The Ring

First off, let me say that I am aware that my blog's header may not be showing, and that you might be seeing an ad in its place. I have reached out the the blog designer and asked for some help with that, but am waiting to hear back from her. One way or another, I will get that resolved.

So yesterday, my youngest niece got engaged. She is the happiest I have ever known her to be. Her fiancé just brings out the best in her, and I think they are going to be really happily married. Yea! Marriage can be so good! I highly recommend it. She received the prettiest engagement ring from her young man, and she was just giddy about it. 

After I had been a widow for two or three years, I stopped wearing my engagement ring and I moved my wedding band over to my right hand. I was open to a new relationship (still am), and I didn't want to appear unavailable. That was really the only reason I removed them - because of what others might think.

I still wear my rings together on my left hand whenever we travel because I feel like it sends a message that there's a husband and father around somewhere, and he could be nearby. But when I get home, within a day or two I reluctantly remove my engagement ring and put it away. I don't like doing so, but I feel some sort of imaginary pressure to do so.

But last night, watching my niece revel in the newness of her engagement ring (and preparing to marry the love of her life, of course!), made me want to wear my ring again. So today I got it out and put it on my left hand, and moved my wedding band over to my left hand, too. It makes me very happy to wear my rings together. When I was married, I called my engagement ring "Shiny Goodness" and it really is. I may not have the biggest diamond, but all the pave diamonds around it really make it shine.

I think I'm going to keep wearing it, too. It's the nicest piece of jewelry I've ever had, it's incredibly meaningful, and I just can't think of a good reason not to do so.

Why I Don't Want to Go to Church

I love Jesus.

I love God's word.

I love worship music.

I love expositional Bible teaching.

But I don't love going to church.

This is not an easy post to write because... Well, it's just not. I don't enjoy criticizing the church and God's people. But this is something that I feel strongly about.

Three years ago, I decided to move us from our mega church to a smaller church closer to home. My intention was that Michaela and I would have a more intimate church home in which we could make good friends. The church I chose for us was so much of what I was looking for - wonderful worship music, great preaching with an emphasis on expository teaching (chapter by chapter and verse by verse teaching as opposed to topical teaching), and small enough for us to not get lost in the crowd. I can't speak highly enough of the pastoral and non-pastoral staff, and the great programs they have for kids. It also has an awesome K-8 school that Michaela now attends. 

After about six months of attending, I signed Michaela up for Vacation Bible School and I volunteered to help out. I thought that experience would help us make some new friends. However, it was almost a year later when we finally made any friends from church.

While that friendship was flourishing, I was still keenly aware that the other acquaintances we had at church were not developing into anything more. I attended a couple of women's Bible studies, continued to volunteer in Sunday School classes once a month or more, but gained no friends. People would say hello in service, or while passing in the halls (sometimes), but that was it.

Now, I have to admit that I am an introvert. I'm not painfully shy by any means, but I am reserved. Nevertheless, at church I would go out of my way to talk to others. Some people returned the friendliness, but many were aloof. If I have to generalize about who was typically friendly, I would have to say that the older people are. While the people closer in age to me were the ones that are aloof.

I do realize that it could just be me.

Maybe I am socially awkward.

Maybe I say or do things that prevent acquaintances from becoming friends.

That is possible.

But while that may be part of the equation, I think there could be more to it than that.

Maybe people are uncomfortable with me because I'm widowed. 

Maybe they would prefer to socialize with families that have a wife and a husband.

Maybe they are comfortable with the group of friends they already have, and they aren't looking to have anymore friends.

Those are my impressions.

I have noticed that we have fewer and fewer visitors each week and that there are more empty seats than I remember when we first began attending. Maybe my perception is wrong, but I think that other people may be feeling like I am.

So for now, I don't want to go to church.

And that makes me sad.

I know that God has told us believers that he wants us gathering together (Hebrews 10:25). That when we come together, we can be an extended family, and a source of encouragement and help to one another. The Bible says we are the body of Christ. That means so much, but one of the things it means is unity. Being together is part of being in unity.

I am praying that if we do move to Idaho that we will be planted in a church with solid Bible teaching, wonderful worship music, great kids programs, and friendly people. Because widows (and kids without both parents) need good friends to do life with - friends that share our values and beliefs. Friends who like to have fun. Friends who can forgive us when we are not at our best. Friends who can point us back to Jesus when we get off track.

