Vacation - Portland is Fun.

I've been spending this week just outside of Portland with my roommate from college Rebekah. A baby made their family a family of three just 6 short weeks ago and I am here meeting my new niece. Here is what this weekend has consisted of in no particular order:

• Gilmore Girls - We've watched a lot. Feeding the Baby. Rocking the Baby. Watching the show.
  
• Food - Rebekah has cooked - Lasagne, Pizza and many delicious delicacies. Yum.
• Powell's Books - I have heard about Powell's for years and have never gotten to go. We spent an hour wandering around and barely scratched the surface. I bought Make Way for Ducklings and an old copy of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems. It was great amounts of fun.
• Pancakes - We went to the original Original Pancake House for breakfast today. I got the chocolate chip pancakes. It was heaven.
• Baby - I have spent lots of time holding my new niece. She is cute and fun and wonderful.
• Talking - Rebekah and I have spent the weekend reminiscing about college and discussing our recent lives.
• Smocking - During the many runs of Gilmore Girls I have been working on a dress for the baby when she is 6 months old.
• Sleep - I seriously have not gotten up before 11am Texas Time. While that's 9am here, I feel like I have been sleeping really late. It has been wonderful.
• Clothes - They have an Eddie Bauer Outlet less than 20 minutes from their house. I found some amazing clothes. However, since I have no room in my suitcase, I'm going to have to mail them home.

So yes. It has been a wonderful trip. I'm going to be sad to leave, but I'm ready to get home. From the looks of it the cold weather is going to be following me home. It's been warm in Texas all week, but tomorrow it is going to be cold. Just my luck. Hopefully it will be an uneventful trip. Pictures (there aren't many) will be coming soon.

Be careful what you wish for...

Life has settled into a fairly uneventful routine. I work 15-20 hours a week at PC and get random babysitting hours when I can. Not the best economic schedule in the world, but it works. However, since my life is so relaxed I start to believe I can do ridiculous things. Like babysit from 7:30am -5:30pm and then drive to another house to babysit from 6-9pm. Then get up (on a saturday) and babysit from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Sunday is full to the brim with church, teaching choir, and working. What was I thinking? Especially since I'm leaving to go out of town on MONDAY.

So earlier this month I was lamenting about money. Therefore, I accepted every babysitting opportunity that appeared. Now I'm lamenting about having time to wash clothes and pack. I guess I just can't win. :) So I'm going to be thankful for these opportunities. Especially since I'm not going to be working much next week. Rainy Portland, here I come.

Good thing God likes to throw open windows. I'll be interested to see which one flies open next.

A Change of Plans

I’ve started cleaning out my life. Less clutter. Less STUFF! In the process of doing this I stumbled upon my teaching certificate. I don’t think that I had looked at it since I received it in the mail. I opened it up, for grins and giggles and saw something that made my stomach drop. The expiration date. March of 2011. When I received my certificate in late 2005, 2011 seemed so far away. But it hit me this weekend: that’s in TWO years. If I decide not to teach in the next couple of years, I am basically deciding that I am not going to. My inaction is making the decision for me.

I don’t do well with inaction. With just sitting around waiting. So in I go. I have looked up teacher fairs. Figured out which school districts have online applications and which have paper ones. Started wrestling through my reference list. There is so much work that goes into applying to be a teacher. So this is my new hobby. Get Joanna a teaching job in 2009.

To make myself more marketable I am planning on taking the 4-8 Mathematics certification exam. I took the practice exam tonight and while I didn’t do horribly, I do have some subjects I need to brush up on – Statistics and Geometry. Algebra should mainly be refreshing my mind on what terms actually mean.

I’ve been dreading this whole teaching thing, but tonight I got excited. I LOVED sitting there and pondering the math problems. Delving deep into my brain and remembering what all of the strange words meant. And I only called my sister once! Maybe this teaching thing won’t be as bad as I fear.

So I’m still waiting. Waiting for God to show me what He wants me to do. But now as I wait I am going to move toward this door. And if it closes, I know it will be from Him. But for now, I’m resting in the fact that only HE could have possibly gotten me excited about teaching again.

