So THAT's what 3 a.m. looks like

The hectic pace from my wedding weekend has not slowed, but I've got time to kill "watching" the kids (Norah is playing a game on her Leapster and Levi is pulling everything out of her bookshelf) so I thought I'd mentally purge some of the chaos. Tuesday and Wednesday marked my first auditions as play director. I'd been advertising for a couple of weeks and fielding questions regarding monologues (What's a monologue? What do I do with one?), but I had no true expectation of what the turn-out would be like. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. Fifteen or so students performed for me Tuesday, and another 20 yesterday. Their enthusiasm and dedication were so nice to see. I see hundreds of students filter through my classroom each day, and it can be easy to feel discouraged at the lack of interest or work. Seeing dozens of students prepare EXTRA work for an outside activity gave me a boost of "So this is why I do what I do!" I'm still hammering out the casting process (more of a puzzle than I could have imagined) but the official list will be tacked up outside my room by 7:15 tomorrow morning. My mentor advised hanging it up and them promptly locking my door to avoid tears and questions. While that's not normally my style, I can't say I'm not considering it. Luckily, there are a lot of roles for this adaptation, so even the less than stellar auditions can yield a small speaking part. I'm excited to see them tackle their lines and watch as the story comes together. I'll definitely keep you posted on that wild aspect of my life!

My fellow blogger Angela (check out her funny, thoughtful posts here) lamented recently about the immense pressure we feel this semester. The only noticeable difference is the heightened focus on formative and summative assessments (let's be honest--they're pre and post tests and few English teachers enjoy them), but it feels as though the stress load has at least quadrupled this year. I find myself thinking of a better way to present lessons while I'm trying to sleep at night. I'm worrying over modeling thesis statement writing while I play with Levi. It's like I can't as easily compartmentalize my job and my life anymore. I'm hoping once the first semester of the new evaluation system is under my belt I'll find my groove, but this breakneck pace is definitely taking its toll on me.

What doesn't help is my son's newfound night owl tendencies. I don't actually know if I can call it a habit yet, as last night was the first occurence, but it was a doozy. Levi woke up at 1:30, which he occasionally does to eat, so I made him a bottle and prepared to head back to bed within 10 minutes. An hour and another bottle later I realized that wasn't happening. So, 2:30 a.m saw me driving around downtown La Porte with my kid in tow. It was almost eerie how dead the streets were. I don't know why I assumed more people would be out and about at that time, but I was shocked to pass only two vehicles. I did see a couple walking hand in hand down the middle of State St. (leaving one of our many bars, I presume) and I got an up-close view of the street crew tearing up the median at the bottom of the overpass. I also noticed lights on in houses--I was trying to guess whether they were left on for an animal or for safety purposes or if an inhabitant happened to be awake like me. Once I reached my neighborhood again I saw a man pulling his SUV into his garage and I started making up a story about his work schedule and how he finds time to play with his sons (none of this had any basis except he was parking at 3 a.m.) The whole thing was bizarre and then turned voyeuristic, but the writer (and ex-spy) in me kind of enjoyed it.

We got home, baby silent, Mom thinking her trip did the trick, but then.... eyeballs. He was wide awake enjoying the drive as well. We ended up watching television until 5 when I was able to put him in his crib and grab an hour of sleep in bed before getting up and rushing into my day. Long story short (well, not short at all, I see) I was a bit frazzled and at a loss for words today. My students said I was "hyper," so I guess I muddled through OK. I so desperately wanted a nap this afternoon, but the hubs wasn't home. Now it's time for dinner, and then I'm off to the READ La Porte County Scrabble tournament to dominate with my partner, Ben. Dominate is used loosely here, because the last two years we got spanked by people who have memorized the Scrabble dictionary and can think as fast as machines. It's always a fun night, though, losing aside.

Hopefully I'm not mauled by disappointed actors tomorrow and I can report on a triumphant triple word score. Wishful thinking!

