365 days

9 Pictures of the People I couldn't have made it through 2009 without!






































































9 Best and Worst of Everything in 2009


Best - Summer beach trips --> I love the beach more than words can say. Combine that with sunny summer days and some of my favorite people ever and there's nothing better!



Worst - My job --> I've struggled more this year than ever about being satisfied with my job. I should be thankful, and maybe even have this as a "best" since I do still have a job, but I'm praying hard for whatever it is God has next.


Best - Weddings --> Let's face it - I love just about anything that has to do with "love", including weddings. These days, I love weddings even more because it means catching up with lots of great college friends! And, with all the people getting married, I got to do A LOT of catching up this year!


Worst - Grandparents --> Another thing that could be a "best" because thankfully they are still with us. Sadly, this summer I was able to see and process for the first time just how much they really are struggling health wise. I feel blessed to have had them in my life for so long and selfishly, I wish that they could be around for so many more years.


Best - Hope Internship --> The first 6 months of the year I was able to not only gain ministry experience working with a middle school youth group, but I also gained an extended family, even if for only a short time. God couldn't have put them in my life at a more needed time and I'm so thankful for each one of them. Many of my favorite memories from this year include the people I met through working at Hope.



Worst - Back/Hip injury --> I'd say I'm way too young to be dealing with injuries that occur as a result of nothing I can remember doing and keep me in pretty consistent pain. Stupid getting older!


Best - Boone trip --> It's harder to camp than you think, I love the mountains and hiking more than I ever thought I would, and best friends and a good attitude makes even the most awful situations funny.


Worst - Noah --> Now if you know anything about my dog, you could assume the "Worst" and "Noah" on the same line could merely be attributed to his less than acceptable behavior. While there was a lot of that this year, I loved that dog more than most humans probably would've and saying goodbye to him so early definitely makes for one of the hardest things I've done this year.



Best - Accountability group --> This group of girls challenged and encouraged me so much in my personal life and my walk with Christ. God totally used them to foster growth and change in me this past year and I wouldn't be the same person I am today without their love and friendship.

*In Memory of Noah*

January 9th, 2007 I brought home a 10-pound bundle of fun named Noah. A Boxer and my first dog as an adult, I was hopeful and certain that he would be with me for many years to come. There is no pretending that he was the best-mannered dog in the world, but his extremely goofy, outgoing personality and love for every person he met seemed to make up for his frequent misbehaving. Only one month after his 3rd birthday, I noticed some things out of the ordinary for Noah and decided to schedule an appointment with the Vet. I arrived at the Vet on a Wednesday afternoon, fully expecting to leave an hour later with medicine for something simple, but instead left preparing myself to possibly have just a short time left with my dog. Over the next couple of days, his health rapidly deteriorated and the Vets confident diagnosis was that he had a brain tumor. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my sweet pup the morning of December 12th, 2009. Emotionally, the situation has been incredibly hard, but I am glad to know that he is no longer sick and suffering. I am thankful for the short time we had together and I will miss him terribly.

*Update on Noah*

It's highly likely that if you've even only had a handful of conversations with me or read my blog on just a few occasions that you've heard about my dog, Noah. He pees in the house when we've just come in from outside, he's ruined furniture and broken windows, and I'd guess that I've lost a couple hundred dollars in underwear thanks to him mistaking them for special snacks. He's not the worlds worst dog, but I'd say when the vets office has said he's one of their most obnoxious clients, that he's ranking pretty far up there! Still though, that dog loves life, like really loves life, and boy do I love him. He makes me crazy, but it seems I just can't get enough of him!

This past week he's been crying out like he's in pain on multiple occasions and I haven't been able to figure out what is wrong. Additionally, a few days ago, he started to seem a little off balance when walking and such. So, after a week of this, I decided yesterday to take him to the vet. I assume the visit wouldn't take that long and since some of the issues seemed to correlate with his need to relieve himself, I assumed he was just dealing with some sort of small infection that we could clear right up. But, what I heard was way different.

Over the course of our 2 1/2 hour appointment, not only was the vet we had come to see checking out Noah, but also 2 other vets, all trying to see what was going on. After checking his blood pressure and ears to try and pinpoint his balance issue, they still didn't have an answer. The vet said that usually the next step they would suggest would be to see a neurologist because it seemed like his issues are brain related. On top of that, she said she had to add that Boxers, more often than other dogs, have issues of higher rates of canter and brain tumors! But, just to cover all their bases, she offered to run a few more tests there. While none of them showed anything worth looking into, she prescribed him some medicine for things that she wouldn't be able to find via testing just to see if maybe he'll respond to those. However, over the next few weeks, if he's not responding, she said that we could pretty much assume the worst.

