a million miles an hour...

so much has been changing in my life lately that i haven't had even a second to breath, to relax, or to simply take in all the changes. my mind is running at a million miles an hour and i am just waiting for it to slow down a little bit so i can figure out exactly what is happening. i am grateful for all the changes (all of them are great) but i am ready for life to slow down just for a second. just so i can comprehend exactly what is going on. but, until things slow down i will do as much as i can, enjoy every change, and appreciate all the wonderful people in my life. i love you all! :)

moving...

for quiet some time i have know that eventually our house would sell and we would be forced to move out of the house i have lived in for the past 11 years. sad? no, not really. just overwhelming. i never realized just how much "stuff" i had accumulated over the past years. things i simply kept because i had space for it. now, as i get rid of the things that simply took up space it gives me a sense of relief and freedom. even better, i have been able to give some of my things to other people who have more of a use for it - making me feel like i did a kindness...or something like that. moving has made me realize how many people care about me and are here to help me. i have had countless offers to help me pack, move, ect. it has been great to feel so loved and i am so grateful for all the help that has been offered. i feel so loved and am very grateful for everyone in my life.

in the midst of something so overwhelming and exhausting i have realized just how much i am loved ♥

Everything I Thought I Always Wanted...

...from the time I was a young child I had an exact perception of what my life had ahead of me; the job I would someday have, the friends I would acquired, the family I often wish wasn't quiet so odd at times, and the person I had always dreamed of someday spending the rest of eternity with. I knew exactly what I wanted and would settle for nothing less. however, since I have grown these expectations have changed countless times and now when it would seem I should have everything figured out - I am at a complete and udder loss. 

I've finally realized what really matters in life. It's not the job you have, the friends you have, the fancy clothes you wear, or even how much money you have -but simply the love you have in your life and the satisfaction of knowing you did your absolute best. So now instead of searching for my prince charming, I am in the search of love, joy, and everlasting happiness. But in reality...who isn't searching for this exact same thing? I am excited to find this happiness and hopefully along the way i will find my price charming and live happily ever after :)

friends (:

Sometimes there are people in your life, people you knew, but didn't exactly pay any special attention to. Then one day you realize what an amazing person they are...today this happened to me. Today I realized one of my friends is absolutely amazing!! I love my friends & could not wish for anything better (:

fantastic...amazing...unbelievable...there are hardly words to describe...

....just how incredible this past weekend was. New friendships were created, old ones strengthened, and i laughed more in those 4 days than i have in months.

We spent countless hours around the camp fire, ate lots of delicious food, laughed, laughed, and laughed some more, i some how became the center of all the jokes (thanks boys), and i realized just how much i truly have to be thankful for.

i came home Monday night dirty, tired, exhausted, and in desperate need of a good nights sleep in my bed...so i showered and climbed straight into my bed.

It was an amazingly amazing, exhausting, dirty, thrilling, enjoyable weekend i will treasure!!

Here are a couple pictures from my weekend :)

changes in life

sometimes it seems like everything is going perfect & nothing will ever change...and then suddenly without warning everything changes. some changes are small while others are huge.
let's just say in the past couple of weeks there have been both small and large changes in my life. these changes aren't specific to anyone person or event - they are all independent of one another, yet they seem to continue to happen and build one on top of the other. however, it would seem through all these changes there seems to be those couple people that are there no matter what. no matter how long it may have been since we talked last, they will always be there for me. i am especially thankful for these friends. i love them all! :) also, through the ups and downs of the last couple weeks i have become to appreciate having time to myself (something i thought i wouldn't ever come to like). i am a defiant people person, but have now come to the understanding and certain appreciation of spending then night @ home doing nothing - it is simply wonderful! another way i have been giving myself more "me time" is I've been running/walking early in the mornings, by myself, w/o the distraction of my iPod, just me alone with my thoughts...a scary though if you really think about it, but its been wonderful for me.
so for now, i am going to focus on me and my future!

summer and such...

well, it would seem i haven't written for a very long time. many things have happened. new friends have been found, some were lost, and I've grown a lot. Unfortunately the summer weather is being slow to come our way...but I'm hopeful it will soon heat up and there will be many outdoor adventures!
i recently decided that i am going to run a half-marathon...the date is undetermined...however, i will do it soon!! this morning was the start of my "training" which i thought went rather well! i am going to try and at least run two miles 6 days a week...i am dreading the first week, but i know after that it will only get easier!
another thing i have recently started is taking pictures...i would love to take some photography classes, but need to find some first & then try and fit them into my schedule.
this weekend is the 4th of July!! since we live in the wonderful western Washington - hot weather seems near impossible, so i am hoping to venture to eastern washington for some heat, fun, and fireworks!! but, i'm sure whatever i end up doing it will be lots of fun!!
also...i'm trying to convince my dad to let me get a lab puppy - any suggestions on how to persuade him into letting me get one...??