Update

Yesterday evening Michael has his interview at MCE, and he felt like it went really well. He was told he would get a call at 9:00 last night, and 9:00 came and went. At 9:30 the superintendent called and said that they were having another three interviews (for a different position, which Michael also applied for) today, and that he would let Michael know after that. So basically, Michael thought he had no chance, they had hired someone else, and he didn't have much hope for the second position. We were very disappointed. I had a crying session by myself last night. I picked him up from the airport today and he was feeling pretty low. I made a last supper in our house, (from now on it's eating out or at the cafeteria) we took a walk and packed up some more of our belongings.

At 9:20, the superintendent called and said that they had filled the second position. This was no surprise. We didn't think he had much of a shot at this anyway. Then he said that they would like to offer him the 8th grade position. Michael was stunned. You could have knocked him over with a feather. He started laughing (a little hysterically), and accepted immediately. So we're super excited about this. It means a lot of things, including some security with salary and benefits. Also, that God has once again seen fit to keep Michael in teaching, at least for the time being. I think Michael is a phenomenal teacher, but it's nice to see God's hand in it all, and know that I'm not the only one.

House-wise, we're now hoping to close by the end of the month and still get the tax break, but no guarantees. So far, the seller is still willing to hang with us to close on this house. We think we'll get it still, but we're just hoping they'll be patient with us. In the meantime, we'll stay with my parents for a couple of weeks, at least. So that's the update. Thanks for your love and prayers.

God is in the miracle business

I just got a call from my realtor saying that the house we made an offer on accepted our offer. It was a multi-offer situation, so we're super stoked to get it. As long as nothing falls through we should have a home to move into when we move in June. I said all along it would take a miracle to be able to get a house before the April 30 first-time home buyer's tax credit cut-off date, and everything fell into place, thank you Jesus. As soon as I saw this house I had a really good feeling about it. I thought maybe Jesus was just saving it for me, and maybe that was the case. If everything comes through I'll show some pictures.

It really does feel like everything has fallen into place this year, when we've tried before it was never right. So I don't know what the lesson I needed to learn was, but I'm happy to feel God's blessing in all of this. And so excited!

Pictures from my mom's 60th birthday party.

Back in November we had a joint birthday party for my mom and my sister. They both had milestone birthdays this year - 30 and 60. So on a two day trip to Nashville I spent a day doing whatever my mom wanted. We watched some Christian female comedian on DVD while doing some crafts together - making beaded bookmarks, then met Christa for lunch and did some shopping. That evening we had a special dinner with friends. It was a good time. Here are some highlights...

Wedding weekend

Siblings

Christa, Michael and Kirk at the rehearsal

On the way to the rehearsal dinner at the Spaghetti Factory

Old friends

SIsters

Good times

Sister-in-law Rahel and Grandma Jeanne


All ready to go

Gorgeous

Beautiful view

Me and mom




Me and Dino

Happy couple

Musicians

Michael performed the ceremony

Post-wedding bliss

We put up all the decorations the morning-this was my job, besides being matron of honor.

We made about 1,000 cranes

Best buds


And they're off

Year in review (a little late)

1) What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Taught Business Math, went to Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome, met Barack Obama and Dan Rather, went to the National Zoo, paid off our car, saw Brian Regan live, saw Mary Poppins on Broadway.

2) Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year (this year)?
I don't remember making any resolutions last year.
This year I want to lose some weight and move to Nashville.

3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Linsey Bailey

4) Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother

5) What countries did you visit?
England, France, Italy, Austria

6) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time with family, a house and job in Nashville, more joy.

7) What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
January 18-the day my grandmother died.
June 22-the beginning of our European adventure.

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A lot of days it feels like just surviving is a big achievement. But probably, I feel like I am a better teacher all the time, and I am keeping up with my grading better than the last two years, and over all, I just feel more competent in my job, and that's a pretty big accomplishment.

9)Did you suffer illness or injury
No, just the usual maladies...

10) What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets!

11) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various students at various times.

12) Whose behavior merited Celebration?
Michael's. He is very patient with me and is willing to do just about anything to make me happy. He's pretty amazing.

13) Where did most of your money go?
Bills and Europe

14) What did you get really, really excited about?
Europe, dancing with Shelli, a baby book that my mom made me.

15) What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Yes We Can" by WillIAm.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you?:
Wiser? Hopefully I'm getting wiser all the time. This is kind of difficult to measure.