Right?

The Big Plan

I didn't think I'd be able to share this plan of mine so soon, but after a couple of conversations this past week I am free to do so.

We are moving, Lord willing.

Emphasis on "Lord willing".

I completely submit myself to His will for our lives. If He wants us in Idaho this year, then He will provide a way for us. Many prayers have been prayed and will be prayed regarding this big plan.

I have thought about leaving California a few times over the last twenty years. I'd travel to other areas in the country and be charmed by them. I'd see that California did not have a corner on the market of living well. However, family ties, my job, and other extenuating circumstances always have made it easier to stay than to go.

It would, in some ways, still be easier to stay than go. But I am convicted that we need to go.

About eighteen months ago, a plan to leave began formulating in my mind. I first considered Colorado. I have a first cousin who moved there, and my aunt and uncle have spent a lot of time there with them. But the more I researched, I was drawn to Idaho instead.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/courthouselover/7638047728

I had traveled with my family to Idaho as a young girl on our way to Montana, and again as a teenager on our way to Montana. It was a stop along the way. I did not remember much of it to be honest.

Today Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation. Even so, the entire population of the state is less than 2 million people. If I did the math right, that's like five percent of the population of California.

So Michaela and I visited Boise, Idaho during Spring Break last year, and our visit confirmed what my research had led me to believe. Boise will be a good fit for us.

Photo credit: http://boisestatepublicradio.org

In Boise, we will enjoy a much lower cost of living, less congestion and traffic, be able to afford a larger home, get out into natural areas for recreation more easily and in less time, have access to cultural and educational enrichment, enjoy four seasons, and live under less government regulation and ridiculousness, not to mention less crime.

We have friends there. We know of more friends, neighbors, and extended family members who are moving there in the near future. We won't be alone entirely.

Michaela will be able to attend a great Christian school in Boise all the way through high school. Our friends' daughters have attended this school, and our friend Stacy worked at the school for many years.

So I am in the process of putting together my application for a Interim Idaho Teaching Credential. I had to disclose my plans to my school district's assistant superintendent of Human Resources because I needed his department's help to complete the required paperwork. He was very understanding and supportive. I also had the conversation with my principal, and received the same support and understanding. I think a lot of people "get it".

My plans are entirely dependent on getting a teaching job in the Boise area. So that is my focus now. There are two very large school districts in the Treasure Valley that combined serve over 60,000 students. I have read that each year another 1000 students enroll in these districts, so it seems as though there will be job opportunities.

I am very excited to blog about our quest to relocate to the Gem State!

Au Revior 2017

Tonight we say good-bye to 2017 and all the good and not-so good it held.

Overall, it was a good year.

I am very happy teaching middle school. It is a pleasure to work at a well-run school, for administrators that have it together, with colleagues who are supportive and professional, and with students who enter my room eager to give it a go each and every day.

After a short foray into the world of MLM selling leggings, I decided that was definitely NOT for me. I have returned to my first love - selling thrifted high-end clothing on eBay. One of my favorite sounds is the cha-ching my phone makes when I make a sale, and I absolutely love thrifting.

Michaela made the transition from kinder to first grade, and from one private Christian school to another, easily. She is a super student and reads several grade levels above her own grade level. I am so blessed to have a bright and happy child!

We took our first big trip just the two of us successfully. We loved Idaho, and we hope to spend more time there in the near future.

We got a new dog! Friends from church have the sweetest Golden Retriever, and he was the inspiration for a new buddy of our own. Maui joined the family in June. He is handsome, smart, and has a nice bark when he senses somebody near our home - I really like that. We hope to make him a therapy dog one day. He would be a blessing to those convalescing or stressed out.

We took an amazing cruise from Montreal, Canada to Boston with my parents in July. I love cruising, and I loved all of the ports we spent time in. It was a great way to celebrate my mother's seventieth birthday, and my fiftieth - yes, I just turned fifty. How did that even happen?

We took another trip to visit friends in Michigan - friends we had never actually met in person! The Matts Fam were just as lovely in person as they have been online for many years, and we loved our time with them. Michigan is a beautiful state, and we enjoyed every minute there. They were such generous hosts.

