It Must Be Beautiful in Vermont This Time of Year...

It is no secret that I love Vermont.  Yes, I know, it is cold and it snows a lot.  And to a Southerner, that can be really terrifying.  But it is absolutely gorgeous.  And it is full of things we love--good and local food, beautiful vistas, amazing summers, all things fall (again, my thoughts on that are no secret!), and community minded people.

I have always wanted to live in Vermont.  I think my obsession started young, with the movie, White Christmas.  Then I read lots of books based in New England.  And I went to Vermont with my grandparents when I was in 7th grade.  

And then we got to live there for two years, which was amazing.  There were some times that I was just done with the snow (but, let me tell you a secret, native Vermonters feel that way too by a certain point), and I definitely had some periods of homesickness, but there was so much about living there that we loved.

We found out a while ago that the director of UVM's Living/Learning Pottery Studio would be retiring this coming May.  So we have known about this possible job for a while now.  And, while we have tried to guard our hearts and not hope too much, I'm going to tell you that we were not very successful at that!  The job got posted a little over a month ago, Bech applied, had a phone interview, and then flew up there on his birthday for an interview.  We just found out this past week that he got the job!

So at the end of this summer, we will be moving to Burlington, Vermont.  

We are both so excited!  We have explained it to Jack, and he seems excited too.  But, honestly, we could tell him we were moving to, well, anywhere, and he would think that was great.  But I do think he is going to love Vermont.  How can he not?

I could make a huge list of all of the things I am excited about--let's be real, y'all know I will probably do that soon.  The only think I love as much as fountain drinks, stripes, fall, and fair isle (which is like Christmas + stripes!) is making lists.  But for now, I'm going to say just two things:

1.  I am excited to move somewhere we have lived before.  We know the area.  We know people there.  When we moved to State College two years ago, I had never even been here and I knew NO ONE here.  That is more than a little terrifying.  We have moved so gosh darn much and it is always somewhere new.  But we know Burlington.  We know the good and the bad and we still love it.  We have drank the Vermont Kool-Aid (or craft beer/local cider) and are proud of it!

2.  I am excited about our church, Redeemer Burlington.  When we lived in Burlington, this church plant was just starting our last year there.  We were able to be a small part of that.  And now it is growing and meeting on Sundays.  Seriously, take a look around that website.  Pretty cool vision, huh?

This church is huge part of the draw Bech and I feel to Burlington.  Joseph, the pastor, referenced Keller once in a conversation with us, talking about how, as Christians, we are called not to leave the cities and places bereft of Christians for our nice, safe suburbs, but to go into those places and love them.  Burlington is the most unchurched city in the most unchurched state in the nation.  And that's where we want to be, there, among those people and at this church.

I am sure there will be more posts about this in the weeks and months to come.  And y'all know this means there will be a plethora of fall pictures and posts.  Sorry, I'm not sorry!

Another game of catch up...

Life is crazy crazy crazy right now!  I am going to try to get up to speed, but I am exhausted so this post will be ALL over the place!

Two weekends ago, Jack started getting sick.  I took him to the doctor Monday, and poor Jackie boy was diagnosed with pneumonia.

A week and a half later, after 10 days of antibiotics and 3 doctors visits, we are finally finished with it!  Jack was a trooper.  He had a couple of rough nights, but he took his medicine like a champ.

Gosh, I love this kid.

But, since he got sick at the start of our last week at home together, we spent most of the week cuddled up on the couch or playing legos and trains at home.  Fun, yes, but not what I had in mind for my last week home--I was imagining the library every day, a couple of "chicky christy" (Chick-fil-a) visits, etc.

This past Monday, I started my job!

Sidenote, I'm not sure how much I am allowed to say about my job.  I was pretty vague about my teaching job last year as well.  Last fall I interviewed for a position at Penn State.  They liked me, but I wasn't as qualified as HR was requiring for the hire.  I got a call in December about doing an interim job for them.  So I will be working for a little over 3 months, filling in for a girl who had the chance to be part of a program abroad.  

