It’s New Year’s Eve. Fewer than three hours remain in 2010. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of this year’s highlights from my life.
Age-wise, it was a big year. Chicky turned 18, I turned 40, and Rooster turned 16 – in that order.
In January, I had two teeth pulled after going in to the dentist complaining of an aching tooth.
In January and early February, I watched as Chicky led her high school team to its first bid for a state title. Though the team lost in the state semi-finals, it was, perhaps, one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. The last week of playoffs was one of the most intense, yet humbling, that I’ve ever witnessed as I watched (and helped) the girls raise $10,000 in five short days. The community’s generosity touched all of us in a way we will never forget…especially in these difficult economic times.
In February, I also had the joy of leading a class I was subbing for to winning a Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit party. The proceeds from the change we donated over the course of a week benefited a charity (the name of which I’ve forgotten).
February was also the month when Chicky signed her Letter of Intent to play soccer at Rollins College.
Yeah. January and February were big months.
March was the month I officially celebrated my birthday (mentioned already). It was also the month when I saved over $200 during one grocery trip. I had a lot more time to coupon in those days!
Knitting-wise, my life was grand. I finished my second Frog Prince…a gift for one of Rooster’s teachers from ninth grade (and a teacher I subbed for several times)…
April was fairly uneventful. I did some knitting…completing my first fair isle project…
May was a lot busier! Rooster turned 16, I subbed a lot and applied for a lot of teaching positions. Chicky’s travel soccer team made another bid for a state title (this is different from high school soccer) and lost in the semi-finals. It was the end of her travel soccer career and bittersweet. May was also the month when she decided that she wanted to attend Southeastern University. It knocked the wind out of my sails and was the cause of many tears and angst. However, as you know, things have worked out perfectly, and we’re all quite content with the decision as God has made it quite clear that she’s where she’s supposed to be.
The end of May saw Chicky’s last high school days…another bittersweet time as I reminisced about years gone by.
June, oh June…it started off with happy and sad tears as Chicky graduated and I was told I would not be hired at the school I really wanted to teach at. It led to a summer of questioning my abilities and trusting God.
It was a month of going to movies as the family watched Prince of Persia, The Karate Kid, and Toy Story 3 (bring on the tears, baby).
I knit a pair of socks…
Or two…
Or three…
Or even four, as I finished up the month being a test knitter for Cookie A!
Dang, but it’s amazing when you look back…to see what you’ve accomplished! The Yarn Harlot better watch out! It looks like she’s not the only one who can whip out a pair of socks in no time flat! heehee
So, it looks like I made the most out of my unemployment during June.
July was full of surprises.
First, though, was the 4th of July service at church. Three young men…youth from the church…played the drums during one of the songs we sang, and oh my word. I was moved to tears. It is an image I have never gotten out of my mind…a moment frozen in time forever.
I didn’t have long to relax in July for that is the month when I went for an interview for a teaching position and got hired on the spot!
I spent the rest of the month getting my classroom ready…
The month passed by in a blur.
And then August…oh August how I frown when I think of you. It was the month when I had my heart broken in a million pieces when I took Chicky to college…and left her there…seven hours away from me.
Fortunately, I had my new job and five classes of my own students to come home to. They were a welcome distraction from the sadness that dwelt in my heart whenever I got home and found Chicky’s room empty.
It didn’t take me long to realize what a thrilling, overwhelming, all-consuming job that teaching is. It certainly has to be one’s passion for one to stick with it. I am 1,000% positive that it is what I was meant to do…especially since I haven’t won the lottery and can’t stay home and eat bon bons all day.
And then there was Rooster…starting his junior year of high school and practicing his heart out on the tenors…the instrument he played in band this year.
September and October went by in a blur as I visited Chicky and got to watch her play soccer. I attended football games and became a hard-core band mom. And I lesson planned…and lesson planned…and lesson planned.
September was the month when I attended the funeral of a dear soccer mom. I have thought of her often as I’ve attended games this year.
Somehow, I managed to knit a shawl…
And then November…oh November…
Chicky came home and surprised me one weekend. I was so happy to see her, and she seemed happy to have pulled off the surprise.
During one of my school’s weeks off, I subbed at Rooster’s high school. It was wonderful to be reunited with a lot of my former students.
I decorated for Christmas, surprising Chicky when she came home for Thanksgiving. The month was short.
And then December…another short month. Two of my classes finished studying The Scarlet Letter…in style, mind you. I had finals to grade and took a deep breath when I realized that I had made it through five months of teaching.
It’s been another crazy year full of ups and downs. I look at where I was last year, and I am amazed. I went from being unemployed to working eighty hours a week. I sent one child off to college but gained twenty six in return, not to mention all of the band kids who have friended me on Facebook!
I feel incredibly blessed and thankful that God continues to pour out His kindness upon me.
It is my prayer that as you look back on your own year that you would recognize God’s hand in everything and remember to give Him the glory for all…good and bad. We could never get from one place to another without His guidance. He has a plan for our lives. Ultimately, we have the choice to follow Him or go about floundering on our own.
It is my prayer that I will make it my singular mission to more closely follow Him and listen for His direction through whatever comes my way in 2011.
Happy New Year!
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