The Hubbards are moving....again

I am going to be the new Social Studies teacher at Floyd County High School. Still in Virginia, I starting to doubt that we will ever leave this place. I think at some point on this blog I predicted us ending up in Floyd one day but I don't think either of us thought it would be so soon.


People have asked me if I ever really loved Roanoke and if I will miss it and the answer is "Nah." There were definitely perks of living within walking distance to most things. I very much enjoyed that. And I love our loft in Roanoke, I wish I could pick it up and take it with me because it is the perfect size for us right now. However, we paid a lot of money to be downtown for 2 people who come home and read every night. But, I certainly have been grateful for the people we have met in Roanoke.

We are currently trying to find a place to live in Floyd County. For those of you unfamiliar with Floyd County allow me to paint you a picture: farms, no cell service, one red light (in the county), two-lane roads. Needless to say we are having no luck online so we are going to have to go straight to the horses mouth i.e. stumbling around Floyd hoping someone will feel sorry for us and let us rent their barn or something.


I could not be more excited. As for now, Ike and I are spending the week in Pound and we are leaving the house-hunting to Drew. Just wanted to share the update. Get ready for me to be back to my old ways: taking pictures of birds and gardens. I think I'll revert back just fine.


P.S. when you live in the city you have to improvise for s'mores.

Weekend Roundup

We had a pretty perfect weekend. The weather was beautiful and we made the most of it, I think.

Friday we hit Grandin Village for the used book store: Too Many Books, pizza at Grace's and then coffee at CUPS. I love that part of the city, even though Drew says it's too fancy for us to live there. 

Saturday we woke up early and met friends for a quick sip of coffee and then our little family headed to the AT. Drew had found a beautiful spot only about a mile and a half off the road. 

Also Saturday Drew felt the need to put his new to him tent on the roof, despite the wind. It was entertaining to say the least. 

Today we did tons of spring cleaning and then drove to Radford for lunch prepared by our dear friends and enjoyed catching up with them. 

This is Ike enjoying the ride to Goodwill this evening.

Hope your weekend was spectacular! 

Remember when...

I had a blog. Probably the only person that it has bothered not to read my every thought is my husband who often complains that he still checks my blog every day to find no new post. But not to worry I'm happy to fill him in in person. I've been a bit busy writing and kicking ass on a Master's thesis. I will eventually post part of it here because I'm so dang proud of it but that's a ways off.


I'm in the home stretch of student teaching. One more week. I've got applications in all over Southwestern Virginia and maybe a random one in North Carolina and Colorado. Just for shits and giggles. Graduation is in 2 weeks and then you can officially call me Master Meghan. I get to be "hooded" and everything.

Other highlights of the last several months:
Drew got inked. It is lovely and if possible he is even sexier now than he was before. Next time you see him ask him the story behind it, it is even more lovely than the tattoo itself.

I'm on the 5th Harry Potter book in our book challenge. (Drew hasn't even finished the 3rd book I've suggested to him for the year).

Ike and Drew spent most of their time hiking and hanging out in the woods while I sat in front of a computer screen finishing papers, projects, lesson plans, job applications, e-mails, etc.

Our favorite niece turned 1.

All of our Blacksburg friends are either in the process of moving or expecting babies. Or both.

My brother can officially destroy beat me at 1 on 1 (it was a sad day, friends).

Someone in this house is writing a book but I'm not giving away any names.

We gave up sweets for lent, then foundered on Reese's eggs on Easter.

Drew's had a few guy trips and I had one lovely gal weekend getaway to the lake which was much needed (a return couple's trip has already been scheduled for summer).

One of my friends found man on Farmer's Only, I'm totes serious.

And I got a parking ticket and accidentally drank spoiled milk.

Those are the highlights. I will be back into the blogosphere soon, promise. I have lots of opinions to catch you up on. P.S. This is the view from our roof. Not too shabby.

Where do we go from here

Do you ever feel like all of your friends move? Hmm, maybe it's just us and maybe we just feel that way because they all really do. We were lucky enough to get to have dinner with our dear friends whom we hadn't seen in ages this weekend who are preparing to move to Washington. They were the second couple we met in Blacksburg with whom we became very close. The first couple we met now live in Arizona.

