It's easy to take comfort in familiarity.  When you've done something for so long, it's common to not want to shake things up a bit.
     I have just shaken.
​     For years now, I've been a speech therapist in clinical settings.  I've worked with patients following strokes, traumatic brain injuries or Alzheimer's...all areas I'm comfortable and eager to work with.  The field I haven't been in for years?...Schools.  
​     The thought of working in a school system is daunting to say the least.  It was time for a change though, so I packed away my scrubs and went for it.
​      Beginning last week, I ventured for the first time to see the school where I was hired.  I was given the kindergarten through fifth grades to take on alone, then given a set of keys which made for a nervously long walk to my room. 
      It's not uncommon for speech therapists to work out of a small space.  I mean like, a half a closet in the basement where alligators and spiders live.  I knew this before taking the job, but getting closer to the room number they assigned made my stomach go to my throat.  I'd already accepted the job.  What if I hated the space I'd be trapped in for a solid school year?       Turning off the main hall, there it was.  Tucked away at the end, I approached the solid wooden door, right by the bathroom. 
​      Broom closet for sure.          

    Slowly putting the key in the lock, I turned to hear it click, then shut my eyes as I pushed the heavy door forward.
​     It smelled okay.  No moldy greeting.  I kept my eyes tightly shut until I was brave enough to squint one open, then the other.  What I was met with, left me speechless.  (No pun intended.)

     Letting the door quickly shut behind me, I was glad no one would witness me jumping around the room like Christmas morning.  It was adorable.  Brightly colored with so many games and activities to work on with the kids.  There was a computer lab on one side and desks on another. 

     After spending time going through charts and learning about the students, I had my first lunch and worked on decorating the door to welcome them. 

     It was hard to believe how amazing the space was and the opportunity I had to work there.  I only wish now, I'd considered it sooner.
​     The students have their first day of school tomorrow so I'm nervously excited for them to arrive.  I've planned and prepared, and I hope I serve them well. 
​     It's going to be a good year, even though it feels completely different and new. 
​     Yes, sometimes in life it's nice to shake things up a bit.  Here's to hoping it all falls into place.    

   We're used to raising boys.  Having three boys, we evidently took for granted the indifference that surrounded our back to school shopping.  Our boys don't care if their accessories match their clothes or if their wide ruled notebook cover is "cute with kittens".
​    Enter...our second grade daughter.
​    Lauren Elizabeth has begged all summer for a new backpack for school.  She's had the same one since pre-school, because number one - it's a perfectly good backpack and number two, (see the above) we're used to boys who could care less about getting new backpacks.
​    If we got all four of them backpacks every year, by the time we hit high school, we could fill a closet, not to mention feed a country. 
    Needless to say, she's had the same one since she was four.
​    This Sunday was the night before her first day of school and she begged one last time for a new backpack.  What she didn't realize, was that we found one on clearance and decided to surprise her with it.  We kept it a secret and had her pack her things in her old backpack (because we're mean and horrible parents).  Little did she know, her new one was hidden in our closet waiting for her to go to bed so we could switch it. 
​    "Please, can't I get one?  The backpack I have is for babies and I'm all grown up."  She begged.
​     "Maybe later, sweetie, but not now."
​     She was crushed.  Her tired eyes pleaded a little longer until she finally went to bed...heartbroken.
      If only she'd realized, it was right in front of her - and this made me think - so often we know what we want.  We're sure of the exact thing we're desperate for and quite often, it can be years in the making.  We beg God.  Plead.  Cry and whine until we question why He won't give us what we know is precisely what we need. 
​     What we don't realize, is His plan, His knowledge of our needs is far greater than what we can comprehend.  He knows what's right for us and sometimes it's just around the corner even though we have absolutely no idea. 
​      Yesterday morning was the first day of school.  Lauren Elizabeth got ready with her brothers, brushed her teeth and came down the stairs. 
​      Suddenly, she realized what was waiting for her as her eyes lit up and she screamed throughout the house that it was the "Best Day Ever".
​    It was a good reminder that if there's something we're struggling with or desperate for, we can rest assured, we're not alone.  So many times people question why, when or how, but if we just have faith...quite often, God has our very own backpack right there, even sometimes right in front of us.  Our job is to gain trust and understanding that His timing is far greater than ours... and He wants us to have the Best Days Ever, too.       

