Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot. ~Hausa of Nigeria

There are two more days left in November, therefore I think I am going to call my 30 days of giving thanks a wrap. I know I would need to complete EIGHT more entries [if I were to reach my goal of thirty days]; however, I am tired of posting about giving thanks. 

The positive thing that has come about from all of this, is that I have learned "to give thanks in everything." In doing so, I find myself happier and more fulfilled. November was such a wonderful month for me in comparison to October. One thing that stands out the most to me is that in October, I mumbled a lot and felt sorry for myself. In all fairness, I went through a REALL tough time with friendships and finding myself again. Yet, I can honestly say that I complained more, which led to feelings of discontent and unhappiness. 

On the contrary, I took up an attitude of thanksgiving starting November 1st. I was determined to praise God during the good times and not so good times. I would be lying if I said every day was perfect this past month. I had a couple of rough times at work, that brought tears to my eyes and me to my knees. Yet I continued to praise God through it all. I would vent and get all of the heavy things off my chest, and then I would find one thing to praise him for. What a different kind of month I had. What a different kind of person I am when I lift up HIS name in praise. When I find something to be grateful for everyday. Boy - does that EVER put things into perspective. God is GOOD and he blesses us continually in so many ways.

I was searching for a quote about thanksgiving this evening, and stumbled across this blog. The author of this blog shared a poem about giving thanks, that I would like to pass along to all of you: 

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful in the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful when you have limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful during the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful in the midst of your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~ Author unknown. 

Remember that November is not the only month in which we can give thanks. Find at least one thing to praise God about each day, and watch how your life turns around. :o)

19. 20. 21. 22. Reasons to give Thanks.

I had the BEST weekend at the beach with my family. We traveled down to Rehoboth Beach on Wednesday and made the long drive home this afternoon. This was our last time traveling down to the beach for Thanksgiving. The beach house will be sold within the upcoming year. It is unbelievable to think that this has been a family tradition for 12 years now. It will be so weird celebrating in Maryland next year. 

Keeping with the theme of thankfulness, the past four days I have been thankful for:

My grandparents. 

They are getting up in age, but they are still huge parts of my life. I enjoy talking with them about their childhoods and hearing stories about the things they have accomplished in life. I also enjoy cracking up with them - they have a great sense of humor! This is my first year of living on my own and I have a bare Christmas tree that's been in my apartment for a couple of weeks now. My grandmother purchased these at the beach this weekend so that I could have my first two ornaments! These will forever be special to me <3 

The beach.

The beach by far is my FAVORITE place to relax. I envision myself getting married at the beach on day. My ideal house decor would be beach themed. I love flip flops, sand, sunshine, ocean breezes, the taste of salt on my tongue. I love the sound of the ocean waves and the feel of the ocean mist on my skin. I love the beach and I am so thankful that I was able to get away for a couple of days and relax in paradise. 

The sunsets.

The sunsets at the beach this weekend were incredible! I am a nature gal and nothing puts me more at ease then a beautiful sunset. It was a blessing to be able to see the sun and sky look like this every day :o) 

My sister.

We may not always see eye to eye [or get along] but I love this gal dearly. She celebrated her 22nd birthday this weekend. My how time flies. I pray that God continues to bless her and gives her insight in regards to what she is supposed to do with her life post graduation. 

My brother.

He is a great kid and he cracks me up. I love that he stays true to himself and always follows his own path. He is wise beyond his years and brings such joy to my life. I am grateful that he has grown to be such a kindhearted and caring young man. Even if his honesty gets him into trouble sometimes.

I have also been thankful for: my cousins. my parents. my aunts and uncles. safe travels to and from the beach. the delicious meals that my aunts cooked. family time. relaxation. money to purchase things. seeing Twilight. getting lesson planning done. catching up on sleep. and being alive and healthy.

I am so not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow ... however, the countdown to Christmas officially begins! 

Giving Thanks ... Day [18]

Came across this article on pinterest tonight. Such an odd place to find such a treasure haha. I started skimming it and thought - oh boy! I've got six years to acquire and learn a couple of important things. Thought I'd share here just in case I ever need to come back to this little dandy: Turning 30: 30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Know.

In other news ... I am thankful today for my part time tutoring job. The little boy is absolutely precious and it's a blessing that I am able to work with him every Tuesday, even if it's only reading a story with him and helping him do his homework.

I am also thankful that my Thanksgiving break has officially started! I kicked off my 5 day stretch of relaxation with a one-hour massage at massage envy. The massage was wonderful - although my muscles hurt now. I think the masseuse massaged the knots in my shoulders and upper back EXTRA hard this time.

Last but not least, I am thankful for fellowshipping with my parents and my sister this evening. I joined my family for dinner and ended up staying later than expected. We had many great laughs with one another and recalled some of the wonderful memories we have shared together.

