Never Forget

When I was 8 I woke up one morning.  As far as I knew, it was just another school day.  I was matting down my crazy bed head, stretching awake and wondering what I was going to eat for breakfast.  My mom was in the bathroom curling her hair, and the news was playing in the background just like it did every morning. On my morning walk to the bathroom I saw the horrifying scene of smoke streaming from the World Trade Center.  Of course, my day went on as usual.  As an eight year old it's hard to understand how something like that in New York City (Basically light years away from me) could affect me at all. I went to school that day and things were strange.  We spent almost the entire day reflecting on our patriotism.  We heard announcements about what had happened and all the adults scrambled trying to figure out how to explain this tragedy to children. 

source

Today, in this age of information, everyone knows a little bit about a lot of things.  It's an incredible thing that is causing a lot of problems.  While love spreads like wildfire and photos showing patriotism and kindness circulate all over the country in minutes the same things happen with hate.  More than half of the things I see on Facebook and Twitter are people arguing about who is more right.  We're divided in everything that matters and everything that doesn't.  I constantly see people spreading words of hate.  Calling each other morons and liars. There's hypocrisy and bigotry.  Prejudice and discrimination.  Constant arguing about police brutality, Planned Parenthood, marriage licenses, amnesty, and who is dumber or more hypocritical.  I think about what happened 14 years ago and how it happened because of hate. Because people refuse to understand each other and continue to be intolerant of each other.
***

I joined the Army because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself.  I wanted to put my opinions aside and just do what I felt was right.  I haven't been any where and I haven't done anything, but I stand next to people who have and one day, I may have to.
And for their sake, I just wish everyone could learn to get along. 

Never Forget.

When You Know You Know

Nearly every day I scroll through my Facebook Newsfeed.  I check out what my family is sharing, I might click on a few profiles of people from high school, and I'll laugh at a few memes.  Pretty often I click on blog posts from my favorites, and I shamefully read articles that are telling me what to do and what to think about everything.  
Whenever I see a tag line like "5 signs you've met your husband" or "10 reasons to dump him" I just wonder what makes you so qualified to tell everyone about their own love life?  I'm pretty sure the answer here is this:  They're not qualified at all.
A few days ago, a relationship I thought would be my last ended.  And I think it may have ended forever.  I can't really be sure, but I think it's for real this time.  That relationship checked every box.    i.e.-- his happiness = my happinessI wanted to share everything with him. All I ever wanted was to be around him...and the list goes on and on.
But you know...Real Life is not about checking boxes.  It's about people and their experiences.  It's about different perspectives being combined.  It's about the lives of two people or two families colliding.  Real Life consists of constant changes.  Turbulence.  Decisions.  Differences.  Hopes & Dreams.  Jobs.  Goals.  Money.  Love...
In short...how do you know you met the one?
You don't know.  You might say you know. You might be making yourself rice-a-roni for breakfast and talking to your mom and you're telling her..."mom I'm going to marry him."  But you know, it doesn't matter.  He might check every box.  He could be everything you ever wanted and you might just know.  
But you also might not.

Done.

I remember when blogging used to be fun.   Lately it just hasn't been.  I'm in a handful of Facebook groups that are dedicated to blogging.  Well apparently I'm not active enough in the groups, or I don't post enough, or I don't fit the niches well enough, or maybe they just don't like me.  I know I'm not wearing pink and it's Wednesday but...why can't I sit with you? 
Why?  When did blogging become this club where you needed to be a VIP with a recommendation to get in? Why do I have to write about my boyfriend, my DIY, or the Army for people to read what I have to say or care to comment? 
I completely understand that some topics are more desirable to read about than others.  Personally, I am not much into the mommy-blog genre and I tend to prefer to read blogs where I can relate. However...I feel a sense of camaraderie in blogging.  I feel like we should all work harder to be more accepting of each other and less critical.  Making friends in real life is hard enough...Why does it have to be clique in the online world as well?!
I'm honestly not sure where this rant is coming from.  I suppose I just miss how fun it used to be to blog.  And now I always feel like I'm trying to impress people with my words.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is...I'm done.
I love blogging and I think I'll come back to it.  But today...I quit.  Blog ya later. 

