Domestic Goddess?

I went in to Home Depot to get a fancy pretty flashlight for work today. I parked my car, opened the door, and was overwhelmed with the Home Depot smell. That out-doorsy, wooden smell. I loved it. I walked up and was immediately drawn to the gorgeous flowers on display. This was new. I never gave a flying fig about plants.

Then I go inside. The smell of new home appliances and beautiful fake kitchens welcomed me to my new apparent haven. I was overcome by the desire to create projects, to create a home, make something beautiful to own and be proud of.

Now, I've always loved home design. I've always considered some sort of interior design classes to take on the side in the future. But repairs, shrubbery, and all that...never really interested me. I'm content to work with what I've got. Today, it was just so different. I was carried away to this place, imagining having a home of my own, making the front yard look perdy, re-doing a bathroom, painting the living room, all these different scenarios. It was so grown-up. It was SO WEIRD. Why? Because I don't think I'm there yet! But maybe I'm getting close to being there? I have no idea, but it was strange.

I have determined I better have at least a small front yard to play with next year.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Ok. Let me preface this with a paragraph praising the amazingness of my family, because really, I am so lucky to have such a fun, close family. I have two parents that love each other very much. Seriously...I can't count how many times my dad will pull us aside and ask, "Isn't your Mama beautiful?". And they are both dedicated to service. My dad is soon to be a General in the Army, and my mom has worked for non-profits my entire life. We were raised to live a life of service. I cannot imagine a profession where I wouldn't be serving. Chris is in non-profit as well, I'm a teacher, Colleen wants to go help orphans in any country she an, and Kelly is going to study to be a teacher as well. Its contagious. We're all do-gooders. When my entire family is together, it tends to be outrageous and hilarious. There's usually some form of alcohol flowing, and the laughter is OUT of control. This includes extended family as well (also relentless do-gooders). There's so much love in my family. And now that Kaitlyn is here...oh my gosh...you couldn't smack the smiles off of our faces.

Basically what I'm getting at, is that I look forward to my entire family being together. When I was in college, I loved coming home to visit everyone. I didn't come home unless there were breaks, and usually stayed in Harrisonburg for most or all of the summers, because I loved missing them, and then visiting them.

So, now that I have expressed my undying love for my family...

They are driving. Me. Crazy.

I have been at home this year. For one thing, Student Teaching doesn't pay, and I knew if I wanted to work in Fairfax County, I needed to be here as soon as possible. And I was right. Got the Long-Term job, and now, a solid job at a beautiful school for next year. And Long-Terms pay well, but not "live off this forever" well. So saving has been the big thing for the year.

Its been nice...but its time to go. I'll be 24 in January. At this age, you're not supposed to be home. You're supposed to be MISSING your family. Holidays should be exciting because you're going to be surrounded by the people you've missed so much. I remember feeling less Holiday-ish this year, because I was home already. I missed the "going home for the Holidays" feeling.

But it is getting to me. And I am taking it out on my family. I'm so aware of this too. My mom was sitting next to me, and had her arm on me. It was annoying me so much. All I could feel was her arm. On me. And I wanted. It. Off.

I love my family, but I need to miss them again. As we are drawing closer, and closer to the time to move, I am getting SO excited. Yes, a house will be great, I'll be with friends, I'll be social, yes, yes, yes...but more importantly. I'm going to MISS MY FAMILY! I'll be nicer again. I cannot wait. I cannot wait....

I love my family.

Life Changed Completely in 1 Week...

So I wrote on here...not too long ago. Less than a week probably. And since then, my life has completely changed.

The biggest and most rewarding change: I am an Aunt, to the most precious baby girl I could have ever imagined. My sister gave birth to Kaitlyn Marie Coffey on Wednesday at 9:17 AM, and we were there for every second. Except not during the actual C-section. She is perfect. Perfect round head, so curious. She looks around at everything. She's the most alert newborn I've ever seen, and I cannot wait to see who she becomes in the coming years.

