I'm back!

I wish I could add something fun like "... from vacation!" But I can't. I mean, I guess I could, but if this has been a vacation, then I think I'll just stay at work. :)

I have felt bad for not posting, but mostly because it seems to be a very healthy thing for me to do for myself. I enjoy writing out my thoughts and recording things that have gone on in our lives. Of course, I also enjoy reading the comments.

After much praying, we've decided that I should teach next year. I'm very excited about it! There are lots of reasons why:

• Knight is looking at a career change, and I feel that I can best support him by continuing to work. My heart's desire is for him to have a job where he's satisfied, and I feel that I'd be hanging him out to dry if I didn't support him this way. He'd be trying to find that job, along with worrying about totally supporting our family.
• God has given me a job that I love and am very passionate about. It's not like I have to go work at Wal-Mart to help support our family! I've also been brainstorming ways to make things run more smoothly at work, and have come up with several ideas that have been approved by my principal. More on that later.
• Jet is in a fabulous child care situation. It's not like I'm worried about him being safe, happy or loved. He's made friends and is learning! I'm actually kinda worried that I wouldn't be able to compete with the stimulation that his playschool provides. :) It seems like it wouldn't be all that beneficial to take him out of that situation, only to put him right back into it a year later for preschool.
• This is probably the thing I'm the most excited about: Depending on Knight's income, we're going to work really hard to put money in the budget for someone to come clean the house about twice a month. The real reason I feel guilty for working is because I'm NEVER caught up at home. I feel that I'm not being the wife and mom I should be because my house is ALWAYS messy. If I can get someone to come in and scrub floors, bathrooms, kitchen, and do the dusting every other week, I'd be in heaven. Those are the things that don't get done because I'm exhausted and wanting some family time after I spend all day Saturday picking up and doing laundry! (This also ties in with my unhealthy obsessions. See #1 and #6 here.) Our house isn't all that big, so hopefully it'll be affordable. My mom already has someone who does her house, and I'm hoping that same person will be available for me!
• I'm going to stay home with Jet this summer. I feel like that will give me a chance to catch up on some mommy/son time, as well as finish getting the house organized (we moved in last October, and I haven't had time to get us really "settled in"). I'm so excited about being with him! I've taught for 7 years, and I've never taken a summer off. I've taught summer school for three years, then had Jet one summer (which doesn't really count because I was so, so sick for the rest of the summer after he came), spent one summer taking two semesters of physics in preparation for my composite science certification exam (which was a guilty pleasure because I could be a career student), and then last summer I was actually up at the school about 20-30 hours a week working on the new lab. I have visions of us going to the park to feed the ducks in the mornings and napping together during some afternoons and having playdates. Fun!

I have a million other things that have been going on that I want to post, but laundry and budget and mopping (oh, my) await my attention. Hopefully I can post some of them intermittently today.

It's great to be back!!!

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Quick update

Knight and I had a long (and emotional) discussion on Sunday night. We worked things out, as we always do, and I thank the Lord that I have such a wonderful husband.

He started his new job yesterday, and it turns out that the company has several IT needs that he will be taking care of before he even starts really selling. His boss will pay him separately for fulfulling any IT duties, so that's kind of like bonus work! God truly is faithful.

For the last week or so, though, I've really been struggling with our decision for me to not teach at my school next year. I don't know if it's that we're in the process of planning for next year at school -- it makes me sad to think that I won't be there. Pretty much the only thing that has kept me from running to my principal and saying "Just kidding! I really do want to be here next year!" has been plain ol' pride. I was SO SURE that God didn't want me here. What has happened to that faith?

Also, I know that going to my principal that way would be a fear-based action, not a faith-based one. In all of the upheaval about Knight's job and income, I know that my taking my job back for next year would give me some semblance of financial security. However, God does not intend for us to live our lives that way. He has blessed us in the last month or so since Knight lost his job. He has cared for our every need, and will continue to do so, if we are obedient. I believe that the blessings He has provided are in light of our faithfulness and obedience -- and I'm not interested in giving up those blessings by being disobedient!