I am leaving around 11AM tomorrow for the beach. I am looking forward to being by the sand and waves; and more importantly, to fellowship with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, cousins and siblings. I truly love the Thanksgiving holiday and time spent with family. :) 

Thankful. Day 17.

Despite a not so good day ... I couldn't help but smile at a couple of things. These things are what I will be thankful for today.

1. One of my students proudly shared this morning that he drew a picture of me without any clothes on. I responded, "Oh!?" To which he innocently said - "I couldn't decide which outfit looked best on you." All I could do was turn my head and chuckle ... no words.
2. Another student - when doing a creative writing about a turkey - thought aloud: "Oh! I could write about a turkey that liked to shake his tail feathers at parties ... and he'd drink wine to get loose." What types of parties has she been a part of? She's seven ... I thought seven year olds went to chuckie cheese for a good time hahaha. My response to her however was: "Or how about you write about a turkey who likes to dance on the farm dance floor?"
3. I had wonderful conversation with my hair dresser tonight. As she washed and blow dried my hair, we talked about treating everyone the way you would like to be treated because you never know when you will be "entertaining angels." We also talked about loving others unconditionally, through the good times and bad times. Miss Brenda said, "After all ... you want to teach the little ones to love unconditionally too. To never throw the towel in when the going gets tough in any type of relationship." Wow! What a powerful statement. 

My vent session in the earlier entry today really cleared my head and relieved buckets of stress. Once that heavy load was off of my chest, I begin to feel better and remember the good that occurred today. I am not sure why I am having this struggle within the workplace this year. But I am sure that God has placed me back on the potter's wheel ... he's saying, "Christina, I am not yet finished with you." And I am going to pray that I can let go of the wheel, and let God direct my steps. He obviously has a plan for my life - one greater than I could ever imagine. And I need to let God's will be done. At the very least, I will be wiser and stronger this time next year because let's be real - what doesn't kill us makes us strong. And you grow through what you go through. 

Insight Needed ...

I had a not so good day today. I woke up in a great mood, yet my day seemed to go down hill from the minute I stepped through the entrance doors to my school. Ironically enough, all I could think about today was that I could not wait to get home and take to my blog. These entries are truly a way to express myself and to get things off my chest. Writing is also therapeutic - which is an added bonus.

Whew! I feel better already. But so about my not so good day. I am an introvert by nature, and an extrovert by nurture. When I was a child I was painfully shy and it took all the way up into my college years to finally find my voice and speak up! No really - in large crowds still to this day, I am often quiet and observant. If you have some strong personalities in the mix, forget it. You will not hear much out of me. It's not that I do not have anything to say, I am just an introvert by nature (and rather quiet). I have made huge leaps and bounds with my ability to speak up and out. However I am still not where I'd like to be.

This leads into my frustration with myself - and my not so good day. I often feel like I am trapped within myself. I see and hear what's going on around me, and I know how I *want* to act or behave. How I *want* to fit into a group of people. How I *want* to be more outgoing for that moment of time. Yet ... I can hardly ever bring myself to do it. Then I get upset with myself and frustrated. That was my day today. Wanting to do something so simple ... yet feeling as thought I had chains on my arms, feet and mouth and could not. In fact - I have felt like this all year. And I am growing weary as it's only November ... I cannot go on through the year like this.

Furthermore, I am so frustrated with the teachers I work with. Heck ... many of my coworkers. I am a third year teacher and 24 years old. I am both the youngest and newest teacher at my school. Almost all of my coworkers are over the age of 30 AND are married. Many of the married teachers have children. As a result, I feel as though I do not relate to anyone at my school. I cannot chime in on conversations about sick children, soccer carpools or 4 1/2 hours of sleep the night before because of a crying baby. Heck! I cannot even offer my thoughts on a husband who purchased the new call of duty game and stayed up all night drinking beer and playing it. I am as single as the number one. Where I am in life ... these women encountered YEARS ago. So I often feel like I am out of touch with them and have nothing to contribute to conversation. Throw in the fact that I can be super quiet ... and BAM! These females have nothing to say to me, therefore choosing to ignore me.

Or ... I have been trying to figure out if maybe it's just these females are super fake? I listen to some of their conversations ... they're not so nice. And these ladies only smile and ask me questions when they want something. Otherwise ... they make no effort to get to know me or include me in our conversations. So this is my everyday reality ... and I feel trapped! I hate it. I do not know how to remedy it. I guess in my ideal world, I would want to be BFF with everyone and the funniest, most outgoing person there was on this team of teachers. Now does that make me sound fake? Ha! I snickered under my breath ... maybe it does.