Maybe Just a Little

These past few days I've actually been in the mood to blog, so I thought I'd just take advantage of that and write a few things down. As it's the first of the month, I have goals that I'm working on through out the month.  At the beginning of the year I was focusing my energy on different themes for goals.  It was working pretty well, but when I moved I lost some momentum and I decided to just make a few goals that will help improve my my life on a daily basis. 

All of the things on this list are pretty self explanatory, but sometimes you just need to take a step back and take some time to really focus on the little things.  It takes a lot of little changes and improvements to create a constantly wonderful life and making creating a few better habits and focusing on some small tasks could be exactly what I need for right now. 

What do you think about your goals? Now that we're half way through the year and then some, are you sticking to your plans?  Do you care if you have or haven't? 

Milestones and Pebble-Stones

Usually we think of milestones as huge moments in our lives.  Things like graduating high school or college.  Moving away from home.  Buying a car or a home.  Getting married.  Having children.
Sometimes, we don't even know that we're at a milestone until the time has passed and we're looking back on it.  I suppose that is part of why they say hind-sight's 20/20. 
4 years ago today, Jake walked into my life.  Back then, we were both in the delayed entry program ready to join the Marine Corps. On that day, we had no idea what we were in for. It was just another day and to each other we people that we'd interact on the daily as time passed.  We never could have known that we'd end up here.  Even at other points in our relationship or our friendship or when there was a lack of both, we never could have known what changes would come after that day. 
The past five or so years have been the worst, best, most confusing, fun-filled, exciting, and terrifying ones that I've lived yet. I've had adventures I never would have dreamed of.  I've been places I never thought I'd go, and I've felt things I didn't know where possible to feel.  
I've been pretty fortunate to be able to turn a lot of things that seemed pretty terrible into great things.  Personally, I think that's what life is all about.  That's at least what this blog is about.  What is life without a little turbulence?  I think it would be pretty boring.  So I choose to make mile stones from pebble-stones. 
It may not seem like a big deal to most people, but I think it's a pretty big deal that I just got my first queen sized bed.  I bought a bed, a mattress, a comforter, and I even supervised the construction of the bed. For me, having this big old bed in my room is win.  It's something I worked for and saved for.  It's something I'll look back on and be proud of.  And I'll just keep seeing things that way. 

Pagosa Springs Folk N' Bluegrass

Oh hey, blog.  Long time no see.  About that...
Since I moved home, I'm been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Every weekend I've been doing all sorts of stuff.  It has really been a ton of fun, but my blog is going to the wayside.  Just in the past few weeks, I have gone to two bluegrass festivals, switched rooms with my mom's sewing room, decided to buy an adult size bed, got and started a job, and I started a band...
As a whole lot has happened, I figured I start with mine and my sister's trip to Pagosa Springs for a bluegrass festival.  Lemme just say, Colorado is so incredible and I'd like to move there. What was  unique about this festival though, was that it was the first one that my sister and I have ever attended without either of our parents present.  
We drove down on a Thursday and it was quite an adventure.  I even let my little sister drive for a portion of it.  That was a pretty big deal...She has only had her license for a few months and she is still learning.

I was one nervous sissy in the passenger seat.  But it was really nice to get a break from driving.

We also had a few challenges when we arrived.  We didn't really know how things worked so we stayed in a hotel for one night.  The next morning we had to sit in a car line for a few hours before we could drive up the mountain to find a camp site.  Once we arrived at a camp site, we realized that we didn't really know anything about camping.  We were without tent stakes, a table to put our stove on, any type a shelter to cook under when it rained, we didn't have a mattress pad for Megan...Basically we just realized that we were very unprepared. 

We improvised this little box with sticks to get the propane stove up off the ground.  Eventually we ended up just putting it up on a styrofoam cooler.  The bottom of the stove doesn't get hot, so that worked out really well. 

It was a miracle this thing stayed up...but it did.  

The shelter would have been smart.  It rained basically the entire weekend.  We were pretty lucky that I happened to have quite a few things in my car from my move that I've had yet to take out my car.  We had extra socks, shoes, scarves, and other things to help us out.  We may have been a bit unprepared but we ended up no worse for wear.

You can watch this Flipgram to really get the whole story!

On the way home we made a few stops, and it was so worth it.  Megan was able to take a picture in her signature stance and we got to stop at the "Hole N' The Rock" where you can go ride a camel and tour a house in the rock. 

