Since it's been 2 years...

Since it's been nearly 2 years since I've posted I figured I might as well rejoin the blogging world. Hello again!

Rather than attempt to capture what all is happened in 2 years I'll just pick up with what is happening now.

We're pregnant! And very excited about it!! I'm 14 weeks and a few days and our due date is December 27th. I've only been sick a few times and it's always at night. I have awful indigestion though, folks. Awful. In fact, at church tonight while reading the Psalm the word "indignation" looked like indigestion... I almost got excited that I was going to find a cure right there in the Psalms! :) I can't complain though, we are very blessed and excited. Maybe I'll update more than every 2 years now with a sweet baby to blog about. :)

Neglect

I feel like we've (more I) have neglected this thing recently, but I'm bored enough now to update this thing so here it goes:

We've bought a house. We signed the contract last week and our waiting patiently (not really) to close. The house is a foreclosure that is owned by Freddie Mac. This is a good and a bad thing. Good because we got a phenomenal deal (I'll describe the house in a bit) bad b/c its taking forever to close. Now for the house:

It is 4 bed 2 bath 1680 square foot, and in fabulous shape. We have to do nothing, but will probably paint some. More pictures will follow I'm sure. We close officially August 25th but will hopefully close sooner b/c of school. On that front...

I signed my contract today to make my job official. I am now a Civics, and World History teacher at Soutwest Jr. High in Springdale. I'm really excited about this job. Springdale is the district that I wanted to be in, and I'm really excited to be teaching (somewhat) older kids. Everybody that I've met has been really great, and I'm excited to get started. My room, which was a disaster, is nearly done, I've almost finished my coaching certification, I think I'm going to coach wrestling in some way shape or form, I've started (a little) planning for next year and last but not least, I have my first every professional development workshop tomorrow.

It's a pretty exciting time. Sarah is still looking for a job, but we are both confident that something will come up but it will mostly likely be last minute, it tends to be that way in Springdale.

That's all for now. I've got to take the dog out.

j

where do i even start?

so much has happened since i last posted. we'll just stick with the past 2 weeks b/c that has enough to update you on to last us a while.

...............

2 weeks ago today we got married. it was amazing. we had a HUGE storm the day of our wedding which included a tornado and by the time our wedding rolled around the sun was shining and i still got to have my outside reception. amazing. i'll write more about this later.

................

we went on our honeymoon and had a ball... even though a lady jumped off our cruise ship the first night. awesome.

................

oh yeah. jamie was offered a job the day of our wedding. yes. we are amazing like that.

...............

we were just pre-approved for a home loan today. we are probably going to put in an offer for a house tomorrow.

..............

i am continually humbled by God's provision and faithfulness. when we took this leap of faith to move, i knew that the Lord would provide, but i'm still shocked at how He continually blesses us.

...............

i'm exhausted and this is all i can muster for now.

.............

the end.

So...

finding a job, a house, finishing up the plans of a wedding, and being sick all at the same time isn't a bit stressful. nope. not one bit.

Interviews

Quick update on the job scene. I had a phone interview with Washington Jr. High in Bentonville last Thursday, and went to see them in person this last Monday, I also have an interview in about half an hour at Southwest Jr. High in Springdale. I'm really excited about both. Sarah has an interview this afternoon at Bayari elementary here in Springdale, and in other (kinda of funny) news, Sarah's dad has an interview today as well. gotta love the job hunt!

The end is drawing near...

As much as I've complained and grumbled about Colorado and hating living here... there are some good points, which I feel like you should know, and I should remember.

1. Last night we went over and hung out with some of Jamie's work friends. We had a lot of fun. The people (very few) but the people that we have become friends with are really great people.

2. Tonight we are going to hang out with some of my work friends. I'm excited to spend time with them... they are very wonderful people and I will miss them.

3. Today was Simla's graduation and it was really sweet... being in a small school, you have the ability to really impact kids and Jamie has certainly done that. He gave his 7 seniors (there were 26 total graduating) that he's had in class/coached gifts and the crying of the girls ensued. It was sweet to see how much Jamie has touched them... I know he'll be missed next year.

4. While my job situation has been less than ideal this year and really made this year very challenging and discouraging, I have some amazing parents in my class. Some of the mom's got together and got me flowers, a sweet card, and a cake that said "Happy Birthday, Congratulations, and Goodbye Ms. Lyman". They made it a surprise and we did the little "celebration" with my second graders and the kindergartners (I know all the kinders pretty well since I share a building with them and they are all almost all siblings of my 2nd graders). It was really sweet to have 28 kiddos sing "happy birthday to you, cha-cha-cha.." with such enthusasim. I WILL miss my sweet kids and my sweet parents. I am truely blessed by them.

5. It is nice to walk into the local grocery store and have the owners recognize you.

6. I couldn't be more pleased to be leaving Colorado. I can't wait to be in Arkansas, but there have been blessings here in Colorado which I am very thankful for.

End of School

So today is my last day, and I have to admit, it is a bit bitter sweet. Significantly more so than I expected. I have truly enjoyed my time here. This is a wonderful school. I am continually amazed at how good the staff and administration is here. I've also been impressed by the kids. There are some that drive me absolutely bat shit crazy but others that I really enjoy and will miss a lot. I've gotten close to a lot of my kids, particularly my athletes. When I started my career I had absolutely no desire to coach I wanted to be a teacher and an academic, not a meat-head. I have discovered though that coach (particularly wrestling) is something that I particularly enjoy and want to do again. So the adventure once again ends, but it also begins again. Marriage, Mexico, and Arkansas here we come!