Did I mention that I turned fifty? I think I did. Well, some might cringe at that, but I realize that it's a privilege to grow older. My Michael did not have that privilege. So, I do not worry about growing older. I have a little one to raise, and I hope I will always be here for her!

Lest you think my life is all rainbows and unicorns, I must say it is not. There are uncertainties. There are strained and estranged relationships. There are personal failures (mine!). There are challenges, disappointments, and loneliness. Nevertheless, God is good all the time.

As we move forward into 2018 I look forward to what it has to offer. And I trust that the Lord will guide our steps, meet our needs, and bless us.

Happy New Year!

Till the season comes round again...

It has been so long since I've visited my little blog. I doubt anyone is still checking in and looking for updated posts, but I've been thinking about writing.

What have we been up to? Well, life has been busy - more so after M entered kindergarten last year for some reason. If you have school-age children, I'm sure you understand. We get up, get ready for our day, leave the house early (too early!), spend our days on our respective campuses, reunite in the late afternoon, do homework, eat dinner, relax a bit, and climb into bed. Our days are usually very good, but they just fly by. Michaela loves school, and so do I. It's all good!

It has been a very full year in which we had several adventures, added a new family member (of the canine variety), reached various milestones, and have been mulling big plans for our future. We look forward to the New Year and what God has in store for us, and I look forward to sharing more here in the weeks and months to come.

Merry Christmas!

What's Up Wednesday

It's a good thing having a blog isn't like having a pet - or a houseplant. If it were, this thing would be dead from neglect. It's just hard to squeeze in an unbroken thought (or written sentence) around here. As I type this, Michaela is in the tub asking me what I would do in case of a "fire drill" in the house. She wants to know that if she were asleep, in the tub, or playing with her toys if I would get her. And if the fire burned up her toys would she get new ones...

Anyway, here's my attempt at blogging this month week.

Making: One pot meals on Sunday, and enjoying the leftovers again at least once during the work week. I have a love/hate relationship with cooking. If I can make something that makes leftovers so I don't have to cook again another night, that makes me happy. Here's a recipe for Skinny Turkey Taco Soup that Michaela and I really like, and it's super easy. I totally blew it this past Sunday and could not come up with anything that sounded good to me. We ended up going out...

Drinking: When I was doing the Arbonne 28-Day Detox, I fell in love with their pomegranate fizz drink mix. Not only does it taste great, but it has a little green tea extract (or something...) that gives me a boost in the afternoon. Sadly, I am out of that and nothing else I've tried compares. I might have to splurge and buy another box of it. On a side note, I've lost ten pounds since I did the detox. Yea, me! A protein shake in the morning, and a salad with chicken for lunch is my trick.

Reading: Named of the Dragon, by Susanna Kearsley. It's kind of slow, but kind of good. It's sort of a historical mystery. Not like anything else I've read recently. I'm reading it on my newish Kindle. I resisted the whole reader thing for a while, but I have to say that I like it.

Wanting: I've been wanting a new sofa for several years. The one I have is more than ten years old. It's threadbare, stained (potty training...), torn (cat prior to his, um, procedure), and all around awful. I've covered it with one of those Sure Fit slipcovers, but that is not all that great. That kind of slipcover gets messed up the first time you sit down on it. The cat put a hole in that, too. So I broke down and ordered a new sofa the other day from Pottery Barn. They were having a 20% off sale! Then I went back on Tuesday and ordered a new armchair (still 20% off!) They won't be here until sometime in December, so I'll be wanting them for a while longer.

Listening: I try to start my first period class with a happy song every day. It's good for me and good for them. Last year's class liked to dance to the happy song, but this year's class isn't ready to do that. 

Playing: Now that school is back in session, we haven't had too much time for games. However, we did play lots of "No Stress Chess" over the summer. It's a great way to learn how to play chess. I did not know how to play chess before we started playing this. I still don't really know how to play chess, but I do know how the pieces move. Ha!

Wishing: I'm wishing for rain. It's been too long since it's rained. We've had some cloudy skies and light sprinkles the past couple of days, but I haven't seen a real shower.

Using: I got a super cute teacher plan book from May Designs this year. That's not an affiliate link. I just think their planners are pretty. 

