The only reason I am starting this blog post in May 2012 is because that is where I left off blogging seven months ago :)
May 2012- I just wrapped up middle school track and field season in Clay Center and was packed up ready to hit the road and enjoy my last "I'm not married yet, just going to enjoy living with my parents doing nothing" summer. I told Ben goodbye and planned on seeing him the following week when he would be able to visit family in Dodge City for the summer too. Before I went home I had told my brother, Caleb, I would help him with his Lady Panther little kids camp. This was also a great excuse for me to start my summer off spending a couple days in Wichita/Derby. I got to spend time with him and Kenzie, play basketball, and enjoy Quiktrip donuts (my all time favorite) every morning. The morning I was leaving, Clay Center emailed me my teaching contract. I signed it and planned on mailing it on my way out of town. Finally, something official for the following year! That final morning of camp, I went to QT for a donut run one last bittersweet time. As I am waiting in line to pay for my donut I get a phone call. It is the principal at Comanche Middle School in Dodge City (where I had interviewed over the phone a month before) informing me that he had another opening come up and there was also a few openings that Ben would be eligible to interview. There are no words for how I felt right then. Clay Center had been so good to me at this point and I was so excited to call it home and at the same time I knew in my heart if we didn't at least try to get these jobs we might always wonder if it would have been possible. I suddenly felt a huge rush of anxiety. I called Ben to inform him and could immediately tell the excitement in his voice. I, on the other hand, had very, very mixed feelings. Needless to say I skipped mailing my contract on the way out of town. The next couple weeks were a blur. Ben interviewed for a position at DCMS. I went to visit CMS. We weighed the pros and cons. Finally, we were both offered jobs and accepted. To most people it seemed so obvious. Why would you not want to take two jobs in Dodge City and be close to both of your families? Ultimately, that does win over everything. However, that doesn't mean there are no cons. First of all, I went to High School in Garden City. For those of you that don't know it is arguably the biggest rivalry in the state. My whole family is still in Garden City (other than my brother and his wife). While it is awesome to be so close to them I cannot describe the feelings I experienced those first couple of months. I spent my high school years rooting against Dodge City more than any other team. Then, all of a sudden I'm throwing away tshirt after tshirt my dad had given me over the years and replacing them with red and blue ones. I'm sitting across from my family instead of with them at the Hatchet game. A mix of these feelings and still adjusting to the catholic church was a little bit of an identity crisis for me. I went from a methodist buffalo to a catholic demon in a very short time. Some days I tried really hard to be positive and sometimes I pretty much just went to negative town and wished we were in Clay Center. My husband, on the other hand, was in his hometown, his home church and had the PE job he wanted. I have to admit, at times I found myself a little bitter towards him for it.
I spent time praying about my situation and hoping I would start to feel more "at home". When I do start to question myself I have to remember everything I do have and realize how grateful I should be for everything God has given me. Ultimately, Ben did not make me move here, he didn't make me become catholic, he didn't make me take the job I did. I had to realize that and put life in perspective. He also loves me and has put me in front of himself in so many other ways that may not be as obvious, but he does them for me. Dodge City, on the other hand, has been nothing but great to me. I love my job. I love my co-workers. I love my friends. I love my family here. So next week, while it will be weird for me once again to sit on the visitors side in GC I can't say I miss those ugly brown colors and I will be there, happy to be in red and blue. GO DEMONS.
Future Panther Camp May 2012
The day I went to visit CMS--also was Emy's one month birthday!
The Hatchet Game last year..Easton didn't know any better yet and sat with me. I doubt that will happen this year!
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