On Writing

The hardest part of being a writer is turning in your final manuscript to the eager clutches of the editors.  After having time to give birth to your creation, it’s hard to see someone else take what has been painstakingly written and rewritten, and rip it apart or worse yet, find it not worthy of being used.  I face this dilemma every time I turn in an article.  As it has been awhile since I had wielded my pen, so to speak, I had forgotten the pain, the anxiety, the fear I face after it is done. I am a perfectionist at times.  It’s easier being an editor at times because there is no emotional attachment to what has been written. Time will tell if I’ve been away too long from wielding my pen.  My skills may have become rusty and what seems to be spot on may very well be the farthest thing from the truth.
On other Things

I am the missions teacher at VBS at our church this week. The first day over, I can say, wow. It’s going to be a long but fun week.  I teach the same thing 5 times in a row! I’ll have the lessons better learned than the students, unfortunately (for them but better for me in my growth).  It’s a nice break from preschoolers to be teaching elementary students. They are better able to understand the world around them and other countries and cultures and people.  Of course, it helps that we live in a very diverse city with Hispanic, Haitian and many other influences.

Jon’s parents are coming to visit this week. We’re excited to show them around our “new” hometown.  Of course, Jon’s dad has been here many times before, but it’s different when there’s actually a family member living there. I think the plans are to do some of the normal “tourist” activities - Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center - in the short time they are here.

Oh, and I have since turned another year older. I should’ve titled this article “On Being 30″ but there’s really not a whole lot to say on the subject. Either that, or I’ve just not taken the time to think that I’m no longer in my 20s, that I’m an “old person” so my students, etc, etc, etc.  But, I chose to think more on the fact that I was given a year to live and the promise of a new year lies ahead of me, come what may.  It will be interesting to see what happens!  Hopefully, the fact that I was in the ER on the night of my birthday is not a precursor for what’s to come!  And no, I wasn’t partying too hard.  I had a nasty in-grown toenail coupled with an allergic reaction.  It was quite beautiful to look at, so colorful.  But the pain. . . .well, let’s just say I don’t want to experience that again!!

So, here’s to turning another year older and reviving my writing career - may they continue.

It’s hard to believe that the school year is over. We got so much accomplished though and now I’m wondering if I will have enough material to teach next year considering how advanced my new class is going to be!!  This past week was spent closing up the classroom and getting a head start on next year.

Now I don’t know what I’m going to do as far as a job goes and it has me a bit concerned as we need both of our incomes to make ends meet. This coming week we’re going on vacation. After we get back from that I have 2 days in at the school doing some admin work. And then I have 6 weeks with no income. A bit scary, that. I had applied for a job at Disney, but they basically wanted the impossible - to be available 24/7. The problem is, I’ve already committed to teaching on Sundays at church and to VBS the last week of June. Thus, leaving only July free, but well that wasn’t enough. So, now I’m back wondering who will be willing to hire me for 6 weeks only? Thus my dilemma.

I’m also extremely lonely now that school is over. Jon has been working long days, coming home exhausted. Our times together consist of asking how each other’s day went, saying good-night, and then good-bye in the mornings. Sometimes I feel like I have a roommate rather than a spouse! To top it off, when he’s not working, I am. Can’t win, can we?

I’m excited for our trip to PA together. We’ll have a whole day together in the car. Now if only I could think of a way to keep me from falling asleep!!! (The quickest thing to put me to sleep - get in a car and start driving for a distance. I’ll be out within an hour.) We’re headed home to celebrate my 30th birthday with family. My birthday is also the same day as one of my good friend’s wedding!!!!! I’m so excited as a lot of my friends will be there. Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my 30th birthday. We’re planning on doing a lot of nothing while we’re home. Just visiting with family and relaxing, basically because we can’t afford to do anything else anyway!
Well, I need to get to bed. I am teaching Sunday School both hours at church tomorrow - oh that more people would want to be involved in serving, allowing the rest of us who give of our time to partake in worship as well!

I should be paying bills and entering purchases in the checkbook, but I don’t want to see the outcome, so I’m avoiding it by spending time in the internet.

School is almost over for the year. I’m going to miss my students and miss teaching. I think though I’m more concerned about what to do for the summer. I realized today that I’ve been extremely blessed with this job. The hours are more flexible and fit my life so much better. I really don’t relish having to work 8 hour shifts four of five days a week and having to work weekends.  So, I’ve been dragging my heels in looking for a job. It would be nice to not have to work at all, but that is entirely impossible.

I’m so excited. We’re going home to PA for a whole week in June!!!! My best friend Janet’s sister is getting married on my birthday. It’s going to be so much fun to see some of my old friends and to get caught up with them in person. There are days that I long for the times I had with my friends - the Columbia Girls, the friends from Berea, friends from Calvary, friends from college.  Although I’ve adjusted much faster here in Orlando than we did in Key West (thanks to the job at the preschool and teaching Sunday School) I still long for some of the friendships I had. In some ways, it seems like I had a limb cut off and I’m having phantom pains.  Knowing that those days will never come back, but sill longing for them.  The move from being single to married and from PA to Key West in such a short time has finally started to take it’s toll on me in some ways as I realize that things have changed permanently that I didn’t think would.  It would be some easier if Jon and I had some like-minded couples we could fellowship with. But his schedule is so unpredictable that it’s a challenge at times just to see each other let alone add anyone else in the mix on a consistent basis!!! I’m thankful though for the never-changing friendship that Jesus offers us. I would be lost without it!
Well, I should stop avoiding the inevitable and get to work. I’ve avoided it for three hours. Jon is going to be home soon and I really need to have it done before then. . .