I know I'm a tool for doing it, but of course the minute I got home last night, I looked up symptoms of brain tumors in dogs. I found a ton of information on the NCSU Vet School website, who go figure, has been researching brain tumors in Boxers because the rate of this breed having brain tumors at a much younger age is "concerning". It was pretty scary reading the website because a great majority of the symptoms I found for brain tumors in dogs, including crying out as if in pain, are all things that I've noticed in Noah lately. Looking back, not that I could have changed anything, but there are things I've noticed in him for weeks, or even months, that didn't seem at all out of the ordinary, but after reading the website, now stick out vividly in my mind.

Of course, myself, and more than just a few others are praying that it turns out to be nothing but a great big scare! At the same time, conditions don't look favorable and I'm also kind of expecting the worst. Don't get me wrong, it's not me being negative at all. In reality, knowing that a lot of the symptoms he has point to a possible brain tumor and knowing the vet mentioned this as an equally likely cause, make it hard for me to think it could be much else. If it turns out be nothing big, then I'll have a million reasons to be ecstatic!!! But, if it does turn out to be a brain tumor, or something of the sorts, then at least I've been able to try and make the last weeks of my once wild-little pups life the best ever AND I've had time to prepare myself as much as I emotionally can for what is coming.

All in all, he is just a dog, and from an eternal perspective, I know that he doesn't have a soul. So, while that doesn't make me feel any better on the emotional side of things, it does help offer me some peace in the midst of this scary time, even when I don't have any understanding.

He's a 70 pound lapdog with tons of attitude and thinks he can do whatever he wants..but honestly right now, I just don't know what is going to happen.

So, if you would, pray for a miracle! Pray that it's nothing at all and that the emotional wreck I've been for 24 hours straight will have all been in vain. But, also pray, that if it is confirmed as the worst, that though my heart will be really broken, I'd be happy with the memories I've had with Noah and be filled with peace about the whole situation.

He's just a dog, I know, but reasonable as it might seem to some and silly as it might seem to others - he's my little family...and I do not want to lose that.

I'm thankful for....

*Jesus and the gift of eternal life*amazing friends and tons of pictures*rainy days and romantic movies*sparkly ornaments and mistletoe*fantastic parents and wonderful grandparents*text messaging and good convos*mexican food and cheesecake*twin sisters and adorable nephews*late nights and sleeping in*stressful days made better with living room dance parties*full-time jobs and wolfpack wins*cute boots and misbehaving dogs*krispy kreme donuts and iced white mochas*sarcasm and laughing until you cry*fun games and good company*daydreaming and everything the future holds....*

"i've heard that it's possible to grow up - i've just never met anyone who's actually done it. without parents to defy, we break the rules we make for ourselves. we throw tantrums when things don't go our way, we whisper secrets with our best friends in the dark, we look for comfort where we can find it, and we hope - against all logic, against all experience. like children, we never give up hope..." - greys anatomy

"the fear of making permanent committments can change the mutual love of husband and wife into two loves of self; two loves exisiting side by side, until they end in separation." - pope john oaul II

"love is a feeling, marriage is a contract, and relationships take work." - lori gordon

"humor helps us think out of the box. the average child laughs about 400 times per day. the average adult laughs only 15 times per day. what happened to the other 385 laughs?" - unknown

"you want fairy-tale love - you're a romantic. but what's really romantic is to wake up every morning and say 'i choose you, again. today. no matter what.'" - dirty sexy money

"the solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today" - margaret mead

"if you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? and why are you waiting?" - stephen levine

"lust is easy. love is hard. like is most important" - carl reiner

maybe close to the shortest post yet... :)

This Thanksgiving, I'm super thankful that I get to sleep in multiple days in a row! Facebook makes everything official and I miss the days when you couldn't make comments on someones wall post or status. No tears would be shed if I never again received a forwarded email. I believe sometimes different can turn out to be really good. Laura, Shelley and I started the Beth Moore, Believing God bible study a little over a week ago - GOOD STUFF! First home Storm game was last night AND Chris Hughes is home all week! I've seriously got to stop being so lazy. I like the way I can't keep my focus. Jokes about ugliness, even if not totally appropriate, are still very funny, especially when telling them with the right people.

*UPDATE*
Just discovered this, thanks to reading another friends blog and loved it so I had to add it here!

"twitterpated: an enjoyable disorder characterized by feelings of excitement, anticipation, high hopes, recent memories of interludes, giddiness and physical overstimulation which occur simultaneously when experiencing a new love. these feelings take over without warning, usually at odd times (such as at a check-out line), with or without the partner present, and make it difficult to concentrate on anything but romance. they interfere with work and safe driving, but should be experienced at least once in every person's lifetime."

In honor of my birthday! :)

My 26th birthday was at the beginning of this month, so to go with that, I figured 26 ideas, fun facts, thoughts, things going on or whatever randomness I come up with would be an appropriate post! It might also help me make up a little for being so slack in October! So here goes.