Healthier? Emotionally? Yes. Physically? It's really a toss-up.

Richer? We have more in savings and less debt, so I suppose that we're richer, yes.

17) What do yo wish you'd done more of? More playing and time with friends and family, more reading, more exercise and more traveling.

18) What do you wish you'd done less of? Less anxious worrying and computer game time.

19) HOw much did you spend on christmas? I have no idea. Several hundred.

20)Did you fall in love in 2008? Marriage is a constant re-falling in love with someone you know better all the time.

21) What was your favorite blog post that you wrote?
Probably the series about Europe.

22) What was your favorite TV programs?
My favorite new series is 30 Rock, favorite returning series: The Office.

23) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I sometimes hate various students. But it doesn't last for more than a day. So I guess not really.

24) What was the best book you read?
Probably my favorites were People of the Book and I Am Asher Lev.

25) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Probably Ingrid Michaelson and Eastmountainsouth

26) What did you want and get?
This sweet winter white cape jacket.

27) What did you want and not get?
This cute little dress in Paris.

28)What was your favorite film this year?
I really liked The Dark Knight and Wall-E.

29) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We ate at Uno's and saw Charlie Wilson's War. I turned 25.

30) which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
Tina Fey.

31) How would yo describe your personal fashion concept in 2008
Comfort and cost effective with a little quirky.

32) What kept you sane?
Michael, antidepressants, Barack winning the election, trips home to see the family and dreaming of a different future.

33) Who did you miss?
My grandparents.

34) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don't trust the stock market.

35) What did you lose this year?
My temper, several times.

36)What did you gain this year?
Hope that there can be joy again, a book club.

37) What was the best new person you met?
Maybe the new principal.

38) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
It's been a hard year, but I'm climbing out of the rubble...

Negligent blogger returns to cyberspace

I know. It's been awhile. I have the semi-excuse of the broken keyboard, but truth be told, I have a work computer and Michael's computer if I really wanted to blog. Also, I can't find my camera cord, so I can't post pictures. Which is irritating me. I know it's been missing for at least two months... but where could I have put it? I've turned the house upside down, but no luck. In any case, life here continues in it's usual busy, generally good way. It all feels more routine this year, and yet I'm busier than ever with Junior class sponsorship (ugh) and Business Math. We're starting to look for jobs in Nashville for after this school year. I'm anxious to move home, and unsure that God will allow me to do that.

Some other things that have happened lately: We went to Louisville and Nashville for Thanksgiving break. I helped Michael's mom do some wedding planning, (she's getting married at the end of March), and I was with my sister when she found "the dress", (she's getting married at the end of May).

We went and bought a Christmas tree at the tree farm down the road. I decorated it and am feeling especially jolly this week. I love Christmas ever so much. Strange, for a girl who hates winter so much. Maybe it's because Christmas makes winter seem more bearable.

I've been off birth-control for a few months now and feel like maybe my depression/anxiety/sluggishness is lifting. What if that were one of the big contributing factors all along and I never knew it? I've been on birth control since shortly before I started college because of the ovarian cysts... which is right around the time I started having serious problems. I'm trying not to think about those seven years of struggles, and yet hope that it could be true, so that it would maybe ease the struggle. And no, I'm not pregnant. But yes, someone asked me again last weekend at church. That was pure joy.

This year for Christmas, my family is going to Gatlinburg. This will be the first Christmas without Grandma, and my aunt and mom were finding it a little too difficult to try to do normal Christmas without her. We're very glad to have something to look forward to this year (Christa's wedding) instead of more death, like last year.

And lastly, for this post, I'm reading The Shack right now and I would like to recommend it to all of you. I'm finding it very mind-opening and hopeful. I'll try to be a better blog friend.

Take it

We've been married for three years today. I won't say that every moment has been blissful, but I count it as success when the good moments far outweigh the bad. And they most definitely do. In a year that has been especially rough for me, Michael is my rock. And he's patient with me when I would be infuriated with him. So I'm happy to be married and to see where the adventure leads.

To celebrate our anniversary we went to the dentist. It's been a shamefully long time since I've been. I'll just say this: I was in high school. And I have no cavities. Woohoo! I hit the genetic jackpot on strong teeth I guess. And just so you don't think we're totally unromantic, we also went to Barnes & Noble, Panera and Cold Stone.

And I think our next adventure begins on Sunday when we fly to London. We'll be mostly out of contact until at least July 8. We'll see how long it takes to recover from Europe. Wish us luck!