Ohhh, Back to School!

Averey started first grade today. She was excited, but did comment that she'll be shy around her new teacher and new classmates. (For those who know her would probably find this to be a surprising statement. I know I did.) After all, she will be one of four kids in her class that were in the same Kindergarten class last year. I was quite surprised by that; there were only three Kindergarten classes with less than 20 kids per class. 

I know that some people tend to get emotional on the first day of their children going back to school, but that has not been me. Sure, I can remember Averey being a sweet baby and toddler, but my life was so different at that time, that to me, it does not seem like yesterday. It seems ages ago, unlike me being in first grade, which sometimes does feel like yesterday. I don't recall my first day, but I do remember Mrs. Sullivan's classroom, writing exercises, and my poodle-curly permed hair. (Gotta love 1985. Lucky for Averey she won't face that same fate of hideous hair.)

The anticipation and excitement of the new experience of first grade may be similar for us both, but a lot has changed in 27 years. Averey gets to use an iPad for some learning exercises; I don't think I saw a computer in my school until the end of 4th grade in 1989 (and I'm pretty sure it was wheeled around between the three 4th grade classes). There's a peanut-free table in the lunchroom to shield the allergic kids from kids like Averey, who lives on peanut butter and jelly; I never heard of a peanut allergy until much later in life. During reading time, our class was divided into three groups by how well you could read; now the lines are blurred, and there's ADD, ADHD, Autism and classroom assistants. And we now have to buy Averey school supplies including markers, Clorox wipes and tissues, while we received a box of (sometimes used) crayons on our first day of school and minty-smelling paste.

And yet, some things will never change. Averey carried her backpack on both shoulders as she hopped on the bus, dressed in a colorful new Gap dress and cardigan (okay, there was no Gap Kids at our mall, so I doubt I was as trendy), and she gushed about how awesome her first day was. The rules may have changed a bit, but the game is still the same. 

In the meantime, Kelsey's preschool teacher stopped by for an introductory visit today. She yammered away and was convinced that the teacher was taking her to school today. As she insisted, "Today is FALL!" This should be an interesting year for her too.

So here's to new adventures for our bubbly girls (and hopes that I can be a little more organized in the mornings as I soon head back to work)!

Five Years in Happy Valley

Saturday, August 18 marks the exact date and day that I relocated here to State College five years ago. To me, it is simply a God-story, because there is no other way that this would’ve worked out by my own plan.

Being here for five years marks the longest I’ve lived anywhere (other than growing up in Montoursville), and the longest I’ve stayed at any job. My life is (somewhat) normal now that I often forget the life I had prior to moving here.

Jake and I had our first “adult” date 364 days prior to that: August 19, 2006. Who knew what a whirlwind that year would be (and the next couple of years after that)? After our first date, I had a good feeling about us. Two weeks later, he came to visit me again in Harrisburg. I tripped over Averey’s baby gate, and since he still wanted to see me after that, I knew there was a future for us! It was in October that Averey and I made the venture to State College. I’d made several trips over the years to State College, some in pursuit of Jake, and others not. I always thought it was such a nice area, and when Jake and I dated briefly in 1998, I momentarily considered trying to find an internship in the area when I would finish college. (Just for a nanosecond, because that’s probably news to Jake!) As our adult relationship progressed and marriage seemed to be in our future, moving to State College seemed like a real possibility. I loved living in Harrisburg, had a decent job and great friends (and awesome shopping all around), but I was a divorced single mother renting an apartment. Jake was living under his parents’ roof, waiting to (hopefully) buy his grandparents’ house, and therefore had decided not to waste money on rent. Having worked at Penn State since age 18, he had more roots planted in State College than I had in Harrisburg. It only made sense for me to be the one to relocate.

I realized that while I could look for a job, a place to rent and a baby-sitter for Averey, it was going to take a lot for things to work out just right. Having a failed marriage under my belt brought me to the understanding that if my relationship with Jake was meant to work out, that I was ultimately going to have to trust God that the pieces would fall into place. I ignored red flags before; I made sure that I would be paying closer attention this time.

