I went back today and read one of my very first posts, “A New Lease on Life”. So many things have changed in my life over the past month that I have allowed myself to become somewhat overwhelmed and even a little bit afraid. Let me explain…

Upon returning home from spring break in Destin, Florida, my fifteen year old daughter Haley announced that she wanted to move to Destin. It has been my secret desire to make the move, however I was committed to staying in the north Georgia mountains for two more years until she graduated high school. But now, my plans have changed.

As I write this post, I am in Destin, mentally digesting all that has happened in just one day. I began Friday morning with an interview for a teaching position at Choctawhatchee High School. It went very well and I am hopeful that I will be offered a position. From there, I picked up Haley and we visited the Niceville High School for a tour. This is the school Haley will be attending next school year. Her current high school enrolls about 750 students. Niceville enrolls almost 2,000! Haley was a little intimidated but I believe she is exited about the vast opportunities that this school offers. She is talking about joining soccer, tennis, softball and weightlifting.

Next stop was the bank. I opened accounts for all of us, now we just need some money! We also got a cashier’s check for a deposit on the townhouse we will be living in. Which was our next stop; our new home. We have rented a large three bedroom townhouse in a beautiful subdivision of Bluewater Bay.

One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is my new summer job as a Field Archaeologist. I will be digging holes in the woods of Eglin Airforce Base looking for artifacts and watching out for snakes! My glamorous ideas of archaeology have quickly been squelched by the reality of walking through the forest carrying a machete and going to the bathroom in the bushes!

Quoting my old post, “We must travel through life with open minds, soaking up all that is around us and allow ourselves to live the life that is before us with excitement and expectation.”

My daughter Haley is a sophomore in high school this year and has decided to play a sport for the first time. Her sport of choice is soccer. She signed up to play through our recreation department and found out in no time that she loved it. It came naturally to her and she has gotten good quite quickly. Her brother Mark also plays and the two of them practice together often.

Along with soccer comes the equipment…you know, the shin guards, soccer cleats ,special socks , soccer shorts and of course, they both needed  Under Armour clothing and accessories.   I have learned that there is  Under Armour ColdGear and heat gear and the kids insist that you have to have the right kind in order to enhance your soccer playing abilities.

We did get the necessities and yes, some of the Under Armour items they felt they needed most. All decked out in new accessories, they began their season with the rec department. Each practiced three days a week with a game every weekend. It was a lot of fun. I packed up my folding chair and sometimes a blanket and watched every game.

Both Mark and Haley have decided they are going to try out for the school’s soccer team. Conditioning and tryouts started this week and will last for about two weeks. Poor Haley came home last night after workouts and could hardly walk. The only thing she could say was, “Mom, it was miserable”. They ran, did lunges, sit-ups, wall sits and leg lifts to name a few. After dinner Haley took two Tylenol, took a bath and fell into bed.

This morning, as she hobbled down the stairs she said, “I can’t wait for workouts today!”  Oh to be young and resilient!