Sangria soul mates

There is nothing like a good friend.

I'm not talking about the type of friend who warrants superficial conversation, conversations that never move beyond gossip or small talk.

I'm talking about the type of friend who you crave seeing, the type of friend you know has the power to justify your feelings and lift you up, no matter how silly your frustrations may seem.

I'm talking about the type of friend who you can share things with that others might judge you for, but she'll laugh with you and understand better than anyone else in the world.

I am blessed enough to have a handful of these friends.  Friends who I know would do anything in the world for me, and I for them.

However, there is one woman who I have found to be the equivalent of a soul mate.  Is there a soul mate for friends?  If so, she is mine.

Sweet, unbelievably warm Betty.  A woman who has been a tremendous blessing in my life.

Our friendship developed slowly at first, just short hellos exchanged in the hallway, complimenting one another's shoes.  It makes perfect sense, as I look back now, that our friendship would truly blossom over two things: sangria and Shauna Niequest.

Betty and I spent hours sipping our sangria, talking about life, faith and dreams.  The best part?  It was easy.  To find someone who is so similar to me, yet makes me want to always be a better version of myself, is rare, but also extremely refreshing.

I have realized, especially over the past couple of years, that my ideas and expectations for friendship have changed.  They have grown, matured, with me.  I hope for friends that I can share more than just my clothes with, but instead, my hopes, my dreams, my beliefs and my fears.  I want friends that I can laugh with over a glass of wine, without having to be anyone other than myself.  I want friends who challenge me.  I want friends who build me up, when I am at my lowest.  I want friends who value my friendship as much as I value theirs.

I hope all of you are lucky enough to find a friend like Betty, one you swear was made just for you.

Back to school.

Back to school.  The common phrase that we spend a great portion of our lives dreading, only to wish and hope our breaks could last just one more day, week, etc.

This time it was different.

But how?  Why?

I think it boils down to a few of things.

1.  I had a great break!

I got to spend time with my family, my whole family.  It provided me with true relief from the hectic and somewhat burdensome teacher life.  I got to see my sisters and spend my weekend relishing the wonderful bonds I share with each and every one of the members of the Olson clan.  Not only that, but I felt such a sense of pride being Karley's sister.  Karley, who was in charge of putting together a HUGE fundraiser that turned out VERY successful, despite the rigid temperatures.  Way to go cutie pie!

After the race on Sunday, we made it back to Indianapolis just in time to avoid the weather that rolled in with a vengeance.  Mom and I were snowed in on Monday, which provided some wonderful catch-up time for the two of us.

Luckily, the snow cleared early enough so that I could meet up with the Wilson family for a homemade dinner.  I had run into Leah and Nick randomly a few weeks earlier, and was so happy the chance to see them presented itself before I had to head back home.  Maybe it was the delicious chili or the yummy wine, perhaps it was the easy conversation or maybe it was their adorable little one, but I caught myself feeling truly blessed in their sweet Broadripple home.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

After a great first, long weekend of break, I got to come home to Kyle.

We spent the week together (apart from the time he was hard at work for the baseball season).  Dinners out and date nights, including a fun sushi night, where I introduced Kyle to some really delicious dining!  He now has cravings for sushi quite frequently.  Needless to say, I think he liked it!

For those of you that live in the area, we went to Woow in Orland Park.  Really yummy!

2.  I absolutely LOVE the literature I get to teach for the rest of the year!

Juniors get The Great Gatsby, which I selfishly spend plenty of time on with the kids because it is my all time favorite book.

The best part?  I handed out books before break so students could read if they wanted to during the time off.  So many of them came back today truly excited about the book, having read several chapters and eager to discuss what they've read.  This was a VERY welcome surprise that has even made me more excited, which I did not think was possible.

Sophomores get Elie Wiesel's Night.  Mr. Wiesel is a survivor of the Holocaust who wrote a beautiful account of his experience during this horrific event.  Although the subject matter is not light, we get to have some wonderful discussions throughout the course of this one.  I just love it!

3.  Summer is around the corner!

Despite the fact that I've got such a wonderful group of students this year, the thought of a summer not bombarded with coaching and planning a wedding is so sweet I can hardly wait to truly enjoy the time away.  The idea of doing things with Kyle, traveling, spending time with family and those precious people that add so much to our lives, makes it almost impossible not to wish the days away.

