QT with Pdunc

Today, I finally got to spend some time with my one of my best friends Paige. She and I got to finally have dinner together. We are both always so busy and on completely different schedules. It was nice to sit down and spend some time with her. 

my sadie belle

I have a sweet Shih-Tzu named Sadie. She was a gift to me for Christmas '07. She has always been a joy to me and I love every bit of time I get to spend with her. She definitely has a mind of her own and attitude to go with it. 

wow I am turning 23 in a month

Today marks the fact that it is exactly one month now until my birthday! Although, I am not that excited about turning 23 :/ yikes. 

Oh well, there's always birthday cake and presents :))

the boy

I guess I should now mention the boy in my life..... 

Caution::: Sorry this is a little lengthy! (if you know me, you know I like to explain things in very particular detail)

This is Justin. I met him in the summer of 2009 through a mutual friend. Here's the story....

In 2009, Paige, my best friend, had met a girl named Lena through their elementary education classes at the University of Alabama. They had become pretty good friends and started hanging out some. I had not moved to Tuscaloosa yet but had started to visit Paige some and hangout when I had free time. One night we decided to hangout with Lena and some of her friends. She was friends with a lot of her neighbors in her small apartment community called Sumner Place. It was so much fun to hang out there. It was only made up of several small houses and everyone would be in and out of each other's place just having a good time. Steven Padilla, a local musician, also lived in the community. When he would be playing his music at bars around town the big group of friends would all go out and see him. One night we all decided to go out and Justin was in the big group of people but I don't recall him approaching me. He seemed very shy and kind of just hung out with the guys. (little did I know he had his eye out for me ;) ) The next time I came to Tuscaloosa, we all decided to go out to see Steven play. Same group, again. Justin says a few things but his friend Brandon seemed to be talking to me more. It wasn't until the third time that I came to Tuscaloosa that he finally started to really show interest. We had planned a going away party for Paige. She was about to head off to Washington D.C. for an internship with the Senate. We, of course, all went out to see Steven play at Gallettes. So guess who asks me to dance... :) 

Luckily Paige caught this on camera.... 

kind of hard to see... but we're the ones up next to the stage. (big steven fans?)

Tall boy, white shirt, black hair. Girl, yellow dress, curly blonde hair. (btw, why the heck am I wearing yellow? not a good color on me) 

Also, check out that arm.. he was getting brave

Paige and I had decided that night to stay at Sumner Place because we had all had a few drinks. (No drink&drive!) Justin was nice enough to give Paige and I his bed and also a shirt and shorts to sleep in. He made a good impression in my book right then and there. It is not often you find guys like that these days.

So at the time, remember, I had not been living in Tuscaloosa yet. I was still at home in ol' Red Bay. I had one semester left to attend at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Which on a side note, I regret staying that extra semester. I should have just come on to UA. (wasted time, ugh) Anyway, I went back home to Red Bay and Paige went on her merry little way to Washington D.C.. Lena had called me after Paige left and told me I could come back and hangout any time I wanted. She also added that "Justin told me to tell you to come back." At the time I didn't think much about it... hmmmm :)

Unfortunately I didn't make it back to Tuscaloosa until I moved there in January of 2010. 

A week or so after I moved to town Lena, her roommate Katie, Paige and I decided to go out one night. We had planned to meet at Lena's beforehand and walk to the strip because she lived close by. Well, guess who was there when I arrived at Lena's... Mr. Justin L. 

Not long after that we all started to hangout again. Most of the time it was a group of us. Justin and I became close friends. Sometimes we would hangout even when everyone else never wanted to. We'd stay up late just talking and sharing stories about each others lives. I loved hanging out with him. Even some nights when I'd be studying my life away and stressing over calculus and stats he would come and take me to arby's when I left the library so I could get some cheesesticks. He even ditched his friends one night to come to the library to help me with my calculus.