Today, we drove back to Blacksburg to spend the day with friends preparing to move to Pennsylvania in the next few months. And have I told you about our friends who blog here who are moving to Kenya in August?

After a while, it's hard not to take it personally. We know that Blacksburg is a transient area but we haven't really made many new friends yet in Roanoke. We still cling to those in Blacksburg because they're so close and because we know our time with them is limited.

In beginning the job application process for me, Drew and I again begin the discussion about where we would be comfortable moving. Do we stay in Virginia? Do we dare venture North or West? The only place we can even fathom south of here would be Asheville but are we ready to settle down yet?

All of these questions in the midst of student teaching, finishing up my research paper to present to a committee, and applying for jobs is draining me. I see the light at the end of the grad school tunnel but what comes after it? I'm really hoping it's a job but most people are quick to tell me that normally in education that isn't the case.

But I'm willing to move, does that count for anything? And Drew is willing to go with me which makes it even better, so where do I apply? I'm open to suggestions. Roanoke and the surrounding counties but I've spoken to them and few of them sounded as if they are expecting tons of openings for the fall.

 I've said it before and I'll say it again, being an adult kinda sucks. Your friends all leave and then you still don't have a job. It's a tough world out there kiddos. I totally understand living in your parents basement and avoiding the fray. It's much less messy.

Lest I sound too depressed there is good news to report: we will have a garden plot with the Roanoke community garden this spring and summer. I can't wait to get some veggies in the ground. Fresh veggies, hiking, and camping are just around the corner. Also who could be stressed with this cutie around?

 

Good Monday Morning

I have successfully completed my first week of student teaching and spent my first weekend getting absolutely no rest. No teaching to speak of yet, I'm still learning names and grading papers but I am so grateful for where I was placed and the students who are there. Never a dull moment.

Friday after school I went to my first job fair. I was so sick of hearing myself talk, which is saying something cause I'm usually pretty good at talking about myself. But enough was enough. Two and a half hours talking about where I'm willing to move, what my classroom management techniques are and what formative assessments mean to me. It was intense but I hope that I did some good.

I spent Saturday morning applying for jobs and still have a lot more applications to fill out this week. Let the fun begin. Yesterday I graded papers and did work for my Technology class. I don't feel very rested to start this rainy Monday morning.

We did take a little break to "hike" on Saturday. For those who don't know much about Roanoke the famous mountain is Mill Mountain which houses a zoo, parks, and the Roanoke star.

Obviously, I don't know much about Roanoke either because I thought you had to hike to the Roanoke star....Nope, ya just drive right to it. We had our hiking gear on and Ike with us thinking we were in for a hike. I really thought we were gonna have to earn our visit to the star. Drew found us a little footpath and we got on the greenway for a bit but I was disappointed.

However, it was nice to be able to drive to the other side of the city and be up in the mountains with this view.

Yesterday was dog park day for Ike which is usually a waste of time because Ike just lays at our feet instead of playing with the other dogs. He has attachment issues. So as per usual we took him out into the actual park surrounding the dog park where he ran and ran. He prefers to be in the woods....and alone. Kinda like his daddy.


Also I have great news to report, we have found PIZZA!!!! It's a little restaurant that we have eaten at numerous times that is in our block but we'd never had their pizza and we hit the jackpot. Thank you Lenore's for helping me love this city more each day.

Church Going

Drew and I have been in our new place for 2 months and I'm not proud to say we have visited exactly one church, one time since we've been here. I could give you the excuse that we were travelling which we totally were or that we haven't found a church with small groups which we really want, or that we are unsure which denomination we fall in anymore. But even though each of those are true it runs deeper for me.

I'm scared. We've been a part of 2 churches since we've been married and prior to that we had each been raised in one church (not the same one) our whole lives.

There is always, seemingly, a honeymoon phase when you start going to a church.The phase where you love the people, the message, the music, the mission, the love, the outreach. So you get more involved. Then the more involved you get the more you are reminded that churches are run by people. And people are flawed.

