it more festive. The boxes are out - and still neatly packed. The tree is up with lights but no decorations - and really, truly, I just like it plain with lights. It is simple and uncluttered and soothing.
So I shall contemplate and not fight it. Because fighting it makes it harder - like quicksand.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Another corner
The last several months have been a whirlwind. Lots of twists and turns. Like a roller coaster, twists and turns in life can be fun and exciting and others make you appreciate life.
Back in April a cousin reconnected with me. I was grateful. I had previously found his email address and tried to make a connection several years ago and then - nothing. Email address was gone and I didn't know where to find him. So April comes and I get a facebook request - but he had already friended me a long time ago - I didn't believe it was him.
But it was. And then we began a journey of reconnecting and loving and remembering. He is my next oldest cousin - only 6 years my senior and we shared some great memories and he was in my wedding. I hadn't seen him since 1989 when our grandmother died. She was the glue of our family and when she died we all unglued from each other. It was painful and sad to not see my cousins. So being in contact with him was wonderful, but time was of the essence because he was in hospice care with a lung disease. And this is the next turn.
My sweet cousin died last weekend and I had to say another good-bye. At his service, I learned about the joyful life he lived and saw the grief and tears of his friends and caregivers. He was loved. I saw the gray on his head. I comforted his sister and received comfort from his brother. I was with family and my heart was jointly full and constantly emptying - if that makes any sense. I learned of his love for Jesus and his church. I learned he learned to love vegetables.
Another cousin, his brother, reminded me so much of my sister that I felt a sense of longing and regret simultaneously. I heard him sing and thought of my mother. I saw my cousins' children who looked so much like their beautiful grandmother I had twinges of deep sadness. Okay. More than twinges - deep deep painful cuts because she is the relative I miss the most.
I have decided to not let this happen again. I will not be separated from my family - even if I have to be the one to make sure we stay together. We need each other. We need to share laughter, tears, and memories. We need to make more memories and get together at times other than a funeral.
Back in April a cousin reconnected with me. I was grateful. I had previously found his email address and tried to make a connection several years ago and then - nothing. Email address was gone and I didn't know where to find him. So April comes and I get a facebook request - but he had already friended me a long time ago - I didn't believe it was him.
But it was. And then we began a journey of reconnecting and loving and remembering. He is my next oldest cousin - only 6 years my senior and we shared some great memories and he was in my wedding. I hadn't seen him since 1989 when our grandmother died. She was the glue of our family and when she died we all unglued from each other. It was painful and sad to not see my cousins. So being in contact with him was wonderful, but time was of the essence because he was in hospice care with a lung disease. And this is the next turn.
My sweet cousin died last weekend and I had to say another good-bye. At his service, I learned about the joyful life he lived and saw the grief and tears of his friends and caregivers. He was loved. I saw the gray on his head. I comforted his sister and received comfort from his brother. I was with family and my heart was jointly full and constantly emptying - if that makes any sense. I learned of his love for Jesus and his church. I learned he learned to love vegetables.
Another cousin, his brother, reminded me so much of my sister that I felt a sense of longing and regret simultaneously. I heard him sing and thought of my mother. I saw my cousins' children who looked so much like their beautiful grandmother I had twinges of deep sadness. Okay. More than twinges - deep deep painful cuts because she is the relative I miss the most.
I have decided to not let this happen again. I will not be separated from my family - even if I have to be the one to make sure we stay together. We need each other. We need to share laughter, tears, and memories. We need to make more memories and get together at times other than a funeral.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
The title of this blog
Turning points.
I chose it very intentionally, thinking that someday I may change it into something more relevant to my future life.
Well, I'm at my future life and I plan to keep the blog named as it is. Why?
I have recently entered a new phase of life - I've turned another corner. But I think this "corner" has been more of a gentle curve. It has taken two lifetimes, lived together. Those lifetime are my children.
Our daughter is now married and will begin a stage of life that will encompass many changes, many more than she can possible fathom. But, she is now grown and on her own with her husband. "Off the payroll" as we joke around here.
Our son has begun his college career and will hopefully see God's plan for him by the time graduation happens in a little under four years (we hope). He also is in the midst of great change and discovery and it is all very exciting.
