Every Good Weekend

I'm obsessed with Christ Community Church. Every encounter provides a glimmer of clarity and hope to our hearts. Not that life isn't beautiful . . .

I'm feeling extra whiny today, but work is hard. Tim Keller's Every Good Endeavor has helped me keep a positive outlook on my new work --I DO want to build something meaningful; I do want to make life more beautiful for others. And I do know that I'm in exactly the job I'm supposed to be in right now. And I see the beauty of it. Sometimes. Like one day last week, when I could tell my 4th block was just not with me. They're the ones whose grades overall are always noticeably lower than the other two periods' grades. When I asked what the blank stares were about, the one kid who never gets it exclaimed, "I have no idea what's going on!" --and other kids started chiming in too, and eventually we figured out what the issue was AND it was an issue with a phrase I didn't realize I hadn't taught them how to use. I was glad I asked! After that, I had all of their attention, and they all walked away actually having learned. That was a good feeling!

Other days, they press me for an answer on whether I'm a first year teacher . . . or they tell me my class is boring. . . or they just sleep and fail. Or sleep and get 100's--I'm not sure which is worse. I don't know how to manage it all yet.

I just know I don't want to start living for the weekends. . . but I don't know how not to. Especially when it's the time that sweet bff's and family come into town for fun gatherings!

        

But Tim Keller is right-- work is good and I need work, not just to make money but for life satisfaction. I just can't help thinking that--like the guy in the show Marshall's watching right now--it would be a lot more fun to have a job where I got to run through the snow next to a wolverine on a leash.

But another positive aspect of my job is that somehow--even though I'm just teaching Spanish 1--my Spanish is getting better. I've been watching a lot of "Betty la fea" and "Amar en tiempos revueltos" (check them out if you're looking for a good telenovela!) and my comprehension is much more . . . comprehensive. . . and requires much less effort than when I was watching them a year ago.

   



OH yes Marshall wanted me to add how excited we are about the community group we're going to be a part of with Christ Community Church-- there are a few couples our age, and a few couples in the next stage(s) of life. It was great this past week, and we are looking forward to beginning to become part of a community through that! It's fun to be around sweet families I knew in college again. Plus, the pastor leads this community group and he's an Alabama fan. He and Marshall both seem to be glad to have found another Alabama fan in Dawg country. I'm also excited about the small group I'm going to be in with my mentor from college and some people she knows in Athens -- we are meeting for the second time tonight! And Marshall is going tonight to a kickoff event with the Dean's Ambassadors at the bowling alley. . . YAY for finding friends!!

Duck Dynasty-- My inspiration this week.

Finished my book yesterday! Called Again was great. Between that and all the "Duck Dynasty" we've been watching on our "free" cable TV from UGA, I've spent a lot of time dreaming about which of my hobbies could become a job. The author of Called Again is a hiker, and owns a hiking company. And if you love duck hunting, what the people in Duck Dynasty appear to do for a living, is living. So, my hobbies. . . Running? Definitely not dedicated enough to that--at least lately. Reading? Writing? Oh wait. . . speaking Spanish!

I'm in a good job. Just gotta get used to it. Back to work tomorrow. Moral of that story: "You can always turn water into wine. If you're Jesus" --Jase, from "Duck Dynasty". Good thing I think that is probably exactly what Jesus is doing in my life/my job/Marshall's life and future job.

Exciting news--Marshall was accepted last week to be a Dean's Ambassador for the Law School! He'll get to give tours and help out with events for prospective students . . . and we'll find out what else eventually. Basically, he's one of the people who's the "face" of UGA Law. He's perfect for that! I'm excited for him.

I sold tickets at the JCCHS football game Friday night. Learned a lot about the area from the teachers I worked with. . . and from the "Redneck Out" that the opposing team had, making fun of JCCHS. They all wore cutoff jeans, sleeveless plaid shirts, and cowboy boots. Haters gonna hate.

The Georgia game was fun!! It's a lot more fun to tailgate and go to the game together; I'm happy we're both Dawgs! Marshall says he loves the school, but not the football team. "It's the barking; I can't handle it", he and his Tech+UGALaw friend agreed today while watching the Falcons game.

For next week, Marshall has planned a "gourmet burgers" night for us on Thursday, to give me something to be excited about when I hit a slump during the week :) The plan is to grill out and eat outside. It'll be our first time breaking in the grills/picnic area in our complex's shady courtyard!

Thanks for reading!

Working for the Weekend!!!

I don't even remember last week because the weekend has been so fun!

Let me try. . . Marshall was mentally pretty worn out by Wednesday but made it through the week. He said it feels like he's been in law school forever because every day is so dense with information, challenges, and interactions with new friends.

Teaching was fine this week, but I'm far from convinced that this will end up being the job for me. Marshall and I talk about the future a lot--it's exciting to think where we'll end up--but at this point my dreams of what I'll be doing in our future don't involve teaching. On the other hand, everyone I've talked to says you have to give teaching time before you can love it (or even know whether you love it!). It's only been a month, so I'll just keep on keeping on.

Life in Athens is wonderful! I love walking after school with the girl who's a school counselor and lives near us. The Law School intramural tennis team started this week too, and Marshall is excited to get to play tennis often this fall!

This weekend has been glorious. We started off seeing "The Great Gatsby" on the big screen at the Tate theater for $1 each on Friday night. Saturday morning, we headed to Johns Creek to see my family for lunch to celebrate my sweet grandma's 78th birthday! It was SO fun to be together with my fam for a great lunch prepared by mom. Mmmmm peach pie.

From the Reeces', we went to the Sims' to pick everyone up in our giant Sequoia (thanks Dad!!) to go to the Alabama game at the Dome (thanks Mike!!)! The tiny little girls stayed home with a babysitter, but all the big kids and their significant others came to the game--what a treat! Wish we'd gotten a shot with everyone in it :/ But here's me and Marshall from our incredible club-level seats!

We spent the night at the Sims and woke up to have a slow morning chatting/catching up with them. Marshall and I agreed that our favorite thing that both of our families do is taking it slow and hanging out for hours talking after a good meal. Quality time!

We trekked back to Athens to have lunch with our friends Ashley and Jesse, who are here for the weekend visiting Jesse's sister who's a freshman and UGA softball player. It was so fun to see them and then have a slow afternoon, and enjoy a long run. Ashley and I had breakfast and caught up this morning, and now Marshall and I are about to spend a few hours hiking and reading at the State Botanical Gardens. Side note, I started an AMAZING book this weekend from my favorite genre:

The writer basically IS me except that she sets speed records for hiking the whole Appalachian Trail. . . What I mean is that it's about being 24 and newly married and starting a big adventure with your husband. ADVENTURE!!

To finish out the weekend, Marshall's also excited to play tennis with a law school classmate this evening. Weekends are SO glorious! Looking ahead to next weekend, I am excited about going to my first JCCHS football game Friday and then going to the UGA/USC game as a "student" on Saturday!! Thanks for reading! :)