And there you have it.  I blogged. 

Just Becuase.

Every now and then, I make decisions that really don't have any reason tied to them.  Well they do have reasons, but they don't always make a ton of sense.  This summer I've made some of those decisions. 
+ I have vowed not to wear flip flops any more.  They're lazy and they make my feet dirty.  
+ I'm going to wear less make up.  I honestly haven't been wearing any for the past little while and I'm loving it. 
+ I'm getting rid of nearly half of the crap that I own. I've been downsizing for the past few days (a major reason I haven't blogged...I've been too busy!)
+I'm going to buy an adult-sized bed.  I've been sleeping on a twin all my life and I'm ready for one that I can sleep diagonal on. 
+ I'm blogging less.  That was a pretty deliberate decision.  I love my blog...But living life is so much more important. I've realized that the happier I am with my life, the less I feel the need to blog.  I do it more out of enjoyment than necessity.
+ I'm lessening my 'screen time'.  Less phone, less computer, less TV.  I've really only been watching when it's something I'm doing with someone else.
Do you do anything for reasons you can't alway pin point? 
What do you do just because?

I Think Gifts May be my Love Language

I love giving gifts, and I love receiving gifts.  It's not because I like material possessions.  At all.  In fact, I have way too many material things.  But what a gift shows is thought.  When you give a person a gift you have to recall mentions of favorites, wants, needs, and your overall knowledge of the things a person likes.  When you give someone a gift they truly love, you are showing them how well you know them or listen to them, or even just that you care enough to try  and find them the perfect gift.  I have probably thought about that too much, but it's true! For my birthday, my family all got me some fantastic gifts.  Everyone asked me for a few things that I wanted and I gave them some ideas, but I think they mostly just went with what they thought I would like.  My sister Megan got me a few different things.  They'll all look great in my room.  As I've moved back home we're all making a lot of changes to our living situation and I'm really excited to put up the things that she got me. 
Jake completely surprised me and got me a new pair of work boots! I'm ridiculously excited about these and I couldn't believe it when I opened up that bag and saw them.  I've been wearing the boots I was issued for the nearly 3 years that I've been in the Army...So I kinda needed a new pair.  

My mom and dad, in addition to buying me a couple of tires (Isn't it funny how the things you ask for changes so much as you get older?)  They got me a bunch of bath salts.  This may seem like a pretty simple gift, but in a dorm room, you miss out on the tub.  It was incredibly thoughtful for them to get and I have already used them!
My sister alexis got me a floral printed dress and a romper from Forever 21.  I already wore the dress and when it warms up, that romper will be a go-to.  She also got me these stinking cute sticky notes that I just want to put all over the place. 

My cousins got me some gift cards (perfect for me as I'm unemployed) as well as a mat stack book for scrapbooking.  And my aunt got me a bag from her recent trip to New York.

Gifts aren't just material things...They're a way that you show someone you care and I love them.  What do you think of gifts?

Staying Strong

This past week was National Women's Health Week!  I want to talk for a second about how important it is for women to take their yearly trip to the doctor and make sure all is well with our bodies.  
Below you will find an awesome infographic that can serve as your guide to women's health.  It reminds you when you should get checked out and what you should be doing to make sure that you're healthy. 
Personally, I go into my lady doctor every year.  However unpleasant it might be, I think it's worth it. We always talk about my birth control and make sure that we both think what I'm using works for me, I always get a pelvic exam :P a breast exam, and whatever else I need.  Because I'm in the Army, I also do a once yearly physical with them.  Because of these preventative measures, if there were something wrong with me, we'd catch it! Chances of surviving a potentially fatal...anything are going to go up with early detection!  

So don't forget to head into the doctor and get your yearly check ups! Find out more about the check-ups you need with the graphic from  Oscar Insurance. 

PS...Sorry if the graphic is a little small.  I'm still trying to figure out my new computer and that occasionally means that I can't figure out how to make things bigger or smaller...I'll get the hang of it eventually I suppose. If you're interested, you can check out more on Oscar's health insurance services if you're in the NY and NJ areas!

On another note, you should be seeing more of me around here.  I'm still getting settled in at home and trying to figure out a bit of a routine and so far that routine has not included blogging. I have a lot of work to do around this house so that I can make all my crap fit inside of it.  So maybe I'll just blog about it. We'll see!