Since it is interim, the pay is not amazing, but I am glad to be doing something!  Already, I think I am going to really enjoy this job.  I have some past experience, and I am excited about different opportunities within the job.

But, I am also excited that it is for 3 months.  I have enjoyed my time at home with Jack so much.  And, while staying at home is no piece of cake, being a working mom, at least for me personally, is more demanding.  By the end of April, when the full time staff person returns, I will be ready to return to being home with Jackie boy!

Even though I am enjoying my job, this has been a rough week so far!  It is FREEZING here in State College.  Literally, I don't think we are going to have a day above freezing for at least two weeks.  I am dying.

And then, on top of that, our pipes froze Tuesday night.  I managed to scrape together a (gross) bun for work that day, then came home, exhausted and cold, but expecting a nice, warm shower.  The maintenance men had come that morning and fixed the pipes.  But it was so cold during the day that they refroze again.

One of the maintenance men came out again and, bless his heart, spent two hours working on it.  He managed to unfreeze the downstairs pipes (so the kitchen sink and the half bath worked), but he needed to come back the next day to fix the upstairs.  Which meant I washed my hair in the kitchen sink.

I know kitchen sink baths are super cute when you are a baby.  They are NOT cute when you are 28.

Oh yeah, and add to this week that Bech has a show next week, so he has been at the studio until at least 9:30 every night. 

So tonight, Jack and I got home, ate cereal (and not organic...just the generic Wegman's nastiness, #momoftheyear) for dinner, and both took hot baths/shower.  He's asleep and I am about to be, and 9:15.  

To say I am excited is an understatement.

Sometimes you just need cereal for dinner and a geriatric bedtime.

Plus I just filled my rubber water bottle up to take to bed with me.

Just call me Grandma!

5 on Friday

I guess this is all my blogging has become lately, 5 on Friday.  But I love it...I can put down five random things if I so desire (which I always desire!).  Check out others here!

O   N   E

I am, perhaps, a little too excited about Herbal Essences new/old releases.  They rereleased two of their old shampoo and conditioner sets, and they're even using the old bottles.

Actually, I just realized there is no perhaps.   I am definitely too excited.  

Please tell me someone else actually cares about this too?

 T   W   O

This one is actually exciting.  Tonight I get to go to hear Andrew Peterson in concert!  

I absolutely adore Andrew's music.  I'm not much of a concert goer (can we say old lady?), but I knew that if he came close to me, I wanted to go!

And he is!  He will be in the Lancaster area (so about two hours away) tonight, and we are going with some new friends!

T   H   R   E   E

I don't know if I've really talked about this on my blog, but we have already been so thankful and excited for all of our new friends here.  I honestly don't think that the social aspect of moving has ever been easier, unless it was in Malawi.

We have made some sweet church friends who we already love spending time with.  The ceramics department and graduate students have been incredible as well.  

And I'm even making friends in grocery stores.

Who said Yankees were unfriendly?

F   O   U   R

Sadly, I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week.  

I was sad, but not completely disappointed.  It was for a Penn State admissions counselor.  I was pretty pumped to have even gotten to the final interviews.  I was also pretty sure that if someone actually had a Penn State connection, they would get it over me.

I had another interview yesterday.  It went well, but I'm not sure that I want it to work out.  It would involve some aspects I'm not so sure about (I know that sounded super weird.  But when I do or don't get it, I'll elaborate!).

So it's back to the grind...I just want a job!  I had NO idea it would be this hard!

F   I   V   E

Check out my little bud in his Sunday best!  Fall weather means breaking out his cute fall clothes.

Actually it's been rather warm this week...I think it will be 81 tomorrow.  But next week should be in the 60's!

Bech was firing a kiln all Sunday, so Jack and I brought him a picnic dinner to eat outside of the art building.  