The real question is how am I going to get beyond myself. I know for a fact that I am my own worst enemy. I over think things. I over analyze things. I will vent to my girlfriends or my momma until I am blue in the face ... but I do not tell these things to the people who need to hear it (i.e. the people who are giving me the blues). And then the cycle begins again - because I grow frustrated with myself. This has been a heck of a year already ... I had to switch teams AGAIN! I've been on three teams in three years. So it becomes like my first year of teaching ALL OVER AGAIN. New people to learn to work with. New senses of humor to understand. New styles of teaching to adapt to. And all I wish is that I could be the funniest, most outgoing one of them all. That's a silly daydream. I know. However, the truth in all of this is that I really wish I had someone that I could confide in at this school. Who I trusted and saw eye to eye with. Someone who could truly understand where I am coming from. Someone, perhaps, who was as young and as green as I am.

I dream of the day when I am an 8th year teacher, with a husband and children. Then maybe I'll have something to relate to people on. Then maybe I'll be comfortable in my own skin and content with my character traits and flaws, everything in all. But I need to live in the here and now. And what I currently know is I feel ten times better having gotten all of this off of my chest. And I hope one of you reading this can relate - and perhaps, give me better insight than I am currently able to give myself.

14. 15. 16.

I had the best weekend! Although I was hardly productive, I was able to spend quality time with many of my best friends. I am thankful this weekend for visits from Alison and Kat. I am thankful for being able to see Twilight's Breaking Dawn: Part 2. That movie exceeded my expectations and I cannot believe the series has finally ended.

I am thankful for Friday being pay day - which provided me with money to go out on the town this weekend ... not once but twice. I am thankful for the fun times I had going out. I am like a Grandma these days - I hardly ever go out for anything other than happy hour or an early dinner. Staying out until 3AM on Friday and Saturday night with some of my college gal pals was quite the experience! It's been so long since we have done something such as that, but it was a ton of fun and should last me until New Year's Eve haha.

I am also thankful for being able to meet up with my friend Zach today. He has been in Florida for the past month and finally returned home this weekend. It was great seeing him and hearing about his trip. There were also some other high school buddies at this little reunion of ours - and it was fun seeing them as well. We have all grown up and changed so much, but yet we still have many things in common.

Here's to a two day work week ... and only fourteen more posts about what I am thankful for ;)

Thankful Again! 12, 13...

On Wednesday, I was thankful for ...

Me and Alison

• An unexpected phone call with an old friend. Alison and I talked on the phone for over an hour on Wednesday night. At first the conversation was awkward - as I have not seen her in a long while. But after ten or so minutes, we picked up right where we left off. I miss our college days at TU together. However I am so grateful that I can still consider her one of my dear friends. 
• The compliment, "I often forget you are a third year teacher. Teaching comes so naturally to you." Wow! I had a wonderful post conference observation with my assistant principal. I love her constructive criticism, feedback and support. She is a fantastic leader. 

On Thursday, I was thankful for ...

Me and Katie on St. Pat's!

• Life gets so busy when you're an adult. Wait - did I just admit that I am an adult? It's so easy to go weeks, even months without talking to dear friends. I have not seen Katie since my housewarming party in July. We made several attempts to get together, but it took us FOUR MONTHS to finally meet up for dinner. It was long awaited for and lovely. We dined on burgers at Red Robin and caught up on all the insignificant nothings that currently comprise our lives. 
• A phone call from my best friend Kitty - we made plans to hang out this weekend. 
• A phone call with my mother - she is truly the most wonderful individual I know. I shared a lot of my frustrations [with work] and she just listened patiently and tenderly like mothers do. 

This is my unthankful post ... and hopefully the only one.

I have decided to take to my blog to let off some steam. I have been Miss Happy-Go-Lucky all month long. Every day I have written a "happy" post about all of the things I am thankful for. How cute - it's November and she's giving thanks every day. It was cute to me until today. In fact until about ten minutes ago. I do not want to be thankful right now anymore. I want to bitch and complain for a copy of paragraphs (I was going to type minutes ... but paragraphs just sounded so much better, haha!)

I know lots of people. [extreme emphasis on the word: lots.] I am a friendly gal, and will strike up a conversation with just about anyone. I am also generally pleasant which leads to making "new" acquaintances. I am also a very busy girl. [emphasis on the word: busy.] I work three jobs. I am a full-time special education teacher, I tutor AND I lead social skills groups for students with autism. On top of all of that, I am taking a graduate school course. And I try to work out at least twice a week. And, let me restate - I am a full-time special education teacher. That job in itself takes up a lot of my time.

