The unexpected has happened

I'm actually not sad about having to go back to school. GASP!

Don't get me wrong...I do not want summer to end and I haven't made any plans for school, but I'm not sad. In fact, I'm kind of getting excited.

This summer has been the most productive summer I have ever had. With my "free time" I have...(sorry if this gets boring!)

** hung shelves in the dining room
**stained and painted 21 picture frames of various sizes
**hung said 21 picture frames in dining room with kids' art work
**made curtain panels for dining room
**bought an area rug for dining room
**converted window into mirror
**painted canvases for hall way
**turned metal plaque into picture frame
**made curtains for bedroom
**made a bench for bedroom
**covered said bench for bedroom
**made a bedside table for bedroom
**stained and painted 3 different picture frames for bedroom
**hung these picture frames in bedroom with some of our family pictures
**bought shadow box picture frame
**hung it in bedroom with a picture of me and Ray
**spray painted candle-holder things for bedroom
**bought some throw pillows and a basket for bedroom
**spray painted several frames and made them into jewelry organizers
**made a paper flower to hang from ceiling in bedroom
**painted flowers on the walls in Hannah's room
**painted dresser by front door but will repaint because it is ugly.
**used 13 gallons of paint painting our old house
**started making shower curtain for kids' bathroom
**turned a piece of plywood into a piece of "art" for upstairs hallway
**made a side of the pantry into a chalkboard
**bought almost all the girls' school supplies (shirts, socks, shoes, bags, uniforms, stuff)
**have done lots of things with the girls--water parks, swimming, zoo, fireworks, etc.
**have babysat--a lot
**read at least 8 books
**learned a lot about photography
**played sand volleyball and indoor soccer every week
**hung with friends several times
**stayed up really late by myself and watched a chick flick

And I still have a few more things on my list. But, I think I feel almost complete, and that has made all the difference. The teaching profession takes a lot out of me. I give and give and give all day long, but I never really stop to give back to myself. I finally gave in and just started making things and doing the things I've neglected doing for a very long time.

I have plans to actually decorate my classroom--something I have never really done. If I have learned one thing this summer it is that my environment is soooo important to my mood and emotional health and neglecting the one room I spend at least half my day in is just plain stupid.

Plus, I have just spent the last week sick with asthmatic bronchitis. Very reminiscent of last spring/summer. Now that I'm feeling better, I feel renewed. It's crazy, actually, to say that I'm thankful I have been sick (for only a week this time!) because it reminds me of how awesome it is to NOT be sick. We take our health for granted and we shouldn't.

On top of that, I chopped off my hair (literally) and actually like it (today anyway), and I went shopping, and now am remotivated to work out again. I bought a pair of jeans today that "almost" look good--I've never done that--to give me something to look forward to. And, I've reinvigorated my dream of wearing that bikini one day.

I've always dreaded the start of the school year because it signaled the end of something; I'm thinking maybe I should see it for what it is--the START of something new.

Can you believe it? The unexpected has truly happened!