We are ENGAGED!

On the 1st of December, 2012 Dom took me to Longwood Gardens. I thought this was just another romantic day for us to enjoy and get in the holiday spirit, but what I didn't know was Dom had a trick up his sleeve that would change my life as I know it!

We arrived after an hour drive and we were so giddy just to get inside the gardens. The grounds were beautiful, and massive and we just couldn't wait to explore. When we got there is was a little after 4pm so we toured outside to see all of the wonderful trees, plants, and garden areas.

 This is me in one of the many paths through the gardens.

This tree was decorated with ornaments that were edible for birds and other animals that live in the park. I loved this. The picture below is of me inside one of four tree houses within the gardens.

This picture is Dom and me in the Italian Water Gardens (I honestly thought this was supposed to be Italian water ICE. I didn't read the entire sign duhh it took me about 30 minutes just to realize I was not thinking right)

 

Next we took a stroll in the 30,000 square foot Greenhouse. This was absolutely breathtaking. We took the Christmas Route within the greenhouse and every room we entered had a different theme or flower arrangement. One of my favorite rooms was the orchid room and the decorated Christmas trees were just a few things we loved to see. Take a look:

 

 Still after such an amazing tour of the gardens I did not know Dom's surprise for me. We headed back outside to admire the lights and decorations in the dark. WOW, what a sight this was! The lights were beautiful and Dom and I were feeling the Christmas magic! After checking out a few areas in the gardens we stopped to overlook a pond that was lit up with white lights mirroring the movement of water. We were standing on a romantic balcony admiring the view and Dom turned to me to ask what I was thinking. Of course I said how much I loved being in such an amazing place, but dumb dumb me continued to add how chilly I was and was almost ready to head home to bake cookies with Jackie. After my silly comments I turned to Dom to ask the same...he of course was so kind and heartfelt and I just felt so loved inside. He told me about how he feels and what he wants for his future and finally lowered to one knee and ask me to marry him. Of course I had no clue this was about to happen so my hands flew up to my face and I was in awe.  A man that treats me like an angel was asking me to let him do this for the rest of my life. I did not hesitate a second longer and said yes! I will never feel as surprised or as happy as I felt that moment. He slid the ring on and I just squeezed him as tight as I could wishing this moment would never pass. The moment did of course but the feeling I have in my heart and my head have not. I know that I have been blessed with someone who cares about me just as much as I care about him. What a wonderful ending to our incredible day! These pictures below are right after Dom popped the big question!

and so it begins...our life together, and I could not be happier..

WE ARE....PENN STATE!

WOW the energy coming from the students and family members of Penn State university is contagious and electrifying. All fall Mikaela has been raving about PSU and the football games: the tailgate, players, cheers, beer, energy, excitement, and more! So the Gribbin clan decided to get a taste of the fun filled arena for ourselves! What a day we had ahead of us... we started by tailgating together in the 30 degree weather...and by 30 I mean FREEZING. The wind chill brought the temp. down to feel like 23 degrees this Saturday. We were bundled with layers, hats, gloves and had a full car load of food and beer :) what more can the gribbin crowd ask for!?

We arrived around 11 and hung out with the fans until the start of the game. We danced, laughed and just enjoyed the company of great friends and family. I know I can only speak for me, but I must say there is no place I'd rather see my little sister then a college that will give her so many wonderful memories!

Once in the game we cheered on the Lions during their big senior day. It was the last home game of the season and the last time the fans would enjoy the blue and white in Beaver Stadium in 2012. We had a ton of fun drinking the most delicious hot chocolate and munching on warm pretzels, but sadly right after half time we could not endure the cold any more. We slipped out quite early but enjoyed listening to the game in the car while driving home. I don't think anyone was bummed to leave after sitting one minute in the warm car.

This was probably a trip that will go on the top of the 2012 list, but I am sure we will raise the bar next year when we plan the second annual trip to Happy Valley. Enjoy the pictures and all hail the blue and white!

