Today Was a Good Day!

When a seven year old student who came to you in August not talking, having meltdowns more than twice a day, and couldn't string words together to form a cohesive thought, ends up smiling all day? Not only today but two days in a row? It makes a good...no...GREAT day. My SPED coordinator and I shared some joyful tears over this beautiful girl today, so proud of how far she has come. I will miss this girl more than most...and I miss my students when they move on, big time!

I've been thinking about this "goodbye" for the past couple days. It's going to be a tough one. I want to do it at the perfect time, but when is the perfect time to tell 28 little minds that we will never see one another again? How do I tell a little girl who has changed my life, and I like to think I've made a huge impact on hers...that I won't be around for her next year? I'm struggling with these thoughts. I've never made a connection with kids the way I have here the past two years. I know I will in the future...kids are obviously my life. But this is one goodbye I am not ready for. Nor do I think I ever will be...

Home Brewed Ice Coffee...

Ya kinda need it in the desert.

Leaving is kinda setting in. I'm really going to miss the ones I've grown close to. I'm going to miss the mountains when I walk out the door and my weekends spent with unexpected good friends. I'll miss beautiful sunsets and venting sessions with my Godmother. I hope to visit at least twice a year. This place had inspired me to do so much with my life, and not limit it to what it is. What I've done.

Quite a few people will be left with a piece of my heart and I am ok with that :) that's life. People come and go but their pieces linger on. And hopefully, so does their presence.

Just thinking about missing people here.

Let the craziness begin!

Funny, The Way It Is...

How people come and go. Opportunities come to pass. How we grow from the chances and risks we take. And then...ever so suddenly, we are ready to move on. Take another giant leap and only hope for the best...

I lie here, on MY couch, in MY apartment, realizing these are the last two months I will actually live in a place I have wanted to live in since I started visiting my aunt out here. Mission: Accomplished. A dream to check off my list. And from it, a realization of never wanting to live too far from home again. Venture? Yes! I plan on vacations abroad in the near future. But, for a brief moment in time, I truly believed I could bring and settle my heart in the desert. However, obviously not so. My heart, my future dreams, my aspirations lie ahead in Philadelphia. Close to family, close to friends, close to home.

I can't help but think that my past has been brought back into my life to help me make my decision in moving back. The past wasn't meant to work out - that's why it's the past. I am thankful, though, for what it has made me realize. It is time to move on.

So, again...here I lie. Thankful for my past. Hopeful for my future. And looking forward to the steps I will be taking all too soon - paving my own path of success, adventure, happiness, and love. Here's to uncertainty...here's to life :)

B.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Thanks, Mr. Gretzky - I am willing to miss, but only if I give it my all and am able to walk away saying so!