30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 8

Day 8- A Photo That Makes You Laugh

This picture is very random but makes me laugh every time I look at it. I was in Chicago with a Dana and Beth to visit our good friend Amanda (who is in the photo with me.) We flew in early that night but still ended up going out on the town to see the sights and have some fun. A few hours later we started walking home. Beth and Dana were a few steps ahead of me deciding if they were going to stop and get some food and Furry (Amanda) was talking to her new friend from Ireland. My feet were killing me after wearing high heels all night. I ended up tripping on a crack in the sidewalk and when I say trip I mean I completely wiped out! My shoe even came off! Dana, Beth and Furry were totally cracking up. I was laughing pretty hard myself- partially because the fall caught me completely off guard and there were tons of people around and partially because I could not get up. My friends were too busy laughing but this nice man came to my rescue! Every time I see this picture I smile because the whole thing was pretty funny and the whole trip was a lot of fun!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 7

Day 7- A Photo of Your Most Treasured Item

Chloe is my most treasured "item" and my world would be incomplete without her in it! I love this picture of her because she is showing her tooth trying to show how though she is even though she has a bow in her hair. She is tough but sweet, energetic, loving and I treasure her and the joy she brings to my life, VERY much.

Love ya, Chloe!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 6

Day 6- A Photo of Someone You'd Love to Trade Places with for a Day

I would LOVE to trade places with Celine Dion for a day! She is a very talented singer who is very personable and friendly in concert and put on the BEST concert, hands down! She also loves her family and she has an awesome life and she gets to make the world a better place by sharing her talent and singing songs of love and hope to millions of people around the world. LOVE HER!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 5

Day 5- A Photo of A Favorite Memory

I am lucky to have many favorite memories with my family members and friends, so I had a hard time picking one photo for this day. I picked this picture because it was from one of my favorite summers (2008) and one of my favorite nights in Indy. My summer in Indy with my fellow ELCs was VERY memorable for many reasons but the two biggest reasons are...

1. We. had. so. much. fun. SERIOUSLY! We made so many memories and we even made a book of some of the ridiculously funny one liners that came out of our mouths.

2. I changed, for the better, in many ways during my time in Indy. I had just got out of a long and serious relationship two weeks before coming to training. I didn't totally know who I was on my own and I had to leave all of my friends and family behind and try and figure it out. The ladies in this picture helped me to do just that. They quickly became my family away from home, my best friends, my sisters, my advice givers and some of the best co-workers I've ever had. I will always cherish the time we spent together and the memories we made. ~ TFJ

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 4

Day 4- A Photo of Your Night

Last night I was the Director on Duty and it was kind of an eventful night at work, so I was there until about 8:20 PM. I knew Dustin was coming over to hang out with Chloe until I got home and to hang out with me for the night. He told me he would have a surprise for me when I got home. When I walked in the door he had a card for me, which I thought was the surprise because I love cards and he is always writing me notes but he's never given me a card before, so I went to the living room to sit down and read it. As I walked into the living room he kind of freaked out and was like,"no stay in here and help me get dinner ready." He was heating up Chinese food so I was like, "no you've got it, I am going to read this."

The note he wrote me in the card was about how he loves me and he "loves my love the most" (Eric Church) and that how even though he loves me he can't forgo the other stuff he loves, like fishing, so he wanted to give me a fishing pole so I can do something he loves with him! The next thing I know he is standing there with my very own fishing pole, I should say, pink fishing pole! The fishing pole had been sitting in the living room while I was reading the card!I was so excited!! He then reminded me that catching a fish is on my "to do list," and now I could try doing that!

Many of you probably do not know this, but when I was 6 years old I went through a fishing stage. That's right, this girly-girl went through a fishing stage. I wanted my own fishing pole for my birthday, which I got, and I even received a fishing Santa ornament for Christmas that year. The phase did not last too long, but there's always been a little part of me drawn to fishing, and now that I have my very own pole, I can go fishing! And to top it off, I can go fishing with the boy I love!!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 3

Day 3- A Photo of the Cast of Your Favorite Show

It is a tie between Glee and Grey's- LOVE both shows. Modern Family is working it's way up there and soon I am sure there will be a 3 way tie!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 2

Day 2- A Picture of You and the Person You've Been Closest With the Longest

Someone once said that the best thing about having a sister is that we always have a friend. I met my sister, Stefanie, when I was 18 months old. In many ways we are a lot a like and in many ways we are totally different. We fight together, we laugh together, we cry together. We have heart to hearts about anything and everything. I try to protect her, I've bossed her around, I've been too motherly, but she's my baby sister, what can I say! We've gone through the agony of cleaning our room together at least 100 times, we've spent countless nights keeping each other safe when we were afraid of the dark and countless hours playing house, school and anything else our immaginations came up with. There is a home video from the day I went to the hosptial when Stef was born. In the video, I was sitting on Grandpa's lap and holding Stefanie with him. I just kept running my hand over her head and kissing her. I kept saying she was "my baby," because she was my baby sister. Since that day Stef has become the person I've been the closest with the longest, one of my best friends who will always understand me and love me for me, and I will always be the same for her.

Love you sis!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Day 1

Day 1- A Photo of Yourself with 10 Facts About You.

I picked this picture because it is one of the few non-posed photos of just me. I was laughing at my brothers who kept making fun of me trying to take a posed picture. This picture kind of explains me- I do things that people often tease me about, but I don't care, and I love to have fun and I love to laugh with them.