#1) I put up my Christmas tree already! :) I know it's early but with good reason! Plus this will be the first time in a couple of years I've not been moving over the Christmas holiday and actually had a tree to put up!

#2) Flashforward is one of my favorite new shows. I think it gets better every week!

#3) Kindergarten basketball is quite possibly one of the cutest and funniest things I have ever watched!

#4) No one ever seems to follow the speed limit in the school zone - and they seem to get irritated with those of us who do! At least it won't be me with the speeding ticket!

#5) I'm interested in looking for a new home church so I'm currently taking suggestions on places I should visit. I want a church that is smaller in size - mega-churches just aren't for me!

#6) I love when the leaves change color.

#7) Plain cheesecake and funfetti cupcakes are my favorite desserts - I got both for my birthday!

#8) NCSU actually won our football game this weekend! FINALLY! Go Pack! :)

#9) I went to the fair 4 times - not as many as usual, but I still had a BLAST!

#10) I left my camera downtown Raleigh, sitting outside of Krispy Kreme one night last month - 4 hours later, at 3am, when I drove back down there to pick it up, it was still sitting outside! AMAZING! :)

#11) Upward games are more than half over - time sure does fly!

#12) Chris Hughes lied and said he couldn't come home for my birthday BUT then surprised me, and everyone else, by showing up at my birthday party! Such a fun surprise!

#13) The Proposal is a fantastic movie!

#14) Old navy has outerwear on sale for up to 50% off...so tempting to buy another jacket.

#15) Noah just turned 3! Somehow he has significantly digressed in his pottying training skills and my hallway now smells similar to an outhouse! :(

#16) Taylor Swift is coming to Raleigh!

#17) Sunday afternoons were meant for napping O:)

#18) I wish my papap and grandma lived closer - I miss them.

#19) Wal-mart, regardless of where it is located, is guaranteed to provide you with the opportunity for endless hours of people watching. If you can't get to one right away, but need a quick fix - check out peopleofwalmart.com.

#20) I hate Kenny Chesney's new song.

#21) Driving with the windows down can almost always improve my mood!

#22) "Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory" is SUCH a true statement!

#23) A girl my sister and I were friends with came to know Christ at our house when we were probably in middle school. She's now an adult and apparently has been struggling some with a lot of different things. She remembered how my mom had loved on and helped her come to know Christ so many years ago and randomly showed up a week ago to talk to my mom about what was going on in her life and chose to rededicate her life that day. How cool for my mom to see the way God had used her in the past and that this girl still remembered my moms love for Jesus and her!

#24) I wish I had more time (and finances) to travel.

#25) My family is doing Secret Santa presents for the first time ever this Christmas.

#26) HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GROUND! :)


Until next time...which I promise will be sooner than next month! Or at least I hope it will be... :P

Where'd October go?!

Not a single post in October - ULTIMATE FAIL! I'm going to try and do better this month. :) But, instead of trying to tell you about the WHOLE month of October, I'll just post some fun pics and we can call it even, right? RIGHT!

Ten Thoughts This Tuesday :)

You like that special title with all the T's huh?! :P

#1) This past weekend was Meg's wedding - and it was beautiful! Completely reinforced my desire to someday have an outdoor wedding at night with a lot of lights. Sadly, it rained, so that changed a few of the plans for pictures and such, but overall it was a good time! I definitely had a lot of fun and I'm so happy for the Peterson's!

#2) Just watched the Dog Whisperer for the 1st time ever! I know, a little shocking right, considering I have a dog who has had just about every behavioral issue known to man! I must say, Cesar is pretty amazing! It's possible I might have a Dog Whisperer marathon in the near future, sponsored by Hulu! :P

#3) Speaking of my dog - Noah has decided that it is now more appropriate to pee inside than it is outside. This is NOT okay with me. The thing about it is, he has the opportunity to go outside, and he knows to go outside, he just chooses not to. Also funny, he won't do it when I'm not at home, further proving that he is, indeed, house trained. I'm not sure what I did to upset him, but he's taking it out on my carpets (and a couple of times my car!!!), and I'm very tired of cleaning it up. He's lucky I'm such a dog person!

#4) I'm a big fan of glasses. A lot of people know this, but it is reinforced for me daily, I think. Obviously, this is within reason - I'm not talking 3D glasses or someone sporting huge glasses like what I wore in 3rd grade. This is obviously not appropriate! But, for most girls and guys alike - I think glasses can really make someone more attractive. Of course, no one wants to wear their glasses all the time, myself included, and this is understandable, but I am definitely all for them being worn at least occasionally! :)

#5) CSI: Miami has added Eddie Cibrian to their cast and this is very exciting. He's pretty fantastic looking. What will not be exciting is if he somehow replaces the Callie/Eric thing that is going on right now.

