Grown Up

I am certain that you are wondering, "I wonder whatever happenned to what's-her-name?" Well, I'm still here. I guess I owe you an apology for it being so long since we've talked. So...I'm sorry.

Now that that's out of the way, let me just tell you that life is going full-speed. A lot has happened since that cold day we captured our love story. First of all, the pictures from that day? Amazing. Seriously. Let me just tell you, the cold weather that took my breath away...totally worth the breath-taking pictures we have to show for it.

While pacing around in the world waiting for those pictures to be placed ever so sweetly into my hands, I managed to finish up college. Yes, you heard right. I graduated! Four and a half years after I walked across that stage as they called my name in high school...my name was called again. This time, I was surrounded by my classmates (some still unknown). It wasn't the people that I walked the school grounds with that I was sad to leave on December 18, 2010. Instead, it was the welcoming arms of my family and friends that I was relieved to see. Thank you.

Momma and Daddy- Thank you for supporting me for the past twenty-two years of my life. Thank you for showing me unconditional love despite some of my poor decisions. Thank you for never holding a grudge, but rather holding me to higher standards than I had for myself. You made me a better person. You truly are the greatest parents a girl could ask for. You were my guide when I needed you, and yet you gave me the freedom to spread my wings and fly. Thank you for helping me make it. I love you.

My big sis- Thank you for being my best friend. We have had our ups and downs, but I can still count on you. You have helped me through struggles when others let me down. You were strong enough to tell me what was wrong in my life because you wanted it to be right for me. You loved me enough to teach me from your experiences and love me despite making some of the very same mistakes. I haven't just grown up, I am thankful for growing up (and closer) with you. I love you.

Gramma, Pawpaw, Tracie- Have I told you lately, I love you? You three have never, ever let me down. You are always there for me, no matter the cost (or the weather). I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me to have you standing beside me (and in every crowd) through all of my accomplishments. You never fail me. I love you!

Joshua- Wow. What can I say about you? I think the best question I can ask myself is, "When have you not been there for me?" Despite the distance over the years, I know that you are so near and dear to me. You make me feel real love. (Weak in the knees, get mad and makeup, never known how much I could love until I loved you...love). Thank you for pushing me to get my homework done :D Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for loving me through thick-and-thin. Thank you for making these past two years feel like a lifetime, and thank you for letting me spend my lifetime with you. I cannot wait to marry you someday very soon. I love you!

All other family and friends- THANK YOU! I would not have (could not have) made it here without you. You do not know how much I truly, sincerely appreciate each and every one of you being in my life. Some of you I have grown away from, some of you I have grown closer with, some of you I cannot even name by name. However, I am so blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for every part that you have played in my life. I love you all!