Organized chaos.

If I could choose one phrase to currently describe my life, none would be more appropriate than "organized chaos". For example, my weeks break down as follows:

Mon/Wed: 5:30 wake up, leave house by 6:30, work at SHS 7am-3:30pm, go to soccer practice at BHS, home for dinner at 6pm, shower, work for a few more hours, then pass out around midnight.
Tues/Thurs (Gamedays): 5:30 wake up, leave house by 6:30, work at SHS 7am-5pm, meet Joe for dinner somewhere, arrive at soccer field by 6:15, game from 7:30-9:30, home by 10pm, shower, put in an hour or two of work, then pass out around midnight...
Fri: 5:30 wake up, leave house by 6:30, work at SHS 7am-3:30pm, go to soccer practice at BHS, home for dinner at 6pm, have a BEER or glass of wine w/ the hub, shower, and try to muster up enough energy for a little after dinner walk and stay awake through a movie rental.
Sat: "sleep in" (wake up around 7:30), grade papers, errands (grocery shopping, laundry, etc.), exercise, watch Beaver football game, more grading papers, and then attempt to have a social life at night
Sun: sleep in again, big breakfast, exercise, watch Seahawks game while trying to read ahead/plan lessons for the following week, and a little QT with Jonas and Jack because the next day it starts all over again...

Other examples of organized chaos:
-My 3rd and 6th period classes: they have a seating chart, a routine, and a lesson plan to follow, yet it still feels more like chaos and less like organized. I blame them. (haha, just joking, but seriously... )
-My soccer team: we may be 4-3, but sometimes when I look out there it looks like absolute madness
-My brain: not even gonna attempt to describe what's going on there...
-Our lives in general: just come take a look at our apartment and you'll know what I'm talking about

ANYWAY. There has been some breaks here and there. For example, we got to go to a Pearl Jam concert last week with some of our friends from the team (shout out to John and Dani!) That was super fun. We also have plans with our favorite fellow "Oregonians turned Washingtonians", John and Missi this Sunday for dinner. Looking forward to catching up and trying Tutta Bella :)

Well, should probably get going. Writing this post really set me off schedule for the rest of the day... I should be grading right now, not blogging. Here are a few pics (of course) and I'll be back to write more when the chaos subsides a little...

This is what I do on Saturday mornings: grade papers and drink coffee.

A little break from it all: Pearl Jam concert with some of our favorite Seattlites!

The Space Needle is super awesome looking at night... too bad I only had my crappy little point-and-shoot with me.

All week I look forward to our "after-dinner" walk on Friday night, which we did all summer long. The sunsets where we live are amazing. If you look closely you can see Seattle on the left and Bellevue on the right.

Same walk, different angle. These are the Olympics mountains, so pretty... I don't want summer/fall to ever end!

It's crazy...

how fast things can change. Two weeks ago, Joe was working like crazy and I had all of the time in the world to take care of our house, exercise, and basically do whatever I wanted. One week ago, Joe had gotten released from the active roster but we were waiting for the phone call to resign him to the practice squad. I was still working minimally (just coaching soccer) and training for my first half-marathon. Today, Joe is completely done with the Seahawks/NFL, HE has all of the time in the world to take care of our home/Jack, and gets to do whatever he wants, when he wants. I on the other hand, accepted a long-term sub job last week and am back teaching full-time at Sammamish High School again. In addition, I am still coaching soccer at Bellevue High School. I barely have enough time to think straight, but I am doing my best to support us financially while we are figuring out what to do with this new phase of our lives. We are both looking for full-time jobs in Oregon, so hopefully we will have direction in our lives soon. If you hear of any good jobs or know of any contacts who could hook us up please let us know! Here are some last pics of summer, and these might be the last for awhile. Blogging is probably gonna take a back seat to working 60-70 hours a week. It sucks, I know, but probably worse for me than you...

Oh how I am already missing these days...

Hiking with Ashley and Dani at Mt. Si

I'm on a boat! (Our friends boat, not ours obviously, on Lake Washington)

Love it.

Our friend, Logan, celebrating his first touchdown! (This was also Joe's last game as a Seahawk, sad)

My cousin Cathy and her new husband Aaron. I love how happy they look here, they are both AWESOME :)

After finishing my first half-marathon with Sarah and Dani. I will really miss these two whenever we move :(

I will also really miss all of my QT with Jack. He is my bestie, aside from Joe of course :)

More Jack play-time. Look at his eyes begging me to play fetch, how can I resist a face like that?

I will also really miss random long walks through the park with Joe and Jack. We had a lot of those last week. Hopefully it won't be long before I am working less and spending time with those I love more :)

Perspective.

"I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney/Dave Matthews is currently my theme song. The first time I heard it I immediately fell in love with it. Click here if you want to listen to it. It is a pretty powerful song, with a great message. Just trying to stay positive in a sh**ty situation.

I'm Alive

So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that
I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you've sat and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me... I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well
I'm alive and well

Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This motor's caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
Now I'm alive and well
Yeah I'm alive and well


***Thanks to everyone for all of your thoughts, prayers, and support. We feel blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives, and don't worry about us... we're alive and well :)

42 hours and counting...

until we find out what the future holds for us. Joe will find out on Saturday if he makes the team or is cut. It is the weirdest feeling in the world to not know what direction your life is going, and even weirder to not have ANY control over it whatsoever. I guess this kinda stuff is good for a Type A person like myself, right? I am forced to be flexible and just deal with whatever life throws our way. Either way, I know we'll be fine because we have each other and such awesome family/friends who will love and support us no matter if Joe is still with the Seahawks or unemployed come next week. Please keep your fingers crossed and pray for Joe to have a great game tonight, other than that it is out of our hands! Stay tuned...