Update Coming Soon!

This weekend was Campus Harvest. It was awesome and I had tons of fun with my beautiful friends. ...But, I'm sick now, running a fever, hopefully it's just allergies and will pass in no time! So I'll update a little later on in the week when I feel a little better. :)

It's Been A Whole Year

I miss my horse! I miss him bad! I think about Buddy a lot, especially the past couple of months. March marks one whole year since Buddy was sold. First let me say, it was my decision to sell him and I don't regret it but I do miss riding so much! I couldn't ride except on the weekends since being in school and the weekends just wasn't cutting it for him. He needed to be worked about 4 days a week and I just couldn't do it and I didn't expect my parents to keeping paying boo-cues of money each month to board him.

It was my life for a good 9 years... half of my life or more was horses. I lived and breathed riding!

This was the very first time I got him out of the pasture at his new home, I was 13. I loved Buddy so much and was soo proud to own my very own horse. Look at those ears! I don't think he quite as thrilled to see me. haha!

Buddy and I were very fortunate and had many trainers help us along the way. The "cowboy" Dave in this picture was the owner of Buddy before me and he helped us the first little bit and then we moved onto Grady, I love this man, he is a good, patient trainer with years of experience. We trained with Grady for years upon years. Grady took me through my ''showing years.'' He kept Buddy half way sane and he kept me half way on Buddy. hah! A little trivia for you, I have come off a horse 13+ times, I quit counting and have gone to the urgent care 2 times after coming off. Its amazing I'm still in one piece today. But to help me out a little, Buddy was a handful and liked to give me the 'ride of my life' at times. Then, we started training with Cassidy. Cassidy, oh, Cass. She worked straight up miracles on Buddy. I have never been more happy with Buddy's performance than when she trained us and rode him. I don't know what she did but she was doing something right for that horse. I think he had a love/hate relationship with her. I love her, she can ride any horse she wants too! Cassidy started working with us about two years before I sold Buddy. We started riding English with her and she took Buddy to his first dressage show and probably his last because the people bought him were very cowboy like and I doubt they knew what dressage was. hah!

Anyway, I hope that Buddy is loving is life on a wide open farm and the man who bought him is loving him and treating him right.

He better be considering when he drove away with Buddy I had tears in my eyes knowing that I just sold my 'best friend.'

I miss this view. I miss Buddy. I miss riding. I miss spending all afternoon/evening at the barn. I miss the barn people. I miss the smell. I miss the hard work. I miss everything. But most of all I miss my horse!

Time for Some Updates

- I got into nursing school! Score! My dreams are coming true and I may be a nurse one day. :)

- My reaction was pretty great and I wish someone would have been recording it. Lauren and I went CRAZY. Jumping. Screaming. Hugging. And a little more screaming.

- Like I said Lauren got into nursing school, too. YAY! Hopefully we won't have too many classes that are different. Just a little random fact, we have had the same classes since 9th grade with the exception of like 4 or 5. I think we might have a problem dealing with separation, if we don't have at least 1 or 2 classes together. Kidding, but kinda not. :)

- I haven't mentioned C25K in a while but I'm on week 7 day 2 and just truckin' along. I have run for a straight 25 minutes twice! I'm a little proud of myself.

- I got a hair cut over spring break and I got some side bangs and got my hair really layered around my face. It's taken a little while to get used to but I like it!

- VCM starts again tonight (didn't have it over SB) and I'm pumped. I missed going last week.

- Oh, VCM had a bag pipe player come out to the ECU campus today and it was cool. I hadn't ever seen a real one, so that was neat.

- I'm LOVING this extra hour of daylight we get at nights now. Loving it..

- On that note, I'm not a fan of hot weather so if it could just stay 80 and below I'll be good to go.

- Me and Lauren took pictures for the nursing school "student services" tonight and we have to attend a meeting soon about nursing school and everything we have to get done before then. It's getting real although we still have a whole summer ahead of us.

- Last thing, how 'bout I'm super thankful for my friends. I kinda realized that this past week. Not that I didn't realize how important my friends are to me before, it just was a smack in the face this week.

- Hmm, I dont think I have anymore random things to say tonight.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Prepare For The Worst, Hope For The Best

...that's what I'm doing. I am preparing for the worst and hoping and, lord knows, praying for the best. Nursing "letters of decision" are mailed out tomorrow morning at 9 am so we should have them at least by thursday evening. oh lord, please help me stay calm. today, i almost broke down on campus, lauren had to tell me it was going to be alright and to just go talk to my advisor to ease my nerves. and that i did! i may have had to walk in the back way and talk to her when i was clearly told she couldn't see me today but the mission WAS accomplished. thank god for best friends who will find a way to calm their best friends nerves! actually, i think lauren might have been scared what see would have to watch 'go down' if she didn't. hah! no but really i'm still super anxious, as i'm sure 326 other students are. but this too will pass. i'm just hoping for the best and, don't forget, preparing for the worst. :) as kim has told me many times, if i don't get in, there is more than one way to skin a cat!

