Boo

Scared you, right? I'm like a ghost these days when it comes to blogging. See what a difference a real job makes? I started blogging when I was working in an office and I spent about an hour a day working and the rest of the day answering the phone. That tends to leave a lot of time on your hands. That's something I really NEVER seem to have anymore. I keep thinking it will get better, but so far that doesn't seem to be happening.

I'm definitely NOT complaining. I love, love, love, love, LOVE being a teacher. I am still having so much fun. But, some days I feel like the hampster on the wheel...running, running, running and just when I think I might slow down a little, I have to start running again.

Let me fill you in on the latest news about the housing conditions. I have been praying for the miracle. We still don't have to be out of here for a little while, but December 1 was my goal. Well, on Monday I mentioned our need for a place at our staff prayer time and on Tuesday morning(yesterday) one of the other teachers came in and said, "I have a house if you want it." Seems she and her husband were trying the "flip this house" thing...it worked well the first time, so the 2nd time her husband bought two houses and then the market flipped instead of the houses. So, they have this one house sitting empty...they really haven't done a lot of work to it yet, but she offered it to us for $800 a month. No down payment, no deposit, no credit check (after all, she knows where I work and now she'll know where I live!) The catch is that they will eventually put it up on the market so we need to keep it "ready to show" (motivation to keep the house really clean and neat) and then if it sells we have to be ready to move.

I can live with that. God knows what's ahead, I don't have to worry about it. That's the whole joy of being part of the "planning stages".

Have a great Halloween!

Time Flies

They say time flies when you are having fun! I guess so. I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. Things have gotten so busy, I barely have time to check my e-mail these days.

I am having a blast! I love being a teacher. There are moments when it's a "job"...just like any job. Things you have to do that you don't really care for. But, for the most part, I do love my job. Besides regular classroom activities, I am the Jr. class advisor and we are getting ready for the big Jr.-Sr. banquet in May. (no dancing at our school) This is our equivalent to Prom. So, it's a big deal. Last year the Juniors (now Seniors) hosted the event on a nice harbor cruise. My Juniors were worried that we wouldn't be able to top that. Last Saturday, I spent the day with 4 kids, running around Seattle looking at all kinds of beautiful venues...none of which we would be able to afford. Finally we found the perfect place, in our price range and we are beginning to plan a night no one will forget for a long time. I love this part of the job too!

Yesterday and today, the kids are out of school while we (the staff) are attending a conference sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools. It's nice to be doing something a little different (though sleeping in would be even nicer). Even through this, God is teaching me some important lessons.

I went to a Baptist church when I was young. As soon as I was old enough to choose for myself, I left that church and I will honestly say that it left a bad taste in my mouth. We never learned about an "abundant" Christian life...seems like all we ever heard was "THOU SHALT NOT..." As teens we weren't allowed to dance, listen to rock and roll music, play cards, wear the clothes everyone else was wearing, go to movies, etc. etc. etc. It appears that the Association of Christian Schools is leaning towards that type of belief system. So, yesterday I could feel the rebellious teenager rising up within me. I really had to pray about my attitude and I started calming down a little.

God makes us all differently. Maybe part of my purpose is to help balance things out. It's all part of His plan, right? I am learning to listen with an open mind and then state my own feelings without stepping on too many toes. (at least I hope I am)

Never Mind

Remember the "old days" of Saturday Night Live? Gilda Radner played a character who would come onto the news and discuss social issues...except she was older and always got them wrong. Example: She did a long diatribe about violins in school. Why shouldn't children learn to play the violin? Yada Yada Yada....Then Chevy Chase would say, "That's Violence in schools, not violins!" And she would look at the camera and say, "Never mind."

Well, I'm looking at the camera...turns out if something is too good to be true, then it's probably too good to be true. We are now looking for a place to live. The free rent house fell through. So, now we are looking and waiting for another miracle. I don't know all the details, just know that plans changed.