You still love the people and the message but gossip creeps in. People start to gripe about who does what, who doesn't, what's most important, and then there's the ever-existing "in crowd" at your church.  Policy gets put before people and mission. The church feels like they have to take a hard, strong stance on tough issues, a stance you aren't comfortable signing your name to.

I guess the honest truth is that I'm afraid of falling into that again. It seems like it shouldn't be this way. Church shouldn't be a place where you so easily fall into gossip and pessimism. And it shouldn't separate you out by limiting your role because of your gender, sexuality, or previous church affiliations and practices.

I'm not yet one of the "unchurched" and I plan to keep looking but I may be a bit picky this time.

It's not about me. I know that. I realize I probably sound selfish, impossible to please, and like I'm totally missing the point of church. But I promise I'm not. I want a church that exalts Jesus, seeks justice, accepts everyone, will allow me a voice, and seeks to share the good news of the gospel. I know it exists. Now I just have to find it.

Washing Dishes

I found out where the Roanoke Mission is yesterday. I've been meaning to get over there for a while now to learn about their volunteer opportunities. But I didn't go in. I pulled up to the curb, my passenger got out, thanked me and in she went.

In an hour and a half we would be under a Wind Chill Warning. The wind right now will take your breath away and it did as I was trying to ask a lady on the street if she was keeping warm (stupid question, I just wanted her to say yes to make me feel less guilty). She wanted directions to a local home that houses homeless people. She handed me her printed directions and I did a crappy job of giving her what little knowledge I have of Roanoke city while Ike was about to break the leash bursting to pee.

Then as I let Ike relieve himself I watched her walk in the wrong direction. Half of me thought, oh you did what you could Meg. It's freaking cold out here and you've got laundry to do. Plus Drew took your car to work today. Never-ending excuses. But something bigger weighed on me.

I ran Ike back upstairs hunted for Drew's keys and headed to the parking garage. I drove around crying frantically, afraid I wouldn't find her. Despite my horrible directions, when I found her she was a block away from where she wanted to go.

I flagged her down and drover her the rest of the way. I went in with her to make sure there was room only to find they don't take "emergency cases." My new friend informed me the Mission wouldn't let people in for another couple of hours.

I offered to take her to lunch, to coffee, to drive her around. But she assured me she'd be fine in the cold until she could return to the Mission. Then I just said it I could hear voices of several sensible family members in my head warning me not to but I said "Why don't you come home with me until time for you to go back to the mission?"

She stepped over the piles of laundry I had separated in the hallway and sat on the couch. She accepted coffee and I heated up leftover pizza. She wanted to know if she could help me with the dishes before I drover her back to the mission. We watched "The Talk" and talked a bit. She ate one piece of candy and said I could drive her back.

I prayed a lot, despite the fact that before me was a harmless old lady who called me ma'am constantly. I had to believe Jesus placed her in my path for a reason. I had nothing to be afraid of.


Unlike others I have met since moving here, she seemed quite capable of independence. She is seeking a mentor. She wants to find an apartment. And our little visit today did little in the way of helping her long term. I need to become more informed about people's options and how they can get help. I need to know where to send people when they express a need because today I was of little help to her. Prayers appreciated as I figure things out here.

The Haps

We finally got some things up on the walls at the new place. The fact that we have less space called for some creativity. I still had lots of things I wanted to use but with less space we created a wonky collage of all my favorite things above my desk. It's even better than I thought, it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Last night was the season 6 finale of Sons of Anarchy. I haven't cried that much in a long time. I couldn't sleep last night and I did not know I could get so attached to people who aren't real. How does Kurt Sutter do it? My stomach is still sick about the outcome today. I was way too attached to Jax and Tara's relationship. My heart is broken and Charlie Hunnam is to blame, he was pitiful last night. And I hate Gemma and Juice. Done with both of them. And I already miss Roosevelt.


I've had more free time this week which means I can enjoy cooking without all the pressures. I'm not getting carried away but last nights meal was the best we've had in weeks (Roanoke's cuisine leaves something to be desired, or we haven't found the good places yet).

