Students, thunderstorms, and rollercoasters.

This afternoon in my class, the thing that I imagine any novice language teacher dreads happened to me. I had to look up a word. On my phone. During class. I suppose I should be grateful that I had the option, but it is just so irritating when you know that you know it but you just cannot get it together. The word? Rollercoaster. I really dislike rollercoasters, and thus never really use the word frequently in any language. Of course, this unfortunate moment also came about shortly after I had mixed up the definition of a particular grammar point I was teaching, confusing both myself and my students. The thing teaching helps you realize is, you relearn the rules just as much as they learn them! You know how to say it, but you don't always remember why. It certainly doesn't help matters that I teach a language where literally every single grammar point has at least one exception...and of course, that is always what students want to know about. And in moments like those, all you will be able to think of, invariably, is a full-fledged list of REGULAR verbs. C'est la vie, mes amis.

Lately we have had some very grey and stormy weather in Georgia. I suppose it's got something to do with that Isaac business that we've all heard about, though now I'm pretty sure it's just God laughing at those of us who know what a gorgeous Pacific Northwest summer-to-fall transition looks and feels like. Don't get me wrong, I adore knowing that I will probably be able to go sunbathe at the pool at some point in October. However, I don't so much adore feeling like I live in a sauna every time I walk out of my front door, thanks to 80-90 degree temperatures and 70-90% humidity. But enough complaining - so Georgia is hot & sticky, Washington is cool and refreshing, whether in the sun or rain. Who knew? (Oh, wait. EVERYONE.)

Michael's best friend, Kris, visited us for a week earlier this month, and they had a great time! It was a bit unfortunate that it feel on a week where I was also working more than normal, and subsequently more than my normal level of stressed, but they cooked some great food for me and we also enjoyed a delicious dinner out at Michael's and my favorite restaurant here in town, Buckhead Grill. (Dinner=delicious. Running into one of your students bussing tables after two glasses of wine=Not so delicious.) So, they had a great time fishing, camping, and shooting at the range. I'm glad Kris was able to come down, and am happy that they will soon be able to plan hiking and camping trips regularly up in Washington. Michael still has the rest of this week off, so he has had more time to rest and relax. Tomorrow we both have off, so I am very much looking forward to actually not having an agenda for the first time in at least two or three weeks. Then it will be back to touring people in the Sauna Saturday morning...but I digress.

Teaching has been going well. I'm tempted to say, "It's going forward" in order to not betray too much confidence or positive attitude, but I'll just hedge my bets for now and leave it at "Well." There have been some frustrating moments, but as any teacher knows (and especially in language teaching, or perhaps, math, which is also like a totally foreign language) there are bound to be moments that help you forget the others, in a good way. As I've gotten more familiar with the new book I'm using and been reminded of the usual blank stares students give you 60-80% of the time, I have begun adjusting and learning faster and faster when it comes to my teaching style and lesson planning. Their first exam is in a week, so we'll see what we'll see then. I have a group where there are many strong students and several who struggle very much, so we'll see how it evens out. They were put into their first seating chart today, so I'm hoping that by the next exam, that will help distribute people out better during group work, so that they aren't always working with their buddies or the same person. Every class has such unique dynamics, and even those can change from day to day. I have to constantly remind myself to reflect on when I was in college and grad school: though I know I was a good student who generally performed well (especially in language classes), I also know that there were inevitably days where my facial expression would have knocked a clown right out of his shoes, it was so not cheery! (A happy clown, not a horror clown.) That always, always, helps me feel better and, I hope, think more realistically about "how I did". Really, the proof is in the pudding no matter what you refer to. In this case, the "pudding" is made up of many factors, but the most reliable are exams and projects students have time to work on and prepare for.

I'm currently at my office and must get home. Many blessings to you all, and happy fall!

High cholesterol?

Just a quick note as I need to get back into preparing for classes to start next week the rest of the day. Yesterday, my bloodwork confirmed that my cholesterol was exceptionally high despite my age. It has sparked my interest in learning more about how to cook or enjoy fruits and vegetables in a variety of ways. On one hand it is a bit frustrating, since I have been working extra hard the past couple months on exercise and cooking healthy. Butter is one of the few things I can work to eliminate completely, but otherwise I really only fall down on ice cream (and have done so much less than was normal for me previously!). 

