{3 weeks.}

Can you believe it's been three weeks already? Time really has flown by, but I feel like I've known him forever.

Have you ever thought that every action, every choice you've ever made has led you to this moment? Ever decision I've made seems to bring me to this boy. {Blake} Every trial I've been through has taught me something. At the time, I didn't know it, but my decisions taught me to understand him better.

Since January 15th, I haven't gone a day without seeing him. He made my birthday celebrations wonderful. He gave me a Valentine's day full of (two dozen - one red, one yellow) roses, fancy resturants, and horse-drawn carriage rides by the river. And in between he's given me countless dinners, a few movies, and an unforgettable snow day. He says and does sweet things, but continues to remind me that he is a very manly man.

I don't know how I got this lucky.

:)

{We can roll with the punches. We can stroll hand in hand.}

I was once told that one of the easiest ways to journal is to take atleast one picture a day. I'm a little behind on recording the picture taking. This one was from yesterday.

This is the view from my car as I was waiting for the Scrapbook Corner to open. Its my new favorite store.

I have become completely addicted to scrapbooking. I keep buying those scrapbooking magazines. The lady at Scrapbook Corner gave me some scallopped scissors for free! She had used them for a kids class and probably wasn't going to use them again. Score for me!

I decided to make my own Valentine's Day cards for the special people in my life. The ordinaries (like people from Sonic) will get the store-bought kind. But I'm freaking excited.

Today has been all icy. Eww. It ruined my plans of staying in Conway all weekend. Poo. Maybe later, when there's more sticking to the ground, I'll take some pictures.

Today's been a Keith Urban day. I'm watching his videos on Youtube. The SotD is "Only You Can Love Me This Way"

Don't let the sleet get you down.

Happy Snow Day, Guys!

I caught fire (in your eyes.)

I just realized that I haven't written in a whole two weeks. In my defense, its been a busy two weeks.

Friday the 15th - worrkkk. Went to P.Hays's game with Blake. Went to Backstreet with Ally, Blake, Amy, Jacey, Chris, Brandon, and a million of other people who's names I don't remember. Stayed up wayy too late and said way too many stupid things.

On the way out.

Saturday- Shopping with Ally. Dinner with Bri, Sam, Fanny, Shaina, Gavin, Jacey, Blake, Chris, Brandon, Ally, and Amy. Had wayy too much fun. Then got dessert at Coldstone. {Cookie Minster is way better than a Stawberry Blonde} Then I hung out with Blake, Jacey, and Jason [who's name I always forget].

At the mall, I parked in the G-spot. haha

Chris thinks I look hot. Haha

My seductive pose!

The Wives//Besties!

I love Jacey's face here.

I think this photo acurately describes Jacey's and my relationship.

Its quite possible that I'm singing.

The birthday girl and her boy. :]

On Monday the 18th, Blake and I became official. I'm the happiest I've ever been. Physically, we're complete opposites.  He's tall; I'm short. I'm skinny; he's a big boy. No, I don't mean fat. Its quite possible that I'm half his size. He's tan; I'm pasty.

But in other ways, we're so alike, its scary. Neither of us like birthday cake. We both hate feet. We laugh at the same stupid jokes, and LOVE SNL's celebrity jeopardy skits.

In so many ways, he's like my best friend, Ally. They both are very picky about their salads. They know how to pick their women too. :)

Then, on Saturday, Alesa, Robyn, and I went to Fayetteville for a YSA dance.

Alesa looked very 50's housewife; I was very 80's; Robyn was just plain hot. :)

Today, I spent all day and Blake's. He made me a delicious lunch. Then we watched "You, Me, and Dupree" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."

All in all:: Great two weeks. :)

"While you are busy living (happy), you have stopped writing." - Blair Wright.

{Confessions} of a Carhop and Primary teacher.

Don't you just {love} Sundays? I do. :]
Sundays are all about family, and snuggling, and reading.

I wrote this a few days ago at work during a particularly stressful shift. I just want to remind you all that not everyone working at a fast food resturant is a complete moron.



 I look at the people around me. Some of them complain so much, especially the older ones. I really hope I'm not like that when I get wrinkles.
I try to find the good in things. I want to dance in life's thunderstorms. 
I bought a new calender a few days ago. Each month has an inspirational quote along with a cute picture. June's (because I cheated and read ahead. hehe.) says,

"We girls look at a cloud and say to ourselves, 'There's a rainbow coming in just a while.' Then we kick off our shoes and dance in the puddles until the sun comes out again."

They say the things that annoy you about others teach you about yourself. I know that I will never be rude to someone, no matter what my situation is. Sometimes finding life's sunshine in the midst of clouds doesn't benefit you at all.

On this stressful shift, I was yelled at for trying to help someone out. This man was ordering his food and he got everything he needed for a combo except for his small drink. I asked him if he would like to make it a medium and make it a combo because it would be cheaper for him, plus he gets more soda. He proceeds to yell at me. I was totally taken aback. Sure, I've been yelled at before, but never for trying to be nice. I thought to myself, "Maybe there's something going on that I don't know about." Then the prideful selfish part of myself thought, "Who cares?!?" Being nice to someone only takes an ounce of effort. I'm one that believes that if everyone said "excuse me" or "thank you" more often, the world would be a better place.



