Annual blog posts are pointless. But as I've said before, this really is just a journal. While I'd like to keep it more up to date, there are more pressing needs to attend to, not the least of which is Farmville. And lesson plans.

Here are some of the highlights of my year. I have to say this year was packed full of highlights. I am not aware of any prior year in my life in which I have accomplished so many feats of greatness. OK - there aren't actually any great feats in this list. But if you knew my life, this list would seem a little bit over the top, schedule wise. I guess I can't complain anymore that I've never seen anything good.

[I'll refrain from numbering them like I would normally. That might imply some order to them, when there really isn't.]

Trained for and ran my first 5K in March with 3 friends. In the cold and rain, in under 30 minutes.

Took a job at Dominion Classical Christian Academy, first as a long-term sub for 7th grade humanities and now as 2nd grade teacher. Studied Christian Education more than I ever have. Became even more convinced of the need for biblical theology in Christian ed, and for more parents to be trained in it. I'm also grasping more how congruent CE is with women's ministry.

Also immersed myself in classical education and tasted a bit of classical literature and philosophy. Hoping to return to logic and/or rhetoric grades eventually.

The transition from SAHM to working has been hard, but has given me so much perspective. I mean, I can't possibly do everything I used to do. Working out, cooking and baking, cleaning my bathroom, ironing, vacuuming, weeding, thrifting, sewing, playdates, etc is not what fills my spare time anymore. Making sure I'm spending enough time with my kids is. Spending time with Jefe hasn't really been an issue - if he's home, that's where I am. He's just not always home enough. And by enough I mean 24/7. It's possible I'm making an idol of my quality Jefe time.

Got a dog from the county animal shelter. I prayed for the Lord's protection over that whole process, for a well-tempered, housebroken, well cared for, young adult dog, and He did it.

Quit my membership at the very reasonably priced Fitness 19 and joined the Y. Mainly for the pool and so we could coordinate visits with my friend Jen and her family.

Bought my first laptop. A big one (size-wise). Thought I'd be on the couch more but I prefer typing on the PC. It has made school prep easier, though, which is why I got it.

Ran my first half-marathon on December 12, in the cold and wind, on a sort of girls' weekend with a couple of old friends and a couple of new ones. A few illnesses set me back in my training, but with prayer, adrenaline, Gu, and the inspiration of my friends and the spectators, ran the whole thing. Even sprinted to the finish! That was the best part, and maybe one day I'll do it again with a time goal. Maybe. It would require a much emptier calendar in order to train for something like that again.

Grateful for the Holy Spirit's leading during discipline moments with Hayden & Lauren, especially around Christmas. He is helping me use those times to show them their grave need for the Savior they sing about. Praying for the fruit of a regenerated heart. Trusting more and more in His promises, His work, and less on mine.

Saw U2 live on October 6. Discovered Muse the same night.

By the nature of our kids' ages (well, both of mine and two of her 5), love of classical Christian education, geographical proximity, a mutual desire to train like fools for destination races, husband compatibility, and history of an unabashedly high nerd quotient, my friend Jen and I have grown kind of close. There are probably many more common denominators to our affinity for each other that I haven't thought about yet. It's not only that we have similarities, but that where we each have gaps, the other complements. For instance, I've grown in wisdom, child-rearing prowess, and in my knowledge of the classics since I've known her.

Just accepted a call to serve as a regional women's ministry leader (AL, FL, GA) for our denomination for the next two years.

Almost got rid of my guitars and piano. And almost started guitar lessons. I almost dove in. It's still there, it will always be there, and if I had more room in my house for these frivolous pursuits I don't have time for, there wouldn't be so much internal conflict. And if I keep referring to them as frivolous they will probably never go anywhere.

More and more thankful for a small house. No one can run away and hide, the accumulation of tangibles has to be managed, the cleaning time is minor, and our finances are in good order.

Snagged a free download of Corel Paint Shop Pro X. I have no idea how to use it. But I've figured out enough to somewhat enhance pictures. I don't really have time for that either, but it has come in handy.

Started LOLing. Not literally. I only mean I finally gave in to the LOL. It's just easier sometimes, especially when LOLing would make someone feel better even if I'm not literally doing it. Sometimes I really do LOL, but at things that aren't intended to elicit that kind of a response, so then I can't say it.