    Two words.  Jesse. Metcalfe. 
​    Not that anyone should need a reason to sit and watch him for any particular time, The Hallmark Channel has graciously provided not only that opportunity, they've created a fantastic original movie premiere for our viewing pleasure as well.
​     "Chesapeake Shores" will become The Hallmark Channel's newest primetime series, welcoming us into the life of a highly successful business woman, Abby O'Brien, who is a mother of twin girls and recently divorced.
​     Taking a break from the pace of her New York City life, she is reminded of her roots as she travels home to Chesapeake Shores. 
      Her fun loving sister, determined father and loving grandmother all play a part in her past, but it's when she comes face to face with her high school sweetheart, Trace, (swoon) she will begin to question her future.
​      The two hour movie pilot of Chesapeake Shores will premiere Sunday, August 14 at 9 pm ET/PT 8 C, and will introduce us into the upcoming fabulous series based on the novels of New York Times bestselling author, Sherryl Woods while starring Jesse Metcalfe, Meghan Ory, Treat Williams, and Diane Ladd. 
​     Nothing says summertime like a good romance.  Enjoy the Hallmark Channel's Original Movie Premiere, "Chesapeake Shores" this weekend and in the upcoming series to follow.  
​      Believe me, you'll be glad you did.  XO 

     'Tis the season.  Backpacks and sharpened number twos reappear, bringing butterflies and excitement along with them.
​     The adorable baby flower girl from our wedding is heading to college this year.  COLLEGE.  And several of our friends have kids beginning their first years of Jr. High and high school. 
     It's going too quickly.
​     In the midst of it all, I've heard stories of nervousness and apprehensions...but I'm here to tell you, it will be alright.
​     How do I know this?  Because even through my own personal nightmare, I lived to tell about it.
​     It was my freshman year of college.  The school was small, around 1,000 students total, so by Christmas break, everyone pretty much knew everyone else.  My brother was a senior, which helped in knowing his friends on campus through the years, too.
​     There happened to be a blood drive that semester and I'd never given blood before.  Even though I knew it was a good thing to do, as a kid, I was deathly afraid of needles.  I mean like, pass out level of fear. 
​     Now that I'm grown and have given birth which involves being stuck a thousand times, I could probably make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while getting a shot, but this was then.
​     I have my dad's blood, which is some rare type.  He's given blood his entire life, so much so that I swear bats follow him around at night.  He's always encouraged me to donate for the importance of helping others, so I decided that this would be the day.  
​     Walking in, the sight of people lying in chairs with their arms hooked up, was enough to make me want to turn back around.  Shutting my eyes, I shook my head to leave when a woman covered in the widest smile approached with a clipboard.  "Hi!  Come right this way."  She welcomed, as though we were walking into a restaurant. 
​     Running through a series of questions, she took my temperature, blood pressure and a series of checkpoints.  With each passing minute, my pulse pounded faster, making me hope it would in someway cause them to turn me away.
​      No such luck.
​     Taking me to a lawn chair, I stretched out, wishing I was on the beach.  Anywhere but here.  I wondered if it was too late to turn back, but missed the chance by the time another woman pushed up my sleeve.  Wrapping a noose around my arm, she popped a red rubber ball in my hand, telling me to squeeze. 
​      Pulling out a needle, it was the size of a straw.  I still think of it when I stab my kid's juice boxes to this day.  She came at me, literally with a juicy juice straw and began to shove it through my arm.
​      "This won't hurt a bit," she smiled through the lie as I squeezed the rubber ball to the point of explosion.
​      Quickly releasing the tourniquet from my arm, I looked down and realized it was done.  The blood was flowing, the needle was secure and she was already pulling her gloves off to go in search of her next victim. 
​     "Hmmm.  This isn't so bad." I stupidly thought to myself and for the first few minutes, it wasn't.  When the room started to lift, however...I questioned otherwise.
​     Coming back to me, the woman with the rubber gloves checked my bag o' blood, then checked on me.  "Oh." She worriedly said, giving me a once over.
     "Oh?" I questioned.
​     "No, no.  It's fine.  You just look a little, pale."
​     "Pale?  What does, pale mean?"  I shifted, feeling the room spin.
​     "No, it's fine, sweetie.  Let's just take this out and get you over to the other side."