With a simple math test.

Me and One of My Loves

Today I went to talk to a woman about watching her sweet little 11 month old boy. The plan after that was to head to eat dinner and hang out with some friends. Went to get in my car and it wouldn't start. At all. No clicking or anything. Awesome. Someone came and got me and the boys went to get my car later.

I was at the aforementioned friends house and their little girl and I were reading books. When it was time for me to leave (I was coming back to spend the night, but she didn't know this) she gave me a huge hug and whispered in my ear, "I love you." My heart melted. To think I've known this little girl since she was born. She is truly in my heart.


When she was just a baby!












Now she's three!

Home

Home is such an interesting word. I have created a wonderful home for myself in Tyler. I love the town and my friends that have become another family to me. But when I think about home, I always come back to the place that is where I lived from the time I was born until I went to College. Fort Worth. I love this town. I love knowing where everything is (well, everything that hasn't moved or been built since 2002). I love seeing my elementary school and knowing that kids are still learning there. It brings joy to my heart every time I come.

Tonight as I drove to Fort Worth to see my parents and take my yearly trip to the Rodeo, there was a sense of joy at seeing the familiar street signs. The names of Trail Lake and Hulen made me smile. It brought a thought to mind. I get so excited to go back to Fort Worth. Am I ever even close to that excited to go to heaven? I know I don't normally go into the deep and spiritual here, but this really struck me tonight.

I get so easily caught up in the here and now. The things that need to get done.
Go to work. Check.
Go to the store. Check.
Clean my room. Check. (occasionaly)
Figure out what you want to do with your life. No check yet.

All of these things keep life going. I like to eat as much as the next girl, and that would be awfully difficult without weekly trips to the store. However, It's not the big picture. It's not what my main focus should be. There is so much more to life than this. There is a place so much better than this. And I want the thought of heaven to bring a smile to my face. Much like the sight of Hulen Street did today.

Later this weekend I'm sure I will return to my regularly scheduled blogging program. Seriously, I'm about to enter the land of the Cowboy - the Stock Show and Rodeo. I'm sure interesting stories will come. But I'm going to enjoy it and remember that this is for now. Something better is coming. I want to long for my true home.

I've been tagged

My roommate tagged me to write 6 things about myself a VERY long time ago. I started the post. Really I did, but I never finished it. Today I am babysitting and currently the little boy is sleeping. So I did the facebook version. 25 things about yourself. Just think 19 extra random facts for your enjoyment.

1. I love to be the center of attention - in controlled situations. I love it when it's your birthday party and it's all about you. Or at Christmas when it is your turn to open presents. Telling stories (as long as they aren't too embarrassing). My roommate blames this tendency on my being the youngest child in my family.

2. I love acting. I used to be in musicals every year growing up. I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't the greatest actor, but there was something so freeing about getting up on a stage and being someone else. And getting to sing while doing it, even better.

3. I love traveling. I haven't been to Europe in 7 years but I love going and experiencing new cultures. Even my recent trip to San Francisco was fun because life is so different out there than my existence in East Texas. However, even with my love of traveling, Texas is my home. I wouldn't want to live away from here for more than a couple of years.

4. It drives me nuts to have to back track at the grocery store. My preference is to make one loop around, starting at the back. Go down every aisle and never go back to an aisle I've already been down. This rarely actually happens, but I wish I was better about it.

5. I hate coffee, but love coffee shops. My love of all kinds of tea greatly aids this love of coffee shops.

6. I'm only working part time right now and if I could afford to I would keep doing this forever.

7. I love to read - as long as it is fiction. I'm on my 4th try at A Ragamuffin Gospel. It is a great book, but due to the fact that it isn't a story it is a struggle. But this time I've made it to chapter 5 (a new record).

8. I've read the first Harry Potter book over a dozen times. Number 7 I've read at least 4 times. The first time I read book 7 it took me just over 10 hours. The only reason it wasn't in one sitting is that I had to work.

9. I'm not an animal person. I don't dislike animals (I'm quite fond of my roommates dog Zoey) but I wouldn't choose to own my own pet.