The above declarations are not my complaints however. I have limited free time. And that's okay. I like it like that. I am single right now and I do not have a family. [i.e. children] I like being productive. Having a purpose for each day. However, in my free time ... I like to do one of two things. I either like to relax at home, watching movies and doing things around my home. Or I like to make plans with friends and go out to catch up. I have friends from so many different walks of life, and sometimes it is easier to hang out with the friend individually; rather than mixing up the friend groups. [trust me, mixing up different groups of girlfriends is not always the best idea]

So herein my problem lays. One: do I decide to stay at home by myself and relax. or Two: hang out with friends. If I choose to hang out with a friend, which one do I choose? In my neck of the woods, most young people I know spend MAD MONEY. I am talking, dinner, drinks and a movie. Dinner then out downtown. Shopping then dinner and drinks. Drinks, drinks and drinks. I love doing these activities, but it costs money. Let's be real: I do not have that much cash to throw away on social activities three nights out of the weekend. So then I need to choose. Who am I hanging out with this weekend? Do I go out for one ... two ... or three nights? Do I meet up with one ... two ... or three different people throughout the day? Or do I stay home and invite people over? But then that infringes upon my me time. This vicious cycle goes on and on and on.

I feel bad when I have good friends that I *forget* about. I feel bad when I have to tell an *acquaintance* that I cannot hang out. Or when I make plans with an acquaintance, and then cancel the plans to go out with a really dear, old friend. Okay ... so this debacle does not happen as much as I am making it sound like. But I am looking ahead at December ... and my cell phone ... and the events and invites are lining up. And I cannot help but stress over these text message invites AND my planner. I currently have one *free* Friday in December. And I have *one* dear girlfriend who is pouncing on having me pencil her in for that date, like it is black Friday sale at target. And - God strike me down now - all I can think is ... do I really want to sacrifice my ONLY free December Friday to hang out OUT? I mean that's typically one of the ONLY days during the week that I can decide to do nothing, but sit on my couch like a potato.

Then it sound silly replying to a text saying, "Let's look at available dates in January instead." Who do I think I am? What kind of friend am I being? Why am I a lunatic who keeps herself super busy all the damn time? And why do I have so many *acquaintances* who enjoy my company? I am embarrassed to admit this, but I am jealous of those girls who have a close knit group of girlfriends. I am talking, there are 7 of them and they do EVERYTHING together. They are all friends, and all get along and all enjoy doing the same things. Wait ... is this real life? Or some staged reality tv show?

This may be one of the MOST ridiculous posts I have written to date. And I am sorry for those of you who choose to read this - and who are probably shaking their head in disgust at my stupid rant. I know ... I know. I sound like an ungrateful and selfish human being. But I needed to share this somewhere ... in hopes that someone out there can sympathize with me. That they understand this dilemma exactly ... or in part. This is my unthankful post for the month. [Hopefully the only one.]

Turning a Life Around [Giving Thanks:11]

Are you tired yet of my giving thanks posts? This has been the MOST positive thing I have done all year. However, I would be lying if I said I am not bored yet of these posts. But I made a commitment to give thanks for thirty days, and - gosh darn it - I am going to stick to it.

Today I am thankful for a lesson observation that went well [or so I think...]. My administrator seemed pleased with the lesson and my students did their finest. I am anxious to hear what feedback my administrator has to give me tomorrow. And to find out whether or not I had a successful or "passing" observation. I am prayerful that the lesson went well overall; and that my assistant principal has helpful feedback that will help me become a better teacher.

I am also thankful for ANOTHER lovely compliment I received today. In fact ... that makes me think about my post from yesterday. I had received a compliment yesterday morning at the dentist. And this morning I received a compliment from a parent. Good things always come in 3's ... so I wonder if something is in store for me tomorrow as well? 

I digress ... So a parent of a student I taught last year, stopped me today in the hallway to say she sees me everyday at home. She explained that her daughter has a picture of her and I hanging at the foot of her bed, that was taken on the last day of school. The mother shared that I have made such a positive impact on the life of her child, and the picture is a reminder of that every day. This compliment is so powerful - and more importantly - a statement about how our actions and words have the potential to turn a life around. 

Giving Thanks: Day TEN

The things that I am thankful for today ... all have a common theme:

• A compliment from the receptionist at my dentist's office: "You are such a beautiful girl! You have a beautiful smile ... and your eyes ... they twinkle when you smile." What a terrific way to begin my day, with such an unexpected but kind compliment.

• In a moment of despair, a tweet and text messages from my cousin Nicole. I have a formal observation tomorrow during reading instruction. I began to doubt myself ... my teaching abilities ... my lesson plan. Unexpectedly, but right on time may I say, Nicole contacted me and was nothing but uplifting and encouraging. I am not sure what prompted her to say those words - or to reach out so suddenly - but it was right on time. It was welcomed. It was needed. It helped me calm down and regain focus at 8pm at night, as I sat flustered and exhausted in my classroom.

