This Time Last Year

I have been ill for the entire past week with a dreadful sinus infection and the beginnings of bronchitis. I can’t stand being sick! It puts a halt on everything, including the blog, I’m afraid. I’ve been in major survival mode, so all of the “extras” went on back burner. There are no shortage of blog entries in my head, only a shortage of time and energy to type them out. But with 12 days of school left, I am nearing a season of rest and relaxation (and blogging!?) and I'm really looking forward to that. There's sooooo much I want to do this summer!

I was thinking a lot today about this time last year. So many things are different for me now. And some things are the same. Isn’t it amazing how much can change in a year? And how much can stay the same despite our efforts to change them? For example...

This time last year, I was finishing up a really wonderful year teaching some VERY sweet 1st graders (pictured above—aren’t they cute??). Now, I am finishing a great challenging year teaching some pretty awesome middle and high schoolers. (Also cute in their own way!)

This time last year, I was exhausted physically from school. It was a GOOD tired. Same is true now.

This time last year, I was exhausted mentally from being away from Mark for too long. I’m so much healthier mentally with him around.

This time last year, I was rip-roaring READY to get up to Washington.
Right now I’m just rip-roaring to get out and SEE Washington.

This time last year I was spending time on South Padre Island with my beloved family. We were all missing Dad but enjoying being together. This time of year does NOT feel right without a trip to Padre. Not being there makes a void in my heart. And I still miss Dad.

This time last year, my foot pain had not started yet. I was actually able to walk a long way and exercise on a treadmill. This summer, thanks to another cortisone shot in the heel and my mother-in-law’s foot massage machine, I may actually get to be active like that again. That’s the plan, anyway. My feet seem to be healing (heeling?? ha ha)…ever so slowly.

This time last year, God was showing Himself faithful to me, in spite of financial burdens and not knowing where I would be working after the summer. Those "burdens" are still there, but God is still faithful as ever. And I have no doubts He will take care of us far beyond our expectations.

So I wonder what I’ll be doing this time next year...