A Return of Happiness??

I feel like it has been a while since I've had a real smile on my face, but it's there, you can see it if you look close enough. I promise. I wish I didn't have to wear a frown from time to time, but that's life, but I'm happy to see the frown disappear and the smile reappear. And I think I've figured out why the smile is back...

1. I have an AMAZING family. I really needed my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and mother-in-law lately, and they were there for me (not that this is a surprise, but sometimes I take it for granted). It seems that lately life has delivered me a nice tall, big glasses of lemons, and they've helped me to see the lemonade that can be made from the lemons I've been left with. So thank you...you know who you are. It is just nice to know that on good days and bad, happy or sad, I can call them or pop over unannounced and get the love and support that I seek. I only hope I am half as wonderful to them as they are to me!!!!

2. John is AMAZING. It is so hard to believe that we've been together for nine years now, married for six and a half years. While I wish we were able to get off the roller coaster of life once and for all, I'm thankful he is by my side the entire trip, holding my hand the entire time. It is so refreshing to know that our relationship is stronger now than ever before, and I am SO LUCKY to have him as my husband.

3. I have only 27 days left with students and I know I have a job for next year. With all of the recent lay-offs in the educational world and our unstable U.S. economy, I'm thankful that next year I'll be teaching a full schedule. I've never taught six classes before, but I'm ready for the challenge and rather thankful that I have a job to go to, as I know many friends who are without.

4. We are getting the opportunity to enjoy life. John and I just booked a trip to Arizona this summer to meet our niece Sofia who is due early July. John will be there for a week, and since I have the time, I'll be staying an extra 10 days. I hope the old adage isn't true that fish and relatives smell after 3 days, because then Colleen, Victor, and Kelli are going to need some SERIOUS odor repellent!

5. We are, after nine years of begging and pleading John, getting to go to the Happiest Place on Earth. I have booked a five night, six day trip to Walt Disney World in the fall. I am looking forward to our first vacation together alone since our Honeymoon in 2004, and I know as the time gets closer, John will get more excited too. He's never been, and it has been YEARS since I've been, so it'll be great for us to explore the parks together.

So if you see me around town, hopefully my temporary frown has permanently turned upside down, and I'll smile your way. I know good things are in store for me, and I'm ready again to put one foot in front of the other, and let the road less traveled take me wherever it goes.