Investing

“That was the best root canal I’ve ever had!”

 

                  Isn’t that what everyone says after they have a root canal done? My dentist was shocked with my expression. I was pain free after delaying the inevitable for many months. The procedure wasn’t as bad as people warned it would be. I wish I had done it sooner. 

 

Once this school year ended, I knew it was time to start investing. I’d bet that most teachers on their first day of summer at 7:00am were fast asleep. I was at a car dealership getting maintenance done on my Mustang…for five hours. (Good thing I brought a book.) That afternoon I was at the foot doctor for an hour getting my left ankle checked. Two days later I was having a root canal. A week later I had follow-up dental appointments; along with a trip to the dermatologist to be evaluated for skin cancer. I’m cancer free, but other issues remain. I ended my month with another foot doctor visit and eye doctor. 

 

Part of my June investing saw me get rid of things. Goodwill and Salvation Army saw me a few times with a car full of donations. It felt good to declutter items I no longer needed and help others. Since I got rid of books and clothes, I color coordinated my bookshelf and closet. They look incredible! At the beginning of 2025, I had over 23,000 photos stored on my iPhone. Every day, I go through the photos I took that day and decide what to keep and delete. To date, I’ve deleted over 4,000.

 

My investing included watching lots of sports. In the summer, sports celebrated in a big way. The men’s and women’s college world series took place that saw many thrilling walk-off victories. Meanwhile the Florida Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and dominated the Oilers to win their second straight championship, making it officially known that Florida is a hockey state. (That sounds weird to type, but it’s becoming true in the NHL.) Global soccer has taken the United States by storm as the World Cup arrives next year.

As I was watching sports, I was also investing into my next school year. For me, that meant spending time studying the math, science, and reading standards. I also prepared postcards for my new students, teachers, and the 50 states as part of postcard exchange. Lastly, I spent hours on my laptop revamping digital projects and sending emails to admin as I prepare for the biggest change in my career in ten years. Stay tuned!

 

The favorite thing that I invested in was the Florida Special Olympics. Special Education has had my heart from a young age. I love helping and working with people with all ability levels. I earned a double endorsement in Special Education in college and spent an entire semester working in a Special Education classroom. All my teaching career has been in a general education classroom, and next year will too… but I’m also going to be part of the Florida Special Olympics! Soon I’ll be a Unified Partner. That means I’ll be teamed up with an athlete and help them train and compete! I haven’t been told who my athlete is or what sport yet, but I’m excited to start!  

 

It's easy as a teacher to reinvest in appointments, sleep, and your family during the summer months. What about when you do feel tooth pain for a day or week? “It’ll go away.”  But it never does. …When you’re exhausted from your job  it’s easy to spend hours on your phone or binge-watching shows at night, but what about your spouse or children? You say, “They’ll always be around.” People change and grow quickly. 

 

                  Last summer I made a big investment into a new home, and it’s been a great decision. As part of that decision, I moved schools and had a wonderful school year. This summer I made the long overdue decision to invest in my health. I feel extremely fortunate that despite my negligence, I’ve remained mostly healthy. Taking care of your health is a lifelong process, not just a one appointment fix-all. 

 

I encourage you to invest. For some, that means pouring time into yourself or your family. For others, that means investing in exercise or a hobby. My point is, start investing today before it’s too late. Start investing! It’ll pay dividends in the future!

Present

“Your class video is only ten minutes and thirteen seconds long this year. What happened?” A teacher asked me. “You’re right it is much shorter than normal, but this year I just stayed more present with my students.”

                 

  I had two unbelievably great 4^th grade classes this school year! Plus, the most incredible parents and teachers I’ve ever worked with. Moving to this school was a dream true! It was a year I’ll always remember! That’s why the last day is a heartbreaking one, and we all shed plenty of tears this year. 