Sandy Support

This past week has been a challenge for so many people on the East Coast because of Hurricane Sandy. With wind gusts up to 90 mph and waves above 20 feet high, many of the coastal communities were affected. Since Dom and I had planned to visit Ocean City this past weekend before Sandy hit we agreed that we should still make the trip down to the shore, but change our agenda. We were looking forward to helping the community and our friends any way we could. After seeing the damage and hearning the stories of so many residents, we felt inclinded to be there to help. All of the residents and small business owners stayed postive and continued their work into the night to get back on their feet.

this image is from the beach access at 41st street. All of the sand was torn away here and on other parts of the island. Luckily my Pop Pop's house did not take on any water or sand so we were free to help friends at the north end of the island. So many helping hands here and success was made tearing up floors and removing saturated dry wall. The house was gutted, but the most difficult part of the "rebuilding" process was done! Now our friends can rebuild their home these next few months and move back into their cozy house with satisfaction. The South end of the beach was not much better then the North. Dunes were cut away by the pressure of the waves and the sand from the beach was in piles in the streets. with Snow shovels and bulldozers the sand was pushed into piles to be taken away.

After visiting O.C this weekend I feel that reality really sunk in and I feel grateful for what I have. I am so glad that I helped as much as possible this weekend with Dom. Even in the tough of it all Dom and I still try to make the best of a situation.

Our Trip to Colorado...

So the trip to Colorado was close to perfect, with a missed flight and an overnight stay in a Texas hotel (with holes in the sheets, yes I climbed into bed and my toe slid into a hole. ew) I was in need of a total care free trip. I finally arrived in CO on Friday morning, and Dom picked me up from the airport. Before we did anything we both NEEDED breakfast.  Once our bellies were full we stopped at the hotel so I could brush my teeth and shower- My luggage arrived in Denver before I did, and my night in the Texas hotel was not very accommodating because all of my carry on baggage had to be checked in Philadelphia at the gate. Once I felt clean and peppy we headed to Boulder, Co for shopping on Pearle Street and hiking on The Rockies. Check out the pics!

 

After we explored all that Boulder had to offer, we headed back to the hotel for dinner and an early night. We both only got a few hours of sleep the night before and we needed to rest because we had a fun filled Saturday ahead of us. We were up super early the next morning and went out for a delicious breakfast at a tiny cafe, then headed out for the city.

Once in Denver we explored 16th street shopping and just enjoyed the city life. We found a restaurant with bison burgers, beer and Penn state football! We had a great time here with the familiar lions playing on the big screen.

After a few hours in Denver, with snow, ice and wind, we decided to take a ride out to Red Rock. We wanted to explore the natural beauty and the amazing amphitheatre. What a place this was!! we were impressed by the size of the venue (it seated a lot less then we expected), but the backdrop of the seating was breathtaking. The red rocks are backed by beautiful green foliage and mountains. I think we both added something to our bucket list- see a live show at Red Rock.  This place is a "must see" in Colorado.

 

 

So this is it. The trip to Colorado was fantastic. With the minor (when i say minor I really mean major headache at the time) hiccups from my airline the trip was a INCREDIBLE. Dom and I couldn't have had a better time together in "colorful Colorado". I cannot wait until the next time we go out west to visit!  xoxo

Apples Apples Everywhere

Ok this is for all of my fall lovers out there. One thing that I can't get enough of is apples. Love'em...apple: sauce, cider, donuts, crisp, pie butter...the list is endless!anyway Dom and I went to Solebury farms Saturday to do our own skillfully picking! (if you need to find an orchard near you check this out http://www.pickyourown.org/PAeast.htm)

Here we are doing some work..haha

And Dom...

After much success we were off to the market for apple cider donuts!

Once we got home we had apples that were massive and overwhelming. Well to put our apples to great use we decided to make our own apple sauce! Genius. All we used was a crock pot, 3 large apples and cinnamon (not measured..we just added it as we went on. Feel free to add the amount you want)

So we peeled the apples, sliced them up and threw them in a hot crock pot. Add cinnamon and put the lid on. Wait anxiously for about an hour and don't you dare lift the lid! The heat is needed to make the apples soft. To speed things up add a little water to your crock pot and the steam will help your apples turn a bit faster.