I had a fabulous weekend! It was exhausting, stressful and long but at the same time, special, memorable and fun.

To start off with, I flew up to Lancaster County to meet up with Melody on Thursday night. Friday at noon we headed out for a road trip to Ohio to attend our cousin Paul’s wedding.  It was a long 7 hours on the road in a very loud car. Something is wrong with the tires on Sue (Melody’s call) which made the trip seem longer because of the noise. We were rather proud of ourselves as we were driving on unfamiliar roads. We only got lost once in the whole weekend!

We made to Delaware, OH, about halfway through the rehearsal thus being able to meet the bride, Carrie, for the first time. She and Paul are very suited for each other.  It was also wonderful seeing the rest of the DeHart family. Julia had baby Timmy 6 weeks ago. He’s sooo cute! And Grace and Danny are getting so big.  They were the flower girl and ring bearer. Danny thought he was the ring leader! So cute!  We also got to see some extended family that we’re not related to by blood but by family ties. One of my Uncle Tim’s brothers and family were at the wedding as well.  So it was Melody and me, Johnny & Sue and kids that represented the Weitzel/DeHart families that are scattered all over the world (literally!).

God blessed us with the opportunity to stay with Katie, a friend of Paul and Carrie’s from Honda. Melody was excited that she had chocolate lab as well.  It was a blessing because we didn’t have to spend money on a hotel!!! And as a result, we got to see some nice houses in Dublin, OH.  We also learned some of the roads in the area which was a big help when we drove to Cincinnati later in the weekend.

The wedding was short, sweet, and to the point.  Prior to the wedding I spent my time taking oodles of pictures and helping get the flower girl all prettied up. It was a lot of fun being the family photographer. It was a tall order but I managed to take over 500 pictures!

After the wedding, Melody and I headed down to Cincinnati to visit our friend Bethany. It had been almost 2 years since we had seen each other. It was so special to hang out and have fun for a few hours. We went to Nicholson’s Pub - a place I first went six years ago on a cross-country trip for work. The food was as good as I remembered it but unfortunately, the service wasn’t! For some reason, the server took an immediate dislike to me and snubbed me the entire evening! We had quite a laugh about it afterward. I still wonder what I did to make her not like me. Oh well. She still got a tip out of it.

On Sunday we headed back to Lancaster where I was for 24 hours. During the 24 hours in Lancaster I spent the majority of my time with my Aunt Karen, Edie and maternal grandparents. It was great to see them since my grandparents are now living permanently in Maine (which is a far piece from Florida!).  It was sort of sad though as they were packing up their home in PA and have put it on the market. Another era of my life is coming to an end.

I returned home Monday and was soooo happy to see my husband! I missed him so much. Jon was so sweet and took me out to dinner. And upon arrival at the restaurant he had roses waiting for me at the table. How romantic. Hmmm I feel loved.

I have pictures of the whole weekend uploaded to my picasa web album. Here’s the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/lspread

Enjoy!!!!!!

I’m tired so I can’t come up with anything more interesting for at title. And I’m avoiding paying bills, too.  Not a job I relish. Anyway,  here are some of the things we’ve been up to lately.

Family

My grandparents and Aunt Ruth were in town last week for a visit to Disney World. So of course, we got to spend time together at the parks, are place and their timeshare. It was a lot of fun.  And then my parents and sister joined them at the end of the week to celebrate Melody’s 28th birthday. Pictures from the week are online at www.picasaweb.google.com/lspread.

Tomorrow I am headed up to PA to join my sister on a road trip to Ohio. My cousin Paul is getting married and we’re going to the wedding. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m so excited to see how God has answered my prayer for a godly wife for Paul.  I’m looking forward to meeting Carrie and seeing the rest of the family.

Work

I am so blessed with my job at the preschool! It’s hard to believe school is over in six weeks! My students have come so far in the short amount of time we’ve had with them.  Some days I get discouraged thinking we’re not getting through and then bam, the light bulbs go on or they’ve done something that makes us realize that all our effort is not in vain! I’m so proud of them for what they’ve accomplished.

Now I’m praying for something to open up over the summer months while I’m not teaching. In essence, I’ll only have about 6 weeks in which I’m available to work so I’m not sure who will want to hire me for that short amount of time. But God knows and something will open up.

Jon’s job is either feast or famine these days. Some weeks he works a lot of hours and then others, he hardly has any hours. It makes budget planning nearly impossible and time together can be had to come by.  He enjoys his job so much better than in Key West and that makes me happy for him.

Health

My health continues to be a source of aggravation. As Jon puts it, let’s just spin the wheel and see what the problem will be this month! I’m still struggling to have a balanced meal time and diet. It’s hard when Jon’s work schedule is never the same and my schedule flexes to accommodate his.  I praise God though that my fibromyalgia in and of itself doesn’t have me out of commission as much. But I think it’s because of the fibromyalgia I have other issues.

Misc News

We want to buy a house! And we found one that fits all that we’re looking for. So we’re waiting on the mortgage company to see if we have a loan approved or not.  If not, well we’ll be extremely disappointed but we’ll also know that it’s not the right time then.

I took the cats to their vet appointment yesterday. That was an extremely interesting outing. Toby yammered the whole way there. And in between his meows, Shadow added his stamp of disapproval. They are all healthy and good to go for another year! Yay!