A Peaceful Fall Weekend

Practice let out at 5:30 because the air was buzzing with music, BBQ, and moonbounces. It was football night in Culpeper. The Fan Fest slightly rivals UVA's.

I rolled into the Richardson Manor. And then, it happened...Christina rolled into the Richardson Manor. After hugs and shrills of excitement as if we were teenagers, it was game on! We were reunited.

The staples of Culpeper that mark any visit to Culpeper had to be crossed-off.

First stop, Pete's Pizza to eat with some family/teacher friends. Then, we headed over to the EVHS game. Worth was helping out. Daddy's the announcer. I was there with Christina, friends, and players. It totally brought me back to my childhood when Daddy was a coach. We didn't last long before one of my players won the 'Best Seats in the House' contest and called and asked if me and my friend would come sit with her. We were game. Seats with backs and cushions? Sure.

After the game, Christina and I took out an awesome 10th grader for dinner and girl chat. Her and Christina are twins. Both were/are managers. Both have similar personalities. Both are so kind-hearted and gentle.

Saturday beheld Chik-Fil-A, Target, downtown, Pepperberries, Better-than-Cheddar, Pancho's, baking, grading, hammock time, cookout, and game night. All staples of Culpeper.

hammock + movie + fall weather = I fall asleep

A year ago, we were going out on the Corner. Christina was getting puked on by a drunk college boy. Presently, we attended Game Night and had fun. I even baked something for it.

It used to take hours to prep for a night out, 15 mins now...

This weekend marked the importance of balance of friendships within life. Do jobs consume at times? Yes. Does life get really, really busy? Yes. Are there times when its hard to see past today? Yes. But, throughout it all. Who is always there? Family and friends. Friends help listen, acknowledge, identify, encourage, hold accountable, and share life.

I absolutely love Christina for these qualities: she embraces my family, she openly converses with people, she has an innate maternal instinct, she is raw and authentic with me, she is opposite of me in many ways (our baking/cooking tendencies/methods), she is my twin in many ways, she is passionate while having compassion, she is humble enough to reflect on weaknesses while pushing forward, she is stepping forward in life.

A year ago, 9/2009

This weekend was pivotal for us both. 2 weeks into the school year for her. 3.5 weeks for me. The newness is wearing off. The practicality of the challenge ahead is settling in. I am so blessed and happy to have friends who can share, vent, and identify with the ups and downs of an elementary classroom. As we all know, you must push on in perseverance.

Moral of the Story: While this quote is from Tony Dungy and relates to football...I find it applicable to friends and being teachers...

Hard work and togetherness. They go hand in hand. You need the hard work because it's such a tough atmosphere...to win week in and week out. You need togetherness because you don't always win, and you gotta hang through together.