Hard to Love

Its funny how certain things in life slap you in the face, give you perspective and force you to grow. Last night I had one of those moments...

Over the past month, or two... or three if we're going to be honest, I have really been struggling with being a good friend to someone who needs a good friend in her life. Its easy to be a good friend to someone who is a good friend to you. Its easy to love someone who loves you back. Its easy to do nice things for people who appreciate you. Its like that in every relationship. On the other hand, it is NOT easy to be a good friend to someone who pushes you away, ignores you, blows you off, and doesn't appreciate your friendship. But I have been really really trying HARD to be a good friend. After all, those that are hard to love, are often the ones that need it the most. I would say that is the case for my friend in need.

There were times over the past several months that I swore to myself that this is the "LAST" time. I've given up, written her off, cussed her, and cried over her, all to come back and realize that I know she needs a friend. & Last night when I was really fed up with the drama, I realized something There have been people in my life that have been a friend to me when I did not deserve to have a friend at all.

It just all of a sudden hit me... At one point in my life, I was that person that needed a friend. I was the person who treated my friends like they didn't matter. I was the one that blew them off and never appreciated the love that they had for me.

So I decided that I would keep trying, at least one.more.time, to be a good friend... to "pay it forward". I just hope one day she looks up and realizes that she has friends standing by her. But I mostly hope that when she does realize it, that she will be able to be a good friend to someone in need too.

& I hope by sharing this I've encouraged someone to try one more time, or be a friend to someone who needs it. Or to just thank the person that stands by you when times are hard...

& for YOU, the one that the blog is about, I hope you dont take this the wrong way. Im just saying that Im here & Im trying & Im doing my best. & I love you & I hope you get better soon. Im looking forward to brighter days & a stronger friendship.

Bucket List

I have so many things I want to accomplish, so many places I want to see & so many goals I need to  achieve. I thought Id share them with you, and also record them so I can go back and see how far I've come.

In the next year, I will...

School, Work & Career

...GRADUATE with my Bachelors of Social Work from the University of South Alabama

... Graduate with honors

...Have a great last semester interning at an agency where I HOPE I will be offered a job!

Family Life

... MARRY my best friend!!

... Dance with my HUSBAND

... Have my father walk me down the aisle

Health & Fitness

...Reach my goal weight! (Only 7lbs to go!)

...Sign up for, TRAIN, and RUN a Half-Marathon

... Complete Warrior Dash

Other things

...Go zip-lining through Monkey Jungle!

... Go white water rafting

... Jump off a giant cliff into gorgeous water

... Go hiking

... Go on the vacation of my dreams

In the next 5 years, I will...

School, Work & Education

... Graduate from the University of Alabama with my Masters of Social Work

... Have a career I love

Family Life

... have a baby

Health & Fitness

 ...Run a marathon (Somewhere AMAZING... like Hawaii!)

... Complete Tough Mudder

... Have a flat stomach

Other things

... Go on an amazing vacation

... Go on the skydeck in Chicago

... Purchase a car

... Learn to scuba dive



Eventually, I want to

... Spend New Years Eve in Paris

... Go to Greece

... Go on a Safari

... Ride in a Hot Air Balloon

... Surprise Chris with something he has always wanted

... Climb a mountain

... Go to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls

... Make my own Rock Candy ((Dont you dare judge me.))

... Stay in an Over-Water Bungalow in Bora Bora

... Learn fluent Sign Language

 I will Always...

...Live a life Im proud of

... Strive to be an inspiration

... Have a marriage a thousand times more beautiful that my wedding

... Grow old with my best friend



Not All Who Wander Are Lost

This year for our anniversary, Chris got me the most AMAZING present. A MAP! I know, this seems a little strange but its exactly what I wanted! Its actually a GIANT vinyl map that you can mark off the places you've traveled....

I ordered the map in dark brown with beige travel markers. I seriously CANNOT wait to put it up in our office! Ever since I've order it I've been thinking about all of the places that I've been so lucky to have seen & all of the places that I cant wait to go.

