Life after College..

Over the past month or so i've been going through my many, many facebook albums of pictures,and trying to save and print the pictures of my College Life.  Going through these pictures was so bittersweet....How so you may ask?  Welp by looking at them I realized that I had a pretty amazing college experience...Though I took the 5 year plan, sorry mom and dad, I really did learn alot about myself and gained knowledge to earn a degree that hopefully one day I will use.  These pictures showed  me that I had some of the best friends a girl could ask for, a Sorority that helped me do things I never thought possible, and lets be honest some bars that took all my money and gave me headaches every single weekend :)  But looking at these pictures also made me realize something...college life was over.  There are no more nights out on the town during the week/weekend, no more nights staying up til 2am chit chatting with friends, no more days of school, no more days of seeing your best friends every day, no more Spring Breaks, no more random road trips(bills seem to take that money), no more nights at the KD/KA house, no more Greek Week/Tug...No.More.College.  Living here in Bowling Green and working at the college I made tons of memories at, I believe it's even harder for myself to come to terms with this no more college life.  I feel as if I'm being judged for not going out, not indulging in alcohol, and not acting crazy.  Here's my answer to those people..I've Grown Up.  I had my fun in college and I will always look on those times as fun, crazy, times of no responsibilities, and times that are in the past.  Though i'm still "young" I feel as if I'm embarking on another chapter of my life.  A chapter of growing up, being in love, finding a Church here in BG, having fun times NOT at a bar, and learning to move on from that life.  This post college life is not all fun and games by any means.  During this time you begin to question that "other life" and everything that went with it..was it real?  was it worth it? My answers to those questions is yes it was real and yes it was alll worth it.  Those times taught me a lot about myself and A LOT about the people that surround me.  Though sometimes those teachings are a harsh reality check.  I have to realize that not only have I, myself grown up but so have others.  They may be on a totally different road through life than me and that's okay.  It just means that there may be lots of growing apart, but hopefully that time in college forged a bond that won't be broken easily, may just be merely frayed.  And if that bond does break, then you thank God for those fun times and move on..Life is to short to dwell and wonder...You know sometimes I wish there was a book about how to handle this post college life...But then again maybe it's a good thing there isn't...because during this time i've had to handle life as it comes at me, and isn't that what life is all about?  About learning about yourself and others...What I do with this life is up to me, and I couldn't be more excited...those other times are in the past and I'll cherish them forever, but i'm not living in my past, i'm living in my "today" and for my future..Sooo thank you college life for giving me this unknown, exciting, scary, amazing POST college life...:)

.GOD Bless.


"Every one of us will, to some degree or another, will be faced with a new normal sometime in life.  When we embrace it and carry on, we tend to be a lot happier."-Kevin Malakrey 

My Ah-Ha moment...

I just have to share this moment with you all..an "Ah-Ha" moment happened last night while laying in bed reading on my awesome nook that Andrew got me..it had to do with the book "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven".  If you have not had a chance to read this book you must do so ASAP.  It is the most amazing story I have ever read, and I'm not even done with the book.  It is so powerful and will move you to tears.  Tears that will even happen in public while you are reading on the eliptical while working out-People probably thought I was sweating on my face profusely:)  I will not go into details, because I don't want to ruin the story for those you have not yet read it, but this story will deeply touch you.  It is about a boy who experiences Heaven while in a coma from a bad car accident, as well as the trials and miracles his parents and those around them experience during this time.  While reading this book I became aware that I do not appreciate the life that God has given me.  I wake up, dreading the day, dreading the weather, dreading work (sometimes), dreading working out (yes, even myself has off days), and dreading the bills I know are looming in the distance.  All I do is dread, dread, dread.  Instead I should be rejoicing and thanking God for giving me the life that he has.  I am healthy, happy, have great family and friends, have the man of my dreams, and am living a great life.  Things aren't always going to be ball of sunshine...life isn't perfect.  But its what you do with your life during the hard times that matters.  So this morning I woke up and thought to myself.."I AM HAPPY"  And this took me by surprise because due to the rainy weather and it being 6:00am I would usually start mumbling ugly thoughts..haha.. But not today.  Today was different, today was a new day, today was mine.  I can't help but wonder if this book, and this little boy's story was God's way of showing me that my life is an alright life.  Be accepting of it, take it by the ropes and ride through life with a smile on your face.   In the book the Mom of the boy had stated that her little boy would reach people all around the world with his story, and that he would touch them in their hearts, soul, and mind.  Well Mrs. Malarkey you were right.  Though it may not have been some huge miracle to some, it's a big miracle to me :) I am happy, I am thankful, and I am loving my life!  

