A Return from Flying South for the Winter

Sometimes, you need a break.  You know what I am talking about, like when you eat all the swiss cheese in the Kraft package and the thought of swiss cheese makes you want to hurl?  Ok, maybe you're not an ex-chunk like me, but, well, I took a break; ironically, a three year break from when my last post was.  What happened to this woman during that time?

First, I quit my day job.  Yep, you read that right.  I quit doing what I was most passionate about...teaching 11 years olds how to read, write, and sing the rendition of the YMCA known as "It's Great to be in Miss Meyer's 5th Grade."  This was a really hard thing for me to do.  It is scary to leave what you know, love and are comfortable with to step out into a world that is unknown with no support net to catch you.  How do you say good-bye from where you got your start?  Leave your boss, colleagues, parents, community and friends?  What did I choose to do?  Start my PhD.  :)  That is correct, I am working on becoming a Doctor of Philosophy in Literacy.  I am up at K-State working on it while teaching two sections of senior undergraduate literacy classes.  Essentially, I get to teach future teachers how to teach!  What a dream job I get to have and do while completing my personal goals and aspirations.  

Then, I found a new home.  My family is amazing.  Have I ever mentioned that?  I come from what is lovingly known as a Family Forrest vs. a Family Tree.  Mom is the 10th of 11 and Dad is the 4th of 8.  I live with my fantastic and creative cousin and daughter who is lovingly explained as my "niece" in the Little Apple.  Never a dull moment with three ladies and a Wabash fight song in the mix.  

After that, I adopted a feline child.  I have a cat who my "niece" found in March of 2014.  He was abandoned at a local park and running around.  She brought him home and I stumbled upon him after a tutoring session.  He has been lovingly named Max after Maurice Sendak's book Where the Wild Things Are.  Yes, Max did have his tag before the Royals went on to the World Series this Past Blue October.  What a delight that was for the Kansas City native.

Next, love took me in a Nordic direction here in the Little Apple.  Was discovered in a line up by a Viking fan and traded my heart for his affection.  We have had a fun year in teaching me how to hold, load, lock and shoot various firearms, traveling to Southeast Kansas, Branson, the Ozarks, Eureka Springs and Minneapolis.  Whew!  What a year it has been when you really stop and see what we did already.

Finally, I am starting to run again.  I found that with my change in teaching position here in Manhattan, that everything that I was working to have taken off was starting to creep back on.  Having a goal in mind is what helps to motivate me best.  So, a 5k in February, 10k in March and a half marathon in May is to help keep my sanity and motivation with living the healthy lifestyle.  May not be the fastest, but I am showing up, and I am in it to push my own physical limits.

When I have a free moment here and there, I do plan on updating my recipe page - I mean, it has been a very long time since any goodies showed up there and it is high time I start eating like a bird again.  Here is to a year filled with family, healthy habits, fun and positive attitudes.

Happiness is…Healing from the Inside Out…

One of the goals for the year was set out by someone close to me. This person challenged me to reach out and forgive the young man who caused my life's path to change over six years ago. Below you are going to see the letter which I have sent to him outlaying the positives which he has given me through the accident.

What good is reading my letter going to hopefully do for you? Ultimately, I hope that you will look at your heart and see if there is someone who you have not fully forgiven. It has taken me nearly six years to address this issue. (Can I hide my face in shame!) Remember that forgiveness is given to those who choose to forgive. Just as our Father in Heaven has forgiven us, multiple times a day, we are called to show that same forgiveness and mercy to others.

My letter to Isaac, the young man who hit me six years ago with his car, at the age of 16, is being dropped in the mail in the next day or two, but feel free to share in the healing which I am experiencing at this time. May your transformation come from knowing that God is a loving and compassionate Father to HIS Children…to which we are all a part of HIS great family.

 

Dear Isaac,

    I am sure that you do not know who I am, but I want to introduce myself. I am Erin Meyer; I am the woman who you hit with your car on May 29, 2006. I am sure you may be wondering why I am contacting you, but I wanted to share with you what has been happening in my life since the car accident that day. You gave me a gift; at the time looking back it seemed like a curse. Yet, God in his sovereignty allowed trouble to bring rebirth of a new life from the ashes of misery. I am going to tell you my story which you have been a chapter of.

