11 months ago...

11 months ago on this day, I met the man of my dreams. He was tall and handsome, and arrived late on a plane from MSP. :) We had known each other for a little over a month by now, only through online chatting and skyping, but I felt as though I had known him for years. I spent most of my free time while in Leysin, Switzerland finding time to talk to him between classes. I was trying to finish my Masters, but always felt my mind was somewhere else during class. Whether he was in Minnesota preparing for his trip to Belize, or whether he was in Belize preparing his trip home, I wanted to be with him - to share in his journey - to experience life with him. On this day, 11 months ago, I met my best friend and my life has never been the same!

Today was an extraordinarily stressful day. "Alex" has continued to dump water and hasn't stopped. My house was officially cleaned out by 9am - when my new realtor came by to take the final pictures and sign the paperwork. Today was a day when I had to stand up for myself - take care of buisness alone, deal with lawyers and leasing agreements, deal with the realization that people are just people and I can't always be disappointed when they do the wrong thing - and I got through it all - in one piece - finally sitting down around 4pm. I couldn't have done it without mom and Billy - always there to help out - and always there to forgive me when I say things I shouldn't - due to extreme stress!

Today I wanted my best friend to be there with me, but I think God was allowing me to realize that I can do some things on my own. It's not like I haven't moved before! I tried to call Belize, to get some advice from Jason, but he was unavailable. I had to resort to taking charge and doing what I thought was best. Thankfully, he thought what I did was the right thing!

It's been a crazy day. I never in a million years wanted to rent out my house, but due to the lack of real estate movement, I've had to. I'm hoping for a quick sale - my new realtor seems very promising.

So as I said, 11 months ago, I met my best friend, and have had the most fantastic 11 months since. I'm definitely counting down the days until I get to change my name :) but until then, I'm headed back to Minnesota tomorrow, but stopping off to meet my new niece, Baby Helen Margaret. She should arrive tomorrow around 9:30...very exciting and so thankful I have time to go drive up on our way to MN.

I know this post is a bit scattered, but like I said, it's been a crazy day. I've survived the week and can now look forward to the wedding ahead. I am getting married! That is so surreal still! I hope to do better at keeping a blog. This year in general has just been busy, so please keep reading - the next few months should be quite a journey!

Lost in thoughts...

It's 1:50am now, and as I sit here in bed, wishing I wasn't wide awake, but yet enjoying the sound of the thunderstorm outside, I ponder upon what tomorrow, or rather later today might hold. It's the end of a chapter for me. The end of teaching 6th Grade World History, the end of my Texas teaching career, and then end of working with teachers that I have seen almost every day for the past three years. I am saddened. I sit here thinking through all the hard work that it has been earning my degree, continuing my certification, gaining a new degree, and dealing with all that teaching hands you. This year has not been easy. I have been given some true challenges, but gosh, I get emotional just thinking about having to turn in my keys tomorrow. Never have I felt this way about leaving a job, and I know it's much more than just leaving a job, but it's leaving a life I've known for so long - something I've become accustomed to - something I thought I was good at.

The past three months, or rather four, if you count getting my MN certification, has been much more challenging than I ever dreamed. I didn't want finding a job to become a "job," but unfortunately it has become an added part of my daily activities. Thankfully, Jason has time to search through websites with new job postings, and I come home to the applying of the jobs and emailing of principals. It's exhausting and nerve-racking. After applying to over 30 districts and schools, emailing over a hundred principals with Jason's help, having three in-person interviews, and one phone interview, I'm just at a loss. I don't know what to do. I'm scheduled to head back north on Sunday, but have no interviews lined up. I'm trying, I really am, but even with my resume it seems like I'm never "the one" they want. It really puts a damper on my self-esteem!

As I said though, I can't stop thinking about tomorrow. I have my top desk drawer left to clean out, and my modification forms to fill in. Grades have been posted and the refrigerator has been defrosted...four more school hours and I'm done. Done with my Texas Teaching Career, done with junior high kids, done with a job where I actually enjoyed teaching the content. My boxes are packed and I have absolutely no idea where I'll end up. It's such a weird feeling.

I do know that the emotional struggle I am having now, and will probably still be experiencing for awhile, is all worth it. I remind myself every day that it is in God's timing...I'm just having difficulties remembering that today for some reason. My house is still for sale, I'm trying my best to handle that correctly although I've made a couple of mistakes, and I know that I love Jason with all my heart and can't wait to be with him. I just wish the situation was a bit different....house sold, contract for a job signed, and then the wedding. It looks as though that might not be the order God has for me.

I ask you to pray for me after you read this. I just need prayer that I will always remember this is God's timing. I ask you to pray for Jason, that he will always be patient with me during my emotional roller coaster of life changes, and that he always knows I love him.

To all you blog readers, which I know probably isn't very many people anymore, thank you for keeping up with me and my nomadic ways. It looks as though this Nomad has found a permanent location...

I need to catch you up!

