Just Dance.

BALLET.

HIP-HOP.

SALSA.

WALTZ.

CONTEMPORARY.



Dance like no one is watching.
Dance like its the only escape you have.
Dance like you're in love.

Dance....only from the heart. <3

Looking back through it all...

Regardless of the thousands of times we've gotten involved with the wrong guy, regardless of the fights, regardless of the times when we annoyed each other, regardless of the times when we thought boys were everything, regardless of the broken hearts, regardless of the tears...we have always stuck together through everything.

Looking back on everything I have realized that without my two best friends Heather Coley and Rebecca Cannon, I would be so lost in the world of high school drama. I would never have never learned the lessons that I have learned.

Together the three of us make the perfect friendship. A little peace, a little love, & a little happiness.

And right now...that's all I need.

<3

Free Fallin'

I'll probably wake up a little sad
But then I'll get up and let go of it all instead
Because really it's not worth it getting in a mess over him, to bother getting stressed over him, no.
So I'll just go on with my life and fixate on everything else but you
Yeah, I'll just go on with my life
I have no reason to please you anymore.

What Could've Been...

Everytime I get my hopes up
They always seem to fall
Still what could've been
Is better than what could never be at all...

Need You Now.

Picture perfect memories,
Scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone cause, I cant fight it anymore.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

Its a quarter after one, Im all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldnt come, but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I dont know how I can do without, I just need you now.

Another shot of whiskey, cant stop looking at the door.
Wishing youd come sweeping in the way you did before.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

Its a quarter after one, Im a little drunk,
And I need you now.
Said I wouldnt call but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I dont know how I can do without, I just need you now.

Yes Id rather hurt than feel nothing at all.
Its a quarter after one, Im all alone and I need you now.
And I said I wouldnt call but Im a little drunk and I need you now.
And I dont know how I can do without, I just need you now.
I just need you now.
Oh baby I need you now.

Tears.

Not all tears are visible, but that makes them no less real.

College.

9 months.

Living in a dorm.

Taking classes.

Living with Becca.

Away from home.

Living my own life.

Having fun.







I'm so ready. Is it June 12, 2010 yet??????

Manage.

One word. Stressed.

I've managed to work out the kinks in my schedule and fall into sort of a routine that works best for right now. Although that routine is one that I don't like...i must manage.

From scholarships to applications to essays to recommendations to SATs. Its all a little overwhelming. Have I reached the point where I'm having fun in school. Definitely not....but then again I must manage.

Things at home. Should I even go there? I feel like I'm trapped and I can't get out. Even though I'm hardly there bc of my work schedule and practice, when I am there I hardly speak let alone spend time with my parents. But I'm 17 and still not legal therefore...i must manage and make do with what I have.

Everything in my life, metaphorically, is a long car ride. You have your starting place and your ending place. I have left my starting place but have yet to reach my final destination. I'm somewhere in between....where that somewhere is...I don't know. I'm learning to become more independent when it comes to making big decisions in my life. I no longer wish to rely on my friends or my parents or siblings for advice on something that should be an inward decision. Its hard for me to comprehend the fact that in 4 1/2 months I wil be legal and I'll have a whole new platter of events and responsibilities coming my way. But when I do reach that point....I'll manage just like I have been.

I'm looking forward to a time when I can live my life for me. Do what I want to do. Not what my parents want me to do. Not what my friends want to do....but what I want to do. But I'm not there yet. Until then...

I must manage.

*Sigh*

Senior Year has been absolutely amazing so far. Lots of homework, lots of papers, lots of reading but hey....what was else would school consist of right??

I fear that I'm getting caught up in too much though. I don't have a regular sleeping pattern bcuz I am always up late finishing homework after 3 hours of practice or 5 hours of work. I don't know what I should do. I love my life, the people in it and what I do but I fear that I'm taking on too much.

Something must give. What it is?.....i don't know.

School. Guard. Homework. School. Work. Homework...

