For a "Carnival Post", this is less "posty" and more informational.

Last weekend was the last weekend before school starts for real. Life is going to be a little crazy.

I'm not quite sure you can call a blog a "ministry", but I want to be able to share, and my blog truly is a journal of what I'm learning and doing. I've been working on blog posts ahead of time, and "pre-posting" so that blogging doesn't get in the way of life and I'm going to be strict with myself about that. August was the first month ever that this blog had a post every single day! I don't know if I'll keep that up, but I'm going to try to be close. Between photo scavenger hunt (which I really enjoy!) and Wordless Wednesday, I'll have two days of photos! "In Other Words" and "Carnival" will keep me structured. That's four days right there! I'll have a lot of fodder for Thursday Thirteens - five days worth of posts! Together with one theological thought post and a book review (I have lots that I've read), I can be posting pretty regularly; and I may have to recruit some help! (another 😉
This could work! 😉 But the blog is not a "real" priority, it's an outlet.

My two biggest priorities are going to be "fitting in" at a new church and keeping my family on an even keel.

The biggest challenge is to keep my life in sync with my kids. This might be going out for dinner so that we sit and talk without distractions - this MUST be a priority! A dear friend told me, after talking about my classes, that I might end up having to repent to my children for this semester; scheduling "family time" is essential.

I've chosen a new church, but summer time is a difficult time to "get into" it; I purposely scheduled classes to leave Wednesday nights clear. I want to do a "women's study" and just "be". I've been a leader of various kinds of groups and right now, I just want to "be" and to seek God and to make friends. For right now, new friends at a new church seems like a good goal.

About my job: I really like my job, but this year is going to be "challenging". I'm with a different lead teacher and one who is very organized and regimented (that's not a put-down, it's probably exactly what I need!) The students are older and "quieter".

The new room is in a different part of the school, which means that I'll have more contact with a different set of staff - that will be very nice! This room is also already into its schedule; this is good thing.

Every classroom I work in gives me a different insight into the very special children I work with and I don't expect this year will be any different.

This is my "first job".

The second job is the two classes that I have opted to take.

The first is the required science class with a lab that I'm finally getting around to taking. Human anatomy and physiology. Four hours worth, with a two hour lab.

The second is Computer Graphics; Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS2.

The class schedule is something like:

Tuesday - -computer from 3:15 - 5:30 - -biology from 5:45 - 8:00

Thursday - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - biology from 5:45 - 8:00 - - - - -biology lab from 8:15- way too late.

Here's the important thing. I think it might be time to lower my standards. Up until now, I've been ready to go to the mat over the difference between an A and an A-. I'm determined to be happy with a B+ in both of these! (lol)

Things I'll miss

...my laptop. With this schedule, I'll miss having it to carry with me so that I can do homework on my lunch at work, and in the half hour between when my job ends and my school starts.

...The last time I had a Tues/Thurs class, my Wednesday nights were all messed up, since I had homework due from Tuesday. That messes up Bible study, but we'll see how it goes.

...Life. I think these will be two intensive classes.

Things I'll enjoy

...finally getting the lab out of the way

...really understanding Photoshop.

So, life is going to be challenging, interesting and educating! My kids and I have opted to not take a class together this semester; it was fun, but it just wasn't going to happen this semester.

So, work, work, work...as a school employee, it really is like going back to the "real world"