I am thankful

for so many things not just on thanksgiving but everyday. Since its Thanksgiving though, I want to share with you some things I am thankful for:
My family of course. I am so lucky to have such a great family. I know I can count on them for anything because they are always there. I am also lucky to have such a loving family as well. I am also thankful for all my extended family but I don't have permission to put all their pictures up on here so I will have to settle for just saying it.

My dog. I love my dog, shes such a good and faithful dog and things wouldn't be the same without her around!

The girls. They have helped me grow as a person so much. They love me unconditionally as I love them unconditionally right back. They are just a light in my life, always shining and helping me in ways they don't even realize.

My amazing best friends. I couldn't ask for better best friends, they are like sisters to me. They are always there for me when I need them, when its convenient and even when its not. They make me a better person in so many ways. I know I am never alone and can always count on them. These girls are also very important to me and also part of my closest friends group they just were not in the other picture. They also mean the world to me and help me in many ways.

My neighbors. I am so glad that I have such awesome neighbors, we used to have some pretty crazy ones (and still do, but at least we have one set of cool ones to make up for it) its so cool to have such amazing people living next to you. Landon and Gavin are so cute and so fun to be around and by being around them I learn so much. Brian and Randi are awesome role models and they are always so helpful and great to talk to.

I have so much and so many more people to be thankful for but if i kept going this could go on forever, plus I can only share the pictures of people who have given permission for me to do so.

I am so blessed and ever so thankful for all the blessings in my life even if I don't show it all the time. I have it good and to everyone who has helped make it that way, all my gratitude goes out to you.

And to all my readers- thank you for reading and being some awesome blog friends, blogging wouldn't be as fun without you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Love,

Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. In any way, shape, or form I am not a fan. Whether for a few minutes, hours, weeks, or years I struggle with and try to avoid them. I hate the uncertainty they bring, the gap of time where anything could happen, the feeling of being left, and the questions that haunt my mind about the way the goodbye went and the terms that person and I were on when they said it (were they secretly annoyed,but pretending to be nice? Did I say something that may have made them mad and they couldn't wait to get rid of me? Did I sound dumb or act like a fool?)

Case in point: Goodbyes are a dreaded, hated thing for me. They are even worse when you have to say goodbye to your best friend.

Three days ago, I had to do just that. I had to say goodbye to Brittany, one of my best friends because she has decided to go to college about 6-7 states away.

I will miss her dearly. Her silly sense of humor even when she was making fun of how short I was. Her eagerness for anything and the way she made even the most mundane tasks fun. Her line of promises and bets about how she will read so many books that she never did find the time to read. Her talk of movies and the list she continuously added to for me to watch. Her encouragement and kind words, and how she always knew the right thing to say. How she always left a glass of water sitting in the same spot in my room. How hard it was to end a conversation to make time for sleeping when one of us slept over.

Most of all I am just going to miss having my best friend around - everything about her will be missed.
All of us at her surprise going away party: Rochelle,Katie,Brittany,Jamie,Me,Lizzy. Poor Britt got caked by Katie!
Lizzy, Me, and Brittany right after her party.
The last time I saw her, when I left her house from spending the night on her last day here.

Brittany I will miss you dearly. I hope that you keep in touch and that our friendship still continues to grow even with 6-7 states between us. I hope that you have an amazing time at college and that you don't forget about your friends here. I hope that you always know I am here for you and that I'll always be your best friend.

Thanks for everything you've done, I wish you the best.

I wish this was my last goodbye for this week, but its unfortunate to me that it's not. Jodi and the girls will be leaving here in a few days, for a few days. They will be four hours away. I have spent almost everyday with them this summer, and its going to be pretty hard to see them go. Even more so because that leaves me with 2 best friends gone, and the other one at work. What will I do? I hate being bored and lonely!

Oh how I hate goodbyes...saying goodbye to two best friends within a week and having all three of them busy? This stinks.

Love,

I'ts official, I'm done.

I am no longer a high school student, but a high school graduate. After 15 years of school I was able to walk across that stage and snag up that half sheet of paper that proves I met the necessary requirements set by the state. Ahhh to finally be done, a rewarding yet scary thing. Its about time though, going to school for SIX years in a row to keep up my perfect attendance I am so glad I do not have to worry about that anymore.

I still can not manage to wrap my head around it. It does not really feel like its over. It does not seem like I will not see my classmates everyday or eat lunch in that cafeteria ever again. It still feels like, come fall, I will return to that same school, shove my stuff in that same locker, hear that same bell, and take notes from those same teachers. It will sink in eventually but for now, summer is what is consuming my mind ;)

Back to graduation: I have pictures! yay! My neighbor, Randi (to visit her, click HERE) volunteered to take pictures at senior night and graduation, bless her heart! She took some awesome shots, per usual, so without further hesitation, here they are!

Senior night! I won two scholarships. Can you say hooray!
Graduation day! Here is the cover to our program.

These would be some of my closest friends. I wanted a normal picture but the two goofs in the back did not allow for that!
I ranked 8 in my class, which is really good. This is me, Melinda, and Brittany (8,7,6) standing up for the top ten recognition. The thing on my neck is my NHS stole, which all three of us were also in, and the rope is for being in the top ten.
After top ten, they announced scholarships (that were not awarded to you by your college) people had gotten. We had to stand and turn towards the audience when they announced us.

After that I was time to receive our diplomas! I was lucky I did not trip, or shake with the wrong hand.
After the ceremony, outside with my family!

A collage of pictures I took with friends after the ceremony! I took more but I can only involve the people who have given me permission to put them on here, lol.
And finally- me with my diploma (yes, I blurred it out for protection purposes.)

