Dear Husband of Mine,
I love you. Welcome home to domestic bliss. There is a sink overflowing with dishes onto the counter (from before you and I ever left), a million piles of laundry (at least it's clean?), and a newly rearranged living room with everything out of place (or in new places) that you don't recognize...but still not *clean*. Oh, and don't forget those lovely piles of Christmas gifts on the couch I didn't put away.
But let's remember the things you did miss. You missed my face. Of course you did, right? Well, minus that while you were gone I didn't wear make-up every day and before you left I didn't even shower every day because we weren't going anywhere.
You probably missed my sweet voice, which has been yelling at kids for a week and a half because we've all caught a horrendous case of cabin fever.
You probably missed my sweet domestic skills while you were in India, but hey, I did put on our brand-spanking-new-super-comfortable sheets for you when you got home!
But what I hope you've missed most of all is the fact that having you 3/4 of the way around the world was tough...but it was good. I definitely think that it did us good. We seem better. Maybe that whole "absence makes the heart grow fonder". And now I'm just pathetic enough that I miss you when I leave in the morning, even though I know you'll be home when I get back from work. So I hope you missed my crazy-pathetic-needy-love for you...
And mostly? I hope you missed how good I am at being a homemaker...like last night when I accidentally washed a jar of Dap wall-spackle with our light delicates...
Welcome home, baby!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
cuteness. personified.
Anyone who has mentioned the word j-o-b to me in the last two years has heard how much I L-O-V-E mine. My kids are adorable. Seriously. Freaking. Adorable. I have 8 students this year that I have had in years past. That bond is strong. The additional 13 kids that I have gotten the pleasure of teaching this year are also incredible and never cease to make me smile...well, almost never.
Today we were discussing Grammar: what you learn to make your writing sound better. Yes, right now we're focusing on grammar in writing, not in speaking...baby steps. I have used the example of things they say, "Is we going to lunch yet?" Ummm. Yeah. Baby. Steps.
So today we discussed Questions vs. Statements. I was giving them an example because they were confused with the "being" verbs (He was running. -they said there was no "what" in his sentence...) so I told them, "I am 26." Immediately one of my girls replied, "But you look young!" Soon backed up by another student, "Really young! You do!"
Uhhhhh...thanks, guys.
So also, today I told my kids that my favorite day this week was Saturday. Some of my sweet, intuitive girls knew that it was because my husband is coming home so they wrote me cards on their own paper. Things like, "Miss Willis, I hope you have a great day on Saturday. I know you've missed him very much..."
and then my favorite one of the day...
"You're the double best teacher I could ever have."
See why my j-o-b is so awesome?
Today we were discussing Grammar: what you learn to make your writing sound better. Yes, right now we're focusing on grammar in writing, not in speaking...baby steps. I have used the example of things they say, "Is we going to lunch yet?" Ummm. Yeah. Baby. Steps.
So today we discussed Questions vs. Statements. I was giving them an example because they were confused with the "being" verbs (He was running. -they said there was no "what" in his sentence...) so I told them, "I am 26." Immediately one of my girls replied, "But you look young!" Soon backed up by another student, "Really young! You do!"
Uhhhhh...thanks, guys.
So also, today I told my kids that my favorite day this week was Saturday. Some of my sweet, intuitive girls knew that it was because my husband is coming home so they wrote me cards on their own paper. Things like, "Miss Willis, I hope you have a great day on Saturday. I know you've missed him very much..."
and then my favorite one of the day...
"You're the double best teacher I could ever have."
See why my j-o-b is so awesome?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
"oh oh i got a stick and i want your automatic"
Outkast reference, anyone?
I thought so too. So anyway, I was thinking about this song (why?) and realized that driving a stick (at one time) was difficult, terrifying, and horrible. At the same time, it was something I really wanted. My best friend took me out one night (terrified me) and made me drive through parking lots, back roads, and neighborhoods until I got the hang of it. Have I mentioned how bomb.com my best friend is? Yeah, she basically rocks.
I realized that this year Chris and I have thought of A MILLION goals we have for this year. Terrifying, as well. We want to find him a FT job, finish up his M.Div., possibly move?, re-paint MOST of our house, purge-purge-PURGE!, organize the crap we already have/still want and set a goal for each month of our year.