This morning, Michael and I went to the massive gym on base; he has today and tomorrow off for a 4-day weekend and I'm off also. He was meeting some guys to play basketball and so I got some time to focus on a good hour and fifteen minutes of cardio. My goal is to kick cholesterol's butt all the way to the other side of the world! Haha. Though that alone will probably not push the numbers down, I am optimistic and remain determined to continue working out consistently despite the impending spike in business of my schedule :)

So, just a little word on recent events and what I intend to do about them. I finally received the final official word about when and what I will be teaching starting next week. It will be a French 1002 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and only one section. I am thankful, despite the 50% drop it obviously means in the salary. With my work at Greystone, I sometimes have to work harder to "leave work at work" than I used to at grad school, it feels like! Thus, I am excited to be able to continue that while taking advantage of an opportunity at Columbus State, which will get me some invaluable experience in this current job. Of course, prayers and encouragement are always happily received :)

Old Friends

I suppose we all have a song or a melody that causes the tears to come right to our eyes, no matter where we are or what frame of mind we may be in. We may be told in the Bible to always be anticipating what is to come and to look for the Kingdom of God, seizing every moment - but in our human state we are still formed by the events of our lives, the origins of these tender parts of our hearts where only a poem or a song can touch a part of us long changed or even gone. One of these songs for me is Old Friends, a Simon & Garfunkel classic that came into the world long before I did. I'm sure that my initial reaction comes always from the fact that I know my dad will never sit on a park bench with my godfather, who was his best friend and who has passed now 12 years ago. However, I know in my heart that he has been blessed with many, many other friends with whom he will share that park bench someday. As the song continues, it brings any listener, I would assume, to ponder their own season of life and their own dear friends. Being 25 myself, the line "How terribly strange to be 70" certainly rings true. I have struggled quite a bit in the last few years with seeing my parents and relatives age after I have been away for long periods of time, and to think of when I will be the grandmother or the great-aunt and what that will look like is truly strange. Not in a negative way, but just in the very true sense of that word. Foreign comes to mind, also. For now, I am happy to be where I am and that I am healthy and blessed with a family that I will grow older with for a long while yet. We are indeed made for a greater Place, but this never seems to fully erase the realities of our physical bodies and the ties we have with our loved ones here on the earth.

Things are gearing up for a particularly busy fall here in Georgia. In two weeks, I will begin my first teaching job outside of grad school at Columbus State University. It is still hard to believe that I am actually a professor. Maybe if I started the lesson planning that I have been putting off, I would feel more comfortable in the role! Ha. I am excited for this new adventure, and somewhat glad that it is only one semester; I'll have enough time to get into a good rhythm and learn many new things, I'm sure, but working two jobs will only last a little over three months. I will continue to work at Greystone, with only a change in schedule to avoid working literally seven days a week. I will also continue tutoring the little girl that I do, although lately she is complaining that it is "too hard". We may have to take a couple of sessions to work on cursive or singing French songs instead of learning new words, but I am optimistic that, in her extreme youth of 4 years old, she will pull through! So, it will certainly not be a dull period.

I hope that all is well with you, and pray that you will be blessed today! Hopefully I will be back again soon for more updating. Much love to you!

Another season

This week marks somewhat of (another!) new season in our time in Georgia. Michael's unit is heading out on a deployment, but he will not be going with them. He's been assigned to stay back and be one of the general maintenance mechanics with two other guys. What a gift it is! Until we got the final-final-final word, I tried to focus on the positives of both scenarios: if he goes, we have the opportunity to save some extra money and I will be busy with work; if he stays, obviously we are saved from another long period of separation. I am thankful, however, that it ended up being the latter. Due to the perks of my work as well as just simply having a second income, we have started to save a little extra money already. In preparation for our move back home to Washington, this is going to come in handy! The Army will be moving the bulk of our belongings, but we plan to drive our truck cross-country to meet them. We are so excited!!!

As I write this morning, I am listening to a "vintage" Third Day album that brings me far back to when Michael and I first met and were both part of the youth group at Faith Fellowship church. My godfather, Dave, was still alive and it felt like life could only get better. The truth is, it does; just not usually in the way that you think it will! Who knew that all those years ago (Team H&M has known one another for almost 15 years at this point...) I had met the person I would end up spending the rest of my life with! It is so strange to reflect upon. Lord help me if a child of mine has the same thing happen...! This music also brings me back to some of my best memories with some great friends. I am glad to still know all of them and look forward to getting to "know" them again; this time, we are pretty much all grown up and much changed! It seems that the joy of looking forward to moving back west grows each day as I realize more and more just how much I have missed in being so far away for so long. Of course, God only knows what will come in the future, but no matter what it is, I am thankful that we look forward to at least some time actually living near our oldest friends and our families!

