.another trip around the sun.

"I have flying monkeys. And I'm not afraid to use them!"

those words greeted me happily as I entered a sweet little cabin in the woods, in hendersonville, nc, last wednesday evening. after two months of working my tail off, and getting through mid-terms, I took a little break to visit some of the best people I know. on a sunny october afternoon, I hopped on a bus and made my way back to the mountains. this year, I didn't just have a birth-DAY, it was more like a birth-WEEK. and it was so special.  

you see, last year was one of the most challenging years of my adult life. for many reasons. don't worry, I'm not going to torture you with all of the awful details. suffice it to say, that a struggle is made so much worse when you allow a stubborn unforgiving attitude to govern your actions. thankfully, even though I fought it with everything I had, I was blessed with a friend.

a bright spot in all the chaos. lovely, jill.

she has one of the sweetest spirits I have ever encountered. and though I'm sure she'd love to argue, I have a suspicion that where our friendship is concerned, she may be getting the raw end of the deal. (okay, maybe not...) but really. she has such a genuine heart, inspires me daily to strive for honesty, and oh my goodness can this girl make me laugh! (that might be my favorite thing about her. but I'm getting off topic here...I can't help it! I love bragging on the amazing people God brings into my life!) the point is, that even after a difficult year, and being more ready to move than I could ever tell you, I also had a wonderful reason to come back. 

as a special treat for myself, I had decided to come and surprise all the little munchkins that I worked with last year. the fact that I had a chance to stay in the company of this lovely lady, and her fabulous husband was just a fringe benefit! ;) so, I spent two days walking about the halls of the school I used to work in, and getting many hugs and surprised gasps from excited little ones. fun fact? hugs from seven year-olds are good for the soul. really. try it sometime. 

and the treats just kept on coming. I spent my friday evening at the theater hooping and hollering with the best of them, as my dear friend took her bows with the rest of the talented cast. (have I mentioned she's crazy-brave? yeah.) 

and saturday morning I woke to birthday candles in my french toast breakfast.

finally heading home was incredibly bittersweet. but it also came with an affirmation that I am right where I am supposed to be. not mention, a bit more fun. saturday night I found myself babysitting two of the cutest kiddos ever.  we made a trip to the pool, ate pizza, and spent the rest of the evening watching Home Alone.

sweet sophia. :)

Sunday was a day for catching up with a different pair of my asheville favorites. we had good food, lots of laughs, and even more hugs. in the end my heart was so full, that I thought it might burst. I could not have asked for a better way to bring in a brand new year of my life! I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a blessed girl. 

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."-Marcel Proust

.begin again.

“so what do we do? anything. something. so long as we just don't sit there. if we screw it up, start over. try something else. if we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late."- Lee Iacocca

starting over. 

it's never easy. not for me. I'm a creature of habit, who relishes in the fact that for the most part, she knows what to expect out of her everyday life. I like routine. structure. planning. take that from me, and suddenly my world is spinning on its axis. it's ironic, really. for someone who hates change so much, I sure do put myself through a lot of it. 

every fall for the last three years I have immersed myself in something new. I have picked up my life and moved here and there in search of adventure. this past august was no exception. after spending a year in north carolina loving on little ones, reciting ABC'S, reviewing multiplication tables, fixing boo-boos, and taking every moment I could to give in to my inner child, I found the courage to take a leap. 

I absolutely love being in a room surrounded by precious kiddos, all sporting their adorable, mischievous grins. after months of being given the opportunity to spend my days in the classroom, I was finally able to admit to myself that I wanted to teach. wanted my own group of little ones to pour my heart into. 

so I did it. I packed up all my things, threw them in my car, and made my way back to Georgia. now that I'm here it hardly feels real. in fact I'm almost positive that I spent the first three weeks in a daze. it's true that there are many reasons for which I had the desire to move. but mostly I just couldn't wait to start working toward my own classroom. I was so excited. and also tremendously scared. thankfully, I have the best support system in the world. this is not an embellishment or exaggeration. it's simply the truth. 

and even though I have certainly had my moments of panic in the last two months, I have also been given the grace to begin again. to jump headlong into a brand-new adventure. because I know now more than ever that I am not doing this alone. and for this I am so very grateful.    

so, what have I been up to the last couple of months you ask? classes mostly. I've spent many hours rediscovering my nerdy self, and burying my face in books. I've also been desperately trying to decorate my little apartment, so that it feels more like home. (pictures coming soon) I love it here, and I am so thankful for the blessing to be exactly where I am. 

I may not like change very much. but at least my kicking and screaming is not powerful enough to ruin the good things it brings.

another year you made a promise. another chance to turn it all around. and do not save this for tomorrow. embrace the past and you can live for now. and I will give the world to you." -A Great Big World