I don't even want to think about the age where Jack stops wearing smocked longalls.  He just melts my heart in this outfit.

Alright, that was cathartic/fun.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Randoms...

Isn't summer supposed to be relaxing?

Just kidding, life late has been a lot more calm than the school year.

But we do have a lot on our plate right now.  Bech is working on having a pottery sale at the end of July here in Baton Rouge.  I am packing and planning our move.

Plus, I am job hunting.  Oh the job hunting.  There are NO Latin teaching job openings in or around State College, PA.  Actually there really aren't many towns around State College, so that makes the pickings very slim.  

And, according to Craigslist, unless I want to drive trucks, act in adult movies, or watch movies with a rich shy man, there really isn't much out there.

(Actual Craigslist ad)

That's not totally true.  There is the University, so I am literally applying for every possible job there.  I am praying that one of those will work out!  I know that I can't do what I really want to (teach Latin) so I am open to really any job within the University.  That way I will get great benefits, a good amount of vacation time, and can take an upper level Latin or Greek class (to keep my reading up) for a majorly discounted amount.

Jack and I have been spending a lot of time at home the past couple of weeks, while I pack and work on applications.  But we do get cabin fever.  Our complex has a pool, which has been great.  We've hit up the splash pad a couple of times.

But one of my new favorite "treats" is going to Burger King for a 50¢ cone.  There is one about 2 minutes from us with an inside play place.  Plus they have one of those new drink machines which lets me make cherry vanilla diet dr. pepper.  

(I have a major weakness for fountain drinks.  MAJOR.  It's why I love Sonic so much.)

Yup, we're big fans.

I'm also planning a small (mostly) family party for Jack on Saturday afternoon.  His two year old birthday is Friday (seriously?  How is this possible?), but we're going to celebrate with family the next day.

He wants a Mickey Party and I am happy to oblige.  I am keeping it simple: BBQ brisket, coleslaw, potato casserole, and Mickey Mouse cupcakes.  He will just be so happy to see all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Here's my little (almost) two year old.  I was pulling things out of his closet and packing them, and he freaked out when I tried to pack his bumbo and laugh and learn table.  Nevermind that I put that table up at Christmas time and he's never noticed it's gone, or that he never liked his bumbo as a baby and probably sat in it 5 times.  I managed to eventually pack the activity table, but the chair is still sitting in his room.  

I better get back to work.  There are rich shy men out there just waiting for my resume!

Lately...

As I write this, we are soaking up the sun and drinking margarita's in San Diego.  And I know that we are having a blast.  I will share all about it when we get back, but I thought I would let you know what we've been up to before our trip!

First of all, check out this email from my sweet husband.  Seriously, I have a keeper. 

And he's right...God has always had it planned, and He's not going to stop now.  It would be offensive for me to not trust that!

At Jack's daycare, they celebrated summer birthday's this past week.  I brought cupcakes and we all sang to Jack.  And he thought it was just grand.  Seriously.  I guess he's seen this happen with all of the other kids so he was a pro.

On Thursday this week, I just had to finish packing up my room.  So Jack and I took our time in the morning, folding clothes while watching the Today show and stopping for doughnuts.  My boy loves him some doughnuts.  And I love time with my Jackie.

Here's my room all packed up.  This has been such a rough week for me emotionally.  I love my job.  I love working with middle school kids.  And I never thought I would leave this job after a year.  Seeing my room all empty and bare was so hard. 

Here's my buddy boy on the first day of school this year and the last.  

Ohmylanta, has he grown!  Bech and I watched some old iphone videos the other night.  He has gone from a little baby, barely walking and saying so few words, to a toddler who runs and jumps and talks in complete sentences.  

I will be back soon with some pictures of San Diego!

Moving Stress

And again it's been a while since I posted!  Thank you all for your sweet blog and facebook comments about our move.  It was fun to realize that so many of y'all had Pennsylvania connections.  I am sure I will be asking some of y'all lots of questions in the comings weeks!

