Feeling settled?

The summer is coming to an end fast. Part of me is happy to see it end. I want to get back into a routine in order to begin feeling settled again. After having a busy summer, emotionally, mentally, and physically, I am really ready to focus on a routine.

I am currently in Austin, attending training for the APUS History class that I will be teaching for the first time. Being here I have learned a great deal, about myself.

For years, we have been trying to find a way to get out of where we are and move further north. I have had several interviews in the past, have chased jobs, and have come close to landing a job - I always seem to be a finalist. This visit I learned of a position that is open and instead of jumping at a chance to interview for it, I said why? Why should I? Is this a good time? I had several questions running through my head before I made the decision to jump.

I am not going to put myself out there for another job, right now. I can't do that to the family, or myself. I am finally is a professional position that I am comfortable with. I have waited several years to finally get back to teaching US History and to teach APUS History. I have my chance. Why would I jump now?

We just moved from our home of 5 years. It has been a very emotional time for us and we have been trying hard to feel settled and at home in our new place. This has really been tough. It isn't not possible, but I think it won't feel fully settled until we get back into the routine of school. Once that begins we will see the benefits of our sacrifices this past summer.

N is a senior, it wouldn't be right to uproot him just weeks before the start of it. k is about to begin her freshman year and is very excited about being part of the yearbook staff. It wouldn't be right for any of us.

There may never be the perfect time to move, but there is an obviously bad time, and I think this is one of those bad times.

Can't sleep

We are in Austin and I am having problems sleeping. Have talked a lot to K today and talked a lot about Maggie's passing. So much on my mind, yet nothing is there.

Trying to get back to normal

As the days go by I am trying to get back to normal. Now that I am not running back and forth to the other house, I seem to be slowly getting more energy. I have been very tired the last few weeks.

Saturday K and I are going to head to Austin. It is a day earlier than planned, but we need the time away. We need some down time. I will be going to classes Monday through Thursday, but we are also planning on staying until Sunday. So we will be up there a little over a week. If we could leave tomorrow I would seriously think about it.

I need to go up to the school to get some things organized in my classroom and K is going to get things ready here for us to leave Saturday morning. I am looking forward to it. Once we get back we will have about a week before the younger two finally get to come home and then a week after they get home I go back to work. Hard to believe the summer is winding down so fast.
Tomorrow I need to really make some headway in the classroom so that when I come back I won't have to be rushing. I have enough to do when I get back to prepare for students. I am trying to prepare my first semester. Working on it. I need to get things copied and get lessons ready.

Let's not forget that we still have to get the new house together. Things still need unpacked and done around here. So while there is a list of things that need to get done, I need to rest as well. I need to be relaxed and rested for the school year to start.

Next chapter

Yesterday I finally finished cleaning out our house. It is ready for the realtor to take pictures and sell it. There are a few things left in the back yard, but I will get to those after I catch my breath.

Today I spent several hours up at school trying to move things from my old classroom to my new one. I made a pretty big dent into it. Most things are over in the new room. Tomorrow I have plans to return to finish getting all of the visually obvious things out my old room and hoping to clean up the mess in my new room.

I have been working on unit planning as well. Someone asked me if I ever sit down. Yes, I do, but I always seem to have something else to get done.

Sunday I have to go to Austin for the training I have to attend next week. I will be busy during the day, but it is time away. K is going with me. Hoping to get some alone time and relax together.

Its been a long summer that I haven't found time to relax. It has been emotionally, mentally, and physically draining. When do I catch up?

How much more?

I keep asking myself this question every time I have to go back to the other house to work on something. I am so tired of working on it. Cleaning, painting, cutting, drilling, cleaning, mowing, and everything in between. I have been waking up early every morning for the past two weeks. Trying to get over there and get somethings done before it gets too hot to do anything.

Today, it was cloudy long enough for us to finish the deck. Even put water sealant on it. We were able to start the clean up of the front porch as well. The gentleman we hired to worked on the closets did a good job and they are finished. We are now able to complete the painting and cleanup of the inside of the house. It is just taking us forever. I am sore. My knees hurt.

I want to finish this house up soon. I have to. I need to put some closure on this and begin focusing on the things that lie ahead. To begin making this new place feel like home. I have more to do here. I have a school year to begin to prepare for.

Tomorrow the front of the house will be done. I am hoping to be able to clean out the one bedroom downstairs that is still a mess from the construction. There isn't a lot to do, just a lot for those of us who are trying to get it done. Burn out is fast approaching.

Not finished yet

I am still working on the house. Preparing it for sale. This is the second week of working on it. I took two days off this week. Sunday, my birthday, and then Monday I drove the kids to Houston to take a flight up to their Dad's. They will be gone until Aug 8. I will be busy the entire time they are gone.

I have to finish the house this week! I have to. I need to be done with the painting and repairing before it drives me nuts or into a bed too sore to move a muscle. I have been so sore all week. Tomorrow we have a handy man coming in to help us with the drywall project. I can't tape and mud for anything.

Then, of course, there is getting this house together, going up to Austin for training, and getting prepared for school to begin again. I have lessons to plan, a classroom to move and set up, and to get my bearings together with the new subject I will be teaching. I still have a ton of things to cram into these last weeks of summer.

Still painting and cleaning

I have just finished day 3 of cleaning and painting at our place in Ingleside. We are getting things done over there, just very slow. I want to make sure it makes an impression on anyone who walks in to see it. I am hoping it sells fast.

Move in process

We are living at the new house. Its been a long weekend trying to get things moved in.
It hasn't been an easy process. There are still many things to be done at the old house and we are trying to settle in here at the new house.

I am tired. I was able to take it easy today, only had one load. Took us two hours to get things together to complete the load. Tomorrow I hope to get a couple of rooms completely cleaned out and possibly some painting will begin. I really want to get it on the market before the end of the week.