Hafta head out to work. Lots more to tell, but it will have to wait until later!

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Can you say Crazy Cycle?

I haven't really posted anything of significance lately because this week has been really rough. The title is in reference to our Love and Respect study. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. I swear the author has a window into our lives.

If you don't want to read an emotional diarrhea of the keyboard, you can just quit right here. If you're a glutton for punishment, keep going, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Knight lost his job a couple of weeks ago, but found a contract to carry us through the month while he looked for a job. He was hired in a new job on Tuesday, selling residential and business security and monitoring systems. He was really excited about it because he's been ready to get out of the IT field for awhile. The new boss guaranteed him $2500 for the first month, with great benefits after 60 days. The pay would be straight commission. We had a bit of a discussion about that -- I'm nervous about it.

I had to have a little come-to-Jesus about the straight commission thing. God reminded me that Knight is the leader of our home, and that I am to be supportive of him. So, I agreed with God, and told Him that I was trusting in His ability to provide for our family. If this was where Knight felt God to be leading him to support us, then so be it -- I would be supportive of him.

Knight went in and did the paperwork to get hired, then went to a meeting/seminar thing on wireless options with another person from the company. Then on Friday afternoon, the guy called him and told him that he couldn't hire him because corporate didn't want to hire anyone for this office. We decided that God had firmly closed that door as a protective measure -- at that point, the only way that Knight wasn't going to be in that job was for God to do something like that.

In the meantime, though (I think at that seminar), Knight had met someone else from another company that does the same thing, who told him that if things didn't work out for the first company, to give him a call. Knight did that, and will start on Monday. There isn't a guaranteed salary for the first month, and no benefits. Knight has said he will continue to look for more stable income, but he's really excited about giving this a try.

I'm even more nervous about this position because of the lack of guaranteed income. God's still working on me about it. I really do trust God to take care of us, but I'm not at all sure that this job is the right one. I worry that Knight panicked and jumped at this opportunity because he felt that he didn't have any other options -- he's driven by the need to provide for his family, which doesn't lend itself to patiently asking for direction. I don't know if he's prayed about this or not. It's a touchy subject.

In the middle of all this, Knight had gone on Wednesday to pick up the first of his two weeks' severence pay from his old boss. The guy tried to give Knight an $88 check, and gave him the run-around about how he didn't really mean two full weeks' pay (which would be more like $1000). We're in the process of getting ready to take him to small claims court if he doesn't make restitution.

Knight's really, really angry about it, and rightfully so. Every time I bring up making any kind of documentation (sending his old boss a letter, or just writing down the conversations) to prepare for taking the issue to small claims, it starts a mini-battle. I'm a detail-oriented person, and Knight is not. He just wants to stomp to the courthouse and file a suit, thinking that the judge will hand him two weeks' pay because he says that the old boss said he would. The judge may very well do that, but I believe that it would behoove us to prepare a little more. (Edited to add: We've finished the letter as of Sunday evening, and Knight will mail it return receipt tomorrow.)

In the midst of all THAT (I told you it's been crazy), I had an issue at school. I caught our one and only qualifier for the state golf tournament cheating on a Chemistry test. He's a junior, and the juniors are going on their mission trip this week. They are scheduled to leave Tuesday morning, but this student qualified for the state tournament, which is held Monday and Tuesday in San Antonio. So, his flight was rescheduled so that he could fly out Wednesday morning and hook up with his class in D.C. On top of that, there were several people in the athletic booster club who paid for his hotel, travel, etc., for the tournament out of their own pockets.

Our school has a very strict policy that an athelete who cheats does not get to participate in the next event (basketball game, football game, whatever). This kid cost himself the state golf tournament. It breaks my heart for him. He's really a good kid -- I believe that he made one bad choice that cost him BIG. However, it's better that it cost him this than expulsion from college somewhere. I pray that he's learned his lesson.

