...from Dallas to Austin and back. I love the speedy trip, the kind employees and the dependability of the airline. I'm fairly loyal to Southwest and it's Dallas-Love Field hub.
It makes me pretty happy.
But today...
Today I flew back from Dallas. It was a one-way flight, VERY fast.
Today I flew American Airlines from Love Field.
Today I came home without my luggage.
Today...I'm not happy.
Sunday, December 30
Monday, December 24
I'm past the age of having my childhood Christmas...
...and it's now time to create new traditions.
Sometimes I hate it.
I began a blog about past Christmas activities, but thought I might get unnecessarily sad. “Sad” because my Christmas days will not be like that again. I'm not a child, officially. My brother moved out of state, we're in a new city, and I work full-time without the benefit of three week vacations like my college days provided. “Unnecessarily” because such is the way of life, and I have new, exciting traditions to which I look forward.
This is the first year I have been able to accept this idea. My first Christmas to be married, we spent the morning with John’s family and the afternoon with mine. I swore I would never drive on Christmas day again. (Yet I doubted that declaration would hold true.) I was crushed to have missed Christmas morning with my family.
The second Christmas married, we spent Christmas morning with John’s family and then the afternoon moving out of our apartment. Even though we technically didn’t need to leave for another month. I swore I would never move on Christmas day again. (I knew that promise wouldn’t be broken or heads would ROLLLLL.) I was devastated because I couldn’t feel a glimpse of Christmas spirit. Not even the Hallmark version.
This year, we are in a new city, in a warmer climate (still in the 80s, similar to Hell), without a church family. John was busy with finals, and I was worried about taking time off work. Beginning in late November, I began visiting a new church on my own. (John had been relieved of non school-related activities). The church was in the midst of a series called Beautiful Feet. Through the sermons, music and interactions with people there, I began to fall in love again with the love of Christ. What a gift He gave to us and what a privilege we have to share His love with others! I was feeling excited about celebrating His birth.
I was even excited about the Hallmark version of Christmas, though I never ventured to the mall to shop. Amazon and Target are good friends.
I decided not to worry about taking time off work and requested four days. Thankfully, my boss appreciates me and told me to enjoy my rest.
I will.
Our plan is/was to drive to Austin Friday, hit the road at 4 am for Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Saturday, head to Dallas on Christmas day (yes, I told you we’d break that promise), fly to Austin on the 30th and spend New Year’s in Elgin at the Eight Point Ranch with Steph and Robert.
So far, so good.
We arrived in Bartlesville (Beth and Chris’s new home) at 1 pm on Saturday. It snowed at 2 pm. We had three inches. Pictures are coming soon, but you can check out Chris’s site for photos of the whole family.
It already feels more like Christmas. We went to dinner last night to celebrate Dad Ledbetter’s 50th, a belated 33rd for Chris and an early 24th for John. Our meal experience is worth it’s own blog entry. As we drove home we passed through a neighborhood that blew my mind. Estates of 10,000 or more square feet. I’d never seen that with my own eyes. I’m still baffled.
Christmas is shaping up to be fantastic. Spending time with my niece, brother and sister and parents Ledbetter has been wonderful.
Christmas in Bartlesville…who would have thought?
Sometimes I hate it.
I began a blog about past Christmas activities, but thought I might get unnecessarily sad. “Sad” because my Christmas days will not be like that again. I'm not a child, officially. My brother moved out of state, we're in a new city, and I work full-time without the benefit of three week vacations like my college days provided. “Unnecessarily” because such is the way of life, and I have new, exciting traditions to which I look forward.
This is the first year I have been able to accept this idea. My first Christmas to be married, we spent the morning with John’s family and the afternoon with mine. I swore I would never drive on Christmas day again. (Yet I doubted that declaration would hold true.) I was crushed to have missed Christmas morning with my family.
The second Christmas married, we spent Christmas morning with John’s family and then the afternoon moving out of our apartment. Even though we technically didn’t need to leave for another month. I swore I would never move on Christmas day again. (I knew that promise wouldn’t be broken or heads would ROLLLLL.) I was devastated because I couldn’t feel a glimpse of Christmas spirit. Not even the Hallmark version.
This year, we are in a new city, in a warmer climate (still in the 80s, similar to Hell), without a church family. John was busy with finals, and I was worried about taking time off work. Beginning in late November, I began visiting a new church on my own. (John had been relieved of non school-related activities). The church was in the midst of a series called Beautiful Feet. Through the sermons, music and interactions with people there, I began to fall in love again with the love of Christ. What a gift He gave to us and what a privilege we have to share His love with others! I was feeling excited about celebrating His birth.
I was even excited about the Hallmark version of Christmas, though I never ventured to the mall to shop. Amazon and Target are good friends.
I decided not to worry about taking time off work and requested four days. Thankfully, my boss appreciates me and told me to enjoy my rest.
I will.
Our plan is/was to drive to Austin Friday, hit the road at 4 am for Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Saturday, head to Dallas on Christmas day (yes, I told you we’d break that promise), fly to Austin on the 30th and spend New Year’s in Elgin at the Eight Point Ranch with Steph and Robert.