    At the hospital that day, I had a stress fracture in my knee where I had compacted it into the dashboard. I then went an entire month walking around on a stress fracture before it literally snapped nearly in half where it connects at the knee. I was at the time getting ready to start my student teaching and was forced to take a semester off of college to learn how to walk again. What made my journey even more difficult was the fact that at the time I weighed over 440 pounds. My doctor had told me after the plate and six screws were inserted into my leg that if I did not figure out some way to lose the weight I would never walk again.

    To say that a root of bitterness towards you began to grow in my heart would be an understatement. I was incredibly upset and angered as a 22 year old woman who was ready to graduate college and start on my career path of becoming a teacher. It took a great deal of time, prayer and belief that my faith in God and the Bible with verses such as Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him who are called according to HIS purpose." I had to make a choice to believe that God had a reason for all of this occurring in my life even if I was unaware of what that was.

    I persevered through the pain of a broken knee/leg to learn how to walk again. My father had to quit his job to take me to physical therapy as often as I needed to attend which was three times a week for two hours each session with multiple personal therapy sessions at home. I had to quit attending Emporia State on full scholarship for academics because I could not return in my condition.

Through the grace of God, I was given a second chance at life through diet and exercise. I was allowed by God to complete my undergraduate as well as Master's degree program in education. I have successfully completed my fourth year of teaching here locally in Olathe, Kansas, in addition to being nominated for multiple teaching awards and even being published in a national textbook for educators. Fox 4 here in KC has run three different specials on my journey and the success which I have had in overcoming obstacles in my life.

    The car accident caused me to take a serious look at my health and get real with the course of life that I was traveling down. I have been able to lose over 235 pounds to reaching at my goal weight for my height and body size. This path started on the day the car accident occurred on, not by choice at the time, but has become my choice and lifestyle ever since. Never in my life was I ever able to fathom being healthier now, then I was as an adolescent. Through this journey, I was able to win a national weight loss award through Weight Watchers, in addition to being interviewed by People Magazine and Men's Health.

    You may be wondering why I am sharing this story with you, Isaac. The reason is simple, you started a chain of events, and the outcome maintains to be one of a positive change in one life; one which is having a domino effect in many others. Many people are using my success story as one to spur them to get more active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I am using my faith in Christ Jesus as well as my personal drive to maintain the weight loss and inspire others to get healthy as well. What was possibly a situation which could have caused me to enter a depression and never fulfill my potential as a person has transformed me as a living example of a mythical bird, the phoenix. Greek mythology speaks of a bird which when it has fully aged, dies by spontaneous combustion. From its ashes, a new bird is reborn. My life is a living example of this metaphor, a woman rising from the ashes of a life of certain death before.

You were a bend in the road of my life journey which offered a fork for which path my life took. I took the road less traveled, yet, I am SO VERY THANKFUL for the car accident. While I did not feel that way at the time, I feel that way now. I would go through all of the pain, surgeries-4, and treatments which I do simply to find the lessons which I have learned along the way.

    Simply stated, I am thankful for the accident, and I am not bitter anymore. I have forgiven you in my heart for what happened years ago. I wish you the best possible life and I hope that my journey encourages you in your life and can spur you to achieve great things because we all have a spirit of perseverance and potential to achieve our dreams. You are currently about the age that I was when you caused my life to change for the better. I hope that I can spur you to fulfill your leadership potential as you embark on your journey.

    Isaac, you are a child of God. He created you in HIS image and has a purpose and a plan for your life. While you may or may not know what that purpose is, it could have been even for you to have hit me with your car that day so that I could fulfill my life's purpose and goals. Whatever the reason, we each have a journey and a plan for this life that has been laid out for us to fulfill. It is up to us to follow and reach our full potential in God's work or fail. I know that you have a call and purpose for being here on this planet. May you fulfill all and more that has been set upon your heart and dreams. I am lifting you up in a prayer the evening that I am finishing writing this to you. I know that you can achieve whatever you set your heart and mind to. I know that I have.

May My Lord and Savior Christ Jesus Bless Your Life Richly with Joy and Happiness,

Erin Meyer

Life is Blissful

Upon reflection of the year at hand as it draws to a close, I am able to look at what 2011 was to me in my life as I begin the chapters of 2012.

