Now I can Relax...

This might be the first day I've been relaxed in quite some time. Today's agenda holds nothing but fun. How often does a girl get to say that?

The whole prospect of moving back to Tennessee to finish school has been a little bit stressful. Sure, I'm psyched about getting back in classes and moving toward my goal. However, it's rough to think about leaving Matt here in Florida when I go. We'll be fine, but it's still nerve wracking.

And then, on Thursday, I received word that the local high school has posted a position for a marketing teacher for this upcoming school year. It gave me a bit of pause in considering my plans to go back to school. However, after giving it quite a bit of thought and consulting with several people whose opinions we value, Matt and I have decided to proceed with the Tennessee move.

Even though this job at the high school is what I would eventually want, it seems like a better move to go ahead and secure my degree, because then there is no question about my qualifications. Plus, I think I would be nervous to get up and try to teach for the first time without having had that valuable experience of student teaching and being critiqued and provided with helpful feedback and suggestions. Plus, I know that it's easier now to obtain my master's degree with no children and no full-time job than it would be going to school at night after work each day.

This decision was easy in some ways but hard in others. My first reaction was, "I don't want to change my plans to return to school." My second reaction was, "But this seems like too much of a sign for me to pass it up." Upon reflection of both of these reactions, I discovered that the first resonated within me. I am more calm in contemplating my future with more education and experience behind me than I am in thinking I could have a teaching job within a month but feel uncertain as to how well I would perform. Anyway, we've decided: It's back to school with me, no matter what!

So, today is the relaxing day after agonizing decision-making. I'm enjoying a cup of coffee, and I intend to give myself a mini-pedicure here in a bit. A bit later, we're headed into Sarasota to pick up a baby gift for a friend, catch a movie, and spend a little time at our favorite beach, Siesta Key.