summer so far

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here.  It's been a while since I've even logged on and read some other blogs.  I guess it just haven't "felt" like it the last few months.  Don't ask me why.  These past few days I've been thinking about the blogging world and decided that I want to start being a part of it again.

Here are some things that have been going on in my life lately:

The school year ended and I'm now preparing for the next one.  We start 3 weeks from today.  I have a lot to do in that amount of time.  Things are going to be changing for me a little this year.  I'm going to be teaching some different subjects (more social studies classes).  I'm excited, because I love social studies, but it is going to take some extra planning at first.

My summer has gone by fast.  I went "home" for a couple of weeks near the end of June and beginning of July.  I spent time with my family.  It was good to see my parents and spend some time with them.  My mom and I got along pretty well while I was there.  We only got into a heated "talk" a time or two, which is better than other times.  I was awesome to see my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.  The kiddos are growing so much and are as adorable as ever!!  I just absolutely love them and wish that I could see them more often.  The week that they were at my parents house we kept plenty busy, including spending time with the extended families.  It was great!

The day after I returned down south, a friend from college came to visit.  It was so great to spend some quality time with her.  She decided that she wanted to help me clean my bedroom (since it was a major mess when she got here).  She helped me do that and some other organizing/cleaning in my apartment.  I've also started doing some more decorating.  I've still got some stuff to finish up that we started while she was here.

This friend and I are working together to loss weight (she doesn't have as much to lose, since she's been on weight watchers for a few years).  Every day we email each other what we ate that day and if we exercised any.  We have been doing that for two weeks and in that two weeks I've lost about 2.5 pounds.  I've been trying to workout pretty much everyday.  In the last week and a half, I've went on a walk 9 times.  At least 7 of these times I've walked for one hour (or more).  I'm just hoping that I can keep up the working out once school starts.  It's going to be tricky, since I won't have as much time in the morning to walk outside due to having to be at school on time.  I think I'll have to start using my workout videos again.  My short-term goal is to be down 7 lb more by labor day (that would be about 9 pounds total).

The rest of the summer I've been trying to relax and filling in some at summer camp at school.  It's been nice to earn some extra money.  Plus, if I have stuff to do occasionally, then I plan and manage my time better.  I've spent some time with friends here, but not a ton.  One friend has been gone one business part of the summer.  The other friend has been going through a lot, so she's been traveling to see family and spending lots of time with her husband.  At times, it's been hard and I have felt left-out.  I know that this is just an emotional response.  Logically and rationally I know that she's going through a lot (I talked with my counselor about this a lot at my last appointment).

Okay, it is time to email my friend what I ate today and then head to bed (read my book first, then sleep).  I hope to come back again soon!  Take care and God bless everyone!!
-Single Lutheran