Our January goal will admittedly be behind. We want to finish organizing/cleaning our office (yes, it's one of the rooms we hope to paint but not right this minute) and set up a nice, clean, open workspace for BOTH of us. Chris has school work. I havefacebooking bills to keep me occupied. My oh-so-masculine husband looked at the Jan. edition of Better Homes & Gardens and we're trying to be in line with their month-by-month organizing/cleaning goals. Step 1: get the 3 bags of donations out on Jan. 27 when the DAV comes to pick them up. Hopefully I'll have even more bags to donate by then. The other great way we're trying to purge is our lovely FreeCycle network. Seriously. I. Love. This. Fellow Freecycler, Jennifer, freecycled me some BEAUTIFULLY colored hanging file folders. True sign of nerdiness awesome? Getting excited about hanging files. Indeed.
Anyway, as terrified as I am about these upcoming goals, I remember how difficult it was to learn to drive a stick shift (or wear a pointy-toed heel after years of the chunky, rubber-soled, round- and square-toed shoes of the mid-90s) and realize that I would, actually, NEVER want to drive an automatic (if I have the choice) and that my legs look better in pointy-toed heels & boots (and even flats)!
Happy Resolute-ing and goal-meeting in 2011!
I thought so too. So anyway, I was thinking about this song (why?) and realized that driving a stick (at one time) was difficult, terrifying, and horrible. At the same time, it was something I really wanted. My best friend took me out one night (terrified me) and made me drive through parking lots, back roads, and neighborhoods until I got the hang of it. Have I mentioned how bomb.com my best friend is? Yeah, she basically rocks.
I realized that this year Chris and I have thought of A MILLION goals we have for this year. Terrifying, as well. We want to find him a FT job, finish up his M.Div., possibly move?, re-paint MOST of our house, purge-purge-PURGE!, organize the crap we already have/still want and set a goal for each month of our year.
Our January goal will admittedly be behind. We want to finish organizing/cleaning our office (yes, it's one of the rooms we hope to paint but not right this minute) and set up a nice, clean, open workspace for BOTH of us. Chris has school work. I have
Anyway, as terrified as I am about these upcoming goals, I remember how difficult it was to learn to drive a stick shift (or wear a pointy-toed heel after years of the chunky, rubber-soled, round- and square-toed shoes of the mid-90s) and realize that I would, actually, NEVER want to drive an automatic (if I have the choice) and that my legs look better in pointy-toed heels & boots (and even flats)!
Happy Resolute-ing and goal-meeting in 2011!
Friday, January 7, 2011
it is 2011
It is a new year. I mean, it's been a new year for a week. I don't really make resolutions. Last year I set a goal to read 100 books. Well, that was a bust (in that I didn't read 100 books). However, I did read WAY more books than I'd read in previous years. I also discovered new authors that I really enjoyed. I really should've done better writing down the titles though, because now I'm not sure what some books I've read were titled. Oops. Hard to recommend a book when you don't know the title...
It's also been one of the craziest years of my life. That's impressive. Truly. I thought nothing would take the cake of 2009. I was, in fact, 100% sure that 2009 was the worst year of my life. It was probably still the worst year I've had in my own head, but 2010 was a real kicker.
The year started with my divorce getting finalized and losing one of the most influential people in my life, Lisa Relaford Coston. Losing those two relationships was, well, beyond huge. It's still unbelievable to me that I won't be able to call Lisa when I have a question or just to catch up on my life. No doubt, she's smiling down on all of us who were lucky enough to be called her students. Then, my grandmother died. It is no secret that our relationship was strained, but losing someone who had been a part of my life forever was very difficult for me to handle. We'd come a long way in the last few years, and still could've been better, but the aftermath of her passing has involved my father being concerned about housing, my father/aunts/sister/cousin going into debt to pay for the funeral costs, and multiple family feuds with my crazy aunt...not really the best-case scenario.
I started dating my wonderful husband this year and that is, by far, the best thing that happened to me. I don't know how to put in to words what his love has done for me and how it has shown me love, not only from him, but from Jesus. Getting divorced did a number on my relationship with Jesus. Getting loved again did a number on it too, sometimes good and sometimes bad. I'm stubborn. I have a super hard time accepting love I think I don't deserve. Truly, my husband has had an amazing impact on me and my heart.
(Side note: I had an amazing roommate this summer. Love you, Jess Colling.)
In July, my mom came back from a cruise. She had a great time (I hated it because she was unavailable for phone calls the whole time- lame), but had dental surgery when she got home. It was hilarious, but a little scary. She was VERY out of it for two days. Then, my stepdad started whining. We were really confused because he said he felt sick but couldn't describe what it was and Mom was on pain killers and we couldn't figure out how to balance it. Then, he got jaundiced while at the dinner theater during a show. They sent him straight to the ER during intermission. Weeks later he was gearing up for surgery, meeting with Chris to grant permission to marry me, and being informed that he had pancreatic cancer. Five months later, after chemo and liquid nutrition, losing 95 pounds, and two weeks in hospice, he's gone. Wow. That's been intense. What a way to end the year. December 31, at around 9:15 p.m., my stepfather died. That's a word combination I still don't dare say out loud.