And that's the end of my high school career. Thank you so much to my classmates for filling these years with awesome memories and making high school an amazing experience. Thank you to my family and friends for everything you have done for me: you are much appreciated. Thank you.

Congrats Class of 2009! We're Done!

My Class motto: What we do in life echoes in eternity. Gladiator.

My Class song: Dare you to move by Switchfoot.

My Class flower: White Rose

Love,

Can you hear me now? Cedar Point part One.

Yesterday was our Senior Trip and we picked to go to Cedar Point - Americas Roller Coast! Where else? ;)

We loaded the bus at about 7:45 and got there uhhhm round 9 or 10.

Me and Melinda sat together
Rochelle, Katie, Jamie, and Brittany were behind us.

We got there and boy was I in heaven- All my best friends and roller coasters - can't get better than that.

The lines were not to bad so we immediately hopped in one and got our first thrill of the day. We moved on from coaster to coaster and even though I have rode them all before let me tell ya they never get old. We were even able to convince Jodi to ride three of them (shes not a roller coaster person, more on that in the next post.)

Then we finally made it to my favorite ride- The Millennium force. I love this coaster. I was so excited. Now throughout the whole day I was worried about my phone falling out on one of the rides. I did not wear pants with good pockets and had the feeling all day that I was not going to end up bringing this phone back with me. But I am a worrier and that I know so I just took the extra precautions on all the rides so that this feeling would not go any further.

But it was different this time.

I decided that on this coaster it goes so fast and I was so excited I did not think my pockets would be able to hold my phone well at all, so I asked Brittany if she could put it in her much better, jeans pockets. We get on the ride and have one heck of a fun ride and then get off. As I am going down the exit I see that Brittany has stopped and is looking around...oh no... I turned to the person next to me and I say "I betcha my phone did not make it" now I had no idea and I just thought on that feeling... and it turned into truth.

My phone did not survive the Millennium Force. I wish I could tell you thats all of this story but there is more...

I called my mom from a friends phone soon after to tell her what happened. Like any mother would be, she was not happy. But she told me to call her again in an hour if we could not find it and she will report it lost. I called her back in an hour and the conversation went something like this...

Me: "Hi mom" Mom: "So you found your phone" Me: "No, I am calling from Brittany's phone" Mom: "Well you must of found it cause you have been texting me" Me: "Nooo mom I have not found it" Mom: "Well someones been texting me"

.....and so it goes. Someone found it. My mom texted me asking if I had found it. They answered No. Mom, thinking it was me, asked where I found it. They answered in the bushes. My mom tried to call, they turned it off and it went straight to voicemail.

So my phone was found, but I still do not have it. They never turned it in. I went to the lost and found and filed a report and as of this morning they still do not have my phone. But someone does.

Its crazy because I do not even know where they would have found it. The only bushes around that ride that are not fenced off are back off the main way and blocked by vendors. Are these people like random bush checkers? I think that they would have had to see it fall, otherwise I cannot think of how they would have found it. And then the fact that my phone is not even worth keeping, really. The front screen is broken and its scratched and cracked and its not even a good model phone. Its not like the iphone or even close for that matter. So why would you not turn it in? And then if you were going to be a smart thief, why text my mom? And as a person taking a phone ya gotta know that the owner is going to shut off the service. So why not turn it in? Its beyond me really. I have priceless pictures on there and even worse I have a friend who I am now never going to be able to get in contact with because I now do not have her number. The circumstances with her make it hard to begin with now I do not have any idea how I am going to find her.

My mom thinks a kid may have found it. A kid that knows how to text and that would hide it from their parents so they would not have to give it back. Otherwise, I have no logic that would make sense. What do you think?

But all-in-all this trip was amazing. I had so much fun with my friends riding roller coasters.

And the answer to the title? No, I can't hear you now, but I am hoping that soon this situation will turn good and that I will be able to hear you now.

And as for the trip- its certainly one I'll never forget.

Tune in for part two- the one part of the story I haven't told yet!

Love,

PROM!!!

wow. prom was amazing this year. I can even begin to describe the fun in words and I know that you didn't come here to read about it anyway so I will just use pictures. The descriptions will be underneath, so enjoy and comment! This is Me with Randi, my wonderful neighbor. She took all the beautiful pictures of us before prom. She did such a wonderful job and I am so glad to have her as my friend/neighbor/role model/photographer buddy! (PS, you can find her over at Mymomentsastoldbyme.com)

This would be me.
This would be Jodi, my twin =] We are so much alike its crazy really.This is me with Gavin and Landon, Randi's boys. Aren't they adorable?
Us again.

My family and I.

One of my best friends, Kelley, and me.

My best friends! In order shortest to tallest- Me,Kelley,Lizzy,Brittany.

Jumpin!

One of my favorites, where did my legs go?

Another favorite. Well actually all the ones on here are my favorites lol

My best friend Brittany and I, shes the best!

My group, Kelley,Me,Brittany,Courtney,Lizzy

We spotted some boys! lol.

Actually at prom, waiting on the food.

All my best friends! From top to bottom: Jamie,Brittany,Me,Lizzy,Rochelle,Katie,Courtney.

Jamie and I!

Whittney and I

Melinda and I, Her mom handbeaded that dress, isnt that amazing!

Jodi and I again, Love this girl!

Katie and I! aww!

Mirror shot, shes so much taller!

And then, after prom we had to stop at wall mart cause that's the cool thing to do!

Well anyways that is a picture summary of my Senior prom! Well some pictures anyways, I have so many more but I had to limit it down to my favorites (which you see I had a hard time doing anyways lol) Hope you like them and please comment!