the overflow.

divorce is such a hard thing. I'm not one that has ever had to experience it first hand. I have been mightily blessed in that respect. But tonight I witnessed one of the saddest things that is an overflow of divorce.

I have a friend-whom I think a lot of- he's very hard working, very sweet and tender hearted. But tonight I saw-for only a moment- the face of a man, one that I look up to, become full of sadness and pain.
As we were sitting one of his parents began to "bad mouth" their former spouse.
In front of all of us.
I could see the pain written all over my friend and it broke my heart for him. I wish that I could take the pain from many of my friends that deal with the same thing day in and day out. Feeling as if they have no voice because what if they offend their parent for speaking up for the other parent?

Families are broken, children are hurting, and as a friend, it is so hard to sit back and watch and be able to do absolutely nothing.

Oh my heart so desperately wished I could pause that moment, and replay it, and have that parent watch everything that went on in all of 30 seconds. But life doesn't come with a pause button.
We do things we regret.
We say things we don't mean.
And we have to live with it.
Whether that means we suck it up and make it right...
Or let our pride drift us from the ones we love.

xoxo

road trips.

gah I love a good road trip. If you're like my friend Jordan any trip over 2 hours is torturous.
I do love being on the road-although sometimes I do get impatient and just wish I was at my destination-but I find peace in driving.

I am a talker. Usually I talk all the time, and I think that's part of the reason I like driving distances, because I don't have to talk to anyone-unless someone is in the car with me, then I feel somewhat obligated to keep a conversation going. (So as of now I'm praying for a spouse that doesn't mind sitting in silence sometimes...cause even talkers don't like talking sometimes)
This last trip I took I did something kind of unusual, I just listened to classical music (yeah, I know kinda unique right?). I am usually the gal jamming on the interstate and singing every word of every song, but you can only listen to the same songs so many times...and it seemed every radio station was playing the same thing, so I went to the alternative-because complete silence wasn't ideal for the whole trip.

I actually kind of liked it.
yeah.
weird.

An almost 22 year old girl just driving along and listening to classic symphonies. but! I got a whole lot of thinking done-which is something I cannot ever turn off, even if I want to. And so. All this to say...if you ever wanna get some solid thinking done...

get in your vehicle
turn on the classic radio station (they're everywhere)
and just go.
you might surprise yourself.
xoxo

bonfires.

of course I'm the small town girl from Kansas (so you probably won't find this really surprising) but I love bonfires. Just the fact that you can sit around and chat and truly invest in people and spend time with them is something that I think should be forever cherished.
too many times I think our generation is about having friends that go and do things with you-it's always a "going, going, gone situation." I don't think we take the time to truly get to know someone and talk about quality things. I was meeting with a new friend last week (who is a quite a few years my senior) but she's so much fun! Kids my age probably think it's weird that I can call a woman less than 5 years younger than my mom my friend. But I don't think it's weird at all!
This woman has had some great experiences and can really relate to me! She's single and has lived and traveled and met so many great people and it's a thrill just to sit (and drink great espresso) and talk with her. And in the hour and half that we met, we talked more about life and experience and what we wanted to do (as she is single and can pretty much choose to do as she pleases) more than I've talked with friends I've known most of my life.
this past weekend I got to spend time also with friends (although much closer to my age) and the same thing happened. We spent some time playing around on instruments, and just talked. no phones. just quality time. and then we went and played soccer, and had a bonfire and s'mores. and I realized these are truly real friends.

my friends help build me.
my friends challenge me.
my friends can call me out on things-because sometimes they can tell I'm changing when I can't.
my friends always care about and love me.
my friends encourage me. (even to go beyond your comfort zone)
and
my friends believe in me.



"A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably." -William Penn

Tori Kelly Concert

I feel there is something y'all need to know. I'm a massive Tori Kelly fan! I've been one since 2012 and I cannot stop listening. There is something so raw and organic in her talent. She's amazing, a singer that truly is better live than on a record.

A friend and I made the 3.5 hour drive to see her yesterday and I could not have asked for a better day. We waited in line outside the theatre for a couple hours. {and I ran into a co-worker which was hysterical, needless to say my life is a funny continuous meeting of people I know in places I least expect} we hung out, had some ice cream cones and enjoyed each others company before the concert! I loved it! And then rain started pouring around 30 minutes before they opened the doors to the venue. So a few of us girls huddled under my jacket, which turned out to be a really funny situation. {Just imagine 5 girls attempting to huddle under a single jacket to try and keep dry-mainly to keep our nice hair dry}

Us the Duo opened for Tori, they were awesome as well! After the night was over we trekked home for the 3.5 hours (which put me home around 3:30a, but it was so worth it) Great people. Fantastic music. and so we come to the fun part: pictures! (:


xo

p.s. to any Tori Kelly fans out there-yes, she did PYT {so much fangirling}

         This kid and I graduated together and made the trek

                                                            My co-worker and I

 We waited outside for about 2 hours, so stuff like this happened.

Family Reunion.

Finals. Done. 

School. Done. 

60 hour week. Over (Thank God) 

Now I get to spend all weekend with my family!! My mom (aka Ma) is the youngest of 10 kids. Historically it was really hard for all of us to get together in one place. But since my uncle bought a massive (and I mean massive) house a few years ago we have been able to get together more often. Which I love! The cousins closest to me in age live far away (Minnesota, and like 6 hours from where I live now) so it's always fun to see them and see what they've been up to! And then getting to hold all the baby cousins I never get to see is also lots of fun! and gah, the food. the food. 

This weekend we are also fishing in my uncle's pond. He got it stocked for this weekend. And he's been feeding the fish for a long while now. And then....we are eating them! 

(Only after typing this did I realize that some people probably find a fish fry a really hick thing) 

^^(it is kind of a hick thing, but definitely a bucket list item) 

Ok. So I should probably pack...cause that's not done. and I'm blogging. and we leave in 50 minutes. 

K bye. 

xoxo

Finals!

I'm ecstatic about finals.

(if I was holding a mic this is when I would tap it and repeat what I said)

I'm so excited to be done with this semester of school!! Not because it's been a bad semester or I haven't liked teachers or anything like that. but simply because I want it to be summer. I want to run around outside and for pete's sake I even want to mow. This school thing can get me kind of stir crazy.

but now I have to focus....just a matter of hours now and I'll be free for a while. As someone who took summer classes last year...this summer is going to be bliss. And with moving to a new city and meeting new people next year, and getting to be around some of my best friends and living only blocks from them instead of miles, I would think you'd be happy if you were me too!

ok. now back to studying.

humph.

(but gah so much excitement)

xoxo

mornings.

I am the friend in the group that can be termed "grandma."
Oddly, I'm ok with that, I've even come to calling myself that.
I don't know why I like mornings, but this morning I got a taste of why I do.

I am an extrovert, to the max! I'm always talking, always doing something, but in the mornings, it's just simple. I don't say anything, I don't even sing-which is unusual for me. There is a seeming peace in the mornings that I just love to sit and soak up. Usually I have worship music going, and if I get up early enough that I'm not running around my house like a chicken with my head cut off, it is literally the most enjoyable part of my day. Just sitting and thinking and sipping my coffee is the best thing. So I'll just continue to go to bed early and get up early, until, at some point, mornings aren't enjoyable anymore.
But I hope and pray that never happens.