Ramblings

Looking at this picture now makes this house seem so quiet and serene, which it usually is! However, throw a holiday and family members in and it is loud and chaotic...in a good way! It was another normal Thanksgiving at both family events. As normal as most families as I would assume. I always wait to see what will happen; as in, who will get into an argument, etc...

Well, it wasn't as much as I expected, but there was still drama of coarse! Though, now I feel as if I have 'discovered' how to stay out of all the drama. I will now try my best to stay out of it all. Just say my hello's, small talk and then a simple goodbye; that should work right?!

Granted, I have a feeling I might be skipping Christmas this year to give myself a break! After each holiday I am usually left wondering..."What happened to my family?!"...and that is with both events that I go to for each holiday. So I figure my Christmas present to myself this year will be to stay at home for 'part 2' of Christmas! It'll probably make me in a better mood and have a better Christmas with my boyfriend at home! I won't have to worry about...well, anything! I'll go watch my nieces and nephew at my dads house in the morning and then back to my home! Wow, it already sounds like an amazing Christmas!

Strange picture to pick I guess for this post, but I find it fitting. The sky is half dark and half light b/c of the storm that was coming in.

I miss my friends and family! I am not a huge fan of 'growing up', I guess as it tends to lead to not talking with good friends and family as much. People grow apart, move away, have cute kids, etc... and then there is less time to chat and even meet up. I find it sad that it comes to this with some relationships, but sometimes understandable. When you play phone tag with someone for a few days, you just (or at least I do) tend to give up and stop calling. Whomever you are trying to contact is obviously busy and will possibly call when they have time or think of it again...maybe. Other things, you just get used to, wether you are a fan of it or not. I guess it is just the nature of living and growing up; you lose people, great friendships sometimes tend to turn into being acquaintances and sometimes you turn out to be closer friends with others that you hadn't before.

For me, I know two things are true:

1) I still have the same best friend that I have had since I was a kid. She happens to have children now and while we might not get to spend as much time together, we still try to make time and maintain our relationship. Each of us is still always there when the other needs us.

2) I have my boyfriend of many years by my side. He is always supportive and understanding. And I believe with all my heart that no matter what or where the years lead us, he will be by my side until I leave this life. He is my love, my over and a best friend.

I guess it is time for me to just realize that this is how life and growing up works. Just say 'Oh well' and move on...

A Favorite Quote

"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry."
-E.B. White

This is one of my favorite quotes. I just only wish that I could actually follow thru with the message that it sends. Wouldn't it be great if everyone actually loved the job that they have? And furthermore, wouldn't it be great if you could do what you love, even if it doesn't pay well, and still be able to live and pay bills?

Wedding

Two of my good friends got married this past weekend. She made a beautiful bride and he made a handsome groom! The weather could not have turned out more perfect for a gorgeous wedding! Both Friday night and all day Saturday was great fun! I was honored to be a bridesmaid for one of my best friends and enjoyed some great times with 'my girls'! Great new memories to add to our many years of being great friends!

Congrats again to two great people! Wish all the happiness in the world to ya'll!

Love ya'll both so much!

(I normally use only my pictures for this blog, but since I was in the wedding I did not get one during the ceremony so I borrowed a friends)

Beach

These are more from Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. I missed the trip this year because of other planned vacations/weddings. But, I am really wishing I was there right now! It's so peacefull and gorgeous!! I am sitting in my office and this day is going by entirely too slow; that is what made think...'hmm, I wish I was at least sitting on the beach' wasting my day!! I guess there is always next year!

Sandra Lee

After a week or two of off and on searching I finally found a picture of my mother and I.

And I came across the other one and it just made me laugh so I added that one as well!

I miss you and think about you every day! Love you mom!

Getting excited about state fair concerts again!!

These two pictures are from the Kenny Chesney all day concert last summer! It was such a great time w/ my best friend!! One is Kenny jamming on stage! The other is Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland about to 'surf' thru the crowd...which looked like SO much fun!! I had seen them do this at their show in Lexington as well. They seem to have fun w/ it! And, of coarse, seeing Kenny play is ALWAYS great! I remember it started to rain a little bit towards the end of Kennys set, but no one seemed to care at all, we all still had a great time! Can't wait for the state fair and hope to win tickets b/c there are some great bands coming in town!

My "kids"

These are my "kids". There is Cleo (left) and the new addition, Angel. Cleo is my little baby who turned 6 this summer! She always makes me smile when she is waiting for me at the door when I come home from work! Though, I do miss when she was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, she is still just as adorable! Then there is Angel...my boyfriend brought her home after finally catching her. She was a stray kitten down by his work. I have never had a cat before so I am still a 'work in progress' with her! She was so tiny and cute that I figured I would adore her just the same. But then out came her other side, which I refer to as Devil Cat. She likes to play with my hair-ties, ring, etc...I wake up some mornings and have to search for these items! But other than that, she is pretty good and still very adorable! Now, if only my boyfriend were in this picture, it could be my family photo!