So don't panic if you don't hear much from me.  Life is just a challenge when it's constantly changing, and unfortunately, sometimes something must go.  For me, blogging may have to be put on the shelf for a few weeks.

Please don't cry. 

Oops. I forgot to blog

First of all, I'd like to apologize to all you lovely readers of mine.  Since my last final, this is the first time I have opened my computer.  On Thursday, I packed my last few things into my car and headed off to Salt Lake and since then, this is the first down time I have had.  22 has been pretty hectic so far! 
A few updates:
I got my grades! A, A-, B+, and a C+.  It kinda brought  my GPA down a little, but It was honestly just that dang philosophy class! But I passed and that's what matters! I'll just try to do better next time.  I'll also pray that I never have to take another philosophy class.  Ever. Again.
I turned 22! On Thursday I got into Salt Lake around 4, went out to a quick dinner with my family and hung out with my Jake On Monday we actually went out to my favorite place, The Cheesecake Factory, and celebrated for real.  My family all got me wonderful gifts!  I'll share those tomorrow I think.  It's crazy to me how the things you ask for change so much as you get older. 
Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was in the field.  It was raining basically the whole time, I finally got to drive (and tow a trailer and avoid hitting some deer...) For as crappy as it could have been, it wasn't so bad.  My buddy grilled up our team some morale hot dogs and the rain didn't feel quite so wet. 
And now...Here I am.  Back to the grind.  Except there is no grind! I went from having three jobs to no jobs and I'm finally feeling like I can relax for a few minutes.  I'm so happy to be here with my family and I'm excited to share more of my summer adventures with you and with my family! 

Oh The Places You Will Go

I'm going to keep today's post short! This week I have my all of my finals! I'm pretty excited to be completely done with this semester.  I was starting to feel as if it was never going to end, but here we finally are! I'm three 4 finals, packing my dorm room, a 410 mile drive, and one drill weekend from relaxation. 
In keeping with my Month of Me and the Summer Vacation theme I thought I share my Vacation Bucket list. 
1.  Turkey. 

Ever since I took AP Art History in High School I have been dying to visit this incredible work or art...Also, have you ever seen a photo of the beaches in Turkey?  I'm just dying to visit there some day. 
2.  Hawaii.  I've never been there and I feel like it's something that you should do at least once in your life. Why not? 
3.  Every possible Bluegrass Festival.  Because I love bluegrass. 

4.  France.  I have taken years of french and I just feel like it would be so cool to go there and see the Eiffel Tower and try my best to talk to people en francais. 

5.  Washington DC. I love history.  Like love it.  I would especially like to see the Smithsonian and the Declaration of Independence. 

6.  Nashville.  Because Bluegrass. 

photo cred

7.  New York City. I have been to New York once, but it was only for a day when we had a little accidental trip there when I missed a connecting flight to Italy in High School. 

8.  London. Harry Potter. Big Ben.  Shakespeare.  The Thames. Kings and Queens.  

There are a lot of places in the world that I feel that I must see before my time on Earth is up.  Hopefully I'll be able to make at least a few of these things happen.  I've learned in the past few weeks that nearly anything is possible if you want it bad enough. 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, everyone! It's time for some Friday Favorites! I'm going to link up to 5 on Friday and share with you 5 of my very favorite things.  +Seems how I just bought it, my number one favorite thing is my new MacBook Pro.  Basically...I'm so in love with it.  I wish that I'd just bought one in the first place.  I'm thinking about doing a few posts about making your Apple products work for you.  They are a simply amazing modern convenience. 

 

+Tomorrow I will eat my last Qdoba burrito...And I am so sad about it. They are my favorite "fast food" restaurant... And get this...It will be free becuase I have enough points on my card!



 

+I bought some new shoes a couple days ago at the Vans Outlet store...First of all, they were ony $14.  That fact alone could make them my favorite...But they're also the most comfy shoes I've ever put on.  They're called Surf shoes and they have some foamy inserts for the inside of the shoes and basically they rock.

 

Vans Exact shoe

+ Right now is my favorite time of year.  It's just something about the newness of Spring that puts a big, happy smile on my face. It helps that I'm also moving home to be with my wonderful family and I'm finally finished with this semester this month!

