What happened to August?

Really, where did August go?? It's like we just got here in the middle of summer and now it's already September and cold!

I do have to admit, I spent a lot of August alone at home, reading books, and plotting my next trip back home. I guess the transition to living in Michigan didn't go as smoothly as I wanted it to go. I was half-heartedly looking for a job (after I heard that over 1200 people were applying to 90 open positions in the Utica school district....my chances at employment didn't look good).

Matt spent August getting acclimated to full time work. Office hours, hospital visits, staff retreats, and beginning of the school year festivities are just a few of the things that kept him busy throughout the week. And then there is church softball of course! Matt was recruited to play right away and enjoyed playing 2nd base or short stop for the remainder of the season. The team did really well--2nd place overall!

Our church had a blood drive, and for my first time ever I was able to give! I should have spent more time at the recovery station... I almost passed out on the (short) walk back to Matt's office. But I think I'll do it again. And I finally found out my blood type: A+, just like Matt.

We also got to go to our first Detroit Tigers game. It was Lutheran night there too--the choir from Concordia Ann Arbor sang the National Anthem, their president threw out one of the first pitches, and a lot of St. Peter's kids got recognized for playing in (and placing first!) in the summer ball league. Our church had tickets in one section--and we had it full!

I did succeed in my hopes to get back home. I drove to Wisconsin to meet Shana. Then we took a road trip to St. Louis for some time with the Palmers! Thanks for letting us spend the day with you and the kids, Lani. I had so much fun at Suson Park. 

Then we surprised Lora by helping her move into her college dorm at SEMO. She had no idea we were coming for her! And mom had no idea that I was coming down with Shana. Double surprise!! It was so good being back home with my whole family--I didn't want to leave. But I missed Matt.

So here I am, back in Michigan. And it's September and cold. I wish I wouldn't have complained about how hot it was down in St. Louis just a few weeks ago.

And just as I'm resigning myself to days where I can sleep in... I get a phone call (or two) plus a message from Matt. There's an unexpected opening for an Algebra teacher at Trinity in Clinton Township. I called the principal back after lunch, set up an interview, and by 4:00 I had the job! I am now teaching part-time, one class of six kids. They wanted me to start as soon as possible, (literally I interviewed on Tuesday and they wanted me in Wednesday morning...) but I gave myself the Labor Day weekend to try to prepare myself for the school year to come. I had to convince myself that everything would be okay even in spite of having to teach Saxon Math. For those of you who are familiar with that curriculum, you know what I mean! I was so nervous my first day! But it feels good to be teaching again. I'm enjoying learning how to work with the SMART board. I'm putting up with having to have math in the music room (because it was the only available room with a SMART board, but it doesn't have desks... so I have to drag tables in and rearrange the classroom every morning...), and I'm remembering how squirrelly kids can be on Fridays. The staff at Trinity is really great--so understanding, willing to help in whatever way they can. I love the school so far! I really like only working part-time too. And this could be a good foot in the door for me. Who knows what will come of this? (God does, I know... this all has totally been a God-thing!)
So I'm one week in, learning the different personalities of my students--they couldn't be a more different group of kids: a nerdy one, a lazy one, a hyper one, a tech geek, an obnoxious one, a shy one. This will be an interesting year.