Well folks its official. I am a Senior in High School with 1 AP Class and 2 Honors classes. I know it doesn't sound like much but oh boy is it. I have already had 3 papers due, 1 quiz, and a few other assignments due. On top of that I have guard and work and so on.....my life is officially consumed. But I'm used to it u know? Some would say...when do you have time to hang out with your friends?? well lucky for me, I have 2 classes with Becca and lunch everyday with Heather. PLUS I get to see them after school for 3 hours at guard practice :D So all in all...my senior year has had somewhat of a hectic start but I think once I get into the groove of all my classes and teachers and expectations and such the more fun, memorable, cherishable moments will begin to happen and Senior year will slowly (or rapidly) pass me by and soon I'll be off to College... but that's another other story...

Right now I'm living life a little stressed, a little busy, and a little fun. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

LIVE * LAUGH * LOVE

Last First Day...

Today was a bittersweet day of happiness yet sadness as well. Today I started my last year of my high school career. SENIOR YEAR! I'm soooo happy that its finally here and that I'm that much closer to graduating but the more and more I think about it sooner or later I'm gonna reach a place in my life where "growing up" is a requirement. I'm ready to grow up and I'm ready to be on my own but the fact that I have 5 months till I'm a legal adults that's responsible for every decision she makes is a little overwhelming. I know that I can make it through with the help of my best friends and older friends who are there to offer advice to help me avoid mistakes and making wrong choices.

My classes aren't as overwhelming as I thought they would be, but then again its only the first day of classes where rules, procedures, and the basics of the class are talked about in EVERY class. So far I'm pretty "in-love" with my day 1 classes consisting of physics, AP Gov, Spanish, and Prin. of Business and Marketing. Tomorrow holds a new set of classes with new people and new obstacles to overcome.

School, work, and guard consume my life. Literally. And although I don't wish it any different...I am yet again the single one out of the trio. I'm not saying that I'm not happy for Heather and Becca and the special relationships that they have found but I just wish that I could find the same connection with someone. Someone that will walk to me class, hold my hand in the hallway, eat lunch with me, and just be there for me. Maybe I'm asking for to much at the wrong time in my life and I know that its wrong to create jealously in your heart because it can become a very wicked trait to have. But I can't help but think of all my past relationships and how poorly they turned out. I've never had a "successful" relationship last longer than 2 months. In my eyes, that's not normal. But then again who defines what normal is?? Idk. I know love will find me one day. I just have to learn to be patient and wait for the right guy...because according to my mother, the perfect guys comes into your life when you least expect him to.

Senior Year = A Fresh Start!

Well folks, its official. I am a senior at Powhatan High School. Finally :) I got my schedule for all my classes and it really hit me that I only have one more year left and then i'm done and off to college!

Since my brother and sister moved out, I had to chance to move into my sister's room...which is much bigger than mine and I decided to go all out and repaint and everything :) I'm growing up and neon-flowered decorated room just isn't gonna cut it...so i'm going with something a little more mature :) My colors are beige, brown, and green. I'm going to have an accent wall with vertical stripes of beige, brown, and green all the way down the wall. On the other walls I'm going to have a chair-height thick horizontal stripe of brown and below I'm doing various sized polka dots. Its taking forever to line the stripes up just right, but thankfully I have a mother that loves me and is working very hard to help me paint and everything. I'm planning on finishing the painting and the whole "moving-in" thing before school starts next tuesday.

With Senior year approaching very quickly...I sit sometimes and just think about how quickly my high school career has flown by. I think about all the drama, all the rumors, and the relationships, all the tests, all the projects, all the homework that I thought were gonna be impossible to go through but somehow in the midst of everything I have managed to pull throught. None of this would've been possible with my best friends right there beside me holding my hand and encouraging me that everything was gonna be just fine. I have made a promise to myself that I will not let the stupid petty little drama and rumors get to me. I can't control what people think of me, or what they decide to say about me. All I know is that I am who I am and if people don't like that, I dont' really care. The people that do like me for who I am are the people I spend a majority of my time with and that's all that matters to me.

