Peace Amid The Panic

Haha- I realize I am down to only a few followers, but thank you for your support and prayers!

I was going to write a big long post with an explanation of where I've been and how I've been falling down a slippery slope. While I am going to give you a brief explanation, that is not going to be the focus of this post. Rather, I am going to share with you some of the amazing things going on in my life right now.

Anyway, my sister had a major hip surgery and was having some difficulty (still is, to an extent) recovering. It was hard on me not being able to be there and be with her and support her. Especially since my other sister was with her for a brief time.

And now, the devastating news that my grandma suffered a major heart attack. My grandma is only in her upper 60s. This was unexpected and it really shook me to the core. To make a long story short, she remains in critical condition in the hospital. If nothing gets better or worse until Friday (when I will finally be able to SEE her!), she will go through another open heart surgery. PLEASE continue to pray. I am not ready to lose her yet.

I also let myself fall down a slippery slope and I didn't tell anyone. I refused any form of counsel and I bottled up my issues and my emotions and my pressures. I am thankful for those few friends who really "get" me and "get" what I am going through and I can sit down and vent with them.

At any rate, I have found peace amid my panic. I am doing better. Things may be wrong- but Christ is still right and I still have Christ.

If you remember back a while, I talked about every day being the best day ever. Believe it or not, at the end of every day, I've still found reason why each day of the past few weeks has been the best day ever. It wasn't always easy- but I found out that every day has been the best ever. It doesn't matter that things haven't been perfect- just because something has gone wrong does not mean that I am no longer blessed beyond belief and unable to count my blessings and the great things God has done for me.

Here are a few of those blessings:
-I have an amazing best friend. He's someone I work out with, hang out with, talk with, eat with, etc. He came into my life just at the right time and I have been so blessed. On Sunday, it was his birthday and we went and bought new suits and ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was such a fun, fantastic day.

-I have been getting a lot of compliments about my teaching. The preschool teacher I am working with made this remark, "I have been teaching for years and have had a ton of student teachers come in and out. You are the best I have ever had."

On my final unit plan I submitted after Student Teaching One, the elementary ed director wrote this on the paper: "This is something I would want my son to participate in." What a HIGH compliment!

-My other co-op teacher in first grade is phenomenal too. I had the opportunity to sit down with her for a few hours Saturday afternoon and chat, and she brought me back some goodies from an ECE conference she had attended.

-I am thankful for books and reading. I got Lois Ehlert's new book "Rrralph" in the mail today, and I love it. I can't wait to use it with my students.

-Christmas time is practically here! My favorite, favorite time of year!

-I have had several people I don't really know, (for instance after church), come up and say, "You're the one that was in a wheelchair last year, right?" and then they go on saying how I am an inspiration and how they cannot believe how well off I look now! Again, what high compliments, especially from strangers!

-I am just so glad I found peace amid the panic. I will continue to keep you all posted. Thank you for your support and encouragement.