lovely locks

I did it. Finally. 10 inches of hair gone for Locks of Love! Thank you Hairtique!

oh deer.

I've always been scared of hitting a deer or getting into some sort of car accident. Totally paranoid might be a better way to describe it. So... I was thrilled when I FINALLY did not have to drive to school this week because it was my friend's turn. Tuesday morning we were driving along and I was chatting away to keep myself awake when CRASH! KABOOM! SMASH! a deer got in our way. We pulled into the next driveway and whipped out the cells to call our Dads. We then walked up to the house we were at and asked if we could leave the car there. Not only did the man let us leave the car there, but he offered to drive us to school. Word had spread like wildfire through the school about our eventful morning, so by the time we arrived there (on time I might add!)... all the teachers knew. My supervisor also knew and was already at the school... to observe me! BLEH! But... the observation went fine and I began to worry about how we would get back to college. I tried calling several student teachers at another school, but no luck. SO... I called my last co-op who answered her phone in the middle of the day (as I knew she would!) and went down the hall to give the phone to my friend. After the school day, the principal drove us to our friend who drove us back to school. What an adventure!

At first I was just so thankful that everything had worked out during the day and was so grateful for the people who helped us along the way. Then... as the adrenaline of the adventure wore off... I began to freak out. We could have been seriously injured or even killed. That could have been the last time I went to school. Things could have been a lot different.

None of us know when our lives could be a lot different. Things happen that weren't exactly on the "to do list" for the day.

Are you living life as though this was your last time to go to school? Or do you need to make some changes like me?

first grade favorites

I love these kiddos so much. These are just a few of the reasons why...

pretty pink princesses at the fair...

Laker spirit for Homecoming...

laughing like crazy...

silly socks and shoes for Spirit Week...

little girls with lovable attitudes...

Halloween costumes and huge hugs...

and an overall amazing experience.

"i'm fine"...

Why is it that when people ask us how we are, we reply all to often with, "I'm fine."?????? Are we really fine? Or are we just giving the answer people want to hear?

"Sometimes when I say, "Oh... I'm fine," I want someone to look me in the eyes and say, "Tell the truth." ~Facebook Flair

break the cycle

With this being the last year before I graduate... I have a few goals that I would like to meet. One of those goals was to run a 5k. Yesterday I did it... but not exactly the way I thought it would happen.

Let's flashback to last May. A dear friend of mine decided to run a 5k. Not just any 5k... but one for a cause - Beaver County Women's Shelter's Run to Break the Cycle. I jumped onboard and together decided that we were going to do this thing at the end of August.

In the time between officially setting this goal and the race, many things happened. First... I foolishly injured my knee in May. However, I was still committed to doing the race. After all... someone was counting on me! Then... earlier this month my friend, Kristin, went through an abrupt ectopic pregnancy. Throughout, she has been such a trooper and inspiration... but could no longer be a part of this race with me.

Therefore... I enlisted my sister to run with me. We soon discovered that we were to be joined by our uncle, several cousins and her boyfriend. Early yesterday morning... we all loaded into the Steeler Mobile, pumped up the music and road to the race in style.

With my sister being the runner she is... I don't know how she managed to stick with me at my snail's pace. I felt like giving up so many times throughout those 3 miles... but in my head I kept thinking, "Do it - for Kristin."

Roughly 34 minutes later... after "running" the entire thing... we crossed the finish line. I had done it. One goal to cross off the bucket list. A goal that I had originally planned on doing just for me... but ended up finishing in part for Kristin and to break the cycle.

a thought

"If the dots connect perfectly, it's only because I lined them up with a ruler."

I read that thought today and I was like, "YES! That's me!"

i want...

friends. real friends. real friends at school that love me for who i am. friends that i can be me with. friends that don't live across the state. sigh.

hmmm...

And why exactly did I think I could blog successfully? The more I've tried, the more I've thought about how hard it is for me to put in words the things that I am actually feeling. Maybe if I keep trying?

the beginning?

Blogging. What's it all about? I guess the best way to find out what it's all about is to try it, right? Right. So... here it goes. Knowing my track record with this sort of thing, the chances of me keeping up with it are slim to none... but you never know!

Reasons why I'm going to give this a go:

1. Twenty years from now (or even 2 for that matter!), I want to be able to look back on what was going on during this unique time. I've been trying to catch up with some scrapbooking this weekend and the pictures are flooding me with memories. So much changes during college and I want to remember it through not only pictures, but words as well.
2. Some of the people I look up to most are doing the whole "blogging thing". I know it's not good to do what someone else is doing just because they are doing it... but I'm going to chance this one. :-)
3. I'm not exactly stellar with keeping people updated on my life. I wish I was better, but communication is just not one of my fortes. Maybe, just maybe, this will help?
4. There are some changes that I need to make in my life and I need to be accountable for following through on these ideas and goals of mine. I'm tired of trying and falling short. My Dad always told us that we have to write our goals down if we are going to succeed... so, (don't tell him) but I'm listening to his advice. (just this once!) Y

So... here it goes...