Everyday Happenings: Fall Semester

Things have been pretty busy around the house.

We work. We clean. We study. We plan. We pursue. We mostly communicate through text messages and sticky notes nowadays. We DVR our favorite shows and say things like, "We'll watch everything on Thursday," and then we fall in bed far too early on Thursday night. We're tired. We're overwhelmed. We're finding too few hours in the day. We're crabby. We're taking things out on each other. We're not sure that December will ever get here.

K is one semester away from student teaching, and has a full course load on his plate. Quitting his job at the beginning of the semester was, as it turned out, the right decision afterall. When he's not in class, he's typing a paper on the computer. When he's not doing that, he's reading his multiple textbooks, underlining and highlighting, constantly striving to do the best that he can.

I am one semester away from achieving a dream that I set for myself far too long ago. RN. Registered nurse. A title that becomes you, that defines you in a way. Nurse, that's what I am already with LPN. But, Registered Nurse, that's something completely different. When I'm not in class, I'm in the lab. Or, at a hospital. Or, in front of my computer typing a paper. And, on top of it all, I'm still working. I'm no where as busy as K, because I'm able to type in the blogosphere, but I'm plenty busy.

There will come a point in your life when you think everything is finished.....that is just the beginning.

That's one of K's mottos. And, it is so very true.

Here we are, at the end of a chapter in our life. About to tuck away this part of our education. Thinking that we've almost made it, that this struggle is almost over. To which, it has just started. Life doesn't get easier with education or with job success. Life will always be hard. Work will always pile up and those things that you don't expect to happen, will. You may even think, "Life is going to get easier because I've gotten so use to this kind of bullshit, that I'm tougher now, more resilient." But, it doesn't, because even though you do adapt and can handle more, Life knows what you can take, and gives it to you. That's harsh, I know. But, it's still worth it.

Because in the midst of the struggles, the homework, the nights where I go without seeing him, I have to focus on the good things.

Like Fall. And, a Fall garden.

Good-bye to the old pumpkin and zucchini vines that were tormented all summer long from one very greedy groundhog. They were removed, along with the dried-up remains of the flowers that I planted from Lowe's, which didn't get as much love as the tomatoes.

Speaking of the tomatoes, they're finally big and red. And, some of the best I've ever had. We finally got rid of the rodents that were eating the half-ripened fruits, and managed to find a couple that went perfectly paired with some basil, fresh mozzarella, and olive oil.

It was like Heaven, y'all.

And just check out our basil. It's going to be pesto soon.

So, I may not have perfection yet. I may not have a job that is stable or a fiancee who has free-time. We're making due, like we always do. I'm content with spending time with him on car rides home or forgoing my wonderful bed to wait for him to finish his paper and then cramming in his bed with a almost-fully-grown-lab. Life is hard, but it's still pretty good. Blah. I know that sounds cheesy and rushed, but my computer is about to die. So be it.

I have faith that it will get better soon. Like this weekend when we will build a fire and look at the stars while drinking wine. Or a week from now when we will do something I've wanted to do for a very long time. What is it? Stay tuned.