​     "What's the other side?  Am I done?  What's the other side?  Is the bag full?"
     "No, it's not full, but we need to get you over there."
​     "If it's not full, will they still use it?"
​     "No, honey.  But it's okay."
​     I couldn't believe I was going through all of that for nothing.  "How much more until it's done?"
​      "Until the bag's full?"
      "Yes."
      "Not much.  You're almost there."
​      "Then do it.  I'm fine, just get it all."
​      With a worried look, she pulled back from my arm and sat beside me while I took deep breaths.
​      I pumped the ball trying to get the blood to rush faster as I watched her focus on the bag.  "You're just about there." She said as she readied herself for the needle. 
​      A few moments more...and it was done.  She quickly pulled the needle from my arm when blood splattered all over me. 
​      "Oh!  I'm sorry!"  She jumped as I looked down to see.  Trying to sit up was the wrong thing to do.  My stomach went to my throat and my head was light and dizzy.
​     For some reason, I caught a glimpse of one of the cutest guys in college walking by.  He was a senior and he'd never spoken to me, but he was staring at me like I was on display at the zoo, making my nerves pound even more. 
​    "Please don't pass out.  Please don't pass out."  The mantra ran through my head as a small group began to gather.  "Can somebody come over here?"  Rubber gloves lady called in the troops.
​    "She looks green.  Has she eaten?" Another rubber gloves questioned.
​    I hadn't.  I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all morning, but I was suddenly glad because as much as I felt like I was going to hurl, I prayed there was nothing in me substantial enough to do it with.
​    "Get her over there, now.  She needs something in her." Snapped the clipboard lady.
​    A table of donuts, cookies, brownies and juice awaited.  On any other day, I would have hopped from plate to plate, giddy with excitement.  Not this day.  It all looked horrible as my shaky legs found a seat while another woman fixed a plate.
​   "You need to eat.  Here, drink this, quickly."
​   Putting a cup of juice in my hand, I tried to take it.  One sip was all there was, until it all came crashing down.
​    Bending over, I begged for the puking to subside, but when the woman grabbed a trash bin and started yelling for help, I knew it was over. 
​    It was like an exorcism.  Vomit filled the room as she scrambled to get the bin under me, but it was too late.  I covered everything.  I puked like I'd never puked before. Crowds of people stumbled to move away, grabbing onto each other for safety. 
​    Mortified and smelly, I finally finished only to look up at the wide stares at my vomit, blood covered self.  With tears in my eyes, I simply got up to leave, wanting nothing more than to crawl into a hole and die.
​    I'm quite sure the next ten people in line when I passed on my way out, quickly turned and fled, but I didn't care to explain.  I just wanted to go to my room.
​    Years passed and it became more of a funny story rather than a nightmare, until my senior year of college, when it came back to me.
​    I was a cheerleader and it was the Homecoming football game.  Remember that cute senior from freshman puke class 101?  Yep, he was back.  He had still never spoken a word to me, but there he was, handsome as ever, walking with some alum during the game. 
​    Stopping right in front of us, he made eye contact with me, causing my heart to stop. 
​    "It's you," he grinned, as I raised a pom pom waving in return. 
​    "You're the one..." he continued, causing my throat to dry, disallowing me to speak.  He'd never acknowledged me, not even once, but now...
​     Leaning to one of his buddies, he motioned to me, "When she was a freshman, she threw up more than anyone I've ever seen.  It was everywhere.  Puke and blood all over. Beyond awesome."  He smiled as though he'd just revisited one of his favorite college memories, while I...well, I lowered my pom pom and moved backwards, never to see him again.
​     The good news is, I went on to meet the actual guy of my dreams and so far, three of our four kids have literally puked, IN SCHOOL, right in front of their entire class.  That's not actually good news I guess, but at least I was able to hold our children tightly with a story to let them know everything would be alright.
​     SO, on this first day of school quickly approaching, whether it's kindergarten, college or grad school...know this.  Even if there's a bad day, a horribly awful, blood covered, puke in front of the whole school and a cute guy kind of terribly bad day, you're going to get through it.  I promise. 
​     And the best part about it, is every other day after that, won't seem so bad at all.  XO