 

Every day I had pep in my step because I knew I was walking into a classroom with mathematicians and scientists that were driven to learn! I was able to do things I’ve never done in a school year because they were ready and willing to accept any challenge I threw their way. One of which was a glow-in-the-dark room transformation with six stations! Another was my Pokémon Prime and Composite activity outside! Because my classes craved learning, some of my ideas were created within minutes and seconds of the classes walking in, like my basketball math competition and 100^th day idea. 

 

 What I noticed this year was that because we were having many authentic, wholesome learning and fun moments that we didn’t capture them because they were unprompted and unplanned. These moments took place daily because I was present with my class, inside my classroom, at lunch, at recess, and at after school events. To be honest, most didn’t even make into my daily journal because when you’re just laughing and teaching in the moment that you’re not thinking about anything else. 

 

I was also able to be more present with my students because of volunteer support I had in my classroom. It took me awhile to gain the confidence to ask for help, but now that I did, I’m not going back. By having volunteers, students were able to achieve the learning targets I had for that day; and it even allowed more get help and be challenged because of the adults in the classroom. Shoutout to my volunteers. You’re the real heroes! Thank you!

 

Because student behaviors were so wonderful and very minimal, there rarely was a need to contact administration compared to what I had to do consistently the last four years. I could just teach and teach I did. 

 

At the end of the year, it’s easy for students and teachers to be excited for summer and the next school year! We all worked hard for 180 days and deserve all the emotions. With the feedback I get from my students throughout the year, I’m always eager to make the next year better than the current one. During May, I constantly tell myself to slow down and be present with my students. This year, with how much joy I was having, I was especially mindful. 

 

On every last day of school, we, myself included, sit in a circle and talk about our favorite memories. After, I play a video with music that is a culmination of the memories captured of my students. Tears start flowing down our cheeks. Then I give my final read aloud(s), barely getting the words out as the realization of wonderful the year was is hitting our hearts in all the right places. It’s in those moments that we understand just how much of a family we truly were and how present we were for one another during the school. 

 

Thank you to my 4^th graders, my class parents, the teachers, and volunteers for creating a school year I’ve never forget! 

Throwback

Close your eyes! You’re sitting on your couch, playing Yoshi’s Island 3 on your Gameboy Advance while sipping on a grapefruit soda called Squirt. Weren’t those the good-old days! I can picture it as if it was yesterday. Now that I think about it…it was yesterday!

 

                  Last weekend, I went Epic Universe. It’s a new theme park that’s opening in Florida in a month. When you walk through a portal, you are taken to one of five worlds: Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, Dark Universe (Monsters), Super Nintendo, and Celestial Park (futuristic). Each world had unique sights, sounds, smells, and rides! It truly felt as if you were in that world!

 

                  The world that brought me back to my childhood was Super Nintendo! The portal you enter through is a green tube with the same sound from the Mario games! When you exit the portal, you are welcomed to Super Maro World: grassy green shapes, the question mark boxes, and Browsers Castle. My jaw dropped at the sight in front of me. My friend and I immediately bought “power bands” so we could keep score of who earned the most coins as we adventured through the world. (I won between the two of us…just so it’s record.)

 

                  Within Super Mario World is Yoshi’s Adventure. You walk through a portal and are met with bright blue crayoned walls, gigantic trees and flowers, and plenty of eggs. My favorite game growing up was always Yoshi’s Island 3 on the Gameboy Advance. That’s when it hit me: I was literally walking through my favorite childhood game. To get to the ride, you walk through a treehouse where you hop on Yoshi. It was such a cute and easy-going ride. The ride brought back all the long car rides of playing the game to and from my brother’s baseball games. I was so happy to be back in Super Mario World!

