Update, or Effort Applied for Rewards Received

So, once again, it's been a while since I posted on here.  Today's post may be rambly, only somewhat informative, and possibly boring, but I will tell you what is going on in my life.  Beware, religious, fandom, and professional content all mixed up into one.  I'll break it down into sections so that you can "skip to the end" (Like Humperdink) if you need to.

Church Stuff

Though, theoretically, the two busy seasons for the church are Lent and Advent, for me, this is becoming more of a busy season.  Our priest called me last week, and asked me to take on a responsibility.  I told him yes because I felt I could, I felt I should, and I felt like him asking me was kind of a big deal.  Technically, that won't start until September, but I will be preparing for it between now and then.  Some of my other responsibilities seem to be waxing and waning with time, but more keep being added.  By choice, of course, but I'm having to learn to be more proactive about things. 

However, this summer, we're working on our Vacation Bible School.  Our community is pretty unique in that five of our little churches get together every year and have a VBS. None of us would have the kids (or staff, frankly) to be able to run one on our own, so we band together and work together for a while. This is that while. I'm learning more about myself through this experience.  It's very illuminating and frustrating, because I'm seeing limitations of character and physical limits I don't like to acknowledge.  I'm working on it, though!  The VBS will be pretty awesome, I think. I'll be teaching the preschool class, and I'm pretty lucky to be doing it.   

Also, a good friend of ours, one of the 'surrogate' grandparents for my children, is currently in the hospital. If you could keep him in your prayers, that'd be awesome. We love him so dearly, and I'm worried for him, and frustrated that we weren't able to go see him this week.  There were reasons (that sound so much like excuses to my inner voice), but I wanted to give him something, and can't at this point.  

Fandom Stuff

This summer, I'm helping a couple good friends run a fandom auction to raise funds for the needs in Nepal. It's a bit unorthodox, but it's what I'm able to do.  Currently, it's mainly the NCIS fandom, because it's being hosted at NFA (NCIS Fanfiction Addiction) community forums. However, any writer would be welcome, as long as you don't mind making an NFA membership.  Do realize that NCIS is our primary focus, but for this, we'll take what we can get.   

I am also learning to take a more practical approach to my fic writing. At least for the ones with challenges.  I am making notes and reminders for myself, so that I see them on my list of things to do, and am trying to use some of the same tools I use for other things to keep my writing focused.  It helps.  

Work / School Stuff

I might be absolutely crazy for doing this, but I am going back to school. I'm going to take classes for Special Education (SPED) from Western Governors' University.  It's got a fairly flexible schedule, so I can do more when I'm able, but I need to get more schooling to get a more permanent job. And, I'm being pulled by heartstrings, abilities and encouragement to do this.  So, come whenever I finish (hopefully within 3 years or so), I will have a BA in SPED / ELEMED and will be able to take the teachers' test, do some student teaching, and go into Special Ed full-time.  I'm both excited and scared basically spitless about this.  But, maybe that's about the right balance for a big decision of this kind.  

I have really enjoyed substitute teaching this year. It's been a good experience.  I did have one class that made me cry, and a couple that almost did, but on the whole, it's been good. My favorite classrooms have been the SPED classrooms.  Even with the very brazen boys asking me where my teeth were every five minutes, it's been really good.  I love it.  

All the Things!

We are going on a trip this summer, so we're preparing for that both internally and externally.  The kids will be so surprised, I think. But we're going to get to see about half of my family and most of DH's remaining family, so I'm feeling good about this.  We're taking the train and it's going to take awhile, but I'm looking forward to it, considering it's been quite a while since we've done  a long trip.  And never by train.  

I'm learning Spanish on Duolingo.  They've got some crazy ideas about what a sentence should be (like "she is not a turtle."  or "The crab is eating bread."), but mostly, it's a very good site for a language, and I'm starting to think in Spanish -- which is a good measure for me to know when I'm starting to understand the language a lot more. I know I've got a long way to go, but spending about a half an hour a day on it has been fun, helpful, and I think it'll be good for church, fandom AND job.