Once about an hour passes, open up the lid, take a deep breath in to enjoy the sweet aroma and stir. You will know if your apples made sauce by the consistency of it. Our apples were very soft, but we did let a few chunks stay whole in our sauce.

We enjoyed our apple sauce right away with dinner, but Dom surely recommends that you wait for your apple sauce to chill in the fridge. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This sweet treat is sure to please! Enjoy!

pack my bags...

Off to Colorado tomorrow and I cannot wait! Dom will be there for business so I am going for a much need mini vacation! We hope to hike, ride bikes, eat yummy food, drink some beer and explore the beauty in Co. Even though we will be on this sweet retreat I am mostly looking forward to spending time with him and only him. Since he has began traveling more often for work, and I am super busy too it has been tough for just US time.  Yayy for US time :)  well off to packing and bed time..i hope i can fall asleep EEeeEEEeeeee  I can't wait to post pictures!!

Hurricane

So september for a kindergarten teacher looks well....insane. Ive been super busy and I am glad to say that this hurricane of a life is beginning to slow down. Once school and swim practice for the little ones started, I began to feel like the water was beginning to rise; and rising quickly it sure was. After about two weeks of the hectic and restless lifestyle I finally broke down. Literally, I was giving up on my own happiness, I was a different person toward Dom, and I was becoming so overwhelmed it made me forgetful at work and even while driving..yea totally weird. After one morning of total hysteria, I finally saw it...I was doing too much for others and not enough for me. With all of this frustration and madness i talked it out with Jackie and Dom to find a solution. One thing was clear and that was a quote from Einstein that Dom kept saying in the back of my mind: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". It couldn't have been more clear..I needed  to make a change. I decided to resign from coaching and focus on work, grad school and most importantly Dom and my family. I still have one more night at the pool but I could not be happier with that choice.

As for the great things in life...my family. Everyone is healthy and we will be seeing a lot more of each other becaus of birthdays, weddings, and my favorite holidays. It has been so great hearing about KayKay enjoying PSU and I can't wait until next weekend to chat with her about it! LaLa is also finishing up at bloom, which is so fantastic. I'm soooo excited to see what her next steps will be! Momma and Dad just celebrated 34 years of marriage and I cannot be more grateful for all they have done and sacrificed for my sisters and me. Jackie and jake are great with a brand new bed and super big t.v...awesome. Finally, Dom and I are so great. It's amazing to feel and see our relationship grow stronger in these tough times. He has been my stay at home wifey, knight in shining armor, and my stability. Keeping me calm, making me breakfast, lunch and dinner (yep he does) and just helping me to laugh and relax at home. I couldn't ask for a better guy. He has been my savior in all of this.

As for me, I feel good. Really good. I haven't felt more like ME for the longest time and I truly feel like I'm back. Back to my old, happy, helpful and super positive self. Yayay maybe I will even start running again...hmmm I hope I didn't speak too soon...love you all and thanks for reading. MWUAH**

Soakin up the sun

This summer has been filled with family, sand, and yummy drinks! Finally its August and much of the summer has passed, and I wouldn't change anything about it. Two vacations in ocean city with the Gribbin/Reilly crowd then the second with the smaller Paraschak group. Both were so different but equally fantastic! The top memory from the Gribbin one was reggae night (to name one is tough because this was easily the best week of my life) . Then the next best moment in OC was the night out / dinner in wildwood at the crab house. Yummy. Now that things are slowing down its nice to enjoy the rest of the summer heat by the pool!
Another hobby of mine that I love to do is cook and eat of course! One thing I just made was banana oatmeal bars (found from thesweetslife.com) and I will post the recipe for anyone willing to try. They are such a great, guilt free snack that Dom and I love! After cut them I wrapped individual bars in plastic wrap and stuck them in the fridge. Enjoy!
-2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1/4-1/2 cup chocolate chips
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-3 ripe bananas, mashed (approximately 1 cup worth)
-1/4 cup peanut butter, melted in the microwave
-1 egg, beaten
-1/2 tsp salt
-2 tsp vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 13 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Mix together oats, flour, chocolate chips, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in bananas, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven. Allow to cool, cut into bars, and store in refrigerator.