.God Bless.

I'm a Runner!

Yep, it's true..I'M A RUNNER!  Though I have run since I can remember with my Mom down our country roads, I have never said it out load..I'M A RUNNER :) I am not a professional runner by any means whatsoever...but i'm a runner.  I run to stay healthy.  I run to stay SANE in this crazy world.  I run for myself.  I run to push every limit of my body and brain.  I run to have me time.  I run to enjoy this crazy world that God has put before me.  I'm a runner.  Running has and will always be a big part of my life, because I have come to realize that it's a part of me.  Every day, except maybe one or two days out of the week, i'm out there running.  Even when i'm not training for my next half or full marathon you will see me enjoying the world, or treadmill when the weather is not cooperating, by running.  In this past year or so, I stopped scheduling running around everything, but have scheduled my to do list(s)/personal activities around running .  Some people may not understand this or agree with it for that matter, but they aren't living in my shoes.  My shoes are meant for being outside and running, not for sitting in the inside and letting life pass me by.  During my training for the Marathon I have had to turn down dinner get togethers', nights out at the bar, and weekend getaways with friends...But its a choice I have to make..It's a choice to run 26.2 miles, and it's a choice I absolutely LOVE.    Running is my passion.  For some people it's reading, making crafts, traveling, or maybe playing a sport.. But mine is what my title of my blog is all about.. RUNNING :)  Currently I'm training for my 2nd Full Marathon, 26.2 miles, in the lovely city of New Orleans in March.  Running a full marathon is something I always hoped to do, but never thought possible.  But on April 30, 2011 I made it possible...I ran 26.2 miles in 4 hours, yes you read that right..hours, and one minute.  (i'm still pissed about the minute)  It was a feeling that can't be described..All you can do is raise your hands and say "Thank you God"  That is why I have decided to run this one coming up in less than 2 months!  The weekend of the race is a very important weekend for me.  It's the weekend of my 25th, quarter of a century, half way to 50 BIRTHDAY.  It's also the weekend of  my Dad's 60th birthday..which i didn't tell you that ;)  It's also the first full marathon for my boyfriend, Andrew!  I'm so excited to share my passion with him and for us to run this together!  This weekend is also the first birthday weekend that I won't be going out to the bars and drinking/celebrating Pic's birthday bash away with friends..but I will be sleeping in a hotel room with my family anxiously dreaming about the morning to come.  This will probably come as a huge surprise to people who knew me through college, but life has changed over the past year and half...(blog to that nature to come soon)  But I can't tell you how excited I am.  A full marathon plus time with my family sounds like the most amazing weekend..(yes i'm a crazy but i love it) My life has done a 180 and I couldn't be happier..The one thing that hasn't changed though is my LOVE/PASSION for RUNNING..So as you have probably guessed by now....I'm a Runner :)

A picture after my first mini-marathon in Louisville with my Mom..My inspiration for running :)

After 4 hours and 1 minute I completed 26.2 miles :)

.God. Bless.

New Year=New Adventures

2012 is here and 2011 is now a year in the past like my childhood.  I, like almost all Americans, tried to think of a New Year's Resolution but nothing came to me.  Of course I would like to eat better, save money, and TRY to get motivated to go to Grad School :) and lets cross our fingers that that happens! It wasn't until I came across a friend/sorority sister's blog page that a resolution popped into my head...I would begin to blog.  Now for those of you who know me, it seemed that I was ALWAYS on Facebook posting pictures, writing on walls, and updating statuses left and right.  But it seems that since I've graduated I have neglected my social media.  Maybe it's the fact that I have somewhat "grown-up" and feel it isn't necessary to post your EVERY SINGLE MOVE to your Facebook followers. Or maybe my life has become something that I don't feel like sharing with people I barely know.  (which also led me to do the awful, mean, horrible act of deleting people)  Hopefully you are one who wasn't deleted:)  A blog seemed like a great idea to write about my life, my feelings, my journey of training for a Marathon, my daily experiences, my journey of being in love :), and then be able to look back in the years to come and see what my 24, almost 25, something self was doing.  So I have finally taken the plunge to blog about my crazy, awesome life.  I hope to gain a sense of accomplishment of doing this.  I don't believe I have ever truly stuck with a New Year's Resolution, but I have a feeling this may be the first.  So to those who have joined me on my first blog post I welcome you..lets cheers to a HAPPY 2012 and for life to keep blessing me/you like it has...

Me and Andrew ringing in the New Year :)

"Life's a voyage that's homeward bound..." Herman Melville

.God Bless.