That's it for now. I really try not to be so negative on this blog, but I really needed to dump all of this... and I think I feel better now.

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Why was he so quiet?

The result when your wife is in the shower and you are busy eating breakfast and not realizing that your two-year-old son has discovered a fascinating interaction between a small ruler and a laptop:

It wouldn't be funny except that I knew Knight could fix it, and he did. After we spent an hour turning the house upside down looking for Z.

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Carrots are good for your eyes

In an effort to get Jet to eat his dinner the other night, Knight was telling Jet about his food.

K: "Carrots are good for your eyes! They help you see!"

J: "Yeah!"

K: "And cucumbers are good for your ears!" (yes, this is a little, um, misleading... )

J: "And cornbread is good for my BELLY!!"


Yep... that's about all it's good for, too. Except maybe your tastebuds.

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Alas, there was no manatee...

We had a blast in Dallas on Saturday, even though I had three flake out on me. So, it was just me, the Bible teacher (who is one hilarious guy, and hereafter referred to as TBT), and four kids.
The Dallas World Aquarium was great, even though the manatee is no longer there, or at least refused to show himself. They've added tons of stuff since I was there a few years ago, including a forty-foot tunnel that you can walk through with a bull shark and rays swimming overhead. They had some awesome leafy sea dragons, jellyfish, a black jaguar, howler monkeys, a huge and very ugly goliath grouper, and some really pretty lionfish.

The four students we took are great students, and they were really into the aquarium. Somehow we entered from the wrong way and walked against the flow the whole time; we joked about that quite a bit. Pretty sure that'll be brought up and used against me at some point in class. :)

We ate lunch at TGIFriday's in West End, where we ended up in the bar because it was so crowded. While we were waiting, I snapped a couple of pictures, and afterwards I realized that there were rows of liquor bottles behind the kids in the photos. Nice. One of them commented that those definitely needed to be in the yearbook. I think not. (I can see the caption now: Science Club Sponsor Takes Students to Bar for Field Trip.)

Rather than waiting for a table, we stayed in the bar to eat. TBT and I sat AT the bar, while the kids sat in tables behind us. Interestingly, we ran into a guy that TBT knew from Austin - he had helped develop the curriculum that TBT is using this year. Small world.

I was pretty tired by this point, and it was a bit difficult to resist the Shiner Bock on tap that was ten feet to my right. That would have been so yummy and relaxing. TBT suggested a margarita. Ultimately, though, we decided to set good examples for the young'uns, and stuck to our Diet Coke and water.

We also had a great time at The Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe it or Not. In the Ripley's part, where you first walk in, there's a mirror and a cool display about how some people can roll their tongue and others can't. It talks a bit about the genetics of it (yes, it's genetic) and encourages you to try to roll your tongue. The most hilarious part is that, after you've gone all the way through the thing, you get to the end and the mirror is TWO-WAY. You can stand there and watch other idiots try to roll their tongues and make stupid faces, while feeling first a little embarrassed for yourself and gradually progressing to feeling embarrassed for them. I had to practically drag the kids out the door -- I think they would have stayed there laughing at people for hours.

While we were in Dallas, I figured out that there is a Body Worlds exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science. Because I don't have enough to do, I'm toying with taking some of my anatomy students to see it. I took last year's anatomy class to a different exhibit in Houston last year, and it was just incredible. It's graphic, but extremely educational and definitely leaves an impression. I'd love to see it myself. We nearly ditched the Palace of Wax to go this past weekend, but there's a substantial price difference between the two.

A good time was had by all, especially since TBT drove back to Austin. I don't do well in the afternoons -- I get tired and a bit cranky. He and I are alike in many ways, as he pointed out early that morning when I offered to drive up to Dallas if he would drive back. This is true - there's a mini contest to see who gets to the school earliest in the morning (or maybe that's in my head). The math teacher has us both beat. I think he gets there around 5:30 or some ridiculous hour like that. TBT and I are usually there around 6:45 or 7:00.

