Christmas Time

The Beavers had a great Christmas. Eli and I worked at BAM on Christmas Eve, but thank goodness, we didn't have to close. We came home and I worked on Christmas cards while Eli played PS2 for the first time in a very long time. We stayed up late.

Christmas Day, we slept in and when we woke up, we fed the cats and exchanged presents. Afterward, we watched Gone with the Wind--yes, all four hours of it--because I got it for Eli for Christmas. We spent the rest of the day eating, reading, napping, vegging around the house and got absolutely nothing accomplished. It was wonderful (though I wouldn't string too many days like that together).

I started a book called Split Ends by Kristen Billerbeck, one of my favorite contemporary Christian chick fiction authors. I couldn't put it down, and ended up staying awake until 2 a.m. to finish it. I love books that you can't bear to put down.

Anyway, Eli left early this morning to go hunting, and I have to work tonight. Tomorrow, Stephanie and I are driving down to the hunting camp to meet the boys, and then to Mobile. Family Christmas is on Saturday. It will be nice to spend time with the Beavers this Christmas.

Placements

Today was the day that the teachers at TMS found out where we're being placed for 2008-2009. Of course, this is official until my contract is renewed at the end of this year, and since I'm not tenured (this is my tenure year), things are going to be touch-and-go for a while while I get all my observations in.

The good news is that I got my first choice. I'm going to UP next year, but I won't be teaching sixth grade. I have been moved up to 7th/8th grade language arts. I was really hoping that I would get a sixth grade dual placement, but I prayed that the Lord would put me where I was needed. So, I'm happy. I'll go back to having 100 kids, though. I was looking forward to having half the students in double the time, but that's okay.

I should also find out about my Praxis test today. I'm going to check the mail when I get home. I just really hope that I passed the Middle School Mathematics portion! That would mean that I am a certified math teacher for 4-8 (after a little paperwork, of course).

Half Birthdays Gone By

Okay, so no part in Dearly Departed, but in the spirit of trying new things (and getting some drama experience just in case I'm force to teach the subject some day) I have volunteered with the crew. We start tech rehearsals around Feb. 1.

Yesterday was my 1/2 birthday. That means that my birthday is six months from now. There was no great celebration.

I did come home from school and watch the 1973 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture The Sting. And while I have always loved Paul Newman (I can't really explain why--I just always have--though I think it must be the eyes, or the salad dressing), I have now come to fully appreciate Robert Redford. He's blond, so not really my type--and yes I realize that my husband used to be blond, but he definitely had brown hair when I met him--but when Robert Redford smiles, you forget everything else. They are old men now, but if I only could have been around in their prime years!

I also got to talk to Daphne yesterday. It's been a while (since before Thanksgiving), and since she just turned 29 this week, I needed to know if she survived.

I tried to call Kimberly, but her number was disconnected! I hadn't called her since July.

I got an e-mail from Erin, also haven't talked to her since July.

And I haven't heard from Michelle in a while.

I miss my best friends.

O Tannenbaum!

In our 4.5 years of marriage, Eli and I have never had a full-sized Christmas tree. This year is the first year for one--and it's real! I've never had a real tree in my life, so this is a big deal.

We weren't sure we would be able to afford a new tree this year, so I didn't think we'd get one. But when Eli came back from hunting last week, he also came back with a tree that I liken to Charlie Brown's tree. I love it.

We decorated it on Sunday after church, and MB came for tutoring Monday and told me she liked it. After she left, I put some big white bows on it, and when she returned on Tuesday, she said she liked it even better.

We have silver and white glass ornaments, but the star we bought won't go on the tree (it's too heavy, and the tree is very petite in its trunk). I think it looks nice. This might be the last year that our tree looks monochromatic. Eli thinks it needs more color.

Dearly Departed

Well, I bit the bullet and decided to try out for a play. No, not a musical. A play. The results will be posted tomorrow after a second day of auditions. Last night, I saw Jenny (Pick-A-Little Lady) and Laura (costume helper), along with Tina, Jill, and Amanda. And Katie tried out. She's in high school, but I hope she gets a part. She would do really well with the part of Nadine.

What's most important is that I had fun. I was laughing a whole lot.

It's not so bad to step out of my comfort zone if it involves laughing. ;)

BAM!

I started back at the bookstore yesterday. My last day there was February 24 of this year, and a lot of things have changed, but it just felt the same (except with a LOT more carpet to vacuum).

There are times when I ask myself why I'm doing this. I didn't actually think about it. I just did it. And it comes back to my goal of having my debts paid off before I'm thirty. (I have to reapeat this to myself over and over again--it will all be worth it!)

The crux is this: What am I doing?!? It takes 5 hours at BAM to make as much money as I make in only one hour of tutoring! I'm working at BAM for the discounts, of course, but also because over the holidays I can't tutor, and I definitely couldn't get 30 hours a week of tutoring. I feel a little bit of loyalty to the people at BAM, but not so much to the dismal pay. Even with minimum wage going up...it really stinks.

Alas, I have consumer debt that I have to pay off. But how long will I stay with BAM? I'm already looking for a job for this summer...

Texas?

I talked to my mom the other day, and she admitted that she has been praying that the Lord will somehow bring us back to Texas to live. I asked her to please not pray that prayer. I have nothing against Texas. I lived there for 12 years. My alma maters are there, and most importantly, my family is there. But I don't really want to go back.

What I want is to live overseas! I want an adventure! I have lots of wants, but one of them is not to go back to Texas (and another is to not stay in Alabama).

What would be great is if our families prayed that the Lord would lead us to where we're needed. Wherever that may be. If it's overseas--awesome! And if it's in Texas or Alabama, that's good, too, so long as I know that the right motives were there.