So Close Now

I'm not going to lie, I love flying. Yesterday when my parents dropped me off at the airport, I told them, I felt like we've done this before...having them watch me fly off to Nashville. But this time it was a bit different and a better situation. 

Now when I get on the plane, I usually just stick my Ipod in and listen to music the whole way. But this time I sat next to an amazing Christian woman named Diane. She was on her way back home to Nashville from her nephew's graduation in Texas. We spent the next hour and half talking about life, God, things we would like to do, and her giving me advice. I told her what I was going to be doing in Nashville and why I wanted to be up there so badly. And I told her how much of a planner I am, and that I had come to the conclusion that if things didn't work out in Nashville this time, that it was ok, that was just God saying that maybe Nashville isn't where I need to be right now and that he had better plans for me. Diane then told me what she always tells her 11 year old grand-daughter. She tells her," Put your hand on top of your head. You feel how warm it is? That's because God's hand is on your head. He is always with you, even when you feel like no one else is." Diane then squeezed my hand and told me to always remember that. 

When we landed, Diane introduced me to her husband, Papa John and they helped me get my luggage. We then parted ways after Diane gave me the biggest hug and said, "I know that God is going to do great things through you. God bless you, and I can't wait to see you someday!" If I walk away from trip with nothing else but that, I am completely satisfied. Talking with Diane was an absolutely wonderful experience and I thank God for allowing us to be able to sit next to each on that plane.

"I am so close now to walking away. About to walk a path I've gotta take. I am packing up heading out. I can't sleep, I'm dreaming way too loud. I'm so close now, so close now to getting out."

-Eli Young Band

Run

I've been given an opportunity. And this opportunity is just what I needed in order to get a little boost of confidence. The past 2 weeks have been more trying that what I've experienced lately. I've had to understand that there is so much that I do not have control over. And for me, that's hard. I'm a planner, and I've always had a plan. And for me to not have a plan has been very aggravating and has caused a lot more worry than it should.

This Sunday at church Jerry spoke about how people think that when you graduate from college you are supposed to have your life together. But you don't really, (which I can agree to that). Then when you're 25, you're supposed to have it together, but your life changes. And then by 30, and 50, 65......you never really know where your life is leading you at any age, and you can't worry about that. You've got to let God take control.

Let Go and Let God. I can now truly understand that phrase. Lindsey and I were able to have lunch together the other day. We're going through alot of the same things, and feeling alot of the same emotions. It feels so good to be able to share those thoughts with someone else that can really understand what you are saying.

Monday, I decided that there are so many things in MY life that I have no control over. I have allowed myself to completely be sucked in to focusing on the little things and not allowing myself to just live. I've asked God to take control, but then I don't give it to him. Well, that time is up. I have finally given in and said.....take it. It is all yours. What a sigh of relief it is to know that I can do that.

My prayer has been that I allow God to be in control in every aspect of my life. I pray that in whatever I do and where ever I go, that He help me into becoming a Woman that fears the Lord, but seeks to follow Him and be more like Him everyday.

Jamie and I had a little saying while on our Nashville trip, that I now have encompassed.....
God is good all of the time, even when we're not.

"If there's a plane or a bus leaving Dallas, I hope you're on it. If there's a train moving fast down the tracks, I hope you caught it. Cause I swear out there ain't where you ought to be. So catch a ride, catch a cab, Don't you know I miss you bad. But don't you walk to me."
-George Strait

Big Girl Pants

I must say that a lot of events have happened since my last post. I've continued to keep the recent things that have I newly started in a direction that I like so far. I'm a bit more busy lately, and my mind is constantly going non-stop! But I have to admit that I somewhat like that!

I made a quick trip to Abilene one last time before the class of 2009 graduated so that I could see numerous friends of mine all at the same time in the same town. I still love that town, even though I gripped about it often while living there for 4 years. I continue to be thankful for the memories that were created on that hill and the friendships that I made. It's extremely weird to think that I have been out of college a year, and can no longer say, "oh yes, I'm a recent college graduate" or "I just graduated from college." It doesn't work as well any more. Weird, guess I am getting old. Ew.

I also made a recent trip to Nashville with Jamie Lyn, where I made some really good contacts as well as received advice and encouraging words from people who are doing exactly what I hope to do one day. Tennessee was absolutely beautiful, and this trip was exactly what I needed in order to pull my big girl pants on and take on the world. This trip also allowed me to see that I am worth it and I will achieve my dreams. I can and will do this.

With each passing day, I become an even stronger believer that everything happens for a reason. God opens doors for us and we have to opportunity to follow and continue on with his masterful plan. That seems to be happening for me...God has a plan and I long to follow it and become the Woman that he wants me to be.

Jamie Lyn and I kept reminding each other while on our trip that God is good....all of the time! There's no other way for me to put it.

"I dreamed of going to Nashville. Put my money down and placed my bet."
-Miranda Lambert

Something New

Let's see, I've been trying out a couple of new things lately, and I must say that they are going quite well. I've started making some big steps in my life, and each time I take a step I remind myself..."What do I have to lose?" It seems to be working so far. As things continue to progress, I imagine that I will have tons to talk about.

Another wonderful new thing has come into my world. My cousin Taylor and his wife Kelcie are now the proud parents of the most precious little boy, Eastin Reid. I get to meet this little bundle of joy tomorrow and cannot wait. He took quite a long time to make his way into our world. I thought he would never get here. I'd just like to think that he wanted to make a fantastic entrance, and boy did he. He's finally here though and I am looking forward to seeing this little guy, and thankful that he is a healthy boy.