Loving: I'm loving the idea of fall. We have had cooler weather than usual for September, but it looks like it will be warming up this coming week. Did I mention that I'd like it to rain? To kick off fall, I picked up some inexpensive decor from Home Goods and Goodwill. I focused on pops of yellow, red, and white - yellow accent pillows for my ugly sofa, artificial apples in a green ceramic basket, and a couple of owls. I love pumpkins, but they can wait until next month.

Watching: I'm not watching anything. The second season of Outlander concluded in July, and I'm not expecting it to return until spring 2017. Maybe I'll break down and watch the debate on Monday night. I'll have to pour myself a generous glass of wine to endure it, though.

What's up with you?

Find & Flip - Summer Edition

I have to be more consistent with these kind of posts. I think the last one I did was during winter. Ebay has become such a big part of my life that I should post about it more often!

Anyway, I learned that most of July and the first part of August are super S L O W for the types of items I sell the most - clothing and shoes. It was depressing! But things have really picked up in the last ten days or so. I am averaging two sales a day, and while that doesn't seem like much, it actually makes for a really nice amount of sales by the end of the month. My average sales price per item is about $35.

Even though sales were down, I used the time to increase the number of listings in my store. I also focused on things I thought would do well in the fall, and things besides clothing and shoes.

Here are some of my best flips this month so far:

I found these NEW at the GW for just $6.99. All of my listings are Buy It Now, but I add Best Offer to my listings so that buyers can negotiate price with me. This buyer did not want to negotiate - she paid full price! If these shoes had been my size, I would have kept them. They are so cute!

This shirt was also new. It even had the original tags attached that said it retailed for $90 originally. I had a couple of lowball offers on it earlier in the summer, but I didn't accept them. It sold for full price the other morning. I had paid just $4.99 for it at GW.

Like I said, because sales were slow, I ventured out of my comfort zone. I found this at GW in great condition (just a couple of tiny chips) for $5.99. It sold overnight for full asking price.

I found this on a shelf in the GW. I didn't know it was Coach until I picked it up and opened it. The Coach emblem was on the inside of the billfold. I paid 99 cents for it. It sold in a couple of weeks for a Best Offer of $35.

All great finds and flips! However, the absolute best find happened last night when Michaela (after a summer of looking!) found an American Girl Doll. She was/is so excited about her find - Molly a retired doll. I will not be flipping Molly and that's okay!

Dance, and Other Extracurricular Activities

Our city has an award-winning parks and recreation department. Prior to having children I took an art class (with a teacher who didn't appreciate my lack of artistic ability experience), and a dog-training class. I was in way over my head with that one. I had two, large, kind of dumb/but sweet dogs at that point. They didn't make me look good. I'll just leave it at that.

Anyway, last summer we started to take advantage of the classes offered for the youngsters. Michaela tried art, dance, and ice skating then. She wasn't crazy about the art teacher, but she really enjoyed the dance and ice skating classes. This summer we tried to get into a cooking class, but it booked up fast; and we successfully signed up for a ballet class.

I told Michaela that she could take the same dance class with the same teacher as last year, or we could try a new teacher with a slightly different syllabus. Last year's teacher was very experienced and she had those little ones all ready for a little recital by the last week. But I figured she'd be doing the very same class again this year. Instead we decided on a class that incorporates pretend play and ballet moves. Michaela loves it! Last week the ballet dancers reenacted "Cinderella". So cute! I posted the above photo to Instagram and gave it the hashtag "ballet class" and we actually got a like and a comment from Andreas Kaas who is a soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet!

As fall approaches, I am trying to figure out which extracurricular activities to choose, but I do not want to over-schedule Michaela (or me!). She is already committed to attending the children's program at our church on Wednesday nights. She did this last year and had a great time, and I like the hour or so of free time it gives me.

We are considering another round of ice skating, soccer (with a new friend), or more ballet. So many fun things to do, but so little time. 

How many extracurricular activities does your little one participate in?

Week In Review

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook earlier this week:

Right?! Whether you're working this summer, or not, summer is slipping away. I'll report back to work in three and a half weeks, and school will start for Michaela the week after that. Where does the time go?