Summer lovin'

So it has been a while since my last post, but I can't say too many things have changed since the beginning of April. The biggest hurray on the list is my move to Collegeville with Dom. We love the area, our apartment, and all of the perks of living with the best friend you adore. We have been having a blast exploring our new home and trying to pull what we love into it. I feel like our relationship has grown since the move as well. (ya never know hehehe) The last time I posted I mentioned mikaela and her health. She is still going strong and living the normal 17 year old,party lifestyle. She is a natural!! Healthy as can be at the moment and more mature then ever. YOLO- Mikay's moto Dean, my nephew and the love of my life, is growing so quickly and doing so well! He has learned how to pull himself up to stand and he crawls like a man on a mission! Walking will be right around the corner and I just can't wait to chase him while playing tag at mom and dad's! Yayyyyy As for me, I am staying positive and making the most out of the blessed life I have been given. I smile A LOT and I enjoy my life and where it's heading. I plan to finish my summer by laying ocean side in Ocean City, NJ and teaching the last few weeks of summer school. Life is gooooood :)

A down hill jog

Finally, it has been a few days after mikaela's welcome home celebration and she is doing well. It has been an absolute miracle. She is healing very well and gaining her appetite and weight back slowly. She has been so strong and willing to get herself back in the path of finishing her senior year, getting to prom and asking the lucky guy to go with her. She is absolutely incredible.

As for me and my life, I'm ready to get back to work and finish out the school year...only two months to go. Dom and I are also looking forward to moving into our apartment and settling down together. He has started his new job officially today and is in San Francisco to begin his training! It has been such a long road but we are finally getting to the point that we have dreamed to be. We will be moving to collegeville which is a great distance from work for me, it's close to Jackie and it's also pretty close to the beach and our parents. I just can't wait to come home and finally feel at home. We are moving at the end of April which is just a few short weeks away! Let the fun begin!

How much is too much?

So I must say that the Gribbin clan has been literally pulled through hell and back these past few months and we are still riding the rollar coaster of unknown. Between Brothers, mommas, and baby sisters, we have experienced a whirl wind of hospital visits, tears, smiles, and tons more that is unexplainable. Our family truly has a six sense for feeling each others pain, grievance and triumphs. We don't even need to talk....we just "get it" now. I've learned this the past few weeks and it's amazing.

Currently I am feeling ok. Trying to keep my head up and staying strong for my little Kay Kay who is still at CHOP. Admitted Tuesday with a fever, soars in her mouth and throat that look liked a torch went off in it, and a "rip roaring" cough that would make anyone cringe. Well with those symptoms and high blood pressure, she was taken in almost immediately. After visiting Wednesday and seeing her condition I honest ly thought the Gribbin group as we know might change. Mikaela did not even look like herself. Her skin swollen and gray, eyes circled in black bruises and the whites of her eye ball were as red as fire. I had to swallow my tears and show a tiny smile of hope that the doctors would come up with a diagnosis, and cure. After questions, needles, swabs, and more, still no answers have been given. I left last night feeling like someone pulled a sheet over my eyes and body and I was helpless and speechless. There was nothing we could do to help. Even the morphine made her vomit and feel worse. I could see the life exiting her motionless body. The most terrifying feeling entered my gut and has not fully escaped yet .

However, in all of this torture, she has been blessed with our mom and dad sitting by her side and a staff of nurses and doctors that have been working ruthlessly to find an answer. The strength alone radiating out of momma g is breathtaking. Incredibly strong, sure and fighting until the last hair has been looked at. I was in awe seeing her in action. I can honestly say that if I am one fraction of my mother, I will be a mom like no other.

Currenly MIkaela is gaining strength back and a pink tint is beginning to hide the gray lifeless tone her skin appeared to be Wednesday. The swelling has subsided, and seems to continue to go down. The new pain killers are kicking in and my little Kay Kay is slowly returning. She was beautiful today. Inside and out. Fighting for comfort, for an answer, and just to get the hell home. With support from friends and family she is feeling more like herself every day. We hope she comes home Saturday with questions answered and a cure for whatever it has been that we are wishing away. It is amazing how something so terrible can really make you see the beauty in life and unconditional love. I would have literally killed to be near her and I have never felt so "alone" being out here in Reading. This is just another reminder that there is nothing stronger than family and the bond of sisters. I have been blessed and I just pray that mikaela gets well very soon. Nothing else in the world matters....

