h-o-p-e

I hate days like today. They come and go quite often. They consist of me being in a horrible mood, often crying, calling my mom (bless her heart) and complaining, but most of all, me asking why? Why can't I find my dream job? Why can I not stick to a diet? Why do all of my friends seem to be starting their own lives and I still seem to be stuck? That's it: stuck. I've had this feeling ever since my graduation this past May not long after a few friends got married, a few moved to different towns and some to different states, and a few announced they were expecting. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love every single one of them and am so, so happy for what God is doing for them. But, again, I'm stuck. I'm in the same city, I have the same job, I'm going back to the same school, and I pretty much have the same life except for friends scattered all over the country.

Silver lining? I dunno... except for this strange, hopeful feeling I have.

This, too, has been in existence since my graduation day... and is very unusual for me. First of all, I am a super, duper WORRIER (seriously, ask anyone who knows me)! So for me to have a sense of relief and hope about anything says something. I love that word. Hope. I think that's what He wants and plans for all of us. After all, I can't talk about hope without thinking of my favorite bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11. I'll even quote it for you if you don't already know it :) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The best part about the scripture; it is straight from His mouth. word. for. word.

So I don't have a clue what is in store for me, and I know it's better that way. I understand that I will see friends come and go, see amazing things happen to amazing people, grow up and find out what I'm supposed to do all in the correct "season" of life (Shout out to Sunday's sermon... I knew that's why I wasn't daydreaming). It sounds so cliche, but all I know to do is be grateful for absolutely everything good and bad. I love my family, love my friends, and love that I am here on this earth to experience whatever it is I am supposed to experience. So here it goes...

Man, that was deep and slightly cheesy -- I am exhausted now :)

the Oldest City and the Concrete Jungle

Exhausted. Blood shot eyes. Sore throat. Yep, feeling and experiencing all of these things for the past couple of days. MAYBE it's because I had little to no sleep on my last few days of vacation, but boy did I have fun!! Stop one, St. Augustine. Dubbed the Oldest City in the nation (discovered by Ponce de Leon, you're welcome for that history lesson), I've decided that this is one of the prettiest places. Ever. I realized that the only beaches that I have visited are located in the Gulf, but the Atlantic coast sure does trump those! The sand was pearly white, there were shells everywhere, the shore was completely flat. Mom, Dad, and I took a few strolls in the AM. OH, and the weather was P-E-R-F-E-C-T in both cities.

Which leads me to stop dos, New Jersey/New York City. Of course, upon my arrival in the Big Apple I began to belt out the chorus of Empire State of Mind. You know, "New Yoooork, Concrete Jungle where dreams are..." you get the idea. This was my second time visiting the city and was a much more low-key trip with LOTS, let me repeat, LOTS OF WALKING. I blame Deanna. Kidding, but I am a complete wuss when it comes to walking for large chunks of the day. Luckily, I got to see things that I had not seen before including the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, more of Central Park, and my fav... Carlos' Bake Shop where Cake Boss is filmed. Just FYI, I had the most ah-mazing red velvet cake cupcake. EVER! I have a bit of an obsession with anything red velvet, so I was in heaven.

Big thanks to my parents and Deanna for both of the trips. I was so happy to get to see my long lost friend who left me to have a life and everything in Jersey :)

Okay enough talking, here are pictures!

"fall"ing for this season

Fall is my absolute most favorite time of year! The leaves, the lack of humidity, bonfires, football (ROLL TIDE!!), and the cute clothes all just give me warm fuzzies.  Yet after a conversation I had with my mom a couple of weeks ago, I've decided that fall seems to be sort of bittersweet for me.  During the last couple of years, I have had a few weird/achy-breaky/depressing times happen around this same time of year that leave me with a sense of longing for the past - a little pathetic admitting that, but it's the truth. I've grown so much since that period, but it is just so strange how a certain time of the year can remind you of something just like a certain smell or certain song can. This happens to me often, and I can't say I'm always fond of it :(

On a lighter note, I am leaving for a 10-day vacation tomorrow morning...Yaaaaayyyy!!! First stop, St. Augustine with my parents. Then I hop on a plane on Thursday afternoon back to Nashville only to wake up bright and EARLY Friday morning to fly to New Jersey.  I get to see one of favorite people in the world, Deanna, and we are spending part of the weekend in NYC! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! These two excursions make my seventh and eighth trips for this year. Man, I love to travel, but that will be for another post.

Wishing you chunky sweaters, smores, and Alabama touchdowns ♥