• A phone call from one of my dearest friends, Stacey. We talked for over an hour and laughed and laughed and laughed. She may be ten years older than me, but I value her friendship so much. I trust her insight and seek her wisdom. I thank God every day for having had our paths cross three years ago. 

What's the theme you may ask? 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia

God is truly an on-time God. This evening in my moment(s) of frustration and despair, he placed on two angels hearts, the thought to reach out and see if I was doing okay. If that is not a testament of God's love and mercy, I do not know what else is. 

I am truly thankful for the three simplest things, but these three simple things have meant everything to me today. 

Giving Thanks: Day Nine

Today I am thankful for:

• sleeping in until 11AM
• a productive day of lesson planning and preparing for the school week ahead
• family dinner at my parent's house
• Oh! And Maroon 5 concert tickets

In regards to those tickets ... I am in LOVE with singer Adam Levine and I am SO excited my tickets came in the mail this weekend! I am going to see him perform in DC in April! It is so far away, yet I am already counting down the days until I can enjoy this musical experience. I am SURE it will be a concert to remember.

In preparation - haha I am a dork I KNOW - I've been listening to a Maroon 5 station on pandora nonstop! I have encountered so many NEW Maroon 5 songs that I've never heard before ... one of which is the video below. I have had this song on repeat ALL day and I couldn't tell you why. But I've shared it in hopes that maybe someone else out there LOVES it too!

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all have a blessed week. Remember to stay thankful :)

Happy Veteran's Day

‎"Today, a proud nation expresses our gratitude. But we do so mindful that no ceremony or parade, no hug or handshake is enough to truly honor that service. For that, we must do more. For that, we must commit—this day and every day—to serving you as well as you’ve served us." —President Obama

I could not have said it better ... thank you to all who have served and continue to serve. Happy Veteran's Day!

A letter to the 20 year old me ...

A little while back, I challenged myself to writing blog posts to thirty questions. I started successfully, answering a question a day until November rolled along. I then decided that I wanted to dedicate my blog posts to giving thanks for thirty days. Guess which one I have been more successful with?

Any who, as I engaged in my daily ritual of reading the posts of bloggers I follow, I came across this post by Amanda at Pretty Little Endeavors. I absolutely loved the post and thought, "Oh! This was one of the questions on the 30 Questions Challenge!" My next thought was then, "Gosh! If I could write a letter to my 16 year old self ... what would I write?"

The truth is, I can't even begin to remember what I was like at age 16. I know I was either a sophomore or a junior in high school. I know I had just received my first car and my driver's license. I remember having a "boyfriend" and my first kiss. Otherwise - my thoughts go blank about what I was dealing with emotionally during that time of my life. So then I thought about who I was at 17. I was a senior in high school. Perhaps worried about getting into college and whether or not I'd be able to maintain my friendships with people I held so dear.

At age 18, I was a freshman in college. I was so unsure of myself. So shy and a wreck when my parents left my belongings and I at TU for my first semester. I remember getting my nose pierced [against my parent's wishes] and beginning to date SM. I recall telling myself - I would only date him for a couple of months then I'd continue to be single. However, I fell in love. I remember thinking that he would be my forever after, the love of my life. The man I was supposed to marry.

My 19th year of life is a blur. I can remember bits and pieces. I remember becoming a tour guide at TU. Going to a diversity retreat, where I met people from various backgrounds and walks of life. I remember breaking SM's heart by saying I needed to go on a break. I remember us getting back together, only for him to cheat on me with a friend. I remember a rough, rocky road leading up to the summer, when we were back home together.

Which brings me to my 20th year of life. So I figured ... that if I was going to write a letter to the younger me, that would be the year to write a letter to. So here goes nothing.

Dear 20-year-old Christina,

This is going to be one of the hardest years of your college life. You are going to be challenged in more ways that you could ever imagine. You will grow in more ways than ever imagined.

School will come easily to you. It always has. Just remember not to procrastinate too much and to study before the big tests. You will LOVE your student teaching internships. Enjoy each moment of co-teaching with your peers, one day a week. During your senior year, co-teaching is no longer an option. It will be ALL YOU then. Your program is not called EESE because it's EASY. It will make you want to pull your hair out sometimes [and possibly jump] but stick with it. In two years, you will be in your first year of teaching. And you will be so thankful for your internship experience at TU. It has prepared you for what is to come in more ways than you could have EVER imagined.

You have many friends right now. Many of whom you think will be your bridesmaids one day. Spend less time worrying about who will be a bridesmaid in your wedding, and more time enjoying every memory made with the people you have surrounded yourself with. Enjoy the time with these girls now, for some of these girls will no longer be your friend(s) in the next five years.

