Well, it appears as if the light is at the end of the tunnel - looks like closing will be either December 2 or 3!

That means lots to do over the next month!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about a lot of things - it's been a whirlwind in my mind.

• A long-term friendship recently "died" (for lack of a better word).  Of the many things I was "accused" of, I was told that apparently I had "moved on".  This has me asking myself - moved on to what?  I feel as if anything, I've been in a rut - my schooling has taken longer than I ever thought it would, my job, as much I love it and truly believe it is what I'm called to do, takes up most of my time.  So to what, or where, have I moved? 
  
  
• It's been interesting that even as one friendship "dies", other friendships have been reconnected...that's been good, and a blessing.
  
  
• I've been thinking about my mom lately.  She had been sick for so long, there was a sense of relief when she passed away in December.  I didn't mourn, in the normal sense of the word - no tears, no sadness.  As I've been packing and cleaning, my thoughts go to her often.  I miss her - not the woman she had become because of the alzheimer's - but the woman I don't think I ever fully appreciated.
  
  
• The packing has me thinking lots of things - I've trusted this move to Him, and have said since the moment I first looked at the house I am buying that as long as there were no obstacles, I would be sure that this move is meant for me.  Although there's been a slight delay (waiting for my buyer to get approved for a grant), everything is on target.  I am overwhelmingly thankful.  It's been hard today though - my neighbor, who put her condo up for sale 3 weeks after me, is moving out tonight - 3-4 weeks before me.  I'm trying hard to not be annoyed.
  
  
• I've also been thinking a lot about being a single adult in a world where marriage is the norm. Most of the time, I'm perfectly okay with this - I know this is where I'm called to be in my life at this time.  It is lonely at times, and I struggle in that loneliness.  What took me there this week was one of my friends at school sharing her news that she is pregnant - something I will never experience.
  

Some of the thoughts....as always, trying to keep the focus where it should be.

Wow - again, it's been a while....

I don't know where to even begin...so many changes, so many challenges.

• There's been triumphs and tears, good days and horrible ones, productive days and ones that I wonder why I got out of bed...
  
  
• School has been good for the most part - some challenges, some concerns - many days I feel like I'm working very hard for mediocre results...
  
  
• The new house stuff is moving at a crawl - I'm trying very hard to not be overly annoyed at the circumstances, as I can't change them anyway...
  
  
• Final project is coming along - struggling to find quality time to write - I'm feeling a "mental health day" is due soon....
  
  
• Health is good - although I know I'm making bad choices about food and exercise - hoping to do better...
  

That's all I have for now - hopefully more details soon...

Wow, it's been a busy few weeks....
 

• house sale is still on target - looks like mid-November for closings and move

• school just seems more intense this year....can't figure out why yet - seems like I spend all my time entering required data on the computer for my 300+ students I see each week

• got a "clean" bill of health from my cardiologist - going to try to add some exercise back into the routine again.  Also been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.  I'll be getting a C-PAP machine sometime soon to help me sleep better.

• decided  to add one more semester to finish my master's project - been struggling with writer's block, plus a general lack of time!

Through all of this - God has been very faithful - He is truly good!

I'm home - the procedure went very smoothly, praise God!

Today is all about being productive - at least trying to be!

Thanks for praying  - my procedure will be sometime @ 11 this morning.

I should be home tomorrow evening - I'll update asap.

I had my procedure yesterday - the doctor found 2 more blockages, this time in the left main artery of my heart.  One blockage had been there, but has grown significantly over the past year.  The other is brand new and is at about 80-90% blockage. 

I have to go back to the hospital next Thursday (which happens to be the 1st day of school) to have 2 more stents put in.  If all goes well, I'll only be there Thursday & Friday, then will have the weekend home to recuperate.

I'm trying to not feel overwhelmed by it all - thanks for praying for me throughout this next week.

I'll be having same-day surgery (hopefully) on Friday at Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.  I'll be having a catheterization of the left side of my heart, and will probably have a stent put in.

Thanks for praying.

I've had some interesting news on the health front this week:

• About a month ago, I had a sleep study done.  I've been fatigued on a regular basis, to the point of napping every day.  Yes, I know that sounds wonderful, but it's not really conducive to my busy life.  I received the results on Friday from the study - they came back abnormal, showing signs of sleep apnea.  So this week, I'll need to make another appointment at the sleep lab to be fitted for an c-pap (the mask worn to keep the air flowing.)  More news to follow when I get it.
  
  
• I also had a stress test for my heart this week.  I got those results also on Friday - there appears to be another blockage in another artery on my heart.  My cardiologist is recommending that I schedule to another angioplasty done.  He was going to contact the surgeon at the hospital where I had the procedures performed last year.  So I'll be hearing from that office sometime this week to set that up.
  
  
• With the school year about to begin, I've been making the rounds of my doctor's appts - this week I have a dentist's appt and a mammogram scheduled.  Fun, fun, fun!!!

On the house front:

• My bid from last week was counterbid, and I accepted the seller's price and have entered in contract on the house!  I submitted my good faith deposit, and am waiting for the seller to sign.

• I had an offer today on my condominium, which I'm pretty sure I'm going to accept.  The woman would like to have my place inspected first by a certified housing inspector.  I told her that was fine, and I told her I would consider her offer and get back to her tomorrow after I check out a few things with my realtor and with the housing office.

