and she backkkkkk.

Well hello world!

Yes I am still alive you can now stop worrying yourself sick!

I am back and hopefully this time I am back to stay! 

A lot has happened since the last blog a year ago. Literally A YEAR AGO. 

What.in.the.world.

I cannot believe this past year has gone by so fast. 

It seems like just yesterday I was starting my new job and all things 2012.

2012 was GREAT to me.

It was a year full of changes and ups and downs and twist and turns and I am truly grateful for each and every one it gave.

So yes I have a lot to catch you up on.

But what I am going to start with in 2013 is what is going to fill my next 5 months with.

These two are GETTING MARRIED!

and I seriously could not be happier.

Colby has been apart of our family for a long time.
So long in fact I cant really remember life without him
and I am so thankful for the way he loves my sister.
He loves her well and I cannot wait to see what their future has in store for them!'

Now I am a little late putting these up but a few weeks ago I had the privilege to take a few engagement shots of these two love birds.

is her ring not to die for??

Colbs did an amazing job 

and fits my sister perfectly!

Courtney & Colby

I love you both so incredibly much and the way you both look at each other shows what a special love you share.  Sometimes kids do get it right and I believe you two were a few of the lucky ones. It has been a blessing to be able to watch you both grow into the passionate, hard working, caring, funny, humbled, Jesus loving people you are today.  The faith you both have is undeniable and with the love you have for our Savior I know your marriage will be rich and blessed with more love than you will ever know what to do with. So with that being said.........

MAY HERE WE COME !!!!! 

READY OR NOT!!!

lets play catch up....

Well hello again. I know I know. I am a TERRIBLE blogger.

hands down probably the worst ever.....But Oh well its a new year full of new beginnings so lets try this one more time....

Now First... lets play catch up.

I have a new job and I am learning something new every single day!

Not 1 but 2 of my friends have given birth to sweet, screaming miracles.

and oh how i love me some babies....

Are they not just too cute for words??? ahhh!

I have killed yet another fish....

which i choose not to name for the sole fact that my track record isn't that great.....

We have been through 3 holidays all of them being amazing this year.

It was the first year in a long time that I was able to sit back and enjoy the holiday's rather than rush around from place to place. I loved it.

(yes i am aware that everyone doesn't include Halloween but i love Halloween so i have to include it)

I have realized what amazing friends I have in my life...

I have ran in 2 different 5k's

The Run for Victory at Victory Junction Gang Camp

and

Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure.

I finished an online class and have started studying for the GRE.

My brother kicked butt in football and is currently ballin it up on the basketball courts!

& I am one proud sister.

My sister is now a certified EMT and just celebrated her 21st birthday!

 

There has been a lot more and these are just a few that i remember off the top of my head.....just so you can be somewhat up to date! ha

Thank you 2011 for being a year of change, growth and humbling experiences.....

Now with my 24th Birthday being just around the corner I am even more excited for what 2012 has in store from me!

Happy Wednesday!

and why not while im at it here is a song...... dont forget to pause the music on the side.

1+1=3

Last Saturday I went to a baby shower for one of my dear friends.

Her and her husband are having a baby BOY!!!

I am so happy for them and I know they cannot wait for their little bundle of joy to arrive!

Here are a few pictures of the couples baby shower!



the future mom and dad to be having fun opening a few presents





We had  a blast! Everyone showed up and Jonathan and Jessica received a TON a wonderful new things for their sweet little Harrison!

I am so happy for you guys and I know you will make phenomenal parents.

HTW is one Lucky baby boy!

friday night lights...

Last Friday Becky and I headed to Statesville to watch my brother play his first game of his senior year.

(holy cow that was weird typing that!)

It was a nice breath of fresh air getting out of Charlotte and watching #11 do his thing on the gridiron.

Here are a few pictures from the game...

someone please get this boy some pants that fit his legs.

Just like papa with his hands on his hips.