 

                  If it couldn’t get even better, it did! Out of sight behind Super Mario World was Donkey Kong! You’re met with lots of bananas and mine carts racing all around you! I was nearly in tears because it brought back great memories at my grandparents’ house where my brother and I played Donkey Kong Country for hours on their Super Nintendo as children. The mine cart ride was VERY bumpy just like game! Your cart even “jumps” over water and different rail-tracks. It was so fun! To top it off, I enjoyed a DK Crush Float that came in the coolest souvenir barrel cup! How badly I wish I could be back at my grandparents’ house playing Donkey Kong Country with them. 

 

                  There’s so many reasons why Epic Universe is…epic! For me, Super Mario World and Donkey Kong brought back the nostalgia of my childhood that no theme park has been able to tap into; sorry Disney. To feel that childhood joy again was a dream come true. I felt it so much that when I got home, I went on Amazon Prime and ordered the last copy of Yoshi’s Island 3 for the Gameboy Advance. In anticipation for the game to arrive, the next day at Publix, I bought a soda called Squirt. It’s soda to my cousin and I drank a lot of as we played basketball at a monastery for years as children. 

                  Then it all came together yesterday. Yoshi’s Island 3 arrived. I dig out my Gameboy Advance, popped in two AA batteries, grabbed a Squirt soda, and played Yoshi’s Island for an hour. It was just how I remembered it! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE! I texted my brother promising that I’d bring the game home during summer. 

 

After a day full of math glow Jenga and tic-tac-toe, playing Yoshi’s Island while drinking a soda was just what my adulthood needed. A throwback to my childhood! Oh the memories!

Fans

Picture this: The clock is ticking down; your team is down by one in the basketball game. The fans are going crazy! The ball is passed around. You have it in your hands. The shot is yours. You’ve made it thousands of times! In a split second, you pass the ball to someone else. The clock expires. Game over.

 

Lately, that’s been me. 

 

            The thing is, in education, your biggest fans are with you for 180 days. They’re the ones that listen to (almost) every command you give them. You spend hours with them daily growing them as much as they grow you. By the end of the year, you wonder where all the hours went. You dread the last day with them despite summer looming. These fans are your STUDENTS!

 

            In a profession that can be met with lots of stress and mandated scripted curriculum, your students are the most important audience you can play for! They’re why you’re in the game (education) to begin with. 

 

We often to focus on the coaches and owners (school leaders), instead of ones we’re playing for; the fans (the students.) I’m guilty of it. It’s easy to give in to what others want from you. It’s hard to be different all the time and not want to sit on the bench and blend in after you’ve been questioned and booed enough times. 

 

You look up at the stands and see that one fan staring right at you. They’re smiling at you. They’ve been there the whole game. You gain a little confidence. 

 

But you show up the next game.  That fan who showed up the day before brought a new fan! Your confidence continues to grow. You smile a little a bit more. You perform a little bitter. When you felt alone in the game, you think back to the two fans that cheered for you.

 

You show the next game. The fans have tripled! You decide to play offensively faster. You’re a little more vocal. You get the foul call. You miss the free throw, but proud of yourself for getting to the foul line. 

 

The next game comes, the fans show up in the bunches. You’re playing faster and more decisive. You hear the coaches but make the right play because you’re in the game viewing the game live. The fans are cheering. But the coach benches you.

 

The following game, the fans are in the dozens! You’re as confident as ever despite starting from the bench. The moment you get into the game, you make a steal. You grab a rebound. You take a charge. You pass the ball with precision. The crowd is going wild! 

 

We have the most incredible fans inside our room daily. They’ll be with us on our  best days and on our worst days. But most importantly, they’re the ones we’re playing for; not the (test) score at the end of the game (school year). Our fans don’t care about the outside noise, they care about YOU as their teacher. They love when they’re acknowledged, learning, and having fun! Those are the three very least things we can do. 

 

It's so hard to block out the loud naysayers on the other side. It’s hard to change the play the others want you to go with. But the fans believe in you! They want you to be the person you were meant to be, not just like the others. They’ll support you no matter what. Always remember they’re the ones you’re showing up for. 

