Matt and I have a goal, see all 50 states by the time we are 50
States we’ve been to together:
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Maryland
Kentucky
West Virginia
Florida (not by choice)
And now, TEXAS!!
just a drifter…
Can I complain a little bit? I just want to say that I do not want to go to school today. I have recently been catching myself just drifting. What do you mean drifting, you may ask… Well, when things get frustrating or stressful, i begin to just sit, and think, even if i do not act upon the situation, i will still go to sleep at night and still wake up in the morning, and in a few short months, i will be graduated and will no longer have to deal with this……stuff. hahaha. Its a familiar drift really. I am not sure if it is a bad thing yet. we will see.
kisses from katie.
Hello Cowboy Boots…
Not too bad. Well school just started back up. I realized how busy i am going to be this semester and it just makes me laugh so much. I think I am starting to handle stress in a different way, by laughing? I Think that is a better way of course. Things seem to be falling together. Texas is Lord willing our final destination. (Hello Big Hair and Cowboy boots!!) I am excited. I think I will LOVEE Texas. The plan is to visit in March, I will have my resume finished by then so we may go visit a few dental offices. We have Matt’s college orientation then too. Should be super fun! I am looking into flights now! We should have 2 extra days to look for apartments, jobs, and fun things to do there! I think this will be the best trip ever. Our lease here in norfolk ends April 30th, so we my extend our lease a month because I graduate May 5th. (Praise God!) I take my state boards May 25th, so then we should have about a week to pack, paint and sell our stuff before we move into my parents house for the summer. ( I never thought I would ever move back in with them, but we are trying to make the most educated decision and it would be silly to move to Texas, with no job, no money and no plans) This way we can live there rent free for three months, I will waitress full time and Matt will work full time and save every penny in order to have money for an apartment and any moving expenses. Matts grandma lives in Texas and said she would help us out with furnishing our apartment, Praise God for that too. What a fun road trip we will have on the big moving day. 22 hours of driving (i hope my car makes it) Depending on how God works this one out, BFF Amanda Guerra and Miranda will be moving with us. How wonderful would it be to have my friends come with me? I hope it all works out. Its cheap to live in Texas, and there’s so much pride there. I can only imagine how great it is. And my BFF Terrel White is from there, so he will be able to visit quite often to visit family and of course me! :) Hopefully! I am excited. I will not hold this plan too tight of a grasp but it is nice to have something to look forward to. :) For sure.
I may be too young for this. Haha as I lay here bracing myself for tomorrow. My last first day ever. It’s like hopping on a roller coaster that you never intended on riding. I can handle it. I have no option. It’s the final stretch that will completely stretch me and mold me into who I need to be. All I need is strong faith, good friends and a good glass of wine.
My home. and the lovely things that make it so wonderful.
Upper Left, a really awesome mug that my bff Andrea got for me for Christmas. Best with lots of coffee <3
Lower Left, In my living room i attempted to do the blank frame artwork. I ended up with this. the drift wood has the coordinates of the place Matthew and I got married, what a special gift from Samantah Varden and her husband Keith. The wood stump was also a wedding gift from Terrel White. It says Matthew and Brieanna and our wedding date 7-16-2011 <3
Upper Right, My lovely bird cage, as you can tell the theme of my entire house is Birds and Wooden items. I enjoy it that way.
Lower Right, My favorite place. My vanity with a bench I made!! (you cant really see the bench but its under there.) The shelves are equipt with photos, candles, birdcages and flowers :)
Opening up my home.
Upper left, My salt and pepper shakers. Mr. Salt had a butt injury during thanksgiving because is butt plug melted while he was on top of the stove. Sorry. :(
Lower left, our bedroom. with a button comforter and non-matching pillows. Along with some really uncentered photos of our wedding and engagement above it, being a constant reminder of the commitment matthew and i made to one another July 16th 2011 <3 <3
Upper Right, Our second blue bedroom. with my college comforter and the build-a-bear’s matthew and i made before he went to africa and used as our comfort bears while we were so far away from one another during that time.
Lower Right, My red and teal kitchen. Target photo above my sugar, flour, and candy jars, with lovely lables leftover from my wedding.
(aliciawhitephoto credit.)
This post is dedicated to my future God-son, and bff Saranya.
how to fold a fitted sheet, something i have wondered for sooo long..
glad i didnt have to take that more than once.
The secret to happiness…be satisfied and be grateful.
Mitch Albom (Have A Little Faith)
dear death cab for cutie.
thanks for making my life so enjoyable. i dance to you often and smile when i hear your songs. thanks for adding to my really great effin’ life <3 :) I really do appreciate you in life.
i just want to help people. i come in contact with the most touching people who have such amazing stories. i really need to start writing about these experiences. there’s a reason why i hear these things. there’s a reason why i’m here.
we ran into Alfred again tonight. I have been thinking about him a lot recently and have kept a 5 dollar bill in my wallet for just the occasion. We were about to leave Kroger when we saw him pull up on his bike. First thing he said to us was, “Today’s my Birthday!!” We got excited for him. and the next thing he said was “…but I’m still broke and homeless.” reality set in. Matt and I took him to McDonalds and got him a Sundae and whatever else he wanted for dinner. he was so thankful. we sat down and had dinner with him and just really invested in each others company. He told me about how he had open heart surgery a year and a half ago, where they replaced a valve. he said he was thankful that he was still living. That was before he got into a bad situation and became homeless. All i could think about was how McDonalds was probably thee worst thing we could have given him, but with no teeth and a homeless appetite, that is what he wanted. He was telling us about how its getting colder and the cold and rain do not mix well. He told us about how he is planning to go to the homeless shelter come Jan and Feb because those are the coldest months. They only allow you to be there for a couple months and then you gotta wait to come back in. He’s been saving his time up to go for those specific months. he kept telling us that days are hard but he has hope and that God is good. He even shared the gospel to us. he gave us so much hope. i know he is going to be okay. i really in my heart of hearts know hes going to make it. he is such a hard worker and wants to work for money and food. he isnt a beggar and would never hassle anyone for money. i respect him so much. i know he was placed in our life for a reason. I pray that the day will come where he can find a good job, because he is very skilled with construction and hands on tasks. he used to assist a brick layer. he just has fallen into tough times. the homeless cycle is vicious. there are so many odds against you as you are trying to overcome the hole that we all are at risk of falling into. Alfred makes me appreciate things. I am so thankful for everything i have. he has made me look at needs and wants. for example, we could have bought him 10 cheeseburgers, but he told us that he only needed 2. the rest would be nice to have, but its not what he needed. I mean what homeless man tells you that he doesn’t need excess? It makes my heart warm. He is someone who I pray will overcome and be successful. I am just glad he wont have to worry about any of this in eternity.
Happy Birthday Alfred.