Even though they lost the first game I am so very proud of my brother and all that he will accomplish this year not only in sports but in school as well.  He is such an amazing person, inside and out, one I am so thankful to be able to call my brother.  I am so glad that I was able to make it to his first game and even though I live in Charlotte I will make to every single game that I can!

I love you d.

Play hard and do your best every Friday night and I know you will make all 4 of us proud.

even dad =)

feel your heart race...

A few weeks ago I made a trip to Randleman.

This is a trip I always LOVE taking.

My dad first introduce our family to this camp years ago,

because he helped build this place.

(and he did a dang good job at it too!)



Since the my dad made a bid on this camp it has held a special place in his heart,

and with that it has also found its way into the hearts of Courtney, Ryan, Mom & I.

This camp is wonderful and I love everything about it.

I love the opportunities it gives to the children and the sheer amount of love and happiness it give to every single camper, even though they might be facing the hardest battle of their life.

Because my dad has a heart that is bigger than anyone else I know, I know his heart feels warm knowing that his children love being able to help and give in the way he does.

We have not yet been able to be a volunteer while the campers are in session but I know this is something that I will be doing and I believe my sister feels the same way.

So a few weeks ago I went and painted this fire hydrant.

And with a little help from one of my helpers we ended up with something that looked a little bit like this =)

I loved the finished product! LOVED IT!

It turned out so much better than I had imagined it!

Now Court and I will be making another trip to Randleman for this....

Now we are only doing the 5K this go round but we are SOOO excited about it!

and after we finish our race we will be painting up some more of the fire hydrants making them look fun and cool for the kids to enjoy!

Have a Happy Saturday!

look me in the eye.

So over the past 4 years I have became an avid reader.

Ask my parents in elementary, middle and high school you could not pay me to read a book.

But now I read a new book every few weeks.

Sometimes it only takes me a few days sometimes a little longer it depends on what I have going on.

Here is what I am reading right now....

To start off the cover got me.

I loved it

and when I read what this book was about I knew I had to have it!

I love this book already.

I just started it yesterday, but have already put a nice dent in it.  =)

I love love love true stories.

and I love to hear about people becoming someone that everyone else in the world believes they could never be.

At times I am laughing out loud because of how smart and mischievous he is.

But there are also times where my heart aches for him because of the home life he was delt.

I cannot wait to finish this book to see how his life has changed and how he has became the person he is today!

Happy Wednesday!

Here's a funny clip just because! (make sure you pause the music!)

home is where the heart is.....

This is where I grew up. 
(I can only find a winter picture)
My sister sent me a an updated one but it was too small to post =(

This is the place my parents built together with
 unconditional love.

On days like today I would do anything to be sitting on this very front porch.

Since I choose to leave home and adventure off to Charlotte...

... I have become very aware of the things i miss most about my home.

The quite spring.summer. & Fall nights.....

That we just spare of the moment decided to go frog gigging [like in this picture.]

It amazes me how peaceful life is at home. 
It is something that I now know I took for granted. 
My nights now consists of trains and the sound of drunken people walking to their cars, dogs barking throughout the night, and car alarms going off into the weee hours in the morning.

I miss the smell of a freshly plowed field.

google images

 

I get NONE of this in Charlotte. The closest I get to that is watching them put up another building.

I miss sitting on the back porch  watching the lightening bugs.

google images

They remind me of my grandpa. =)

I miss driving on the curvy roads.

There is just something about speed and curvy roads....
It just makes me feel like I'm home. 

I miss being in walking distance of our pond.

I miss driving through the country roads and seeing hay bails in the fields....

who wouldn't love this?? and who wouldn't miss this?

I am so excited that this will be my view tomorrow!!

But most of all I miss these four.

I am so thankful that these four are mine.

My mom and dad have truly shown us how to love unconditionally,

how to be better people,

 and so much more.

I am so thankful that they are my parents and that I have a brother and a sister who are both simply amazing!

Yes of course there are days when we could wring each others necks.

But I wouldn't want to wring anyone elses but theirs!