So it has been a while since I have just written to update on life. My life has been going non-stop since the wedding. Even now as I type I think I ought to be in bed or at least trying to read the book I promised friends I would read before we got together again. (We meet tomorrow night and I am just getting to the "good parts" that we need to discuss. I'm so behind!)
School started for me 4 days after Ashton's wedding. It has been such an adjustment. I don't think I rested at all over the summer. I'm glad I had summer to help me make it through the wedding, but it was not that normal, catch up on your rest, kind of summer. Then school this year is not the normal, do the same thing, kind of school year either.
As most of you know, I have a whole NEW teaching team and this year there are four of us instead of three. I am now teaching just reading and not my favorite subject....social studies/American History. I can't believe I say that I love history, but I do. It was fun to teach the kids. But now, it is reading only. Of course TAKS takes a major role in my lesson plans, but so does our new curriculum. We have a great alignment program with lots of good ideas, but it is another NEW thing added to my year. New team, new curriculum, new subject, and to top it off a new grouping of kids. Now, before you think I am the least bit upset with any of this, I am not. I am really happy...even with all the change, but I am worn out from planning, replanning and just simply trying to get my day to run according to schedule. Our schedule has been changed to include 4 groups instead of 3. That means I have about 100 students each day. I see each group for about 80 minutes. It is the fastest 80 minutes you can imagine. I never have time to sit or even take a drink of my water most days. I am hoping we will settle in to a routine soon.
One of the "perks" of my new school year is that Chelsea is at my campus. She is even in my rotation of classes, so I see her right after lunch each day. I am still a bit worried about how we will handle seeing each other so much each day. We are both a bit independent and like our space, so it will be a challenge. So far so good. It is kind of weird to look in to the sea of faces and see my baby looking back at me. No matter how hard I try I am afraid I won't treat her the same as the other kids. I don't want to be too hard on her or make give her too much of my attention. On the other hand, I worry that I won't give her the same opportunities I give the other kids. It is going to be a learning year for both of us. The silver lining in all this is that I will have first hand knowledge of her "school" friends now.
Tara has begun her senior year. It was not a week after Ashton's wedding that she said, "This time next year I will be gone to college!" She was so excited, but it hit me, and I think Chelsea too, that we will soon lose another member of our family. We Farmer girls have been a very close circle for a long time now and having my two oldest leave home is being really hard on those of us left behind. We need to start the college application process and start figuring out where Tara will go. For now, we are just trying to get the year started, but I know it will fly by.
Mike and I are hanging in there. He has been sick for several weeks with a severe allergic reaction to something. It has worn us out. He isn't sleeping well which means I am not sleeping well either. It is so frustrating. I worry so much about him. I want to know that he is okay and that this is nothing and will go away. I make him go to the doctor every other day because it is just not looking better to me. We changed laundry detergent and then changed back and now have rewashed all his clothing, hoping that will help. Nothing has so far. He is on so much medicine too. For some reason, these days, I really like that man of mine and want him to stick around for a while longer. I just want him well.
So much has happened since the wedding. Life just seems full of twists and turns and ups and downs. Our newlyweds are happily beginning normal life as a married couple. Ashton is back to school and working. Todd is back to work and has picked up a side job to help stretch the already tight budget. They will make it. They have done so well. I am a very proud mom.
I am ready for my mind and life to slow down. I can't quite get my head to quiet enough for me to write. I will tell you I have something bouncing around that needs to go on paper....or cyberspace. It hasn't come together yet, but I have continually been made aware of my topic. Fences. Security fences. Privacy fences. Keep OUT! No Trespassing! Private Property! If you can, tell me what you think about these topics. Maybe it will be the glue that binds my thoughts together in to some writing again.
I'm looking forward to the 3 day weekend. Life is good. We are happy, even through all the tight spots and hills and valleys. I love my family and I am thankful daily that God brought us to this place in our lives.....even when it was a hard winding road.
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