August already?

This summer is flying by! July was a full month of school, vacation, friends, and a new job. Here's the details:

I am finishing up my first semester online for my Masters of Special Education at Saint Joseph's University. It has been wonderful getting back into academia. It feels like I have never left.

DJ and I camped at the wonderful little Reeds Gap State Park. We hiked, waded in the stream, napped in the hammock, and the best: cooked our favorite camping foods over the fire. We also went to the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival in Reedsville, PA. The whole vacation reminded us why we love our state and how much we miss the country.

We had friends over to our little apartment for dinner. DJ's friend from the port, Michael and his beautiful new wife Rachael visited. We had shepherd's pie with turkey sausage and strawberries for dessert. I even got out the good Blue Ridge pottery from Mrs Clapp and Siesta Ware mugs from Smartz. We had such encouraging conversations. I felt so blessed to have over.

tiny kitchen set up

At the end of July I was asked to fill in at Circle Thrift. Soon enough the position was extended and I will be there for a while. I love working there. Everyone should come by to see me and buy some awesome merch from CT!

I am excited for what August has in store. More updates to come.

interview season

It is that time of the year again. Interview season: from now until August.

I had a phone interview today and I think it when well. The next step is a demo lesson. I get to actually go into the classroom with students. It is so much easier to show how you will teach than to talk about it.

Hopefully it will all end well and I will be employed by the start of the new school year!

masters

I got great news today. I am accepted into the Masters of Special Education program at Saint Joseph's University. The process felt so drawn out, but I think it was because it was out of my hands. I am excited and scared and nervous and I don't know what. I am mostly worried about what else: money. I am hoping that I will get enough financial aid and not have to take out too many loans. I am however looking forward to getting back into an academic rigor.

spring terrain

I just finished helping a friend, Jenna, with a sewing project from Terrain. I wasn't familiar with their store so I looked them up online and I found some really cute things. Here are some of my favorites.

This cuff is made of oxidized metal. It looks like a cross between turquoise and robin's eggs.

They had all the supplies to make your own terrarium. I love how this one looks like spring.

And my favorite: oyster mushrooms in a box. Its really a growing kit you can put in your kitchen and snip to add to a delicious meal.

Either way I am glad to be done with the project. We finished all of the banners before the deadline and with our sanity still intact.

teaching and puppy

I got a teaching job, but I can't bring myself to say that I am a teacher yet. I guess that will come with experience.

With all these changes, why not another one right? That is my reasoning behind our puppy search. I feel like it is time for us and I have convinced DJ! I never realized, however, how hard it was to adopt from a shelter. I have to sign a huge form probably longer than a college application. Then there are house visits and screenings. What happened to -we have a dog that you must take or we will euthanize it? Yeah, I know that this is a big commitment and they want you to be sure, but for me it is a deterrent.

October

I am often stricken with migraines from being a woman. Today is one of those days (worse because it also made me nauseous.) I had to stay home and sleep it off, which is often the only remedy. This poses several problems. I also called off work Monday because my husband was sick. I am having this argument in my head. "Two sick days in one week is not so great," says one side. "You never call off so they know that this is just one of those serious situations," says the other. Reading them now, I guess that both can be right. I just makes me wonder if I had gone to work today, would I be better or worse at this moment. I would probably be worse. There. I answered my own question.

October is my favorite month. The leaves, the cold weather, camping, hiking...all of these things invoke some deep emotion within me. I feel childlike and grown up at the same time. I want to play in the leaves and ponder the closing chapters in my life. The summer season of my wedding is over and it is now fall.

My husband and I wanted to get married in October. Frankly, if we had the balls to just do it last year we probably would have, and had our families after us for the rest of our lives, too. We didn't elope. We also didn't wait until our favorite month to get married. There is a little part inside of me that is sad that we didn't wait. We went to a wedding this weekend and that little part came to the surface. DJ and I had a fall wedding in June instead.

So we are going to take a vacation (a second honeymoon if you will.) Camping when the leaves are turning, when the nights are cold so you have to snuggle. good times.

love jesus style

I took off Saturday from work many weeks ago to prepare for the arrival of my in-laws and for a cell leader training for Circle of Hope. I forgot about it until yesterday so it was nice to not go to Applebees. I spent the morning loving and learning to love

The topic was on healthy sexuality focusing on Luke 17:11-19 when Jesus heals 10 lepers and 1 came back to acknowledge him as God. Four points were made: Jesus made the connection, He pitied the lepers and reached out to connect with them; 1 out of 10 ain't bad, its okay that the result wasn't 100% and you cannot expect it to be; Jesus lived the commitment, he didn't look for the opportunity to heal he just did it; and its okay to expect praise, love is a grace exchange.

Love is so much more than sex, although the world burns it down to that. We use our sexuality to connect with people in the intimate sense. Because I am married, I look to my relationship with my husband as an example of how I relate sexually. I can see healthy and unhealthy instances, but overall I am really happy where we are right now. I hope that we will continue to grow in our intimate relationship and love the way Jesus loved.

new

Things are new. This blog is new for instance. I have had old ones but going back to them just doesn't seem right for some reason because so much has changed. Right new stuff...

I am a newly wed as of June 27th. June bride. I live in a new(ish) city. I have lived in Philadelphia for a year. I live in a new house with my new husband and new housemates. I have the same job though but hope for a new one.

My life seems to revolve around the new thing. I have had this discussion with many friends (many of whom are new) When will the desire for the next new thing be satisfied. How long will I be okay with this step until I have to move onto the next. I have already shared the desire to get a new job. Is that to merely better myself or because these jobs are mundane? Too many questions for the first post. More getting to know me I guess.