Summertime...

Hi there! Summer doesn't officially begin for another few days, but my summer started last Friday. I happy to have a few months off. Wasn't too sure about being able to sleep in, but my body has quickly adjusted. I guess it knew that the 6am wakeup call would not be in existence for a few months. YAY!

This summer will be one of changes. Moving is the main change. The though of moving to a new city was in my mind and in the works for awhile, but given the obvious situation with school districts on hiring freezes, I finally decided to be practical and stay in Lake Wales. I wasn't the only one involved in this process. It's still kind of a new thing to involve others in major decisions like moving. Oh, for those who are wondering, we did not break up, we are still a couple and we are doing well. So anyway, I am moving to another place of residence at the end of July. It's going to be a good move. I saw my new home last week and am very happy. I'm excited. 7 more weeks!!! Well actually, shorter than that...because I don't have to rush on this move. I'm going to move a little bit at a time. But, the crazy thing is that once I start moving I'm gonna want to hurry up. Yea, we shall see about that. I haven't moved in 3 years and I've accumulated a few extra things. Okay, a lot of extra things so the first things on the moving agenda will be to get rid of stuff. I am so ready for that. I've been wanting to get rid of stuff for awhile now. Now I have a good excuse. My new house only has 1 bedroom, but it's still very spacious. I have too much stuff for this place, I have too much stuff anyway, regardless of space or not so...........let the cleaning and purging begin!

Until next time...

Baseball Game

"Southpaw" Tigers mascot and myself

I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend a Lakeland Flying Tigers baseball game. My wonderful friends Ann and Gary Gramlich had an extra ticket to game and invited me. I was excited. I'm spontaneous, but this was an all time new. They invited me 30 minutes before the game started so I jumped in the car and headed to Lakeland. Fortunately it doesn't take very long to get to the stadium. They played the Tampa Yankees and beat them. Yay! There were games in between innings, inflatable mascots dancing around, fabulous weather and fireworks afterwards. It was a great evening that was a lot of fun. Definitely would like to go back real soon. I will take Jeff next time.

Until next time...

Updates...

It's been awhile since I last posted so here are some updates. School is going well. It has been a struggle but I am glad to be back in the classroom. The struggle has been me adjusting back into teaching on a full time basis, dealing with teenagers on a daily basis and trying to keep a balance of ALL the tasks a teacher must accomplish on a daily basis. I must admit I forgot a lot of things, but fortunately it has all come back to me. I still have my good days and bad days, but the bad days are small in numbers. Yay! The school year is come to a close soon. I'm excited. It's been a good year, a learning year, an improving year full of highs and lows...mostly highs though. Life is good for me. It has become a balancing act though.

Major decisions on my part in my future. One of those highs was meeting Jeff. I thank God Jeff came into my life. Jeff and I are growing closer as a couple and the relationship is growing stronger. I'm praying to God often for the direction he will take me. He loves me and I love him. To quote a song..."The future looks bright." I've experienced so many good things the past few months. Doing the little things with Jeff are wonderful. Big things are wonderful as well. I'm looking forward to having a lot more fun and the future with Jeff. 4 months and still going strong.

Until next time...

A Relationship has started...

Wow! I'm in a relationship with a guy....It's about time! Yes, I am excited, happy and scared all at the same time. I am ready for this to go further. I am ready to have fun. I am ready to get married, well, not now, but in the next 2 years. I am ready for love. I've felt it already...YAY! We click, we have a lot in common and I am having fun. It's crazy how things happen. So who knows...I might be moving sooner than I thought, who knows. I don't know, but I'm sure excited and look forward to seeing how things go. eHarmony....I am now a believer. I didn't used to be. We met on eHarmony and it seems promising. Not rushing into anything, but hey, I'm not getting any younger. But I do want to take it slow, think about stuff, enjoy everything, including him (hehe) and yes finally get this part of my life started! Wahoo!

A Look Back on 2009

2009.....