Friday Favorites

I'm going to try and do a weekly post on Friday about my "favorites." I'll probably mix it up a little bit and I can't promise I will make the Friday deadline every week but I'm going to try. Spring Break has consisted of lots of blogging because they only other thing to do is clean, which I knocked that out, cook- I cooked like 4 nights this week for Momma, and blog! I am going to do one last post for Spring Break, this one!

My first Friday Favorite is going to be very structured because I have seen this on a couple of blogs today and I want to steal it. :) So I am...

Favorite time of day: When I get home from school and then on the days I work out, right after the gym. It's like a high!

Favorite season: I would definitely say fall. It's not hot, there are cute clothes for fall, you are still tan from the summer. And my birthday is during fall!

Favorite month: This is a hard one... I would say September and October.

Favorite holiday: Easter :) just for the pretty Sunday dresses.

Favorite subject in school: Uhh, my favorite I would say is Anatomy by far, I not a fan of much else. I'm ready for nursing school.

Favorite channel: TLC in the afternoons/evenings, ABC for Monday nights at 8. CMT when I'm getting ready in the morning.

Favorite color: If I had to choose pink I guess. No favorite here really.

Favorite song: It changes all the time but right now I'm loving "Lead Me To The Cross" by Hillsong and "Little Miss" by Sugarland. Two completely different feels.

Favorite movie: Well if you know me, you know I have a hard time staying awake during movies, but I guess my favorite would have to be A Walk To Remember or The Last Song.

Favorite celebrity: Pass! Don't have a favorite. At all!

Favorite place to shop: TJ Maxx and anywhere I find something cute and for a good deal! I don't stick solely to one store.

Favorite kind of music: I listen Christian, County, and Pop/R&B/whatever its called (in that order from most to least).

Favorite TV show: The Bachelor/The Bachelorette/The Bachelor Pad

Favorite thing to do: Relax with family and friends. I love coming home though!

Favorite place in the world: home.

Favorite hobby: blogging!

Favorite kind of animal: my Lady Bug!

Favorite place to live: Right where I am Zebulon/Greenville. I definitely don't see myself moving too far from home, ever.

Favorite place to vacation: The beach although I hate the awful heat.

Favorite restaurant: Hmm, Logan's or Texas Roadhouse! Good to me!

Favorite food: This is a toughie, but I'd have to say, the rolls from Logan's/Texas Roadhouse. To die for!

Favorite thing to cook: Me and Lauren have mastered cooking anything with chicken, I'm telling you we can cook chicken in so many different ways, we even make our own sauces for it! Delish!

Favorite drink: Sweet tea. No doubt!

Favorite chore: Cleaning the bathrooms. Hate dishes and laundry, but they have to be done too and might as well be my favorites!

Favorite makeup: Clinque (foundation and blush) and Mary Kay (concealer) and Lancome (eyes)

Favorite hair products: Biolage by Matrix. And Vavoom for hair spray. It's just too expensive for a college student so I steal Momma's. Don't tell her! ha!

Favorite lotion: Victoria Secrets - Bare Bronze. So I don't look quite as pasty! :)

Favorite perfume: Ralph Lauren Blue and Hot. Can't go wrong with Polo!

Favorite blogger: I have many for different aspects! But I have to say I love bloggers that are Christians (and blog about their faith) and have children that they either waited for, for a long time (infertility or adoption) or were in the NICU or have cancer (these blogs are so inspiring and make you grateful for life and family!)

Favorite thing to blog about: anything and everything!

Favorite books: Yeah right, the only book I have willingly read was "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith. And I loved it, so that is my favorite! I will read her next book that is coming out soon!

Favorite verse: Can I have more than one? Good, Isiah 40:31, Psalms 71:14, and read my Proverbs post! :)

Favorite thing to wear: I would have to say jeans, a cute top and Jack Rogers.

Favorite kind of day: One with absolutely no plans and no homework! Maybe watching a baseball game in the afternoon!

Favorite memory: getting out of school early in the 1st grade to go to the hospital to meet my baby brother for the first time, I'll never forget how excited I was and getting my acceptance letter from ECU.

My Daddy

I don't think I have ever said that my Daddy is my hero, he is! I love him to the moon and back. He loves me even though I may make him a little mad at times. I love that he gave me so much independence when I was young. I love that he disciplined/spanked me. I love that he has made a home for me to come back too, along with Momma. I love that he checks my oil and all the other stuff in my car. I love that he keeps track of when my oil needs changing. I love that he calls me while I'm at school just to check in and say hey. I love that on Fridays me and him go out to eat for a late lunch together. I love that he protects me and always has my best interest in mind. I love that I'm his "baby girl." I love that he wants to support his family. He gets up every morning at 530 to go to work. I love that he asks me to go with him to Josh's baseball practice to keep him company. I love that he tells me he wants me to stay home until Sunday on Spring Break because he hasn't seen me that much. I love that he is my "protector."

Now let me tell you a little story about him being my "protector."