In better news, I taught my first CTR 4 class today. I have five kids: Ethan, Stanley, Juanito, Julie, Hailey, and Brynlee. Our lesson was on choosing the right. {BTW, I got the most amazing lesson ideas here.}
The class went rather smoothly for a bunch of four year olds. Only two crying kids (both easily fixed), two episodes of "shooting" crayons into the "basket" (trash can), and one in-depth conversation of why we shouldn't hurt baby birds.
During closing exercises, I was tapped on the leg. I looked over at Juanito, who hurriedly folded his arms. He looks at me very serious and says, "I'm going the right way." *Sigh* My heart melted. Who knew that this darling little boy was paying attention to what I said? Reverence is something we talk about alot. I never thought anyone was really listening.
[[Brian, remind me to tell you what my mom suggested to me. Very good idea. Might just do it.]]

"Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 18:3}

Little Ethan, a year old, contemplates the meaning of a styrafoam tray at Christmastime.

{There's bathtubs full of glow flies.}

I once read that every night before you go to bed you should complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.




So today, I am thankful for my loving family. They are always there for me, no matter what. Today, I walked in the door from a trip to Walmart and my little sister was waiting for me with a hug. It was the best feeling in the world.



Today, I accomplished laundry. I have been letting it pile up for about a week. I had one basket overflowing with dirty clothes and one basket of clothes that needed to be folded. So I took a few hours and knocked it out. I also completely packed up my Christmas stuff, organized my closet and even took some pictures.



I was very productive today.

My birthday is in, like, 10 days. Putting my birthday dinner at 9.

But what to wear??

I tried on a dress I bought about a year ago and it turns out that I've lost weight since then and the stinking thing doesn't fit anymore. I have a few more options. I really don't want to buy a new dress, but I want something no one has seen me in. Hmmm...

On my way home from Walmart, Tyler and I were blasting some Cobra Starship. Our favorite was Hot Mess. : >

A.Year.In.Status.

I never realized how much I use lyrics as my facebook status, until Brian showed me an app. It's called 'A year in status.'

And if you think that's bad, check this out...

"Closer" by Ne-Yo

Music's the medicine of the mind. -John A. Logan

"You're So Last Summer" by Taking Back Sunday.

This song is particularly important to me. I heard it on the radio during my first date with a boy. Through the next two years it became sort of a theme song for our relationship. And music truly did keep the demons at bay.

Music's the only thing that makes sense anymore, man. Play it loud enough, it keeps the demons at bay. -Across the Universe.

"I Thought the World Was Round" by Samantha Moore

Music is what life sounds like. -Eric Olson

"Konstantine" By Something Corporate

When words leave off, music begins. -Heinrich Heine

"So Yesterday" -Hilary Duff

Currently, my favorite song is "Traffic Light" by The Ting Tings. Its completely different from anything else I've heard of theirs. Maybe that why I like it. :]

BTW,

11 days til my birthday.

So Long, '09.

For the first time in a while, I'm feeling peace.

I've come so far this year. I've been through tremendous ups and downs. And finally, I'm feeling that things are falling into place. There's the possibility of a new job, a new apartment, a new boy. According to my horoscope [[psshhh..]] 2010 is my year. We'll see...

With Me:: Sum 41

...And when you think it never happens, it happens.

Happiness is more related to the simple things in life. -[Uncle] Wally Goddard

"Come Alive" by the Foo Fighters

George Bernard Shaw said, "There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it."

I think what Shaw was trying to say is that its a tragedy to gain your heart's desire and realize that its not enough. It may be that boy, the one you know you'd be happy with, or maybe its a college, the one you've wanted to attend since you were little. It may even be the career path, the one you thought you wanted. Suppose you got all these things. What would happen if, once you had them, they turned out to be nothing like you expected?

In the past year, I wanted things. I wanted to date this boy. He was a boy from my past. We had dated before. And when our second (or third, or fourth...) chance came around, I took it. But I wasn't happy. He didn't make me happy. That realization broke my heart.

[The one on the left, licking my face.]

I was pursuing a degree in Finance at UALR. Somewhere in the middle of my accounting class, I realized that I had no desire to do this for the rest of my life. Sure, I'm a little lost and that scares me. I was always the "girl with a plan." Now I'm planless and I think I'm okay with that. Its not what you do that matters, its how much you enjoy doing it.

When it comes down to it, I'd rather gain my heart's desire and realize it's not enough, than to never have it at all. Because I'd be learning about myself. I wouldn't sit back and wonder "what if." Everytime I realize what I don't want, I'm one step closer to realizing what I do want.

SotD:: When it Comes by Tyler Hilton

Shaw also said, "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

I'm gonna need a flashier tie.

"You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." - The Music Man

There comes a time in your life, where you have to make the BIG decision: a decision that will change your life. You may be in high school, or college. You may be in an entry-level position, or the CEO of a Fortune-500 company. Maybe you're a single twentysomething, or maybe a new mother.

But each of us have to face the music.

You have to make the tough decision between who you've always been and making your dreams come true. You must face the denial in your eyes and know that the person you are isn't the best self you can be.
Its hard. And scary. I wouldn't dare say otherwise. But when you look back on your life, 20 years later, will you regret the choices you didn't make? Will you regret leting the opportunities pass? Or will you seize the opportunities and make your dreams come true? I sincerely hope you choose the latter. I hope that your desire for change out weights the fear in your head. I hope you allow yourself to fulfill your potential.

Carpe diem.

As for myself, I plan on doing what makes me happy. That's what life is all about. I'm don't trying to satisfy others. I'm doing things my way. Carpe diem.



Making my dreams come true.


"There comes a time with the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." -Anais Nin

SotD:: "Believe" by The Bravery

One of my favorite songs. Becoming on of my favorite bands. Definately worth the 4 minutes it takes to watch the video. Just do it.