anticipation

Today is an exhausting day. I'm getting ready for our trip to California (we leave tomorrow), and there's way too much to do.

In my younger and naive-er days, I thought all a trip really meant was packing. Mom would be stressing out because of all the stuff there was to do, and I was like, "Really? All you need to do is throw some clothes and toiletries in a bag, grab some books, and we're good to go!"

Now that I'm old and wise, I know the truth. I've been insanely busy today and I haven't even started packing yet. I've been doing laundry, cleaning the apartment, baking bread so we can eat sandwiches in the car, writing up/sending minutes from our uber long chorale board meeting last night, loving up the poor, neglected kitty, taking care of applications/interviews, emailing people about vacation plans and directions, preparing for cat and plant care, emptying garbages, eating leftovers...

And I'm sure I'm forgetting something. We still need to go to the library and pick up books on CD, organize the music we want to take, pack the camping box, pack the bag of food and the cooler, pack our clothes, pack our electronics and accessories, purchase a travel mug so we actually have two (which means going to our neighborhood coffee shop...and what's the point of going unless we get coffee, too?)...

Plus, I'm somewhat anal about the state of the apartment. Who wants to come home from vacation already having laundry to do, pictures to download, and tents to air out and have to clean the bathrooms and vacuum? Maybe I should be less anal. Genetics is not in my favor on this one.

Regardless of the insane amount of work this vacation actually is, I'm so looking forward to it. Anticipation is such a wonderful thing. We've been planning this vacation for months and months. And finally I get to say, "Tomorrow at 2:30 we're leaving whether we're ready or not!" Plus, it's a road trip. None of that stress that comes with air travel. We can travel at our own pace (which in this case, means booking it to make it to Ripon by early Friday evening). I love love love road trips.

Things I'm looking forward to on this vacation:
1)Seeing Mom & Dad
2)Seeing Mom & Dad Van Dyken and all the siblings
3)Seeing other Ripon relatives/peoples
4)Lake Pinecrest
5)Yosemite
6)San Francisco
7)Hwy 101
8)Warm weather
9)Sunshine
10)Taking tons o' photos
11)Camping with the Havemans
12)Staying with Nick & Lari in Portland
13)Celebrating our first anniversary! (whether it's camping with extended family or taking off early to do our own thing)
14)Spending quality time with my husband

and there's lots more.

In employment news, I feel like I've taken some important steps. I'm not going to have daily employment this summer, but through the workings of friends and connections, I am tutoring two or maybe three students in math this summer. I'm really looking forward to working one-on-one with the kids, having a reason to get up on some mornings, making a little money, and staying in the field of education.

I'm also waiting to hear back from a small Christian school where I applied for a job. I was supposed to hear about having an interview today or tomorrow; no word yet. But I feel optimistic. I've met the principal and toured the school and I actually took initiative on this! I feel that the school and I are a good fit for each other, but right now the only choice I have is to trust God (and there are worse choices, right?)

Back to loving up the kitty. Happy summer!