Working Girl

I have just completed my second full day of being an official 'working girl'. Yesterday Joe sent me a text in the morning that basically said: "I love that you are the third generation of Mrs. Weinberger teachers". How cute is that! (Joe's mom was a teacher, as well his grandmother). Everyone at school et cetera is asking me "how is it going?", "are you surviving?". Am I surviving? Honey, I am thriving! Today I even got a "Mrs. Weinberger, you are a good teacher". Hooray! In all seriousness, it couldn't be going better. Yes, I have some students who randomly get of their seats or start reading their warm-up activity out-loud two hours into the day; however, when reprimanded they listen and reply with a "yes Ma'am". I expect them to be a little bit more mouthy tomorrow, because they were a little bit more mouthy today. I really love the school I'm working for, and I am hoping/praying this will lead to a full time position. I have already been asked to sub again by two teachers. Tomorrow I am working after school care, so I am sure I will be exhausted.

So here are my first impressions: Yesterday I wore heals and sat down for a total of about 50 minutes (including lunch). I have never experienced leg pain like that. Peep toe shoes are not the way to go either. Your big toe slides down into the peep, and you can imagine the way that feels. Today I wore flats, and tried to sit a little more at the front of the class while explaining the lesson et cetera. My legs are definitely thanking me for it. I will actually be able to run this afternoon. Which brings me to my next thought. Kids have birthdays and bring Pizza and Cupcakes. I can not say yes every time a kid offers these things to me... weight gain would surely occur. Ok one more, I thought it would bother me to discipline children, and I thought it would be difficult to lower their conduct grade for the day... wrong. It's not that I enjoy it, but when it is needed I know it's what I should do. Anywho, those are my thoughts so far.

I really am loving it, and I so appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.

Feet First

Well today marks the beginning of our second week in SA. We still don't have a couch, but for the most part it's become a home. During the week we did various things to begin our assimilation into San Antonian culture. For example, we watched the Spurs game on TV, and we even whole-heartedly cheered for the Spurs. Thankfully, they won. We hope to find ourselves at a game one day soon! One night for our workout we went and ran around our neighborhood, and let me tell you it is even more amazing than they tell you. The houses are so neat. Almost everyone has a historical marker, and most have been renovated. Apparently this is where the whose whose of San Antonians live. I will let you know if we see anyone famous. Ha.

This weekend we had loads of fun driving around town, going to the mall for the first time, et cetera. Saturday evening was definitely the highlight. We went to La Frite Belgian Bistro, it was AMAZING. I am not one to go on and on about food, and rarely do I go to a restaurant so great that I feel the need to express its 'greatness' in gushy words. All that being said, this place was brilliant! The atmosphere was perfect, and the food did not disappoint. If you ever come to SA and feel like spending a little, we will definitely be taking you here.

On Sunday we visited Oak Hills Church (Max Lucado's church). It was actually pretty great. It is a non-denominational church on the north-west side of town. The worship was top-notch and that made me immediately happy. Judge me if you will, but I need a good worship band. Max's teaching was a little bit more 'old school' than we are used to, but it was still challenging and edifying.

After church we had a not-so-great lunch experience at a local Italian restaurant, but I guess you can't win them all. Our goal is to not go to any chain restaurant while living here, and really there isn't a reason to. Finally after lunch we made our way to the library! I was so excited. I had been dying to head down there, but being the good wife that I am ;) I waited for my husband. We headed straight to the cookbook section and came home with eight books, along with some books on art. Our coffee table is now very full. I tried a cupcake recipe out of a cookbook by The Magnolia Bakery in NYC. Buttercream icing has recently become my nemesis, but I am determined to experiment until I get the perfect texture, along with the perfect taste. Just in case you didn't know lots of homeless people hang out at downtown libraries. Ministry opportunity? Anywho, we had a fantastically fulfilling weekend. This next Sunday Joe will head off to Washington D.C. for work until the end of February. He will come home one weekend, and yesterday we booked my flight to visit him. I am so excited!

First Impressions

1. People in our neighborhood are actually quite friendly! Most of the people we encountered on Saturday while moving in introduced themselves etc.

2. One turn and you are in a baaaad part of town. Oh man, Joe and I were trying to find an HEB to shop at Sunday afternoon and we found our selves at an HEB with FOUR stray dogs near the entrance of the store. Not to mention the several we saw on the street.

3. Good restaurants are here, but not so easy to find. (This does not include the two that are next door and across the street). I have been researching a 'nice' restaurant for us to go to on Saturday night, but can't find much info... any suggestions?

4. Concrete = Cold! I am cold all the time. All the time. Thank goodness my aunt gave me very cozy and warm slippers for Christmas.

5. Cats don't like small litter boxes. I don't know why, but every time we walk near Bella's litter box she meows like crazy. I don't think she likes it, but praise the Lord she is using it.

6. No couch = sore bottoms. 'Nough said.

7. Good churches are here, but I have no idea where to begin.

8. Every oven is different... I have learned this before.

9. My directional instincts are correct, (confusing to others, but it makes sense in my mind). I.E. I missed a big step when driving home from HEB yesterday, BUT I made it home with no help. Thanks and Gig' Em.

10. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

Absence

I really, I mean really, miss my husband.

T-minus 3 Days

That's how long till moving day. Which means: I'm not eating much, I'm about ready to rip my hair out, even more ready to rip my loved one's hair out, and my mind is racing and my speech is anything by clear. This is our third move in a little over a year, so I consider myself an expert... not a pro, but at least an expert. Joe began work this week, but the apartment isn't ready till Saturday. So I'm hanging in Houston till this weekend... it can't come soon enough. Today I'm doing the last minute shopping trip... hopefully I'll remember everything. I guess we'll find out on Saturday.

Nearly There!

Happy New Year, again. 2011 thus far has become surprisingly eventful with the quick decline of my grandmother's heath and getting ready for our move to San Antonio in about a week. I am so ready to be in San Antonio and be settled in. Don't get me wrong, I have loved our time in Houston; however, I am beyond ready to be back in our normal routine. The picture above is a part of our new apartment building. I can't wait!!

One

Today is our one year anniversary. I can't believe it!! Time has flown by. God has taught me so much through my marriage to Joe. The transformation that has occurred in my heart is only by his power. When I look back to that cold day last January I am of course flooded with various different emotions. I truly wouldn't change a thing. After the wedding everyone had different comments etc. All of them good, but the one that that has stuck closest to my heart is: "it was the most Christ filled, God glorifying wedding I have ever been to...". Praise the Lord. That is all we wanted, for the Lord to be exalted. These are just a few of my (not so typical) favorite pictures:

Our first year of marriage has been amazing. Really, I mean it. God has grown us so much, and we have just had so much fun. Naturally there have been a few rough times, but they were never without growth. When I think about it I am humbled by God's grace and blessings. This next year in our lives I know will hold just as much growth, blessings, and fun. Here's to 2011.