A lot happened this year! Changes in my life made me stronger and more appreciative of just how blessed I really am. I saw joy and heartache. No, the heartache wasn't gut wrenching, but emotional heartache is what I felt. I experience the end of some relationships and the strengthing of some others. Family bonds have gotten stronger and I have a deeper sense of just how important my family really is.

It's kind of odd, but I was chatting with my sister the other day and I stated that I didn't have friends. I do have friends, but doing things with my friends is limited. I am not as extroverted as I once was, but I am completely fine with that. I have felt that over that past 9-10 years since college I have grown inward a bit, but in a good way. I'm not always seeking the attention like I once used to. I'm happy with myself in so many ways. I love my life. Yes, there are some things that need improving, but hey I'm not perfect.

2009 was a decent year. I changed jobs, not occupation, but positions actually. I am happier in my occupation because of the change in position. I am learning again, which I believe had been put on hold for the past three years. I am challenged daily, but I am becoming stronger as a result of it.

Resolutions are really my thing so choose to make gradual changes throughout the year. Besides no one really sticks to their resolutions anyway. Haha! Probably the one thing that I really want to do this next year is start my master's. I will and in due time will have my master's degree. So with that being said....2009 was a year of good change in just about every part of my life. I am truly thankful for what has happened.

Two mottos I have been living by this past year and will continue remember:

It's not about what happens to me, It's about how I choose to respond.

I doesn't matter what people think about me, it's none of my business anyway.

Thanksgiving Blessings

I have A LOT to be thankful for. I don't always voice my blessings or make them known, but I am truly thankful for what I have been blessed with. I may not have had too many problems in my life which is another thing I am thankful for. I have problems and I am working on them, but the blessings are what make my life worthwhile. I have the basic necessities, food, shelter, water, etc, but I have so much more. Crazy thing is I am always trying to get rid of stuff...go figure! Haha! Anyway, I thank God for what I have and my experiences, but during this time of Thanksgiving I want to express it verbally. I am truly blessed and thankful for.............

1. My family who I love dearly. I don't get to see some of them very much, but I love them just the same.


2. My friends....my friendship circle has changed so much in the past few years, its crazy. I don't see some of them as much as I like, but I still do consider them friends. I also have friends from other states I have never met before that are very special to me. Someday I will meet them and I look forward to that day.


3. My job....that I have one and that it is an environment that I can be myself. It's not home quite yet, but it's going well. I really do love teaching and I hope that shows.


4. God.....for loving me through everything and for providing me with needs and wants.

Whoever reads this, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

My Birthday!!!

I have now officially turned 33!!!!!!!!!!!!! My birthday this year was celebrated a few different ways.......

1. My small group at church wished me Happy Birthday with yummy brownies and banana

bread. No, I do not like bananas, but I do love banana bread. Yes, odd, but who cares!

2. I treated myself to a facial.....so relaxing...pumpkin latte. Haha!

3. I spent my actual birthday at Disney's Magic Kingdom!!! This was my favorite celebration.

My mother, my good friend(who is now my best friend) Maggie, her daughter Hannah and my cousin Travis were all in attendence for the day of celebration for me!!!!!!! Yes, I played hooky, haha, but I had permission so who cares. I got into Disney for free of course. My cousin Travis works for Disney to he got tickets for my mother and Maggie. Hannah is 1 yr old so of course she was free. We had so much fun. It was hot, but that didn't ruin our fun. Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and Buzz Lightyear were the rides we rode. Birthday lunch was the The Liberty Tavern restaurant, they sang to me, I got a birthday cupcake which was chocolate and we ended the day watching the Celebrate Today parade! I got my caramel apple as well. I took lots of pictures of course. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a photo nut. It was a very good way to celebrate my birthday and any other birthday for that matter. I would definitely suggest to anyone who is celebrating anything to celebrate at Disney. Oh, I forgot....they gave me a birthday button so all day everyone wished me a Happy Birthday! Okay yes, kids get birthday buttons, but I don't care...it made me feel special. It was one of the best birthdays I've had in a long time.