Survivor...

So I have been struggling a bit lately in life, at work, with teaching, defining my relationships/friendships, and such. I have been looking back at the lessons I learned over the last several years thru the trials and blessings I have experienced. I have been debating about sharing the story of my marriage, with the ups and downs, as well as the divorce, which is the toughest trial I have been thru in my life so far. I don't think it completely stems from the actual divorce, but from many of the experiences that took place during the marriage. Tonight I again made the realization that I am a survivor. This was made while watching some TV and a similar situation that was expressed on the show.

Hind sight is 20/20... I survived the death of my best friend, her younger brother (who was my adopted younger brother as well), my parents divorce at the age of 28. I have survived a relationship where I was emotionally, spiritually, verbally, and even physically abused. Now it wasn't like this all of the time. We had some great times together, but I realized that I completely lost myself, cut myself off from friends, activites that I loved, and family. I immersed myself in the relationship. I got up went to work, went to teach and came home to my husband, whom I loved and just wanted to be the best wife and give him all that his heart desired. I lost myself. I have since realized that the bruises from the poking, the 'tickling' and such were not signs of love. The bruises and welts have long since healed, but the emotional scares re-surface every so often, which they did this last week. I feel horrible. I got very upset with a very dear friend who has stood by my side thru deaths, my marriage, my divorce and other good and hard times. I feel like it was out of a bit of jealousy. This friend is in an amazing marriage, with a beautiful child and one on the way. She is having a bit of a rough pregnancy and was venting/stressing a bit. I told her that I would give anything to be in her shoes, a great marriage, children, a husband that loves and supports you in all ways and allows you to do the same for him. So, to this person, you know who you are, I am so sorry.

I also made the realization tonight, that I will have that one day, I know that without a shadow of a doubt. I hope and pray that I can let down my wall so that I can allow a special someone into my life. I will admit I have some trust issues, but I am also very aware of behaviors in my guy friends and the gentlemen that I date. I have been blessed with an amazing counselor, who has given me some 'warning' signs to watch for and amazing friends who have always stood by my side, even when I overstep my bounds.

Thank you to my family and friends for everything. Now life has been amazing as well. I have 2 amazing children from another mother, hundreds of students from teaching that I get to see grow and progress in many aspects of life, from college, to marriage to babies, I have seen Europe and places across the US, I have an amazing family and friends. I have learned lessons thru my experiences that I could not have learned any other way. I am grateful for all of these lessions and experiences. I too hope and pray that my past relationship(s) find that special someone who will make them happy in everyway.

I am going to be an Eagle and Soar!

Ducks Quack-Eagles Soar

Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar
No one can make you serve customers well....that's because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment....

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I 'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today..'

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts...

'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'

'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'

'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.

'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give the m a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.... The ball is in our hands!
A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.





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SORROW looks back, WORRY looks around, and FAITH looks UP... BECAUSE OF FATHER'S LOVE, I AM CHANGED!!! "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

New Years!

What a fantastic New Years! I had no plans for new years eve at all. I had bought myself some sparkling grape juice and was just planning on hanging at home. I prefer not to be on the roads that night due to the increased number of intoxicated drivers. Well the day before... December 30th, I talk to one of my best friends, and he too had zero plans for New Years... but he also was not feeling well. So the decision was made to chat on the 31st and see how he was feeling and decide what to do... I could not have been more elated and excited. I have known Chris for 5 years, and we have stuck by each others side through some very trying times. So New Year's Eve rolls around and the decision has been made to head to the mountains and meet up with his parents at their cabin. So with in an hour I was packed and off to the mountains to have an incredible time. The cabin and the area is absolutely gorgeous and so peaceful. We played games, watched a movied and rang in the new year with sparkling cider. It was a great time had by all, Amazing Friends, Great Food, fantastic games and a great movie. It was so nice to spend time with Chris, Pam and Steve. We had not seen each other for a very long time. I am so grateful for the friendships that have been made with these 3 amazing people. I met them 5 years ago, by chance. What a huge blessing! Love you all!

This is the scene I woke up to.. The peaceful scenery and even serenity was amazing. I am so grateful I was able to spend the start of a new decade with such amazing people. This next decade is going to be fantastic and started out with a bang! Wahoo.

I get to start school in a week, back to work and teaching tomorrow! Look out life, I am back and ready to accomplish! Happy New Year to All!

Christmas!

I can not believe that it is now 2010. The last decade passed so quickly. Christmas this year was great! I actually put a tree for the first time in a couple years and reall felt the Christmas Spirit. I started the Christmas season off by going with my mom to see The Forgotten Carols. I love starting the Christmas Season off by seeing that show and have done so for the last several years. I am grateful that my mom went with me. It is something we used to do as a family every year... then when my dad left it, that ended. I continued to go each year with different friends or the man I was dating, but it was wonderful to see it with my mom. The Christmas Recital was on the 12th, a bit earlier this year than normal, but honestly that was nice. I enjoyed the time off and being able to assist with the Coppeila rehearsals for the week after the recital. We almost completed the first act of Copelia in that week, amazing! I am excited that we are doing a new ballet this year. My sweet Michael and Sabrina had the opportunity to go and enjoy the lights and the feeling at Temple Square as well. What a gorgeous sight and an amazing time with my sweet kids. They are so much more in tune and smarter than I was at that age. They truly understand the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. Later in the month the kids nd I got together to celebrate our Christmas and exchange our presents. I picked the kids up on the 29th of December and we first met up withsome of my very dear friends for dinner. We headed up to Red Robin in blizzard like conditions and met my old college roomie, Laura, who we called and still call Larda, her hubby and her in-laws, Corey and Shannon, as well as their kids. It is such a small world. Larda and I were roomies in college at SUU, and her brother in law, Corey and I used to work together at Working RX. It was so fun to see them all and Mike and Sabrina got to see Tia and Katlyn (Shannon and Corey's) again. What a terrific evening. After dinner we came home and opened our presents. Then curled up and watched Secondhand Lions. Michael and Sabrina love to swim, so after breakfast we headed over to the swimming pool for a bit of fun! It was sad to take them back to their Mom #1's house, but they are just the best and most kind hearted children. They wanted to spein time with their mom before she went to work.

What a fantastic Christmas Season!

Christmas Pictures!