Got reacquainted with my parents. That's been kind of nice. One way that's been facilitated is through Farmville. Yes, that 17" vortex through which time and productivity is lost at the speed of your internet connection. My dad is at level 34 or some crazy junk, all thanks to me. I was the last neighbor he needed to progress. I had to unblock that application on Facebook to join. Now that we're less than two months away from their return to east Asia, though, I'm starting to feel the separation. That's not so good. It's supposed to be this way here, in this life. That's what I keep telling myself. Longing for heaven is a good thing. I could go on and on about the paradox of this suffering, but I'll save that for another time. Or not.

Turned a corner in my relationship with Lauren. Well, technically that happened just in the last couple weeks. But it's worth noting because it was a matter of prayer for some time. I'm trying not to screw it up. It's been tricky trying to fulfill obligations and carry on normal daily activities while she's been so clingy but I'm not complaining.

Watched as Hayden progressed toward holding a writing utensil properly and exert some reasonable control over it. He's also so much fun to read with. He's also showing some possible fruit of the Holy Spirit working in his heart. Soli Deo Gloria.

Celebrated ten years with my Jefe in September. We took a weekend trip to Chattanooga at the suggestion of Phil & Jen who had just gone last summer. We watched their kids and they watched ours. We had the more fun on that trip than we'd had in a long time. Chattanooga is a great town for exploring. Not too big or congested, but full of enough variety - and all within walking distance or on the free shuttle route - to keep you interested. The North Shore neighborhood was our favorite place to hang out. We ate at a Tapas restaurant called Terra Nostra and drank Sangria. We browsed the used bookstore across the street, did the Hunter Museum across the walking bridge (which is free on first Sundays), bought some local art, and played pool in the lobby of our hotel at night while suffering through some lame lounge singing. We made some great memories and plan to go back the next chance we get.

Started drinking vodka and rum. No, I'm not admitting anything. Our friends made us a vodka tonic and a mojito one night (two separate occasions actually) and they are darn tasty. I still love beer, but beers are so big. And it may possibly be cheaper to drink vodka and rum. And the cheapness of something is what always draws me to it. Right, Coors Light?

1. I'm noticing grandparents with their grandkids a lot. Partly because we just started school and talk of grandparents abounds. And partly because we're doing without grandparents. I still have moments of (I hate to admit) regret. Regret that one set aren't close, and the other are too far away.

2. All this "part time" work has kept me from my training schedule. The progress I had been enjoying is slipping away fast. Did 3 miles Tuesday, 340 calories Thursday night at the gym, and no strength. I'm seriously spending my "free" time sleeping and eating. Working out really squeezes those activities.

3. Got fitted at Fleet Feet today and spent a chunk of my first paycheck. Insurance against injuries and hopefully a boost in my time. I guess I'm still thinking I may be able to get into a predictable routine soon.

4. My feet and back are shot after my first week of teaching 12 second graders.

5. Lost three hours of my life at Macy's MOG shopping for teacher shoes and clothes. Came away with some shoes and resigning to hem two pair of pants. Since leggings, Ed Hardy, and jeans are not among my options for school, and I'm really trying not to look old, I didn't get any shirts. Macy's needs to relax. And I don't mean the sleeves on their shirts. I couldn't find one tailored shirt in the store. Big flouncy sleeves are not a good look for me.

6. Cynthia in the shoe department understands capitalism. Go to her for your next shoe purchase.

7. Jefe keeps me so well. It is a privilege to be his helper.

8. Our anniversary is next weekend. Deano (and our lack of a fence) is proving to be the thing that may keep us from traveling. We need someone close by with a fence and the tolerance for an animal.

9. Reentry. Reverse culture shock. Baggage. Joyful over how God has worked. Trepidation over how we interact during this short visit. How much is left of our relationship? How much deeper is the chasm after all this time and distance? I can do grief. I can't do facade. "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." I've let them go.
(This is called hon'-esty.)

10. What to do about Grandparents' Day.

11. Oh, the things I've forgotten this week.

12. Francis Chan in Crazy Love: "Are we in love with God, or are we in love with His stuff?"

13. One of my students this week: "I don't get how God wasn't made." None of us do, sweetie.

Everything Etsy is collaborating on another great giveaway, this time with a gal named Maggie Whitley, who sells her clever brand of goods on Etsy here. She uses a vintage sewing machine, which evidently imparts a special touch of happiness because her creations are so, so cute.

I'm partial to this little bag, so that's what I'm hoping my three entries at Everything Etsy will yield for me! You'll get a kick out of looking through her inventory. Go on!