So far, so good.
We arrived in Bartlesville (Beth and Chris’s new home) at 1 pm on Saturday. It snowed at 2 pm. We had three inches. Pictures are coming soon, but you can check out Chris’s site for photos of the whole family.
It already feels more like Christmas. We went to dinner last night to celebrate Dad Ledbetter’s 50th, a belated 33rd for Chris and an early 24th for John. Our meal experience is worth it’s own blog entry. As we drove home we passed through a neighborhood that blew my mind. Estates of 10,000 or more square feet. I’d never seen that with my own eyes. I’m still baffled.
Christmas is shaping up to be fantastic. Spending time with my niece, brother and sister and parents Ledbetter has been wonderful.
Christmas in Bartlesville…who would have thought?
Sunday, December 16
I know I just blogged about family...
...but my sister is back in the states. I'm just so excited I get weepy sometimes.
Hola, mi hermana!
Hola, mi hermana!
Monday, December 10
Sometimes the reminder of a hug and a kiss...
...from your favorite niece is all you need. I'm very much looking forward to vacation with the families. John and I come from pretty phenomenal roots.
Saturday, December 8
Today I'm cleaning...
...my entire apartment.
See, I've put off any sort of cleaning for the past few weeks, and it's been piling up. I've FINALLY organized the hutch in our living room, the bathroom closet and cabinets, and I'm about to start on the closet. I actually began fixing the closet a couple weeks ago, but it's a long project.
We've been in San An for 4 months now. John and I are finding friends in our respective daily lives. I may have come upon a church I like, but John's been in finals mode and hasn't been able to come with me yet. He's been freed of any non-school activities for the last two weeks and will finish on friday. Two exams down, two to go. I am continually impressed with my husband's skill in his field. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't do well on these exams.
My job has been ever-changing. I'm grateful and sometimes worried by how much my boss appreciates my input and leadership. Thankfully, I've been able to build relationships with my co-workers as well. Our owner has asked me to teach the kindergarten class next year which offers a considerable pay raise and allows me to be with my kids for another year. I can't think of any reason to decline, so I think I'm in. I just have to ask that the raise begin in May, when my student loans begin to swallow a bit more of my income. Blegh. It's been strange to listen to some of my other friends talk about the type of money they will make when done with school. "About 63,000, which isn't bad." Really? Not bad? Oh, how my life would change.
But I move on.
I'm SO looking forward to Christmas break. 11 days of family. 5 with Ledbetter/Lewis, 6 with Davis. All 11 with my hubby, school-free. I'm working hard the next two weekends so that I don't have any school work. Oh, vacation! I know I was just finished with Thanksgiving, but that wasn't much of a physical break.
I know I'm rambling, but I can't help it. I think I'm itching to move around.
Closet clutter, here I come.
See, I've put off any sort of cleaning for the past few weeks, and it's been piling up. I've FINALLY organized the hutch in our living room, the bathroom closet and cabinets, and I'm about to start on the closet. I actually began fixing the closet a couple weeks ago, but it's a long project.
We've been in San An for 4 months now. John and I are finding friends in our respective daily lives. I may have come upon a church I like, but John's been in finals mode and hasn't been able to come with me yet. He's been freed of any non-school activities for the last two weeks and will finish on friday. Two exams down, two to go. I am continually impressed with my husband's skill in his field. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't do well on these exams.
My job has been ever-changing. I'm grateful and sometimes worried by how much my boss appreciates my input and leadership. Thankfully, I've been able to build relationships with my co-workers as well. Our owner has asked me to teach the kindergarten class next year which offers a considerable pay raise and allows me to be with my kids for another year. I can't think of any reason to decline, so I think I'm in. I just have to ask that the raise begin in May, when my student loans begin to swallow a bit more of my income. Blegh. It's been strange to listen to some of my other friends talk about the type of money they will make when done with school. "About 63,000, which isn't bad." Really? Not bad? Oh, how my life would change.
But I move on.
I'm SO looking forward to Christmas break. 11 days of family. 5 with Ledbetter/Lewis, 6 with Davis. All 11 with my hubby, school-free. I'm working hard the next two weekends so that I don't have any school work. Oh, vacation! I know I was just finished with Thanksgiving, but that wasn't much of a physical break.
I know I'm rambling, but I can't help it. I think I'm itching to move around.
Closet clutter, here I come.
Saturday, December 1
It's been that kind of week...
...when the drive home on Friday brings tears of joy along with tears of frustration. I lost one student (to another school) yet appeared to make an incredible, seemingly impossible, breakthrough with another.
I'm completely exhausted.
The words of a friend, though not intended for me, reminded me of something. We are unique. Our place in this world is unique, our God powerful, our joyous eternity secured.
And so we press on...
I'm completely exhausted.
The words of a friend, though not intended for me, reminded me of something. We are unique. Our place in this world is unique, our God powerful, our joyous eternity secured.
And so we press on...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)