It was amazing how much I loved her, and how we all immediately felt connected to her. It was something I don't think I could understand or appreciate when my sisters were born. It is also a different love. I can't describe it. Knowing that she came from my sister, who I grew up with, who is only 20 months older than me (freaky). But the love I've been feeling has made me so curious about the love I will feel for my own kids. And how Chrissy and Andrew must be feeling. Its all so much!

Ok, moving on...locked in a summer job at a fancy new place in Tysons. Hello, training. The arduous process I cannot wait to be done with so I can start making some real money. This place is fancy y'all. And all about wine. Alcohol=higher bills=better tips. Holla.

And last but not least, I was hired at a school for next year this morning! I interviewed yesterday and felt great about it, thinking it could be a great fit, and got the call from the principal this morning. It all happened so fast, and I am nothing short of relieved! Of course, it has to go through HR before I can be officially hired, but she assured me that should all go smoothly. Fingers crossed there are no hiccups there! I'm really excited about this school. Great community, great parents, great staff, new, FULL-TIME, and all around the ideal place to begin my career.

Life is falling into place, people. Now onto a house....

Dropped the Ball on This One, Folks....

I don't even know who reads this, but I like writing in it anyway. And I forgot I had it for about the last year or so, and OH my goodness, is life different.

I just went through and read my last 20-some-odd posts, and can't believe what a different place I am in. And how my mindset has changed. I was just starting student teaching when I wrote my last post. Since then, I've finished student teaching, graduated, and began teaching at an elementary school. I'm doing it. For real now. Insane! Now, I'm looking for a new school to teach at in the fall. I had an AMAZING experience at my current school, and my principal is working to get me somewhere for next year as soon as possible. How lucky am I? I finished on Thursday, and had an email from another principal asking me to send my resume on FRIDAY. I can't wait to see where I end up next year.

We're also on the house hunt. We put blood, sweat, and tears into this one townhouse for months, and they went with someone else. Not so happy about that one, but we'll make something happen. Can't wait to decorate with Evie! We are clearly the appointed decorators of the four of us.

And the biggest news of all, MY SISTER IS HAVING HER FIRST BABY/my parents' first grandbaby/my first niece! In 4 days! Baby girl is breech, so its a c-section for Chrissy. So unless she comes early, she'll be here around 3:30 PM on Thursday! Can't wait for this new chapter for my family. The entire dynamic is about to shift. This begins a whole new way of living for my family. Its crazy to think, Chrissy and I are only 20 months apart. By my age, she had been married for 6 months already. She was 11 months older than I am now when she got pregnant....Oh. My. Lord....I cannot even imagine that.

This year has been great, but I'm over it. Its been "limbo year". Like Britney once said, "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman". I've been at home, working at a temporary job, unsure of where I'll be (and need to be) in just a few short months. We're working hard to get these questions answered as soon as possible because we are READY! Ready to be on our own again, making thousands of dollars (woo!), paying bills, cleaning our own house, having benefits, and meeting new people! Its going to be amazing...and this year will pay off, I know it.

Next posts will be updates to the aforementioned milestones.

Naps.

So.

I've begun some pre-student teaching activities at a high school in Alexandria, and so far, it's been great. I'm getting very, very excited. But that's not the point of this post. I'll write one gushing about my love for teaching later. Because it's gunna happen. Sorry not sorry.

Anyway. I have made plans to meet up with my roommate from all 4 years of college for dinner in old town Alexandria tomorrow, since we both work in the area. And since I have no idea when I'll be done tomorrow, the first 2 thoughts that popped into my head, should I finish up earlier than expected, were 1.) No big deal, I'll just go home and come back, and 2.) No big deal, I'll just find a couch somewhere and nap.

Welp, my friends. This was my first rude awakening to the real world. That bubble we all live in for 4 years during college...well that bubble just got about 50 times bigger.

