Homesick

I miss home!!! This week has been hard. Work is good, home is great, and even though I am recovering from a cold, none of that has bothered me. Actually, I miss the beach, Santana's, Balboa, Coronado--even the stupid bridge, church (http://floodsandiego.com), little brother, my kid, and all my amazing friends there. I knew when I left San Diego that I would have many, many days of SD withdrawals, and here they are. Every one of my friends that I left behind, I miss you all excessively! How I wish we could have a bonfire and just hang. Here is my ode to my city:

As if having left there wasn't bad enough, I also have been missing Leona Valley. Family has not seen me in months and I am about to go crazy. I just want to go hang there for a while. Pictures of them, unfortunately, are far harder to come by...so I am going to go look at my pictures in frames on my wall and after that I will look up the cost of Southwest flights.

I have been having really good sub jobs lately and am beginning to get more comfortable in my new districts and cities. I have been adopted by new family up here, have made new friends, and gotten connected in a good church (http://woodlandgathering.com). I knew this move was going to be difficult, but I also know it was what I was supposed to do right now. Maybe soon I can head home, until then I will continue count the days. We shall see what comes next...

Time

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time flies by. It took quite some time to settle in here, but it is beginning to feel like home.

Audrey and I have a fantastic roommate! She has been such a blessing and we truly miss her when she is gone for a few days (which happens frequently). The apt. has been named Homestead and nearly all boxes are unpacked! Woohoo! Audrey’s tiny dog can't join us just yet, but whenever she can come up with pet deposit money ($300), we will have one more roommate.

I have been a substitute teacher in just about every conceivable classroom. The only one left to try is Kindergarten, and I am actually hoping to avoid it. I finished up the hellish time of Special Day Class High School and moved on to Jr. High resource, second grade, high school ROP (child care worker) and typical elementary classroom teacher. I love the upper grades (fourth-sixth), and have been fortunate to focus my attention on those in the past few weeks. The days are not easy, and I often end up with a migraine, but I am enjoying myself and reveling in the free nights not spent in grading and lesson planning.

This week I have been learning about making use of time. I have had a few days off, and it simply drives me crazy not to go to work. After so many years of working so hard in classes and work and projects and friends, it is hard to have fewer friends, no classes, and work only during the hours of the typical day. My hobbies took a back seat--no, actually they took a total dismissal from my life during my college and credential days. So now, when I have a day off, I have nothing to keep me busy...you can only clean a small apartment so many times ;). Therefore, I have spent more time with my own thoughts, and hence, more time in prayer. It has been good to just be. I will let ya know what else I find to occupy the hours.