And if you've ever thought about selling your crafts but weren't sure how to market them, Kim will help you figure it all out.

DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land was Friday. So this really doesn't even count, and I may not even link to my DIY project on Kimba's page. But because I'm so proud of my Jefe for his hard work this weekend, I'm sharing what we did ourselves.

We made a king-size platform for our king-size latex mattress.

During a bout of insomnia a couple of weeks ago (even with a king-sized latex mattress to sink into I just can't shut it down sometimes), I did some Googling. I had given up trying to find a suitable platform on Craigslist, and we just never got excited enough about Ikea's Malm line to fork over Jefe's hard-earned bacon for it.

The Googling yielded a website called Instructables, where any old DIY-er can upload their own instructions for building or making anything from this to this. (Might have to try that second one next spring.)

Here's the Instructable we followed: Cheap, Easy, Low-Waste Platform Bed Plans. Because Jefe's middle name is Cheap, and my middle name is.......um.....Low-Waste. ;)

The lumber and screws cost us around $80. It took us considerably longer than the hot shots who commented on the post said they took. But that's because we had twice the children than we customarily have, and also because we don't do this kind of thing much. And we had a meal break and the inevitable return trip to Lowe's for more wood (which actually was not totally our fault, since the king platform plan wasn't clear on the number of slats we should use for our latex mattress - that came in a later comment that I failed to incorporate. So it is partly my fault).
The best part of this whole thing is not how much money we saved, it's how much fun Jeff had using his new toys. The process of building this simple platform was just the kind of respite his mind needed from a stressful few weeks at work. It wasn't much respite for his body. By the end of it he had earned a good night's sleep.
So now, instead of sleeping with our mattress on the floor like the rest of the world, we are elevated about 18 more inches. And this we did ourselves.Coming soon: dust ruffle and under-bed storage. Finally.

I won't let my incomplete living room re-do keep me from participating in The Nesting Place's Price My Space party. After all, it was the Nester's blog and her various window mis-treatments which got the little hamsters in my head running fast enough to generate some thought about how I should liven up my nearly decade-old design scheme I swore I would never change. All of the furniture, and many of the accessories you'll see, I've had for that long.

I have many reasons to thank Nester. She was the one who gave me the term which identified my craving: buffalo check. She gave me permission to leave the drapes unhemmed. She helped me disassociate beauty from perfection. She also gave me some great tips on where to buy fabric, however those came a little late (I bought clearance & sale fabric from JoAnn, but still paid more than she usually does per yard).

On with the show.
$835 for the set at a Sears-owned furniture store closing sale in 2001.
I've got a little particle board bookshelf I'm using as a sofa table. It faces our school room (formerly known as the dining room). $40 at Wal-Mart about 5 years ago.

1. Buffet lamp: $0 (office furniture liquidation at my last paying job) - shade was $4. It was originally shiny brass. I refinished it with an antique crackling kit I got for $4 at HL. Crocheted cross hanging from the switch was a gift.
2. Wood planter - $4 at HL. Fake grass $1 at HL
3. Candlesticks - $3 at Goodwill
4. Blue ceramic frame - $3 at HL
5. Wood frame - gift

The frames and candlesticks are sitting on a chest of silver flatware to give them height. The wood planter is sitting on a cigar box.

$0 hand-me-down from Grandma.

1. Blue barn-board bin on top: $7 from Hobby Lobby (HL)
2. Photo: Me holding my baby's tootsies - priceless (actually from a 2005 portrait session - couldn't tell you the price of that one print, but the frame was $5 at HL)
3. Wooden birds: prob. $5-$7 each - TJ Maxx or something a long time ago.
4. Mason jar of pussy willow twigs: $0
5. M on the wall a la Mary Richards: $3 at HL (I've wanted an M since I fell in love with the MTM show) (don't tell anyone, but it's actually a W).

$1400 at Rooms-to-Go in 2004. It's actually three seperate pieces. Our house has a severe lack of storage, but a decent-size open living room/dining room that we figured could handle the size of this piece. It does, we just may have to sell it with the house if we ever move. It is large and in charge!!

The knick-knacks inside all cost me $0, with the exception of the three black 4x6 picture frames, which were $2 each at Hobby Lobby several years ago. I'm not counting books, many of which my husband owned before we married, or were given to us, or we purchased for various church studies.

