I don't blog

So, here it is, my first blog post. I honestly never thought I'd see myself as a "blogger" it's kinda weird and conceited to put your thoughts so that everyone can read them, I thought. But, I love the idea of a journal. Love. I haven't journaled this year. I have been really faithful at journaling at some points in my life, but wish I would have more this first year of teaching. Now that my best friend may be moving to China, all my best girl friends are either in Cincinnati or Chicago or moving to California I figured maybe I'd start a blog as a way of sharing stuff I wouldn't normally take up time on the phone to share.

I got my contract renewed today! I was really worried it might not have a job next year and had terrible nightmares about it for a few weeks. My abilities seemed to be lacking, my colleagues disapproving, and my administrator un-interested, but it's turned around and I got my contract. What a huge blessing today was for me. My students received their EOG scores and did really well over all. It's sometimes hard to be happy for yourself when others around you are stressed and disappointed, but I am honestly very excited about my students' scores and how hard they tried.

Our one year anniversary is coming up tomorrow. Wow! One year?! It seems like an eternity more than that and way less all at the same time.  Marriage is so different than I expected in some ways. It's like hanging out with someone who never leaves! However, moving South has been a lot harder than I'd imagined. I thought we'd move and I'd make friends and love it just like has happened at all other times in my life. And, I do have friends, and I do love so much about living in Franklin, but it's been difficult. I crave the feeling of belonging somewhere, not being out of my comfort zone or on the learning curve all the time. I feel like I finally found-out how teaching at MMS works and then my best friend at school is moving and it'll all changing.

Church isn't going as expected either. I loved our church in Cedarville and the challenging messages presented there, but here in Franklin it is so different! The music, the messages, the church "culture"...it's all different. I always tell people, "different's not bad it's just different". However, not finding a church we love has taken it's toll on me. I feel drained all the time spiritually because I am a very people-oriented and community-oriented person. My one-on-one time with God is enhanced by my time within community; when the community is missing I feel like a huge part of my spiritual walk is missing too. I know it's probably a problem with me, but it's still something I'm adjusting to. Family adjustments are probably the biggest adjustment so far. My family and I are extremely close. Moving so far from my siblings and parents has been one of the hardest parts of this move. I value my parents' advice and honestly miss the time spent with my siblings. I feel like I'm missing out on jokes and memories when I'm not there, and to add to it, trying to figure out how someone else's family works has been frustrating.

I'm looking forward to summertime and spending time with my friends and family back home in Cincinnati. School starts soon after it ends this year (August 4th) so I'll have to spend a lot of time working on lesson plans and my classroom. I have a lot of improvements to make for next year! I also want to spend this summer figuring out all the stuff there is to "do" here in NC. I'd love to go camping a few weekends (LOVE to camp), an Asheville Tourist game (minor league team), learn to play tennis, train for a 5k, and maybe even get more target practice in :) And cooking, I want to try some new recipes! I love to cook, but during the school year have absolutely no motivation to cook and then clean it all up. My poor husband is probably looking forward to summer too ;)