Airport Date

Last night, after dinner, I asked Andrew what time he wanted to leave for the airport to pick up his mom (who was flying in from TX).  It was about 3 hours before she was scheduled to arrive.  He suggested we leave right at that moment and have an airport date at the airport Dunkin Donuts.  So, the highlight of my night was a date at the airport Dunkin Donuts.

Decaf latte and hot chocolate.  I think they go well together.

A boy and his mama.

Enjoy this holiday with your families my friends.
~Angela

The Power of Positive Thinking

I am a believer in the power of positive thinking.  Are you?  I believe that the more positive your thoughts, the more positive your life.  I look at my thoughts/life kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy: What I think about an event/subject/person/job will most likely become my reality.  For example, August of last year I allowed negativity to take over my life.  It held on for 8 full months.  I sound myself complaining and finding excuses for not being happy on a regular basis.  I felt like I was failing at my job.  Why can't I reach these kids?  I had to reset my thinking, which is exactly what I did over the summer.  I moved to a different state, a different job, a different everything.  This experience could've been a breaking moment for me.  I've never been this far away from my family, my home, or the South.  These are the thoughts that could've taken over:

1. It will be REALLY cold.  I hate being cold.
2. It will be REALLY dangerous to drive in the snow.
3. It will be REALLY expensive to maintain our style of living.
4. Everyone will be REALLY mean.
5. Everyone will HATE my southern drawl.
6. I will not survive without my family being within a day of driving.
7. Everyone drinks Pepsi...boo!
8. I will miss all of my friends, and I will not be able to make new ones.

That's just a start.

Instead of allowing these ideas to become my reality, this is what happened:

1. It is REALLY cold...but put on a coat, scarf, gloves, and a hat and you're perfectly fine!
2. Yes, driving in the snow is dangerous, but everyone goes slow so it's ok.  Oh yeah, and I LOVE SNOW!
3. It is really expensive to live like we did in GA, so we just don't.  And it's fine.
4. I've yet to meet a mean person.
5. People like my southern drawl.  My students think I'm a cowgirl.  I'm way cool.
6. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And Skype helps.
7. Most restaurants serve Pepsi, but I should really drink more water anyway.
8. I do miss my friends, but I've made some great friends here too...and one of them has a really warm fireplace (re: #1)

What are your thoughts on positive thinking?  Does it really make a difference?  How has it changed your life?

~Angela

I'm a Little Bit Country

Let me start this post by telling you that I am a country girl.  I did not grow up in the country and I currently do not live in the country but Andrew can tell you that my dream home would be on several acres of land and possibly include a working hen house and cattle ranch.  I used to think I was a city girl.  All of the shopping, nightlife, restaurants...it all fascinated me.  As I've grown older (lol...I'm calling myself "older")  I've realized that being in nature makes me whole.  Although this hike is one I speak of with great disdain in normal conversation, I can honestly say that on that day I was truly living.  I've never had a better sense of who God was than when I was standing on top of that mountain that I had just climbed...5 miles straight up.  I have some of my deepest thoughts, revelations, and prayers when I am running through the woods using every ounce of strength I have to keep going.  Andrew and I have some of our best conversations when we are hiking or paddling or just lying in our tent camping at the local campground.  Nature forces you to let go. 


What forces you to let go?

Catskill Mountains

~Angela

My Place

Next week I will be heading to one of my favorite places on Earth: My in-laws' cabin in the mountains.  It is also one of the places I'm going to miss most when we move to New York.

Ya know those places you can go where the world doesn't matter?  Where everything in your world is perfect and your worries seem to disappear?  The Cabin, (it's actual name is Hide 'n Seek, but Andrew and I just call it The Cabin), is my place.  My place where nothing matters but the time I am spending with my family.

Where is your place?

~Angela

Welcome Home!

I'm so happy to announce that we FINALLY found a place to live in New York!  If you know me outside of blogland, you know that I am very indecisive about issues like this, so being a $400 flight away (meaning I couldn't see every place in person) made this task quite difficult for us.  We took one trip to Albany and looked at about 5 different suburban areas in two days...I know...CRAZY.  We were totally worn out by the end of the trip and we felt like we'd made no progress because we left Albany with no place to live...and worse, no prospects.  After getting home, we continued looking online and finally found a townhouse in one of our favorite towns that we found when we visited Albany!  This really takes a load off my shoulders!  Now to plan decor for the new place and continue to pack the current place...

   

One of my favorite photos of Albany.

~Angela

Let Love Explode

I love this song.  I first heard it when I was in Florida    for my nephew's baby dedication.  More specifically, I love the line, "Let love explode..."  For some reason, that lyric speaks to me.  I suppose it is something I need to be reminded of daily.  I wonder what the world would be like if we all "let love explode."  What do you think?  Leave a comment!  :)