I had so many projects I wanted to get done this summer; but at the beginning of the week, I had not done any of them. The weather was really hot when we returned from our vacation, so that was a deterrent. Thankfully, this last week has been much cooler. So Monday morning I took on the task of cleaning out and organizing the laundry room portion of my garage. This is not only where I do the laundry, but it's also where I store my ebay inventory and shipping supplies. Things were all over the place before, but now they are neatly stored. It also revealed to me that I'm approaching the maximum amount of inventory I can house -  between 250 and 300 items.

I did take some photos of my hard work, but I can't seem to locate them just now. You aren't missing out on much. Besides, even in its new, organized state, my laundry room is no beauty. At least it's more functional now.

I also spent lots of time sourcing this week for ebay. I anticipate that sales will be very good in the fall, and I want to have good inventory on hand and listed. June was a great month in sales, but July wasn't. August has started out well enough, but I don't know what to expect at this point. Hopefully people will start their fall wardrobe shopping soon.

On Monday I also started a detox/cleanse program with Arbonne and my friend, Kara. She has done this successfully earlier this year. In fact, she lost twenty pounds at that point. I'm not looking to lose twenty pounds, but I am interested in dropping some weight. The program doesn't allow me to eat sugar, dairy, gluten, corn, caffeine, etc., and I drink a couple of protein shakes each day. There are other supplements in the program. I had a dull caffeine headache the first four days, but I'm over that now. This is a 28-day program, and I'm pretty sure it's something I can stick with for the duration. I don't usually feel hungry, and there are lots of options for clean snacking and cooking.

I had my first day off this summer on Thursday this week. Michaela spent the night with my parents on Wednesday night, and she spent the following day with them. They were going to take her to the county fair, but she chose to stay home and swim instead. She loves the water.

Yesterday, we went to the movies to see "Nine Lives". It reminded me of "Freaky Friday" (the original one!). Overall, it was a cute movie. I will have to say that I did not appreciate some of the language in it. Obviously, it's a movie for children, so why foul language has to be used is beyond me. This is why we go to the movies infrequently! I take Proverbs 4:23 seriously: 

And I've learned that exposure to a lot of pop culture (movies, television, music) is not the best source of healthy examples for Michaela and me. In the end, the main character learned a good lesson about life and the importance of family. So it was funny and it did have a positive message.

Have a blessed weekend!

Oops! I did it again...

I let a month go by without blogging at all. Sheesh!

Summer is racing by. The first two weeks after school got out were all about preparing for our trip to Mammoth Lakes. While my parents have vacationed there multiple times, it was my first time to the area. I was really impressed by how beautiful it is there, and how much there is to do.

Off the 395 on our way to Mammoth - the backside of the Sierra Nevada.

My parents LOVE the Sierras!

Lunch in Lone Pine.

My dad rented a pontoon boat on Lake Mary twice and we attempted to catch some trout. I think we do everything right, but we had no luck - this is somewhat of a family tradition. Even so, I really enjoyed our time out on the lake and could have spent more time fishing.

Lake Mary from the shore. We tried fishing from the shore the first day.

Michaela was so excited to use her FROZEN fishing pole that Papa gave her!

One of my students who spends lots of time in Mammoth had recommended several things to do while we were there. On her recommendation, we took the tram up to the top of the mountain and had a really good lunch there. The views were amazing!

Just enough "snow" left for a little fun.

Another of her recommendations was a horseback ride. Unfortunately, Michaela was too young for a group ride - so, we couldn't ride together. However, the stables offered a ride for little ones where the parent leads the horse on a wooded path for about 20 minutes. Michaela's horse, Pablo, was gentle enough but he was also a bit stubborn. I had no luck getting him to walk with me, so I handed the reigns over to my dad who also had limited luck. Thankfully, the cowboy wasn't too far away and he got Pablo going for us. Michaela didn't mind the extra minutes spent in the saddle.

Our condo faced a picturesque meadow, and I enjoyed the view early each morning. Even without Koa waking me, I was still the first one up. In the evenings, my mom and I took our chairs and a glass of wine out on the lawn in front of the condo and enjoyed the sites and sounds of the meadow. One evening we were even treated to a visit from a deer in the meadow.

My view each morning.

Best buddies! Michaela really enjoys palling around with Papa.

It was windy and cool our first day there when we explored the meadow - had to bundle up a bit.