With school, work, and guard all on my plate this year, I will be a very busy girl and I won't have time to get wrapped up in who is dating who, or who got completely wasted over the weekend, or the latest gossip of the school. That stuff is so middle school. And to think that people actually care is what's surprising to me haha

But regardless of all that, I will have a good year this year. And I won't let anyone get in my way. I'm walking into that school next tuesday the 8th with a whole new perspective on "high school" and everything that comes along with it. I've had some emotional and mental growth this summer and I've changed some of my morals completely. But that's just me and that's how I choose to be.

End of sentence.

Beauty of God's Blessings!

~~Life is hard; no doubt about it. But in it there's lots of depth to be explored and growth to be experienced. That's all part of the adventure. For me personally, exploring, knowing, and experiencing starts and ends with the fact that Jesus loves me. He tells me so. And it is that divine love that transforms the human heart.~~

**Blessed be the Lord they God, which delighted in thee.**

1 Kings 10:9a

B&W Senior Pics! (More to Come!)

true friendship <3


happiness :D

My girls <3

simplicity in nature :)

Heather~Me~Coley, Becca~Me~Cannon, Shelby~Me~Darling
<3

all time favorite! :D

Best Friends Forever and Always....

no matter what.

Guard. What brought us together, will keep us together.

No words can ever describe the feeling of having true friends in your life.






SENIORS!!!!!! 09-10

The Beauty of God's Blessings!

Next time you feel afraid, make a list - not of your fears but of the characteristics of God. Find a Scripture...to substantiate each one as you reconsider you situation in light of Who God is. Then, if you feel it would be helpful to list you fears, make sure beside each one you write down the attribute of God that applies. The secret to peace lies in your focus. Plant you faith in Someone Who is bigger than your fears.

** Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.**
Job 37:14b

LOTS O' STUFF! :D

Well first of all the last night of the Mission Conference was amazing. As a tradition with our church we hand out "Are We There Yet" boxes to all the missionary kids who get bored in the car travelling around. Then, at the end of the service, we all gather and make a huge circle around our sanctuary and we all receive a little candle. The Pastor lights the first candle and one by one we all light each other's candles till eventually the entire sanctuary is lit up by the candles. Its gorgeous :)

This past Saturday, me, heather, and Becca all went to take seniors portraits at Maymont Park. Well we only got one shot at Maymont. The stupid lady at the front desk saw us walk in and so she called security and the man said that there wasn't allowed for professional photography to be taken without an appt. Stupid. But we did get a great tree shot :) but eventually we drove around Richmond until we found Bryan park. Well on the way there, we had to go through some tolls. Well no one had change so we were scrounging around for 70 CENTS! We finally made it to Bryan Park and ended up taking so fabulous trio pics and individuals pics as well :)

On Sunday night, we had our Annual Singspiration at my church! I wasn't planning on going bc of Heather's guard party...but she cancelled it :( so i was able to go. I sang by myself...which is odd bc I usually sing with my mom. But this time I went solo with a song called "I'm Singing" haha i know kinda ironic. But all went well...i choked up a few times bc my throat was soooo freakin dry :/ but my mom said it sounded good! :) After that, we had a homemade Ice Cream Social were different people in the church make different flavors of ice cream ( but of course, some were store bought lol) my mom made mint chocolate chip though...very yummy!

Band Camp started back up this past Monday and I'm so excited about this year! The band as a whole is young bc there are a TON of first year marchers but they'll learn and eventually we will be amazing :) haha this year i'm Co-Cap-i-tain with my bff Heather! Its gonna be so much fun! Karen and Patrick (from JMU) r helping out this week and then Tony from Impact will be coming the next few weeks to instruct as well! yay! :)

Only a few more weeks until my senior year starts and I still have A BUNCH of summer reading stuff to get done...*sigh* but I'm gonna try my best to get it done haha i already have my English reading done...now i just have to finish the project part. And then i have my AP Gov stuff to do and ugh that's gonna take forever! :/

Missions Conference :)

Starting on this past Sunday, my church held their 12th Annual Missions Conference. It lasts from Sunday-Wednesday and different missionaries from all over the US come and present their goal for a foreign countries and the need for Christ in these countries. This year has especially been a heart-touching experience for me because in past years I haven't really thought of it to be a big deal. But this year, I planned ahead for it and asked for the daytime shift at work and made sure that I didn't make plans for those nights. I was really suprised at myself, because this year I actually wanted to go.

