Summer, Where did You Go?

It's been a while since I posted anything-so I thought I'd recap our summer so far-and it hit me...School starts in less than 2 weeks! AAAAHHHHH!

I start back next Wednesday for inservice, the boys start back Aug. 8-oh, forgot to tell you...I got a job! Not a full-time teaching job (AL won't give me a license yet) but a preschool teaching job-fun story. Really-sorry Bama friends reading this-most of you were there when it all went down-

...a few weeks ago I went to a moms-out-breakfast (love those!) and while we were chatting, our church's preschool director (who I didn't know too well yet) was talking about not having enough teachers for this year. Eavesdropping-I casually asked about what kind of teacher she was looking for-and one thing lead to another, and...wait for it...she offered me a job! I loved John's reaction when I came home-"you got a job at the restaurant?" Starting Aug. 8 I'll be co-teaching 2 year olds at Twickenham Kids and Conner will go also to their PreK program. It's a drive (35 miles each day) but since I'm working, that should cover the gas. It's funny, I wasn't looking for a job, but now that it's happening-it was just what I needed-funny how He knows what we need, even when we don't-gotta love it!

Ok, nuf said about that...Our summer! The boys and I have spent some time at the movies (love the dollar theater), Kidventure, playdates, Point Mallard, but mostly at home. I felt guilty about keeping them so busy at the beginning of summer break-I've kind of left the calendar empty the past few weeks. Honestly-I'm hoping one will say "I'm bored" and then I can remind them school's almost here-hasn't happened yet, but you never know.

Right now, I'm hoping for a cooling trend in the weather (whatever that is-I don't remember) and a routine to form as school starts. Can't believe Aidan will be in 3rd grade and Conner has only 1 more year until Kindergarten...where has the time gone? Bigger question: How can I make it slow down, even a little. If you have an answer to that-let me know:)

Has It Been Two Years?

Today marks 2 years that I left my hometown, the only place I had ever called home. I was born there, I met my husband there, I went to college there, we married there, my children were born there and as far as I was concerned, I planned to push up daisies there. As someone who has hardly moved in her life (only once by the time I was 21, and only 4 more times after that) it was hard to move to a new town, with no friends, no family, no church (at least for a while) and I'm not the most go out and meet people kind of gal. My best friend in Clarksville is only my best friend due to her unwillingness to leave me alone. Really-I'm not a people person. I could count my close friends on one hand and my acquaintances on the other. So when John told me he found this great job and a great town-you can guess my reaction "How does long distance marriage sound?" Okay, I only said it in my own head...but it almost came out of my mouth. Me? Moving? To ALABAMA? You've GOT to be kidding me. Who will the boys play with? Who will be their friends? Who will be my friend?

Now it's 2 years later. Even though I'm still not much for meeting new people-I have new friends. Words cannot describe the joy I felt when enrolling Conner last year at his new preschool and one of his teachers says-"I know you...didn't you used to live in Clarksville?" New friend-1. Then after an exhausting search for a new church that would meet mine, John's and the kids' needs, 2 yes-2 people invited us to their small group. New friends 2 & 3. After deciding Twickenham would be our church home, we were then introduced to more people, all with preschool and school age kids...new friends 4, 5, 6,...and then John made me go to a women's retreat this past March...new friends 7, 8, 9, 10, etc. You get the picture.

Two years after I thought my social life was beyond resurrecting, I now have playdates, birthday parties, Bible studies, Girl's Breakfast outs, and I even feel comfortable enough having people over to hang out. Yes-Miss Anti-Social Me! Even John "hangs out" with his new friends and if you know him-That in and of itself is AMAZING.

Okay-my TN family/friends. I miss you. I do. I know I seem happy down here in Sweet Home Alabama (and I really, really, really am happy!!!!!) But I do miss you. I have to be honest, I do not miss Clarksville. If there was any way I could convince all of you to move down here....I would.

But since I know you all won't-I'll keep coming north for a visit. I almost said "coming home" for a visit. But that's just it. 2 years later...I am home.