 

Dress up! Make a last-minute switch in your lesson plan! Go buy butterflies! Do a classroom transformation! Play line tag with them! Beat them in a game of Blooket! Show up to their after-school events! Laugh with them! 

 

I’ll ask you again… the clock is ticking down; your team is down by one in the basketball game. You have the ball. The shot is yours. The home crowd is chanting your name! What are you going do with the ball? The choice is yours! 

Marathon 3

It’s been exactly two weeks after my second marathon. For twelve days it’s been eating at me at what happened the last 5k of the Houston Marathon. Things were going to so well that I was on pace to be two minutes faster than my pace group; until “the wall” hit me and I slowed down to crawl and I missed my PR by two minutes. My mom summarized best as she hugged me post-race, “That’s only the second time I can recall you not hitting the goal you set.” 

 

Post-marathon blues have been living in my head ever since. What could I have differently? Should I have trained in colder weather? Do I need to run three hours a few times beforehand? What about lifting, something that’s been non-existent in both my marathons? For this marathon I ran over 60 times, more than I ever have for a race, should I have did one less run less per week?  I’ve stuck to a running plan whatsoever, should I mostly stick one for my next marathon? What about my daily eating habits? Did great on hydrating during this marathon, but declined eating GU gels, should I use them next time? Did all the hype from friends, family, and students put too much pressure on me?

 

Questions! Questions! Questions!

 

But one question is now answered. My third marathon will be ran in December on the other side of the country; my fifty-race month in a row and possibly the end of my race streak! When I got the thought in my head about running a marathon in June 2026, my dad put another race in my head. To make matters more interesting, this December marathon is nearly sold out already! Knowing that, I asked my dad if I should sign up tonight. He suggested I wait until it’s even more full. After checking their social media pages, I noticed a significant lack of inactivity including not having an Instagram page, to which I felt I had no other choice but sign up for my third marathon tonight. Sorry dad…

 

Before you hit the panic button, this marathon has a lot of prestige! According to its page: it’s the #1 Boston Qualifier race. (851 runners ran faster than a 2:55, compared to 300-400 runners in Houston.)  It’s one of the top ten largest marathons. It’s another race that has 2:55 pacers, unlike the one I wanted to run 2026. Many running magazines praise it. 

 

Part of me is immediately regretting the decision. I just finished four months of training and can finally relax but chose to sign up for another marathon. I’m also not fully healed and feeling some marathon bumps still. My body has 40 months of continuous running on it and I’m feeling it. Then there are the “what ifs”. What if my legs can’t make it another 10 months? What if I don’t run the time I want?

 

Another part of me loves my inner mindset to make this marathon my best finish yet. The decision to buy a marathon book. The poster board with ideas for how to run my next marathon better. The Boston Bib with the time I want on it. The google searches for marathons. Downloading my running plan for this December. I love it all.  The guts to type this blog. 

 

I honestly don’t know if my legs and body can make it another 10 months of running. I am tired! My legs are banged up. But I do know, I want another crack at the marathon. By choosing December, it gives me plenty of time to casually rest, study, and game plan. It gives me enough time away to feel ready to train again. Come August I’ll be hungry again to start training, just like I am with teaching. 

 

This marathon will not be shared publicly like my last one, but rather the opposite. I want to stick to a plan. I hope during it I’ll get physically stronger, eat healthier, and enjoy the training. I still want 2:55. 

Let It

I believe a famous Bettles song goes by, “Let it Be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be!” A song released in 1970 reigns true over 50 years today! For many of us the first two words “Let It” then followed by an assortment of words have gotten us through many challenging times in our lives, including mine.

 

To kickoff January 2025 I’ve experienced heartbreak: the distancing of a friendship, class parents not being happy with me, and my marathon not going to plan. In the midst of it all, I read four powerful books! These four books were about: sleep, optimism, perseverance, and fortitude. 

