Lessons

As I grow older, and (at least I think so) wiser, I realize how much God truly wants me to succeed. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. I say that because I am completely blessed beyond measure and I take my life and everything in it for granted way too often. I often feel as if I have a loose grip on my life and one more move could send it all in every which direction, and yesterday it happened. Mind you, this is going to sound not that bad (because it isn't-one day removed).

I didn't feel well, I was tired from dealing with the puppy, I felt like I was failing every class, things were going wrong at my internship, I missed Michael like crazy, I was studying for a test I should've started studying for way earlier (story of my life), I felt alone, lost and not in control of anything. Then I saw that Harper had broke her front canine tooth off. I lost it! After my ordeal with my internship (I can be a tad irresponsible and it really came back to bite me yesterday) and I had sat in class and cried, I just broke down. So many of my internal issues come from myself, which drives me more crazy because a lot of them can be easily avoided (i.e. read for class, go to class, don't tell someone you can do something when you can't). I went to bed feeling so defeated. I read in Psalms (which always pulls me out of anything I'm going through) and vowed I would wake with a different attitude. I am a very positive person, but doing a long distance relationship has really put that to the test.

Today has been completely wonderful, although nothing great happened-I actually had to emergency take Harper to the vet, I thought she wasn't breathing, they thought she had a hole in her heart and it turns out she has reverse sneeze- whatever that is- I had a French test that I was late to because I talked to my boss at work for too long about how I need to change some things, and almost got into a very bad wreck.

But I have been so uplifted and positive all day long because I put God first today. No matter what happened today, the Lord assured me it would be ok, and that I would be ok.

God is on our team, and only wants great things for us. 

Days like yesterday and today remind me that if you put God first, he will look after you. We are so incredibly blessed that we serve a God who is on OUR team. 

*I have also decided not to beat myself up if I don't post every day. So I'm going to just post when I feel like it! I still am catching up on all of your lives daily, of coure!

Falling for Fall- Wishlist

I could probably write about my love for Fall every day. I'll spare you the redundancy. Here are the 5 things I am in need of this Autumn.

OPI Matt Red

Barbour Bedale Wax Cotton Jacket in Olive

Tory Burch Kendrick Driver Flats

Moon and Lola Tortoiseshell Monogram Necklace 

PUMPKIN. 

Lattes, muffins, bread, coffee, candles, anything.

Have a blessed weekend!

Hello Again and PUPPPY!

After a long hiatus, it's fall and I'm back in action! Surprisingly, not a lot has changed since I've left, but I feel like i've changed a lot. I've been constantly relying on the Lord for strength for everything, started my final semester of college, continuing my Internship and coaching high school cheerleading, getting better at the long distance thing (and have drastically improved my relationship with MDW), and have decided to get a puppy!

For those who know me, I have wanted a puppy for a long time. I wanted a yorkie named Walter when I was younger. Now I have found my furry friend and will be going to get her from an animal shelter about an hour away on SATURDAY! Here is the picture that is on the shelter website. Her current name is Magnolia but I plan on changing it to Harper!

She is a 2 month old black lab mix. Needless to say, I am obsessed. MDW was looking online (because I really wanted to get a puppy from the animal shelter, I'm not a purebred snob- I want to adopt an animal in need of a home!) and found her last Sunday. I was sold. I called the animal shelter about an hour away and said I had to have her. Un(fortunately), she had just been spayed that day and was with her momma and her litter at a foster home. FOSTER HOME? I freaked because that sometimes mean the foster will lead to adoption. I tried to sit with this for a day but called and asked the next, and the women assured me she would not be adopted and that I would be able to come pick her up on September 15th at an adoption event at Petsmart. Now I was skeptical about this, but again was reassured that they had put her on reserve for me. 

Some may ask, how can I know I want this dog even if I have never met her. LOOK AT THAT FACE. I wanted a puppy not only because they are cute, but so I can train her to my liking. I want her to be able to run with me and be very active, but also very polite and know commands. Labs are the #1 dog in the world for a reason! They are naturally very sweet, loving and loyal animals. The ladies at the shelter informed me she is a mix, and they don't know exactly what with, but will grow up to 45-60 lbs which is actually small for a lab, which is perfect for me! I don't need a 100-lb dog. They also assured me that her mom has a wonderful temperament and she seems to have inherited the same. I am all ready for her to enter my life, and have spent the past week buying puppy supplies, reading up on crate and house training, and staring at her picture. I can't wait to take pictures and show you all! 

Hope you all are doing wonderfully and I am SO glad fall is almost here. More about my love for fall later this season!

In love.

With Texas. and MDW. I can NOT wait to move there. Here are some pics :)

First of all. MDW has lost a ton of weight in less than 6 months. He is a different person.

Old us.

New MDW

New us!

Ok now onto more Dallas pics. 

View out the 14th floor!

Ft. Worth Zoo!