So, if you're going to be near Dallas anytime soon, check out the aquarium. It's amazing, especially if you have a TBT of your own to drive you home. :P

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We're off to see the Manatee

... the wonderful Manatee of Dallas.

How can I be up at the same stinkin' time I'm always up, but it seem soooooooooooo much earlier because it's a Saturday? I think my brain is playing tricks on me.

I'm taking some of my Science Club members to Dallas today. They've been selling snacks before school and doing other fundraisers all year, and this trip has been the major goal. So, after I juggled the school calendar and finally found a date that might not conflict with the zillion other clubs/athletic teams/etc (I even politely asked the theater teacher to move her cast party -- she was wonderfully gracious and said it really wasn't a big deal to push it to next week)... we are going to the Dallas World Aquarium and the Palace of Wax/Ripley's Believe it or Not.

I've been to both of those places when we were living in Dallas, and they're both cool. I actually took huge groups of students to the aquarium on field trips for three years running (like 200 students at a time). I look back on those field trips and just shake my head like What was I thinking!?!? Today's trip should be much more fun -- less stress. Because ask me how many kids I'm taking. Go ahead.

SIX. Out of 22 kids in my science club, only six decided to go. So, it's me, six kids, the Bible teacher, and one parent. I think it'll be a BLAST. Fewer kids = easier time deciding what to do for lunch, etc.

Knight and Jet have the whole day to themselves; the testosterone should be oozing from the cracks in the house by the time I get back at 9:00 tonight. I say that with glee for them -- Jet needs this kind of time with his daddy. I know they'll have a great day together.

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You should call it...

Jet was in the bath this evening. I had my back turned, and he said, "It has balls in it!"

I was only half-listening to his chatter, but this caught my attention. I quickly recalled that he doesn't have any ball-shaped bath toys.

"What?" I asked as I turned around.

Yep, you guessed it. He was ... um... exploring. He repeated what he had said, and I immediately wondered who had taught him that word for his parts - a friend at daycare, maybe? Knight was in Jet's room across the hall, and joined the conversation.

K: "What did he say?"

D: "You heard him."

Meanwhile, Jet continues to describe his new discovery by repeating himself over and over. I could tell that Knight had been thinking the same thing I was.

I'm big on Jet knowing the proper words for things. I'm kinda worried that someday he'll have to describe where he's hurting to an emergency room doctor who wouldn't be able to interpret nicknames if somehow I wasn't standing right there. It's also important to us that he learn to not say offensive things if he overhears them.

Clearly, though, this was an innocent discovery because, well, um, they ARE just as he described them, and I could tell by the way he was saying it. I turned to Jet and told him that those words weren't the ones to use; he should call it his "scrotum".

J: "Scroto?"

D: "Scrot-UM."

J: (matter-of-factly) "Scroto."

From the other room, K: "Scroto Baggins?"

J: "Yeah! Scroto Baggins!"

All I could do was giggle... and sigh about the things they don't teach you when they say "It's a BOY!" in the delivery room.

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Because I want to post...

... but don't want to think. I stumbled on this on another blog (that I also stumbled on), and thought it was rather insightful, except for the "truly adventuresome" part.

You Are a Warrior Soul

You're a strong person and sometimes seen as intimidating.You don't give up. You're committed and brave.Truly adventuresome, you are not afraid of going to battle.Extremely protective of loved ones, you root for the underdog. You are picky about details and rigorous in your methods.You also value honesty and fairness a great deal.You can be outspoken, intimidating, headstrong, and demanding.You're a hardliner who demands the best from themselves and others. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

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Funny babies

I know I should be working, but I stumbled on a post on another site listing funny baby videos. I had to share a couple of them!!

This baby is cracking up at his daddy playing golf on his Wii. This one laughs like an old man, and makes me laugh out loud every time. If you haven't seen this one with the powder toot, you're just behind the times (pun intended)!

Just in case you needed to laugh on this Monday-after-a-three-day-weekend, too. :-P

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