Eeeeeeeeeee!!!

I am so excited that I can finally tell everyone that

I HAVE A JOB IN ST. LOUIS!!!

I found out last Thursday that I had the job, but I had to talk to my principal before I could really tell anyone. I've been bursting at the seams, just waiting to shout it to the world.

It seems like everything in my life is trying really hard to fall into place, now I just need to let it. I will start teaching in the fall at a small high school in South County. HBFB and I are looking at an adorable little house to rent that is close to most everything we love about St. Louis. It looks like my life is headed in a wonderful and exciting direction. Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive of me during some trying times. I love you all!

Little Things Make Me Happy

One of my students went to Gulf Shores with her family for vacation. She's a sweet and silly freshman girl that I've grown close to this year. Today was her first day back at school after being gone over a week. She walked up to me this morning and put something in my hand, it was a little dolphin that is made of sand and painted. She said, "I brought this back for you. I was shopping for my friends, buying little presents, and I was like, 'I have to get something for Ms. V!'" She was so excited about it. I told her that her thoughtfulness completely made my day, and it really did. I really do have the best job in the world.

A Little Light, Way at the End of the Tunnel

Life has been overwhelming recently, but I feel like things have at least been a little better lately. My stress level right now is unreal. My shoulders and neck are so sore (apparently that's where the majority of my stress likes to reside) and my eyelid twitch has returned with a vengeance.

On the bright side, I've been feeling a bit more hopeful, which is definitely a huge plus. There have been little glimmers of hope of lately, and that's been encouraging. I feel like I am getting to reconnect with a lot of the people that I really need in my life, and that alone makes a big difference. Thanks to all of you who love and care so much, you have no idea what it means to me.

Lost

It's so frustrating knowing exactly what I want, but having little to no control over it. There are very few openings for teaching jobs in St. Louis right now, but I have been applying for every one I'm qualified for. I know it's still early, and I'm trying to stay positive, but it's really difficult when everything we've been planning on completely depends on my ability to find a job.

I feel totally disconnected from my friends and family right now. I feel like I've lost a part of myself. I live with my parents, and I still feel distant from them. My friends are so important to me, but I haven't seen or even talked to most of them in months.

I feel completely and utterly lost right now.

I got nothing...

I was going to write a re-cap of the weekend, but after 4 paragraphs in, I realized it really wasn't that interesting, just involved. So, I'll make things short and sweet.

Thursday - HBFB was bitten on the eyebrow by a student and then broke his foot trying to restrain another.

Friday - I went to STL to keep HBFB from having to drive in such a state. We had a nice dinner with his parents and went to bed early.

Saturday - I was feeling sick, so I slept until noon. I pushed HBFB around Wal-Mart in a wheelchair (so he could have a break from the crutches) looking for a birthday present. We went to a fun birthday party for HBFB's niece at the bowling alley with his fabulous family.

Sunday - We ate lunch at The King and I (our favorite) and then waited 2 hours at Urgent Care for my sinus infection. We hit up Walgreens for my prescription, then had another nice dinner with his parents.

Monday - Enough said.

Even the abbreviated version is painfully uninteresting. HBFB and I were a mess this weekend, but together and happy nonetheless. Oh Life, you're really something else.

Riding The Wave

I've been pretty good at staying on track with Weight Watchers, but I have NOT been good about working out. I had a membership at the YMCA, which is probably a mile from my house, but I never went. I got back on the Weight Watchers Wagon at the beginning of January, and I really tried to make working out a habit, but it did not go so well. I would go every once in a while, but I was so intimidated by anything other than the treadmill, that I would only walk a few miles. Obviously this is better than no exercise, but it got so boring that I just couldn't force myself to go.

So, I canceled my membership ($36/month) and invested in The Wave by The Firm, an at home workout program. I'm not one to buy into "As Seen on TV" type of merchandise, but a dear friend, Kerry, used the previous model of this product and had phenomenal results. She raves about it and tries to promote it to everyone she knows. I am nervous, but very excited about it. It was $57, hardly more than one month at the Y, so I feel like it was a good investment. I'm starting it today after school, and I'm pretty pumped!

I'm down 19 pounds since January, and 88 pounds from my highest. I have a good attitude today, about life in general, but specifically my ability to keep getting healthier. I'll let you know how things go!