This may slow down the process somewhat. I was hoping to move by the end of this month, but this may change things until the 1st of December. Have to have time to put away some money. I'm still trying to figure out where to find some money to put away. LOL

You know what though? It all goes back to the planning stages...even with the new job (which is a miracle and I still love every minute of it)...it doesn't mean that God is done teaching us lessons. I still have to be open to what He's showing me and where He's leading me. It will be exciting and fun to see where we end up.

Casual Day

Why is it that the wearing of jeans to work is SUCH an exciting thing? Seriously, last Friday we (the staff at school) found out that we may wear jeans on Fridays (can't wear my 'holey' jeans...even if I do work at a Christian school). This morning, when the alarm went off, I nearly jumped out of bed!

The older I get the more I realize that jeans are like good friends. (1) You have to look long and hard to find jeans that fit just right...not too tight, not too lose...just right. (2) The more you wear them, the more you love them. (3) Good jeans are always comfortable. (4) My jeans make me feel less stressed. I can just be me when wearing them...don't have to pretend to be 'Miss Professional'. (5) I can go anywhere I love going in my jeans. (6) As they grow older, they are even better...softer, better color, even more comfortable. (7) I keep good jeans around for YEARS! I do whatever it takes to make them last.

Alright, the day is beginning...gotta get my jeans moving!

October 1

Can it really be October already?

I don't get sick too often, but whatever I had this past week, knocked ME OUT! I went to bed early Friday night and slept through the night. Spent most of Saturday in bed. Wish I could say I got lots of sleep...but room-mate and her boyfriend decided that whatever needed to be pounded would be pounded on Saturday. Then there were her two boys and his one up above me on the hardwood floor. Even in socks, they sounded like a herd of elephants as they chased each other from the living room, through the dining room, through the kitchen and back into the living room. And by noon I was ready to get up and give ALL of them lessons in closing a door without slamming it. The topper was when her bf decided to mow the lawn while it wasn't raining. Seems the very small patch of grass right by my bedroom window must have been the grassiest in the entire yard. He was mowing by my window for at least 45 minutes.

Since I was so well rested after Saturday, I was still really sick on Sunday...so didn't make it too church and actually slept for a few extra hours in peace. I did finally have to get up because ex must have called me 25 times in 2 hours. He and Zack were shopping because Zack has his first big dance this coming weekend. It would have just been easier for me to go shopping with them.

Something good did come out of the weekend though. Ex has some really good friends who are snowbirds (not that it really snows much here). They have a 5th wheel that is bigger than most apartments and they get in it around the end of October and don't come back until mid-April. They usually have their daughter come to their house once a day while they are gone to take care of their cat. Well, they have generously offered to let Zack and I stay there for 5 months while they are gone. That's my September miracle! They offered the house for FREE! I insisted that we at least pay the electric, seeing that they aren't going to be there to use any of it. It's about 5 miles closer to school...but further away from Zack's friends. However, after he got a look at the house, he doesn't seem to mind. (I think the wide screen got him.)

The other problem is that "cat" is old and they are worried that contact with a dog would cause a heart attack. So, we are in the process of looking for a place for Sammi to stay while we live there. I love Sammi, she's part of the family...but this is an opportunity that we really can't give up. Don't have to come up with first, last, and deposit...can put money away to be prepared for a nice little house in April, and still have some left over for groceries and much needed car repairs.
(My car is a blog unto itself.)

Anyway, here I am, ready to start a new month. And seeing that I spent 45 minutes this morning trying to get into Zack's locked room...another blog, another time...I guess I better get moving!

Catching up

I really never thought I'd get this far behind on my blogging. Seeing that it's been so long since I last blogged, don't even really know where to start.