 

+My final Friday Favorite is The Railsplitters.  I seriously cannot stop listening to their new album. I recommend it to peple who like music of all types.

   

The Ones Who Made Me

I'm sucking up this every weekday posting thing...Let's blame it on finals/moving in a week Sons of Anarchy.
My "Month of Me" would not be complete without sharing a little bit about the two amazing people who made me. Today is my parents 26th Wedding Anniversary.  I would not be me without my parents.  They have allowed me to screw up. They've picked me up when I fell down.  They have and always will come to my rescue.
My parents have taught me what a marriage looks like.  They love each other.  They make sacrifices for each other.  They have always worked hard to make life good for my sisters and me even when it was really hard.  They show appreciation for each other and continue to be an amazing example for us all.  
They're the best grandparents in the world.  Sure, sometimes my dad lets Kallie Wallie get a little messy...But we didn't need that Cap'n Crunch she dumped all over the kitchen floor then stopped on anyway.  They parent Kallie just like they parented us...Giving up everything to make that little lady happy.  


Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I'm sorry I wasn't there to celebrate it with you, but I'm sure I'll be there for the next 26! I love you both to the moon and back!

Childhood Dreams

I almost forgot to post today! Whoops! I'm trying not the schedule my posts out too far because I feel like they get too robotic.  And I'm much more into writing whatever is on my mind and that time.  I would have for you to be getting outdated thoughts!  I told you a couple days ago that I listened to an incredible book called The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  Well one major part of the book is Randy telling us how he achieved his childhood dreams, facilitated the achievement of others, and how we can make our childhood dreams happen as well.  In the spirit of continuing my Month of Me I thought I'd share my biggest childhood dream.  I wanted to be the next Dixie Chick.  In case you are having trouble remembering who they are, please enjoy the video below.
Basically, I have always just wanted be them...I think that my sister Megan can understand that kind of dream.  For a while, the dream sort of just...dropped of the earth.  I was busy doing other things and I stopped actively pursuing my dream of becoming a Dixie Chick.  Through out the past few months, though, my musical fire has been reignited and thus the Dixie Chick Dream has resurfaced as well.

Honestly, I don't think I'll ever be an actual Dixie Chick (lets face it...they're never getting back together) but I can still pursue a musical career.  Even if it's just one on the side.  As I'm heading back to Salt Lake this summer, I'm working on putting together a little three piece band.  We want to play all over town all summer and try to make something real happen for us and our bluegrass stardom...  I might never be a real Dixie Chick, but I think it'll be good for me to try!

Other Things I Haven't Told You

I've been a little bit preoccupied and I haven't done much to tell the blog about my future plans.  A lot of things have changed in the past few weeks.  I even changed my little blurb on the side of my blog to fit the life that I'm currently living. So to continue my Month of Me  I'm sharing my plans for the near future.
I think that part of being in your 20s is not always knowing what is just around the corner.  Well at least it has been for me.  Most of the things that I have chosen to do up to this point have been a little bit random.  I've had very little attachment to any one place and it has been really exciting for me to fly by the seat of my pants.  
However, as a major planner, I like to at least have some framework laid down for how I want things to go.  And for the next few months, this is what my framework looks like:
+I'm moving back to Utah.  This was not really a choice.  This was more like something that the universe obviously wants me to do.  I've done my do-diligence in trying to find a place to live.  I've applied for 51 and half jobs, but I'm at the point where going home feels like it's not just my only option, but it also feels like the right option. 
+I'm going to take a few weeks off of employment.  I'm lucky enough to have the Army and music to support me for a while, I do have the possibility of a job, but if I don't get it, that'll be okay.
+I'm most likely going to continue my education in Salt Lake.  I'm not about to quit school, but I need to make some changes.  I've created a path for myself that is unnecessarily challenging.  I'm done with that.
+I'm going to spend time with my family and my boyfriend.  I miss them more than I every anticipated I might and I'm ready to be able to give my niece kisses every single day and hug my sissies all the time. 
+I'm going to pursue the advancement of my military career.  (duh).  
I have a lot of good things coming in the next few months and I'm excited to get all these finals finished up and be able to relax at home with my family. 