Sunday we had a guestspeaker come and preach in place of the Pastor. Monday night was two families...one was David and Sarah Booth, missionaries to the hearing and deaf of Portugal, the other family was the Campbells, missionaries to Wales (coast of England). Tuesday night I was in the nursery watching all the cute kids of the missionaries but I was still able to somewhat hear the message on the tv haha and tonight two more families will be sharing their message and dream for the countries that God has called them to go and spread the gospel.

My heart has really been spoken to by God this week. I'm almost positive that God has spoken to my heart saying "You are meant to go." But right now I am still a teenager, but I am able to listen to God's voice and learn His will for my life while I am still young. Hopefully, the man that God has for me also has the call upon his life to be a missionary. And that if God tarries we will, someday, be able to go to a place where the gospel has never been heard. There are thousands of people that die everday who are on their way to hell because they have not heard. And the burden of those people has been set upon my heart that I need to go and reach these people and give preach to them about the free gift of salvation.

Tonight is the last night of the Conference, and I feel that I have been greatly changed by these past few days. I pray that God will bless the families serving Him and doing what they are called to do. And I will pray for them daily.

**How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?**
Romans 10:14

August.

What a busy month I have ahead of me...whoo! For the past 3 days I've done nothing but work work work...and I'm exhausted :/ luckily I have Sunday off but...then i'm back to the old routine again on Monday working 11-4. This coming week is the last week I have before band camp starts (pretty much my last week of summer) :( I'll be working Mon, Tues, Thurs 11-4 Friday 3-9:30 and Saturday 4-? i forgot haha but that'll need to be changed bc more than likely I'm getting my senior pics taken that day!! :D Sunday the 9th is Heather's 09-10 colorguard party! WOOT :) and then band camp starts on Mon, 10th - Wed from 1-6 then I have Thursday off from life :) Friday is Tiffany's 18th bday party at the 711 pool. Then the 2 weeks after that I'll have band camp from 9am-6pm ughh...leaving me only Saturdays to work :/ and then one more week after that I have band camp 3-6 and then..............school starts. So as you can see, I have barely no time left in my summer. :(

Starting tomorrow is our Mission Conference at my church. Different missionaries come to our church and tell us about their goals and their plan for reaching souls either in foreign countries or somewhere local. Most of the missionaries that my church supports are going to foreign countries though, that need to hear the gospel. I'm really excited about this! It last from Sunday- Wednesday with 2 speakers a night! :) I look forward to this every year! :)

Well i'm very tired...so i'm thinking I'll go to sleep early tonight to be well-rested for the Conference tomorrow :)

*night* <3

The Beauty of God's Blessings!

~~God loves to decorate. God has to decorate. Let Him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child's tears untouched.~~

*Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.*

Psalms 36:5

Best Friends, Gossip and Junk Food!

So yesterday Becca stopped by to drop off some of my movies that she had collected from my past visits and she said that her little sister Sarabeth was having a bunch of her friends over and having a bonfire...so i kinda invited myself over bc i needed something to do haha I ended up going over there and ended up staying the night....we tried to get Heather to join after work but she had to work this morning at 10 so it ended up being just the 2 of us :)

We stayed up watching vids of sytycd and absolutely fell in love with some of the routines haha then we went up to her room and talked for hours about stuff about the past...the future..and the present :) it was nice to talk to someone about it haha

Then we attempted to watch Mr. and Mrs. Smith and we ended up dozing off..or i did rather haha so we finished it the next morning haha it stormed like crazy and we had hopes of going outside and dancing in the rain but it was a really heavy rain so by the time we got ready it had stopped :( so we just stayed inside on the computer haha

I left around 3 and then came home, took a shower, ate KFC for dinner yum! and then went to church at 630. Tonight we played this game where you were blindfolded and turned around like 15 times and there were swimming noodles on the ground that u had to find and then find your opponent and whoever was the first to hit the other person won. haha! I went against my brother and we whacked me pretty hard in my boob :/ but i'm ok now :) haha

Right now in my life things are good. I have great friends, a great church, my parent's are getting along, and having lots of funn this summer :) i'm so grateful! But then again I'm so ready to be senior! I have a feeling this year is gonna be awesome :D

A little bit of a shock.