He says he doesn't understand how I never caught on to how he felt about me.... guess I was blind? haha. I just thought we were good friends. He wasn't like most guys I had ever been around. Not creepy in the least bit. He was someone I could hangout with and just have fun. No worries at all. 

Then in a May of that semester, right after finals, he told me how he felt. He has always told me he was so nervous but that he'd been holding it in trying to work up the courage to tell me. Of course, I didn't know what to say....

It took a bit but I finally realized how I felt the same way about him. 

Unfortunately with every good there's always some bad... not too very long after we had gotten together, he had to move back home to Selma, AL. He had finished his schooling for the time being and moved back home to work. He didn't want to at all. His heart and myself were in Tuscaloosa and he was leaving that. Me aside, he was leaving a life he'd known for 5 or so years. It sucked that it happened and then we automatically turned into a long distance relationship. He has always apologized for it but I tell him to stop. Everything happens for a reason and him moving home was just part of some plan in his life. 

We have had our ups and downs of course, no relationship is perfect. We have always worked through any problems that came our way. This past summer we took a break. He was dealing with some stuff back home and I think I must have had some wild hair in me. I started a new job, made some new friends, and just vied for a single life. I was loving it. Doing what I wanted, when I wanted. Hanging out with whoever and just doing me on my own.  Of course, I missed him. I tried not to. I tried to block him out and pretend I didn't. He would call or text me almost every day wanting to get things back together. I wouldn't give in. So many times I would just ignore him. It wasn't until mid July that I finally realized how much I truly missed him. I was going through some stuff myself and things at work were getting really tough. I was exhausted a lot and hadn't seen my family in days. I knew I needed him. Especially in a tough time. I called him up one day and asked if he'd like to have dinner. We had dinner and hung out and before I knew it we were back on track. 

Before each other, Justin and I had both been in horrible NON-fairytale relationships. Oddly enough, both of the ones we'd been with before each other had royally screwed us over. (mine is a story in itself. don't even know if it's worthy enough for my blog)

We had both been a little skiddish about beginning something new but I guess he just couldn't hold in his little feelings :))

Out of the guys I've dated in the past, Justin has been the sweetest and most loving. He has a way with his words. I have never been with anyone has sweet as him and to tell me how much he cares for me so often. 

We are still growing in our relationship everyday. He makes mistakes and I do as well. We always work through it. It may take a little squabble but then we're back to normal not long after.  

I have told him before that this is similar to the way I feel about us sometimes... haha

 

Anyway, that sort of wraps it up. There could be more to tell but the person reading this would be here for a while. 

This is actually when we were just friends.

This is him and his dog Lulu. Love that sweet girl. 

Add caption

Our first Alabama game together. He had his buttons unbutton becuase it was so hott out. He says he looks like a "Key West hippie" here. This was in football season '10.

Here's a pic from football season '11.

family

Well, I guess my life seems interesting enough to blog about.....

First off, I would be nowhere if not for my family. 

My parents along with my wonderful grandparents have done a beyond amazing job of raising me and making me who I am today. I also have a younger sister, Carlie, whom I admire so much.

Carlie's Sweet 16

I like to think I have taught her a lot of things and sometimes want to take credit for some things she is good at but I know I will never be able to. She is the sweetest girl and has such a big heart. She is going to go far in life, for sure. When she was born, I wanted nothing to do with her. I had been an only child for 5 and a half years and then some little screaming baby had entered my world. I was used to having all the attention and at the time didn't want to share it. I also didn't understand all of it. When my mother was in the hospital room hooked up to all of the machines while she was preparing to have Carlie and even afterwards, it scared me. I also got really upset. We have a home video of how I wouldn't even walk near the bed to see her in that hospital room. Now I just want to thank God that I have Carlie for a sister. She means so much to me and I wouldn't take the world for her. 

