Needing a reminder

It's wedding week! We are all so excited for it to finally be here and to welcome our new daughter-in-law and sster-in-law into the family. We are feeling all of the emotions and we are so happy for them.  

Allergies, lack of sleep, exhaustion, a few stressful work situations, a botched pedicure, among other things had me feeling all of the feelings and I found myself camped on the negative...looking at the things that have gone wrong instead of looking for the things that are oh, so right.  So tonight...I am needing a reminder. A reminder that God is good all of the time, through all of the emotions, ups and downs, celebrations, and messiness of life.

--Penn State game last weekend as a whole family get away before the wedding.

--GORGEOUS views on the way home from PA in the mountains

--Safety in travels and fun despite the rain that DID. NOT. STOP!!

--Celebrating my daughter-in-law-to-be's birthday on Sunday.

--Hair cut and highlights with my girl for wedding prep

--Friends that remind me to take care of myself, even if it means shutting my door to cry for a hot minute.

--Offers of hugs and prayers by text or google messages.

--Fresh coffee on a chilly afternoon

--Watching a student grow and learn through mistakes

--Friends that leave me out of group chats and talk about me, because they want to lift me up and do something so sweet. (My work family are truly friends and I'm so blessed)

--Marigold moments (my marigold crew knows)

--A bestie that takes a picture of herself riding on the back of a duck statue

--Heat pads and hot tea while relaxing

--A pedicure re-do for the wedding

--Seeing a normally somber student smiling and laughing

--Memes, giphs, and tik-toks that make me laugh

--Caramel apples and pretzels dipped in honey mustard dressing

--Laughter...I have grown to love laughter and am so fortunate to have a lot of it!!!!

--Sticky notes

--Breaking out in song randomly at work...and a friend that joins in with me

--Fuzzy socks when my feet are cold

--Bargain Lane and finding deals and laughter throughout the bins

--A short school week due to Fall Break on Friday and Monday

--Having my whole family at home for this last week before the wedding

That's really just touching the surface too...I could go on and on, but honestly, I've been reminded of all of my positives and have had a reset in my focus.  And that, my friends, was the whole goal.  God is good, all the time...and when we question it, all we have to do is stop and look for the good, for the joy, for the positive.  Be blessed friends and look for it!

Loving what I do

This week was a long one...lots of hours at school, some by choice to watch sporting events and some not so much by choice with meetings and "situations". My days were non-stop and I had a couple days that I didn't sit down at my desk or check my email until after 11:00 AM, which is very unlike me.  Another day I left school for the day well after school hours and still had 20+ emails that were unread, which is REALLY not like me.  One day an administrator stopped to check on me because he knew that it had been crazy busy for me and I said I was good. He gave me a look and I said "No, I'm really, really good!'.  I realized as I left school that day that I was indeed good.  Very good.  And that felt amazing! I even text a friend with this message: "You know what's awesome? Today was LONG and a LOT but I left feeling energized and purposeful."  As I drove home I waited for the exhaustion to kick in because it had been a lot that day...but it didn't.  Instead I was content and thinking how much I love my job. I truly do, even the hard parts of it. I can deal with a lot of heavy on a daily basis and trust me that not every day do I feel energized and puposeful. Some days just are hard and I'm wiped out and weary.  But even on those days...Man I love my job!  It is amazing to be right where God put me doing what He wants me to do. There is no other explanation. 

And my co-workers??? So thankful to call so many of them my friends. They are people I enjoy and love being around. I know I've mentioned it before, but throughout my teaching years, I was often an island...music teachers (or any "special"--I hate that name for it...but I won't go there today) especially in an elementary school are on there own.  Everyone has a "team" but specials are so vastly different and often on such different schedules, that I never really felt like I fit in at any of the schools I was at.  Meetings?  They would sit with their grade levels. Lunch? Often the same. Now that I am a school counselor, my position is vastly different and I have an office within the office and am surrounded by a team that works hard but still have a lot of fun together.  I feel like I have a spot. I'm not on my own island anymore. And I simply love it.

Life is short and I'm so glad that I took the plunge to change careers in mid-life. I love going to work again and even in my 4th year now...It feels fresh, new, and exciting every day.  Every day is different. Sometimes it is H.A.R.D. and there are tears and exhaustion. But even after those days, I'm ready to go back the next day to be with my co-workers, to love on my students, and feel a part of a team that is energizing and purposeful.  How stinking lucky am I?