1. The chair to the right: hand-me-down from mom
2. Pillow: $6 or so from TJ Maxx. (i need to make a new cover for it)
   
3. Crate: $30 at Hobby Lobby (HL)
4. Barn board box $7 HL
5. Recycled Mason jars from the fridge
6. Faux hydrangeas $2 each HL
7. Fake plant on the floor was $20 at Hancock Fabrics, sitting inside a Southern Living at Home planter - $18.

Jeepers - good thing I didn't buy all that at the same time.

Accessorizing the mantel for this re-do gave me fits. Couldn't have done it without Kimba, Nester, and A Beach Cottage.

1. Fake Eucalyptus & planter- $0
2. Ivory Plate - $3 at Wal-Mart
3. Blue bowl - $1 at TJ Maxx (because it's chipped!)
4. Texas-sized star - $7 at HL
5. Framed botanical print - $3 at HL
6. Milkglass thingies - $0 hand-me-down from gradmom
7. Ceramic shell - $3 at HL
8. Copper wire birdie w/ tailfeathers - $7 at some gift shop in Destin, FL (gave as a thank-you to my mom for watching the kids while we went to the beach. She lives in China now, so I'm keeping it safe for her)
9. Lamp - $12 at HL - I painted it and re-covered the shade with brown, wire, .78 Wal-Mart ribbon
10. Fireplace screen & tools - safekeeping for mom and dad while they're in China (Southern Living at Home)

This corner could really use something more substantial - like a cute little dresser or a beefy side table to display all this cool junk on.

1. Vintage suitcase - $10 at Goodwill. It's sitting on an oak vanity stool that goes with grandma's bedroom set.
2. All the cigar boxes you see in my pics were GIVEN to us by an old friend of Jeff's. I KNOW!!!
3. Enamel container - $2 at Goodwill
4. Shell planter - $4 at HL
5. Iron mini-easel - $3 at HL
6. Cake stand thingy - SL at Home - mom's again. Has my little Rock City limoges box ($10?) and a .75 nest with two little Robin's eggs and white feathers!
7. Pedestal - $10 at Old Time Pottery
8. Vintage Globe - $10 at an antique shop in Ellijay, GA
9. Greenery arrangement - something I made about 10 years ago. Cost me probably $15 to do.
10. Hat box - $0 - just need some spray adhesive so I can cover it with fabric.

Last, but not least, is the foyer, which opens into the living room.

1. Buffet - $250 from an ad in the paper in 2003.
2. Ivory plates - $3 at Wal-Mart
3. Another chipped blue bowl from TJ Maxx for $1
4. Framed Cross-stitch of Matthew 5:8 - a sweet gift from my Mother-in-Law many years ago
5. Ivory candlestick - $4 at TJ Maxx
6. Whitewashed mini-watering can full of vintage silver & souvenir spoons, handed down from grandma
7. Fake succulent - no idea - cheap.
8. Shell-filled Hurricane - SL at Home with shells absconded from Florida beaches, plus a small bag I got at HL for $5, wrapped with a piece of taupe grosgrain ribbon with two feather picks from HL, $3 each.
9. Butterfly pillar candle lantern - another gift I bought for mom awhile back which I'm safekeeping - probably cost $10-$12
10. Books - only paid for the top two: a McSweeney's and Painters of Faith. Wow - I paid like $15 for that - either it has appreciated significantly or those Amazon marketplace sellers have some faith.
    
11. Buffet Lamp - same as behind the loveseat.

I hit JoAnn when their Decorator Fabric was all 40% off.

1. The big check is called something like "Boxy Surf" by Liz Claiborne Home - it was $7.79/yard - I think I bought 17 yards. I've only used a little over half, but still plan on making Roman Shades for the French doors in the dining room/school room.
2. Paisley is "Paddock Shawl" by Waverly. It was $11 so I only got one yard. Just needed a little contrast.
3. The small plaid is some other Liz Claiborne Home fabric which was marked way down to $5/yard. I bought 7 or 8 yards, and used it for piping on the boxy surf pillows as well as 16" pillows.
4. The Dupioni look-alike was a remnant - slightly less than 2 yards for $6. The handwritten label said it was 100% polyester, but I compared it to another marked as Dupioni silk and they looked identical.
5. 1/4" cording from JoAnn for piping $3
6. Window hardware from JoAnn - $25 for rods, finials, and ring clips (40% off)

I got the fringe and ball trim from Fabric.com -

• 6 yds of the ball trim for 4.98/yard
• 8 yds of the brush fringe for 3.98/yard

I have enough of each to do at least one more 18" pillow