#6) Since I no longer have DVR, I now find myself watching a lot of tv online. A lot of the shows I like are crime/suspense related shows and so there are often moments of "Oh my - what happens next?!" Sort of like the way you see people watch scary movies through the cracks of their fingers, I instead, tend to press pause A LOT. It's like I need a break to prepare myself for what comes next. I also do this when there is some really awkward situation or conversation going on. Ha - I'm not sure what I think pausing is going to do for me, but somehow it seems to calm me a little. Kind of weird - I know.

#7) NC State fair is SOOOOOO SOOON! :) :) :) There really is no possible way to convey how excited I am about this!

#8) I have a problem with temperature control - in my house, the car, and the office. Whether it's fans at home, the heater in my office, or the ac/heat in the car, I just can't seem to find a happy medium...or I don't understand what that is. If I get to hot or cold, I have to turn things all the way up, or all the way off - there is no in between. This results in the fact that I am never comfortable temperature wise. I'm obviously aware of the issue, now if I could just make changes. Ha

#9) I want a new camera - like a really good camera. But, I also want to learn how to take better pictures, otherwise, there really is no point to a new camera.

#10) I haven't listened to any music at all today (not counting being in the car). That's really weird for me.


Happy Tuesday! :)

Failing already!

Only a couple of months of blogging and I'm already failing! Okay, well comparatively, maybe not, since every other month I've had 4 posts and so this meets my quota for September! We'll see if I become a real over-achiever and decide to add a super special post #5 this month! :P


Recent happenings

#1) I spent a Saturday at the zoo recently and was so happy to get to see the polar bear playing! He's my favorite animal at the zoo I think, even though up to this point I've only ever seen him snoozing! Thankfully, we got there just in time to see him playing with his toys! Wow was he cute - looked like a HUGE cuddly teddy bear; of course, I'm sure that's not how he would have acted had I decided to see if he wanted to play! Still though, seeing him made the whole trip worth it! :)

#2) Upward is now in full swing! I can't believe we're already into week 3 of practices! Oddly enough, I'm helping with 2 basketball teams and only 1 cheerleading team! Considering I know less than nothing about basketball, it's a little interesting, but I know it'll be super fun to watch the kids play! And, in a positive note, I now know what "setting a pick" is and the purpose of it - so I'm definitely learning! I'll be a pro in no time!...or not. ha :P

#3) Soon I'll be picking up hours again at the spa. That means even more hours working every other week, but I do love the spa and I've got to do something to make a little extra money! I'm glad I was able to go back!

#4) Megan's wedding is THIS WEEKEND! I'm super excited for her big day, so I can only imagine how happy she must be to finally have it here! I'm certain she will be one of the most beautiful brides ever! We had her bridesmaid luncheon this weekend, then all of the bridesmaids (minus Lori :( ) and Meg went to downtown Wilmington for a little spa fun and then dinner and dessert at the Little Dipper. That place was ridiculously good!

She also let us in on a little surprise we'll be ....participating in... at her wedding. Should make for some good pictures...and laughs. Hopefully we'll be laughing with the others - not just getting laughed at! :P

Completely Humbled

Lately, I've been stressing a little about what to do with certain situations in my life, specifically concerning housing and work. It's not unusual for me to stress over these things, but in less than a month I was going to have to make some pretty big decisions and I've been at wits end about what to do. Last week, God totally reminded me of how big He is and how much He wants to take care of me and IS going to take care of me, but how much He wants me to ask Him for these things.

Off the top of my head, I can think of multiple times when I've been challenged, whether by a close friend or a teacher or speaker of some sort, to pray specifically and expecting God to answer my prayer requests. And each time I've done that, I've seen God answer my prayers so quickly and so directly that I've literally been amazed, just like this time.



Our God is so big and He wants to give us so many things and take care of us. I know that, and I've seen Him do that in my life so many times, but, it's so funny, because so often, I don't pray to Him for these things. Sure, I might mention it to Him in passing, but often, it's as if I possess this attitude of "Well He already knows I need this, so why should I ask?". But the thing is, He wants me to ask, He wants us to ask.



So if He already knows, why would He want me to ask? I'm definitely not the best scholar or interpreter of God's Word, and I sure wish I possessed a lot more knowledge on so many things, but when it comes to this, I can tell you why, at least in my life, it is that He wants me to ask. Those times when I've prayed expecting God to answer my prayer requests, He's done it in such a way that there is NO WAY I can deny that these things came from Him. Talk about giving God the glory, it'd be hard to not give Him the glory in all of those instances because they are things that would never happen "just by coincidence." I think God wants me to ask so that when He answers in that big, awesome way, like I know He will, that I can't do anything other than turn around and give all the credit directly to Him. I can't do anything on my own, and that's why I have to ask God to help me, to provide and lead and direct me, and when I'm finally willing to do that, He amazes me every time.