Let's just hope the weather doesn't deny us warmth and sweet, sweet sunshine forever :)

Hello, 2013!

I realize that I am a little late in ringing in the new year, but for me it has been a little difficult to let go of 2012.  It was a wonderful year, full of many blessings and memories.  Kyle and I hit a few milestones in our lives together over the past year that make me sad to see the year end.  Don't get me wrong, I have faith that 2013 will be another great year, it just has a lot to live up to after the year we've had.

Looking forward, I do have many hopes for this new year.  I have learned over the course of my life, however, that it is one thing to hope and it is an entirely other thing to actually do.  If 2013 is the year I hope it will be, I am going to have to put forth a certain amount of effort, instead of waiting around for things to happen.

This all begins with, you guessed it, the resolutions.

Normally I find resolutions to be a personal thing, something I wouldn't post publicly.  However, I am hoping that the concrete words written in front of me, for everyone to see, will add some accountability into the equation.  In the end I do trust myself to follow through, but it never hurts to be a little more motivated.

Resolution #1:  Pray

Growing up Catholic, God has always been a part of my life.  However, I think that especially over the course of the past few years, my faith has grown exponentially.

After graduating and getting a job in Northwest Indiana, away from my family, church became an avenue by which I could not just communicate my frustrations and loneliness with God, but also listen to his lessons and feel comforted.  It brought something familiar back into my life.

Then, my youngest sister, Karley asked me to be her confirmation sponsor.  I was beyond touched and readily accepted.  I learned more about our faith and our relationship grew in a new way, proving, once again, the power of God.

My faith then grew in a new way through the process Kyle and I had to go through to be married in the Catholic church.  It forced to me to evaluate my relationship with God, and more importantly, his place within our marriage.  This was yet another reminder of how important faith and love can be.

I love that my faith constantly challenges me to be a better person, a better friend, a better teacher, a better wife, a better sister, a better daughter and a better woman.  I hope that by making my faith a priority this year that I will continue to better myself and my relationships.

Resolution #2:  Be positive

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

It is easy to be negative.  It is easy to find all the wrong.  It is easy to assume the worst.

This year I won't, or at least, I will try my hardest not to fall into the trap of pessimism.  Wish me luck.

Resolution #3:  Prioritize

This, I believe, will be one of my harder resolutions.  I'm hoping that I'm wrong, but I always find myself worrying about silly things, stressing over details that don't matter, and neglecting the most important parts of my life because of whatever item on my list I am trying to cross off.

I will try, to the best of my ability, to better organize my priorities.  My hope is that 2013 will be about my relationships, my marriage, my family, my faith and other important parts of my life, instead of the papers I have to grade, the bills I have to pay, and all of the ways the government refuses to acknowledge the work I do.

I have to make room in my life for what really matters.

Resolution #4:  Be healthy

Shocker, I know.  I would bet this is the most common resolution of all.  However, being healthy, in my opinion, goes beyond the gym and the food on my plate.  Yes, I will make a better attempt to include physical exercise in my schedule.  Yes, I will find healthier recipes.

However, I think that a large part of living a healthy life also includes doing things that make you happy.

After a long day of dealing with teenagers, the natural inclination when I get home is to make myself comfortable on the couch.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but it is so much harder to get off the couch once you've made yourself at home.  I want this year to include fulfilling activities, things like volunteering and becoming more connected to our community.  I want the year to include more memories and new experiences.

Health is an important part of happiness.  I want to be abundantly happy this year, so this resolution will be key.

Resolution #5:  Organize

On the surface I may appear organized, however, I am most definitely not.

My classroom, my home, and my life all need a little organization (and by a little, I mean A LOT)!

I think the key to organizing this year will be to take on a little bit at a time.  I tend to want to do everything at once and then just be done with it.  However, I think I've come to realize this makes each task that much more difficult and then the overall process is much more daunting and overwhelming than it really should be.

I know that this is the source of a great deal of my stress, so by eliminating this little bit of chaos, my other resolutions will be easier and my life will be much more tidy.

Yes, I do acknowledge that these are lofty goals, but I don't think they are impossible.  It will take a great effort on my part, that at this moment is welcome, but I know, down the road, may be easy to forget.  However, in line with my new optimism, I know I can do it.

2013 is going to be a GREAT year!  Happy New Year everyone!  May it be blessed!