2011???

Hmm… well, yea, it’s been awhile. I was recently reminded that I haven’t blogged in quite awhile and that it lasted maybe a whole week. Part of the reason for that is probably because I don’t have time once I get home to sit down and write. But, he we go.

2011. Wow, really? I had high hopes for 2010. It seems I have this plan in my head of what the upcoming year will entail. However it doesn’t ever actually end up going as I had imagined. 2010 was a good year. Addyson turning 1 was probably the highlight though. The celebration of the miracle that she is here was awesome. I love watching her as she crawls on her hands and knees and repeats noises that sound like words. I love my nieces. They are the highlight of just about everything! I can’t imagine loving anyone more than I love those 3 precious girls. This also goes along with my desire to have kids of my own. Turning 24 was a strange feeling for me and I am continuing to put off the thought that in just a few months I will be 25. That to say, as I’ve said before, this isn’t quite what I thought life would look like right now. So in turn I suppose my New Years Resolution is to be content with where I am and not dwell on what I hope to come. Now, if you know me, you know that may be quite a task!

I am thankful for the people in my life. I have 4 fantastic friends from college that I know I am lucky to still be close with. Even though all 4 are married and schedules can be crazy (remember I teach all day and then have cheerleading until as late as 9pm) we still make time for our girls nights. These nights tend to lead to the discussion about the generations that will follow. 2 of us are educators and one has 2 beautiful children in case you were wondering where that topic may come from! My heart is often burdened for the students that walk in and out of my classroom. You can’t even imagine some of the situations they deal with outside of the walls of my school. This is why I wanted to teach. Do I care that they learn the material? Of course! (That’s all the state cares about, that’s another issue all together) But the most important thing to me is that each student feels comfortable in my classroom and that when they leave at the end of the year they are better prepared to make a positive influence in this world and that they know that someone cares about them. It’s terrible to know that some of my kids never hear that someone cares for them. I have amazing coworkers. I have learned so much from them in the time that I have been here. The best thing is that I truly consider them friends. We also have a good amount of fun! Things happen for a reason and I am extremely thankful that I stumbled upon this job. It has truly been a God thing and I know that though there are difficult days I am where I am supposed to be. I have also been given wonderful friendships that have become like family. Christmas parties, New Years, Fourth of July, birthdays, random cookouts, weddings, just sitting in the living room enjoying each others company… all of which are just a few times that we have gotten together and although it may have been a few weeks or even a couple months since we’ve seen each other (usually because of schedules) it is a comfortable feeling of being with friends that will always be there. I have a roof over my head in a place that I absolutely love. Even though money is short I have never gone hungry. I have a church that I love. I also live within 10 miles of my family. Now this is a blessing! I am absolutely blessed with the family God has given me. I have the pleasure of seeing my nieces grow up. I have the gift that I know that when any of us needs something we are able to be there for each other. Thinking about the blessing that I get to call family brings tears to my eyes. There are no words to explain how proud I am of each of my family members. I can only hope to be half the leader and compassionate person of those that I call my family.

Well, I have gotten a little sappy. But as I think about 2010 it’s not necessarily the events but the fact of being with the people I love that has stuck out to me. Of course there was the flood. Being flooded in wasn’t so bad. I wasn’t going to miss the wedding of one of those previously mentioned friends who are more like family. Getting back to my apartment wasn’t an option. Being in downtown seeing some of those familiar images from the news stories with my own eyes turned into memories that I treasure. Spending Fourth of July on a barge with my family and friends basically in that same flooded river watching fireworks that looked as though they may fall straight on us was also awesome! There were many other moments that maybe I’ll reflect on in the near future. We do know that I am one to reflect often.

So, here we go 2011. I do hope that this year will be better than the last.