I have had a crazy past couple of weeks.  School is ending.  Actually yesterday was the student's last day and today and tomorrow the teachers are just working in their classrooms.  

I am so sad to leave this job.  I knew that I would like teaching middle school Latin, but I didn't realize how much!  I absolutely love my kids and I love my jobs.  I love the school I teach at.  I love taking Jack to daycare when I go to school and running over to the Lower School once a day to check in on him.  I am going to miss this job so much!

I am really struggling right now with the move.  I think it's because, for the first time, I have nothing set up in our new spot.  We moved to Malawi first and foremost because I wanted to go back.  We both wanted to move to Jackson, but I got my job at First Pres there before we moved.  We moved to Vermont for my graduate school.  Even though we were planning to move to Baton Rouge for the special student program at LSU, I already had my current job lined up by the end of March.

For once, I have nothing set in stone in Pennsylvania.  I have applied for several jobs and plan on applying for many more in the coming weeks.  But there are no Latin teaching jobs in that area.  

And, to be really honest, this is hard.  I am willing to do whatever so that we complete Bech's graduate program debt free (he already has a stipend and free tuition).  And I know that God will provide me with a job (He always has, wherever we have moved!).  

But even though I know all of this, I am still stressing out.  

Here are some old school Caedmon's Call lyrics that always comfort me when I am stressing out and doubting God's provision:

Well this day's been crazy

But everything's happened on schedulefrom the rain and the coldTo the drink that I spilled on my shirt'Cause You knew how You'd save mebefore I fell dead in the gardenAnd You knew this daylong before You made me out of dirt 
And You know the plans that You have for me And You can't plan the end and not plan the means And so I suppose I just need some peaceJust to get me to sleep.

Anyway, sorry for such a downer of a post!  I would love any and all prayers (and job offers...just kidding...mostly!).

Randoms

Next week is Mardi Gras break, and I could not be more ready for it.  

Let's take a moment right now and think about the concept of Mardi Gras break...absolutely brilliant.  I get a week off now, and a week off for Easter.  I am so thankful for that!

So since I am currently brain dead (it's been a long week), I am just going to update with some randoms.

* We met with the session a couple of weeks ago.  We are set to join the church now!  We love our church here.  

* We are also going to a Wednesday night community group/Bible study through the church.  I am loving it.  The family who hosts it has 5 children and a baby on the way.  I love just being in their house!

* Jack has been so grumpy lately.  I think his eye teeth are coming in right now.  He has been waking 30 minutes to an hour early in the morning.

* But he has also been so fun in so many other ways.  He has been talking more and more.  I love his little voice!  And he has been playing jokes on us...I love his little sense of humor!

* This weekend, we are going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras!  This is my first Mardi Gras.  A lot of Mississippi people celebrate Mardi Gras, but my family really never did.  We will be there Saturday and Sunday and will get to see several parades.  Plus, we will spend lots of time with family.

* Tomorrow is a half day at school.  I am hoping to get Jack home, sans nap.  That way I can put him in the crib and crawl into bed myself!  There are few things I love more than naps!

* I have been doing really well with my menu planning.  Until tonight.  So tonight was eat at Cane's night.  Oh well, it worked!

That's all.  I'm going to finish my episode of Dance Moms and go to bed.  Only 1 more day until break!!!

Midweek Randoms

Today was my last day of school before the break!  We actually didn't have any middle school students, but teachers were still required to be on campus.  We got to leave half day, so I grabbed Jack from daycare, ran a couple errands, and took a nap with him! (well not in his crib, but at the same time)

So I am officially on break, now!  YAY!  Tomorrow, when Bech gets home from work, we will get in the car and head to Brookhaven to start our holiday break.  

CAN.NOT.WAIT.

