Happy 25th Birthday Dustin!!

Happy 25th Birthday Dustin!!!

You are the best and I am the luckiest!!

There are so many things that I love about you but I want you to know that

I love your love the most!!

Happy Birthday & All My Love,

E

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 19

Day 19- A Photo of Something Cool

My baby brother, Colin, being awarded the gold medal in the 100 Fly! My Aunt Kolene took more pictures of the whole day, I will have to post them later! We are do proud!! Love you, Colin!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 18

Day 18- A Photo From Your Favorite Holiday

This is a tie between Christmas and Thanksgiving. Christmas for my family has always been a 3 day event spending Christmas Eve with my Grandma and Grandpa Krysl after going to church, spending Christmas Day at my Grandma Padilla's with my mom's side of the family and spending the day after Christmas with the whole Krysl side at Grandma and Grandpa's again. Padilla Christmas consists of opening presents all together in Grandma's living room and eating her famous spaghetti with her homemade sauce and homemade meatballs. Krysl Christmas consists of lots of noise, we usually play some games, a dance show (yes, we, the cousins, make up a dance and show it off) eat Grandpa's homemade soups and chili and if you are over 21 you can participate in the Santa Steal Exchange.

This year, I also was excited to add a little more to my Christmas celebration by spending time with Dustin and his family! We spent Christmas Eve, Eve with his mom's side of the family and Christmas Eve with his dad's side. It was a lot of fun and I was so thankful that I was included!

Thanksgiving is also one of my favorite holidays! When I was born (I am the oldest and was the first grandchild born on both sides) my parent's decided to start hosting Thanksgiving for my mom's side and my dad's side, at their house. As the family has grown so has the table and this past Thanksgiving there were 36 people at the table for the holiday! The food is delicious (everyone brings something) but what makes the dinner even more special is our grace. Everyone shares something they are thankful for and then we thank the Lord for the food and for being together and we ask him to bless our meal and time together. It is a special tradition and I love the time together.

Valentine's Day is another special holiday for my family, but I don't have any pictures of our family's Valentine's Day tradition. Ever since I can remember, my mom has always made a Valentine's Day breakfast, complete with a red table cloth on the table, heart shaped pancakes, red cranberry juice, a little goodie bag and a Valentine from her and my dad. For my family, Valentine's Day has always been about taking the day to really celebrate the love we have for one another. Now, don't get me wrong, we celebrated love everyday in my house, with "I Love You"s, hugs and kisses, but Valentine's Day we celebrated it even a little more, by taking the time to eat a special breakfast together as a family. This year, all of the significant others were included in the Valentine's Day breakfast, which meant a lot to my parents and to each of the siblings who are dating those significant ones! :)

Well now you all know all about my favorite holidays! Thanks for reading!!

Love,

Em

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 17

Day 17- A Photo of Something That Has Impacted Your Life Recently
I am the Chapter Advisor for my sorority which means every Monday night I head to the AXiD House for their weekly Chapter Meeting. A few weeks ago one of our alumnae members, who is now a marriage & family therapist, came to the meeting to do an educational program on love, relationships and marriage. It was awesome! She gave us all note cards to take notes on and above is a photo of the front of my card. Her program was all about the 10 most important things you must have in a relationship in order for that relationship to become a successful marriage someday. Her purpose was to help us, as women, understand and identify those things you must have in your relationship if you are thinking about marrying that person. She said if you didn't have those things, that is a red flag and you need to take a step back an evaluate that relationship.

The program really impacted me because it made me realize how much I've grown and learned in the last few years. As I sat there listening and taking notes, I realized that for the first time in my life I am in a healthy and loving relationship that has true potential to turn into a healthy and successful marriage someday. I am very thankful for the lessons I've learned, thankful for the heartbreaks, and thankful for the mistakes I've made because they helped prepare me for the relationship I have with Dustin. Grandma always said that God lets bad things happen so good things can happen. I've always known she was right, but even more so now.

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 16

Day 16- A Photo of Something That is On Your Bucket List

One of the things on my list is to visit a foreign country, and Ireland is the country I would love to visit someday!!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 15

Day 15- A Photo of Something You've Accomplished From Your "Bucket List"

Last May I did the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon, which was on my bucket list. My goal was just to finish the race and I did just that. This year I am registered to do it again, but this time my goal is improve my time!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 14

Day 14- A picture of Someone You Couldn't Imagine Your Life Without

It was way too hard to pick just one person I could not imagine my life without and then I got to thinking, it's more like what is the one thing I could not imagine my life without and the answer was love. I couldn't imagine my life without ALL of the people I love and who love me. My parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, pets, friends, Dustin, extended family.... all of my "loves" have helped shaped me into the person I am today.

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 13

Day 30- A Photo of Your Day

This photo should have been posted last Sunday, February 27, and I spent that day hanging out with Dustin and Chloe. Dustin was watching NASCAR races on TV and told him that since I started dating him I've watched more NASCAR and have learned more about NASCAR than I ever have in my life. One of the reasons I love him is that he is willing to share the things he loves with me and takes the time to teach me more about them.

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 12

Day 12- A Photo of Your Favorite Food

I couldn't pick between my favorite dinner food and my favorite dessert food, so I am posting both pictures- mashed potatoes & corn is my hands down favorite dinner food and chocolate cheesecake is my favorite dessert food. What's your favorite food?

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!- Day 11

Day 11- A Photo of You Doing Something You Love

I love to sing and I love to sing karaoke. I am not that awesome, but I have so much fun and that's why I sing!

30 Day Photo Challenge- Playing Catch Up!

I hate that this happened, but I got behind on my 30 Day Photo Challenge, so I am catching up today!

Day 9- A Photo of Your Favorite Band

If I was doing this challenge 12 years ago this would be a picture of NSync, but at this point in my life, my favorite band is Lady Antebellum. My sister and I went to a Martina McBride concert a few years ago when Lady A was just getting big and they opened the show. They are an awesome band and I love their songs.

Day 10- A Picture of Somewhere You'd Love to Travel

They are saying we are going to get hard with 6-10 inches of snow tomorrow. Right about now would be a great time to be sitting on the beach. I just returned from an amazing mini-vacation at a Bed and Breakfast but I'd still like to travel to a beach sometime.