a decision...

First off, I need to clarify my last post (I should have done this sooner, but better late than never, right?). When I said I'm "jealous" of my sisters and need to "gear up" when I visit them...this doesn't mean that they are not wonderful sisters. While I played (and still play) the role of the "little sister" pretty well, my sisters are always there for me.

52 weeks ago today, I realized that a "hope" of mine on the "love scene" was hopeless. I was pretty bummed and the Reddigs had come into town to take me out and tell me that they were expecting their second child. I was elated and then utterly depressed because now both of my sisters were pregnant...and I was alone. I remember Katie saying something like, "This has to really suck for you...so we decided to get you something!" They had picked up 2 new karoake CDs for me...including "Comin' to America" by the one and only Neil Diamond (TODAY!!). Anyhow, I then remember going back to the Keel homestead and Katie calling Liesel to tell her the news...I then got on the phone to tell Liesel my "news"...and even though I knew how excited she was...she knew I was hurting big time and allowed me to cry to her about the whole situation. So my sisters are basically the best when it comes to sisters. Sure we had our fights and cases of extreme honesty (Guess, what I'm thinking right now?)...but they're my sisters and always will be my best friends. And I'm lucky to have them, their husbands and now children in my life!

And now for the decision. I have decided that I will not be returning to Teach For America as a Recruitment Associate. The recruitment team is an incredible group of people, but I cannot join them for another year of working into the evening and over the weekends for 7 months out of the year. The position has been an experience that has taught me more about myself and people than anything else I've done - and I am thankful for that. Teach For America is quite an organization with a great mission, but I cannot deny the things that I denied these past 7 months again. I'm looking at positions in the Chicago area and perhaps also in Madison depending on where my prayers tell me to go. So the job search is on.

In other news: I won a free trip to an exotic island...no joke! However, it order to claim the prize I have to show proof that I make over $40,000/year. Ha!! No exotic island for this girl :).

~mitzi