The first "big" trip I went on was a school-sponsored trip the summer between 7th and 8th grade. 5 adults took 115 preteens on a two week trip up the East Coast. ((I wish they had taken us a little later, like in high school, but I totally understand why they wanted to take middle-schoolers instead. We would have gotten into WAY too much trouble in high school)).
We started our trip in Atlanta where we saw a Braves game and spent the day at Six Flags. From there we went to Duke University, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and finally, New York City! We spent 3 days in New York cite seeing & shopping. After NYC we crossed the US/Canada border & went to Niagra Falls. - I have some amazing pictures of this trip, but 1) they are not on my computer & 2) I wouldnt be caught dead with pictures of me from middle school online. Such an awkward time... After Niagra Falls we made our way back home, stopping in ANOTHER theme park in Ohio. It was an intense 2 weeks spent on a hotel & in theme parks, but it was a great experience. Im so glad I had the opportunity to go.

The next trip I went on was OHMYGODINCREDIBLE. The ONLY regret I have about this next little venture is that I went so early in life. I would love to take that trip now-ish. It would be ideal... But the summer between 9th & 10th ((or 8th and 9th??)) grade I went on a 15 day trip to Italy! There are only a few pictures I have online, but I have some BEAUTIFUL photos at home if you ever want to see them.

I also went on this trip with a group of people from UMS. We started our trip in Venice...

Venice was INCREDIBLE. Probably my second favorite city I've ever been in. Then we went to Florence...

Florence was pretty cool. We did a LOT of walking, saw a TON of museums & went to a strange little club where I had absinthe for the first (and only) time.  I also ate a LOT of gelato... like every single day...

We made our way to see the leaning tower of Pisa...

Then we went to Capri- the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON EARTH. You could take a ski-lift up to the top of a mountain and look down and see this...

We also got to take a tiny little row boat around the Blue Grotto...

Lastly, we went to Rome. I could write an entire book on my last day in Rome ((Rome was incredible- the Vatican was beautiful & the architecture there is UN-REAL). Theres actually a pretty funny story about me drinking too much, cutting myself shaving, calling home from across the world (running up a $70 phone bill for a 4 minute conversation), etc.  But ill save that for another day.

The next summer, Vicky and her family took me to Bermuda with them! We stayed a a BEAUTIFUL resort on Elbow Beach- & yes, the sand was pink(ish).

For six days Vicky and I did this exact thing: Sleep in, Order Room Service, Read on the Beach, Lunch, Shower, Nap, Walk around, Dinner, Party Party Party, Sleep. Repeat. Luckily the food & the beaches were perfect.

The summer after high school graduation I went on another trip with Vicky and her family to Mexico!

 Oddly enough, our daily activities were incredibly similar to the ones in Bermuda- except with more alcohol.

Later that year, Chris took me on an amazing trip to Atlanta!

Then in 2010 Chris & I went back to Mexico on a cruise!

We had a blasty blast.

& Last year we made a trip or two to New Orleans...

I consider myself very lucky to have been where I have been. But I cant wait to travel more, learn about different cultures, and share my experiences with Chris. Plus, Im going to be over joyed to add a little dot to that damn map...

4 Years

Wednesday is our 4 year anniversary. I feel so incredibly lucky to be marrying the greatest man I've ever met. I also feel like every year we are together is better than the last. I'd say we've had a pretty amazing 4 years. Here are some highlights from the last year:

We celebrated our 4th Christmas together...

Chris made me the best meal ever...

We went to our first Inca Ball

We (barely) survived another MOT Mardi Gras...

We went on an AMAZING spring break trip....

We GOT ENGAGED!!!

Chris Graduated!!!!

We celebrated our engagement...

We went to New Orleans...

We ate our first Cow Tongue Tacos (this was a monumental moment in our relationship!)

We went to Beer, Bands & Bingo

We went kayaking...

We took our engagement pictures....

We played kickball...

Chris turned 30...

& We had a Slip N Slide party to celebrate...

I went Skydiving!!

Chris braved the Greater Gulf State Fair with me...

We went to the Inca Halloween Party

Alabama won the Iron Bowl...

We've made new friends...

We've also done a ton of other things that I dont have pictures of, like...
Planned (most of) our wedding
Talked about our future
Watched a bunch of movies & snuggled on the couch
Folded a thousand loads of laundry
Talked about our honeymoon
Stayed up late talking in bed
Woken up super early to work out
Dieted together
Supported each other
Been really silly.

I am so lucky that Chris is going to be my HUSBAND in less than 6 months. I cannot wait to marry the man of my dreams. I love him more than anything in the world.

Happy Anniversary, Chris. I love you with all of my heart.