Dreams

When I took this picture, I remember thinking how much I look up at the sky and just daydream and 'wish'. I don't know if it is because I feel that someone is up there listening to me or that I am just a little crazy (or both)! Maybe I do this so often because I think it might help some things come true that I dream and wish about. This happens more lately than ever. But it is not always just my wishes and dreams, it is those of my family and friends as well. I just hope that someone is up there listening and watching over my loved ones and I...

YAY, it's finally Friday!!

Fireworks from the past Thunder Over Louisville.

This week seems like it has gone very slow; just really glad it's Friday! Looking forward to my weekend!

Pops

I know I just did a family one yesterday, but this is just me and my pops! He is awesome and I just love this picture! He is the best man I have ever met (sorry Jacob!)!!

I love my poppa! :)

Family

These are pictures of some of my family. Most of my family is a pretty tight-knit crew, but I come from a large family! There are 3 people I call often before making a big decision, and 2 of those would be my father and one of my brothers; whom are both two of my best friends! I love my family very much and would do anything possible for them. We have great times together and family events are never dull!
I wouldn't change my family for anything in the world!

Serenity

I took this picture of the dock behind a Bed & Breakfast that I stayed at in Michigan this summer for one of my good friends wedding. I loved how the colors of the water turned out so beautifully in the photo! It really did look that blue and extremely gorgeous! The water was pretty cold so I did not venture in, but it was very pretty and relaxing just sitting in the backyard of the B &B and having this as my scenery! And of coarse, the people I had with me made it even better to enjoy!

Hummingbird

This is another favorite of mine. I took this while sitting out on my friends patio at her apartment. I kept my camera up just waiting for this little guy to come back so I could get a picture! I find hummingbirds so pretty and seemingly delicate creatures! I have this in a frame, just waiting for me to hang it up in my room. This photo also makes me want a newer, faster camera so that I could possibly get more photos at once instead of my camera taking a minute to re-focus and adjust again!! Even after a few short years, this is still one of my favorite pictures!

LOVE

I choose these pictures today because I am thinking of my boyfriend as I started this post. The picture to the left is one of him and I from a wedding this summer. The picture on the right is one of him and my friends baby boy on his 1st birthday! My boyfriend is the best! Not only is he handsome, but one of the most considerate man I have ever met. He is always there for me and vice-versa. We have dated off and on a very long time and he is the love of my life. I would do anything for him, though he rarely needs my help; I will always be by his side and will spend the rest of my life with him! :) I love you hun!

Wish I were staring at this in person...

I love this photo. It is somewhere between Denver and Vail. I have had people tell me that it almost doesn't look real; in which I replied, it almost doesn't seem real when you are there staring at it!

Not much to add today, just saw this picture and wishing I was sitting right there again, just admiring nature's beauty...

Best Friends

This is my best friend & I. This is a girl that I have grown up with and gone thru just about everything with. She is one of the greatest people in my life and I have no idea where I would be if I didn't have her in my life. She is one of the most caring people I have ever met as well. She is, and always has been, there for me whenever I need her...even while juggling a family! I could almost be like an 'extra child' to her, as she has been my friend, sister and a motherly figure! Lately this picture has reminded me of 'old times' with her. Whether it be when we were little, or growing up making mistakes together! I know that her & I will be friends until the day I die! Even when I have thought about a possible move or anything, she is one of the first people I think about that I would not be able to leave! Obviously I have plenty of memories of her & I, but look forward to many years of making more memories! She is awesome, beautiful, smart, thoughtful and an inspiration in my life. Thank you for always being by my side, no matter what is going on. I love you dearly my best friend!!

Pure Beauty

These are 3 of my favorite pictures from Ocean Isle Beach, NC. My boyfriends family has gone there almost every summer since he was little; and I have joined them a few years. I find this one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever vacationed. The first picture (on the left) is of me waiting to watch the sunset at the end of the island on our last night. The second picture, above right, is the sunset on the beach side. I just love the way all the colors come together so beautifully; the pinkish clouds, the blue sky and then in the bottom right corner, where the sun is setting over the inlet, makes it all come together magically.

Then comes my favorite picture out of all three...the sunset over the inlet. I think it explains itself in the matters of pure beauty...

I use this as my first picture/post. Mainly because it reminds me of my brother and his wife (my new sister!!) whom I both love very much! She is the one who gave me the advice & confidence to do this. And my brother is someone that I admire very much for his, well just way of living. This was taken on my first trip to visit them in Denver in 2009. My brother had taken me up to show me where they were going to be getting married and, as usual, I took tons of pictures! There has always been something so relaxing about this picture. I love the way the rocks are set up and balanced with the water flowing thru. Besides cars driving across the small 'bridge', I think I could've stayed there all day just watching the water pass. I think this was the moment, while also surrounded by mountains, that I realized why my brother wanted to live here.