Words can't describe how great it was to be back with MDW for five whole days. I was literally in shock when I saw him because I had been planning it in my head for weeks and then all of a sudden he walked into his Dad's hotel room and I was in shock! I couldn't believe how good he looked since the last time I saw him. Exploring was the best part of the trip. I got to see where he had been going to eat and spending time for the past almost two months. The only bad part, besides having to leave, was not getting to go to Sprinkles!!! I was dying to go but it was just far enough away that we weren't going to pass it unless we drove 10 minutes to it and no one wanted cupcakes that badly-aside from myself of course. I absolutely love it in Dallas and can not wait to move down and start my big girl life! 

Special thanks to MDW for hosting and for HAW for all the iphone pics! 

I wouldn't be an American If it wasn't for Texas.

I AM HEADED TO DALLAS TO SEE MDW!!!!!

I haven't seen him in almost two months and I can't even being to tell you how excited I am to see him. These first weeks have been so hard without him because he is my best friend. It just isn't the same not having him around to do anything and everything with. I still haven't seen Revenge of the Titans because no one would see it with me, no one wants to go hiking, no one wants to go to Moes, no one wants to go on a walk with me. I am so excited to spend five days with him playing in Texas.

Here is the issue.

I don't know what on earth to pack!! I've heard people in Dallas always look nice and while I tend to look nice too, I don't know what kind of clothing to pack! J.Crew summer wear? Kind of trendy things? Sun dresses and boots? I am lost!

I am searching for clues but if anyone has suggestions, please help!!

Can't wait for recaps when I return Wednesday! Have an amazing Memorial Day weekend yall!

summer has begun!

Hi all! I just had to take a break to wrap up finals and get the summer started but I am back!

Graduation passed and since I have another semester, I decided not to go through the ceremony, although my name was in the program (which I found out later). Seeing my roommates and most of my friends go through graduation was a little saddening, only because it is another not so gentle reminder that I am growing up and will soon be moving on.

Since then, I have started summer classes, my internship and have been enjoying the weather. I am sort of in the early stages of training for a mini marathon and am already wondering how I am going to make it to 13.1! I have never been a great runner, but am slowly learning to love running and am getting better every day.

In other news, MGS, JLH, AJG and I went to Brad Paisley last night!!

I had, believe it or not, never been to a big country concert! Local artists play all the time and I adore going to those but the atmosphere at a big concert like BP was so fun! The only issue was the HEAT. We had to lug a cooler a mile in the stiffling heat and it was not fun. The Band Perry and last year's Idol winner Scotty Mcreery were also playing with Brad and they were all phenomenal! We are looking into Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw in July but all I want to do is see Luke Bryan. He is my fav.  

 Wore my boots of course but you can't see them in this pic! They look like this:

 (I know you can't see them very well!)

I have no idea where these boots are from or what brand they are but I do know that they were my mother's! She got the pair when she was in MIDDLE SCHOOL. They have held up very well the past 35ish years! I started wearing them a few years ago and have put them through a lot myself. I am definitely in the market for a new pair, which I assume I'll get when I am in Dallas at some point. I really want my next pair to be dark so I can still wear these and have two options. I wear these boots with everything but can't wait to get a new pair that actually fit! My mom's are about a size too small and the heel is pretty high too so I'll be looking for a pair with a smaller heel. But I know I will get a ton of use out of them, seeing as I already have out of my current pair. 

Enough ranting for now!

 

MDW

I am a new member of the Long Distance Relationship Club, and I am not a fan.

MDW and I have been dating since August 2005. We have always been less than 20 minutes from each other. If I was ever in need of him, he was there and vice versa. Until 3 weeks ago, when he moved to Dallas.

I knew it would be hard not having him here. He is my best friend in the world, my partner in crime, the other pea in my pod. He is someone I can always rely on, and while that hasn't changed, he is super busy and I haven't been able to talk to him as much as we'd both like.

While the past 3 weeks have been difficult (excruciating at times even), I know we will be fine.

I call this our last test. We have been through just about everything you could go through as a couple, and this just completes the list. I am SO optimistic for our future. He is someone I would he honored to share my life with. We both have the same family and life values. We both wanted to live in the South (Check! Well for him, I'll be there in January!) We both are going in the same direction.

Someone I look up to told me that you have to be able to grow with someone. And grow I have. When MDW and I first started dating, I wasn't interested in being tied down, granted I also was 15 at this time. MDW changed this for me over time. It took me a while to warm up to him, but eventually I did and have never lost my love for him. He has made me the person I am today, along with God's help.

He drives me insane sometimes, yes. We are both stubborn and hard headed. We both hate to admit we're wrong. I am impulsive, and he is sensible. We have really had to work on our weaknesses together, and still have a lot of work to do.

But overall, he brings out the best in me. Even now that he isn't in my life daily, I couldn't picture life without him. I look forward to continued growth with him. After this, I feel like there won't be anything we can't do.

I love you MDW, and I'll always be rooting for us.