So a few days ago I went to get my physical done for colorguard this fall and my doctor was just going about the same routine of questions when she mentioned something about my weight. Now I've never been really concerned with my weight. I usually just eat whatever and not really gain that much. Well apparently in the past 6 months i've gained 10 pounds and in the past year i've gained 18 pounds. This is not good. I thought guard was keeping me in shape...but i guess not. So now my doctor recommends that I eat more fruits and vegetables (which I don't really like much of) and that i drink 8 glasses of water a day and a nutrious breakfast lunch and dinner. I'm hoping that when i get back involved with guard in the next few weeks that i'll be able to drop the weight...but something is telling me that its gonna be hard.

I really need to focus on eating smaller portions and actually looking at the nutrition labels on the back of stuff. Its so frustrating bc I didn't think I had gained that much...and I didn't really see a change in my body... oh well all I have to worry about now is either maintaining or losing weight...and not gaining it.

*sigh*

The Past Few Days....

Well for starters, me and my dad are okay now. We talked about what was going on and we, surprisingly, came to an agreement on things. So we're getting along now. :)

Things with Ben didn't quite work out so well :/ we talked about starting a relationship together but when I realized that he was gonna be 10+ hours away from me...my stomach dropped and realized it wouldn't be fair for the both of us. In my eyes a relationship isn't a phone call and txts throughout the day...a relationship to me is someone who is relatively close to you (within 30 mins), who can take you out every now and then, who you can chill with at their house and just lay together watching movies or something :) that physical connection is what i'm talking about... and i realized I won't have that with him so I had to turn away and move on...

..and honestly i think i'll be happier that way. and if u think about it...Band camp starts up in a few weeks, which is 9am-6pm for 2 weeks plus 2 other weeks with practice 3 days a week....and i'm working as much as possible until then...then school starts. Once school starts I'll be in all honors and an AP class...working mondays and wednesdays, practice tuesdays, thursdays, fridays, and saturdays r either work or competitions...and somewhere in there i have to find time to volunteer and get service hours for the NHS....gah. So no time for boys.

:( unfortunately

...but they always say, if you want something bad enough, you'll make time for it, and you'll fight for it :) and if God brings a guy my way then so be it...God will make a way for us to have a great relationship! <3

Dirt Road Dancin'

Today me and my best friend Courtney hung out at my house :) we played wii bowling and wii tennis. She beat me a lot of the time but i managed to win a few games hehe well we got tired quick so we took a lil break got some water and watched some tv for a lil while. Then we got curious and went on the On Demand section and found these fun dance videos where you could learn lots of different dances. We found a one that was called the Booty Bop and it was a lil fast pace for us so we moved on to one called Dirt Road 1 and 2. This dance was a country 4-wall dance (similar to the cha-cha slide set-up). It was quite challenging to learn the dance but nevertheless we managed to get through it a few times :)

Now i'm at her house :) i'm staying the night here and we're gonna watch Confessions of a Shopaholic later on. Right now we're watching Get A Clue on Disney Channel haha one of the few movies that is worth watching now on that channel..along with a few others. haha

Well i'm gonna go for now...tomorrow I have a physical appt at 10:15 for colorguard and then i'm off to work from 4-close...yay long shifts... :P LOTS OF MOOOOLAH :D

peace.love.happiness <3

Is all this really worth it all??