Beginning wit professional life, as a fourth year educator, I am finding that I am becoming more confident in my ability as an educator and had the wonderful opportunity to impact future educators through my Alma mater, ESU with their mentor teacher program. I was given my first student teacher, Danielle, who was wonderful. Each day having her as a part of my learning community really allowed me the chance to relive the joys of student teaching, but also allowed my the chance to share my knowledge and skills with her. Danielle will be moving to first grade for the Spring, but she left a wide hole in the hearts of the fifth graders in my classroom. They simply loved and adored her. I look forward to welcoming my newest addition, Lauren to the class on Jan. 11. I am sure that she will be honing and perfecting her tool-box for the trade with strategies for success.

In addition to the student teachers, I had the chance to be published in the NCTE's book, Supporting Students in a Time of Core Standards, Grades 3-5. I am chapter 4, which focuses on Inferences and drawing conclusions. In case you are curious about what was written about me, I have attached a portion of the chapter here. In the book itself, it goes into more details about what it looks and sounds like to teach in my classroom.

On a personal weight loss level, I have had an equally as busy year. Maintaining my weight is something that is still a struggle for me, but I do know that the accountability piece is highly important for me. After being asked by Weight Watchers to submit my personal story to People magazine twice for the Half My Size issue, I was turned down. A bit of a heart breakers in someways. Yet, WW did not forget me. They asked me to please submit my name for the Most Inspiring Weight Watcher members competition, where two weeks ago, I discovered that I was not the grand prize, but one of the 100 first place winners nationally. How exciting that I was selected! Fox 4 News did their follow up on me and then asked about some of the transformations which I have encountered this year with surgery and changing of the body and soul through the journey...the link the the website is here in case you care to check it out.

In addition to this, I was interviewed by Men's Health magazine for the book that they are writing about the founding of Weight Watchers and the members lives whom have been impacted by this wonderful program.

With the accountability piece for my weight, I am starting training for a half marathon in April with my boyfriend Derrick. I have put on ten pounds and lost it, then gained it in learning how to manage love that he and I are both focused on me losing but also on us growing closer as a couple as we train for the Rock the Parkway on the day before tax day. I am currently running 5 miles a day, transitioning from the 4 mile runs. I need to add in the weights, but I am having difficulty adding it all in.

When it comes to Spiritual Growth, I feel that I am still being transformed into the wonderful creation which God has created me to be, whether it is -235+ pounds lighter or +10 pounds heavier than I was two months ago. God has created me in HIS image and I am living out my testimony by giving glory to God for the temple which he has given me a second time a round. I have been really trying hard to use my weekends in town when not spending them at family events to solidify where it is that God is leading me to have my church family at. Suggestions as well as podcast links are welcome. Derrick and I are going to be starting a couples Bible study together but the topic is yet to be defined.

In reflection of of the happiness project from last year, am I truly more happy? I feel like yes, I am much more happy this year than I was last year. My weight is something which I am finally able to manage better. I am enjoying a love life for the first time, and one that is blessed by someone who inspires me to be more. I am done with my masters program and starting to look into what type of doctorate programs I may be interested in. I am feeling better about my appearance due to the weight and the skin being removed. How blessed I am to finally feel like I am more now than I was last year.

Am I done with pursuing my personal happiness goals of what is happiness and what brings me joy? No...I am going to hopefully start traveling soon, maybe start a cooking class with Dan, a cousin of Derrick, as well as training for a half marathon. I know that God is continuing to refine me. I love being refined, yet hating it at the same time. Life for me, is blissful. Thank you Father God for the gift of life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

Timing is Everything…

One would think that the older I get the more patient I would learn to become. Why is this difficult thing for me to do? In doing a relationship book study, I have discovered that my number one emotion fear which I am unable to control is "Time". When I cannot control the time or plan, I have anxiety, stress, cranky, and other fun side effects. Yet, while I can control some pieces of time, I am starting to learn from a friend that I need to learn that there will always be something more to get accomplished and I cannot change that. I am constantly discovering that my time is not my own, and I am merely walking out the path that the Lord is setting out before me. As it says in 2 Peter 1:19, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." What exactly is this scripture telling me? It is making me reflect upon the piece that there is one star, Christ and I must continue to seek the guidance of the Lord through the Bible to guidance in my life.

When it comes to patience and my life at the moment, there are a few things which I am learning about myself…

1. I pretend to be patient and that I want to wait, but I my heart I am thinking… "Forget this! Let's just do this thang!"
   
