Pity Party, Table for One

I don't know what my deal is lately, but I've been having a pretty stellar pity party for myself.  Its not like anything is wrong, I've just been feeling down and out.  Although I think I know where this is coming from: my job situation.  Things at work have been not so great, all of the teachers are stressed, kids are nuts, and paras are starting to feel under appreciated with talk of having to cut back on staffing for next year.  And me, I'm starting to get tired of being just a para.  I'm tired of not getting to teach.  I'm tired of not having music in my life on a daily basis.  I'm tired of having to run flash cards or have students read me a book or cut out laminate or make copies or distribute gallons upon gallons of ketchup, ranch, salsa, or BBQ sauce or stand around for indoor recess duty.  I've been finding myself thinking, "I went to college for five years and I'm doing this?"  Then, I found out that I'm not going to get to apply for the job that I had been putting all my hopes in for a music job for next year all because I'm currently not a certified LPS staff member. 

BUT I've got to remember that all of these thoughts are just Satan trying to wear me down and win me over.  I've got to remember that this is all apart of God's plan, and I've got to be thankful for what He has give me.  The Women's Bible Study Group at church is doing the Beth Moore study, Living Free.  Which is all about giving every thing over to God.  Which is really what I need right now.  Its funny how God just makes everything fall perfectly into place.  So right after I had a breakdown thinking I was going to be a para for the rest of my life, I discovered a job opening for next year!  Its in a small town in between Lincoln and Omaha called Gretna.  So everyone pray for God's will and guidance in this whole process for me.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I'm still staying positive.  I'm giving this to God and stepping aside.  And trying to leave my pity party in the past.  Maybe I'll just watch a sappy movie and cry it out for an hour. For some reason I think that might just help!

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.  

2 Samuel 22:2

Where For Art My Snow Day?

Last weekend I was super pumped to wake up to snow!  Since it was Saturday, we stayed in our jammies and watched Netflix untill I couldn't stand it.  Then I made Geoff layer up and head outside!  We romped around with Roscoe and made a snowman.  We attempted to sled, but with our make-do-storage-tub-lid sled, we weren't too successful.  None the less, we had a blast!  The only bummer was that the snow came on a Saturday and we couldn't have a snow day.  So this morning when we woke up and I checked my phone and Facebook, I was super bummed to read about the excitement and joy of the snow day back home in Joplin.  We got snow today.  Our roads were really slushy and not even plowed, but we trooped out there just to get our students the education they need. Joy.

I've been praying for quite a while now that we could get at least one snow day.  In our school calendar there are 5 built in snow days, weather we use them or not, we are still going on those days.  Soooo, why not use one or two.  So far Jesus has answered my prayers with a "not right now" answer, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed on Wednesday when we are supposed to get our next round of snow!

On another note, last week we got to go to the Nebraska vs. Michigan game.  And of course Michigan won and Geoff was in hog heaven.  I just hope that someday we can make it up to Ann Arbor to see Michigan on their own turf.  I'm kinda of surprised to say that I'm sad we have gone to all the basketball games we got tickets for this year.  I really enjoyed going to the games.  I didn't get to just watch football/basketball games in high school and college so being apart of the crowd was a new and fun experience!

GO BLUE!

Herro February!

Where did January go?  Time went by so fast this month and I've seriously neglected our blog.  But honestly nothing too major has happened this month.  We are starting to really settle into our lives here in Lincoln.  We are starting to have "activities" outside of work, which is exciting.  But it also makes me realize how lazy we have been.  I get pooped out because we aren't spending all evening on the couch.  We are so lazy that we have nicknamed our laziness Couch Island.  Can I just say that I love Couch Island; especially Couch Island weekends. 

So here is a quick wrap up of our adventures in January:

• We have had crazy weather! Some of the clolest and warmest days for this month! 
• Geoff has started his monthly promotions at work and have been a huge success! 
• I started teaching an after school club called Crafter's Corner on Wednesdays.  
• Geoff has started doing the visuals for worship at church.
• I started attending Women's Bible study at church.  Again, I'm the youngest one there, by at least 10 years, but the ladies are so fun and welcoming!  I'm looking forward to our Beth Moore Study starting in February.  
• I'm stalking the job postings page daily for teacher jobs next year.  
• I got majorly sick, but I survived, thanks to lots of sympathy and loving care from Geoff. 
• Geoff and I looked back on this past year and all it's events and have marveld at how God has made our lives tons and tons and tons better than it ever could have been. 
• My parents and Grandma Gabby (the dog) came to visit us! 
• Roscoe turned TWO years old!!! 

