The Beginning.

18 years ago in a small military hospital in Aurora, Colorado, a teen mom gave birth to a bald, big-headed, blue-eyed baby girl. The odds were stacked against them with little money, no parent approval, and no college education. Look at us now. My family has changed drastically and often negatively over the years, but I don't wish any different. I'm thankful my mother is a strong, beautiful woman and has set such an example for me. I'm thankful for moving away from Georgia to grow up in an extremely diverse area rather then an area plagued with traces of prejudice and racism. I'm thankful for a big brother who stepped up and helped raise me. I'm thankful for not having a lot of money, because growing up in a poor family taught me that love is enough and money is a nice luxury. I'm thankful for that girl who threw the basketball at my head in the 4th grade and made me cry because I'm stronger for it. I'm thankful for teachers who believed in me, listened to me, and occasionally made me cry or cried alongside me. I'm thankful for Sunnyside beach visits, Tacoma Parks, Lakewood Towne Center movies, and James Sales swings. I'm thankful for McDonald's on 2 hour delay snow days, my numerous visits to St. Francis, Tacoma mall, and sunny, grass filled days. I'm thankful for frilly dresses, ruby red shoes, and my grandma's knitted scarves. I'm thankful for friends, whether I still call them that or not. I'm thankful for knowing Jesus and having faith that He's got it all worked out.

I'm thankful for my childhood and I'm ready for adulthood.

Don't expect me to be too mature though. I still plan to swing, and play baseball, and roll in the grass, and laugh til my tummy hurts and have my mom hold me while I cry.

I'll always have some kid left in me.

I'm thankful for life.

Hello (Again) World.

New Adventures.

I really enjoy traveling. Here are a few of my ideas for the next 9 months or so:

Pocatello, Idaho

with:

This guy.

Bellingham, Washington

with:

With many more unplanned adventures in between, and then, if dreams do come true and I return to the land I love, Here:

Auburn, Alabama

or extremely close to it.<3



Patriot Crew

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

I fell off a 6 foot log into the arms of ten people I now claim to love. Then, they lifted me over a 20 foot wall. They also helped me down the other side of the wall with me screaming "YOU BETTER HAVE MY FEET!". It was a good weekend.

"Strong trees don't grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees." 

We've faced hurricanes and we've come out better, stronger, lovelier for it.

I love you guys.

Personal Day

I took a personal day, which could also be called a sick day.

Mostly a personal day, though.

It's nice to have a little bit of time to get my life in order.

Mostly, I didn't want to go to school and be kicked out of my classes once again for not having my homework done.

It's already happened twice this year!

So, I'm taking a day to catch up, chill out, and apply for colleges.

Yay for senior year.

It's crazy stressful.

Confession.

I thought you were beautiful.



BEAMING.

:)

It's getting easier.

These changes.

These deaths.

These frustrations.

I'm not smiling because I'm over any of it. My friend died. My family fell apart. I lost multiple friends. But, I am smiling, because through it, I've grown. I am a flower, not a weed. The rain and the sun both help me grow. Surely, I cannot live in a fantasy where everything is perfect for long. Trials are necessary. Death is a sad truth to life. Marriage doesn't always work out. People are going to rub it in your face how much better, more charming, smarter, talented, and accomplished they are, but one day, you will change the world. Maybe you already have? I refuse to let my current challenges hold me back from what God has in store for my life. Therefore, the haters can hate, the papers can be signed delcaring divorce, and I can close my eyes, picture your face, and smile, because you lived and I loved you and I still do.

Life goes on.

And it won't be this hard always.

Loss.

One time, I went to a party.

Everyone got high, except me.

Somehow or another, I ended up next to him as he ever so sweetly offered me some.

I politely declined, then told him his eyes were much prettier when he was high.

I also mentioned how much sweeter he was.

He then apologized for his rudeness and we hugged it out.

He said something along the lines of having a tendency to be rude to beautiful girls.

Every day after that, he said something nice.

He ate his chocolate covered peanut at the same time as me, cause I was always afraid I'd choke on stage.

He promised me he'd save me if I did.

Death is rough.

Especially, when it's you.

I close my eyes and all I see is his face, with his big brown eyes that I had to look up to.