The One with the Old Friends

Can I just say that it blows my mind sometimes how fast life moves along. It seems like yesterday that I was cheering for Friday night football games and thinking that I would never get out of Hickory, North Carolina.

I just recently was on an email chain with my closest friends from college (some of whom I also went high school with) and it is amazing to me how grown up we have become in what seems like overnight. We were just updating each other on what is going on in everyone’s lives. I mean shouldn’t we still be planning keg parties and what fraternities we are going to hang out with this weekend… Sadly (but also excitingly!) no.

Casey and her husband Travis are expecting their first child in December. Lily. Their nursery is almost done! Krysta is the ever busy business woman with a serious boyfriend. Jessie is now, Dr. Castile, and she and her husband are building their first house. Kelly is also a busy working woman and is also going back to school to get her pharmacy degree.

Where did the years go? It makes me sad to think that we have moved on from our crazy college days (well for me to it was the crazy years afterward) and that the “care-free” part of our lives is now just a bunch of amazing memories. Life moves on. But I am very proud of where we all are now. Every last one of us has become a very successful career woman with drive, focus, and compassion. We are all also very balanced. Family is a strong part of all of our lives and that can be seen in the relationships we have all developed.


Oh life…..

:0)

The One with the Bridesmaid dresses!!

As I said earlier - I love my friends!!! We have such a good time all the time. However as of late they have ALL been getting married!! Now of course this makes for many really good parties (with open bars of course! ;0) ) and many fun memories. And I suppose it has become something of a running joke that I have been in so many weddings - not quite 27 - but I am getting there!! Yeah it costs a bit of money and time, but I love being a bridesmaid!! It is so fun to get all dressed up and see your friend off to married life!! So (mainly because I am bored tonight) here is a timeline of my dresses!!! Awe... memories.... :0)

This wedding kicked off the next five or so years of wedding season in my life! Casey was the first to take the plunge!! December of 2006

This at my friend Katie's wedding in November of 2008. Good times in HKY!!

This is at Stephanie and Adam's wedding in January of 2007 (I think! Is that right Stephanie??) Apparently I had such a good time at this wedding that this is the only picture I have from this wedding!! hahahhahaha

The picture below is from just this past July (2009). This was actually a first for me - I was English MOH!!! So much fun!!

The wedding below was in May of 2008 and was the furthest I have ever traveled for a wedding. This was in Columbia, MO for Jessie's wedding!!!

I probably had too much fun at this wedding! ;0) This is Frances' wedding in Newberry, SC. Cocky even made an appearance!

I was also an honary bridesmaid in Erica's wedding - another HKY reunion! Some things never change!

Just this past weekend I was also an honorary in Bex's wedding in Greenville, SC. It was the perfect weekend for a wedding and the ceremony, bride, and reception were all beautiful!

There are more to come! There are just the ones I had pictures of on my computer!

Maybe one day I will have bridal portraits to put on here...ha. ha. ha. :0P

The One with the New Bible Study...

I have to tell you that I have some pretty amazing friends!! I love them all so much! They get roped into doing a lot with me! hahaha (i.e. poor Frances in the Mud Run as seen below!) But I like to organize and plan things/events. Although this is not reflective in my day to day living because I am neither organized nor does anything go as planned! Ha! However, I got the bright idea that we get together with dinner club as couples but we never do anything with just us girls. So we have now deemed Monday nights Girls Night/Bible Study. The Bible study came to be part of this because let's face it -none of us go to church like we should (well maybe a couple of us do - but the majority do not) and because I figured if we are all getting together it needs to have a better purpose than just sitting around gossiping. So we discuss our chapter a bit, gossip a bit, and just have a good time. I love it! It's a great way to start the week and catch up with everyone about what happend over the weekend!! :0) We only want it to get bigger so if you want to join come on!

The One with a Lot of Catching Up To Do!!!

So I have gotten really slack on my blog postings - but I do have a lot to report back!! So since I have posted on here I have moved, Michael became a godfather, hosted an engagement party, participated in a mud run, etc.

Where to start hmmm....

Well I finally moved into the apartment complex I have been trying to move to for years!! It requires a paycheck- and now that I am a working woman I qualify!! hahahaha I live alone, which I love. I can do what I want, when I want, looking however I want to look! hahaha I think I am one of those really strange people that really loves living alone... Although I must say I am just as weird with Michael as I am when I am alone - not really sure if that's a good thing or not! hahaha

Then on September 12th we went to Charleston for Michael's neice's baptism -during which he became her godfather. He was so happy and so proud! Then we all hung out at Rachael's house (Michael's sister and the mother of his neice) for the Carolina game. Below is Alaina in her Carolina gear that Michael and I gave her... So cute!!

Go Gamecocks!!!

Then on September 19th my family decided it would be a great idea if we all did the US Marine Corp Mud Run together.... Whew.....It was fun but it certainly was a one of a kind experience. I was worried about being able to do it all!!! Michael, Dad, Matthew, and Matthew's friend Chris we a team - "The Carolina Renagades." Then Me, Patty, Michelle, and Frances were "Lady Mudonher" (say it like Madonna - apparently Lady Madonnna is an old Beatles song?????). And then Russ, Patrick, Mark, and Mark's friend Dennis were the "Rat Pack."

It was tough, butt-kicking fun!!! And for a team of all first-timers we did pretty good!! We finished 103 out of 215 of all women teams. Hey it's at least the top half! :0) I don't think I have ever been this dirty in my life!!! hahaha Believe or not that is me in that picture wiping the mud out of my eyes and that's Frances in the forefront of the picture!!

Finally - at least for this post.... My parents and and I hosted an engagement party for Nicole (my friend from high school) and Liam. Michael and I made the trip up to old HKY for the shindig... It was great to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a really long time (and of course those I see quite often!) They are getting married next October!!

My mom, Nicole, Me, Nicole's Mom, and Nicole's Grandmother