I think that pretty much sums up our January.  I promise not to neglect our blog this month.  Who knows, my next blog may contain stories of our fabulous snow adventures.  We are awaiting the arrival of 10-12 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow.  I don't care what Geoff says, just because we don't have kids doesn't mean that we can't build snowmen and go sledding!!

Boo to You, Flu!

I don't know if its my new marriage, new environment or my new job, but my immune system has really got to pot this year.  This marks my third time being sick since June!! YUCK!!!! Poor Geoffrey, he is such a good sport, at least for a little while, when I'm sick, but these past four days have truly shown me what he can handle. 

If any of you know me, I like to keep the house my way and that everything has to be just so so, and for some reason I had really been slacking last week.  I would come home from work and just be wiped out and had no energy to do anything.  I thought that it was just me adjusting back to work from the break, now I wonder if it was tale tell signs of the flu. 

On Friday, I woke up with a stuffy, itchy, runny, nose but that is pretty usual.  (Ever since we have moved my allergies haven't adjusted.)  I went on to school, endured countless questions from the kids, survived breakfast and lunch duty and even two recess duties in briskly cold air.  After my third recess duty, I noticed that my ears were hurting and began regretting not taking something for my allergies.  I have a long break after this and when it was time to get up and move on to the next class, WABAM, I new I was sick.  From then on it was just surviving till 3:30.  I made it home, head hurting, ears throbbing, throat sore, body aching, and threw myself on the couch.  Geoff came home found me still on the couch and took my temp and it was 101.  Me being me, I didn't want to miss EMHE since it was the Joplin show.  Which we were glad we didn't because Kirk (and Peggy's head) had a HUGE shot!  Woohoo!!! Finally Geoff convinced me to go the emergency clinic and what do you know? I had the Flu! 

After that Geoff wisked me home, put me to bed and went to work!  He caught me up on every bit of dirty laundry, cleaned, did the dishes, made food, went grocery shopping, couponed, all the while checking in on my in my pitiful state and taking care of Roscoe.  He was a one man show and couldn't have been more thankful.  He got me through two fever spikes, convinced me to shower and take somewhat care of myself and forced liquids and pills down me like a pro.  Watching him do all of this for me because he knew I was sick was great, but the best part was he did things around the house "my" way so I could relax.  This weekend, I found a whole new level of love for the man I call my husband.  I have never felt so awful in my life, but watching him do it all, without any help or asking from me, is just wow. 

Now I'm sure things will switch back to normal soon, where I will have my responsibilities again, and Geoff will pretend to be helpless for a while, but I will always know, he CAN do it!  And I'm sure he will never let me forget the "one time he did EVERYTHING!"

Cooking...

This picture is not of me...but I do look pretty fabulous attempting to cooking.

So I think my least favorite thing about marriage is the whole cooking/food department.  Don't get me wrong, I love food, I love eating good food and I love baking.  But all the responsibilities that come along with making a meal seriously stresses me out.  Don't get me wrong, I've come along way from when we first got married considering that my cooking arsenal consisted of spaghetti, grilled cheese and cake box cookies.  I'm slowly adding new favorites and things that I can cook somewhat easily.  But I worry every time that I try something new that it won't come out right or that Geoff won't like it.  Geoff has been such a trooper.  He will eat literally anything that I cook, even if it is inedible, and he is always so supportive and encouraging.  

Grocery shopping is the worst.  Since I really don't like grocery shopping I try to plan to make a trip every two weeks.  So making sure I plan and buy everything I need for meals takes quite a bit of preparation.  I also feel like it is my responsibility to save us as much money as possible when it comes to groceries.  I'm trying to coupon, but does it give anyone else heart palpitations? I've read all the blogs, scavenged all the web sites, watch all the shows, but somehow it just hasn't clicked like I think it should.  I just don't get how these ladies on TV can save so much and I can only save a little.  Someday maybe I can be like that....

I guess the whole purpose of this post was just to get some things off my chest, and maybe see if anyone else feels this way?  I can't be the only, right? Maybe I'm feeling this way because I'm coming off an almost two week cooking hiatus thanks to my wonderful Family while we were visiting for the holidays.  I am always open for tips so if anyone has any super secret meal planning/grocery shopping/cooking tips they would like to share with this new chef/wife I'd really appreciate.  In all of the marriage counseling we did, I did not get prepared for this! 

Just a little extra: Roscoe has been rrreeeaaallly whiny and stubborn lately.  He turns two on Sunday and I think we are entering the basset hound version of the terrible twos.