2. Seeking advice and counsel comes easy to me. I want to make people happy, it is one of my emotional needs, however, I cannot make everyone happy, therefore, I can be miserable rather than doing what I feel may be bringing me joy…but is it really joy when others are not happy as well? (Being a People Pleaser is No Bueno!)
   
3. I am indecisive…one minute I feel as though I can scream Heck Yeah from the roof tops and the next slam on the breaks and put up my hand and say, Not Comfortable with This! (Part of the feeling on this is that I feel that I want something right now when really I do not need or have to have something right now…budgeting with money can be tough! (Just sayin')
   
4. I have too many things to do, and I feel guilty taking time for myself. Which is ironic because I have no children or major commitments beyond myself, just the thought of doing something not work related or healthy for me or my family can cause me to stress out if my "list" of to-do's never dwindles and my patience is slow with others.
   
5. I am finding that relationships with other people need to be a higher priority than my weight management. I have discovered that I pushed away people in order to obtain my goals of weight loss and management because I was worried about a number on a scale rather than seeing myself as accepted and loved for who I am.
   

In Psalm 119:34-40, David pens, "Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands for there I will find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gains. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness."

All this said and put behind me, one may be inquiring, why do you place all this on your blog about timing today?

1. I need accountability. If I do not have people holding me accountable to my standards and goals, I know that I will not meet them. It is my nature and I know myself well enough after 28 years to see that I need people to hold my feet to the coals and flames of learning.
   
2. I am at a place where I am not sure where my path may be leading. People magazine has my weight loss story and has been teetering on whether or not to include my story with the Half-My-Size Issue which comes out in January. Weight Watchers selected it once and one editor said no two weeks ago, then a different editor wanted to reopen it last week. Patience is hard when you are wondering if the Lord wants to take your weight loss story and journey to a national not merely local level.
   
3. I am confused about where to start on my teaching career path. Starting a doctorate program is something which I have seriously been interested in doing and looking into for the past few months, and I think I have a program which may be a good fit for me. I am struggling with this because I am unsure about whether now is a good time to begin such a task…especially with the economic state of the nation, working on getting out of debt and my career path.
   
4. What about branching out with love? I am waiting on timing here as well. I feel that I have individuals who I care deeply about in my life yet, I am struggling with the ability to juggle all requirements for my current position, weight management, "publicity potential", and having the support of those who I love more than anything accept the decisions which I am considering.
   

I feel as though I am getting mixed counsel from parents, friends and others. I want to have as Good to Great puts it, "Everyone on the bus moving in the same direction." Timing really is important in life, I want to make sure that my timing is correct, proper and in a place where I am able to bless other rather than causing any issues for the people who I care about most. Besides, my time really is not my own. I am merely a vessel here walking out God's love and joy on this world. I am leaving a legacy on this earth, yet I am not of this world. My prayer since July has been, John 17:24-25 "…be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you knowing in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

I just want the time so fleeting as it is to be maximized for the good of God's glory, yet also for the joy of my heart and life.

Learning the Levels of Love

In my last entry in August, prior to the start of September, I did an entry about being a bachelorette and how I was aching to find love in my life and starting to embark upon the sonnets which Shakespeare penned and Elizabeth Barrett Browning composed. How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways. Were these not the same words put into action by our own Savior more than 2000 years ago when he willingly came to die a blameless life for me upon a cross, and would gladly do it all over again simply to hear me say the words, I choose Christ. There is no greater love then this, that you would lay down your life for a friend.

I have been blessed this past month with starting some new outings and friendships which are challenging me to grow and mature as a fallen woman who is growing in her faith and trust with the Lord daily. One of the things which Proverbs 27:17 talks about is iron sharpening iron to become stronger and more able to take on challenges. I can see how life together with other strong believers has that very impact! In talking and attending various church events and seeing wonderful individuals, I have been forced to confront my own flawed way of viewing love in a gilded light.

The levels of love and the intimacy which can ensue is something which I am starting to slowly grasp my naïve mind around. The Eros side of Love, the passionate love which exists in strong romance coupled with the Philia side of love which is the deep friendships which are created through time and trust. I say naïve in my opening sentence simply because not everyone has had the joy of living a life quite like mine, the life of choosing to remain set apart. This can create some rather interesting conversations on dates when I feel that progression further can be a challenge, especially when the level of love and intimacy which I am searching for is the Agape side of love. For those who are unaware, Agape love which is unconditional and selfless side of love is the base for the strongest relationships. Agape love is unconditional, time and circumstance cannot affect the outcome of the relationship or love bond because there were no conditions prior, simply the act off accepting one another as they are and come.

