New Chapters...

A lot of excitement and changes are occurring in my life right now; especially this week so I of course want to blog about this so that I may always remember this time.  Today I am embarking on a journey that I am over the moon about.  Andrew and I are moving in together :)  Now, I know there are some naysayers and people who don't believe in moving in together before marriage, and I must say I slightly agree with you.  BUT I also believe that you should live with someone before you take that next step; you learn a lot about someone and as well as yourself when living together. I also feel that I don't want to spend one day/night away from him.  I love waking up to him, falling asleep to him, coming home to him, so why would I want to stop that?  I don't want us to miss a minute of our lives together :) Soo we are now starting a new chapter in our lives....a chapter that will deepen our relationship...a chapter that we will always remember...a chapter that will probably test our limits..ha...and a chapter that is filled with love, so much love. :)

This week also brings about a new chapter for me personally, and one that I haven't quite decided if I'm excited about..the chapter that means I have lived half a century..My 25th Birthday!!! For those who know me, I LOVE my birthday.  I always celebrate it, I always embrace it, and I am always excited about it.  Don't get me wrong I'm excited about this one, because it means that i'm still alive and kicking!  BUT it also makes me think; have I done what all I said i would do before 25?  Am i where i thought i would be?  The answer to those questions is I'm not sure. Maybe I thought i would be living on the beach, living out west, working I have no idea where, and still single..But I must say that where i am now is exactly where i want to be.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  I have an amazing family, great friends, great job and co workers, and a boy that i fall in love with over and over again every single day.  I am happy with my life and where i am. :)  I'm excited for the next 25 and all the adventures God has planned for me, because if it is anything like my last 25, I will be one blessed young woman.  

The last event taking place during this crazy week is my second marathon in New Orleans this upcoming weekend!  I haven't really had time to think that WOW i'm actually running a marathon this weekend, but i'm thinking thats a good thing haha...I will be running for, hopefully, under 4 hours...I will not be partying on my 25th/major/half a century birthday...I will be spending time with my mom and Andrew and checking off another state on my "run a race in every state" list :) I will be running a MARATHON...Running a marathon is something I had always dreamed of doing, but never thought possible.  But after I ran my first one last April i was hooked.  I love the adrenaline, the pain, the moments of just running, the time to yourself, the cheering of the crowd, and the feeling of accomplishment afterwards.  I am sure that this race in New Orleans will be nothing but exciting and will be yet another adventure in my awesome life.

So as I prepare for the big move, the big birthday, and the big race, I will constantly thank God for giving me these moments to prepare for in life.  He has granted me all these things and i know that he can take them away in an instance, so I will always thank Him for this amazing life he has given me.  Let us all be thankful; thankful for a life of love, family, friends, and life.

.God Bless.

Day of Love..

Wow it's been too long since I last blogged.  Looks like i'm slipping a little on my resolution, but I believe I can still achieve it :)  Considering its the 14th of February, and you probably haven't read enough statuses about "Love", I will give you one more thing to read hehe.  So I must admit that I used to be one of those who dreaded Valentine's Day.  I dreaded the statuses, the pictures, the flowers, the candy, the cards, and the constant reminder that I was single.  I of course wasn't deprived of love because I had friends and family who loved me and was so thankful for them on this day., but if you are single you long to have a significant other to share this day with.  Well this year I can say that I do have someone to share it with.  I get to share it with the love of my life.  The man who makes me happier than I ever thought I could possibly be.  The man who has me thanking God each and everyday for placing him in my life.  He has shown me what true love is and I will never be able to repay him for that.  With this being our first Valentine's Day together I of course thought we should do something big.  But after thinking about it and talking with him we "promised" not to get each other anything, which if he goes back on that word he is in trouble :)  We are just going to cook dinner and spend time together with each other and of course with our newest little puppy Macy!  I told him that today is just a day, a day that the card/chocolate/flower companies make millions of dollars.  The day that restaurants are packed with people, movie theaters are filled with singles watching slasher movies, and a day that can be so terrible to those who used to be like me, single and looking for love.  Love is not just a one day thing, and I can definitely preach to that.  I have and will always love him no matter what the day is.  So, I guess today I will look at it as any other day, but I will be extra thankful for him because he has given me the greatest gift that no money can buy...he has given me his heart and I have given him mine.  I Love you Andrew and Happy Valentine's Day..can't wait for the all the days of love that are to come for us :)

.God Bless.

"I have loved you for a thousand years...I will love you for a thousand more..."

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.