Happily ever after

The last four days have been a blur--I was in two weddings, which means two preparations and two celebrations. Today, then, is one much-deserved relaxation. More than that, though, it's a chance to reflect on the meaning of what I was a part of.
I was blessed this weekend to witness two breathtaking ceremonies (one an intimate, candle-lit affair with more joy and love than I've ever felt before, the other a family and friend-filled union with laughter and fun) between four people I care about immensely. My best friend Leslie married the love of her life in a rather sudden but all-the-more perfect ceremony at their church in Columbus, Indiana Thursday night. I took a half-day at school so I could make it down in time to help her get ready, and I'd already taken Friday off to help bride number 2 (Alex) set up her reception site. Thursday, I stood next to Leslie, proud, in awe of the love she and Jared share, overjoyed that I could support them as they promised to love one another through sickness and health, and I felt God's presence like never before. He and his angels made this union possible; every detail fell into place, from the "wedding fairies" setting up the site and having a gorgeous cake made in one day to the dress shop letting Leslie in after hours to find a dress that made all of us gasp. Their wedding was a proclamation of pure love--they want nothing more than to be together and to enjoy every moment to its fullest. The bride and groom literally beamed the entire time, theirs the only dry eyes in the house, and just like the Grinch, everyone felt their hearts grow two sizes that day as we watched the Rudes become one. A doctor's visit with some scary news pushed the wedding date up, and that weighed on everyone, but the wedding itself was a celebration, and I don't think it could have been any more perfect. Leslie deserves someone to adore her, and Jared does just that. It's undoubtable that they were made for one another. When the pastor said, "May your sorrows be halved and your happiness doubled because you have each other" I was reminded of exactly why we marry. A spouse is the true meaning of a partner, and though there are no guarantees about how much time we have with those we love, marriage allows us to be joined as partners forever.
Alex and Ben's ceremony was perfect in a totally different way. They have been a solid couple in our group of friends for years, a constant at gatherings, vacations, parties. Zach and I met at their house, and without them our marriage and family wouldn't exist. Doc and Alex, as everyone calls them, are one of those couples who make it look effortless. They're comfortable. There's no drama, just a feeling of easiness. They are the best and most loyal friends we could have asked for, and we were honored to be a part of the Martinsen wedding par-tay.
The priest's words were, for lack of a  better word, honest. He made me analyze how I approach my own marriage, and I was reminded of the fact that I made  a promise to Zach when I said "I do." I don't get to quit when things get tough. I gave my word that I would work at this thing, that I'd be honest and forgiving and his partner even when I don't want to be. The priest said that in those moments when we question why we're married or how the union can continue we should realize that God is sending us a message that we need to reflect His love more in that moment. Every disagreement or lull in the romance is a chance for us to reassess how we contribute to or do a disservice to the partnership. I was struck by the honesty of the sermon and felt encouraged that it isn't always supposed to be perfect, but the love behind the marriage still is.

I'm left feeling grateful that I have found such a giving partner to share this life with, inspired to embrace the blessings of each day and focus on the positives, and humbled by the paths handed to us that we cannot understand. Love is priceless, and I want nothing more than for everyone I love to feel its power the way Jared, Leslie, Alex, and Ben now get to. Here's to their (and your) happily ever after.

Directions

Well hello, blog readers. How have you been these last few weeks? Mama Wild has been very busy and probably very lazy, explaining my absence from the blogosphere as of late. Things in the Wild household are just dandy. Norah is thriving in kindergarten and loving cheerleading (although at times she thinks it's ruining her life, like when she couldn't get the glitter tattoo she wanted at a recent festival or when she has to go to bed early on a weekend night). Levi has started babbling what sound like words (Mamamama or baba or Dadada) and he is thisclose to walking. He's also turning into a giant flirt. Last night I took him with me to a high school volleyball game to support my students and their coach, my coworker. He was hamming it up big time with all of the girls around us, particularly another baby, Kate. Future romance in the works? I think we have a lady killer on our hands.

Zach and I are coming up on our second wedding anniversary, and unlike last year, when Mama was 8 months pregnant, we shall CELEBRATE! I don't know what we're doing yet, but the surprise-lover in me is waiting with bated breath. The realist side of me knows that Mr. Wild isn't huge on surprises, or planning, so she is waiting with a normal level of anticipation. A few days after our anniversary our friends Doc and Alex are getting married, and we're both in the wedding. We met at their house a few years ago at Alex's birthday party (an 80's themed costume party, to be exact) and they have always been amazing friends. September is shaping up to be a great month already!

Our Labor Day weekend was filled with plenty of family time. We took the kids to the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, our first time, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The fresh blueberry donuts are more than worth the wait. Norah had a game, we took her bike out a few times (she's working on her speed these days), and she and I created my very first Pinterest craft, a wreath for our front door. It was fun to work on it together, and I'm pretty proud of the outcome.


In school news, I am officially the director of the fall play! I found this out today, by happenstance, so now I'm thinking crap, I better get to planning. I've been perusing playbook listings since I applied for the position, but with more of a curious eye as to what's out there. I have little theater experience, but I know I can put a lot of hard work into this and help my students put on a stellar show. I'll document the experience as I figure out what the heck I'm doing.

With fall's unofficial arrival this week, I plugged in Glade's new Maple Pumpkin scent (divine) and am DYING for a pumpkin spice latte from Starbuck's. I've also started planning the kids' Halloween costumes and am brainstorming for Levi's first birthday party. I cannot believe he's old enough for that to even be on the horizon, but it is. He is becoming a little boy more and more each day. I'm definitely holding on to baby phase for as long as I can.

I've got grading to do (I always have grading to do, though, let's be honest) and I promised myself a date with Powercut at the Y. I'm also halfway through an amazing novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and I can't seem to put it down. I also have a baby to snuggle, so I must be off. Stay tuned for theater travails and triumphs--I'm sure it'll be wild!