 

The last of these books has had an immediate impact on me and many others; so much that Mel Robbins, the author of the book: The Let Them Theory shares two pages worth of tattoos that say, “Let Them”. I wasn’t as bold as her loyal fans, but I did write “Let Them” on my palm all week. The book dived into strategies that can help you let go of things out of your control go by saying “Let Them _______.” After 36 pages I wrote on the inside cover “new blog idea, Let It”. I was hooked! 

 

A parent is angry with my response to a situation. Let it.

My body struggled the last three miles of my marathon. Let it.

I prioritized washing dish instead of getting to school when I planned to. Let it.

I didn’t grade papers as I planned. Let it.

My brother hasn’t visited since I moved to Florida seven years ago. Let it.

A friendship is fading because you’re no longer invested. Let it.

Plans changed last minute and now more work is to be done. Let it.

I haven’t run in two weeks to keep resting despite two races coming up. Let it.

 

These are all examples that happened just this week. For many people are stressors. But for me, thanks to The Let Them Theory book and my consistent reading of psychology books, none of these are. I see, hear the distress on teachers in my school daily. It breaks my heart! They always wonder…how do I do what I do so carefree. The simple answer: I let go of what I can’t control.

The two ironic things about me are: I’m a HUGE people pleaser and a control freak. When I finally reach out to some parents about concerns, then they flip the blame to me, it hurts! Sometimes tears are shed and I need advice from my allies, but ultimately I let it (the situation) go because the vast majority of my class parents don’t say those things about me. I’m doing the best I can and so are they. We both don’t know what the other is going through.

 

In my most recent marathon, I was on pace to break my PR by three minutes despite the freezing temps and achy knee. Suddenly at mile 23 my race fell completely apart, and I missed by PR by two minutes. I let myself slow down for my own safety. I remember after crossing the finish line how proud I was for finishing my second marathon, rather than being devastated like my friends and family feared I’d be. There will be more marathons for me. I’ll be back better than ever after I learn more and recover. 

 

You know the story how my sister and her family visited me in Florida after many years, but my brother hasn’t. Despite my and parents’ attempts, he still hasn’t budged. He has his reasons, but for years I thought he’d overcome those fears and have fun with his brother. After all, now that my sister has visited, I think she has the Disney bug. It took many years for her to come down here despite my attempts in every conversation we had. No matter how much I shared about Florida, none of those things worked as I thought they would. From here on out, I’m going to let it be that my brother hasn’t visited me be okay with it. HE must want to, not just me. It has come from within him. I know he loves me even from afar. I’ll stay optimistic he’ll visit!

 

There are so many things that are out of our control. Even when we do try to control or fix them, sometimes we make them worse. As hard as it is: let them be, let it happen, let yourself move on, let them struggle, and let go. When you stop wasting your time and energy on things you can’t stop, control, or prevent, you clear up so much for time, space and energy for yourself! You’re even happier! You deserve that! You are worth it! Let it! 

Closing the Calendar on 2024

 

2024 was a hard year! It started off with burying my grandma. Followed by losing my doctor and some of my closest friends. To add to the difficulty, I made the decision to move schools and homes. It's been a year of healing that will continue for the foreseeable future. But not every day was challenging. By journaling I found something to celebrate every day!  What my journal can't capture in images, my phone did! 

Here are the moments that I want to remember in 2024!

To my surprise, I won our school district's 3 mile race! Some teachers from my school were there to congratulate me!

I went to the NFL Pro Bowl for the first time. NFL fans are crazy supportive of their teams! This was an interesting experience!

The hunt for Sasquatch... on an ATV course while running 10k and 5k races. I ran in back to back races for the first time in years. Someone in a Sasquatch outfit definitely scared me...or maybe it was really him!?!

When in St. Augustine on a field trip you hold snakes?! Apparently when your class chaperones pay a snake charmer five bucks he'll give the teacher the biggest snake. This was a first for me and honestly not bad. I'm glad I was brave!