My mother, Cynthia is one of the strongest women in the world. I admire and look up to her so much. She has always been there for me and loves me unconditionally. She has been the best mom a girl could ever ask for. I have always been able to go to her for anything I need. She is the rock of the family. She holds us all together and makes sure everything is in order. I honestly do not know where I would be without her. I count on her for so many things. I know I take her for granted more often than none. Any troubles we've had over the years she has always tried her best to make them all better or as good as she could do at the time. I know that she would give me the world if she could. 

My father, Rodney has always been a great daddy. He is a very hard worker and would bend over backwards for his girls. I can remember being such a little daddy's girl when I was younger. Then of course, you get a little older and become a teenager then think you don't have time for him. He can ALWAYS make me laugh. He is definitely a comical person. We both share the same sense of humor and I am pretty sure I got my sarcasm from him. He also is probably one of the friendliest people in the world. He never meets a stranger. If someone needed the shirt off of his back, he would give it to him. My daddy has had some rough times. Mainly after losing his mother and father. He has now overcome the bad times and is on his way to being a very successful Journeyman in his field trade of Boiler-making. His job in boiler-making requires him to travel often. He has lived in Springfield and Sparta, Illinois and Cumberland, Tennessee for different jobs. He usually will go on a job for a period of time and when that one is over with he will start another one. He has been doing this for almost 4 years now. I think he has finally found something he really loves. The downside is that it takes him away from home for different periods of time which he is not fond of. Hopefully he can find something closer to home in the future. 

Next I would like to talk about my Grandmother, Carolyn. She is in close competition with my Mother on being such a strong woman. This woman has been through so much. If I am ever half as strong as she is one day then I will be doing well. She has spoiled me with many things ever since I was born... things ranging from her love for me all the way to material things and her beyond awesome cooking. She would also be quick to punish me for any wrong doing starting with a quick glance of her "mean eyes." But I was always a good little girl :) Amazing doesn't even start to describe her. 

I also have a grandfather but currently he is not high on my blogging priorities. Might add him at a later date....

I would like to acknowledge my late grandparents, James Randall and Mary Ellen. 

this man was such a great grandfather. He passed away in 2001 from cancer. I was 11 years old and it broke my heart. He helped develop my love for baseball. I also think he contributed to my love for art and creativity. When I was younger he would give me a dollar every time I colored inside the lines in a coloring book. I miss him every day and would give anything if he could see the young lady I have become. 

This is my father's mother, Mary. She was feisty at times but overall such a sweet grandmother. She was my buddy. I'd stay with her a lot when I was younger and we would work in the garden together, watch some of our favorite shows, and go "loafing" with Papaw. That required a stop by the local convenience store to pick up a snack and a coke. She loved to be outside. She would always be up early every morning working out in the garden or working with her many flowers. She loved flowers and had such a wide variety of the prettiest flowers you could ever see. Buttercups were her favorite. She also had many rose bushes that are still standing.

She passed away in March of 2008. She had developed Dementia a couple years before and it turned for the worst-- Alzheimer's disease. In my opinion that is one of the worst diseases to be had. Towards her last days, she did not even know who we all were. Her speech had gone along with her mind. It was one of the worst things that could possibly happen. I have a dream about her at least once every month. I usually wake up crying but sometimes I wake up happy. I know she, along with papaw, is watching over me. I would love so much if I had them both here. 

I have many many other family members that I cherish but this post would be soooo long. I have really great aunts and uncles and the best cousins ever. I am so thankful to have such a great family. I know I take that for granted and some people are not as fortunate. God has truly blessed me beyond words.

First Attempt at Blogging

So today, after learning of my sweet friend Lara Ellen's blog, I just had to take a shot at it myself. It seemed so interesting and fun. I wish I'd have started it at the beginning of this current year so I could have documented what will hopefully be my last full year of college. :)) 

I will hopefully graduate in December from the University of Alabama. Contrary to what post grads have been telling me, I am so ready to be finished with school. I have heard from those few post grads things such as, "stay in school as long as you can" and "I promise, you'll miss it and want to go back." Well, that may happen but as of now I am just so ready to see what God has in store for me upon graduation. I am so excited to be a "big girl" with a career :).