I saw this blog prompt, and I realized how frustrated I am that entertainment is so expensive. I don't even long to go traveling around the world. I really want to explore some places right here in my backyard. Unfortunately, it will cost close to or over a hundred dollars to take my family to any one of the places listed below. I just can't see spending that kind of money on just a few hours.
1. Butterfly Wonderland- think zoo for butterflies. There are several interactive workshops and educational opportunities, as well as the beauty of observing the butterflies in various habitats. They even designed a tropical rainforest! Now, if I could just figure out how this works into our 6th grade science curriculum, I'd be set. At this point, I can't figure out how it ties in to any of the units we are expected to do, but give me some time. I'll figure it out!
2. Out of Africa Wildlife Park- lions, tigers, and bears.... oh my! Out of Africa offers an experience that is close up and exciting. Daniel and I visited during our honeymoon (13 years ago), and the park has since moved. It is supposed to be three times better than it was. Unfortunately, the cost is about three times more than it was, too. I would love to do the African Bush Safari ride, one added feature since we last went.
3. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center- This is a park that is just what it sounds. Animals from the desert have been brought here to live due to illness or injury. They try to get the animals ready to be released back into the wild, but some have to live their life at the center because they are never well enough to go back home. I really want to go see the porcupine.
4. Bearizona- a drive-through park featuring bears. They also have wolves and bison. This is in Williams, Arizona, where Daniel and I got married at....
5. The Grand Canyon Deer Farm- Yep, Daniel and I got married among the deer. One was literally eating my bouquet as we said our vows. It was so unique and so us. Unfortunately, we just don't get up there to visit often enough. I would love to beat the summer heat and go feed the deer.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Autobiography
I recently saw this question posted on Facebook: What would you name the autobiography of your life?
I decided that I would name my autobiography "Challenge Accepted." Boy, would that be accurate! It seems like every experience in my life has been one where I have had to tackle some challenge or another. Here are some highlights (well, not really highlights until I came out the victor on the other side, but you get the point) I would include in my autobiography:
-At age 19, I walked in to find the bodies of my best friend and another friend splattered across the wall and on the floor after one of the guys decided he couldn't live anymore and killed both himself and my best friend. This single event TRULY changed the path of my life in an instant.
-At age 22, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was told I would more than likely not be able to have children. By the time Daniel and I got together when I was 25, a very blunt doctor told Daniel to decide very quickly how many children he wanted with me and to start making them. The doctor wasn't very confident that I could have children to begin with, and each year added scar tissue that made conceiving even more unlikely. As you all know, I have two beautiful, healthy girls.
-At age 33, I decided I was going to go back to college to get my teaching degree. If anyone tells you that attending college full-time (I maintained a 4.0 GPA, by the way) while raising two small children, working part-time, and helping a spouse run a business is easy, they are lying. This is probably at the top of the list for accomplishments I am proud of.
-At age 36, I came down with a case of shingles that developed extreme complications. After four days in the hospital, I spent four months on the couch recovering, not really knowing if I was going to fully recover. Being sent home with strict instructions to use a walker like an elderly person, and having nerve damage in my feet, sure did change my perspective on life.
-At age 37, my husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some may say this is his challenge, not mine. Oh, so not true! A mental illness really does affect an entire network- family, friends, employers. This is the moment I realized the support group I have surrounding me.
It's funny how some of the most life-changing events didn't even make it into the highlight list. I've been divorced, but that seems so minor compared to the other challenges I've been through. Maybe this really would be a pretty good book.
I decided that I would name my autobiography "Challenge Accepted." Boy, would that be accurate! It seems like every experience in my life has been one where I have had to tackle some challenge or another. Here are some highlights (well, not really highlights until I came out the victor on the other side, but you get the point) I would include in my autobiography:
-At age 19, I walked in to find the bodies of my best friend and another friend splattered across the wall and on the floor after one of the guys decided he couldn't live anymore and killed both himself and my best friend. This single event TRULY changed the path of my life in an instant.
-At age 22, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was told I would more than likely not be able to have children. By the time Daniel and I got together when I was 25, a very blunt doctor told Daniel to decide very quickly how many children he wanted with me and to start making them. The doctor wasn't very confident that I could have children to begin with, and each year added scar tissue that made conceiving even more unlikely. As you all know, I have two beautiful, healthy girls.
-At age 33, I decided I was going to go back to college to get my teaching degree. If anyone tells you that attending college full-time (I maintained a 4.0 GPA, by the way) while raising two small children, working part-time, and helping a spouse run a business is easy, they are lying. This is probably at the top of the list for accomplishments I am proud of.
-At age 36, I came down with a case of shingles that developed extreme complications. After four days in the hospital, I spent four months on the couch recovering, not really knowing if I was going to fully recover. Being sent home with strict instructions to use a walker like an elderly person, and having nerve damage in my feet, sure did change my perspective on life.
-At age 37, my husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some may say this is his challenge, not mine. Oh, so not true! A mental illness really does affect an entire network- family, friends, employers. This is the moment I realized the support group I have surrounding me.
It's funny how some of the most life-changing events didn't even make it into the highlight list. I've been divorced, but that seems so minor compared to the other challenges I've been through. Maybe this really would be a pretty good book.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Haiku About Bipolar
I was on a chat board the other day, and they challenge people to write a haiku about living with a bipolar family member. Here is mine:
You tried to steal him
You tried to steal him
But I wouldn’t let him go
We are stronger now
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Bipolar Update
It's been awhile since I've posted an update on Daniel and how he is doing with his bipolar treatment. Things are pretty good. He's been stable with some minor ups and downs, but we all have a bit of mood swings. I'd really worry if he was perfectly stable every minute of every day. That would be like living with a robot or a zombie.
