I have decided....

1). I have decided that spending 2 hours on yard work of lifting, sweeping and stacking (wood that is), is simply too much work for one person. Although it's quite relaxing doing it alone, it can get kind of strenuous when you have to lift huge rounds of oak (firewood we haven't chopped up yet).

2). I have decided that the vacation blog was just not working as a day by day thing, so I will be posting it all here within the next few days. This is so you can be a part of our vacation too. :)

3). I have decided that applying for teaching jobs is wwwaaaaayyyyyyyyy too involved. Politics of Universities SUCK!!!

4). I have decided that there are people in my life I don't have to like......and to keep this as ambiguous as possible, that's all I am going to say about that one.

5). I have decided that uprooting my life and moving to a different city without a job lined up is pretty stressful on a daily basis. Not a day goes by that I don't think about, worry about, or hope that I will get a teaching job SOON!!!

6). I have decided that being on unemployment is not exciting. I thought I would enjoy this time off, but I don't for some reason. I think I was made to be in the classroom. Even though my students irritated me immensely from time to time, I miss the majority of my students. I love being in front of a class, goofing off, making fun of my students, having fun and making my students laugh while I teach a lesson. I have gotten TONS of feedback about how great of an instructor I am (not to toot my own horn, but I really think I was made for the teaching profession) from numerous students. They think I'm swell. :)

7). I have decided that I don't think I want to be a house wife full time. I need direction and goals to work towards. This is why College Instructing is so good for me. I get to be under pressure for 4 months at a time and then I get a break. I love it! I love it! I love it! (Now, if I can just find some classes to teach I would be happy as a clam......God, did you hear that? I would really like some classes please).

8). I have decided that I need to make new friends. I love the friends that I've got, but I think I need a couple more close girlfriends to hang out with and grab coffee with. People whom I can have deep conversations with...about life, God, marriage etc... People that I connect with on that level are few and far between. I would like a couple more people that I can connect with on that level.

9). I have decided that I am NOT the same person I was 10 years ago. It's amazing how much people change from their early 20's to their early 30's. (No I am not quite 30 yet, but I will be in a few months). Priorities change, maturity level changes, wisdom changes, what's important in life changes. I can't quite explain it, but life somehow morphs within that time period.

10). I have decided that stages in life are to be appreciated. I was talking to a family member a couple of days ago and we talked about how when we were younger we just wanted to grow up. Now that I am an adult, on my second house, have finished my education (probably.....a PhD is still up in the air.....and for that matter so is another MA degree...but let's not talk about that right now), I am going to appreciate where I am. Not look to the future, not look to 'when we have more money' or 'when we have a different house' or maybe even 'when we have kids or on doing missions', but really appreciate every stage of life from this point forward. I have taken for granted for too long. I am going to stop and smell the roses, take that leisurely walk, and do the things that make me happy.

11). I have decided that buying this house and moving up here has been one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life - but it's good. It's making me grow. It's making my marriage stronger - - - well, most of the time stronger. Sometimes we still argue about remodeling, but that's to be expected. When Shawn and I look back on this time in our lives, I guarantee that we are going to laugh and wonder how crazy we were to do this when we were newly married.

12). I have decided that I like who I am! If someone doesn't like it, or if someone feels threatened by me, so be it. I have heard for too long that 'I was intimidated by you when I first got to know you' and for a long time I felt bad about that. But no more. You are who you are and I am who I am......nothing more, nothing less. Let's coexist and love each other for who we are. :)

13). I have decided that I am done with this blog. :)