Countdown to Alabama: Day 1

Today is the beginning. Allen left this morning around six, arriving in Ardmore about 8ish tonight. It was hard on all of us to see him go. Today consisted of packing, grocery shopping (it's very difficult to buy things that do not require any cooking), and relaxing. It was the first day of summer for me, and I can't help not celebrating a little. I did a walk through with the movers and was amazed of how much stuff we have. We got rid of a ton of things already.

This weekend we will finish the packing, and hopefully have a little playtime too. Happy Memorial Day!


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Countdown to Alabama: Day 2

Now since things have changed, the pace at the Law household has slowed down a smidge. Today was my last day at school, and Lauren's birthday. I got checked out a little before 5, came home and helped Allen finish up the trailer. Today he has done the little odds and ends that needed to be done. This weekend I'll finish up the packing so we will be ready on Tuesday.


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Countdown to Alabama: Day 3

Isn't it interesting how things change so fast? Within a week our lives went topsy-turvy and now the plan changes again. The movers called this evening and said they weren't coming tomorrow, but next Tuesday. That made us rethink how we were moving. We both thought it was wise that one of us was there for them, so now the girls and I are staying to oversee the main event. That gave us a little more wiggle room to get things done. So we stopped work early and took a little breather tonight. Then it will be go, go, go tomorrow!

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Countdown to Alabama: Day 4

This post comes after the fact. Yesterday, Tuesday, day 4, was one of the craziest days yet. It was the last day of school for the girls and I. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone. We (the faculty) had a little celebration after school to celebrate the year. It was lots of fun to just visit. Then the tornados began wreaking havoc on Oklahoma. Thankfully none of our friends and family were hurt, so that was a blessing. Those days are hard ones, because there is uncertainty and danger, and you never know where the next storm will pop up.

We were packing fools. There are more boxes than we can count, and things are beginning to shape up, even though it was pretty bleak last night. We packed until 1:30 am, when we completely faded. Another day down.


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Countdown to Alabama: Day 5

Today was field day. The kids had a wonderful time playing outside, getting wet, bouncing on the blow up toys, and hugging me with their wet selves. As for me, I had two meetings, the always present paperwork, and 300 balloons to tie and launch, with help from my dear orange-shirted friends. What a day!! Now on to packing the kitchen. From balloons to bubble wrap I go.


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Countdown to Alabama: Day 6

Today is not unlike any other in the Law household these past weeks, except that it is 5 days until the movers are ringing our doorbell, and six days until we hook the trailer up, load the girls, dogs, and plants and head to Huntsville.

Today we had the pleasure of going to church and then seeing our dear friends one more time. There were lots of long faces on the Posse members today. Skype is going to be a Godsend later on. The girls are learning that goodbye for now is difficult.

When we got home, we started the major packing push in Anna's room. Anna is learning what the difference between "needs" and "wants" are. She was trying to leave everything in her vanity out to take with her for the week before the movers get there. Once she realized that it'll all get there eventually, it got better. A couple more boxes in Ann's room and she'll be done. Then on to Lauren's room. I think Lauren has a little better grasp of the situation, or it hasn't hit yet. We'll see which it is in a few days. As for me, it is apparent every minute. So much to do!


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Things...just things.

Now that the school year is coming to an end, and another chapter in our lives is closing, it is making me think. What have I learned so far? Have I accomplished what I was intended to do? Heavy questions, I know, especially when I should be asleep.

There have been quite a few events that have defined me. They have changed how I view the world and I have learned life lessons from all of them. Some of the things I have learned are that God only gives you what you can handle. If it feels like you can't stand up under it, rely on Him to take care of it and you, to stretch you to where He needs you to be. Yes, it will probably be trying, and maybe even painful, but you will grow and learn. Something else I've learned is that you have to look for the good in life, especially in the dark days. The good days are filled with it--love, laughter, happiness. But when you find the glimmer of good in those hard days, it is all the more sweet and precious. It reminds you why you persevere.

Another thing I've learned is to say what you need to say. If it is important, do it right away. You might never get the opportunity to do it again. If you wait, it becomes more difficult and might lose it's effectiveness. I think about my parents often. The last thing I said to both of them was that I loved them. With Mom it was right at the end, and I had this overwhelming urge to blurt it out--it was almost like a voice in my head yelling, "Say it! Say it now!" and I did. I would have regretted that moment for the rest of my life if I hadn't said what I needed to say.

I think I am on my way to accomplishing what I was meant to do. I know that teaching is my calling. I've known that for a long time, but now I'm beginning to think there's more to it than that. Teaching is a very important task. Not just the education part of it, but the human part of it too. There have been days that learning math and reading have gone to the wayside, and just simple caring has been the priority. People need to be nurtured, to be loved, and listened to. They need to know that there is someone who is willing to be there for them, and that they matter. When I taught preschool this wasn't a priority as much, because they were still babies. School age children is a different ball game. They all needed love and acceptance, but sometimes the school age children didn't get that from home. School was the only place they got that. It is a big job, a big responsibility, to be the teacher and the emotional caregiver as well. I hope that I have helped them in some way or another. I'm beginning to think caring is my calling.


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