Born and Raised

Oh Johnny. Have you heard his new album? It is just delightful... Born and Raised. It isn't just the name of the album, but also names my most favorite song.

Now and then I pace my place
I can't retrace how I got here
I cheat the light to check my face
It's slightly harder than last year

Then all at once it gets hard to take
It gets hard to fake what I won't be
Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised
And it's such a waste to grow up lonely

I still have dreams, they're not the same
They don't fly as high as they used to
I saw my friend, he's in my head
And he said, "You don't remember me, do you?"

Then all at once it gets hard to take
It gets hard to fake what I won't be
Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised
And it's such a waste to grow up lonely

I still got time, I still got faith
I call on both of my brothers
I got a mom, I got a dad
But they do not have each other

So ride on up, take your place
And show your face to the morning
Cause one of these days you'll be born and raised
And it all comes on without warning

Plans change, people too, but life goes on.

I read a book last summer and it read the most perfect paragraph. We could make a big bowl of ice cream, crank up the John Mayer, but the sun is going to set and rise each and everyday. Well, it didn't say John Mayer, but it did mention something about ice cream and the sun. Then one day you'll wake up and your life has flashed before your eyes. Maybe not literally of course, but it really does feel like it. We set goals, we make plans, we meet mountains then everything changes. It changes because we allow it to. We decide those paths are just too tough, so we make a bee line for the quickest exit and our dreams aren't nearly as hard to reach, so life goes on.  Let's just take it from John Mayer. He says it pretty perfectly. One of these days, you'll be born and raised and it all comes on without warning.

Happy Leap Year!

How was your February?

Mine was pretty grand. 

I participated in Instagram's photo a day. 

And I must say I enjoyed it, but I am definitely taking the next month off.

I made my first trip across country to San Diego. 

Check out that blog down below.

I turned TWENTY FIVE on the way home.

Had a nice little BWW birthday dinner at the airport.

I was greeted by sweet little Lu when I got back. Sure did miss her.

I had a wonderful family birthday dinner.

How cute is that cake?

I worked some.

And miss priss worked on her makeup skills...bottom right picture. 

Overall, it was a pretty good month. 

What made it even better?

JOHN MAYER

 IS COMING TO TUSCALOOSA 

ON APRIL 26th. OMG.

Who is excited? This girl?!?!

Life is good today

This weekend was much needed.  Zac Brown Band Saturday night, & the lake all weekend.  It couldn't have come at a better time. AND, Zac Brown even covered some John Mayer. LOVE. No, seriously. So unless its to catch a break, for the next two weeks I will be studying and starting my new big girl JOB. My nursing boards are June 12 & I start orientation for work Wednesday. Until then, here are a few pictures from a pretty awesome weekend. Happy Sunday y'all!

walking like a one man army...

You ever feel like you have something to tell someone but you don't, and before you can get around to it, it's too late? I have felt like that. However, for the most part I wear my heart on my sleeve. I say what I feel. I might have wished I didn't say it, but more than not I say it anyways. With a big gulp, I just do it. I would rather say it now then it be too late tomorrow. Nonetheless, there have  been plenty of times when I did not always say what I felt or what I should have said. Have you heard the song by mr John Mayer?
He says it clear as day.

...Say what you need to say...

Lately, or ALWAYS, I reflect on everything. 

So with everything going on recently, it is only natural to do some extra reflecting.

A little searching,

I am always wondering what I could have done or said differently.

I know that we should not dwell on the past, 

maybe we should just take a quick look back to see how far we have come.
It might be dangerous.
It might be scary.
But I have tried the not looking back thing and I'm too nosy not to turn around.
So I will take a glance at what used to be.

And afterwards,
I will say what I need to say.
I will feel what I have to feel.
you should too...

after all, tomorrow is never a guarantee.

And because I am partially obsessed with the guy who the wrote the song, I will take a look at the all the handsome pictures of him too.

now, welcome to my world. ha.

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Than never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say...