Living a life where you have to tell lies and sneak around just to be happy is not someones idea of a happy life....unfortunately that is the type of life I live. I can't just go out with my friends, and have a good time without having to worry about coming home to a father who yells at you for doing the littlest thing wrong. Who yells if a sock gets left on the ground. Who yells if he told you to be home by 10:30 and you come in at 10:31. Who gets worked up if your plans suddenly change to something that wasn't supposed to happen.........*sigh*

Over the past 4 years of my life, my home life has been nothing but a struggle. Some nights are better than others but the majority of them are spent in anger, frustration and tears. All I want in life is to be happy. I know the growing up things aren't always pretty and nice, and that you have to work for want you want. But in this situation, no matter how hard I try or "work" to be happy and put on a smile and pretend like nothing is wrong, deep down my heart is broken into so many pieces that only God can put it back together. And when your heart is broken into so many pieces, its hard to find love because even though you want to give that person your whole heart.....its impossible.

I can't tell you how many times I have just stopped and sat down and just thought about life and all the hardships I've gone through all the obstacles I have overcome (and mind you, I'm only 17) and the tears that I've wiped away...and all the times that my friends have been there to support me and tell me that everything is going to be okay.

So all in all I'm striving this year, to choose to be happy. Irregardless of my situation at home. My fathers negativity and anger will not rob me of having happiness and joy and finding true love. No one can. Only by the grace of God will I be able to withstand this upcoming year and I'm ready to take it on head first.

Fearless.

A good ending to a not so good couple of days...

For the past few days my parents have been fighting non-stop. I try not to get caught up in it but somehow I always end up crying over the fact that my parent's marriage is falling apart. I've had good experiences with my dad and not so good experiences with my dad. We've had our fair share of arguments and disagreements but we've also shared hugs and laughter. But unfortunately the bad out-weights the good here. My dad is very protective of me especially since I'm the baby girl, but its to the point where he treats me like I'm still his little 10 year old girl sitting on his lap and that daddy is the only guy in my life...it doesn't work that way anymore. I'm 17, not 10 and I like boys. Plain and simple. My dad won't except that fact that I'm growing up and that I wanna do things on my own, that I want to date, that I want to stay out late with my friends having a good time. But he just doesn't get it. I don't think he ever will.

I feel bad bc I know my mom isn't happy and that she is literally at the end of her rope. But she is holding out until I graduate (I believe) and honestly, I don't think she should have to wait. My "happiness" is as just as important as hers. I don't want my mom to be stressed all the time about having to be a safety net between me and my dad, which often times she is. She deserves better than that and shouldn't have to live her life worrying about what's gonna happen next.

The good part about all this...is that I've met someone who I can tell all this too and expect him to be there to hear me out and to give good advice. His name is Ben and he works at Chick-fil-A with me :) we've been talking for quite some time now and we get along great! The only sad part is, is that he's leaving in less than 3 weeks to go to college in Ohio... :( but i'm trying not to think about that... tonight, after work, he took me to coldstone ice cream and bought me a "Like It" of Mint ice cream :) such a gentleman haha but all in all i'm trying not to get too attached bc if i do I won't be able to let him go when he leaves for college. But while time is still on our side, we are enjoying each other's company and that's all that matters :)

I'm praying fervently for my family and that either God will pour peace into my parent's marriage or he will show my mom a good way out and allow us to be financially stable on our own. All I want is to be happy and I honestly and faithfully believe that God will provide in my time and my mom's time of sorrow.

From a weary heart...shelbs

The Beauty of God's Blessings

**God allows us to have disappointments, frustrations, or even worse because He wants us to see that our joy is not in such worldly pleasures as success or money or popularity or health or sex or even in miracle-working faith. Our joy is in the fact that we have a relationship with God. Few of us understand that message until circumstances have distorted us of any possibility of help except from God Himself.**

~But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved).~
Ephesians 2:4-5

Working...

So yesterday I worked 3-11 which is a 8 hour shift and today I worked from 11am-11pm which is a 12 hour shift. I was only supposed to work 11-8:30 but Mike asked me to cover his close hours for him and I needed the money so I agreed to work...bad idea. I've never worked that long of a shift and I just about passed out...haha but the plus side was is that I got free food :) :) But i'm super exhausted so this blog is gonna be extra short!