Over the past couple of months I have seen one change in Daniel that was surprising and a little difficult to get used to at first. He has become independent, not in a bad way but it's just different for him. Daniel has formed some friendships that he really seems to enjoy. More often now he wants to hang out with those friends, either alone or with me, but these are plans that HE is making. It is so strange to see him schedule time for recreation on our family calendar! Since I have been used to being the planner, it's been a little awkward when I assume we have free time, and Daniel has scheduled something else.
Our disagreements have become so much more "normal." If we do fight it's been about things other couples deal with on a regular basis- how to spend our money, how to handle our (almost) teenage daughters, household chores, etc. We've never disagreed about this stuff, because I mostly handled everything. The burden being taken off my shoulders is great, but it is difficult to give up control a little bit. Frankly, it's a bit scary, too. I've always known exactly what was happening in our finances and had a plan for getting things done the way I wanted to do them. In some ways it's like I was an independent woman living in the middle of a family. Now I actually have to share decisions and roles, and it's not always the most comfortable process.
The hardest change I've had to make is learning to trust. I need to learn to trust that everything IS okay, and when we hit a bump in the road it doesn't mean we are careening off course completely. I need to trust that Daniel IS thinking intelligently when he chooses to spend money or to hang out with friends. I need to trust that it's okay to let go of some control. If we fall, we'll get back up. Daniel needs to make some of the same mistakes I did when learning to run an efficient household. His way may not necessarily always be my way, but it's not the end of the world. In many ways it is like we are first married all over again. I am growing with a whole new person, one with a lot more confidence than the guy I knew a little over a year ago. It's a little strange, but there is a lot to be excited about.
Over the past couple of months I have seen one change in Daniel that was surprising and a little difficult to get used to at first. He has become independent, not in a bad way but it's just different for him. Daniel has formed some friendships that he really seems to enjoy. More often now he wants to hang out with those friends, either alone or with me, but these are plans that HE is making. It is so strange to see him schedule time for recreation on our family calendar! Since I have been used to being the planner, it's been a little awkward when I assume we have free time, and Daniel has scheduled something else.
Our disagreements have become so much more "normal." If we do fight it's been about things other couples deal with on a regular basis- how to spend our money, how to handle our (almost) teenage daughters, household chores, etc. We've never disagreed about this stuff, because I mostly handled everything. The burden being taken off my shoulders is great, but it is difficult to give up control a little bit. Frankly, it's a bit scary, too. I've always known exactly what was happening in our finances and had a plan for getting things done the way I wanted to do them. In some ways it's like I was an independent woman living in the middle of a family. Now I actually have to share decisions and roles, and it's not always the most comfortable process.
The hardest change I've had to make is learning to trust. I need to learn to trust that everything IS okay, and when we hit a bump in the road it doesn't mean we are careening off course completely. I need to trust that Daniel IS thinking intelligently when he chooses to spend money or to hang out with friends. I need to trust that it's okay to let go of some control. If we fall, we'll get back up. Daniel needs to make some of the same mistakes I did when learning to run an efficient household. His way may not necessarily always be my way, but it's not the end of the world. In many ways it is like we are first married all over again. I am growing with a whole new person, one with a lot more confidence than the guy I knew a little over a year ago. It's a little strange, but there is a lot to be excited about.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Happy Anniversary Daniel!
How in the world am I old enough to have been married for 13 years already? How is Daniel old enough for that? When I first met him, he was just a boy of 17 years. We got together romantically when he was 20. We have both done so much growing since then!
This year we haven't had a whole lot of exciting moments, and that's just the way I like it. This year has been about settling down and settling in. I finished my first full-time year of teaching and have fallen in love with my school and district. I couldn't have done it without Daniel's support and encouragement. Oh, how many nights I got home just in time to eat dinner and fall into bed this year! Daniel started a new business with his friend, and that is going really well. I'm glad he doesn't have to work alone anymore. Like me, he's had plenty of nights of getting home just in time for bed. Hey, that's the way it goes sometimes when we're trying to build something new.
In the coming year we will be growing on the careers we have set up for ourselves, and we will continue to grow as a couple. As usual, I don't really know what's to come, but I know it's going to be fabulous TOGETHER!
I love you, Daniel. I truly don't know what I would do without you.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
What I Am Really Looking Forward To
I know it seems like we just got out of school yesterday, but I am SO excited about starting next school year. After working on the curriculum map most of the summer, I know what is coming, and I can't wait. We have a great curriculum, and there are nothing but positive changes coming!
So, this big project I've been working on all summer is for my school district. My job has been to map out each subject for the school year to be sure we are covering all we need to. Not only are we making monthly and weekly plans, but we are planning down to the day. Lesson planning is going to be so easy next year!
So, this big project I've been working on all summer is for my school district. My job has been to map out each subject for the school year to be sure we are covering all we need to. Not only are we making monthly and weekly plans, but we are planning down to the day. Lesson planning is going to be so easy next year!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
A Picture I Love
I can't believe how much like a teenager Andrea is looking! I can't believe she WILL be a teenager in less than six months! Like a typical teenager, Andrea is spending more time with her friends and her own activities and doesn't always want to do what the rest of us are doing.
On a rare evening last week, though, Andrea wanted to go fishing with Daniel. I'm so glad she went! He sent me this picture not too long after they got out to the lake. Look at that fish!
Wow, Andrea is looking like Daniel. His hair looked pretty much exactly like this when he was a teenager. Our kids are really growing up.
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