Needless to say, this first week of 2011, I haven't been too motivated to make resolutions. However, today I got inspired. I watched Nate Berkus and found ways to "transform small spaces" at my house. My husband is motivated to help me clean our house (amazing). AND on one of my favorite photography blogs re-started their Healthy Train. I'm even contemplating joining twitter just to follow the Healthy Train tweets (I initially typed teets and laughed out loud even though it's not the correct spelling). So, I'm thinking of putting that Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
to good use and actually finish my whole 30 days. My husband and I may even do our Couch-to-5k that we started this year...maybe this time do it in its entirety (?), AND my third and final goal for the next 6 months especially (until Healthy Train ends) is to get my husband to try a 90-day cycle of P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program
.
Super overzealous? Possibly.
I'd also like to keep working on my lesson-planning and get a few weeks ahead this winter/spring as well as start going back to the library to check out some more books. Oh...and did I mention we're trying to paint our entire downstairs (including kitchen cabinets), fix up our sunporch, and paint our stairway? Yes indeed, it could be a very productive year.
Wish us luck!
And next year, please remind me that I don't do New Year's resolutions...
It's also been one of the craziest years of my life. That's impressive. Truly. I thought nothing would take the cake of 2009. I was, in fact, 100% sure that 2009 was the worst year of my life. It was probably still the worst year I've had in my own head, but 2010 was a real kicker.
The year started with my divorce getting finalized and losing one of the most influential people in my life, Lisa Relaford Coston. Losing those two relationships was, well, beyond huge. It's still unbelievable to me that I won't be able to call Lisa when I have a question or just to catch up on my life. No doubt, she's smiling down on all of us who were lucky enough to be called her students. Then, my grandmother died. It is no secret that our relationship was strained, but losing someone who had been a part of my life forever was very difficult for me to handle. We'd come a long way in the last few years, and still could've been better, but the aftermath of her passing has involved my father being concerned about housing, my father/aunts/sister/cousin going into debt to pay for the funeral costs, and multiple family feuds with my crazy aunt...not really the best-case scenario.
I started dating my wonderful husband this year and that is, by far, the best thing that happened to me. I don't know how to put in to words what his love has done for me and how it has shown me love, not only from him, but from Jesus. Getting divorced did a number on my relationship with Jesus. Getting loved again did a number on it too, sometimes good and sometimes bad. I'm stubborn. I have a super hard time accepting love I think I don't deserve. Truly, my husband has had an amazing impact on me and my heart.
(Side note: I had an amazing roommate this summer. Love you, Jess Colling.)
In July, my mom came back from a cruise. She had a great time (I hated it because she was unavailable for phone calls the whole time- lame), but had dental surgery when she got home. It was hilarious, but a little scary. She was VERY out of it for two days. Then, my stepdad started whining. We were really confused because he said he felt sick but couldn't describe what it was and Mom was on pain killers and we couldn't figure out how to balance it. Then, he got jaundiced while at the dinner theater during a show. They sent him straight to the ER during intermission. Weeks later he was gearing up for surgery, meeting with Chris to grant permission to marry me, and being informed that he had pancreatic cancer. Five months later, after chemo and liquid nutrition, losing 95 pounds, and two weeks in hospice, he's gone. Wow. That's been intense. What a way to end the year. December 31, at around 9:15 p.m., my stepfather died. That's a word combination I still don't dare say out loud.
Needless to say, this first week of 2011, I haven't been too motivated to make resolutions. However, today I got inspired. I watched Nate Berkus and found ways to "transform small spaces" at my house. My husband is motivated to help me clean our house (amazing). AND on one of my favorite photography blogs re-started their Healthy Train. I'm even contemplating joining twitter just to follow the Healthy Train tweets (I initially typed teets and laughed out loud even though it's not the correct spelling). So, I'm thinking of putting that Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
to good use and actually finish my whole 30 days. My husband and I may even do our Couch-to-5k that we started this year...maybe this time do it in its entirety (?), AND my third and final goal for the next 6 months especially (until Healthy Train ends) is to get my husband to try a 90-day cycle of P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program.Super overzealous? Possibly.
I'd also like to keep working on my lesson-planning and get a few weeks ahead this winter/spring as well as start going back to the library to check out some more books. Oh...and did I mention we're trying to paint our entire downstairs (including kitchen cabinets), fix up our sunporch, and paint our stairway? Yes indeed, it could be a very productive year.
Wish us luck!
And next year, please remind me that I don't do New Year's resolutions...
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