mY rOlLeR cOAsTer RidE!

Looking back on the past few years, life has indeed simulated a roller coaster ride. There have been many unexpected twists, turns, jolts, and loops. Slowly clinking up to the top and screaming all the way down through my life's highs and lows. I've been "up and down" emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

So here are some of the ups and downs of the past two years... in no particular order:

Mourning the loss of my dad... losing countless other friends and family... providing extra emotional support for my mom... finding out my mom has been "seeing" someone for over a year after my dad's passing... dealing with my unpredictable (and often selfish) family... surviving four years in the real world... being a great fifth grade teacher... sacrificing hours and hours of planning and paperwork... molding and teaching 31 students this year... getting surprise visits from former students... worrying about the fourth graders coming up next year... state superintendent visiting my classroom... surviving the governing board... enduring work stress (perpetual and seasonal)... earning a distinguished school award... representing my school at the Distinguish School Award Ceremony in Disneyland... being selected for the Mickelson ExxonMobile Teachers Academy over 1600 other teachers... teaching Kids Connections... praying... laughing... crying... spending time with my small group... talking with my girlfriends... sipping coffee and tea... taking advantage of free mobile-to-mobile minutes... hurting my knee... finally getting physical therapy a year and a half later... knee healing... exercising unpredictably... Wii-ing... not Wii-ing... enjoying bf at home... missing bf in Oregon... suffering with allergies and sinus infections... spending time in the ER with an allergic reaction... signing up for two years of allergy shots... moving into a new house with a new roomie... carpooling and saving the planet... planting a tree... playing with Izzie... listening to Izzie... adopting an SPCA puppy... fixing Lucy's hernia... treating Lucy's kennel cough... paying lots of $$$... having unconditional love in your arms... buying a new house... becoming more independent... finding a mass in my right breast... waiting... getting an ultrasound... finding no signs of cancer... helping plan my best friend's wedding... planning for the future... watching time fly by as measured by others, facebook, and self-reflection... living for vacations and time off... striving to be the best daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, cousin, teacher, mentor, coworker, stranger, bridesmaid, friend, girlfriend, and woman that I can be....

To be continued...