Back to School (Nooooo!)

Oh, how I dread typing that!  It's inevitable.  I will have to go back to work in 3 weeks.  This week I've been in a major fog, and some of my fellow teachers who are overachievers (the understatement of the year) have already been working on school stuff for quite some time.  For instance, the Kindergarten teacher is in San Francisco with her husband who has conferences there.  What does she do?  Sightsee?  Nope.  Shop?  Nope.  She sits by the pool (ok, I would do that) and gets her lesson plans done for the first month of school(I would so NOT do that!)  Talk about stress in keeping up with the Hardmans Joneses.   I did finally pick a theme for my room.  I plan to post about it soon, but I'll give you a hint: I've gone bananas (big surprise there, huh?) 

There is one thing that could make going back to school a little more awesome this year.  Maybe if I win this for Marissa, it will ease the pain a bit.  Thanks FlipFlop Mamma!  Land's End stuff rocks.   Thankfully Rebakah chose a $10 bag from IKEA (well done my daughter!) and Alisha picked a $10 school bag from Walmart (yes people, I'm eating my words.)  Marissa needed stuff for her trip, and "that store" has the cheapest camping supplies. 

Which brings me to my next thought.  Ahhh!  Marissa leaves tomorrow morning at 7am!  Getting her packed has been an adventure.  We pretty much have everything together.  They will be tent camping in Iowa, about an hour away from where they'll be helping to rebuild the homes of people affected by recent floods.  She'll be gone a week.  When we started packing it was clear that we need to do some major clothes shopping soon.  Unfortunately, that requires major funds, which we don't have.  Problem is, besides needing all the regular boring stuff (socks, underwear, etc.) they all need new uniforms (we'll need to take out a small loan for this) plus some "regular" clothes (we'll definitely be hitting the re-sale shops.)  Is it wrong that I just don't want to think anymore?  It's just too taxing.  Too many things to deal with right now.  So, I shall go escape to a long, hot shower and give my brain a break. 

My Heart Hurts

Just for the record, I'm not thrilled with the new design yet, so I'll keep trying until I am.  I'm in a slump, a funk, whatever you want to call it.  Not just when it comes to my blog, but pretty much with everything.  I had bad news twice this week. 

My best friend from middle school and high school called to tell me her Mom is not improving, but getting worse, and the end seems near.  I ache for her.  Then I got a call that some close friend's son died tragically and unexpectedly this past weekend.   I'm grieving with my friends, and that seems to have colored everything else in my life.  We trust and believe in God's goodness even when life doesn't make sense, but the pain is still real, and we must walk through it with Him leading us out.  It'll take time. 

Change is in the Air

For the next few days you may notice some changes here on the Sunny Side.  I had a lesson this morning on how to manage my own site!  Something I previously had to ask a very busy person to fit into their schedule to do.  He was kind enough to meet with me this morning and explain things in plain language my html-challenged brain could handle.  So, if things seem crazy around here for a bit, it's because I'll be playing around with some new designs and stuff. 

Hang in there with me, ok? 

Lame Title

They updated squarespace last night.  I don't have the brain power or the patience to mess with figuring it all out right now.  You'll have to wait until tomorrow for me to tell you about yesterday.  Oh yeah.  That made a lot of sense.  Sheesh, I'm tired. 

Random Recovery

Recovery because after yesterday I need it.  Random because of lack of sleep.  I can't string two thoughts together.

Yesterday some friends of ours came over to swim and bbq and hang out.  It was fun and the kids wore themselves out.  They stayed in the pool until the thunder started and we had to force them out.  The problem was we enjoy talking to these friends, and Phil didn't get home from work until 11:30pm.  We were up till after 2am.  I am soooo old.   And soooo tired!

I had to have the dog at the groomer at 9:30 this morning.  9:40 found me at Dunkin' Donuts slurring my words and begging for coffee.  Right now I have a choice: make a pot of coffee and walk like a zombie through the rest of the day, or take a nap and then hope I can get to sleep at bedtime.  I'd rather not have a repeat of last night.  Especially since I want to go here tomorrow.  Don't know for sure if I will or not.  The temptation to stop at IKEA and spend money I don't have may be too great.  And the Land's End outlet...don't get me started.  All in Schaumburg.  All places I really want to go. 

In other randomness, I read the posts here and here today, and was so glad I did.  Maybe you'll get something you need there too.   I think I'll start the coffee.

