Summer Lovin'

It has been a while...but a lot has happened since the last time I posted a new blog! 

My summer is off to a busy start! Other than the unreal heat wave that has come over Lubbock, Tx, I would not have even known it was summer! I have not been to a pool, or to sip on margaritas with my friends, and didn't even make it home for wheat harvest this year. My days have been filled with school, work, and more school. All that ends soon, though. I FINALLY get to graduate August 6th and will be done with school forever! I absolutely cannot wait. 

I get to start a new chapter in my life, and for once I really think I'm ready. I get to move closer to home and close the door to my life in Lubbock. I have so many memories that I will never forget coming from my college years and so many people that have come and gone in my life that I will always be thankful for knowing.  My last few months here have been a bit of a roller coaster ride, but anyone who knows me, knows that it is nothing out of the ordinary for me! I'm always running and gunning to get things done (preferably when and how I want them done). But I have learned that demanding things my way all the time often gets you the opposite results you hoped for....but then life goes on! And you pick up where you left off and get right back in there and keeping running and gunning for the things that are important. 

I am excited to see what the next step in my life has in store for little ol' me, but in the meantime I am a bit jealous of all my friends who are having awesome summers and getting to do many summer things. I envy you. Almost hate you! I would love to just be able to have a few days where school and work disappeared and I can join you, buuuut there will be no such luck. So, in the meantime, I will be staring at your summer fun pictures and wish I could have been there with you! 

Just a random add-in. One thing I remember most about childhood summers was something I still think everyone should do. Make homemade popsicles! Even if it's just the simple Ice Tray popsicles. It brings memories flooding back from my childhood. Some of the most fun was waiting in anticipation while our favorite kool-aid flavors were turning into frozen treats! And you can always add in fruit or candy and all kinds of fun stuff. (I'm hoping to try some vodka additive for a more adult popsicle)  ;)

Just remember to never take a day for granted. It's summer time and there is a lot of fun to be had, so if possible, go out and have it! I know I should listen to my own advice, but I really don't have the time. So if anything do it for me!!! You never know, one day you may look back on Summer of 2011 and find a way to make it a hit song. Just take that cue from Bryan Adams (Summer of 69).

If you need a little motivation, I have here a very short list of fun summer songs to listen to!

Summer of 69-Bryan Adams

The Boys of Summer-Don Henley or The Ataris

No Shoes, No Shirt, No problems-Kenny Chesney

Six Pack Summer-Phil Vassar

Summer Nights-Lil Rob (oh those awesome Junior High days!)

Groovy Little Summer Song-James Otto

Knee Deep-Zac Brown Band

All Summer Long-Kid Rock

Summer Girls-LFO (you know you love it! and RIP lead singer guy)

That Summer-Garth Brooks

Strawberry Wine-Deana Carter

P.S. Please don't let your sun tan turn out like these!

Just Haven't Met You Yet

Engagement photo I took for my sister and brother-in-law

A friend of mine is struggling with the fact that she is 25 and newly single. The pressures of today's society and the thought of her friends and family all getting married around her has begun to worry her of her future. I do have the reputation as the "go-to girl" for a bunch of my friends when seeking advice. I'm not sure why, but I take this role on as if it were as important as anything else. I reassured her that at her young age there is nothing to worry about. We have all been there and felt the same way and the feeling passes. She, however, has been feeling this way for a few months and is very agitated about it. I gave her a section out of a book one of my cousins introduced me to a while back. There is a letter excerpt that a girl writes to her future love and it is a pretty cool way to look at the situation. Some may think it's cheesy, but I gave this quote to my friend and it made her smile instantly. She asked if I could post this on my blog, so here I am! I think single guys and girls both can kind of relate to the situation and should always have this kind of outlook on their lives. You are never too old to accomplish things. And at this day and age, the pressure can get tough but everything happens for a reason and in its own time. No need to rush or feel less than adequate at what you are doing. Things happen when you least expect it....so if you really want to find that person...quit looking! Quit expecting it! Trust me, it works. It has happened to me..and I know many others who agree =) The excerpt from that letter in the book is posted below. Enjoy! Hope you all have a great day.

 

"I'm already in love with you, I can already smell your cologne and know your sweet heart, I know your the man I have been praying for and the man God has single handedly picked out for me. You don't know me yet, I don't know u either but I know the second we meet it will be the start of forever. So wait for me as I'm waiting for you because I'm coming."

What's new with 22?

My neighbors (Hunter and Garrett) and I

One of my friends from high school commented on how I hadn't written a blog in about a month, so I decided to take time out of my busy school schedule to do so! 