My First and Favorites

Like I said Friday, this month is my birthday month so I'm sharing all kinds of fun things about me, my past, my experiences, my family and all sorts of other things.    I have two best friends.  My sisters.

I am so very blessed to have these two humans as my sisters.

Alexis and I are a few years apart, so we were in middle school and high school together.  We basically did everything together.  Now, we're all grown up.  She's a wife and a mom, she's a full time student, and she works a full time job.  Basically...She's my hero.  I don't know how she does it.  I guess she just learned from the best.  Our mom.

Miss Megan is a little Bluegrass Diva.  Some where between my high school graduation and now she just became this amazing musician with more ambition than I have ever known.  She's basically turning into the musician that I always wanted to be and I am completely jealous of her dedication to the craft. 

This year she's taking on some great musical responsibilities and she's learning and growing into an adult that I completely respect...It's pretty hard to see her as anything but my baby sister though...

I feel like I'm the luckiest middle sister in the world to have grown up between these two.  Sometimes we fight.  We don't always get along perfectly, but they will always be my sisters and forever my best (and first) friends. 

A Month of Me

This month, is the month of my birth.  May is also my favorite month.  I don't think that it's because I was born in May though.  It's just so green, and full of dafodils and sunshine.  It's also the month that my semester ends, and that is glorious.   So each weekday this month I'll be sharing something different about my passions, my family, and other things of that nature. Today, as I'm in Pahrump doing my thing with my band, I figured it would be a good day to talk about one of my very most favorite things in the world: Bluegrass.   I started playing the Mandolin when I was 11.  It wasn't necessarily something I planned on doing nor was it something my parents pushed me or my sisters towards.  It was simply something that I had an interest in, so I picked up a mandolin and asked my dad to teach me song.   Ever since that summer before 6th grade, I've been playing the mandolin. For a while it was all I ever wanted to do.  I wanted to be the fourth Dixie Chick.  I didn't care how improbable it was, it was what I wanted. As I got older though, it got sort of pushed to the wayside.  I was busy doing other things that it became too much of a hassle to practice and learn new things.  Sadly, I wasn't really all that into it.  

Luckily, though, since I've lived here in Vegas, I've rediscovered my love for it and it has become something that I look forward to doing.  I play all the time and I'm really excited to do this thing in Pahrump this weekend!     

Advice For Life

When I went home on Thursday, I "read" a book.  I say "read" because I actually listened to it.  Since I do a lot of driving I have learned how to survive a road trip and audio books are a staple for a long drive now.  It was the first book I've read in a while that wasn't for school, so it was pretty refreshing to have something that wasn't academic in my life for a while.  I had all these plans to read so many books this year and I have yet to scratch a single one off the list.  I've started a few, but this semester has been so crazy I just haven't been able to find the time. 
Luckily though, I have a block of 6 hours that would be filled with nothing but driving. Perfect for a some 'reading'. So I took to FB and I asked for some suggestions.  While I was given some great suggestions (sorry, Michael, I already read Twilight...) I decided to go with The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Just a little background on the story, Randy Pausch was a real guy.  He was a professor at a university, and he was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer (the same kind my Grandma died from...) that had metastasized in his belly.  He had three kids, the youngest being 18 months at the time he have his lecture, and a wife.  He lived an amazing life, and his book and last lecture were meant to be something for them to have when he parted from the world.  Basically the book is about he led his life and things that he feels would be beneficial for the lives of others.  
After listening for 4 hours I literally feel like my life has been changed. I decided today that I would share a few things the Randy Pausch had to say that really hit home.  I highly suggest you check out his last lecture on Youtube and read his book.  I think that people of all ages and stages of life can benefit from it. 
+ When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you it's simple. Just ignore everything they say and only pay attention to what they do.  I believe this needs no explanation.
+ Express Gratitude. He mentions in the book that his program accepted a young lady almost completely because they found a thank you note that had been slipped into her file.  It was hand-written and wasn't even for them specifically, but her taking the time to write a note and express her gratitude was a game changer.  It's never a bad thing to say thank you. 
+ Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.  A quote by Seneca...But seriously...It's so true.  We have to work hard at preparing ourselves for the things that we want.  Who knows? Tomorrow the very opportunity you need could waiting around the corner. Would you want it to pass you by because you weren't ready for it?
+ Be able to work well with others.  It seems like such a simple thing, but it's so hard for some people!  I have learned a lot about team work and collaboration since starting college and joining the Army and this skill is great to have and continually exercise. 
+ Brick walls are there for a reason.  This bit of advice will stick with me for as long as I live.  Every day we encounter challenges, some larger than others.  Those challenges, or brick walls as Pausch calls them, are there to show us how badly we want something.  If you're willing to overcome that challenge, you will.  Whether you think you can or you think you can't...you're right.
If I could just share the whole book right here I would.  I recommend reading it and then sharing it with someone else who could use it.  

