This is to have succeeded.

I would say I have a type A personality; I’m organized, anal, and at times, will admit to being bossy (that’s the oldest child syndrome.) While I’ve been known to procrastinate, I always get my work done with 100% of what I’ve got. It’s gotten me far; good grades, my FBLA presidency, friends who are just as weird, and a great job. But while it’s a strength, it is also my weakness.

Twice this week, when I was told I would be successful, I smiled with gratitude, all the while knowing the secret ingredient to my success.

First it was by my FBLA advisor, Mrs. Woodward in the midst of thirty-five bajillion decisions and projects and Powerpoints. She stopped me as I began working on another flier, touched my arm, and said, “Hannah, I just want you to know you will be successful. Keep your drive and you can do anything.” I smiled and said thank you. I agree. I will be successful.

The second time was today. I have talked about yearbook before, but one of my absolute favorite parts are the senior superlatives...the best eyes, the best smile, the most successful. Today, our editors let the rest of the staff in on the final winners and guess what?!? I got most likely to succeed!!! So what does that mean? Out of over 350 kids my peers voted me, one of those most likely to succeed. I get my picture in a special section of the yearbook and will be forever immortalized as someone who will succeed in life..and I kinda like it.

So obviously my bossiness and will have gotten me somewhere in life…and hopefully it’ll get me to where I want to end up! But do you know what my secret is to success?

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one's self;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived —
This is to have succeeded.
                                                    -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, Monday

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

                                Monday, Monday, The Mamas & The Papas

Do you ever wake up and just know that it’s going to be a great day?

Today was one of those days. It began, I do believe, so wonderfully, in part to the fact that last night was the season premiere of Brothers & Sisters.  Can I say that, although the show flies under the radar most of the time, it is one of the most well written, well produced, and well directed shows that I watch? It also helps that they are so much like my family…well not really, but they remind me of them. Still, I wish I was a Walker!

So that definitely helped to start my morning off right. That and cute outfit I wore! A cute outfit always makes my day much better. But anyway, back to my great day. Great morning. Check. Great drive to school. Check.  Great Calculus class. Check.

And then it was Yearbook time. Today we had our artist session to re-edit and finalize our cover. Having been at the beach during our summer workshop I missed the first draft so I wasn’t even sure what the original cover looked like. But at the end of the nearly hour session—which is super cool, in theory, cause you talk to this guy through the phone, but you can see what he’s doing on the screen to the book—I can say with certainty that over half the staff isn’t too thrilled with the end results. But no worry, Miss Hannah’s great day couldn’t possibly be ruined because the inside of the yearbook will be so awesome, I won’t notice what the outside looks like. And maybe I’ll love it when it’s actually in front of me-who knows.

Easy Biology class. Check. Movie time in English. Check. (And you call these AP classes??—Not complaining!) And then it was time for work. Let’s just say going to my work can brighten anyone’s day!

I also had the great satisfaction of having a special treat for my kids. We begin potty training at two—if okayed by parents and Ms. Kathi is usually real quick to persuade them! If they use the bathroom they get a marshmallow, a sticker for the Who Pottied chart, and a big smile---I usually do lots of praising! So last week when I saw these at my favorite store, Target, 

I knew I had to buy them  to fill the marshmallow container for the month of October. And I also found the cutest Dora and 3D Halloween stickers for the Who Pottied chart. So obviously I was really excited to get to work to show the kids, but I was only greeted by half the class. Thankfully, they weren’t all sick!! But those that were there, including my princess birthday girl, had tons of hugs for Miss Hannah!

And my great day didn’t even end with work. I came home to homemade chicken noodle soup that my dad made and a phone call from one of my favorite little girls. She also happened to have a great day; she had music at school and she’s getting the new Wizards of Waverly Place DS game.

With thoughts of Dan Humphrey just an hour away, I can safely say that today was one of the best Mondays ever!

Time After Time

Does it seem that as you get older the days seem to go by that much faster? It's already the last nine weeks of my junior year and I can barely believe it.

I just came back from a "study" group with A and B and we ended up talking about what we usually do-the past and the future. I joked that I wanted to stay a kid forever, turn the dial back ten years, etc. I was surprised that B actually agreed with me- finally someone who understands!

I feel like I'm settling for the future. Ever since I decided teaching wasn't something I should do I've been kind of just moving through school. I surprised myself when I said I had "settled" on JMU. Was it where I had always imagined myself going? Absolutely not, but it'll probably be where I go and that scares me. I always promised myself that I didn't want to be someone who had a job they hated and at this point I don't even know what I want to do and that is even more terrifying. I'm someone who's planned my ENTIRE life. I know what house I want, the kind of man I want to marry, the names of my four (yes that too) kids. I can see where I want to be ten years from now, but not ten months from now. I wish I could skip this last year of high school and the years of college for that period of certainty, or period I have planned to be certain. Hopefully one day I'll wake up and just be like, bam, that's what I wanna do because editing certainly isn't just going to happen to me!

On a brighter note that weekend was good- too short, but good. Three more days until Spring "Weekend." I ended up being at school most of the day on Saturday for yearbook, but we got it all done! And after Palm Sunday service I spent the afternoon at the Grands' having lunch before coming home and diving into homework...yeah!!! Here are some photos I happened to snap between the gusts of wind- this spring weather. (70 yesterday, barely 40 and snowing tomorrow!)

Planning to plant these in the same container

as my lavendar which is struggling to de-winterize.

This was a random shot, but I think it turned out cool.

My beautiful Meredith Grey.