Many reasons to be grateful...

Last night I lay in bed thinking just how lucky I am. In the past few years I've found reasons not to be grateful...like the fact that I bought my condo in 2007 and that it's worth over $100,000 less than I paid for it or when I lost my job, had a tree fall through my roof, or when I was in my car accident.

But when I think of the truly wonderful blessings in my life, I'm so amazed and grateful. Since I was 16, I have done so much traveling! I've been to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, the Carribean, the Bahamas, England, France, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Ireland. Soon I'll be going to Costa Rica with Ben on our honeymoon.

After losing my job in 2009, I was given the wonderful opportunity to work at Chaminade Middle School and just a few months later I met Ben. Since meeting Ben we've gone on so many adventures but the greatest adventure has been the adventure of our hearts. And the greatest adventure of all lies ahead...in 5 days we will be man and wife. It's really all I can think about now and I am so happy. Most of my early 20s were spent wondering when I would meet this man who I'd spend the rest of my life with. Most of my diary entries were about my desire to meet my future husband...and now I'm getting married. It's the answer the years of prayers and I am so joyful. <3

1 week till I'm Mrs. Medley!!

Wow...I'm one week away from being a married woman! 2 years ago at this time I'd never believe it...I hadn't even met Ben yet, and here I am, getting married. I am so excited about the wedding. After all the hard work we've putting in, I can finally see it all coming together, all the details and finishing touches I've been trying to add to make it a nice day for all!

Ben's upstairs tying his boutineers (sp?) for himself, the groomsmen, the dads, a few of his family members, and Logan and Landon, our ring bearers (Ben's nephews). I've been cleaning but the place still looks like a disaster...between laundry and trying to pack there's stuff everywhere. Hopefully it'll look decent by the time Ben's family arrives!

Most of the wedding stuff that I can do is done but I do have a few errands to run today (can you tell I'm avoiding them). Must finish a few gifts for people, get some cards, and shop for some food to hold us over for the week. Neither one of us has been eating very well. Maybe the stress and amount of work we have to get done? I'm hoping now that school is out, I will start to unwind a bit. It's nice knowing I don't have to grade any more papers for a while!

Well, I better go attend to the workload. By the way, I started a creative writing blog for the new class I'll be teaching next year (well, it's new to me). It's called writingalive.blogspot.com. Check it out! Enjoy!

7 days...and counting!!

My bachelorette girl's night!

Last night my friends, Shannon, Erika, Emila, and Priscilla, took me out to Flemming's for my bachelorette party. We went to happy hour, which I'm super excited about, because it's such a great date night for people on a budget. Their $6 menu is awesome. All drinks and appetizers on the Happy Hour list are only $6/each. I tried their mojito, very good, but the best was the tropical flavored martini...so yummy. They have an appetizer burger which is NOT appetizer size...it's a big juicy burger! We also tried the calimari which was A-mazing!

But, of course, the best part is never the food--it's the time spent with friends. Before going to Flemming's, Shannon, who will be my make-up artist at the wedding, did a test run for the wedding make-up. It was so much fun and we had a great time sharing my last single girl's night out on the town.

I'm 27!

It's hard to believe I'm 27 years old. In some ways it feels like I just turned 21 getting ready to leave for Europe for a month. In other ways, that feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened in the past year, the past two years, and when I think back to three years ago my life was completely different. Since turning 25, I started teaching @ Chaminade Middle School, after being laid off from Reseda High School due to the recession. I met Ben a few months later and since meeting Ben life has been full of adventures: first dates, mini-trips, a birthday in Cambria last summer, Ben's proposal in December during our vacation in the Bahamas.

And here we are now. June 1, 2011. I'm 27 years old. On Saturday, some of my girlfriends are taking me out for a little "bachelorette" party...Happy Hour at Flemmings...yay! There are so many exciting things just around the corner.

Today, I felt very blessed at work. We had a fun luncheon for the Religion department. They gave me a card for my upcoming wedding with two giftcards--one to Chile's and one for the AMC theaters! My students brought me brownies, cookies, and cake along with a balloon and a flower pot! I also got cards and warm wishes from my colleagues and students...very nice way to spend the day :)

Last night when Ben got home late from work (2am!) he had brought beautiful pink roses home with a card, and when I woke up this morning for work I got to wake up to them...so nice!

I am very blessed and thank everyone who has made this day special. To a wonderful year and a wonderful life ahead! For me and all of you :)