2 ways to ride a roller coaster

Life is full of ups and downs....

Life, like a rollercoaster there are the steady long climb up, and just as you get a glance from the summit you plunge fast down.... before you know it you are turned upside down and round and round, head banging to the side and craving for more.

One thing is for certain, you first have to decide to get on the rollercoaster. That is a defining moment. A yes or no decision. It's not "oh I think I will put one leg in and one leg on the platform" kind of choice. YOU have to decide to go on the ride.

Getting on the coaster is the easy part for me. As soon as the safety bar is locked that is when I start to question my decision.

I have to remind myself I wanted this and to enjoy the ride.

There are 2 ways to ride a roller coaster:

1: Gripping the safety restraint trying to just survive the ride

2: Hands up screaming with glee

I was reminded of this last week while riding the Manhattan Express in Las Vegas.

How this applies to my life? Now that I got onto the Rollercoaster of going back to school that I want to enjoy the ride..... That this coaster will be full of slow climbs to the top, spirals and sometimes so fast drops but I will ride it with my hands up enjoying the ride and not gripping the bar waiting for it to end.

I'm 3 weeks into this new adventure and instead of focusing on the crazy stresses that came of applying for Financial aide, signing up for classes, fighting with the unemployment department over lost wages not reported, I choose to focus on the blessings of such an amazing adventure.

If I had refused to get on this coaster I'd have missed out on not only some staycation time but an amazing trip to see my friend Kelly Rossi in Las Vegas that ended with watching the sunrise over the strip from the personal suite of one of owners of The Palms.

PS don't forget to smile the whole time for you never know when the coaster's camera is going to flash taking your picture (unless you are my friend Kelly, then she'll alert you to where both cameras are located.)

One big step for man kind

Today I joined the gym....

I'm ready... this time I feel good.... I feel like thriving!

However there are no rules or expectations this time. No "I'm on a diet, no I'm counting calories, no I HAVE to go...." It's all about putting a tool in my hand and hoping I use it.

Simple Woman's Day Book

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:
Outside my car window are way too many people who don't know how to drive.
I AM THINKING:
That I am enjoying this blog a lot.
I AM THANKFUL:
For friends
FROM THE KITCHEN:
I baked a cake. A 2 layer birthday cake for a dear longtime friend's 30th birthday.... I really didn't get into the baking zone (maybe because it was like midnight when I did it) but I loved decorating it and giving it to him.
I AM WEARING:
No makeup.... I put some on this am but I didn't really touch up any. I feel frumpy today. If only I could make myself get up 5 min earlier then the whole day I'd think differently of myself.
I AM CREATING:
Little Ms. H. and I made a card for a family friend who loves H. but doesn't have kids of his own.... how special it will be to get the card.... (I know)
I AM GOING:
To NYC in 2 weeks and 2 days.... nope I'm not counting down.... :)
I AM READING:
The Sacred Compass with my Friday night bible study.... love this group it's like Oprah book club meets bible study meets YaYa Sisterhood
I AM HOPING:
For nothing to go wrong with my taxes :)
I AM HEARING:
Way too much noise for being a library. What happened to respect and behaving correctly in public?
AROUND THE HOUSE:
Not me... I'm not home much this week..... I'm sure next week I will crave being home
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS:
Happy Hour.... I never had a job that allowed me off early enough for this and I love it!!!! Some of my favorites lately: Gustovs, Claim Jumpers and McMinnemans
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK:
Friday Night I am helping a youthgroup activity (I'm sure non of them will see this so I can post about it.) They are doing a where's waldo type activity at the mall and have to find 12 of us
A PICTURE I'D LIKE TO SHARE:

That's MY nanny!

I never thought LAUNDRY could be so fun!!!

Little Ms. H. told a child at the children's museum "That's MY nanny!"....

Apparently Little Ms. H. wanted the child to understand that even though I was playing with him (we were at the Children's Museum in the dig pit- that's a big pit of rubber gravel like a big big sandbox) that I was infact HER nanny.

I realized today that 6 months ago (exactly) I met this family. Maybe you haven't heard the amazing story that my job hunt was.

I was working at a daycare and that job was going south and fast. I chalk it up to bad management and the simple fact I was too good for the job.

I put my resume on Craigslist and thought to myself there I tried it's not my fault I am stuck at this job. In other words it was my half hearted attempt at job hunting. Usually on CL it takes a few posts and many many many crazy replies from people wanting dirt cheap care etc. to find one family worth interviewing with and we all know how many interviews it can take to find a job especially in this economy.

I recieved an email from a lady who mentioned what they were looking for. (At first glance this family wasn't exactly what I thought I was looking for but I decided to interiew with them the day after I turned 30. Infact I almost skipped out on the interview.)

I figured though I didn't think this would be a match I would use it as a jumpstart back into the job hunt. Sort of a rehersal interview as it had been 3 years since I had to sell myself.

Can you believe that this family and I fit so well. We are a perfect match! I had the fastest job hunt in history.

This family has restored my faith in a good boss, shown me a family can still have breakfast together, and treats me as one of their members (well when I want to be.)

I never would have thought posting ONE craigslist ad would find me 6 months later enjoying 2 adorable babies in a basket and their posessive sister!

That's MY nanny! (You are right Little Ms. H., I am YOUR nanny and I love every minute of it. )

Sick Day

I had a sick day today

An honest real sick day where I stayed in bed and slept (except for a quick run to Jamba Juice)

I was just asking myself how I could make today count? How could I thrive on a day that I was sick in bed?

I realized I spent more time thinking about God Friday than any prior GF

Thank you God for your son and for knocking me on my booty so I can stop and realize what GF means

Easter Eggs

TODAY'S ART PROJECT with LITTLE MISS H.

I was very pleased with the outcome of our eggstra special project

As this was my first time even boiling an egg (ya I know) let alone prep for coloring them, I was anxious to see the results.

Two things we did that I just loved the result of

1. Double dipped. When the egg was dry we re dipped it.

2. Polished with canola oil.

SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Is a world that passes me by, or is it me passing it by

I AM THINKING: That I finally had a day where I understand "Twins you have your hands full"

I AM THANKFUL FOR: The ability to go home at the end of the day.... see I am Thinking....

FROM THE LEARNING ROOMS: How to boil eggs and color them. I am sure I knew how but since they won't be my eggs I didn't want to mess it up

FROM THE KITCHEN: Tomorrow the smell of vinegar as Little Miss H and I dye eggs
I AM WEARING: A new black cardigan... I have been wanting one for a while and I'm so happy I found exactly the one I wanted for clearance for $9. I am also wearing wedge sandles needed to feel happier this am so I got pretty shoes on.

I AM CREATING: My blog... I'm having so much fun with it so far. Also I just created a FB group and it's already up to 28 members in 24 hours woot!!!
I AM GOING: To call Michaela back

I AM READING: New York City for Dumbies and about to start the first Twilight book
I AM HOPING: That Little Mr. T isn't sick for daddy tonight (see I am thankful for)

I AM HEARING: My tummy growl

AROUND MY HOUSE: Is my cat somewhere and a birds nest too (outside)

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Yens.... lately I can't get enough of it
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Most my plans got canceled but Easter is on Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing my family. I think it's amazing that my dad is invited to my sister in law's mom's house. Love that we have a mixed family.