I'm staying busy, busy, busy. There are always lessons to plan, papers to grade, meetings to attend, places to get Zack to, places to get myself to...and somewhere in there, I need to find time to sleep. This past week it seemed to all catch up to me and just felt like I was running on a treadmill. Couldn't quite get to where I needed to get to, but kept running anyway. I overslept THREE days in a row...still made it to school on time, but I'm not a morning person. I don't like to start out in a rush...have to e-a-s-e my way into the day. When that doesn't happen, it seems like I never do get the day in control. Then on top of that, started sneezing Wednesday...felt the lightness in my head, the congestion building in the chest...and sure enough by Thursday had a full out head cold. I probably should have spent Thursday and maybe even Friday in bed...but it's too early in the year to start taking sick days. I like to save them for the spring when I can actually enjoy them. :)

Anyway, all of this is a sign to me that I need to slow down and get caught up. I can't be super teacher...super mom...super church volunteer...I just have to do what I can do and do it well. I came home from school yesterday (after the two hour round trip to drop Zack off at his Dad's)...took some cold medicine and went to bed. I woke up about 3 hours later, had a bowl of soup and went back to bed. I didn't sleep the whole time and must admit to watching "The Biggest Loser" (which I had taped during the week) while eating a 2 lb. bag of M&M's. I am obviously not vying for the BL crown.

So, today and tomorrow are going to be slow down days. I have some lessons to plan...need to do some housework...but whatever doesn't get done isn't going to kill me or anyone else. I have to realize that I'm human (and one that's getting older, and hopefully wiser). I have to learn to set a pace that I can live with.

It's still early...so think I will start out with another cup of coffee and my recording of the first episode of "Ugly Betty".

Gangsta boy--Part II

We have to move...I think I ended on that note.

This is another opportunity for a miracle. August was full of them (job, financial stuff, etc.) and I claimed more for the rest of the year...but you know, when you don't need a miracle, you tend to forget to look for them. Maybe this is just God's way of reminding me that He's around and He's going to continue taking care of things.

We don't have to be out until January 1st. However, I have NO intention of moving during Christmas break. It takes me a week to get my decorations fully out and where I want them, then another week (or sometimes two because I'm more resistant in taking them down) to un-decorate. I don't want to be doing both and moving...and no way I'm going through Christmas without all of my decorations up and around. So, my plan is to move by December 1st. (sooner, if possible)

Now, that gives us a couple of months, so should be no problem, right? Oh, I wish that were true. But as wise and insightful as I may sound on my blog (ok, that's what I'm usually going for anyway)...my financial life is really a total mess.

I have been broke since a few days after I graduated from college. Ok, maybe not the whole time. But I've never made a lot of money and usually when I've made a good salary, it's been a monthly pay check and by the time the end of the month rolls around, the whole thing goes to pay for what we need and what we owe.

I do have a savings account. I use it to hold my money so that I don't spend it while it's in my physical possession. I struggle to make it last from one pay check to another. I used to spend frivolously. I haven't been able to do that for a while. For the past 5 years, my income has barely covered my out-go.

My point there is to say it's not like I have first month, last month and deposit stuck away somewhere. And before I even need that, I have to pass a credit check. (Ha, with that 5 figured number that I still owe for my Master's Degree.)

So, here's the requirements (or wish list) for my next miracle: (1) house (not apartment, condo or townhouse),(2) pets ok, (can't get rid of Sammi--she's family), (3)no credit check, (4) water, sewage included, (5) close to where we are now (that's Zack's wish since his bff lives within bicycle distance) and (6) CHEAP. If you don't live on the west coast, you don't know just how expensive the cost of living is here. I'm now bringing home about $1800 a month. I'm praying for $900 a month or under for rent...that would be a miracle.

Parts of the miracle have begun already...my ex has volunteered to pay whatever it takes to get us into a place. How nice, you may be saying...and yes, I suppose it is...however, that means no child support payments for a few months because we would be getting it all in one lump sum for that time period. If that's what it takes, we'll manage that.

I'll keep you up to date with all the details. In the meantime...off to school!