A year in review...

So when I started this blog a little over a year ago, it was all about making a fresh start... Beginning things again. Starting over. Making new changes in my life. And kind of purging the not so stellar things...

Here it is, almost June of the next year and I can't even begin to explain the changes that happened. Most of them for the better. So since the school year is winding down to a close, here is a look back on one weird year.

Last summer was one of the most fun summers I have ever had. I can't even explain why... I had gotten my hair cut super short in May, which took a bit of an emotional toll on my soul and a lot of getting used to. There were a few fun weekends in Springfield with the BFFF. Or maybe most of it was all one weekend, I honestly don't remember but I look back on my times in Springfield last summer with a happy heart and a huge grin. I mean, who doesn't like themed outfits and Captain poses mixed with laying in the sun and fighting over bananas!

Not to mention, a year ago on June 8th, I started clogging! I have learned a bit about perseverance... sometimes my legs feel like they might fall off. But I love it. Almost every single minute of it. Taking a dance class was something I'd always thought about doing and I couldn't ask for a better release or a better group of people to do it with.

Summer also took me to the coast of Mississippi for a week vacation gone awry... It wasn't what I expected it to be but I can't really complain about the 14 glorious hours in the car by myself... It truly was a great time. Or the few fabulous hours of laying on the beach. A beach that may or may not end up with serious ecological damage due to an oil spill this year. Yeah, I had to endure a 14 hour ride back with my complaining, snoring grandmother (who I do dearly love but perhaps shouldn't spend a week alone with).

Coming back from summer, I had heard about a guy that was going to start working at our school. I'd heard he was my age, attractive, funny... instant crush material. Working in a lower elementary setting, we don't see too many single, young guys. Of course my loving coworkers (I hate calling them coworkers because they are so much more than that... but more on that later) were instantly ready to set us up. But things weren't right for us and we definitely became good friends instead and now we're both happy in other relationships. And the best part: it was never awkward despite the fact that he knew what the coworker (because it was mainly one) was up to.

Coworkers. Mine are so much more than that. In this place where I came to live knowing only one single soul... I have developed such a strong set of friends. A second (though really maybe a third) family. Sure... most of them are married with kids, but somehow we all click and always have a good time. I know that they are there if I need them and they make sure I'm taken care of. After my first year, I was devastated with Taylor moved. She was my first close friend here and she up and left me to live with her husband in Sedalia (how selfish, right?). Not that she has been replaced but this year brought me the above mentioned guy coworker and his girlfriend (also a coworker) to go out and party with when the mood strikes. I finally have found people my age that like the same things I do!

This year also brought me a church that I like. For the most part, it preaches the ideals I believe in and is low key with live music. Perfect. I've found a piece of me that has been missing since leaving Springfield and the LSC. It has brought me strength in quite a few tough times this school year.

Yes... this school year has been the hardest I've had. But I figure it's for a reason. Perhaps to make me stronger for what next year has in store for me. Because let me tell you, I've seen pieces of what we're up against next year and it is not going to be pretty. I already know of one student I am going to have and her alone is going to take quite a bit of time to make sure she has equal opportunities and chances. Yes, it's going to be a struggle. But I have almost three months to mentally prepare and I had all this year to build up my emotional defenses...

Oh summer... Glorious summer. Summer school is only 12 days. And though I am going to have 25 kids in my summer school class (more like crowd control than teaching), it's only like five and a half hours for twelve days. I will have three day weekends through June and still have most of my afternoons. And let me tell you, I have great plans!

The boyfriend and I are going to a couple of weddings (one for a friend of mine and one for a friend of his... so we're even on that) and a Cards/Royals game (where I will wear red and he will wear blue). I am going to see Wicked at the Fox! And I might even go on vacation with coworker G and her family. Though that one is still up in the air depending on the direction the oil spill takes... Oh, and mom and I are going to wack our hair off again but this time, instead of Locks of Love (because we don't have enough for that yet), we're giving it to a company that uses it to help clean up oil from oil spills.

Although I've complained of this year being one of the hardest (due to my class)... I can only hope a year from now, I can still be at least this happy.