2011 started out a stressful blur.
Imagine two of us attending school full-time and you get the picture. Thankfully, JR graduated from Ohio Center for Broadcasting in February - with the most intern hours of anyone in his class and perfect attendance to boot - and things got a little less hectic. Please note that I said, "A little."
Other than that, until May, nothing of note happened because all of my time was spent completing my practicum for my Master's. Between teaching full-time (in a new subject area with 3.5 preps and a two-hour round-trip commute, I might add), attending two night grad classes, completing the work for said classes including a 40-page action research project, and the daily tasks of life, I was a hot, stressy mess! My poor husband... oh who are we kidding? Poor me! ( I'm entitled to self pity here and there, I think.)
But May did finally come. And with May came the completion of my Master's degree; I can now proudly say I hold a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted & Talented Education from Cleveland State University. I can even put M.Ed. after my name. Sounds impressive, huh? :::holds head a little higher, sits a little straighter::: I felt especially proud of all the work I had done when I thought about the fact that, on my dad's side (not counting my mom), I was not only the first person to earn my Bachelor's (in 2006), but the first person to earn my Master's. If the degree wasn't something to be proud of (which it is), that sure is.
The rest of 2011 fell nicely into place after that.
I finished out the rest of my first year teaching Language Arts instead of Gifted & Talented, and felt confident that I had done well and had actually taught some of them something that they would remember and could use. Then summer came, a summer without the craziness of taking multiple online grad classes like last summer; and while my big plans for Cleveland adventures didn't quite pan out, it was still an enjoyable summer that set a tone of accomplishment and change for the rest of the year. Cue the highlight reel:
JR Gets a Job
After lots of work and lots of hoping and praying, JR was offered a promotions job at CBS Radio Cleveland; he would be working mainly to promote 92.3 and 98.5. While not full-time, it's a good job with opportunities to make connections within the industry and we were both thrilled. He also got to be on the ground floor of promoting a brand new station (due to a format change); he came on board right as 92.3 The Fan, Cleveland's only all-sports FM station, was being born. He promotes the stations at some pretty cool events - Browns games, Bob Dylan, Michael Stanley, Cuyahoga County Fair, TSO - and mostly has fun doing it. While the basketball lockout had us a little scared due to a lack of events during the winter season, the season is now back on and we hope there will be lots of events for him to work in the new year.
JR Drives
The time finally came in 2011, when JR needed to get a license again. Living in the city had afforded him the luxury of not really needing one, but both for his new job and for my sanity, he needed to be able to drive legally again. After a lot of practice and white knuckle-gripping (mostly on my part), and a perfect score driver's test, JR has his license again and now drives us and himself all about town.
We Moved
In May 2008, just months before JR and I were married, I packed my things an hour away in Akron and he packed his things across the neighborhood, and we moved into our first home together in Tremont. We both love Tremont and it was a great place for us to spend our first years together, but the end of summer brought the end of our time in Tremont as well. While we still loved the Tremont neighborhood and having so many friends so close, we were no longer in love with our immediate neighbors or how much we were paying in rent. As no good and reasonable options could be found in Tremont, we started looking elsewhere in both Ohio City and Lakewood.
After almost settling on two different places in Ohio City, we finally made a decision to move to the lower of a duplex in Lakewood; it was the right price, a convenient location, a very personable landlord that only owns our house, and upstairs neighbors that we already knew that sealed the deal. Both of us, as well as our families, were very nervous to move as it would be a substantial downsize, but it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our place in Lakewood, despite having less square-footage and less closet space, actually feels like a home and is much more our style. Plus, you really can't beat having great neighbors!
On Labor Day weekend, very shortly after we had moved in, we had friends over and it really solidified that we had made the right decision. Grilling and hanging out on our big porch was amazing, and it was so nice to feel like we had a home we could share with our friends. JR and I have really settled in here in Lakewood and we look forward to many more happy months ahead here.
Year Four Starts Strong
This fall I began my fourth year at RLSD, though this is only my second year teaching Language Arts full-time. I feel like this year I have really started to settle in and reach my stride. Now that I am in a one-building position, not only are the kids getting to know me and respect me, but my peers are as well. I feel like I have reached a point where students, parents, and other staff members see that I work hard, that I really love my job (most days), and that I'm actually good at doing my job. It also feels like I also finally have the time to really give myself the opportunity to grow as a teacher by exploring my methods, new material, and professional development opportunities that are available.
I wouldn't say every day has been picture perfect, but it's been pretty amazing. I have some students who I can tell really enjoy coming to my class (some have actually told me so!); I have students who show their appreciation for what I do; I have a great group of sophomores who I really enjoy working with that I advise for class fundraising; I've made progress with helping students to learn and improve; peers have sought me out to tell me they think I'm doing great things for our students; I've gotten to go to some wonderful plays at Playhouse Square through professional development; and my principal recommended me to be observed by a new teacher because of the quality of my work and also selected me to be a teacher-leader in the implementation of the new state language arts standards. On a more personal level, I have also made some great connections with both a former student and a current student, and it is amazing and inspiring to see them both grow and learn and turn into the amazing adults I know they will both one day become.
Two Years Flies By
On October 3rd, JR and I quietly celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe we are already well on our way to becoming an old married couple, but we love it. I had hoped to be able to plan some sort of get-away for us, but things didn't fall in to place and that's OK; we have many more years together for all sorts of get-aways.
Our Family Grows
...though not in the way one might expect from that lead in! Despite much apprehension on JR's part, in October we adopted a dog on a week-long trial basis. Two days in, I knew there was no way he was ever going to let her leave.
I had heard about her through a friend on Facebook; she was a 3-4 year old Pomeranian who had been rescued from an Amish puppy mill. Her foxy little face stole my heart from the minute I saw her picture, and hearing more about her from the lady who was fostering her had me convinced that she needed to be ours. We went to meet her one rainy day, and I knew that I just needed to get JR on board. She was sweet, cuddly, and loving - so much so that she snuggled between our legs and went to sleep that first time she met us. I also felt she'd be a good fit for us because she was small, not a puppy, and already crate and house-trained.
Though a little anxious when we first brought her home, she has settled right in and is now queen of the castle. We dubbed her Billie (she didn't really answer to the name she had at all) because JR observed her smirking much like Billy Idol is known to do, and we felt it fit her spunky attitude perfectly. She now answers to her name, LOVES going on walks, and snuggles right in with both of us like a the little snuggle-bug she is. She has made our house even more a home, brought us more love and smiles, and I have definitely become a true dog mom who is obsessed with her pup.
Despite the highs of 2011, I can easily admit that, no, the past year wasn't perfect; it has had its struggles and its challenges. But I choose to focus on the triumphs and the positives. I choose to focus on the things that went right, the good things that the year brought us, and the amazing people who have stood by me and come into my life this year. The past year has truly blessed us, and I look forward to what the new year will bring us. If I have one true wish for 2012, it is that no matter what the year brings, be it good or bad, that I will have the strength and the character to show love and appreciation for the good and to carry on through the bad with dignity.
Love and wishes of a happy new year to all,
Sarah