Embrace all opportunities that you encounter this year, and every year after. Your leadershape experience is the beginning of a new horizon for you. You will learn A LOT about yourself. As a leader. A person. A teacher. A friend. It will open up a door for the path you want to travel down in the future. It will become an experience that changed your life forever. Do not forget the reasons why you wanted to experience this program. Why you mustered up the courage to step outside of your comfort zone. You will need to muster up this same courage again and again in the years to come.

SM is your first love. But he will not be your last. First loves seldom are. Stay strong Chrissy girl. Do not give into the darkness of your despair. You will spend many long, lonely days [and nights] alone in your dark room. You will cry more than you have ever cried. You will feel like the pain and the rain will never end. This is called heartbreak. Rest assured that you will see the sun shine again one day. You will find out who you are and what makes you you. Just give it time.

  

Some of the friends you've made this year, will be in your life longer than you expect. Some of these people will become closer to you than the people you've considered "best friends" your whole life. You will have falling outs with these friends. You will reach the crossroads, at which you think there is no way to repair the friendship. You will make selfish decisions, and hurt their feelings. But at the end of the day, cherish these new friends. They will be in your life for a good long while. They will be the ones you turn to for the highs and lows of life. They will become irreplaceable parts of your life. 

Just know that "God is working things out for you, even when you don't feel it." Have faith and be thankful. Each one of these tests presented before you this year, are for your ultimate benefit. They are preparing you for what's to come ahead. Each test is building your character, making you wiser than you ever were before. 

Just enjoy life for what it is. You will never have time like this again. Not a care in the world. Enjoy every moment that the young adult/college years have to offer. Believe me when I say, you'll never live life up like you are doing now. 

And ... please remember ... to learn a thing or two from all of these experiences. All of the heartbreaks and letdowns. You'll need to take these lessons with you. I promise they will help you in the future.

Love Always,

24-year-old Me

Giving Thanks: Day Seven & Eight

Yesterday morning I woke up abruptly at 5 AM in pain. My stomach was cramping and waves of nausea had over taken me. I contemplated going into work on time vs going in late, thinking that this stomach situation would pass in an hour or two. I ended up calling in sick - something that I have NEVER done in my three years of teaching.

Let me tell you that I am so THANKFUL that I did! I was down and out for an entire 24 hours. They were the worst 24 hours of my life! I was in so much pain and could not even get out of bed. I was in and out of sleep, only sleeping when the pain was tolerable. I called my best friend - and lucky for me - she was off work. I begged her to go to Safeway and to pick up ginger ale, pepto bismol and saltine crackers. I am so thankful for a friend who was willing to go pick these things up for me AND to drive 20 minutes to drop them off. There was no way I would've made it to the store on my own.

I am thankful for a day to rest. Even though it was not a peaceful rest, it was a needed break. My body was obviously telling me to take a time out and to take care of myself. I am thankful that I am FINALLY feeling better today. I was only able to eat four saltines and drink one glass of ginger ale yesterday. Yes - my stomach situation was THAT BAD.

I am not sure if I had the stomach flu or a virus. But I am so thankful for my decision to call out for the day. My students did not need to be exposed to those germs or to witness their beloved teacher die a slow, painful death. Ha!

Today I attended a conference on techniques and strategies to use with students with Down syndrome.

I learned about some neat strategies to use with these kiddos and my other students with special needs. The conference was TOTALLY worth sitting from 8 to 5pm on a Saturday. 

Tonight I look forward to spending some quality time with my sissy. We plan on watching a movie and hanging out. I am taking it easy for the remainder of this weekend. My body has been through enough. What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday - Day Six

It feels as thought it has been a long week! I am so pooped right now; and I cannot decide if it's because of the stresses of life or the fact that I've been working out every night. Any how ... let's keep this post positive :)

I challenged myself to writing a post in which I state what I am thankful for, every day, during the month of November. I have absolutely love it too! I am generally an upbeat, positive person. But goodness, sometimes life can get me down and make me a little negative. So these posts have helped me to not only reflect on the positive things that happen in my life each day, but to also give God the glory for the blessings he gives all day long.

With all of this being said, today I am thankful for:

• a hot shower first thing in the AM
• my morning face wash - the tingly sensation helps me wake up (because let's be real, I am NOT a morning person)
• a cup of coffee on my way to work
• my students - I absolutely love teaching and the best part of my day is being with the kids
• working out - even if it was only for 20 minutes 
• gLee - it's my favorite television show and the original cast was back tonight! 

In other news ... there are less than two weeks until I am at the beach with my whole family for Thanksgiving. I look forward to this trip EVERY YEAR! I come from a LARGE family and I absolutely love fellow shipping with them. We all come together at a beach house in Delaware and celebrate Thanksgiving.

