As of next week, we only have three actual weeks of school + one week of things like field day and fun activities... then we are done for the summer. That means reading benchmarking, TPRI, and math benchmarking for the end of the year. We also have to start packing up our personal items (not during instructional time) and getting things that belong to the school organized/packed up. On one hand I feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done, and on the other hand, I'm so excited that summer is almost here that I can push my way through these next few weeks. The biggest things that I'm looking forward to are: 1) Time with family, 2) being able to keep up with cleaning my house and doing laundry, but most of all 3) being able to spend more time with Jesus and think clearly. With being incredibly busy comes not being able to truly think clearly (because I can only process so much at a time!). And since I started this past year with less than a day's notice (the training started the day that they hired me...), I haven't had a chance to truly think clearly since school started. I started out 20 steps behind and I have been there ever since.
Hard Year... Ready for Some Refreshment
This past year and a half has been the most challenging of my life... and even though it was very difficult, there's SO much that I've learned... and the biggest is that I've learned to let things go that just don't matter. I have moments/days when my incredibly messy house drives me crazy, but for the most part, it doesn't bother me near as much as it used to. I've learned to grade papers/plan lessons even when it's a disaster (which I would have never been able to do a year ago), and I've learned to enjoy my family even when I know that I have so much that needs to be done around the house. I prioritize and just do what's absolutely necessary at the time (like having clothes to wear, dishes to eat/cook with, and sweeping all of the crushed up food off of the floor hehe).
I'm hoping that by next year I'll have a better system, but until then, I just make it day to day.
My Wonderful Family and Things that I Enjoy
I've been enjoying my family so much lately... and I've been enjoying doing some things that I love to do... like having a garden, reading/researching, and writing. I don't spend a lot of time doing those things, but I've made some time for them lately... and I honestly think it makes me a better mommy/teacher because I'm not allowing myself to be completely stressed out by my job.
Here are some pictures of my garden:
I just absolutely LOVE my family and cannot imagine life without them. I'm at a place now in which I appreciate them... even in their very stressful moments. I know that I'm blessed and I desire to just thank God daily for them instead of complain about the frustrating times.
I'm also very thankful for our wonderful home, our neighborhood, our church, and even my job (even though right now I'm ready for the summer ;). I love that I am home with-in five minutes of leaving Karis' school. We actually have evenings now. It's a new concept. It has definitely helped our stress level to decrease, though, I'm still exhausted by about 9:00 every night.
Update About Things on Last Blog
I talked on my last blog about beginning childbirth education and doula training. I started the training and really enjoyed it from the beginning. BUT, Robert and I made some decisions, and I ended up canceling the training while I could still get a complete refund.
I have had a passion for natural pregnancy, natural childbirth, homebirth, and nutrition for several years now. I have done so much research over the years out of my passion for it, but have kind of just dropped that in the past year. It just couldn't be a priority because other things have had to come first.
As I was reading some things on my training modules, my extreme excitement and passion for it began coming back to me quickly, and I came to the realization that maybe it would make more sense to just skip childbirth education/doula training, and just go straight to midwife training/licensing. I've been talking about how that is an eventual goal, but why not go ahead and begin preparing for that now? I've been talking to my midwife and a friend that is training to be a midwife, so I know how much it would cost and what the training would entail... and I'm up for the challenge.
I don't think it'll happen with-in the next year (mainly because I know that God is calling me to teach at my school again next year and we couldn't afford it right now!), but I am almost positive that it is something that I will pursue wholeheartedly in the (near) future.
And the best part... Robert has been telling me to do this for a few years! He is totally behind this goal. He wants it as much as I do!
Besides just being able to do something that I am totally passionate about, I would be able to take 2 clients a month and make more than I am right now (of course, I would be happy with just enough to buy the things that we need). So, it would be great for my family (in the long run!). I would need to save up a lot over the next year because I wouldn't be able to work once I'm into the apprenticeship (or really much during the training at all), so I would need to save up enough to be able to be out of work for a while. I don't know if that'll happen next year, or if it'll be a few years, but Robert and I are both pretty certain that this is a calling for my future.
For now, I am called to focus on my family and the job that God has provided for me, and I can just slowly prepare for midwifery training (like saving, reading, and talking to midwives!).
In the meantime, I'm excited about teaching 4th grade English/Language Arts and Social Studies next year! I can't wait to get started on some brainstorming/planning :).
This summer is going to be amazing in so many ways... going to the zoo a lot (it's across the highway!), going to museums and things (there is so much to do in Dallas!), spending mornings just hanging out with the kids, and just having the opportunity to enjoy my life. I'm blessed in so many ways!
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