So here are some random thoughts/pictures/updates:

* I am loving being a teacher--I have gotten SO many fun gifts!  Lots of yummy food and candy, lots of fun to-go cups (I love tervis cups with lids and straws!), gift cards, and some really creative gifts.  One child made homemade tabasco sauce, homemade worcestershire sauce, and homemade cajun seasoning, with the cutest labels.  I can't wait to cook with them!

* I have a real issue with hoarding.  I even blogged about it once before.  No, I don't have a crazy hoarding house--what I hoard is Christmas money and gift cards (oh, and bath goodies!).  But I was so proud of myself yesterday...I spent some gift cards!  I had two Barnes & Noble gift cards, so I ordered 3 books I had been wanting.  I never spend gift cards that soon and I rarely (if ever) buy fun books for myself.  I can't wait for my new books to come in.  (I got three of Louise Penny's books, if anyone is wondering.  She's a Canadian mystery writer...really good!)

* Bech and I are loving having our buddy boy back home and healthy.  Here's Bech with our little reader.  Jack loves books right now (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of his favorites)...I hope he always loves reading!

* I have been wanting to start some family traditions for Christmas.  I know Jack wouldn't really get a lot of things right now, so we started small this year.  Monday night, we ran through Starbucks for some Christmas drinks (thanks, students, for my gift card!) and drove around some near-by neighborhoods to look at lights.  We left about 30 minutes before Jack's bedtime and drove around for about an hour.  I thought Jack, who was all bundled up in pj's and had his lovey's and pacifier, would surely fall asleep, but he didn't.  He fought sleep so he could see all the lights!

* Tomorrow morning, I am going to a friends to be crafty!  I am excited...working doesn't leave much pinterest inspired crafty time.

* I have a couple more presents that are in the mail or are waiting to be wrapped and one more present to buy (but I already have it picked out, so that should be easy).  I am glad to be done with shopping  and not having to run around last minute!

So that's what's going on around here.  Less than a week until Christmas...I can't wait!

Life...

Whew...I need life to calm down!  We have had a busy couple of weeks and have a busy week coming up.

Here's what's been going on lately:

* This past week, school was busy!  The term is almost over (next week!) so I had several parents email me for conferences.  I also have tests and study guides I have been making and grading.

I was nervous for a couple of the conferences.  I think the relationship between parents and teachers has really changed in recent years.

Here's a good summary.  And I was definitely worried that the conferences would follow these lines.  But they were great!  The parents are totally on my side in how to deal with their kids, and I loved getting to talk to them!  What a blessing!

* This past weekend was Bech's 10th high school reunion.  We had fun.  I was surprised by how many of his classmates I knew.  I enjoyed meeting new ones, as well.  I don't want to do it every weekend, but it was enjoyable.

* We got to spend lots of time with Bech's family this past weekend.  We have seen his parents recently, but we also got to see his brothers, sister-in-law, and grandmother.  Jack LOVED the attention and did great the whole weekend.

* Speaking of my little man, he is getting his molars!  He has been sort of quiet and calm lately.  I was worried that he was getting sick, but I now know the culprit.

* Sunday, I went to Highlands, my childhood church, with my sister.  I love being back there--so many old friends and good memories.  Plus, it was a missions Sunday.  I always get so emotional at those, but I loved it.  Check out this video they made of some of their missionaries.  

The best part is the missionaries at the end--the Bonhams and Kines!  Nikki Travis Bonham and I grew up in youth group together.  The families left two weeks ago for Bogota, Columbia.  I am so excited for them and for their future work.

* Yesterday felt like fall here!  I LOVED it.  I ran by the store after work and grabbed some ingredients to make chili for dinner.  Bech and I ate chili while I burned an apple pie scented candle.  The perfect end to a fall day!

* This weekend, we are headed to God's country--Oxford, Mississippi.  I plan on seeing friends, spending time in the grove, eating Bottletree Bakery, and hanging out with my dad and sister.  To say I can't wait would be an understatement!  