10. I'm trying to figure out a job that I can have, enjoy, and afford to foster parent. Hence the current part time employment. There are too many kids out there who need a safe place to live and someone to love them.

11. If I could have any career (and talent didn't matter) I would be a Broadway actress. Singing and dancing for a career? Heck yes.

12. I still listen to CCM from the 90s. And prebuy every Steven Curtis Chapman CD that comes out. Steven Curtis Chapman is also the only famous person that I think I would be speechless if I met him.

13. I love to play games. Board Games. Video Games. My life changed when I bought my Wii last year. And, thank you Cody for introducing me to the train game.

14. I would give anything to pick up the entirety of Tyler and move it closer to where my parents live. I love everything about living here except the 5 hour drive to see my family.

15. I'm a certified teacher, but have never taught in an official capacity.

16. I am the least spontaneous person you will ever meet. I have a routine and I like it that way. Luckily I have friends who are spontaneous and keep my life interesting.

17. I like country music. Much to many of my friends chagrin.

18. I used to hate washing dishes. Two houses without dishwashers has taught me to enjoy it and find it relaxing.

19. I used to think I was going to be a nurse and went to a specialized health high school. Therefore I have spent time shadowing people at: The ER, Endoscopy, Cardiac Care, Respiratory Therapy, Child Study Center, and a Vet Clinic. Therefore I have some very random health knowledge.

20. I used to be obsessed with horses. Took three years of horsemanship classes at the Ranch. Now I haven't been on a horse in over 5 years.

21. I try to always fill up my car with gas when it is 1/2 empty. I got in this habit when gas was so expensive. I couldn't stomach paying for a full tank. And it is also apparently better for your fuel pump.

22. I love tv. And I watch a lot of it. So much so that I am not allowing myself to start watching any new shows. There isn't time or openings on my DVR.

23. I am a raving fan of reusable grocery bags. Only in small part because they help the environment. Mainly because they hold 3-4 times as many groceries. That is a ton less trips to and from the car when I get home.

24. I minored in Vocal Performance in college. Performed in front of the whole music department and everything. I miss taking voice lessons and would do it again in a heart beat.

25. I was a cheerleader for my sophomore and junior years of high school. Those were some huge character developing years for me.

Now you know more about me than you probably wanted to. Comment as you wish.

My CIvic Duty

I will admit, I enjoy voting. I even enjoy voting on actual election day. I had to wait in line for 20 minutes, but it was worth it.  During that time span I got some amazing stories. Now, my polling station is the Dixie Volunteer Fire Department. I recognize that I live outside the city, but I voted in Brownwood, and wasn't nearly this entertained four years ago.

E and I got there at about 8:10am.  There was a line of about 20 people in front of us.  Not a big deal at all.  We were walking up when a lady walked up talking about how she needed to get to work.  We let her go in front of us.  We are waiting. E and I discussed taking pictures of this momentous occasion, but decided to refrain. That led us to discussing whether or not it was our first time to vote with the lady in front of us in line.  Which led us to discuss our previous voting experiences.  E mentioned that once she accidently touched the spanish button on the voting machine and it took them awhile to get it fixed. 

The lady who was so nice proceeded to go into a tirade (though whispered) about how we shouldn't have spanish on the ballots.  If we went to Mexico, they wouldn't give us English ballots, would they?  She went on for a couple of minutes and effectively eliminated all conversation between us and her.

Next we heard from behind us, "I need to know who to talk to to report harassment by my supervisor." There was this guy talking quite loudly about how he needed to talk to someone. "I need to know who to talk to to report harassment by my supervisor. I'm afraid there might be retaliation." Two things went through my mind: First - why are you doing this in front of 30 people in line at the voting booth. Second: I'm pretty sure retaliation is not the word you were going for. Unless you are planning on hurting your supervisor for the harassment. Everyone in line was standing around awkwardly wondering what to do. Luckily we got in to vote a few minutes later. 

I had no idea my journey to cast my vote would be so interesting. Welcome to life in East Texas. You never know what might happen.

Then E made me an "I Voted" sticker, because Smith County seems to have forgone the expense. I wear it proudly.