We spent a lot of time in the Sierras camping when I was a kid. One of my favorite day trips was going to the Bodie ghost town back then, and I wanted Michaela to see it. Thankfully, the road is now paved for a much greater distance than it was back in the 1980s! We only had three miles of dirt road to traverse this time. Not surprisingly, nothing had changed in Bodie. Ha!

After a couple of hours in Bodie, we continued north to Bridgeport. We used to camp outside of Bridgeport, but I hadn't seen it in 25 years. Dad loves to get a Jolly Cone in town there, and we had a late lunch there, too. It's a real small town and charming.

Jolly Cone!

We stayed for ten days, but I could have stayed longer. I absolutely love getting away from the hordes of people and traffic here at home, and having the natural beauty outside our door. It's good for the soul.

Hello There, Dear Reader

Okay, so it's been a while since I posted. A looooong while!

Today was my first day of summer vacation, and I'm looking at 77 76 days off. School got out so late this year that it almost felt like it would never end. It was one of my best years ever, but even good things must end.

As for the blog, I just didn't have enough time to collect my thoughts in the last couple of months for a post. Life has been so busy and, quite honestly, kind of out of balance. But, I'm taking steps to get things back in balance. It seems like almost every endeavor of mine ends up with me in a leadership role. However, as the leader of this little family, I need to remember that being an only parent and breadwinner is enough responsibility on my shoulders. So, I relinquished one responsibility for the coming school year that didn't have an entirely positive impact on our family life. Hopefully, with that off of my plate, I can be a more focused parent and take better care of myself physically. 

Our plans for the summer include a trip to the Sierras with my parents, ballet and ukelele lessons for Michaela, working out and dropping a few pounds, lots of afternoons swimming in Grammy and Papa's pool, a few projects around the house (especially organizing - I looove organizing!), and ramping up my little ebay business for a successful fall. By the time I return to school in September, I hope to be satisfied with how we spent our time and refreshed for another great year in the classroom!

I also hope to blog our summer adventures. So check back soon!

P.S. Can you see my blog's header? I can't...

Mrs. Then - Mrs. Now

I think I have written about this before. If I haven't written about it before, then I guess I'm just recalling when something similar happened in the past. I didn't like it then about two years out, and I don't like it now six years out.

So consider this a public service announcement.

Please don't call me "Ms. Labrador."

Ever.

I am Mrs. Labrador to those who don't call me by my first name.

Thank you.

Losing my husband...

Becoming a widow...

Did not make me "Ms. Labrador."

I don't know "Ms. Labrador."

According to Emily Post, you should refer to a widowed woman as "Mrs." if you don't know the widow's preference. The default is "Mrs." Easy peasy!

I have had multiple professional correspondences with another Mrs. this year, and despite the fact that I always sign my correspondence with "Mrs. Labrador" this person continues to address me in written form as "Ms. Labrador". However, she has referred to another colleague (whose husband is alive) as Mrs. So-and-So. She's making a judgement call based on whose husband is here and whose husband is not.

I lost a lot when I lost Michael, but I didn't lose my "Mrs.". Widowhood painfully redefined who I am in many ways, but my "Mrs." is not something that has changed.

Update: Speaking up was a good thing. I don't think I'll be addressed as "Ms. Labrador" again, and the other person was very apologetic and understanding. I should have said something sooner - I could have saved myself a lot of aggravation!

Find & Flip: January - February

As I stated in a recent post, January was pretty slow. There would be entire weeks where I wouldn't have a single sale. That didn't mean I wasn't working the business, though. I had heard that January was a great time to be thrifting because so many people had made donations at the end of the year. So I did a lot of sourcing in January.

One day my mother-in-law and brother-in-law took Michaela to Disneyland, and I had the entire day to myself. I spent $220 at the Goodwill and came home with 35 items. My cart was full. It was fun.

What's even more fun than thrifting for items for sale (which is fun!), is hearing my iPhone cha-ching when something sells. That's when my hard work literally pays off.

Here are some of my favorite finds and flips from January and February:

This was one of the items I purchased that day at the Goodwill. I don't usually buy jeans because they are $9.99 and it's hard to make a decent profit after that. But if they are new with tags, and a good brand, I will happily spend $9.99. These sold in less than two weeks. Cha-ching!

Anthropologie labels sell well. I paid $4.99 for this pretty top and it sold in just a few days.