Church tomorrow :)

night <3

{S&B&H&C&A} Wayyyyy too much fun last night!

Ok so yesterday I went over to Becca's House to swim in her pool and to hang out with Heather before she had to leave to go to work. Well Heather ended up calling in *cough*cough sick to her boss so that she could stay to swim longer :) hahaha well sadly she didn't end up staying the night. :/ But as the night progressed...we got a lil crazier and crazier. For dinner we had Mrs. Cannon's famous homemade chicken noodle soup...nom and green beans and zuccini bread made fresh out of the garden....nom. The next chain of events took place when Amy, Chelsea, and Becca left me off the couch :( so what do i do?? I lay across all of them! Well then Amy has this great idea to give me a wedgie the freakin' size of Texas....and Becca and her end up pickin it out for me....(u know ur best friends when...) So then we decided to make room for everyone and moved our craziness to the floor haha and that is where everythingggg fell apart haha we were laughing, throwing pillows, punching people throw a pillow (poor Chels), doing the feet airplane thing, and lots of other crazy stuff lol it was quite a night lol I do believe that after we drank our Jones soda.....we got a lil whoo hoo and just let loose lol the pics on facebook are to die for...omg haha

At the end of the night we ended up watching diff vids on youtube and cracking up hahaha and then we decided to watch Juno while we got into bed :) Amy and Chelsea were on the couches and me and Becca were on the blowup mattress on the floor. Well I ended up falling asleep before the movie was over and then everyone else just kinda fell asleep as well I guess. In the middle of the night, Becca and I wake up to find our mattress completely deflated and us practically layin on carpet haha so Becca got huge pillows and put them under my bed and Becca hopped up on the open couch haha I was half asleep when all this took place though lol

This morning we woke up and we each started our days differently. Amy had to go babysit the Kotte kids, Chelsea had to go to work at Gold's, Becca's family has dentist appts, and I have work at 3. But even though we do different things each day and we may not see each other everyday, that's ok bc not seeing them all the time makes the times we spend together priceless and moments that none of us will ever forget! It's nice to have friends where you can be 100% yourself and they don't judge you or laugh at you :) We will always be friends no matter what come our way and we will never forget the countless nights that we stayed up till the wee hours of the morning laughing our butts off and taking epic pics. NOTE: This....is what you call true friendship <3

The Beauty of God's Blessings

The blessing God wants to pour out on your life and mine is not necessarily increased wealth or problem-free health or material prosperity. And it is not obtainable by prayerfully reciting a formual as though you are rubbing Aladdin's lamp, waiting for the Divine Genie to pop out and grant your request. The fullness of the blessing God wants to give you and me can be summed up in one word - JESUS!

**Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings (gifts) in heavenly places in Christ.** Ephesians 1:3

Relaxation :)

I stayed home today and did absolutely nothing but bum on my couch and watch tv! :) I haven't had a day like this in forever....it was greatly needed! The most productive thing I've done all day is cook dinner for my dad....chicken pot pie YUM! I looooove cooking :D haha but anyways in about an hour or so i'm leaving for Impact. We're having a cook out yay! :)

Tomorrow I'm hopefully going over Becca's house to swim with the girls :) its been awhile since i've seen them :'(

Chicken pot pie is done now :) nom.nom.nom.

Kings Dominion!!

Today my youth group (The Impact) took a trip to Kings Dominion! It was a lot of fun...i hadn't been in a few years so there were a few new roller coasters for me to try out :) I was the only girl in the group to go so I spent today with 6 crazyyyyyyyy guys. But they made it fun! Me and Ryne (our youth pastor and also my sis's bf) forgot to wear our bathing suits under our clothes so going to the water park was quite difficult haha but we managed to find a vender who sold swim shorts and tank tops and stuff so we got in luck! So after being soaked beyond belief, we changed and headed over to the dominator! Awesome ride. its kinda a mix between the volcano and the anaconda haha very sweet! I also rode the White Water Canyon, the Grizzly, Log Ride, THE DROP ZONE :D, Italian Job, and the Avalanche :) I had a great time!