In just a few days I will be turning 22. To me this has no great significance. In fact, it is just another year closer to 30. Not that it is a bad thing, I would just rather stay 21 forever! Being 21 brought me many memories, good and bad. But mostly good! I cannot imagine being in a happier place in my life at the moment. I've learned a lot about myself and met some pretty amazing people along the way. 

Since I turned 21:

I got to go to the beach for the first time.

I got to go to Vegas! (not for the first time, but it was my first time going as a LEGAL adult)

I got to finally buy my first bottle of wine!

I became extremely close with my neighbors who turned out to be extraordinary guys and great friends. 

I got to be the girl standing closest to my sister as I watched her marry the man of her dreams. 

I will soon be an Aunt to my first nephew that will be joining my two adorable nieces. 

I filed my intent to graduate.

I figured out that going home is the perfect escape to the busy school life (even though I couldn't wait to leave when I was 18)

I reconnected with old friends, and made a lot of new along the way.

I lost 35 pounds...and counting!

I figured out its okay to go with the flow and quit trying to plan every detail of my life out.

I managed to do even better in all my classes than ever before.

I started my photography passion into a personal non-professional business and love it very much.

I got to watch my brother's very last basketball game ever after watching him for 13 years. 

I got to camp out in Raiderville. 

I laughed a lot.

I cried a lot.

I smiled a lot. 

But most importantly...I learned a lot. About myself, about life, and about my friends.

This year has brought many milestones that I consider to be huge impacts in my life. People I will never forget, and moments I will always cherish. For that, I thank all those people for bringing that light in my life. I may not know where I'm going..but I know where I've been. And I know that no matter what, each day is a blessing and I will continually enjoy them. I want to laugh more than ever before, and can't wait to see what the next year will bring my friends and family. Everything happens so quickly. I know that now because of hindsight, but will be more careful now to enjoy every great moment I live in. 

So what is new with 22? Right now, I feel like it will just be another day in the life of this girl. But after seeing all the great things that come in one year...I have big plans for 22. I just don't know what they are yet. I have a feeling they will be amazing though :) 

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” -- Abraham Lincoln

We Miss You

10 years ago today, my two favorite people in the world took their last helicopter flight away from my basketball game. They weren't just MY grandparents...they were EVERYONE'S Granny and Papa. They flew to all of our basketball games and were well known by everyone in my community. All my friends knew them as "Granny and Papa" and would ask if "Granny and Papa" were flying down from Amarillo to watch us play. 

I remember this day like it was yesterday. And I remember vividly our pastor, Mike Martin, telling Papa to be careful going home. To that Papa responded with "We always are! Don't worry about us." We went to eat at CJ's Pizza in Gruver and Granny made sure to write down everything I wanted for my 12th birthday coming up. She was known to spoil us, and yes, we took FULL advantage of that when we decided what to ask for when our birthdays were coming up. We dropped them off at the little Gruver airport where they left their helicopter during the game and then about the time we got to our house, we saw their lights up against the stars as they circled our country home and told us "goodbye" in their own way for the last time. That would be the last time I ever saw these two amazing people. The next morning all the lights were on the house and my dad was awake before I was. So I knew what was coming. They didn't make it home. But we had to continue on to school that day. And it was tough. I think about them every single day and wish they could still be here with us. The ten days it took to find them were torturous for me and the rest of my family. The basketball tournament that next weekend was held in their honor and they were finally found before the tournament ended. Such a bittersweet moment that I will never forget.

They always told my mom not to worry if they passed away while flying. Because if they did, they would be going away together and going away doing something they loved. And that they did. On Amarillo.com you can still see the articles and the headline that sticks out the most to me is one that says "Randall Couple Died Doing What They Loved." So we wouldn't have it any other way. Just wish we could steal some more time with them. They have missed weddings and graduations and many stepping stones from which we feel a void without them. But I know that somehow they see us, and are smiling right along with us! We love you Granny and Papa...and miss you every day!

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." ~ Helen Keller

Snow and Cold!

Snow I took a picture of in Amarillo-2009

I hear a bunch of people complaining and upset about the snow lately. Especially on facebook. Everyone's status has something (usually negative) to say about the weather. Truth is, usually in the dead heat of summer, they want it to be winter again. It's hard to please people, I guess! I wouldn't want to be in charge of the weather. But anyways--I thought that I might help people out by giving them 7 things to do during this kind of weather to not help them view it a bit more positively!