Here's another item I found new with tags. Dresses at my Goodwill are usually $8.49 as was this one.

Such a pretty sweater. If it had been in my size, I might have kept it. Sweaters are $6.49 usually.

One thing I noticed about my February sales compared to the previous months was that the average sales price dropped. Previously, I had an average sales price of $36 per item. But in February my average sales price dropped to $30 per item. So sales were up, but people were spending less overall.

I have also learned to shop my own closet for inventory. There are things I am not wearing for whatever reason, and they are destined to be donated anyway. Why not make a few bucks instead?

This was something I purchased from Stitch Fix last year. It's cute, but I wasn't that excited about it anymore. I paid a lot more for it than I sold it for (there are no deals on Stitch Fix), but I recouped some of my investment - and it sold quickly.

I purchased this from ThredUp not that long ago. It's super cute, but I decided that it's a little "young" for me at this point. I'm sure I paid less for it than I sold it for.

March is off to a great start. I've found some great items and sales are good so far. I'm hoping for 40 sales this month. Come on eBay!

Six Years

Today marks the sixth anniversary of Michael's passing.

Last night we had dinner with Michael's parents and his aunt. It was good to be with some of the people who love him and miss him.

The night Michael went home, his mom and his aunt were here with us. They almost went home for dinner, but after attending mass in the neighborhood here, they came back first. Within a very short time of their arrival, Michael took his last breath on Earth and took his first glimpse of Eternity.

I say it every year, but it really is hard to believe that it's been six years already. It just goes to show you how brief life is, really. Time continues it's relentless march into the future no matter what happens in our lives. I am grateful that my future is in the hands of the One in whose presence Michael now lives.

Today is a day to take a break from the daily grind, and be with Michael's best gift to me - Michaela. We are enjoying the rainy weather and a quiet morning in our little home.

And for those who haven't seen this memorial video, here it is again. If you didn't know Michael, then you will see why he was so loved.





Updated to add my first "vlog":

Lately

February has come and gone, and I neglected to post anything here on the blog.

One of the things I like about February is that it has two long weekends thanks to the observances of Lincoln and Washington's birthdays. Every time I have a three-day weekend, I think that is the perfect schedule for me. Three days gives me enough time to get my household chores and related errands done, and still have time for rest, relaxation, and time with family or friends. Two days just isn't enough time.

I took Michaela to see a movie on that first long weekend. We saw Kung Fu Panda III. Neither of us had seen the other two Kung Fu Panda movies, so we didn't know the backstory at all. Nevertheless, we both liked it a lot. Michaela has only seen three movies in the theater, and she is still a little nervous about them. I'm not sure why as I've never exposed her to anything very scary, but she always anticipates that she will be scared. She hasn't gotten used to the fact that every movie (well, almost every movie) has a "bad guy". When the bad guy shows up, she gets nervous. I remember feeling that way when I was a kid, too.

Michaela took another session of hula during January and February. She really seems to enjoy that form of dance. I'll be signing her up for another session this spring, but she'll move up to the older kids' class. The little ones were super cute, but they were all over the place because their attention spans are so short. I think Michaela is ready for a slightly more focused group.

I spent a lot of my non-teaching time on my little eBay business. Sales were really slow in January, and I was slightly discouraged. But things picked up in February, and March is off to a great start. I will have my first debt paid off before summer, and I am more confident that I will be able to make Michaela's tuition payments. I intend to post my sales numbers and favorite sales in a coming post. In sharing, I hope to inspire others to consider something like what I'm doing to tackle debt, or have greater financial freedom.

(Some of my recent finds to flip on eBay!)

The weather in February was pretty amazing. El Nino has been slow in showing up here in Southern California. So we were treated to summer-like weather most of the month. I haven't run my furnace in weeks and weeks, and I've been sleeping with the window open a little bit and even the ceiling fan on some nights. It's crazy!

Professionally, I am having one of my best school years. Sixth grade is a great age to teach, and I love the way my new school is run. Every day it is a pleasure to be there. As part of my teachers association's executive board, I have been a part of a new collaborative effort for the district and the associations to work together in decision making. It's very refreshing and satisfying to be included in the process of rebuilding our beleaguered district.

So that's February in a nutshell. Here's hoping March brings El Nino rains and lots of eBay cha-chings!