I find myself this weekend thinking about the changes that have occurred in our lives the last few months. It began in October when I got called back to teaching. I guess I can't really say I got 'called back' - because technically this position belonged to Tracy Buskirk - but she turned it down b/c it was only half time. Then Erin Voss turned it down because she just had a baby. I was planning on turning it down, too - but our HR director convinced me it was the right move. She was right. I ADORE teaching Young 5's. I ADORE our building. I ADORE my coworkers. I ADORE my principal. I HATE being away from Emma.
Our house sold. We went through a short sale just a few short weeks ago and moved into the house we'd been renovating since October. There is still work to do on the house and my entire life is packed in boxes and stacked in my garage. Yet I am sitting here looking at robins in my front yard and a squirrell staring at me through the window and I feel strangely at peace about it all. I haven't even driven by the old house. I can't. I won't.
I'm hoping we get to know some of our neighbors. It was lonely at the other house. I knew all the kids in our neighborhood and they would often stop by - but I had no friends there. I want friends here! I know that this is largely of my own doing. I have become extremely introverted. I care too much about what others think of me that I don't dare to just be myself and be friendly. I need to stop. I need to figure out how to accept that God made me who I am for a reason and I should love myself for the gifts I have. I don't need to please everyone and be 'socially acceptable' - I just need to be me. If anyone has figured out a formula for doing this - PLEASE SHARE. I'm desperate.
Evan has had a busy school year. He played soccer in the fall, he swam in the winter, now he's playing tennis. He has enjoyed it all but actually shone the most during soccer (which he liked the least). We'll see what next year brings.
Emma is her own little person. She adores balls, play food, chairs, cookies, puppies, bunnies (money!), playing outside, playing in the car, stuffed animals, dancing, ice cream, screaming, throwing tantrums, watching movies in the van, being pretty, sparkly things, digging in the dirt, pickles, cuppies, necklaces, and bracelets. She keeps us on our toes and laughing every day. My Dad has said that Evan would have NEVER gotten away with the things Emma gets away with - and he's right. I'm a much more layed-back parent now!
We are no longer actively trying for another child. The clomid didn't work and after 6 months we called it quits. I can't got through the roller coaster we went through the last time - the YEARS of trying takes too much out of you. Not to mention all the money we poured into it. We just aren't able to do that again. I'm just focusing on getting healthy right now. I'm doing Weight Watchers and walking/running. So far, so good - I'm under 200 lbs. again. Joel lost 20 lbs when we first started, too! Even Evan has slimmed down a bit...
Emma is sitting at the piano making up a song about "cuppies". She is wearing ONE wooden shoe and carrying a Honda label. Clear snot is flowing from both her nostrils into her mouth. Can you see what I see?! She is hilarious...now we've got both wooden shoes on and we're emptying the laundry basket of socks in order to put it on our head as a hat. And a little giggle escapes...LOVE YOU PUNKIN' POO!
Our house sold. We went through a short sale just a few short weeks ago and moved into the house we'd been renovating since October. There is still work to do on the house and my entire life is packed in boxes and stacked in my garage. Yet I am sitting here looking at robins in my front yard and a squirrell staring at me through the window and I feel strangely at peace about it all. I haven't even driven by the old house. I can't. I won't.
I'm hoping we get to know some of our neighbors. It was lonely at the other house. I knew all the kids in our neighborhood and they would often stop by - but I had no friends there. I want friends here! I know that this is largely of my own doing. I have become extremely introverted. I care too much about what others think of me that I don't dare to just be myself and be friendly. I need to stop. I need to figure out how to accept that God made me who I am for a reason and I should love myself for the gifts I have. I don't need to please everyone and be 'socially acceptable' - I just need to be me. If anyone has figured out a formula for doing this - PLEASE SHARE. I'm desperate.
Evan has had a busy school year. He played soccer in the fall, he swam in the winter, now he's playing tennis. He has enjoyed it all but actually shone the most during soccer (which he liked the least). We'll see what next year brings.
Emma is her own little person. She adores balls, play food, chairs, cookies, puppies, bunnies (money!), playing outside, playing in the car, stuffed animals, dancing, ice cream, screaming, throwing tantrums, watching movies in the van, being pretty, sparkly things, digging in the dirt, pickles, cuppies, necklaces, and bracelets. She keeps us on our toes and laughing every day. My Dad has said that Evan would have NEVER gotten away with the things Emma gets away with - and he's right. I'm a much more layed-back parent now!
We are no longer actively trying for another child. The clomid didn't work and after 6 months we called it quits. I can't got through the roller coaster we went through the last time - the YEARS of trying takes too much out of you. Not to mention all the money we poured into it. We just aren't able to do that again. I'm just focusing on getting healthy right now. I'm doing Weight Watchers and walking/running. So far, so good - I'm under 200 lbs. again. Joel lost 20 lbs when we first started, too! Even Evan has slimmed down a bit...
Emma is sitting at the piano making up a song about "cuppies". She is wearing ONE wooden shoe and carrying a Honda label. Clear snot is flowing from both her nostrils into her mouth. Can you see what I see?! She is hilarious...now we've got both wooden shoes on and we're emptying the laundry basket of socks in order to put it on our head as a hat. And a little giggle escapes...LOVE YOU PUNKIN' POO!