So, it is me and Greg and the dog - again - 23 years later. And lest you think it is the same dog, it isn't. This is dog #3. Like the first dog, she is blonde and quite neurotic. Not a lot of change there.
Could we pick up where we left off? Are we missing our children? Isn't the house quieter? Yes, yes, and yes. But we are doing great. Why? We know we raised our kids to be God-honoring. We know they seek Him and are children after His own heart. We are proud of them, love them, and wish them well. Our son isn't "off the payroll" but he is a great distance away.
People are frequently trying to attribute feelings of grief to us over them being so far way. We are not grieving - we are celebrating! We have done the job God gave us and now we move on. We turn the corner and look with great anticipation for more exciting corners to turn.
Turning points. You bet it still applies.
I chose it very intentionally, thinking that someday I may change it into something more relevant to my future life.
Well, I'm at my future life and I plan to keep the blog named as it is. Why?
I have recently entered a new phase of life - I've turned another corner. But I think this "corner" has been more of a gentle curve. It has taken two lifetimes, lived together. Those lifetime are my children.
Our daughter is now married and will begin a stage of life that will encompass many changes, many more than she can possible fathom. But, she is now grown and on her own with her husband. "Off the payroll" as we joke around here.
Our son has begun his college career and will hopefully see God's plan for him by the time graduation happens in a little under four years (we hope). He also is in the midst of great change and discovery and it is all very exciting.
So, it is me and Greg and the dog - again - 23 years later. And lest you think it is the same dog, it isn't. This is dog #3. Like the first dog, she is blonde and quite neurotic. Not a lot of change there.
Could we pick up where we left off? Are we missing our children? Isn't the house quieter? Yes, yes, and yes. But we are doing great. Why? We know we raised our kids to be God-honoring. We know they seek Him and are children after His own heart. We are proud of them, love them, and wish them well. Our son isn't "off the payroll" but he is a great distance away.
People are frequently trying to attribute feelings of grief to us over them being so far way. We are not grieving - we are celebrating! We have done the job God gave us and now we move on. We turn the corner and look with great anticipation for more exciting corners to turn.
Turning points. You bet it still applies.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
One more week!
Then I'll be a mother-in-law. What? I'm way too young and cool to be a mother-in-law.
So while it isn't legal YET, Phill has moved into our house and our hearts, and has confessed his absolute love of smoothies (and my daughter - and not in that order).
I'm doing a cleanse of sort, using green smoothies as my primary diet. I am eating real food, especially at dinner and snacks, but veggie and fruit-filled smoothies are my mainstay at the moment. I almost feel energetic.
This week a lot is happening: going back to work on Wednesday and then the family starts arriving on Thursday and there's this event on Saturday. Oh yeah. My daughter's (and Phill's) wedding!
And yes, you can bet there will be pictures to follow!
So while it isn't legal YET, Phill has moved into our house and our hearts, and has confessed his absolute love of smoothies (and my daughter - and not in that order).
I'm doing a cleanse of sort, using green smoothies as my primary diet. I am eating real food, especially at dinner and snacks, but veggie and fruit-filled smoothies are my mainstay at the moment. I almost feel energetic.
This week a lot is happening: going back to work on Wednesday and then the family starts arriving on Thursday and there's this event on Saturday. Oh yeah. My daughter's (and Phill's) wedding!
And yes, you can bet there will be pictures to follow!
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Planning
It has been 11 days since I last posted! I could blame being really busy, but I won't because, except for a few days, things have been pretty relaxed.
The wedding is planned, the dress is here, programs are in progress and the belongings have been moved into an apartment in Texas. The old pick up truck has also been moved. But there's more planning going on besides this.
The boy child will move into his dorm a mere ten days after the wedding (maybe 11 or 12) so we are buying textbooks and deciding what he needs for the dorm. This process is way EASIER with a boy than with a girl. Apparently boys don't care if their linens coordinate or not. I think the shopping trip for him will be less than an hour.
As a teacher we have these designated days prior to the opening of school called "pre-planning." Not that we are planning to plan... it is planning before school, but in reality that never stops. We are constantly examining and re-examining what worked and didn't work.
