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 :)

Entering the work force

I had really hoped to update before going in to my new job last week, but obviously never got around to it. So, here I am. This may be one of the first times that I truly am relieved that it's Saturday. Grad school was pretty consistently a full-time thing (and often more than that, but as far as going to and from the school) but there was so much downtime and I wasn't paid hourly, so I think there was slightly less pressure to use every second effectively even in the office. I feel kind of like a jerk when I mention how tired I am, given how much harder and longer hours Michael works every week, but it is a big transition for me nonetheless. Juggling dinner prep and trying to keep the apartment looking like someone picks up dishes and clothes every once in a while is a lot more tiring when you've been away for nine hours.

The job has started out really well, and I'm getting more and more excited about it. I've never been a leasing consultant or even worked in any kind of real "sales" position, so I've been on pretty constant information overload for the past five days. However, now most of the information either sounds familiar because I've heard it before by this point, or else my mind is settled enough that it's absorbing new things easier again :-) The office I'm doing my training at is staffed with the greatest people, and the lady training me is truly a gem. She was actually the person who rented Michael and I our current apartment over a year and a half ago, and just transferred to her current property about four months ago, so it really helps to know the person you're being trained by. It makes it feel slightly less intimidating since I've already interacted with her quite a bit. I have the utmost respect for her skill and she's a great teacher.

I don't know whether I even really gave much detail, if any, about this job; the last time I blogged I believe I had just heard there was another position open but hadn't received it yet. I'm working for Greystone Properties, and you should check out their website! We have lived in Greystone apartments since we were married, and their service and homes are impeccable and have a matching reputation in the Columbus area. It is truly an honor to have become a part of their "family", and it really does feel as such; everyone is very nice and welcoming. It also helps that they all seem to love working for the company. As with any job/position in customer service, you will always have residents who need very special attention or requests that approach the impossible, but GS does a fantastic job of training its employees to overcome obstacles and to have options for such residents, even if their requests to end up being impossibilities!

Last weekend was my 25th birthday, and we had a fun time celebrating. I literally took two photos the whole time, and they are on Michael's phone so I will have to get them eventually. Lately, I just am not really inspired to document every moment...mostly because I know it will mean organizing it all on my computer at SOME point! Even since I've gotten an external drive to back up my entire laptop, I still don't want to add much memory. Anyway, my birthday: We just had a bit of a party at our friends' house, and it was really nice to just hang and visit with a few couples we are close with down here. I was given some very sweet gifts, and really felt loved. My first crack at homemade buttercream frosting for my chocolate cake, however, was NOT a huge success. I guess I shouldn't have been as disappointed as I was that it tasted so much like butter, given the name...

Michael is heading out for a month of training this week, so today and tomorrow I am doing my very best to keep myself from spending much time cleaning - I suppose it can wait until he's away :-) Not that he doesn't like it clean, but his idea of when it needs cleaning and mine are, not surprisingly, a bit different! Starting work has definitely begun to help me let go of keeping everything perfectly spiffy 100% of the time, though, so maybe our opinions of cleanliness will begin to be more similar eventually. I will miss him while he's gone, but it will give me a good chance to get into the swing of my job schedule (it will only be part time, but I'm sure it will still take me some time to get my other weekly activities working well together!) so that he can go back to not worrying about so many dinner details! He has been so helpful even though he's worked a full week, too, and I am greatly indebted to his patience.

I will sign off for now, but hope to come back for an update soon.

Fliers, French blogs, and fasting

Now that I get up at 4:30am during the week, the days seem to be even longer...and yet still go by just as quickly, most of the time! That's fine with me, since I've actually been getting work almost daily. Sometimes it's hard to "cut myself off" since lately there seem to always be many files left after several hours of work, but in order to keep my sanity and house tidied, I do so however reluctantly.

I just finished reading a recent entry of a good friend's blog who is currently finishing out her last semester/quarter(s) of grad school, and it makes me pretty happy to be done with that! Going through the program at UIC was a great learning experience and I really did enjoy much of it, but last year was truly exhausting. Sometimes it feels like I have little to show for it other than a flimsy piece of paper, but I know that God just needs to mold me to what He's got in store. A couple weeks ago, I started a fast in conjunction with the church Michael and I have been attending, and while I don't fast 100%, even just fasting most of the daytime after breakfast and before dinner has opened my eyes to what is truly important. (Or not important!) Some days, I don't make it to 4:30pm without having a light snack, but I do always think a lot more about God, His faithfulness, and praying (if I don't actually sit down and do so...) than I have in a long time, and maybe ever. I think part of that is also that I have had such a period of quiet schedules the past nine and a half months; I really believe it's made me more open to listening and improving that particular skill. It's easy during a fast to constantly feel like you're failing: I gave in to hunger, I forgot to pray, I didn't read my Bible as long as I wanted... But I'm learning that it isn't really about that. Of course, to try again the next day, but I think the most important element is that you think about those things, period. Our minds are amazing works of the Lord; even as we get older and the sponginess of them seems to dry up (i.e. we don't remember as much as we used to, learning new things is probably harder, etc. ), they can still be molded by practice and patience! Well, I suppose it's God who does much of that molding, but it still usually takes more time than WE would like :) So, that's been good, and I think coming into this year from last has intensified the experience quite a bit, and I am thankful.

Earlier this week, I got in touch with some people that I maybe should have about nine months back when I arrived back in Georgia: a tutoring center at the university down the road and a temp agency. Of course, as fate (and probably God, taking a little poke at me, and seeking to teach me from each tiny situation) would have it, I got ahold of someone at both places immediately, and someone - lo and behold! - helpful! What a breath of freaking fresh air. Not that there aren't any sweet, kind, helpful people anywhere here, but many are indeed just rushing around, nearly hitting or merging into you on the freeway and in various sumo-parking lots. And heaven forbid you ask them to go above and beyond their job description by asking them a question about something other than their usual tasks. Okay, that rant is closed. Moving on: so the sweet, sweet, enthusiastic lady at the Columbus State University tutoring center sounded even a bit excited when I explained I had my M.A. in French and had noticed they didn't have a French tutor listed on their website. [sweet lady:] She would get in touch with me as soon as they had someone come in asking for one, and we could contract directly, since I wasn't a CSU student. [me:] Could I post fliers even if we might arrange an in-center arrangement at some point? [sweet lady:] Well, don't YOU post them, just bring them to ME, and I'll do it! [back to normal blog] I barely recognized this overwhelmingly positive situation and experience. So, I must make exciting FLIERS. For once, a project that doesn't involve sifting through endless retail positions on Indeed.com and GreatColumbusJobs.com that I know won't even be something I want! Thank the Lord.

Finally, this week, I have been contemplating and discussing starting a French blog. My friend in Lille, Claire-lise, has kindly agreed to check for grammar and vocab slip-ups periodically, and I hope to write on a variety of subjects, thus taking me back a bit to more research-based writing. Of course, I won't be writing eight to twelve page dissertations, but I do think that it is important that I don't completely let my edge slip away during this interim from academia. So, for those of you who are French speakers and writers, stay tuned. And for now, this is me signing off from my English blog!