It's finally time to post another blog - long overdue. I have a ton of pictures that I would love to share with you, all taken since Christmas, but I'm afraid that it's already so late tonight that I won't even be able to make a dent in it. So, with that said, in a nutshell, the past few months have been absolutely crazy! My house has yet to sell, I officially fired my realtor this week, I still have no job for next year, but yet, I'm still getting married August 7th! It's been a whirlwind to say the least - I was engaged March 31st while Jason and I were camping, Jason's parents and oldest daughter Mallory made the trip down to Texas the next week. I made a trip up to Minnesota soon after, had two interviews, we registered for our upcoming showers and wedding, I came home last weekend, I finished teaching about Asia, I met with a florist and a photographer, sent out my save-the-dates, and now, I'm lying in my bed, exhausted. I have 8.5 schools days of teaching remaining, a classroom to pack up, a "Create your own country" end of year project to explain, but most of all, I'm looking forward to Jason's arrival Tuesday night...it can't come soon enough! We have engagement pictures to take, details for the wedding to take care of, a shower for me given by friends at my school, an Astros came to attend and time to just "be" together! I know this next few months are going to fly by, and I want to cherish each moment I have left here, but wow, there is so much more left to accomplish!

As for now, I'm going to leave you with a few pictures of Mallory's adventure in Texas. Although the weather was not the best, I think she enjoyed her time down in Texas! Take a look for yourself...

Changes, Changes, Changes....

I never wanted life to be boring for me, and well, each new days proves that it truly isn't! Since I last wrote, way too much has happened, but I'll give you a run down. Jason and I have continued to migrate north and south once a month, and over my Spring Break, I spent a record ten days with Jason in Minnesota and applied for job after job... I think back and it feels like that is all I did - and I bought a much needed new computer! I came back from Spring Break and was excited to find that my Minnesota License was in the mail, so I officially became a Minnesota Teacher - Age 3 through Grade 6. :) The sad part is, I have yet to hear back from ANY school...seems as though the economy has hit them hard as well. Although there is no job, I had to keep going - the house was on the market and I need to get it sold! Jordan told me she was moving out Easter weekend, so there were many things we needed to go through together, so that consumed much of my time. With TAKS testing season here school is absolutely crazy, but I did go ahead and resign from my current position, hoping that something will open up in MN before I get there!

So March flew by, and last week, I was able to take a few days off and head up to MN early, before our Good Friday vacation day. Jason surprised me with an adventure around MN with NO plans and NO maps, and I've now returned back to TX with a ring on my finger and a wedding date set! LOL...lots of details missing aren't there?! I arrived back to Texas on Sunday, to an empty house, no tv anymore, a yard full of weeds and humid air. UGH - but I had a ring! :) So this week has been a whirlwind. My time with Jason was amazing - we went camping through some MN state parks, visited places he has never been, and I even crossed the state line in Wisconsin where they produce the best cheese curds! (I haven't had many varieties, but these were soooo good!)

Arriving back to school on Monday offered a harsh reality of what the next two months would be like, and I have officially begun counting down the days until summer - I am soooo ready for it to get here! This is the first summer "off" that I've had in a LONG time, and I know there is a wedding thrown in there, but I am planning on that being fun! It's still all a bit surreal for me. It's just something I've dreamed of for some many years, and now that I have found the man of my dreams, wow, where do you even begin?! All the ideas that I ever had have just been tossed and I don't know where to start. My family is trying to help me out though...it should be interesting!

I'm headed up to Pineywoods in a little while. I need some "erin" time to offer encouragement and to see her before Annabelle arrives on April 26th. I am so excited she's having a little girl! Oh, and I also had an offer on my house this week, I told you it's been crazy! I counteroffered and still have yet to hear back. I'm hoping they're trying to get their money in order....we'll see! I promise to add pictures soon - what a whirlwind of a week!

A bit lonely tonight...

So it's finally time to put the house on the market. It's been a long time coming and I am more than ready to sell it. I've spent countless hours cleaning out things, tidying up closets, working in the yard, and I can't wait to see that "for sale" sign go up!

Oh, it will be sad to leave. This house holds great memories, and I love it for that, but it's time to move on and start a new chapter in life. With all of the business I feel during the day, it gets a bit lonely when I lay on my bed, about to turn the light out. I reflect back on what the day held, today being dealing with fence repairmen, making keys, signing a realtor contract, cleaning out the scrapbook closet, and so forth. Wow - so much has been done. Unfortunately at times I get bogged down in the to-do list and forget why I'm doing this.

I have fallen in love. He is a man I have dreamed about and love dearly, and I need to be closer to him! :) So, as they days unfold, keep us both in your prayers for the 'move' in general. This next chapter in life should be an interesting one!

Goodnight and Sweet Dreams!

On my knees...

Do you ever feel like you just need to get on your knees and pray? That's how I feel right now...

Spending Time in Prayer...

The days are flying by...the moments counting down...it's hard to find time, or rather make time, to spend in prayer. That was my mission this evening. So often I come home, run my countless errands, and then collapse on my bed, quickly falling to sleep in anticipation of what tomorrow will hold. Tonight was no different, but I had to set aside some time for prayer.

There are many changes going on in my life right now. I recently told my boss I would not be returning next year. I've resigned from almost all organizations or "groups" I have been a member of, and I'm putting my house on the market next Monday, March 1st. Wow. On top of all of that, I'm applying to a ton of districts in Minnesota to teach - and with that has come many emails from principals saying "best of luck to you"- there aren't many jobs, funds are low, and it looks as though I might be changing careers! I know God is in control, so I'm trying my best to lift these concerns up in prayer and know that I am doing my best.

It was refreshing to be able to sit, read from my Bible and pray quietly in my room. I've watched this video a couple of times tonight - Praise Team is singing it this Sunday - and the words truly spoke to me this evening - I hope they do the same for you. Until next time, take care and God bless!