Ten. It's baaaack!

1. I can't believe I've missed the Tuesday Ten so many weeks in a row. It's generally my favorite post to do. But I think I've got my groove on now and we'll be good to go.
2. Of course, all week long, I'm thinking of things that will be great for the 'Ten' post, and then when it's time to post, I can't think of anything at all that's interesting. However, if you spend points 1 & 2 talking about the actual post, then there are are only 8 more things to think of. See? Genius.
3. I got the first of my shots for Africa last week. Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B and Yellow Fever. Ouch. I was pretty wiped out that day - tired and run down... but felt great the next day, so there were obviously no lasting effects. I was nervous, since the literature said one in four people getting the yellow fever shot came down with symptoms - fever, chills, aches... thank goodness I didn't experience that. I go in tomorrow for the second in the Hep series. I'm spending over $300 on shots... which seriously makes me feel like it's going to be impossible for us to ever be able to go as a family... the costs for EVERYTHING related to this trip are about twice what I was expecting. I really have to save my pennies for us to be able to go... and believe that God will provide...
4. Savannah is scheduled to get her braces put on in early November... we had her appointment where we talked through her treatment plan and made the payment schedule... I'm paying for her braces out of my class income - so when you add that to all the Africa related expenses, I'm really pinching my pennies. Ouch.
5. In the spirit of pinching pennies, I had my acrylic nails taken off last week. I've had them on since right before our cruise in May 2007... let's just say my nail beds are in pretty bad shape... and my fingers are back to their original Fred Flintstone stubby-ness. It makes me sad. But that extra $20 every couple weeks is better spent elsewhere, right? I really miss my nails, though. (I know, I'm whining.)
6. I'm still managing to get my laundry hung out on the line. We've had a bit of a resurgence of warm weather after a couple of really cool weeks... I'm so resistant to turning the dryer on after using the clothesline almost exclusively all summer. There's just something about being outside doing the laundry instead of in my dark and scary basement laundry room. Plus, the clothes smell so good. And it's better for the environment, you know. I love my clothesline.
7. We started a small group last Sunday for young couples... we've found lots of young married couples who struggle with finding a place to fit in after they get married, and sensed the need for a group... we had six couples show up. I think it's going to be a great chance for them to build community. I feel like group settings like that are not my forte, but am willing to let God use me in the lives of these women... we'll see how it goes.
8. Kyler got his cross country schedule yesterday... he's got meets every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks starting in a couple weeks. And of course, I've got classes every Tuesday and Thursday as well. My Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be just a little busy... but hey - we did it last year, and that was when I was dragging Tejan with his walker to every meet. It should be easy this year, right?
9. School seems to be going well for the kids. I felt like we got a slow start this year... I just wasn't quite ready to send them back, and there were a few bumps in the road in terms of class assignments and friends for Savannah, but I think we've found our groove. It's really hard for me to face the fact that they're all getting so old and this is the last year I'll have two at the elementary school. After this year, we'll be in high school, junior high and elementary... and I feel like things will change dramatically at that point. I sort of just want to keep them all where they are now and stop this crazy thing called time...
10. I can't remember if I mentioned that I reached my Weight Watchers goal a couple of weeks ago. But I did. Now I'm learning to maintain - figuring out how to continue to eat well and not lose more weight... and not gain it back. I'm really determined that this is it... I'm not going to do this again. So it really is going to be a lifestyle... it's hard sometimes, but it feels SO good to be at a healthy weight and be determined to stay there. I want to enter my 40's and beyond equipped to fight middle age spread... and I feel like I am now. Yay!

Happy Tuesday friends. Smooch you all!