Sugarland

I had an A-MAH-ZING night last night!!!! 6-8ft from Sugarland?  Can it get better?  I think not!!!


Vanessa and I got General Admission Tickets to see Sugarland, this put us in the Sugarpit.  We got their early, but not terribly early.  It was raining and all and we didn't want to stand in the rain.  However, we did get unlucky and when we thought we were going to get in, finally stood out in the elements, and it started to rain again and for 10 minutes, we got rained on.  I looked a little like a drowned cat/rat take your pick.  So as we got into the arena and down the stairs to the pit, I expected it to be full...not at all!!! We took our standing "seats" where we wanted, right front center.  We couldn't believe how close we were.  Maybe 6-8 ft from the stage. 

The show started with Sara Bareilles, which was a tad odd for a country concert, but she was good all the same.  (left)

Then Sugarland came out, this is how they started, and this image is not zoomed!!!! (above right)

My night was this!!! I enjoyed every minute. 

I even caught a guitar pick from Jennifer after they sang Baby Girl!!!! So awesome! Definitely a great night! Thanks to Vanessa and Sugarland! 

To end it, I'll share probably the worst picture, but puts it in perspective kinda....This is a terrible shot of me, but it shows how close Vanessa and I were to the stage.  Vanessa struggled to get me and Jennifer into the picture at the same time. 

Love

Friends are blessings to all

Moving around you make and meet new friends, this is fantastic because you get to meet so many different people that all touch your life in so many ways.  The flip side, the sad side, is that when you move you also leave these friends behind, in physical space anyway.  I feel so blessed to have met all of the people I have in my life.  I do, however, miss those that I was close to while in that place and now we do not get to see each other.  There are to many to name, but they are from each location: Kearney, Norman, Raleigh, Wichita, Reading.  

 I don't do good enough about calling people, I always feel like I'm bothering them, but I should get better at it.  I am so excited to hear the phone ring and see who is calling.  I wish I had all the money in the world to go and see everyone  often.  Many of these friends have moved on themselves to new and exciting locations.  I keep all of you in my heart and my mind.  I think of everyone often when different things come up.  Such as a certain song that we would sing to in the car, or a place we use to eat, or an activity that we use to do.  Memories are everywhere and even just for a split moment, I'm thinking of you all.  Thank you all for what you've given me in life.  I am truly blessed. 

Love

Addictions

I may not be addicted to alcohol or drugs or other "bad" things, but we all are addicted to something aren't we?  My addictions change weekly/monthly but they are there.  Sometimes it is planning travel, other times it's a TV show or a music group.  Right now my addiction is Geneaology research.  My parents and I traveled to Ohio in August to do some research on the Sims family (my mother's maiden name).  A distant relative put a lot of good information together a few years ago, but I've been able to find a lot on Ancestry.com.  We drove by the land that my mom's great grandfather grew up on, and the couple generations prior to that.  It is realling interesting to learn all of these things.  Sometimes I would just love to find a time machine and travel back for a couple days to say hi and see what life was like.   What I've discovered is that I have a long lineage from Ireland.  These ancestors then moved from Ohio to Nebraska to Kansas where they stayed.  When we started this, I knew I had some Norwegian heritage, but my mom had always been told that the Sims name was English.  I've found out differently.  Regardless, it gets addicting! We all have our vices. 

Love

Always Remember 9-11

10 years ago this morning I was in my new dorm room in a place I had only lived for a couple weeks and I had just left home and all I knew to live 700 miles away. I was sleeping in because I was super excited to score a 11am start time for my Tuesday/Thursday classes, labs.  My roommate was also sleeping in, and we did not know anything had happened, until my clock radio alarm came on.  I usually just hit the snooze and turned it off right away, but something caught my attention, and I listened for a bit.  Then I turned on the TV to see, I woke up my roommate Lakrishia.  The whole world was buzzing around us, and we were catching up.  The remainder of the day was somewhat fuzzy, but I do recall some of the bigger points.  I still had some of my classes that day, but those that did meet were cut short.  But what was even more interesting was being a transplant in a world that had their own tragedy just a few years ago, a few miles north in Oklahoma City.  A whole different view point from my own.  I still felt that OKC was miles away, when in actuality it was just minutes away.  This was an interesting thing to me.  I wasn't that worried about my family, as everyone I knew was in Nebraska or Kansas for the most part, and that wasn't anywhere near what was going on.  Regardless, I was glued to the TV for DAYS, probably unhealthily so.  Regardless, it was a day I will never for get.  I pray for all of those that lost family members in this tragedy.  May God be with them. 

Amazing what a couple day's rest will do

I had a weekend off, and I didn't go anywhere. It was wonderful.  I realize that most people want to spend their weekend's getting things done, but I have been longing for relaxing and being at my house for a day off.  I finally got that wish this past weekend.  I was off for 3 days and 2 of them I didn't even leave the house, and the 3rd, I left only for church. 

 I was lazy for a day and a half, but then yesterday after a couple days of wonderful rest, I got a ton accomplished!!! I was so excited to get things accomplished.  I have a Journal article that has been on my list of to-do's for ages, and it's made it to the top, and I'm rip-raring to go at it.  I have a good start on it, and I hope to get it back to my advisor in the upcoming week or two.  I think that is very possible. 

  I also got some sewing done, and lots of cleaning and even some baking for fun! That was the accomplishments of work.  My accomplishments of relaxing include cleaning off 10-15 hours of DVR'd shows.  Wonderful!!!!

  I still have much to do, but at least I'm getting things done at a good rate! Not much will be accomplished Wed and Thurs, but I will try! Friday I look forward to you!!!

I hope you are all able to relax and enjoy and accomplish things as I have!

Love!

What a Valentine's Day

Well it has been a very productive Valentine's day! I love 3 days off in a row!!! Time for relaxing and time for accomplishing things.  I decided I couldn't go the holiday without some cookies...so I baked up a recipe of sugar cookies and some frosting.  I don't have my mom's talent to decorate and make conversation hearts, but I can slop some pretty colored frosting on the cookies.  I'm Corny...yes, but here's a sample of my cookies. 



Love!



Happy Valentine's Day

It's recently ticked over past midnight meaning it is Valentine's day.  Despite not having a significant other to spend the day with...I have always enjoyed this holiday.  I view it as a day to share love with everyone, not just your significant other. 

 One great memory I have regarding Valentine's day is from elementary school.  My mom and I would bake dozens of heart shaped sugar cookies.  My mom, and her amazing talent in decorating, would frost and then write on the hearts as if they were conversation hearts.  Each student in my class got one with their name on it, and I got fun ones at home.  We also use to make different colored dough and put different colored hearts inside of each other.  It was a lot of fun and always wonderful to eat!!! Something I always think about making around Valentine's Day, but just doesn't seem the same with out mom here to decorate them.  Maybe some year. 



A little love from Amy and Matt's wedding this last summer. 

Love to all on this day of Love!