I was going to head over Heathers afterward but my Dad said I had to come home...what else is new?? oh well hopefully i'll be able to see them on Thursday at Becca's house swimming :)

I don't really have any plans for tomorrow...prob just sleeping in and relaxing all day haha haven't had a day like that in a while so it should be nice!

Calling it an early night tonight...super beat from all the rides today haha

night <3

The Beauty of God's Blessings

**There is no such thing as an inferior prayer. Awkward prayers, tongue-tied prayers, prayers form a dry well, prayers from a giddy heart, even show-off prayers all have validity, not because of the one who is praying but because of the One who is listening. The thing is to keep talking, and when you run out of words, sit tight on a rock and listen. Just don't walk away.**

~And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.~
Matthew 21:22

The Past...

The past is the past....you can't change it....plain and simple.

Thoughts may re-enter ur mind and you'll think back to the times when you thought you were happy and then you'll look at urself now....after you overcome ur heartache and tears and realize that you are much happier now than u were before.

With loving, caring, and supportive friends I believe getting through a tough break up is possible, moving on from ur first love is possible, and realizing that you don't need that person in your life is possible.

"Down the road the sun is shining, every cloud there's a silver lining, just keep holding on. Every heartache makes you stronger, but it won't be much longer, you'll find love, you'll find peace and the you you're meant to be. I know right now that's not the way you feel, but one day you will."

Church!

So today was church and the Pastor preached a good sermon on striving for the prize while waiting on the Lord :) then after church we went home and at some lunch! My dad came home from NC today he was down there visiting my grandpa, his dad, while the rest of us were at the lake. Then my mom and i went back to church for choir practice and the evening service. Bro. Adam, my youth pastor, preached tonight :) and Josh surprised me and showed up in the service...which was nice :) my mom had to cook the dinner after the service tonight so josh and i stayed after and ate some hotdogs, mac and cheese, green beans and chocolate pudding for dinner :) good times. lots of laughs! which is the norm when we hang out hehe

I'm back to work tomorrow from 3-9:30...ugh got make up for the whole week of hours i missed :/ but that's what u get when u wanna go on vacation haha

off to dream dreams...good night :)

Vacation!

Well I just got back from vacation at Emerald Isle Beach in NC and Bugs Island for a week and it was awesome! My grandpa lives at EI so my family was able to stay with him :) and my Great Aunt and Uncle live at Bugs Island so my family was able to stay with them there haha the beach was so much fun...my sister brought along her bf Ryne so he was with us and we got him into boogie boarding and such...it was quite fun! We went out to eat at a seafood place on wednesday night and I ate some goooood shrimp and scallops...yum. Thursday we left for the lake...we got there at about 4 or 5ish. We waited until the next day to go out on my uncle Steve's boat bc they got there late last night. Tubing was sooo much fun...i got beat up pretty good though haha and skiing was a bunch of fun as well. I haven't skiied in about 5 years but I was able to get up on the first try which was a surprise! We came back from absolute paradise today haha we got back around 6ish and the first thing I did was hop on facebook :) I hadn't updated in a week and I had about 90 notifications...gah. but anyway i have successfully uploaded pics from last week when the my girls Chelsea, Amy, and Becca came over for the night, my adventure with Amy to Busch Gardens, and 4th of July, and the beach from this past week. All I have left is the lake pics and vids :)

Well its officially late and i'm so sore from tubing its not even funny...I guess that stuff doesn't hit you when you were 10 yrs old but now that i've gotten older you get sore more quickly haha :/ I'm looking forward to church in the morning and singing in the choir :) we're getting a new music director soon his name is Kyle and he is really sweet! I'm lookin forward to him being a part of our church :) Not so much lookin forward to work this week...but since I took a week off i guess I do need to work a lil to get at least some sort of paycheck haha....such is life.

Good night :)