~while we wait~

The road to get from Burkburnett, Texas to here in the far reaches of northern Oklahoma has been an interesting one.  The picture of how it would all go isn't exactly the one our minds painted back in September of last year.  Yet as it is in all things, our human made plans were not the same ones that God had in mind.

One of the discussions we had early on as we chose a listing agent for our house sale in Burkburnett was what were we going to do if the house was still sitting on the market by the time school was getting ready to be out.  The fear was very real that perhaps the right buyer would not come along at first.  Maybe we would have to drop the price substantially or even become landlords and rent it when we moved away.  No matter what happened, we were sure that everything would be ok and in faith we went forward.

3 days after the house was listed, we had two different offers.  Only 72 hours had passed!  It seemed rather miraculous at first, given the fact that many homes in the area had been sitting with "for sale" signs in their yards for months and months.  What a blessing it was to be able to close on the house in mid-February instead of having to decide what property manager we would choose if it were to be rented.  

Our lives changed quickly from that point on, and so much happened all at once it seemed.  During the second week of January I was so fortunate  to be offered a position as a teacher for Ponca City Public Schools for next year and we were able as well to buy a new home here in Kay County.  In the interim, Mike and I have lived in a tiny cabin, a motel, and a camper at the KOA.  We have been grateful for a roof over our heads and shelter from any storms, but surely we will be glad when life has settled down again and the pillow that we lay our heads on at night is our own.  

Just like in the days prior to putting our old house on the market, I am back once again to making "to do" lists in order to be ready for the school year to come to a close.  There is much to consider, especially given the fact that once we head north it will be unlikely for us to return to the Red River area of the world again.  My classroom must be cleaned up and emptied out by the time our last day of school arrives.  Little by little I have been loading up personal belongings and bringing them back here to Newkirk each time I have returned.  My room does look different now and the kids understand why.  It's a long drive up here from Texas and I can't afford to come back empty handed as such.  I must use the available space in the car wisely.  Having already spent quite a bit of money getting everything to Newkirk, I have to get creative in how I bring the final part of my belongings here.  

I've been saying my "farewells" to my students each and every day, but not in the traditional manner of speaking.  They hear it in a different way any time they hear me utter certain things.

"I'll be checking in with Mrs. Puente next year to see how you are doing in third grade.  Please continue to do your best!"

"I'm older now and I may not be here when you all graduate from high school, but I want you to remember to stick together then just like I have taught you to do now."

And especially in moments that can be quite trying on a teacher's patience in these waning days of the school year, those times when teachers must use a great degree of self-control or else they might find themselves getting pretty upset with children, with a lump in my throat I have begun to find myself saying~

"I'm pretty sure I am going to miss you guys when I am gone."

And they know that I am sincere.

Once again the other day, I overheard two of my students talking about the last day of school and how they knew I would be sad to leave them.  It was absolutely sweet to hear one of them whisper to the other,

"We are down to just one more box of Kleenix.  What are we going to do if the box is empty and she cries?"

Even though the plan has turned out different than Mike and I once imagined it would, we know that it has turned out for the best.  These days of living under different circumstances than we are used to have been character building for both of us.  For sure we have learned to be  even more appreciative of the things that we have at times taken for granted and ever more grateful for the blessings we have had together.  

Time is passing by quickly.
Even in the wait for school to be finished, I'm trying to find joy in each day God gives me.

I bought these snowshoes in sunny southern California back in February of 2015.  I fully intended to use them the next winter in the mountains of Colorado where we were living at the time.   4 months later we moved to northern Texas where the chances to ever use them went by two names, "slim" and "none".  Mike dug them out of all the moving boxes and crates today.  Who knows?  Maybe now that we are back a little farther north, there just might the chance to break them in yet.