Oh...and school starts next week!!!   And I have my culminating master's degree project due!!!   AAAHHHHHHH!!!!

I KNOW all this is in the Lord's timing....I just needed a momentary freak-out moment!  Thanks for allowing me that!

Each day brings new doors opening! 

Today,

• I signed my contract with my realtor and gave him my good faith deposit. 
  
• I offered my bid on the house.
• I received the needed information for the sale of my condo.
• I got my 1st 2 calls from people interested in seeing my condo - one is coming tomorrow evening, one on Saturday.
• I called and hired a lawyer to assist in the selling and buying.
• I picked up a bunch of boxes from a friend to begin the packing process.
  

I'm so thankful for the way the Lord is working in this!  I'm praying that things continue to smoothly!

Things going on this week:

• a few appointments that need to occur before the school year starts
  
  
• going to school to begin the process of getting ready for the school year
  
  
• working on my master's project (which I've finally begun after 2 months of procrastination)
  
  
• getting my house in order for people to come and see it
  
  
• meeting with my realtor to begin the process of the bidding on the new house
  
  
• working a few nights  for some extra $$$
  

As always, I have "stuff" going on!  And as always, the Lord truly does work in mysterious ways!

There have been 3 houses for sale in my dad's neighborhood for the past 4 months.  I had been considering looking at them for some time, but continually talked myself out of it.  Last week, I finally decided to look at 2 of them.  A friend's son is a real estate agent, and he arranged a showing of them.  One was much cheaper, and has lots of potential!  I've decided (and after much prayer) to pursue selling my condominium and moving!  There are several reasons, but I like the fact that I will be 2 houses away from dad - it will be much easier for me to help him and to just be there.  Also, having my own property (including a deck and a small yard!) sounds incredibly appealing after 9 years of loud upstairs neighbors and less than cooperative neighborhood children!

Please pray!  There's much to work out before a move can occur.  I've already been pre-approved for a mortgage (my same friend's sister works for a mortgage company!), and have informed the affordable housing office of my intent to sell.  I'll be making a bid on the house, contingent on the sale of my condo soon, and will be doing a 2nd walkthrough over the weekend.

Very scary!  Very exciting!  Very much in the Lord's timing!

How quickly time flies!  I think this has been my longest time away since I began keeping a blog...

Many things have happened over the past month, yet finding the desire to write about them has been impossible.  Finding the desire to do anything has been virtually impossible!  Saying that I've "struggled " in several areas - spiritually, mentally, physically - is almost downplaying the actual day-to-day battles.

Yet I will continue to battle on because I've seen glimmers of hope, of conquering. 

It's been a while - there's much to catch up on, but alas, tonight's not the night for that...

I'm going to a family reunion this weekend - flying out tomorrow to Lafayette, Indiana, and returning on Sunday afternoon.

This is a part of my family that I think I might have met about 30+ years ago...my mother's side of the family.  I felt that this was something I needed to do this year.  I'm excited...I'm nervous...I'll be staying with a 3rd or 4th cousin (I think) who's supposed to pick me up at the airport tomorrow evening.
 
Looking forward to the adventure!   Looking forward to what God has planned for this weekend!  More when I return.

I PASSED MY EXAM!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it's been weeks since I've updated!  Not even sure what's been keeping me so busy, but I know I have been.

I have my final exam this coming Wednesday for my class - I'd appreciate the prayers!  It's going to take some divine intervention and inspiration for me to do well on this final!

My show was this weekend.  The kids did great! 

My 8th graders surprised me with a "tribute" at the end of the show.  Each one went to the microphone and said something about me to the audience - I nearly lost it on a few of their sweet, sweet comments.  They presented me with a cast picture, signed by the whole group (also a surprise).  I am really going to miss this group of kids when they move on to the high school.

I'm hoping things will return to some normalcy now!  I still have a few weeks of class on Wednesdays, and there are still some performances coming up at school.  My goal right now though is to get back to the Y 2-3 times a week, and to get my house back to normal over the next few weeks.  I also have to come up with a schedule for working on my final project, now that my proposal has been accepted.

I'm thankful that the Lord has sustained me and strengthened me through these past weeks.  He has truly blessed me!

2 weeks until showtime!

I sound like a broken record, i suppose, but it's been so incredibly busy!  Besides the deadline for this year's musical, Once on this Island, I am currently taking a class (which I really, really, really don't like) and have recently handed in my proposal for my final project for my master's degree.  Plus there's the normal stuff - regular school stuff, stuff with dad, keeping up on my house (or at least trying to).

Oh, I don't think I shared here about my 2 new additions - about a month ago I rescued 2 cats - Ella & Bailey - they are about 2 years old and bring with them every aspect of cat personality!  Ella is a tortoiseshell, somewhat skittish, and lived under the bed for the first 2 weeks - she's slowly coming around and likes to attack my feet in the middle of the night especially.  Bailey is gray & white, and is a little love - she's constantly at me to pet her and snuggle.  She apparently is allergic to something - we've been to the vet a few times for cream and shots - now we're trying to figure out what might be best to feed her.  My vet suggested finding some cat food that has no dairy - he thinks it may be an allergy to milk.

My friends for whom I asked for prayers came home safely with Olivia last week.  I have not had the opportunity to meet her yet, but look forward to it!

There much, much more, but that's all I have time for at present.  Looking forward to writing more soon!