Grateful as I am that Michael will not be leaving for Kuwait this week, my heart goes out to those who are preparing to say goodbye for many months. I have never been present for the very departure, so it is already a new experience to be here for it. I do know, however, the moment of that last conversation on the US cell phone and the strange flood of emotion that follows and continues for the next 9-12 months. This deployment should only last 9 months, but I believe that that may mean they do not get a 2 week R&R like a normal deployment. Needless to say, it breaks my heart to know what our fellow spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, and children are going through at this time. It is a surreal thing to think that we will not see them again before we move, most likely. I know we will be back to Georgia, since my goddaughter is here, but it will be strange to not be able to pick up the phone and invite someone over to the pool for a barbeque.

My job has been going well. I finally feel very comfortable with almost each scenario and task, and have been working on reformulating my attitude also. It is so easy to not fight the habit of just waiting to get off work. What for? I love spending time with Michael, but often when I get home the biggest event is doing the dishes! The past two weeks have been especially taxing, due to the last-minute absence of one of my coworkers and me covering for her. I enjoy being in the office on a more full-time basis, but I didn't get any time off between the week prior to when I filled in, so by Friday I was a wreck! Friday night we went to Atlanta with one of Michael's friends and were out very late, so today is the first day I am really just taking to rest. I've come down with a bit of a cold, but hope to nip it in the bud by Wednesday afternoon when I go back to the office. So - my new attitude. I figure it is such a waste of energy to focus on what time one gets to leave; it sets you up for much more disappointment if a customer arrives right before closing, and pretty much blocks any occasion of enjoyment. Touring someone is not an inconvenience but an opportunity to get to know someone who very possibly could be a resident at some future time. Why not focus on them? It has added much spring to my step. An interruption to writing an email or working on a lease can lead to the most enjoyable conversation of the day.

I hope that this post finds you all well.

It has been quite some time since I last updated this! Things have been busy since I started my job as a leasing consultant, and I'm finally adjusting to a new rhythm. Even just part-time was a pretty big change, especially since I work on the weekends. It does give Michael some time to go fishing and relax without me telling him to change the channel or do his chores (!), but with the heat having already started here in the South, I am simply drained by the time I arrive home even after 4 hours! That being said, I am so incredibly grateful to have a job, and have worked hard to change my thinking and attitude now that my free time for errands is limited. I've also interviewed and am waiting on the final word on a job as a French instructor at Columbus State University in the fall. Basically, they are just finalizing the schedule before telling me which sections I will be teaching, so that is very exciting. It will only be for that semester since we will be returning to Washington in early 2013, but I figure that any experience actually teaching at a university will be a huge plus to be able to have on my résumé! I continue, also, tutoring an adorable little 4 year old named Chloé in the language.

Michael and I just returned from our last trip home to Washington last week. It was a whirlwind, as usual, but we had some great time with both families, as well as with a new family, the Yakobchuks, as our brother Joel married their Ella on May 20th. It was a beautiful wedding and both of us were honored to be included in the wedding party. Here is a picture of me with my two sisters-in-law:

We were able to be with both of our moms on Mother's Day; Michael hadn't been together with Deborah for it for 6 years! The weather was absolutely amazing up until the day before Joel & Ella's wedding, but luckily it was indoors and just as stunning as it would have been if the sun had been out. There was enough of a break in the rain for us all to take some of the photos outdoors. The newlyweds have headed off to Fiji for two weeks. Ella is so sweet and we are really looking forward to getting to know her better after we are back in the area. 

Today we have the day off for Memorial Day and remember those who have given their lives for this country and our freedoms. It saddens me to hear of the many soldiers Michael works with today that don't really seem to have realized how big of a responsibility it is to wear the uniform, but I also believe that God knows what He is doing and has a hand in it all, even when things seem particularly unreasonable! We have been fortunate to meet many soldiers and officers who have been truly inspirational to both of us, and who Michael looks up to very much. 

Here are a couple more pictures to wrap up this post - I meant to take more, but have gotten a bit too lax with my photos the past year! Getting too settled in to an "everyday" life, I suppose :)