My Bucket List...

So since I am starting fresh, I thought it might be a good idea to start my bucket list. So over the last few days every time something comes to mind that I want to do, I write it down...there is not rhyme or reason to the order, they are just written as I think of them...I hope to add more later.

Enjoy!

1.     Go to Greece

2.     Visit all 50 states

3.     Have a picnic in Central Park

4.     Ice Skate in Rockefeller Center

5.     Attend a major sporting event (Superbowl, World Series, US Open)

6.     Ride on a train

7.     Be an extra in a movie

8.     Run a 10k

9.     Make out with a cute boy in the rain

10.  Read the Bible in its entirety

11.  Take a road trip out west

12.  Learn to speak Spanish

13.  Learn to dance

14.  Become a principal of a school

15.  Learn how to golf

16.  Learn how to ski (water and snow)

17.  Achieve and maintain financial stability

18.  Go the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in NYC

19.  Fly in a hot air balloon

20.  Own a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes

21.  Volunteer at a Children’s Hospital

22.  Fly First Class

23.  Learn sign language

24.  See the ball drop at midnight at new years in NYC

25.  Visit Ireland

26.  Visit Japan

27.  Kiss the Blarney Stone

28.  Ride in a helicopter

29.  See a glacier

30.  See the 7 Wonders of the World

31.  Feel and know true love

32.  Have my own children

33.  Adopt a child

34.  Own a cupcake shop

35.  Go to Vegas

36.  Visit Mt. Rushmore

37.  Build an igloo

38.  Write a letter to the editor

39.  Run for an elected position

40.  Do 100 push ups consecutively

41.  Visit wine country

42.  Ride an elephant

43.  Take surfing lessons

44.  Go on an African Safari

Need some prayers....

So, I do not ask for this often, but after the last week or so I am asking for a few prayers...so here we go....

1. Please pray for my health. I think I am getting Bronchitis and now is not the time for this. I had to leave work early yesterday, sat through a funeral yesterday with a pretty high temperature, and today sat through a meeting from 9-5 still not feeling well. I really need to be back at work tomorrow to catch up, because those of you who know me, know I do not like work piling up on my desk. Get it done is my motto!

2.  Please pray for me to have some patience. When I took this new job I knew exactly what I was getting into. I am not naive, I know I will not make everyone happy all the time and I know I will have to make tough decisions, but I swear, with some people there is no winning for losing. Pray I can get past those few, and so far I mean very few who may not always like my decisions or how I handle something and to remember that I know I am doing the best I can and I am trying to do the best thing for my students. 

3. Please pray for peace. Peace for me, but more importantly, my many former students and friends who have lost a very special young man this week. I knew it was going to be hard to go to the funeral yesterday, but I never imagined how difficult until I was actually there. Watching the same people hurt so much over the loss of a friend not once but now twice in less than a year is devastating. My heart is so heavy with not only my own grief over the loss of these two special people, but for all these young people. There is only so much they can take. I pray, and I hope you will too, that God will give us the peace we need to get through this difficult time.

Thank you!

My heart is hurting...

"If God sends us on strong paths, He will provide us with strong shoes."

Not even one year ago I lost a former student and friend, Caitlyn Price, to a tragic car accident. Caitlyn was the epitome of fantastic. She had a gorgeous smile and a beautiful spirit. She was going to be a wonderful high school social studies teacher. I hate it for all the students out there who will never be able to have her as a teacher, because I know she would have been great! I always called Caitlyn my "mini-me". When I talked to her I swore I was talking to a younger version of my self, except she was way cooler than I could have ever been. Caitlyn was just something special and anyone who met her knew that right away. This place here on earth has not been the same since she left.
Unfortunately this evening, we have lost another special person in a horrible motorcycle accident, Jacob Frye. I was also blessed to teach Jacob. As I think about Jake this evening I realize how much he reminds me of Caitlyn. When I close my eyes and think of Jake, his smile is the first thing that comes to my mind. He had this precious smile that no one will ever forget. I swear Jake could get anything he wanted just by showing that sweet smile. I don't think there was ever a day when I did not see that smile when I saw Jake.
My heart is breaking tonight for Caitlyns family as they relive their tragedy, Jake's family as they deal with this tragedy, and all my sweet students who are questioning why they have now lost two friends in less than a year.
As I go to bed tonight and say my many, many prayers all I can think about is that Caitlyn was standing at Heaven's Gate with her beautiful smile waiting on sweet Jake. I know she will take care of him and he will her. Now we have two amazing angels watching over us. May they both rest in peace and may God give all those hurting the strength they need during this very sad time.

Onward and Upward...

Today is the day I write my first ever blog entry!
Five months ago I made the decision to change my life for the better. I was tired of being fat, complacent in my job and stuck in a town with people who I could hardly call my real friends. (Sorry, this is not everyone, but there are a handful this statement applies to, so real friends need not be offended). That was my tipping point! It is now mid February and I have gotten rid of 35lbs, I have a new job which I really think I am going to love and I am in the process of house hunting for the very first time in a new town. All that in just five months has been overwhelming, but at the same time so exciting. I am really starting to feel good about where my life is going. For the first time in a long time, I feel like things are moving in the right direction. I really feel like this is my year! So on January 1st, I sat down and I made a list of things I want to accomplish this year. I am excited to say as I write this, I can check some of them off my list. I look forward to working on these and others!

• Finish the bible in a year- working on it!
• Start a blog- Check that!
• Lose 25 more lbs- Working on it- Meeting my new trainer Tuesday!
• Meet a good man
• Mend old/broken friendships
• Create new friendships
• Buy a house- looking!
• Get an AP job- Check that!
• Run more 5ks's
• Run a 10k

Thats all for now...Onward and Upward my friends!