It wouldn't be spring break if I didn't watch baseball. The weather was perfect! I also went to the New York Yankees facility, but I'm not posting that picture. Boo Yankees! 

I went to the Orlando Discovery Center! It's four layers of science exploration. The exhibits change. I spent a few hours there by myself. It was fun!

My first Orlando Magic game had me right next to the action! Zion Williamson was not having a great game and was showing his frustration. Meanwhile, I had a great time watching the Magic win and even caught a t-shirt! 

The picture doesn't do it justice, but this is Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky! My parents and I took a tour a week before the big weekend. We even met a few horses. 

A picture with my dad since he says the Kentucky Half Marathon will be his last. I don't believe it. He'll run another half marathon. 

1:21:55

Saying goodbye is hard. Every year, each class touches my heart in special ways. Lots of tears were shed. I'll always remember my students through pictures and my signed suits. 

Smiling through the tears. My last day of school. Fours years at MWE. Hundreds of students. Lifelong teacher friends! Thousands of memories! I'm glad I stayed for half of my career. 

Would it be summer if I didn't watch the KANSAS CITY ROYALS and Rays?! Per usual, the Royals lost this game (but won the previous two before I showed up.) Bobby Witt Jr. hit a home run as I wore his jersey! The Royals would go 86-76 and make the playoffs!

My stay in Nebraska was short, but we did go to another AAA baseball game and a new science museum! It was so cool! I liked it better than the Orlando one. Shhh! 

Moving schools means moving classrooms means driving U-Hauls which means moving into storage units. Shoutout to my friend who helped all three moves. I paid her a lot! This picture located on the second floor of a facility with high ceilings doesn't showcase how many things I have nor the two hours it took us. And worse yet... this was move 2 of 3. 

When you move schools, make sure it's near Disney! This was our team outing at Epcot. Team outings at Disney are a huge blessing when everyone is a pass holder.

After my first night at my place, before I was 100% unpacked, I had to run! The colorful homes were a beautiful greeting on my first run. I love running past them. 

After touring five homes, I knew immediately this would be my home for the foreseeable future! This area in my home has become a favorite of mine. I've added quite a few more books to that bookshelf. Whoops!

I've never been proud of where I lived the last ten years. Honestly, it's been embarrassing and unsafe. When I was handed the keys to my place, it was surreal. I LOVED IT! I had a washer and dryer, microwave, lights that were installed in every room and working, a light switch in the inside of my bathroom, wood floors, fans, a huge closet, and plenty of space all for an affordable price. (All the things I mentioned above are what I didn't have at my last place for four years. Sounds like I got ripped off haha!) I'm happy where I live now. I feel safe where I live. I enjoy where I live. I'll always remember FaceTiming my mom and dad showcasing my place. 

Would you believe me this classroom came together in less than a week? It's exciting opening a brand new school! It's also very jammed packed when you have to move into your new school, build your new classroom, and have a meet and greet with your new class families within that week. But everything works out. I love my classroom!

Year 9 is blasting off! 

This time my astronaut suit finally fits my theme. 

When WWE Smackdown comes to your city, you got to show up; even if it's after your first full week of school and you're exhausted. This was Roman Reigns first public appearance in months. It was a big deal! I'm glad I went. It was fun!!!

Nebraska football went 7-6 and won our bowl game!

Nebraska volleyball made it to the final four!

Nebraska basketball made it into the NCAA basketball tournament!

The Jordan-Florida curse has been lifted. Hallelujah!

New outside classroom transformation unlocked: Prime and Composite Pokemon!

Rock Your School; their first inside classroom transformation! They loved it!

For the first time ever, I watched a movie at a movie theater by myself. It was only fitting that it would be The Wild Robot! It was adorable. 

 

Marathon 2 will be ran through Houston! I stick a sticker in my journal after every run I finish. I  run 3-5 times per week. It's been paying off!

