I thought I would take the time to update people on what's going on. I'm still in Texas. The process of moving to another country takes time. Here's a summary of what the last few months have looked like for me.
4th of July with the family: Very traditional but meaningful since I may not be in the States for another 4th of July for a while. My paternal grandparents came down. A good friend from Waco came down. We all headed down the street to claim a space in the school parking lot to watch fireworks. My two nieces & their cousin, my friend, and myself decided to accompany the fireworks with song. We had a blast!
Orientation in Philly: I signed my life away to my company. We sketched out a tentative timeline to get to India. We are in the process of negotiating with the India side of the company to determine which language school I will attend before I start my teaching job (which still has not been finalized).
Trip to Waco: I went back to Waco and saw lots of people. It was good to be back to visit. I had some much needed time to myself as well.
Back to School (but not for me): I found myself in state of grief as teachers went back to school to prepare their classrooms and I ended up being a nanny. I must say that I enjoyed watching the energetic and creative 6 year old boy. We had fun playing Wii & board games like Sorry. I felt old when we watched movies like Gremlins and Ghostbusters and realized that they came out when I was his age.
First Day of First Grade: My oldest niece started first grade. To keep her little sister's mind off missing her and to keep my mind off not teaching we went to the zoo. It was the first experience that my 3 year old niece and I have had just the two of us. We had a blast! No meltdowns. She loved the elephants and the giraffes. I even faced my fear and took her through the herpatorium...yes, that's where the snakes live.
Spontaneous Trip to Corpus Christi: My good friend and former roommate Katie was visiting her parents who live about an hour and a half from CC. She is about to move to KY. Katie was trying to figure out a way to visit me and one of our other former roommates, Sara, who actually now lives in CC with her husband Johnathan before she moved out of the great state of Texas. Her solution was for us to all meet up in CC. Katie & I met up with Sara at her new home. Sara treated us with the finest hospitality. We just enjoyed each other's company. The next morning, Sara had to go to work. Katie & I hit the beach. Then we had a mid-morning snack at a cool Mexican Cafe and talked till lunch. We drove up and down Shoreline trying to find Landry's and passed it about four times before we called for directions. What can I say, I was with Katie. After lunch we hugged and went our separate ways. Till next time...
Another Trip to Waco: I just can't stay away. It was good to go back. I went to my old school and hugged my students' necks and visited with my teacher friends. It was good to be there visiting and have peace that I am not suppose to be there teaching. I do miss teaching and can't wait to have my first class in India. There is a season for everything. I also got to be with four amazing women who I am blessed to call my friends. It was the last time for the five of us to be together before heading off into very different directions. I found myself taking in the day and all its details and tucking them away in my treasure chest of memories.
In this time of preparation, I find myself doing very mundane things and having to pay attention to all the little details of life. I am writing my will and funeral. I have to make sure I have my power of attorney written just right. There are tons of legal things that I hadn't ever thought of before that I now am having to sort through. As I deal with those things I am encountering moments of good-bye and the reality of what I am leaving and will miss while I am gone. I am also getting to do fun things like play with my 3 year old niece all day if I want to and make spontaneous trips. Actually, nothing seems mundane about life anymore.
What's to come: A trip to Pensacola, FL and Atlanta, GA! I get to visit Dawn and Paul! YEAH! I also get to see some new friends in Atlanta. I've never been to GA. I can't wait to be there. I hope to get to go to the Coke museum. After I return I will start taking substitute teaching jobs until I go to training in Colorado Springs, CO for five weeks.
That's all for now...