Spring is here!

Spring is finally here (and I say that loosely because of such a mild winter and our already hot spring days of high 70s) and I'm feelin good. I am still in the same spot, lonely and bored, but my outlook on life is positive and reassuring. I had such a great st.patty's day weekend with family and friends in NYC, and I look forward to a 30th b-day celebration for my big sissy Kelly this coming weekend. I can't wait for the food, laughs and drinks. It will be fantastic to say the least!

As for life as I know it, nothing has budged really. Still getting by with FaceTime and phone calls and trying to look at the bright side. There is light at the end of this grueling tunnel though and I know it will be here soon. Patience is a virtue.

As for my bod and the lack of monthly flow, who knows what is up. I'm going to see the doc next week to get an opinion and to get a good "inner laugh" at the fact that my doctor looks exactly like the sloth from the movie Ice Age. In all seriousness though he is a great doctor and I'm sure he will come up with a solution to my odd and irregular lady flow.

The solution to all of this mess is dream big....think of the future and keep that smile on. It's the best fashion accessory a girl can wear....just keep up with the wrinkle cream then ;)

Rita's is opening soon...

And you know what that means...beautiful spring is in the air! Gosh how I love the birds, flower buds, fresh air, and heat from the sun on my face! It's amazing what a little 60 degree weather can do for a girl.

Even though spring has almost sprung and I feel good inside my body and my mind, I can still feel my missing parts and they long to be filled. I'm staying positive though and riding off this past weekend with the chicas that I love so much and this weekend with Dom and some bloom folk! I do have great things ahead I'm excited to keep busy with work and play! Dom is still patiently waiting with the current company and things are moving forward but the process is tedious. He is being so wonderful and positive throughout the entire process and it amazes me. His "cool" and calming way of dealing with current situations is awesome. I thank god I have him to keep me grounded. As for me and life in general, I'm just going through the motions, trying to enjoy each day to its fullest no matter what. Training for broad street and using the long runs to clear my head is paying off. My new 2012 quote is this: "if you can't get out of it, get in it", and I've been living by it. Contentment is right around the corner...I know it.

The most amazing boy...

No jokin'

This past work week must have been one of the longest in my life. Three days of running around, writing report cards, sharing the love between 25 little ones, observations, and super fast planning for the upcoming week...all to be able to take a long weekend away from this hellish place I call home. Now to speed bump over the idea of home being so awful, I just hate the constant feeling of being alone. Without my loves, I'm lost. We all know this by now so back to the fast track of the weekend lifestyle in Hoboken and NYC. This weekend was nothing less than perfect. Dom and I took a trip to north jersey to hang with a few friends, eat some damn good food, and fill our bellies with a ton of beer. All three events on our list are checked off as complete, but we were given much much more then we even bargained for once we arrived.

First of all Hoboken is beautiful. I love it. I'd move there tomorrow if I had the salary and lifestyle to do so. As for the people..fantastic. Just a down to earth, successful and fun place to be. Walking in the city, eating chocolate covered cannolis and people watching all in one afternoon is wonderful as well. As for the night scene we hit up two amazing places that I recommend: the beer garden in Hoboken and City Winery in NYC. Both places have fantastic atmosphere, great service and awesome food and drinks. I'd go to both places again in a blink of an eye. At the city winery we were fortunate to see Ben Lee sing within the cozy venue. He is hilarious and his voice is so soothing. After that incredible show the tables turned and some ladies got up stay to performe a show called burlesque. Wow was that a blast! All in all, the weekend was filled with laughter, friends, food, and great music.

As for being back to the daily grind...it sucks. Leaving Dom again today was not easy and the slow "single" feeling in my head doesn't help a girl to smile. Just going to have to keep my head up, work out (god knows I need to with the amount of food and drinks in me), and plan the upcoming girls weekend. Until next time my fellow readers. Mwuah...