When Jake called me and told me his friends had been in the pharmacy at one of the local Geisinger clinics and saw a “help wanted” sign, I could scarcely believe it. I called the pharmacy, but the manager there directed me to call the other pharmacy across town since they would actually be the ones looking for help. There would even be an opportunity for me to mix chemotherapy. Mixing IVs is my absolute favorite aspect of being a pharmacy technician (if I could mix IVs and compound all day, I’d be a super happy camper). Knowing that I’d be back in retail, this was a bright light for me. It just so happened that I was the only person that applied for the job, so upon salary negotiation and taking an eensy-weensy manageable pay cut, I had landed a job. (And I was sure that would be the most difficult thing!)

Those same friends owned a house and rented out their basement as an apartment. Their current tenants would be leaving in July. I would be moving up in August. While it was a smaller space, it was enough for me and Averey. To sweeten the pot, I wouldn’t be surrounded by college kids, had no lease to sign and had super cheap rent (three things nearly impossible to find in State College).

I found Averey an in-home sitter through the local newspaper, and her rate was even less than what I paid in Harrisburg.

Huge answers to prayer, I say! (And no red flags.)

Leaving Harrisburg was bittersweet. One of my BFFs threw me a surprise going-away party with my co-workers. I felt very loved since so many of my co-workers showed up, they had done all of this behind my back (and I just thought I was being purposely ignored!), and the fact that my brother had come down to watch Averey was all part of the plan was just incredible to me. While some of that night is a… little foggy, shall we say, I at least have some fun photos! I remember bawling as Jake and I pulled out of the parking lot of the restaurant. (And he probably thought, she’s moving to State College for me?!)

The night before I left, I wanted to go out to Zembie’s, a little bar downtown, and sing karaoke one last time. A group of co-workers and Jake and I went to eat, and then we headed to Zembie’s. I sang my “signature” song, “Killing Me Softly” by the Fugees. (Jake heard me sing karaoke when we went on a cruise a couple months prior, but it was one of my worst karaoke appearances. I was a bit nervous to sing in front of him again. Not that it would've changed his mind about anything.) When I finished that song, I think he said that he would’ve thrown his underwear on the stage for me. Or some un-Jake-like comment like that. Two of my other karaoke-loving friends sang too, and it was a blast for my last night in the ‘burg. I kind of forgot about packing up the truck and moving to State College the next day.

Waking up the next morning with Jake and my parents in my apartment quickly reminded me that it was moving day. Some of my closest friends stopped by to help and say good-bye. I stared at my empty apartment. A little sad, but excited for new beginnings.

I got settled in my new apartment, started my new job, and life in State College was underway. When Jake proposed to me two months later, we were in the throes of wedding planning. Six months later, we were married, in our new home, and shortly thereafter, pregnant with Kelsey.

Life was so crazy that once Kelsey was born, I realized I didn’t really have any friends here. I missed my Harrisburg friends, and while people said that would come and visit, company was few and far between. Even with facebook connections, I still felt a bit lonely and somewhat forgotten. I knew my roots were being planted in this town, and with me being more extroverted than Jake (and I don’t think I’m much of an extrovert to begin with), I had to take steps to change that. We (finally) started attending church and we’d found somewhere to worship that felt at home. I attended some play groups before I went back to work after maternity leave and made some little connections and conversation. I joined a Bible study at church, I found MOPS, and we joined a small group Bible study in our church. All of these were answers to prayer, and friendships were (finally) formed.

Five years have passed. We’ve made his grandparents’ house our own (and that’s always a work in progress!), we’ve found new friendships and in the meantime had two more children. Life has actually turned out pretty much like I dreamed—the loving husband, the noisy kids, a home to call our own. We’ve planted our roots, which isn’t exactly commonplace in a transient town like State College. For awhile, I thought Selinsgrove would’ve been my home (even though it never truly felt like home to me), and then Harrisburg actually did feel like home. Although getting to this point was never the way I imagined, reaching this point has made me appreciate the journey that much more.