Since the wedding is right in the middle of pre-planning this year, I have to take a couple of days off from work since we will have company and things to handle. So, I've been doing a lot of my planning work at home. I feel pretty good about two out of my three subjects, but I need to do a good bit more work for the third. I want to be able to hit the ground running on the first day of school and set a good and positive precedent for my students. It would be nice to get to school and only need to make copies and make sure my room was set up and the technology all was functional. (The technology usually is functional, FYI.)
The next 4 weeks will be very busy and exciting and then after that... well, the nest will be empty and it will be back to me and the husband and the dog. We are a little excited about that and also wondering how quiet things are really going to be here. Very, I think.
Our kids are mostly grown and we have done our jobs as parents. My prayer is God will continue to help them as they grow in the gifts He has given them and also help us as we adjust to the changes.
The wedding is planned, the dress is here, programs are in progress and the belongings have been moved into an apartment in Texas. The old pick up truck has also been moved. But there's more planning going on besides this.
The boy child will move into his dorm a mere ten days after the wedding (maybe 11 or 12) so we are buying textbooks and deciding what he needs for the dorm. This process is way EASIER with a boy than with a girl. Apparently boys don't care if their linens coordinate or not. I think the shopping trip for him will be less than an hour.
As a teacher we have these designated days prior to the opening of school called "pre-planning." Not that we are planning to plan... it is planning before school, but in reality that never stops. We are constantly examining and re-examining what worked and didn't work.
Since the wedding is right in the middle of pre-planning this year, I have to take a couple of days off from work since we will have company and things to handle. So, I've been doing a lot of my planning work at home. I feel pretty good about two out of my three subjects, but I need to do a good bit more work for the third. I want to be able to hit the ground running on the first day of school and set a good and positive precedent for my students. It would be nice to get to school and only need to make copies and make sure my room was set up and the technology all was functional. (The technology usually is functional, FYI.)
The next 4 weeks will be very busy and exciting and then after that... well, the nest will be empty and it will be back to me and the husband and the dog. We are a little excited about that and also wondering how quiet things are really going to be here. Very, I think.
Our kids are mostly grown and we have done our jobs as parents. My prayer is God will continue to help them as they grow in the gifts He has given them and also help us as we adjust to the changes.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Sometimes change is goo..... cough cough... good
At our house, there is a lot of change going on. DD is getting married in a mere 25 days. We are moving all her belongings early next week (and those of her fiance) three four states and a time change away in anticipation of that big day. Then the fiance moves into our house until the wedding day.
Ten days after that DS goes to college, and in the middle of ALL that, my work year starts with the beginning of the school year. Change. Sometimes I have to cough out the word gooo.... goooooo.... GOOD but change can be good.
I remember this time eight years ago. We had made the decision to buy a new, more teenager friendly house. We also took an amazing adventure to Alaska. Immediately after coming home, I was notified of an opening at the school and found myself with a full time job for the first time in many years. Lots of change. Oh... did I mentioned we moved the last day BEFORE school started? Lots of change, and it has been GREAT.
So DH and I will be empty-nesters. All the chicks will be gone and it will be us and the dog, and in March we will also have no more teenagers. We are looking forward to travelling and not being bound by kids' schedules. I know it will be different and others have had problems when the kids were out of the house, but we genuinely have always enjoyed each other's company and I don't see that changing ever. :)
So if I disappear for a while, never fear, I'm still around. You can't get rid of me THAT easy.
Ten days after that DS goes to college, and in the middle of ALL that, my work year starts with the beginning of the school year. Change. Sometimes I have to cough out the word gooo.... goooooo.... GOOD but change can be good.
I remember this time eight years ago. We had made the decision to buy a new, more teenager friendly house. We also took an amazing adventure to Alaska. Immediately after coming home, I was notified of an opening at the school and found myself with a full time job for the first time in many years. Lots of change. Oh... did I mentioned we moved the last day BEFORE school started? Lots of change, and it has been GREAT.
So DH and I will be empty-nesters. All the chicks will be gone and it will be us and the dog, and in March we will also have no more teenagers. We are looking forward to travelling and not being bound by kids' schedules. I know it will be different and others have had problems when the kids were out of the house, but we genuinely have always enjoyed each other's company and I don't see that changing ever. :)
So if I disappear for a while, never fear, I'm still around. You can't get rid of me THAT easy.
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