1. Build a snowman...duh

2. Make snow ice cream! Double DUH

3. It's a great excuse to have your favorite homemade SOUP!!

4. Hot Chocolate too! :)

5. Marshmallows + Fireplace = Heaven

6. Or you can build a bomb shelter..you know, just in case..

7. Or you can just keep your beers cold. That's always a plus.

It may not make everything better to do these things, but hopefully it gives you some ideas! And a smile :)

--"When snow falls, nature listens."  ~Antoinette van Kleeff--

Poetry!

I really am shy about sharing my poetry because, yes, I have had people make fun of me for writing poetry! But today, as I was cleaning out things in my guest room closet, I found an old portfolio of some poems I had written when I was little. They are kinda cool so I decided to put a couple on here!

Momma's flowers

Look at this flower.

It represents my soul.

The flower blooms so pretty,

and then wilts during the fall.

It resembles all that's beautiful,

but always has to die.

Later on in time, 

it will come back to life.

God grant this gorgeous flower,

All that it deserves.

Lord, lift it higher

so it can show what the Great One serves.

I want to live again.

Let my spirit shine through.

I know that forgiven be our sins,

so why is this flower's color so blue?

The Bottle

Something so small.

It has power beyond belief.

every time I see that bottle

I know I am about to fall.

That rough hand holds onto it tight.

Please, Daddy, please put it down

I want this all to go away.

I don't want you and Mommy to fight tonight.

Why does this bottle have to be your best friend?

Don't you love us anymore?

Throw that bottle away please, oh please. 

I know that unlike us, it won't be there for you in the end.

I have a bad feeling about it this time.

That bottle is about to take over.

Please don't yell, please don't leave.

Why does me seeing that bottle feel like a crime?

Here we go again. This is all I can take. 

You hold on to it so, so tight.

We are the ones that belong in your life. 

Sometimes I just wish that damn bottle would break.

The Tea

Sunset from my front yard by Gruver, TX

Last night I experienced a heart wrenching moment at a place I least expected. Walmart. I know, right? Ghetto nation and I'm in the middle of it in tears at 9:00 at night. I was walking down the coffee aisle and I was trying to find my selection. I heard a sobbing to my left. Down the aisle a couple of feet, standing in front of the tea, was an older man. He was in his mid-60's I would suspect. I was hesitant to go up to him because I was unsure if he was really crying or if it was just some kind of mental or health issue and it was normal for him to be doing that. I stood there fumbling around the coffee for another minute or two to see if he would stop, but he didn't. 

He was now covering his face with his hands just standing in front of the tea selections. So I walked up next to him and gently put my hand on his shoulder. I asked him if he was okay, or if he needed help. He caught his breath and asked me, "What am I going to do? What kind of tea am I supposed to get?" I wasn't sure what to think at this point. I was confused about why a man would be crying because he couldn't decide what tea to get. I asked him what kind he was looking for, such as green tea, hot tea, herbal tea, sun tea, etc. He just shook his head and kept crying. He looked at me and said "For the last 42 years my wife took care of the tea for me. She knew what kind I liked and always had it made for me anytime I needed it. Cancer took her from me today, and we are out of tea. I don't know what kind to get." I immediately started tearing up but kept my composure for the moment. 

He started crying quietly again and began to tell me about his precious wife who had lost her third bout with cancer by refusal to seek treatment this time around. He said he was holding her hand the second she stopped breathing and he knew she was his angel. He showed me some pictures of her that he had stored in his wallet. Such a pretty woman with long blonde hair and light skin. He said all he wanted right now was to get his tea. I asked if there was someone in his family that would know and he could call...he said his wife was the only person to shop for him or make his tea. He stopped crying and apologized and glanced over the selections again and just chose a box of Lipton tea and dropped it in his basket. He looked at me again and told me I was a kind young lady and reminded him a lot of his wife in many ways and he feels like she sent me there to help him. I'm not sure about all that, but I do feel touched by this man's story. He asked if he could hug me and of course I told him yes. He hugged me and said "God bless you, young lady. Thank you for your concern." I said your welcome and he went on his way. 

I stood there kind of frozen for a minute then started lightly crying to myself. You never know where you might be at the exact moment you realize you have lost someone. For this man it was standing in the middle of a Walmart aisle. You never realize how much someone is a part of your life until that moment. Even if it is something as simple as not knowing what kind of tea you like. I have had many of those moments after losing someone. It's a hard thing to go through. It was great to be reminded how important loved ones are and how much they mean in my life. So don't take anything for granted and don't forget to tell those you love how much you appreciate them. 

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” -G.K. Chesterton