Other notable occurrences:

• Drew peed in a parking garage
• Ike's learned to poop on the sidewalk
• I got my student teaching placement!
• I bought Drew a Christmas present for the first time in our married lives.
• Giving Ike a bath in a shower stall could qualify as an Olympic event. I would not medal.
• I'm wearing a Grinch T-shirt to my final today.
• And I'm ready for a weekend away! Here's hoping for snow in the North Carolina mountains.

What happens next?

We are under a winter storm warning. We've been getting freezing rain and ice on and off since about 4:00 a.m. today and it will continue until late tomorrow morning. We visited our first church in Roanoke this morning in the snow. We walked arm in arm 2 streets over. The people in attendance were few and mostly elderly but the service was wonderful.

When we walked outside of the church a woman was passing by. Carrying her belongings in 3 garbage bags and one piece of rolling luggage. She was bundled for the weather but was having trouble hauling all of her things.

We took her down the street for lunch, she left all of her things outside and assured us no one would bother them. She talked about her life and her friends. She was heading to a gas station where a friend works, he would let her stay inside and drink coffee today  until she could return to her friend's house tonight. She drank several cups of coffee and was very curious to know why we didn't have any children.

She shares a name with my favorite aunt and I won't forget her. We replaced her garbage bags with more reliable/weather worthy bags and sent her on her way.

We walked 2 streets over to our loft, promptly turned on our gas logs, Christmas tree and a football game and it felt wrong. Why did we get to come home to so many luxuries while she was going to spend her day drinking gas station coffee until dark and then drag her bags back to the other end of town.

Should I have done more? What does she need long term? Will I see her again? How can we possibly help every homeless person we meet in Roanoke? What happens next? In the two blocks we walked to church today we came in contact with two people without shelter during this storm.

I'm so grateful that Jesus placed us here but I'm still lost as to what it is we are supposed to do. I feel inadequate and ill-prepared for this undertaking but I know I'm here for a reason. Prayers are appreciated as we attempt to get plugged in to the unique needs of our community here.

Source

Hipster found the wiffy

This marks day 3 without Internet in our loft. Which would be no big deal if I weren't counting on these days to get all of my work done before we travel for Thanksgiving. But not to worry I've found some free "wiffy" as Nick would say on New Girl.

It is snowing, I found a coffee shop with free wiffy within a very short walking distance. Even the fact that my bag carrying my laptop broke and landed hard on the sidewalk can't bring me down today. If I'm being honest this is just how I pictured life here. Always with snow.

We've settled in. Minus our bedroom. Our luggage is still full of my shoes which I don't know what to do with, I suppose a shoe rack is in order.

My Christmas cards are addressed ready to be mailed!

 

Drew's commute is now 15 minutes as opposed to an hour and I haven't driven anywhere since I drove here Friday. Going green baby.

Ike is still adjusting. He hasn't been able to get all of his energy out but he makes a friend every time we step outside of our building. He is popular on Kirk Ave. to say the least.

I am going to need some practical wardrobe additions living here:
1. Rain coat
2. Snow boots
3. Sturdy backpack
Guess those will be my Christmas presents.

Also, I kicked ass in fantasy football this week. That doesn't happen often so I'm gonna brag.

And lastly, I'm a hipster in the city. It helps keep my ears warm.

Clearly, I can no longer string together cohesive thoughts. Sorry friends. This is my end of the semester brain. I'm an expert on reading strategies at the moment, not blogging.

Tomorrow we are heading home for turkey, family, friends and plenty of things to be thankful for. Hope you all have an awesome holiday.

Thankfulness Recently

Seeing that this is the week/month of thanks I suppose a thankfulness post is in order.

I'm thankful for

• Friends who will kill themselves helping us move.

 

 

• A puppy dog who is adjusting to life without a yard.

• Parents who will drive to Roanoke for one day to help unpack and bring a new coffee pot.
• Siblings who love Jesus and spent the weekend together worshipping him.
• Friendly "hellos" in a new city.
• A husband who is on this journey with me every step of the way.

• 7th graders who are full of questions.
• Gas logs.
• The hope of new adventures for friends whose lives are changing rapidly.
• Pictures of these 2 cuties and for the ability to travel home and see them in person this week!

Thank you Jesus for placing us in this city. I am nervous about how it will all shake it out, but there is no doubt that this is where we are supposed to be. Be thankful friends!