My Husband Rocks!

Oh my gosh!  I have the best news ever.  My husband, God bless the man, said, "yes!"  For our 16th anniversary next year (May 8), we are going here! 

I got an e-mail about it and fowarded it to him as a long shot, thinking maybe if we start saving now, we could go.  He signed us up!  I can't even explain to you how geeked out I am.  The best vacation I ever had was on a cruise ship (even with the seasickness.)  To have some of my favorite music artists on the boat as well...pure joy.  Add to that, the fact that it will be the first trip my husband and I ever take without the girls makes it all the more amazing.  I am so excited!!

Fore! Family Golf Lessons

Summer is Sweet

Today is the first day I really, really enjoyed summer.   I didn't feel like killing myself at step class this morning, so I went for a walk instead.  I had to take Alisha with me, which I tried to convince myself was a good thing.  I pictured us talking and getting fit together.  Yeah, what was I thinking?  Dream on.  About 5 minutes into our walk she was complaining, "My feet hurt.  It's too hot.  I don't like to drink water.  I don't like walking."  Oh, the joy.  I tried to distract her by talking about her friend who is going to a different school next year, and how she felt about that.  That was dumb.  Then she was whiny and sad.  I tried to cheer her up reminding her that this is her last year at the private school, and next year we'll have a new house, she'll have her own room, and she'll go to the same public school as her friend.  Then she started crying because she doesn't want to go to public school.  To sum up, the walk was a bust.  I probably got in a good 5 minutes of getting my heart rate up (and that was mostly because I was trying to not yell at her), and the rest was just walking.  

Even with all that, today was just a beautiful day.  With Marissa and Rebekah in a youth discipleship training program three days a week, it's just me and Alisha.  After our disastrous beautiful walk, we swam.  And that is where the sweetness comes in!  There is nothing like popping your favorite tunes in the boom box, and floating around a pool.  Now that is summer to me.  I did manage to get some more of Mt. Mongold moved, but I could only manage 3 cart loads before I had to dive back in the pool.  It is 90 degrees and sunny after all.  Too hot to work in the yard, but just perfect for floating in the pool.  Sweet! 

*All my NWI blogging buddies are invited to join me in the cool of our pool anytime.  Come on over, Mimi!

Emergency

Yesterday I rode with a friend to Illinois.  She had a dentist appointment (not pleasant) and wanted company.  An hour sitting in a quiet office reading uninterrupted, and a side trip to Trader Joe's was all the incentive I needed.  So, as I sit here stuffing my face with Bite Size Everything Crackers and Chipotle Pepper hummus, I am so glad I went along for the ride.   We did make one extra stop on the way home.  An emergency stop at Target.  And it wasn't for the restroom!  No, it was for a box of hair color.  Now, if you've been around my blog for a long time, you may remember my first attempt at coloring my own hair. 

Why is hair color an emergency?  I don't put a lot of prior thought into my hair styles.  I don't have a "set" appointment every month to get my hair done (shoot, who could afford that?), and when I decide it's time for a change, I mean, like today!  I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror while we were out, and the thoughts I had about myself were not kind.  I looked horrible!  Don't be nice and say sweet things people, you weren't there.  Something had to be done.  But with an hour drive home, and a blogger get-together in a few hours, what the heck could I do about it?  I pleaded with my friend (whose numbness from her root canal was wearing off) to let me run into Target for a box of hair color.  After my few attempts at coloring my own hair, you have to know this was out of complete desperation.  I got the hair color, and some new product to boost my confidence a little more (and hopefully my hair.) 

I must say that it came out nicely.  This is as close to my natural hair color as I can get (I think), seeing as how it's been so long since I've seen my hair in it's natural state.  The bonus was the gray is gone.  Ha.  Now all I need is a hair cut.  But that does require an expert. 

I'm hoping Crooked Eyebrow has some better shots of me sporting my new do here, later today.  Our Bloggy Meet-Up was a lot of fun, and I got to meet some great ladies. 

Inspire

Some days it's all you can do to make it through the next 5 minutes without screaming out loud.  These two thoughts are what are getting me through this day. 

Psalm 23: 4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You (my God) are with me."

Building 429: from their song, "Amazed"- I won't question in the dark, what is true out in the light; I will follow after You, through the sun and through the night.

And for today, that is enough to get me through.