You know you were born to be a teacher when...

So this post was inspired by our field trip to Sky Top apple orchard every day. A parent looked at me and said "How do you do this every day?!" Well I realized that it isn't a normal job, but I can't imagine myself doing anything else. In no particular order, here they are!
You know you were born to be a teacher when...
-You can tie shoes, carry on two conversations, and still see what all of the other children are doing. All at the same time.
-You talk to your spouse/significant other like they are 5 (Oops! Sorry Honey!)
-You frequently tell yourself that nobody else has to make these comments at work...(please zip up your pants, do not flick your boogers, put down the banana phone, take your lunch box off of your head, open your eyes when you are walking, etc.)
-You LIVE for blue jeans day. Literally it gets me up on Friday's ya'll.
-Paper cuts do not even phase you, nor do burns from the hot glue gun.
-You can stop the behavior of other people's children in public with "the look". Oops!
-You can go all day without using the bathroom....and forget that you even have to go.
-You sing everything. Literally everything. (It sticks. I still remember songs from elementary school!)
-You can eat your lunch in 10 minutes flat, while opening milk cartons and cleaning up spills.
-You are ready for bed by 8pm on a Friday night. Yeah, all of my friend think I am lame but I just can't keep up!
-You really feel more like a nurse, dentist, mother, seamstress, hairdresser, etc. on any given day. Boy I can fix anything with a safety pin, band aid or a ponytail holder.
-You answer to any kid voice saying mom, teacher, grandma, hey you, excuse me...you get the idea.
-You keep a list of funny things that the children say. (The latest this week is that it is only appropriate to call 911 if a dinosaur is eating your leg off...) You do this just so your friends will be amused with your stories.
-Snot doesn't bother you. We aren't talking typical snot here. We are talking Nickelodeon green slime.
-You hear this ALL the time..."Boy, I just don't know how you do it."
-You kids think you live at school, and they freak when they see you in Target. They give you the look like "What are YOU doing here?!"
-And the number one way you know you were born to be a teacher....
You can ride all the way to Sky Top apple orchard in the very back seat of the bus, not get sick, help the children who are getting sick, and still be smiling by the time you get there.

"Keep your eyes on the road ahead..."

So, as cheesy as it sounds, this post is inspired by my favorite line from the Sons of Anarchy series theme song. To my biker buddies, you will understand the importance of "keeping your eyes on the road ahead". If you have ever ridden a motorcycle (front or back seat) you know this skill is a MUST. It keeps you safe, alert, and up on two wheels. And if you haven't ever ridden a motorcycle, but you see us going down the road kicking, randomly pointing, or waving our hands in the air, we most likely haven't left a biker revival (though it may appear that way). We are signaling to the riders behind us that something dangerous is ahead.

Spending the afternoon on the motorcycle with my "deddy" (that's my dad for all of you northern readers) on Sunday was good for my soul. Have you ever had something in your life that just clears your head? Well I have three of these things...running, dancing and riding. So, since David was playing golf on Sunday, I had "deddy" swing on by on "Big Red" and take me for a spin. (I mustn't fail to mention that dad's friend Robert went with us. Man, I sure love my dad and his friends. Sometimes you just need wise older (in years only, I am not referring to anyone as old)  people in your life for a little guidance. Robert, his wife Krissy and I had a long talk on Monday while fixing up some things at mema's new condo that made me realize how lucky I am to have a "family" full of these wise people to look toward for guidance. Anyway...enough birdwalking.)  Boy I didn't realize how much I needed a little spin on "Big Red" until I was on the back of that bike...It gave me some time to breathe deeply and do some thinking. So before I delve into looking ahead, allow me to look for a moment in the opposite direction.

I've had the absolutely perfect childhood. Everything you could ask for. Loving parents, grandparents, friends and family. Food, clothing, all of the toys, games, new trends a gal could want, a quality education provided for me by my awesome parents...you get the idea. BUT even with all of those things, I have had some difficult things happen to me in my life, particularly in the last 2 years. I mean haven't we all felt like that?! And I didn't realize it until recently, but I was letting those things hold me down. Not in the physical sense...I was still active, appeared happy, had my friends, yada, yada. But I didn't realize how I was allowing it to suck out my mental energy! And I literally mean drain me dry. It wasn't until that afternoon ride, my chat with Robert and Krissy, and my time with my dad that I realized that I had let all of these crappy thoughts take over my brain. So what's a girl to do about that? Well, I working on willing them away! And that's where we get to the "road ahead" part...

I have decided to turn over a new leaf. Instead of allowing the frustrating things from my past to suck out all of my mental energy, I am going to look ahead. Why shouldn't I?! I am only 27 and I have the rest of my life to work on changing the way I look the things life hands me. I have the most wonderful boyfriend, a loving family, and a job that I honestly can't wait to get to when I wake up each morning. I've also recently realized the power of true friendship. You know, the kind that is almost close like family? Yea, that's a hard lesson to learn, but when you find those friends it is such a blessing!

 So here is where you come in. If you are reading this, you more than likely are someone special in my life, and I need your help. Remember at the beginning of this post when I was talking about signaling to the riders behind you? Well I need some "signalers" to warn me of danger. If you see me allowing my energy to be sucked dry by negative thoughts, say to me "KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AHEAD!"

Now, I am no fool. I am still going to have bad days. I will still get frustrated with my family, friends, job, finances, etc. I am in no way taking a Pollyanna approach to my life, but I am just making an effort to change the way I look at these things once the storm has passed. I am not sure why I felt compelled to share all of this, but I hope that some of you "signalers" reading this out there will help me stay focused.

On that note, allow me to share some of my other favorite lyrics from the Sons of Anarchy theme song, This Life by Curtice Stingers.

This life is short, baby that's a fact.
Better live it right, you ain't coming back.

Gotta live this life.
Gotta look this world in the eye,
Gotta live this life, 'till you die
You better have soul, nothing less.
Don't lose your head when the deal goes down,

Better keep your eyes on the road ahead.

Gotta live this life,

Gotta look this world in the eye.

Gotta live this life until you die.

Thanks for reading. And I honestly mean it..calling all of my "signalers" out there...

P.S. I realize these photos have NOTHING to do with this post, but it has been so long since I have blogged that I wanted to share them. They are from the Clemson vs. Troy tailgate.

Now doesn't that just look like pure trouble?! 

Thanks Nolan and Carrie for inviting us! We had a blast! :)