My first UCF football game with friends at the "Bounce House!" They are the self proclaimed "2017 National Champions!" Nebraska would take Scott Frost back home to us where he'd fail miserably and be fired after 4 years. ...Two months I visited UCF, they rehired Scott Frost. I hope he does well!

36 months of racing and all I have is this plant?! It's actually still alive in my classroom (I hope.) In all seriousness, I couldn't have dreamed of three years of racing. I know how fortunate I am to still be running competitively after all these years. 

After I finished my 36th month of racing, I raced over to Tampa to go watch my first official NFL game: Falcons vs. Buccaneers! The game was electric! It was so fun! I have to make it to another game next year!

My first ever pumpkin day! I had to buy 8 pumpkins at Publix the day before. I became that guy in the math problem haha! The kids got super messy and had fun!

My second longest run: 20.05 miles at 6:28 pace! I'm running times I haven't ran since college!

IT FINALLY HAPPENED! After seven years of living in Florida, my sister, brother-in-law, my niece, and nephew visited me for the first time during Thanksgiving break! It was a really good visit! We went to Gatorland, ate sea food, and...

visited MAGIC KINGDOM! It was truly a magical day. Rhett and Brielle were so well behaved! I did a great job leading the way onto rides and throughout the park. It was also my mom's and dad's first time at MK too! I'm so proud of them for toughing it out and making it a great experience! It was a special day!

I have the BEST ROOM PARENTS! I'm not used to having help in my classroom. At times I have last minute ideas and they immediately pivot and help me. They make my ideas a reality! This is the first gingerbread house door I've had and I couldn't have done it without the time and dedication of a special room parent. 

After MK, I had the idea of visiting all four parks before my pass is blocked out until January. Florida may not have snow, but Epcot does it BIG with their lights on this ride!

I had three firsts in one night at Hollywood Studios!  I rode the Rock N' Rollercoaster, Slinky Dog, and Rise of the Resistance! It was an incredible night! I got caught up in the ride that when the dark-side "interrogated" us, I straightened up my posture and blamed the girl next to me. Everyone laughed! 

Last, but not least, Animal Kingdom! I rode Kali River Rapids and got soaked! When I rode Expedition: Everest I was laughing the whole time because a girl and mom were terrified at the speed and the drops of the ride. Is that bad? lol

Merry Christmas from the suit that started it all 9 years ago! The hat that I'm wearing was bought during a run in college with a friend. We ran into a thrift store literally! 

Buddy the Elf decided to spread some Christmas cheer on his 9 miler run through his new community on Christmas Eve. I took a few pictures with strangers and friends, and received a few honks! Maybe I should do a race in this outfit!

Seven years in the making: Wall E has been rebuilt! Look at him! With all my moves, I took Wall E apart to preserve him as much as possible. Some pieces were lost, but thankfully most remained safe. I broke some "Lego Laws" to restore him to his glory. Watch the movie! It's got to be in my top 5 Disney movies of all time. 

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In 2020, I set a goal of a blog a month for a year and then I'd share publicly what I did and hope for dozens of likes and compliments. But in the midst of the first year, I realized how enjoyable the blogs were because I wasn't typing my blogs to appease a specific audience, but rather my own. So my blogs became enjoyable! I then set a new goal. I'd reveal in five years what I had been secretly up to. For the first few years, I dreamed of this day! 60 blogs very people know about. It's a catalog of my life digitally. Maybe one day I'll share this top-secret world of blogging with the world, or maybe someone else will for me. As of right now, I don't feel the need to. When I type my blogs, I type for me and those that need hope in challenging times. Some blogs are incredibly lighthearted, and some are raw because life isn't full of sunshine and rainbows. But no matter how bad it gets; I prove daily through my journals (today is day 1,382) and my blogs that life is wonderful! Find time daily or monthly to write or type a moment that filled your heart. I hope whoever you are reading this; you have the BEST LIFE EVER! YOU DESERVE IT!