I do believe that my biggest misconception through my life was that I was unlovable and that I was too much of a person to ever see someone loving a woman as multi-faceted as myself. Ouch, yes, I really did just type that out for the entire world to read. I saw myself as being too overweight, too loud, too tall, too quirky, too meager in finances…etc. The nitty gritty, I saw myself as not enough of a person and having conditions which someone would be looking for me to meet in order to truly love me. HOW Pathetic! Yes, I really have thought that for many, many years. It was through talking with a friend about "Love Dare", "Love Talk", and the "Five Love Languages" that I have been guided to seeing that I never really have loved myself without conditions, making my belief that someone else could show the same love and acceptance as Christ a real challenge.

Part of the happiness project this year is to find the time to invest in others, because I want to and have not had the chance to do just that, maintain the garden of friendships or grow new seedlings of relationships within the walls of my life. I plan to take the time to do just that this year, make relationships a priority. Not only making relationships a priority, but offering the same unconditional and selfless love which Christ has poured out upon my right back to others.

Love which I have experienced this week included, Cole and his family having me over for wine and to share an evening with their life as a family. Gifted photographer Bethany Good taking me to Loose Park for a photo shoot with my new figure to rock my new journey! My father taking me on a daddy daughter date to which I may not have agreed with everything mentioned was a great conversations to have. Meeting my new friend Derrick at the gym each morning and encouraging him and I to continue our healthy lifestyles and shared interests in local culture, food and family. I have even been able to visit Laura and Jenna in Wichita for birthday girl weekend. Overall, I am experiencing love, I just need to be more alert in the moment and allow love to the action of choice as it was this pas t week rather than over analyzing when it will happen and trust that as I live our Agape, my Lord will bring along Eros and Phila love into my life.

And That's When She Became...The Bachelorette!

I do not know many of you our there who were fans of one of my favorite 90's sitcoms, The Nanny, but my tagline this entry is dedicated to...Miss FINE!!! (Can you hear Mr. Sheffield calling down the hall now?)

The Nanny no more, I have given up the evenings of Friday and Saturday post Masters and new Phoenix to take the time to branch out and spread my new wings. One has to when even the plastic surgeon looks you directly in the big brown eyes and says, "You'll never meet anyone lesson planning...at least take it to a bookstore." I know that this advice comes from a place of love and caring about my emotional well-being...making sure that I really do take the oppertunity to put myself out there to meet and greet with love. (Dare-I-Pen-It...Finding Love Is Scary!) I did take the time within the past two weeks to step outside the nest of my classroom to find love, or at least to let love find me.

The M & M's out for the Night with Keith Urban in Tow....

The first Friday Night adventure of the school year was on August 19 to attend Keith Urban with my favorite fifth grade female...Lindsay and her sweet sister, Michelle. We went out to dinner and then sang the night away with our handsome date!

Any other news from the doctor this past week? Well, there were two appointments, both filled with positives and negatives. Positives, I am cleared for swimming exercises and weight lifting, elliptical machines and stationary bikes. Negatives, I am not to go running outside again as my arthritis in the right knee is looking at injections starting in October if not clearning up. I shared my wounded heart with my parents on Saturday that my bucket list goal of running a half marathon would never be completed now. My sweet father, simply placed his strong arms around me and held me in the booth at Olive Garden and said, "Punkin Girl, you have achieved so many other dreams, this dream is one that may have a different ending than you intended." Very true my wise father.

Out to support Doug Billing's with his Dazzeling Divas for the Night.

Bets and I Lookin' Fab! (My Newest Favorite of the Two of Us!)

Which Handsome Gentleman Will We Choose?

Having Fun Watching the Studs Strut Their Stuff...