I have a feeling that things are fixing to get pretty interesting and exciting in my life, and honestly, I can't wait.

"I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see. Painted faces fill the places I can't reach. You know that I use somebody. I'm ready now."
-Kings of Leon

Marching Away

Yes, I realize that I have been quite the slacker lately when it comes to keeping up with my blog. I find myself saying in my mind that, "I'm going to write on my blog today," and then I don't. I then find myself trying to cram a bunch of information in one post, like this one.

Our little rockstar Lyla now has the most fashionable wardrobe that any little baby girl could ever have. Along with bath toys, a stylish high-chair, and any other accessory she may ever need. That's right, the DS threw Marie and Lyla a little baby shower earlier this month. Although little Lyla surprised us all by being pretty early and just wanting to be in our world as quick as she possibly could so we had ,as Melody would put it, a "sip-and-see" shower. The shower was wonderful and it was so much fun to get away for another weekend in Austin.

We have now celebrated my favorite holiday of the year, St.Patrick's day. I absolutely adore that day and am reminded of my Irish heritage. Oh and might I add that I am a very proud Irish woman. I am just dying to go to Ireland one day.

Spring break came and went. It was a relaxing week off, but still a busy time. A dvd that I have been patiently awaiting finally came out and I had a little watch party with JuliAnne and Casey. I'm working on some artistic adventures, which we shall see what happens with those. And I'm working on making myself a better person, both inside and out.

Now, I am hoping to stay more up to date with my life and the postings that I publish on this little blog. No promises though, just hopefulness. There's just something about this time of year that always keeps me sidetracked...the grass is becoming green, the wind has shifted, warmer clothes are coming back into my wardrobe, spring is here.

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby."
-Judy Garland

23

It's almost been a week since I turned the wonderful age of 23. That's right, on March 4,2009, I turned 23. I set my alarm for 3:21 A.M.,which was when I was born, and woke up so that I could enjoy the first minute of my birthday. It's something I try to do every year, but then I go back to sleep. Now I kinda make a really big deal about my birthday. I really really love birthdays. But this year My day wasn't much different from any other day. I finally woke up around 7 so that I could see my parents before they headed off to work. They gave me a very sweet and fitting card, it was perfect. I had decided that since it was my birthday, I was not going to sub that day. Instead, I went to work out, wash my car, and spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on The O.C. which re-runs on the Soap network daily. Such a great show. Of course my day was filled with phone calls, texts, and facebook wall posts of people telling my happy birthday.

The highlight of my birthday was right before I went to work out I got a phone call from my mom at school. She said that some people wanted to tell my Happy Birthday. I then heard all these tiny little voices singing me happy birthday over the phone. Mrs. Murphy's kindergarten class decided that they wanted to sing me happy birthday and it was just precious. I've substituted for that class a few times, and my mom is with that class on a daily basis during the mornings so they know who I am. That evening I went just hung out with my family and went to church. Like I said, it was pretty much a very chill day.

I do plan on celebrating my birthday with my friends at the end of this month. Brittany and I have our birthday's exactly one week away from each other, and ever since our freshmen year of college we have celebrated them together. We decided that even though we have graduated and we pretend to be grown-ups, that we were still going to celebrate together regardless. It is a celebration that I am looking forward to.

So another year has gone by. Instead of saying I am getting older, I am just getting more experienced as my best friend Sara puts it (whose birthday is tomorrow. Happy Birthday Sara Belle.) I pray for many more birthdays and many more opportunities to share and celebrate my life with others.

"Nobody likes you when your 23. And you still act like you're in Freshman year. What is wrong with me? My friends say I should act my age. What's my age again?"
-Blink 182

Closed Book

I find myself to still be amazed and often times baffled at relationships with my friends in my life. We come across so many in our lifetime so we should be pretty good at keeping/making them work, yet they still seem so complex and extremely aggravating all at the same time.

The friendships I find to be the most annoying are the ones that you put everything into in hopes of making this friendship last forever, but you soon realize that that person is only nice/your friend because they had to be and it was just convenient at the time. You then find yourself wondering how you might have messed things up, but soon see, some people never change, and it's their fault. They've moved on and don't "need" you any more and you are just now mere acquaintances. (If you can even call it that) I was reminded of this specific relationship this past weekend at Sing Song. I now can see that those friendships were just a waste of time because no matter how much you try to make it work, it never will, some people only think about themselves and have no idea on what they are missing out on. I guess you could say that I've closed the book on that specific friendship.

I would like to say that I am a great friend. You tell me something out of trust, and my lips are sealed. You need me to do something for ya, I'm just a few miles away. You need a shoulder to cry on or just someone to listen to you, I'm a phone call away. Thankfully, I have been blessed with friendships where you may not talk to each other everyday nor see each other in over a few months, but you can pick up where you last left off. In this friendship you have been through so much together that no matter what, you will always be friends. These friendships I will always cherish.

And then there are those friendships that you can't live without. The ones when the other person knows you almost as good as you know yourself, if not better. Once again, my life has been blessed with these such friendships. In these friendships, you would die for each other, you're not afraid to tell it like it is all of the time, you share some of you best memories, you get loads of encouragement from, and you will be friends till the day you die.

Now, I do realize that there are more types of friendships than these that I've mentioned, but there is still one that comes to mind that I have failed to mention. This friendship never fails, never leaves you, never will stop loving you, will always be waiting to talk to you, will always guide you in the right direction. It is the ultimate friendship and the best one you could ever ask for....gotta love the big man upstairs.

"Second chances they don't ever matter. People never change."
-Paramore