Hey readers...I feel like I'm riding an emotional roller coaster lately and I must say that as I wrote my last post I thought my world was about to be turned upside down. Dom made a choice and will not be moving for work after all. This was a surprise to many, including myself, because of his desire to be successful, but I think that things will work out for the best. I tried to stay neutral with decision making so I wouldn't have much emotional influence on the choices made so I forced myself into total "friend" mode. I wanted to give advice and be helpful like a best friend would be and I only pray that what I said helped. As for things now, he's just continuing to keep the ball rolling and I am just looking forward to great news that will help him create steady roots for life. I am just so proud of his eagerness and the willingness to be patient and smart. He truly is one of a kind :)

As for me, I am feeling good. I just devoured a mug full of moose tracks ice cream with rainbow jimmies for dessert and plan to read or let myself drift into a great chick flick. My weekend had its ups and downs, but the ups outweigh the rest. Dom came up Friday and we had a blast as usual. Mexican dinner and drinks with ice cream Sundays for dessert. Then just hanging out and enjoy each others company. I honestly still get giddy when he is around. We just have so much fun and he makes me feel so happy in simple ways. Saturday was great too...ladies night in Conshy with wine that could drown anyone. It was exactly what I needed to wind down and reboot my life. Well actually I think the Advil, extra nap and a long night sleep to cure my hangover first will reboot me for another work week. Hahaha my friends are the best.

Now it's just: get through it until I am with Dom or my family again. I am throwing around the idea of joining a yoga studio to do bikram yoga a few times a month. I've done it once before and can't get it out of my head....Any thoughts?

As I drove away from ocean city tonight with tears streaming down my face and what seemed like the drive to hell ahead of me, all I could think of was the idea of driving to the place where I live as I was leaving my home. that feeling eats away like fire through newspaper and I thought my heart would never feel the same. I am always upset leaving Dom and driving back to a place where I feel like my only connection to life is work, but tonight was especially hard. With dom's incredible news and more than likely move hundreds of miles away, the reality hit that this could have been one of my last weekends spending it as a "local" in ocean city. I didn't think I was so attached to the stinky carpet and the constant smell of dudes, but I guess I really did love it and feel welcome into the home. It is amazing how you don't realize the connection to something until you feel it slipping away. With my broken heart and blubbery face, I used my only resources that could help me shake the blues...my sisters. I called jack and she took my mind elsewhere: funny family stories and silly celeb shots. Then, I called Lauren and she made me feel strong. She encouraged me to continue using my strength, happiness and love as my motivation. She told me to stay strong and look from the positive side, not the negative. She reminded me why I do what I do....love. I do what I do, I fight for what I want and I work my ass off for the future I feel like I deserve. Lauren brought me back down to reality by " slapping my cheek" and saying you will be ok, fight through it and remember why you do it. She told me that I am lucky enough to have a weekend of laughter and love. She is absolutely right. This weekend was full of fun, laughs, friends, good food and most importantly love. My tears come from the love I feel every time I visit O.C and the love I have for the people and things there. My life seems tough at times, but I am lucky. I might be one of the luckiest girls in the world...4 incredible sisters, friends that are always there, and a guy that loves me for who I am. What more could a girl ask for?

"People need dreams, there's as much nourishment in them as food."

~ Dorothy Gilman

We'll all get there someday. Sweet dreams my readers...

Ive got my thinking cap on

Another weekend with good old me and another weekend fighting back the tears of loneliness that I feel through each one. During the weekends of no work, no grad class paper, and no loved one to spend the time with really requires me to put on my thinking cap and get the hell through it. Now you might say to yourself hmmm that sounds nice to have a peaceful weekend to relax without someone telling you what he/she would like to do. Well when you get to spend each and every other week day with just your own thoughts and your busy schedule, a weekend alone is the least desirable. The one positive to all of this is the time I do have to analyze what is really important in my life. It sure as hell is my family, my friends who could live close by me if I chose a different place to live, a cute guy that I'd prefer to see everyday, rather than every other weekend, and possibly even a place to go outside or in a small town that I enjoy visiting. All of these things ring the word "home" to me and I feel like I don't even have one of them to escape with.