 All of the grandchildren - minus two - on my Mother's side of the family

Some of my cousins and I with our Grandfather last year

Our Dads (the Son-in-Laws), Cousins and our Grandfather

It's fun to get away from Maryland and to take advantage of the black Friday deals [and no tax!]. This will be our last year heading up to the beach house. We've been heading there for turkey day since I was in sixth grade ... almost fourteen years ago. Crazy to think that this has become such a tradition - and that it will soon be a tradition no more. I will savor every moment of the trip - when the time is upon us. 

Anyhow ... I have to be bright eyed for my students tomorrow. Good night and I hope you took the time to stop and give thanks for something in your life today! Xo

Giving Thanks: Days Four & Five

Oh boy do I have a LOT to be thankful for! Yesterday, I was able to sleep in late (thank you Election Day) and wake up slowly. One of my best friends's from high school is in town for a few days. So we went out to lunch at Tara Thai.

I am so thankful for his company. All of the laughs we had - I mean we literally laughed for four hours straight. I am thankful for the delicious pad Thai I dined on and for the pumpkin spice latte that I followed up the meal with. I am thankful that after all of these years - and all of this time - that we were able to pick up right where we had left off. I am thankful that he is still the ML I adore and love. I tell you, there is nothing greater than an old friend.

I am thankful for an EXCELLENT Pilates workout with some of my favorite inspirational ladies. It felt so good to tone up and see their smiling faces. I am thankful for the hot meal at my parent's house afterwards and for the company of my mom and sister while there.

I am also so thankful for Barack Obama's win! To God be the glory ... I was so incredibly nervous about this election. Watching the results roll in steadily was enough to give me a heart attack. But it was God's will that Barack be granted another four years in office. My prayer now is that Americans - red and blue - will come together to help this country continue to get back on its feet. That Americans will stop standing divided, and start standing united.

Today I am thankful for my job. I absolutely love the challenges and joys of being a special education teacher. I am thankful for my administration and for four IEP meetings that went well today. I am grateful for the gift of writing and the gift of gab. For having the opportunity to meet and touch base with several of my student's parents today.

I am thankful for having a membership at a gym and for the food I was able to eat today. For having a car to drive - even if she's a piece of junk - and a warm home to go to later tonight. I am thankful for the love of my family and the text messages I received today. That means that someone was thinking about me today.

Thank you Jesus for all the blessings you bestow upon me. I am truly blessed and it's so uplifting to stop everyday and think about all of the good God is doing in my life.

What are you thankful for today?

BARACK the VOTE

I cast my vote last Thursday and was able to get in and out in a record 20 minutes. I am so nervous about the election results tonight. I cannot fathom a country where Mitt Romney is president. He seems so dishonest. So crooked. So out of touch with the middle class. 

I am a Christian and to calm my nerve, I keep telling myself that God has a plan. His WILL will be done tonight. We cannot worry about the final results. The man who is supposed to be the leader of this country will be. I have to rest assured that I cast my vote. My voice was heard. 

A follower of mine posted this link to her face book page: Anti-Obama. This may be the most intelligently written piece I've seen to date. And regardless of what happens tonight, I am proud of my President for giving this presidency all that he had. For standing up for the rights of underrepresented groups. For fighting for what he [and many of us] believe in. And for doing it all with class and integrity. 

I cast my vote. Have you voted today? 

"Vote for Obama or Vote for Romney its your civic duty, vote for somebody"

Giving Thanks: Day Three

Today I am thankful for waking up on time for work and feeling well rested. I am thankful for having a professional day at work - one without students. I am thankful for having the opportunity to get special education paperwork done (or at least caught up on).

I am thankful for having Macaroni Grill for lunch with a former colleague. The food was delicious and I enjoyed hearing about how she was doing. I am thankful for spending time with my mother at the YAC center at the gym. I am thankful for a fantastic workout at the gym - kickboxing is a favorite of mine.

I am thankful for the few text messages I got today - especially the kind and/or sweet ones. I am thankful for the kind and thoughtful post from Jackie of primrose and company today on her website.

I am thankful for a home to come home to - that has heat and electricity. I am thankful for yet another day to be alive, happy, healthy and fulfilled.

What are you thankful for today?

Just Because ...

I am not one to get into political discussions ... I've watched several friendships disband over disagreements about politics. I have many friends - some Republican and some Democrats - and we get along wonderfully because we choose to keep our conversations [and opinions] about politics to a minimum. I came across this posting tonight, however, and I thought it was thought - provoking. Please do not get upset about this post ... or unfollow me for it. I promise - this will be one of the first and last times you will EVER see me post about something of htis nature. As a person who identifies as African American, whose ancestors are black ... this post touched my heart strings. I am not sure who will be in office come Wednesday ... but let God's will be done either way.

Just Because He’s Black (author unknown) 

A white man asked his black friend “Are you going to vote for Barack Obama just because he’s black?” The black man responded by saying, “Why not? In this country men are pulled over every day just because they are black; passed over for promotions just because they are black; considered to be criminals just because they are black. Thousands of white voters won’t be voting for him just because he’s black!