Last night, I couldn't get to sleep and at about 1:30 I heard a noise outside. It sounded like someone was at our door. If freaked me out a little but I stayed in bed and said one of those quick, I'm scared to death prayers. It went something like, "Jesus, please keep me safe and let there not be someone outside our house!" haha! Then I waited approximately 2 seconds after I said that and my sweet dog, Lady Bug, started barking I was like, "Oh no! She heard it too." Then she walked into my room and started barking at me. At this point I was shaking, I got up, peeked my head out the bedroom door (you know, in case the robber was in the house) and went and got my parents. Lady followed me. Now picture this I go into their room and tap them and whisper " I think someone is at our door trying to get in." Daddy rolled over, gave me those eyes, and said, "You want me to go outside and check don't you?" You know my reply. :) He got some shoes on, meanwhile me and Momma peeked through the blinds to see the garage was left open. Now I'm really thinking someone was out there. Daddy went out shut the garage door and came in a said, "No one out there to get you, we're safe." We all lay back down and I'm a little scared but eventually go to sleep.

This is why I love my Daddy because he protects his family. He will do what he needs to, to make us all feel safe. And I love that about him. I wouldn't trade my Daddy for the world!

Baja, Mexico

To go or not to go?

I wish I knew what I was supposed to do but I don't.

Ever since last year I have known I would go somewhere, sometime to do missions. But when? Where? What? I was really in deep prayer about it last year around Campus Harvest and I feel like at CH I was told "wait, listen, keep praying, I'm preparing you and your heart." Since last year God has done AMAZING work in me. I have come so very far since last year around this time. I can't even describe the feeling I get when I look back at where I was in my walk last year. It is truly amazing, to me. All this to say I still don't know if now is the time or not. I'm praying about it, that's all I know to do.

Baja has been on my mind constantly. I have had dreams about Baja and being there doing mission work. A couple of people from VCM were there with me and then there were so many people I didn't know from Adam. I got a little side tracked there.. sorry.

I have told Momma and Daddy about Baja and Momma was all for it and told me to go ahead a get a passport and Daddy was a little more hesitant. You have to realize Daddy is the more rational, protective, and logical parent. He is worried about me flying for the first time without one of them (I can't say I'm not scared to death to get on a plane for the first time without my family, because I am but at this point that isn't holding me back), he is worried about my safety, apparently an American got killed in Mexico recently and a Texas legislature advised all Americans not to travel to Mexico, he doesn't think I could raised the money, etc. I felt like saying blah, blah, blah but that would be disrespectful to his opinions and I try not to do that. I mean he is my Daddy and always has my best interest in mind and a lot of times he does know best...

All of this to say I really have no clue what to do, I know what I want to do. But sometimes it's hard to separate my thoughts and the Lord's plans for me. :) I would appreciate if y'all would say a little prayer for discernment and confirmation either way, to go or not. I just want a clear answer. Thanks!

Spring Break

Yes! It is officially spring break. I'm one day in and loving it. I have absolutely nothing planned to do, other than a few things. You know, getting my hair cut (should I cut like 2-3 inches off or just a trim or a whole new style? any suggestions?), going to the dentist, taking Josh to the ENT for his allergy shot and to get a new vile of "whatever the heck that stuff is" (fun stuff, I get to sit in the waiting room with a really impatient 13 year old boy whose arm happens to be violently itching! poor thing!). That's all the major stuff.

I have been helping Daddy with the deck lately. It's no fun but I feel the need to do it and help him. Plus its good bonding time and I enjoy being out there with him. I will post pictures of the new and improved deck. It's lots bigger and nicer and I love it! I'm so thankful my Daddy is so handy and can build just about anything and if he doesn't know how to he will try his best to figure it out. Another thing I love about my Daddy is that he doesn't undertake something that he knows is above his ability.

One thing I'm really looking forward to is watching Josh play middle school ball. They have already had one game and I missed it, which unfortunately I'll miss all his games except the two this week. I enjoy watching him play and being a part of the family and going to his baseball games. I am exited though because after I get out of school he will be starting up playing travel ball and those games are on the weekends so I will get to watch all the baseball I want. I may regret saying I'm looking forward to travel ball about July, when it's hot as the blazes, but right now I am! My brother is so talented, I may be a little biased but still I think he is pretty awesome back there behind the plate.

Change of subject, isn't it funny that when you are in high school you think man if only I could just be in college already. They get spring break early, they don't have school work, they are so free. You know what, I wish I could be back in high school sometimes! I just write this to say I have a whole lot of studying that has to get done over spring break because my professors decided to give me four tests/quizzes within the first two weeks of being back. But that's okay because after college there is no spring break, unless I worked for a school or something like that, but I'm not. :) So today I'm thankful that I can attend college, learn my material, and be at home while doing it!

So yes, spring break is here, and the MOST important thing that is happening soon is the nursing letters will be mailed out in 10 whole days! It has come so fast! I'm excited! I'm nervous! I'm anxious! I'm scared to death! I want to scream! I have to have a camera ready in 10 days to document good or bad! I know what ever happens, life will go on and I will live and I will get into nursing school at some point, hopefully sooner than later. :) Please say an extra prayer for me, that I don't go crazy in these last few days of waiting. Thanks! I know thats petty but I'm serious. haha!

Okay that's all folks! I can't believe I just said that but have a wonderful spring break if you are on one, if not, I hope yours comes fast and if you aren't in school at all, have a good week!