Plus, it's going to be chilly Saturday night.  I plan on wearing some tights and boots to the grove!

That's what we've been up to.  Right now, I need to get to work on narratives for the end of the term.  Any other teachers have to do narratives for each student?

I'm still alive...

I know, I have not blogged in forever.  We have been crazy lately!

Here's what we've been up to:

* I took the first part of my comps for my masters (and the hardest of the three tests!).  This test is a sight translation--two Greek passages (poetry and prose) and two Latin passages (same).  I had to pass this one in its entirety (not like a 70% or anything like that) in order to take the other two.  I passed half--the prose section.  I was not surprised, but still sad.  I completely bombed the Greek poetry section.  Literally, Homer was probably rolling in his grave.  I was bummed, but then I ate the Ben and Jerry's ice cream that I had on hand, and life was good again.  

I can't take the exam again until January, so I am working on my translation in the mean time (and studying for the other two!).

* Jack is currently the daycare biter.  Ugh.  I don't know what to do about it!  He bit three people on Monday and one child today.  He gets mad because he wants a toy they have, and he reaches over and bites.  Total depravity, anyone?

Seriously, though, I have no idea how to deal with this.  They put him in "the thinking chair," but I'm not sure how much he understands.  If he did it at home (which he doesn't do), I would give his hand a pinch.  But they don't do physical punishment there (which I totally understand).  Any tips?  Anyone had the biter before?

* Bech and my 5 year anniversary is this Saturday.  We are going to New Orleans (to stay in Bech's parents condo), and Bech's parents are watching Jack.  I am really sad about leaving Jack.  I have only been away from him one night, and that was while we were moving (so I was too tired to even notice!).  

I am excited, though, about exploring New Orleans with Bech and not having to worry about naptime or enough snacks.  It will be fun to be kid free for a little bit!

*  Teaching is good, still, but hard!  Progress reports were this week, so I've had lots of not so fun emails with parents.  It is hard to tell parents that their child isn't doing so hot in my class.  The parents have, for the most part, been so great in their responses, and I am thankful for that!

I think that's all I have for tonight.  There is a Sophocles chorus that is needing my attention!

Life lately...

Remember when I actually updated?

Remember when I actually had time to update?

Yeah, me neither.

Needless to say, we have been busy around here!  I actually have a little bit of time to relax because Jack is sleeping.  He had a fever this morning, so we had to bring him home.  Bech came and got him and missed part of the morning at work; I got a sub for 8th period and came as soon I was finished with my other classes.  I don't know whats going on with Jack--he hasn't had a fever since he got home, but he took a 2 hour morning nap and he's been sleeping for 2 1/2 this afternoon.

Unfortunately, that means one of us is going to have to stay home with him tomorrow...we haven't figured that one out, yet!

Other than that, life is good.  Very busy, but good.  Here's what's been going on/random Baton Rouge observations:

1.  Our neighbors are about our age and have a boy 1 day younger than Jack.  We are doing babysitting swaps with them.  A week and a half ago, they watched Jack and we went out for some sushi!  We found a great place here in Baton Rouge.  It's not Little Tokyo, but it's pretty yummy.

2.  Bech was in a car wreck this past Saturday.  He is fine, it wasn't his fault, but the car is a little banged up.  I am so proud of him--he got on the phone Monday morning with USAA (the best insurance ever), dropped his truck off at a local body shop, and got a rental car.  So hopefully the truck will be fixed soon!

3.  I am still enjoying teaching, and still working hard!  I know that in  another week or two I will get ahead enough in lesson plans/quizzes/handouts/etc. that I won't have to do much work at home.  The only problem is I teach 1st through 4th, have three periods off, then teach 8th again.  So I will always have to do a little work at home, just to prepared for what I'm teaching!