Now it was my choice to move and start work right away, but could I have waited and lived off my parents...no probably not. I needed to work as soon as possible to get my life started a.k.a. Pay my bills. Which I'm thankful for...I appreciate more and I know how tough life can really be...no surprises for me. But as I think about these past choices I think to myself now and ask:"why am I choosing to stay put and stop changing my situation for the better? Why have I stopped making a choice?" If you're not happy, change it. Right?! Well this is when I begin to make excuses for myself...is life really that awful, are you really that unhappy, can you just pick up and go somewhere else? I answer yes to each of those questions. So what the hell am I still doing here? I honestly think I've been waiting on a miracle, something to tell me that it's the right time! But how do I really know. I'm scared a drastic change will cause problems and upset. What do I do? I'm truelly unhappy but terrified about what is behind door number 1. What can I finally do in order to live a "happy" life?

The whirl wind...

So I feel like I'm living within a tornado sometimes. Emotions up one day, down the next 10 days, then back up to a great mood all of a sudden. I sometimes wonder what is going on up there in that brain of mine. It's actually been crazy the past few days. Crazy because I've felt good.

Feeling good in my thoughts, staying positive about current situations, and finally back to my one true "feel good drug"....running outside. Maybe it was the running and fresh air? Who knows what it is. I honestly don't care; I like It.

Life feels great at the moment and it could possibly be the amazing Gribbin sandwich weekend. Last weekend at mom and dad's eating pork roast and potatoes with the original 5, or it could be this weekend in ocean city with my sisters, the salty air and a guy that I sure do love..who knows. Like I said before..stop asking why, just go with it and enjoy! Speaking of this weekend though I can't wait for it!We are going to have so much cozy, yummy fun.

Finally, my last thought to loose sleep over, or well quiet honestly to live off of is the excitement I feel for my future. I know this sounds crazy but really, it is so uncertain. I always thought it would be, but it definitely may not be what I have expected...and that goes for now, and in the far future. I've learned something in the past few days...keep an open mind, a smile on your face, and a prayer on your lips. You never know when one can save the day.

2012 is here!

I can hardly believe that we are now in the new year of 2012! This past year has been full of wonderful times with family and friends, but also 2011 has been packed with sad and telling experiences. However, Lauren said it so well in a text on new years eve and it went a little something like this..."we've gotten through it together and that's all that matters". She is absolutely right...being together keeps us strong and gives us the ability to fight through any and every obstical. I pray that this upcoming year brings a lot of happiness through laughter, health for us all, and most importantly the time together that we love and need. Good bless us!!

As for the much needed work break that I am so lucky to have, words can only hit a fraction of the relaxation, love, rest, and self reflection that I was able to enjoy. Much of my break was spent in ocean city with Dom. He worked for most of the day which was a major bummer, but it did allow me to enjoy walking and running the boardwalk, read a great series called The Hunger Games, and catch up on "slowing down". "slowing down" is something my dad has told me to do my whole life...basically telling me to "think before you speak" "OPEN your mouth when you talk", "tomorrow's a new day", "wait wait wait, talk to me", and the most recent one "Jess just slow down". Words of wisdom from my Daddy-o alright. Honestly though he has been right all of these years and thank goodness he was because I've been listening. My new years resolution for the upcoming 2012 is to slow myself down. Now this really doesn't mean literally walk slow or stop , but it does include things happening in life and how I think they need to be accomplished. Usually I say RIGHT AWAY, but "slowing down" means to take each day for what it's worth. Use the 24 hours god gave you and do what you can with it. Do not over do it and do not become lazy either. Just use your day to get things done and be happy. Also by slowing down I need to stop and remember I need "me" time too. I usually give all of "me" to others and I forget to rest or enjoy things that I love.

I plan to make this work. I also know that I've created this lifestyle for myself and it will take time to alter it for just me. I can do this, and I honestly believe it will help me become a better sister, lover, friend, teacher and coach. This resolution might also ward off the gray hairs that might start popping through...hmm am I thinking to far into this? Dom, what do you think? Hehe