These two options were always the way to go back at JMU. My house was 5 minutes away, and a person sleeping on the grass of the quad, or a couch in some random building...not so strange. This might not be as well received in the metropolis of Northern Virginia, unless of course I were actually in the city and passed out on one of the great lawns. But even then they'd probably assume I was drunk and/or homeless.

So what will I do? No idea. But I guess I'm about to discover what everyone else in the big bubble does when they have time to kill. I'll get back to you.

A new lease on life...for today anyway...

I have had this plan. For four years, I have had "the plan" of how things would go after classes were done, and student teaching was the only remaining part of my education left. Starting about...14 months ago or so, I became completely terrified of "the plan". Do I want this still? Do I like this? Am I too burnt out? My experience with the SoM was interesting, and not as fulfilling as it should have been. And it has created a ton of doubt within me, if you could tell from just about every blog post I have, and that has bread insecurity. Today has been a good day, for no particuar reason, and I'm beginning to feel myself becoming more positive. I think a lot of it has to do with CAMPPPPP COMING UPPPPP!

Every summer I have worked at this camp here at JMU for kids from elementary to high school, focusing on choral music, some dance, and DHALL 3 TIMES A DAY. It has been the bigest refresher for me. And I forget about it as the year goes on, until it comes time to be with my kids again. It's always the same kids, and they are wonderful, wonderful people. I need it. And now, more than ever, I'm realizing that THIS has actually been the closest to student teaching that I have gotten in my 4 years. Even during practicum, even while teaching women's chorus for 2 semesters. The relationships are what will make this worth it to me. Today, I am remembering that a lot more than I was yesterday, a week ago, 14 months ago.

It's a good, good day.

Time is of the Essence...

So I've pretty much abandoned this blog. Sorry about it. It's been quite a summer so far. Lots and learning and growing, and a pretty useful time of transition into "real life".

I've learned that there are actually people who think more than I do, and it made me see the other side of things. What my overthinking can do to others. Of what I've done in the past, and how it can affect those around me. And how the combination of more than one thinking head can be...not so good. I guess we need to fall victim to our own pitfalls to really learn how to grow out of them.

I'm not one for horoscopes, but mine today said something about taking our own share of blame for things that go wrong in our lives. Horoscopes are generally bogus, but sometimes they have little hidden life lessons. I've been doing that a lot, looking for my "part" in things that go wrong, even in everyday life. Little things, but it all matters. It is so easy to blame everyone else, the other person, whatever, but I am not perfect. I contribute, good and bad.

I've learned that people are good. And that God is so good. And He brings the right people into our lives at the perfect time. He has never failed me on that, even in some of the worst moments, and I have never been so appreciative as I have lately. I think these are actually things I learn over and over again, and I think now I'm actually taking it seriously. I'm not a kid anymore, I'm not a teenager, I'm not even I college kid anymore. I'm a grown-up (sort of...). I'm embracing responsibility in every way that I should.

I've learned that I THRIVE on change. When something causes a sudden change, I have to change right along with it. Almost to a fault. Whether its avoiding the cause of change, a television channel, who I spend my time with, my attachment to certain places. Like my house, for example. My roomies (who I love and miss, so much) are gone. I am no longer attached to this house. I'm packing up gradually on my days off, and it feels awesome. The room is practically done, downstairs pretty much done, etc. It's not the same place to me anymore, so I change. I anticipate the next step. It's something I never really noticed until recently. But I also think my coping strategies have changed, to cope more healthfully. But reading what I just wrote, I wonder if it's actually healthier? Haha...and then I think.

I've learned that I LOVE some of the people I work with. They are so different from what I have been around in the 4 years I have been here, and they are wonderful. Dan and I were talking about it, and it is such a breath of fresh air. And they are making my summer. It has been so fun so far! It almost feels like I'm living in a different place, which coincides with the aforementioned thriving on change, hahaha...

That's all I've got.