Now, my 10 facts in no particular order...

1. I have a strong faith in the Lord God above and I believe in the power of prayer.

2. My family & friends mean the world to me. I am who I am because of their part in my life. I am so lucky and blessed to be loved and to love them.

3. I love working with children. They make me smile and laugh, they make me stop and think and even those ones out there who give me a run for my money teach me something about myself- patience, understanding, empathy- they teach me things that help me grow.

4. I will never stop being an Alpha Xi Delta.

5. I love Chloe. She is my dog-child. She is the best little cuddle bug around. Dogs are a great example of unconditional love.

6. I love ladybugs, the color red and gerbera dasies. They all make me smile.

7. I love Dusty-D. He loves me for me, chooses to love me through the good and the bad. And even though he loves me just the way I am, I find myself wanting to be my best self because I am so supported and loved.

8. I am a hopeless romantic. Valentine's Day will always be a big deal to me. I will always love (writing and getting) love letters and cards. I love sappy movies and romantic comedies. I love love stories and love songs. To sum it all up- I love love.

9. I have terrible teeth. They look pretty, I brush 2 times a day and floss, but don't be fooled, I've had 6 root canals, several cavities and several crowns. The dentist assured me today I won't end up loosing all me teeth. Whew!

10. I am not a great cook, but I do love to cook and I am getting better. I love cooking with my Grandma's cook books and recipes.

My 10 Bests from 2010!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Can you believe the first month of 2011 is already over? They say time flies when you are having fun, and 2010 was very fun for me and the year seemed to fly by. I have a feeling 2011 might be the same way. It makes you stop and realize we need to be thankful for the time and the moments we do have. Cherish the memories and the people we love for those are what shape who we are.

In honor of that thought, I wanted to take a second to just reflect on 2010 and my top 10 bests for which I am thankful! I even put together a little slideshow of some of my favorite photos.

My 10 Bests from 2010:

1. Becoming a homeowner! It was crazy and scary but I was able to buy a cute little house to call my own.

2. Family & Friend Time! Spending lots of quality time with family during our trips to Okoboji(twice), San Diego, Branched Oak, and Lawrence, Kansas for Jim & Heather’s wedding. I love my family, I love our adventures and our sillyness they make my life joyful! A girls weekend in Kansas City, a few girls nights at my new house, nights out in Omaha and Lincoln, and a Western Nebraska Winery tour and stay at the Cool Family Farm made for one awesome year with friends as well. Can’t wait for all of the adventures of 2011!

3. Checking off the Lincoln ½ Marathon from my list of things to do before I turn 25! I plan on participating again this year just to improve my time!!

4. Being a Bridesmaid times 2! Being a part of two weddings. Two of my best friends Matt and Amanda were married on May 29, 2010 and one of my best friends, Anita, married Jeff on August 7, 2010! Both were beautiful weddings and I was so happy to be a part of them! I also loved the bachelorette parties and showers leading up to the weddings because we all had so much fun- good times with great friends. Looking forward to being a bridesmaid in Alysa’s wedding and to the other weddings in 2011!

5. Alpha Xi Delta Sisterhood! Volunteering for Alpha Xi Delta at a National level in 2010 was really a treat because I was able to work with two of my best friends, Winter and Laura, who were both ELCs with me when I traveled in 2008-2009. Winter and I spent some time in Lincoln/Manhattan Kansas and La and I spent some time in Indianapolis. It was also awesome to work with the lovely ladies of Alpha Eta at Purdue University. I spent a great deal of time working with their chapter when I was an ELC, and so it was great to spend time working with them this past fall. I was also appointed to be the Chapter Advisor for my own Alpha Xi Delta’s Rho Chapter when my Chapter Advisor, Becky, was appointed to be the National Recruitment Director. It was a very exciting change and opportunity for both of us! I am loving it and have been thankful for the opportunity so far!

6. Chloe turned 1! My baby/puppy, Chloe girl, turned 1 this summer and in September we celebrated her being in my life for 1 year! Chloe is the best little dog in my life and I am so thankful she is in my life!

7. Celebrating birthdays and the holidays with my family and friends was another best of 2010. Between the family get togethers, birthday parties, Thanksgivings and Christmas celebrations with family and the holiday dinner party with friends, my heart was filled with many great memories that I will cherish for years to come!

8. The birth of my best friend’s daughter Brooklyn! I had so much fun throwing a baby shower for Liz and Brooklyn this summer and have had even more fun when I get to play with little Brooklyn! She is such a cute, beautiful miracle! My cousin, Jared, and his wife, Andrea, also had a beautiful baby girl, Addi, who is so sweet! Love them both!!

9.The last Husker football season in the Big 12! We won some, we lost some. I tailgated for almost every home game and Dana and I cheered loud in Manhattan, Kansas when we took on the Wildcats one last time. Go Big Red! Looking forward to our first season in the Big 10!

10. I saved one of the best for last, but my favorite part of 2010 was meeting and falling in love with the man of my dreams, Dustin Wilcox. We went on our first date on August 4 and it’s crazy how much he’s changed my life. I am crazy about that boy and he is crazy about me! We are so excited for our first entire year together and for all of the adventures that await us!

I plan to savor my "bests" from 2011 and I hope you will too! I wish you are yours a very happy and healthy 2011!

Love,

Free picture collage created with Smilebox