The Last One

This week's What's Up Wednesday will be the last one for the time being! All three of us hosts (Ashley, Shannon, and I) have got so much going on right now that we're putting this link up on the shelf.  Hopefully once things quiet down for us we'll be able to bring it back!

This week we have Amanda from Somewhere Over the Camo Guest hosting! I love her blog and I think you should head over and check it out too!

As this is the last week for a while, I highly suggest you get in on this!

What I loved about the past week// Well, this weekend I got to spend time with my family and my boyfriend, so that was great.  I got some home-cooked meals and I was super happy to just sleep in my bed at home. 

What I'm looking forward to// I'm looking forward to Thursday! Jake is coming here for the weekend and I'm so excited! I saw him basically all weekend, but it will be awesome to have him here! It's like a little staycation for me. 

What my latest obsession is//  Well, I ended up purchasing a new MacBookPro...And I am so in love with it.  I have barely left the thing alone since I bought it.  But I want to use it as much as I can...It hurt my heart to spend that money, but I'm super happy with the decision...It had to happen.

What I've been daydreaming about// All I can think about is the semester ending and life being simple again...no homework or papers. I just can't wait.

What I'm watching// I started watching Sons of Anarchy today.  I'm only one episode in, but I can already tell I'm going to love it. 

What I'm listening to// This band called the Railsplitters.  I can't stop. They're releasing a new album in May and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves music.

What I'm craving// I've been wanting Mexican food lately...Last night I was feeling some Taco Tuesday action.

What I'm doing this weekend// Like I said before, Jake is coming down and we're going to do all kinds of great things together. 

What else is new?

Basically...I'm super happy.  I had no idea that things were going to end up this way, but I'm pretty glad they did. 

We're Taking A Chance

Once upon a time, I was engaged to a handsome young man named Jake.  We met one fateful summer day...From that day forward he was all I thought about.  
I took a chance. 
My friend invited me to go out with she and her boyfriend to see some fireworks (it was the fourth of July) and of course, why would I want to do that alone? So I invited Jake.  The guy that I'd met all of one time...We'd talked a little, but I was really stepping out on a limb by asking him to go out with me. 
He took a chance. 

It went swimmingly...after that day it was like we wouldn't have been able to stay away from each other if we'd tried.  We spent every day of that summer together.

But as it drew to a close, we knew that this bliss had to pause.  He was leaving for boot camp and I was also preparing to go.  We planned to sort of...meet up later.  We wrote about a thousand and one letters and I tried really hard to just not cry all the time. 

After another one of those fateful days my military career came to a screeching halt. I broke my arm and I was sad.  But at the same time, I was feeling like it had happened for a reason.  I was going to be able to see Jake graduate from Boot Camp.  We'd get to spend Christmas together...It was a bad situation, but it could be made into a good one. 

So we got to see each other when he came home.  It was great.  We were so happy...He asked me to marry him on Christmas day.  It was great.  We were scared.  Honestly, we were just kids and didn't really know what we were getting our selves into, even still...  

...we took a chance. 

Unfortunately, though, we couldn't make it work.  Not then.  It was too hard.  Our lives were moving in opposite directions and somehow we just couldn't bend the paths to make them cross.  So we broke up.  And it was hard.  We were both really sad...For me, it was like the end of the world.  I spent the next few years getting my life together and figuring out that sometimes things just don't work out.  I dated other guys.  Then recently I got a new boyfriend.  My very first serious relationship since Jake and I.  And it was great...For a while.  But then, again, our paths shifted and I felt myself falling out of love. Then it was over. And I was sad. 
But not long after that break up Jake and I found each other again. I'm not really sure what happens next, but I'm excited to find out. 
We're taking a chance.