4.  I have been listening to the radio some on the way to and from school...and I have heard "Pour Some Sugar on Me" 6 times in the past week and a half!  Really???  Any Baton Rouge readers want to enlighten me on this?  Why this song?  Is Def Leppard from here?  Anyway, don't worry, I promptly change the station when it comes on.

5. Jack is such a boy.  His nickname at daycare is "Destructo."  He can tear up a room in 5 seconds flat.  Oh goodness...

6. 1 1/2 until my translation comprehensive test...AHHH!!!  Bech and Jack are going to New Orleans this weekend, and I am going to stay home and get some hardcore studying/translating done.  I'm sad that I won't be with them, but I need to work on this!

That's all I've got.  Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Reflections on my first week of teaching...

I am done with my first week of teaching (we started last Wednesday).

Whew!  It is a lot of work!  I know I have taught before, but I had curriculum and less students!  This time, I am making up my Bible curriculum and adding to my Latin curriculum.  So lots of lesson planning and lesson creating!

There are also lots of little things you have to learn with teaching:  dining hall rules, recess duty, back to school night procedures, etc.  I am slowly getting the hang of all of these aspects of my new job.

I also have had to do a lot of work outside of school.  I have worked on lessons every night so far.  I think I am finally up to speed enough that I won't have to work every night.  I also have some planning periods, so that will definitely help.

That all seems so negative--I don't mean to seem like a Debbie Downer!  I am also really enjoying my job.  I teach sweet, smart kids.

I have SO many resources available to me!  I was copying papers the first day of school and asked some other teachers if there was a limit to how much I copied.  I was just imagining ABC--we couldn't copy too much because we had to get toner shipped in from the States!  So it is strange to just be able to make copies whenever I need them.

I love my co-workers.  I work with some really funny and kind teachers.  They have all been so quick to help me--and I need lots of help!  I feel like I am constantly asking questions.

So those are my thoughts so far.  I am sure I will have lots of challenges and (hopefully!) triumphs in the months to come!

I'm still alive...

...but just barely!

No, that's not totally true!  I had my first day of school yesterday and I survived.  But I was EXHAUSTED by the time it was over.  Today went a lot more smoothly.  I didn't have to check the schedule every second, I remembered some of the students names, I wasn't completely wiped out by the end of the day.

It is tough to be a teacher!  I have been at school for the past week and a half every day for school or training, then I come home and work on lesson plans (oh, and let's be honest, some Olympic watching!).

I am teaching 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students--that's a lot of names to remember!  My students are (for the most part) sweet.  I can already tell I am going to have some students that will be a little bit of a handful.  But I have my eye on them and we will nip that in the bud pretty quickly!

Jack and I before the first day of school.

Check out Jack's new kicks!  Couldn't you just eat him up in them?

We have gotten a good amount of stuff done around the house lately.  Today we got our dining room chairs in.  When I find a chance to breathe, I will post pics...I LOVE them!

Next Year...

I hate the not-knowing.  I am a planner and I like to know everything.  I like to have everything figured out.  So not knowing for sure what our plans our for next year has been a huge stresser!  I need to start looking for a place to live!  I need a job!

But now, we have a plan!  This past week, I flew down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a job interview.  Jack and I got into New Orleans at 11 p.m.  I interviewed and taught a few classes on Tuesday.  And Wednesday morning, I was offered the job!  I signed the contract Wednesday afternoon.  We are headed to Baton Rouge this summer, and I will be teaching middle school Latin at a private school there.

Bech and I talked and prayed about it a lot, and we both felt like this would be a good job for  me.  And then, after spending time at the school, I just really wanted to work there.  It is a sweet, sweet school.  I had already accepted the job and was about to sign the contract, when the middle school principal and I met the headmaster quickly.  The headmaster turned out to be my college minister's (Chip Welch) dad.  Seriously?  I know that this school is the right place for us next year!

So now we are starting to look at houses and apartments for next year.  We are both so excited to be back in the South and back near family!