“The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary.”
-Mary Kurtz
After a Saturday full of house-hunting, I volunteered to stay close to home on Sunday. For the benefits of saving our fuel and getting started on my crafty Christmas presents. I pulled out the sewing machine, scattered fabrics across the floor, and made as much progress as I could. [It’s time for another trip to the fabric store!] The project must stay secret, but here’s a sneak peek at one of the projects.
“We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
-Charles F. Kettering
We did venture out to house-hunt on Saturday. Rob asked if that risky use of fuel would count as an anniversary gift. Haha, not funny! But, aaaah… anniversary gift?? This year it’s 12 days earlier than years past… not yet accustomed to that.
But, back to the house search… as we ventured from one property to another, we tried to envision ourselves, our personalities, our futures in these houses. Could I pull into the driveway after work and know that I am home? Could we host a party here? Would our relatives comfortably fit in the guestroom? Could I be inspired to craft, dream, and live in this space? Might the kitchen motivate me to cook? And, even as Rob suggested over lunch, is this a great place that our future children might love, too?
Children… babies in our future… again, I will reiterate, not in the immediate future. But they are out there in the distance. Waiting until the time is right.
A conversation I had with A in Charlotte sums up our currently shared philosophy on motherhood. On the surface she and I seem to have such differing views on motherhood, but yet at the heart of it, we found that it’s very similar. When talking of our exciting career changes and how that seems to put motherhood on hold, we decided that “yes, we probably want children someday, but it’s perfectly fine not to want them right now.” Seems so elementary, but for some reason, it struck gold in my heart. Something someone could say to me all day long, but that I have to feel in my heart before I understand and accept.
“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.”
-Orison Swett Marden
Just when I think things are working themselves out, smack, I’m hit with yet another obstacle. I can’t even celebrate the successes because I’m waiting, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
We were so excited about house-hunting and had a long list of properties to consider…none of them were exactly right.
We found a really good deal on a really nice house (and thought maybe, just maybe, this might be the one)… found out it’s a foreclosure with no opportunity to walk inside, and we’re just not that risky yet.
We fell in love with the historic homes of Charlotte, and thought we just need to find a house, a neighborhood like this…realized that that neighborhood just doesn’t exist in the suburban area where we are looking.
We got some more momentum, finding many more houses that could be possibilities, if only we could drive by them… the gas shortage has us reconsidering our weekend drive up to the suburbs.
Moving to the suburbs is the perfect precipice for changing careers… I’m bombarded with the different options.
Looks like there will be some teaching jobs open in the spring that only require a provisional certificate… not sure if I can teach for a semester and then join the alternative certification process.
My advisor suggests that there might be some permanent substitute positions available for the spring… only they’re in Cobb County—an hour away from our intended location.
A more temporary choice for spring employment is substitute teaching…subbing requires an all-day workshop and references from my current supervisor, neither of which I feel I can conquer right away.
Apparently there is a Masters with certification program at GSU specifically for teachers who are currently teaching—all classes are at night… it’s specifically for teachers with an undergraduate degree in Math, which is not me.
The GSU advisors might be able to work with me on the prerequisites for the Masters program… I’ll have to take at least two upper level Math classes to begin.
I would be certified in three semesters, and then choose whether to continue another year for my Masters… I’ll have to commute into the city several times a week after work, not to mention homework and studying for exams.
What’s a girl to do? I’m trying to get a plan in action, but every time I turn around there’s another obstacle to overcome. Perhaps I’m making mountains out of molehills, but it’s frustrating nevertheless.
“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it's the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friend.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
We spent a lovely weekend with our friends: A & W, in Charlotte. (A, you’ll have to share the photos with W!!) We ate well, got caught up on all the gossip, and fell in love with their 1930’s bungalow.
I was reminded of the most wonderful thing about this friendship: we are all inspired by each other. Not only do the four of us get along really well. We’re all in similar places in life, but we each see it from a different perspective. So after a weekend together, we leave rested and relaxed, but also motivated to try something new or do something a little differently. I left with my mojo refueled. I wish we could do it more often. Maybe someday we will live close enough!!
As we pulled away from their house yesterday evening, Rob sighed and said, “I sure like them.” I agree, I do, too.
