Roots: All things must come to the soul from where it was planted.

I really need to do a better job at keeping up with my blog. I've slacked off here lately. It has been a crazy, busy couple of weeks. I finally got to go back home to WV, although I wish I could've spent more time there. The trips were entirely too quick -but well worth it. The first weekend trip was to Cincinnati for Lacie's bachelorette party. Needless to say we all had a fun time. It was refreshing to see my best friends (especially my sister) and to get out of my normal routine that I've grown accustom to these days. Following the party, I flew back to Florida for another work week only to turn right back around and leave again. This time for the WEDDING! As you could all guess, Lacie was the most beautiful bride. The wedding plans were forced to change due to the monsoon we experienced that day, but everything turned out nicely in the end (even after the flat tire we experienced along the way, haha). Lacie Deeds is now Lacie Casto. I still cannot believe she is finally married. They make a fabulous couple, and I'm blessed to have the both of them in my life. It was another weekend of familiar faces, voices, & laughs in addition to the inside jokes I miss so much (which I continue to crack even when nobody knows what the hell I am talking about -I still laugh). Gosh, I miss my friends. More & more every day. It was great to reunite two weekends in a row, but it made me not want to leave home again. I had to keep reminding myself that I love my life here too. I know everybody says this same thing, but I truly believe it when I say that I have the best friends in the entire world. I couldn't ask for greater love & support -which is a huge part of why I am able to chase my dreams and live the life I am living. I owe much thanks to "home" and everything/one associated with it. I love my roots.

The next trip is for Michaelyn's wedding toward the end of this month. I plan to drive instead of fly (yikes) because flights are no cheaper than $400, and my friend Erin told me she'll ride in with me, help drive, and give me money for gas. Her friend's birthday is that weekend. I am taking that Monday off, so that will give us an extra day since I am driving. It will be nice because I can spend one night in Huntington and one night in Logan, hopefully. We shall see. Also in the travel category -my supervisor, Stacie, and I plan to take a weekend cruise here soon. I think we're gonna go down to Orlando for Halloween because Universal Studios has tons of entertainment & festivities. After that, I am going to Disney World on November 7th. I hate that I am going to miss Kristen's wedding that weekend though. Boo!

Work continues to treat me well. I never wake up dreading my job, and I never leave work in a bad mood. I couldn't ask for more than that. I continue to learn every day. I do leave with a heavy heart some days: I've seen and heard some sad cases with my students, and I've had to do things I never even thought about before. For instance, calling social services on families and even referring one to a homeless shelter. I also had to have the famous "Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something" talk with a 13 year old who said he wants to be a doctor when he grows up, yet he can never be a doctor because he's in special ed. That was an eye-opener for me. I'm used to working with kids young enough to not even realize they have communication problems. In middle school, it's a different story. I have several fluency kids with a lot of emotional baggage, and I find myself wanting to be the friend instead of the therapist. I do the therapy, but my heart is tugged at a little during those sessions. One thing I am picking up with this job is the ability to not be such a softy. Don't get me wrong -I am a TOTAL softy. I'm just finding it a little easier to "recover" after some things are seen and done (with the exception of the couple of cases mentioned above. Those are way sad!).

Since we're on the topic of JOBS -how about YAY for my sister! She starts a new teaching job in Logan County soon. She is waiting to hear what subject because I think there are a few positions that came open. My uncle told her that it will probably be in a week or two. They just fired some teachers there, and they were discussing Jenn at the board meeting last week. I'm twiddling my thumbs, waiting to see, and I know she is very excited. I am extremely proud of her. I know my mom would be proud of her too. Awww, happy moment. <3