Giving Thanks

I started making a vlog for this post, but got interrupted three minutes in, and didn't really have the time/opportunity to start over. So here I go, typing it out--maybe I'll vlog again once I'm back in NC.

For thanksgiving, I rode with a complete and total stranger for 6 hours to SC, where we met up with my parents, with whom I headed down to GA where my grandparents live. I've decided not to post too much about my thanksgiving, which was relatively uneventful, and instead post about what over the course of that trip I was reminded to give thanks for--same difference ;).

• My friends--it was so hard saying goodbye before break, because my college friends are like my new family, and one was kind enough to walk with me to meet the guy I was riding with and make sure I'd be okay.

• My safety--riding with a guy I didn't know was stupid, and I was fortunate he was a decent human being.

• My sister's strength--she recently went through a tough breakup, but even though he was trying to hurt her via facebook and texts the whole trip she stayed strong through it all.

• My mom's love--she was so glad to see me after these months, and I felt very loved… my cousins failed to come over because they don't like being around people, even family, and don't talk… and I'm very lucky that I was raised by the woman I was.

• My papa's health--For many years now, there have been many scares regarding his health, but right now he's doing well, for which I am very grateful.

• ...and lastly, my freedom. From my parents constant bickering, from my mother telling me I'm hateful and evil just because I don't give her 100% of my attention 24/7… for my independence, for my new life, and for my ability to appreciate my old one nonetheless. For the strength it all has given me.

Anyway, I'm very grateful for my life, for my past, and my present, and my future. Right now, I'm half asleep, and am being spoken to, so I think I'm going to go now… love you guys,

Leaving Home...

Today I leave for college. Tomorrow morning I move in. You know a couple posts ago I said something about getting a chance to breathe soon? Wait, lemme find it: "So yeah, I've been really busy the last several days, and haven't been home much at all. Today I'm going whitewater rafting with my sister, and tomorrow she, my dad, and I all leave for Georgia... so it looks like I'm going to be busy for a while yet. But I know that eventually this insanity will calm down, and I'll be able to breathe, and all I have to do until then is not panic!". Yeah, that. Well that break from insanity has yet to occur, as I've been going dancing and swimming and kayaking and rafting and ultimate frisbee-ing and LOTS of shopping and packing and a little crying and plenty of traveling in these past couple weeks. Then today I leave for college. And tomorrow morning I move in... and meet my roommate, call someone to loft my bed, register my bike for a permit, pick up my books, pick up my fridge, do some last minute grocery shopping, go to a cookout, and God knows what else will come up. The whole 'not panic' thing is getting tougher and tougher, but I'm doing my best. Right now, I need to finish up packing so we can leave bright and early tomorrow, then I'll sleep for the nine hour drive to a hotel by my college. Yes folks, I'm a little ways away from home. I've become closer friends with a couple people these past couple weeks, which I'm truly grateful to God for--hopefully we can keep in touch despite the distance. Lia, Stephanie, and Ayla--I just sent y'all an email, fyi. And Stephanie, Zoe, Jan, Raisa, and Hannah--I replied to your comments on the previous post. Thanks to all of you who actually read this post--sorry it's so dry, I'm just insanely tired :/. And thank you Ania for following my little ol' blog! I really appreciate it :). Until next time, when I'll hopefully have something more blog worthy,

Time is Running Out

You've probably heard that phrase before--I know I have a million times. Deadlines over school or tasks at work, time is always running out to accomplish something--or at least, that is the way it seems, with those deadlines we choose to create. But what about REAL deadlines in life? Personally, I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Heading off the college in the fall is going to tear me away from my parents and siblings and friends, but there's always next summer to spend time with them, right? What about my grandparents that I never see? My grandparents that love me but live so far away we don't see eachother, my grandparents who are beginning to have issues with health or memory, my grandparents who won't ALWAYS have next summer. Yet, do any of us truly have a guarantee of next summer? Life is short--sometimes much shorter than expected. And only in these past several weeks have I begun to LIVE in a way that acknowledges that. My sister and I have been spending more time together, I'm hanging out with the girl across the street, I just visited my family in Georgia… I'm focusing more on what matters, and what matters is relationships with people. I hadn't seen my grandparents in GA in quite a while, and when we arrived and I hugged Papa, I told him I loved him, and he quietly said "I love you too" and got tears in his eyes… and in that moment I couldn't remember why I ever considered not coming on this trip. Sure, I had reasons--I've got deadlines to meet for school, need to finish shopping and getting my books and making decisions and paying bills, and I haven't blogged properly in ages(even missed my one year blogoversary)--but in the end, all of that is relatively inconsequential. My Papa means so much more to me than that. And so does my sister, and my mom, and my brother, and certain friends. It is so. freaking. easy., especially in this day and time with the advances in technology, to forget how much more important human relationships are than impersonal updates on facebook or funny videos on youtube. This coming week I've chosen to go to a movie with someone I don't know all that well, but would like to, go whitewater rafting with the girl across the street, and go to Ohio to visit my relatives on the other side of my family. Yet another trip at one point I considered missing out on. Yet more time away from college preparations. But it's worth it, because you never know how much time you've got left. And I guess that's the point of this post--time is precious, and so are the people you love, so why not spend what time you have with them? These past several weeks I've enjoyed my life more than I have since… well, as long as I can remember. It's a pity it took me so long to figure it out.

My Bucket List

Inspired by the AMAZING giveaway going on over at Life is Too Short Not to Wear Red Shoes, I've decided to make a bucket list. I've been thinking about making one for ages, but never sat down and took the time to do it, so here is my chance to correct that ;). In no particular order:

Go to college.
Have a novel published.
Discover something no one ever knew(preferably in the biological field).
Develop a successful career that, directly or indirectly, changes and saves lives.
Rediscover my faith and build a stronger relationship with God.
Fall in love.
Get married.
Have a beach house.
Buy my mom a beach house.
Pursue photography.
Go to the west coast.
Go to Alaska.
Go to Ireland.
Go to Paris.
Go to Spain.
See the pyramids.
Bungee Jump.
Whitewater raft on a natural river.
Share God's love with someone.
Learn guitar.
Hang Glide.
Camp for REAL.
Get my masters degree in something practical that will advance my career.
Read the complete works of Shakespeare.
Get in a food fight.
Begin and maintain a healthy lifestyle--exercise, diet, everything.
Be a mother, when I'm good and ready to change the focus of my life off of my career.
Meet some of my blogger friends.
Ride an elephant ;).
See Cage the Elephant in concert.
See MUSE in concert*****MUST DO!
… I'd also list 'be in a movie', but I've actually checked that one off :). Though, a credited ROLE as opposed to background would be pretty awesome.

Anywho, this list is far from exhaustive--it is just what occurred to me right now, as I watch the Harry Potter movie event on ABC Family. They were so cute and little back in the first films! :D. People, the giveaway has tons of prizes, and entering is easy--click the button and check it out! And don't forget to comment here, with some of YOUR bucket list items! I'm curious ;).