(My Stud I bought myself...Date Next Saturday Night, Sept. 10)

This past week, I gave to cancer research! Yes, I can say that my attending the American Cancer Society Bachelor Auction down at Howl at the Moon last Thursday evening was truly to raise money for a good cause...well...more like two good causes...cancer research and my love life. Do I feel like both were winners...too soon to say. Yet, I did have a fabulous time getting dressed up and attending the gala with Jodi Danzinger and the other Dazzeling Divas who went out to offer support of Doug Billings and friends. One of my bucket list items was to attend a bachelor auction and win a date...CHECK! I did! Yes, you read that right. I went to the auction, and I won myself a man. Details of the date to come later. Nice guy, Good Chemestry and Fun Date Planned...well worth the $ I shelled out for the night

Betsy also had her birthday this past week. Which meant that two nights in a row I was on the town...big weekend for me. We sang the night away at her favorite local spot, The Other Place in Olathe where Bob (the dj friend of ours) came over to celebrate his weight loss and share with me his progress. I was so very touched to learn that he is making strides in his life to live a more active and healthy lifestyle. What a blessing it is to talk and share information about lifestyle changes.

Beautiful Betsy and I wearing Black and White for the Night...

The joy of attending a movie, which is on the Happiness Project was also achieved this past month. I went to see the Help on Saturday Evening down at CinemaSuites on Mainstreet 6 at Power and Light on Saturday eveing. The book by Katheryn Stockett was a book recommended by Betsy as I was recovering from surgery. It was truly right up there with, "To Kill a Mockingbird" in my reading repitour. I savored each page which Katheryn composed in a symphony of understanding of what life would have been like to love and invest of yourself in the life of a family only raise children to be racially biased. If you have not taken the oppertunity this year to read or see a film in the theater, this one was well worth the money.

How is the school year so far? Well, I have some special friends this year...but that is what makes the year...special friends. They are the students that you look back upon and say, "I grew because of them, and I am a better educator because I taught them." I know this to be true because I am in love with all of them! I have yet to have a student breeze across the threwshold of my room this year and groan. Each one of them is unique and special...quirky...that is how I will describe this class...we are a quirky group this year...perfect for a quirky and fiesty lady like me.

On the focus of my faith, I have been reading, "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them." It reminds me of "Primal Leadership, Learning to Lead with Emotional Inteligence." This book seems to be the Christian form of the relationship builder and goal setting of healing relationships and looking for ways to invest and be a better more effective communicator in the lives of people around us. How could I not want to share the wonderful chiseling away at my heart which the Lord is doing to make me a more multi-faceted and loving individual for his Kingdom. What a blessing to take the oppertunity to say, here I am Lord, form me into more. (Yet at the same time, simply scary as well.)

Orange You Glad...

Orange Sherbert, Thai Curried Carrot Slaw, and Spiced Tangerines...these are the things that this week was made of. Orange Sherbert, the colors in my dress for the wedding of my cousin Steven to his lovely bride Tiffany. Thai Curried Carrot Slaw, my culinary creation for the week...must say, I am enjoying the kick quite a bit. Tangerine Spice, the nail color for the fingers which scurry across my keyboard this evening.

It has been a blurry-eyed week this past week...contract started this past Monday, met my intern, D.W., set up the classroom, shopped for supplies, made relish and preserves, house-sat in Stanley, met all but one family at "Sneak-a-Peek", plus my brother flew in from California for the wedding and jetted back out today. Hard to believe that this is ironically how packed a week in the life of a this teacher usually is. I a wonderful at piling on the plate, (believe me, used to be a bigger girl, I can load the Chinet up) hard to clear the plate of items once they have been up on. Not that I am complaining, I have a full life in which I am blessed with many wonderful people to share it with! In looking ahead to the first full week of school, I am excited to see that I have a class full of new eyes, hearts, brains and lives to impact and share my passions with. I only hope they are as excited to start the year as I am. The fourth annual, "It's Great to be in Miss Meyer's 5th Grade!" will be sung tomorrow along with many other fun team building activities.

The wedding of Steven and Tiffany Meyer was also this past weekend. One of the most tender-hearted people I know, my cousin Steven, had the extreme joy of expanding his already large family by adding in a fabulous firey Irish bride, Tiffany Lynn. I am thrilled to have shared in their day by standing with programs and handing out bubbles. Watching them dance together and hold each other's hands throught the night was something truly special to behold. Few people find the love of their life...I know I have not had this pleasure yet, and here Steven and Tiffany have not only found each other but celebrate and compliment one another beautifully. know they will have a wonderful memory filled honeymoon.

With all that is going on this week, I am going to turn in early tonight...yes, before 9 PM! So enjoy the Trip to the Pan-Asian Tropics with the Thai Curry Carrot Cole Slaw (on my newest page...Eatin' Like a Bird) and photos below of the family events!