However, you don’t seem to have a problem with that! This country was built with the sweat and whip of the black slaves’ back; and now a black man has a chance to lead the same country where we weren’t even considered people, where we weren’t allowed to be educated, drink from the same fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote.

So I am going to vote for him!

But it’s not just because he’s black, but because through his leadership, several of America’s elusive enemies were brought to justice; several of our citizens rescued from peril; our economy, health and environment improved; and our good reputation around the world has been restored.

He is hope. He is change. He is wise. He’s a man of integrity and intelligence. He is a man of faith and perseverance. A man of maturity and good judgment. He is a faithful husband and father. And he now allows me to understand when my grandchildren say they want to be President when they grow up, it’s not a fairy tale, but a short term goal. They now see, understand, and know what they can achieve, withstand, and do anything just because they are black!

Giving Thanks: Day Two

I am thankful today for a day of rest. For being able to sleep in and for setting the clocks back an hour. I am thankful for the tuna I had on half of a toasted bagel - it was so delicious. I am thankful for the opportunity to go to Zumba. I had a great workout and enjoyed seeing some old friends.

I am thankful for shopping with my mother this afternoon. We went to Big Lots, where I was able to purchase my very first Christmas tree AND the cutest matching snowman rug/pot holders. We had such a good time - her company is truly valued and appreciated. Heck! I am thankful for my mother. She's such a blessing in my life.

I am thankful for Sunday Night Family dinners at my parent's house. There is nothing better than a delicious home cooked meal and the love of my family. It is so uplifting to be able to fellowship with them every week on Sunday evening.

I am also thankful for the delicious fudgy brownies I baked - and that my family has found tasty! My cooking and baking skills are definitely improving.

What are you thankful for today?

Clean Eating: Take One

Every year, I make a new years resolution to go to the gym more frequently and watch what I eat. I generally have success with this resolution from January until about mid April/Beg May. I typically drop pounds, tone up and feel great! Then the summer comes - and I hardly eat as I like to prance around in bikinis and it's too hot to eat a heavy meal.

Then September comes around and I look GREAT as I stress about getting back into the groove of a new school year. Then October hits and like clock work, I gain 5 lbs from drinking way too much (I thank my students for that) and eating way too many sweets (this time I thank my coworkers). I feel terrible about myself and usually become a lump. I hate to workout, so I eat more. I hate the way I look and feel. So you've guessed it, I eat more. Then the holidays roll around ... and the eating continues.

Until January 1st, when I resolve to change my eating habits.

I need to save money - I live on my own now and my hard earned and quickly spent money surely does not grow on trees. So I really want to try to limit my eating out AND increase my eating of nutrient dense foods. Also - I am feeling fat. I have love handles and blubber. My clothes aren't fitting quite the same way and I feel tired all the time. So there could be no better time to make a healthy and honest attempt at changing my habits.

I vow to try to workout more than once a week ... so here is my plan:

Monday - Kickboxing
Tuesday - Pilate's
Thursday - Weight Lift
Sunday - Weight Lift

I also vow to try to eat cleaner. Clean eating is something a friend of mine swears by - she feels better and looks great! It's not so much a diet as a life style change. I know for a fact I will have a struggle with this - I just love sweets, treats and drinks too much. But I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of being a blob.

I am currently writing out my grocery list ... and I hope I can handle only putting nutrient dense foods into my shopping cart. Here goes take one at clean eating!

Giving Thanks

I am thankful being able to sleep in this morning. Although I woke up at 8:30am, an extra hour of sleep does the body good. I am thankful for caring coworkers at BC. My Saturday job has it's challenges, but working with such sweet and funny girls makes the job so much better. I am thankful for getting paid today from my part time gig. That additional paycheck helps pay bills and gives me some extra spending cash each month.

I am thankful for the relaxing day I had at home. I am generally very busy and do not have the opportunity to be home long enough to enjoy my humble abode. Today- I had the opportunity not only to spend time here, but to also spend time in the company of one of my best friends. I enjoyed the conversation, laughs, pizza run (Little Caesars), movie viewing (The 5 Year Engagement) and backing of no pudgy brownies from Trader Joe's. I do not think I spent a dime today, other than $5 on pizza.

And currently, I am thankful for the opportunity to curl up on my couch and watch TV/read the blogs of my followers. Many of these ladies are gifted writers and have a great sense of humor (which is conveyed through their writing.) They come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, but their honest accounts of the joys and sorrows of life somehow uplift me and encourage me ... or make me feel as though someone may understand the joys and sorrows that occur in my life.

Today was a perfectly perfect Saturday ... and for that, I am thankful.