I love baby Gray

Mary & Gray came to visit me yesterday :) I started taking pictures of Gray and he put on his "smile" face and just sat there and posed for me for photo after photo... Apparently he's used to it! Seriously, he knows exactly what to do when someone takes a picture of him! It's soooooo cute.

School Daze

So here it is, folks: my view for the next few months. :)

I close the door in the office and study, study, study, write, write, write. I am really enjoying school! It's more challenging than I thought it would be, and I'm learning more than I thought I would learn, and all of that is super exciting. After reading in one textbook about the author's opinion of what makes a natural teacher (and how everyone else can become more like them), I think I've figured out that I am a natural teacher already ~ and it makes me so excited to learn as much as I can this semester and then begin my new career!!

Most of my schoolwork is done online. Basically, I'm writing three papers a week - one for each of three classes at the moment - and to prepare for each paper I've got lots of reading and pondering and working through ideas to do. Then after we write our papers we are to post them online where all the other students (and teachers, obviously) can access them... and then we write substantial peer responses for three other students' papers for each assignment -- equaling nine peer responses each week! It is mentally exhausting, but I'm getting into the swing of things, and my confidence is building. I can't imagine how others get through this who have full-time jobs and/or kids. It's almost a full-time job for me.

And how's my back? Much, much better!! I can move almost completely normally now. I can even put on my own socks and shoes! Although, two months later, I'm still not pain-free. I had x-rays done which indicated that I have a degenerative disc. Hmph. The orthopedist said it's not bad enough to get surgery, but she says I will never be completely without pain in my lower spine. Well, we'll see about that. I plan to fight that diagnosis with exercise (directed by my physical therapist) and supplements. And prayer, of course. :)

Life Isn't a Checklist

Kallie and Leah left us last week. :( They went to live with friends in Pennsylvania, and Leah is going to take her prereqs this coming semester to prepare for nursing school. I am SUPER proud of her and the way she is taking such bold and smart steps for a better future for her and Kallie. She has a difficult road ahead of her, but she's boldly jumping into it knowing it will be tough. I'm so proud of her.

However... :( I badly miss my little Kallie girl. I watched her every time Leah worked and so I kinda really bonded with her in the four months they were here. She's my little pumpkin pie ~ a beautiful, happy baby girl who melted my heart every time I saw her sweet face. I got to watch her grow and change and develop up-close-and-personal, which is something I've never really experienced before. It was so fun! I miss Leah too, of course. She also was a source of joy for me ~ upbeat all the time, helpful, respectful, just a wonderful house guest. Leah and Kallie are two happy peas in a pod and I miss them!

Now with them gone, it makes me halfway wonder if I do want a child after all. But then I think - oh gosh, I hardly had the energy to keep up with Kallie part-time. How, at my age and with Jeff being his age, would I handle a child full-time? I'm not sure I'm up to it. But then I think - but wouldn't I be missing out on something if I don't have kids? Wouldn't I miss knowing what it's like to be a mommy, having that special bond with my own child?

But Mom had some good advice for me the other day: life isn't a checklist; instead, it's about living the unique life God gives to each of us. That thought is encouraging to me. God knows and has a plan. I shouldn't look to a checklist of the typical things a woman experiences in life and compare my life experiences to that. I should just be who I am, take what God gives, and be content with that - because He really does know what is best for me.

And besides, I'm truly looking forward to teaching middle schoolers... moving to a new home in Ashburn (hopefully this year?)... traveling during the summers with Jeff... having extra income to bless others who might be in need... all if the Lord wills it, of course. And if I never have kids, it will be okay. :)

Christmas Day

and...

I made it into the program! I received my acceptance letter on Saturday - four days after I mailed my application in. (I'm wondering if they even read my essay....) In any case, I'm on the path to a new career! Orientation is mid-January and I'll be off and running then with online courses and periodic Saturday sessions as well.

We're nearly ready for Christmas here in the Case home... The tree has been accumulating gifts underneath and there are more to come! What isn't so merry is that Kiff is scheduled for a tonsilectomy on Thursday! We had to schedule it over the Christmas break so she wouldn't miss classes. Poor thing will be recovering in bed for two weeks, they say. Not sure how Christmas morning will go! We'll probably get her set up downstairs somehow. She's a tough cookie, though, and usually rebounds pretty quickly from things like this, so we're not too worried.

My back is still in quite a bit of pain, and it's difficult dealing with the limitations that brings me. I'm going to physical therapy twice a week, and my therapist says I'm progressing. I guess backs take a long time to heal. Lord help me...

I passed!!

My Praxis test results came today (online), and I passed!! That's the standardized test for teachers that proves I know math well enough to teach it at the middle school level. I got 184 out of 200... and passing for Virginia is 163. That's the last thing I needed to submit my application to the Career Switchers program, which I'm doing today!

Woo hoo!

Images of the Season

The stockings were hung on the new mantle with care...

Celebrating Jeff's birthday on the 8th with a romantic candlelit dinner at home

What I get to enjoy every single day!! :) (This adorable little girl is, at the moment, upstairs, throwing a temper tantrum for Leah.... but Leah is handling it very well, I must say!)

Christmas tree in the foyer this year ~ went up yesterday!