10.

day one. [ ten things i would say to 10 different people ]

thank you doesn't even come close to expressing how grateful i am for everything that you have done. you are the greatest man i know. thanks daddy for everything. i love you big.

your tunes guide my soul, and sends chills to my heart. i have been jammin' out lately to some of your older music. comfortable is for sure one of my favorites, ever. i promise that next time you come to birmingham, i will be there. some would say i am a bit obsessive, i just think you are fantastic. and pretty cute. dear john mayer, i kindof love you.

i can't believe it has been almost 6 years since i have seen you last. i would give anything to see you one more day. i took the days for granted and they will never be replaced. but i can't wait to see you again. i miss you dearly. i love you granddaddy.

as much as we would want to, we can't question what God has in store for us, and why He has chosen you for this journey. but i know more than anyone, you will take this battle with grace and dignity. you are strong, caring, compassionate, and mean the world to me. you will not fight this alone. i love you aunt lynn, with all my heart.

i never met you. always wondered who you would be like, or who would be most like you. im sure you would have curly brown hair like the rest of us, and a little quirky too. one day i will meet you, and i think about it often. i can't wait to meet the big sister i have never met. her name was kristen.

i know right now you are just a little pea pod growing in my sister's belly. and as much as i would like you to grow, i can't wait for your arrival. if meeting you is half as good as the first two than i am already head over heels in love you. your big sister is pretty funny, and i know you two will be great friends. see ya in april Baby Hall #2.

i think you are fabulous, fun, and delightful. minnie mouse, you are my number one.

to you. thank you for always being there, no matter what. you are amazing and strong, and i don't tell you enough how much you mean to me. you always see the glass half full. i love you mom, more than you will ever know.

you three are pretty darn near amazing. i am beyond lucky God chose me to be your little sister. Bill, Jessica, Daniel, I love you.

you make my day brighter every day. i would be lost without you my little Lula bug.

A Song for Every Mood = Day Nine

Sorry for being a day late...but here is my song for every mood...and of course there are tons but I am just going to name one for each.

HAPPY: you're my sunshine - steve azar
SAD: if i die young - perry.
ANGRY: gunpowder and lead - miranda lambert
ROMANTIC: where did my baby go - john legend
DANCE PARTY: maneater - nelly furtado
CHILL: element - matthew mayfield
SLEEPY: everything John Mayer, because I love him.

dear JOHN.

how i long to meet you. your voice echoes through my ears like the calm of the tide rushing onto the sandy beaches. i could listen to it for hours. even if it is just on my ipod. your voice calms my soul and keeps me at ease, and the stories you tell always hits home. your eyes are as piercing as the golden glow in the afternoon sky..... hahaha. okay okay. i do love some john mayer, but i know i have pretty good keeper here with me. it was just my dear john letter for the day...and this was the first, i don't do this everyday ;) off to pack for the lake tomorrow. couples trip. should be so much fun! can't wait.
sincerely, me.

Happy

I was informed my blogs were getting a little too sad, sappy, and needed to be happy. Well what is happy. Is happy not crying or is happy laughing with a big smile on your face. I cry a lot when I am happy, more when I am sad, but nonetheless. What makes you happy? Sometimes we get so caught up in everything around us, we forget to step back and remember that we have to be happy too. You really will have a hard time pleasing anyone until you are truly happy with yourself. Think about it. You please, and please, and you comfort and you give. Well are you happy with that, is that what really, deep down, whole heartedly makes you happy. I hope so. I would hate to go through all of that and not be happy about it. So what makes you happy.

Music makes me happy. When I am down, I can turn on a good john mayer tune and calm all of my nerves. I can put an old classic on repeat, sing my heart out, and remember that I am happy, or have all the reasons in the world to be.
My niece makes me happy. Her laugh could light up the room. Hearing 'I love you Sissy' quite possibly makes me the happiest person in the world. Just a quick little kiss reminds me that I should never be not happy.
Passing my classes makes me happy. The nervousness mixed with excitement knowing that graduation is slowly approaching makes me beyond happy that I will finally have accomplished my goals. I will finally be a nurse
The beach makes me happy. Not because I am less than 30 minutes away from all the white gloriness we call sand, but something about the breeze, and the sound of the ocean rushing to its breaking point. That makes me happy. All you can eat shirmp cooked anyway you want, daiquiris that are ever overflowing, and the constant breeze reminds me that there is no happier place in the world tied for 2nd with disney world of course.
Disney World makes me happy. Nothing like putting on my minnie mouse ears with my mom and parading around magic kingdom like I just celebrated my 5th birthday. I meet Cinderella and I feel as if my whole world is complete. And she is nothing compared to Minnie Mouse.
I could go on and on with a list of things that make me happy. These aren't my top 5 or any in order, just a few. My family, friends, and favorite boy are way up there too. No I am not always happy. I do need a good cry every now and then. But I always try to start the day off wit a smile. You never know who might need it. :)