Above is a picture of where I'll be running my half marathon this Sunday and where I've been hanging out all day today. It is officially my dream to live out here, it;s so beautiful. My family is so fabulous and it honestly feels like no time has passed since I went to school in San Jose (an hour north), which was about 2 years ago.

I went for a run this morning in my family's neighborhood and with the sun shining, I was so thankful for all the beauty that God has created. It's been a great day. Woke up, drank coffee, went for a run and then ran errands with my aunt. We ate lunch at an adorable little restaurant in Pacific Grove and I ate some of the best clam chowder I've ever had. We picked up our race packet for the Big Sur, took a trip to the dog park along the ocean, picked up my cousins for school and made a trip to MyYo. MyYo is my new favorite thing, self-serve frozen yogurt along with self-serve toppings. Probably the best thing ever.

Tonight the plan is to make some dinner, play Dog-Opoly and watch a movie with my aunt and cousins. Tomorrow will be another day full of good things, and hopefully more MyYo :) Sunday can't come soon enough, waiting to run this half marathon is killing me, I'm so excited to cross that finish line. Happy Weekend!! :D

Drowning...

    Days like today I need to remember my basic functions to keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other, check off one thing at a time. It's like I'm drowning alive and my To-Do list is the thing that is swallowing me. It's that time in the semester for me where EVERYTHING is coming due. For me, it's worse because on top of it all, I run a half marathon and fly out to California exactly one week from today. Super exciting I know, BUT...that means my to-do list has to be accomplished BEFORE then. I'm so ready to just be a teacher already!!

And THEN today, I go and pick up information about studying abroad because I guess I need to "apply" so that I can go. Too bad my ticket is already bought folks, but thanks for letting me know that I need to apply anyway because you didn't inform me that I needed to fill out paper work. BuH. Dumb people. I need to write a 3 page autobiography about myself, get 2 letters of recommendations, oh..and it's going to be an extra $1,000 on my tuition. It's sweet when I know all the information BEFORE I buy my $1,600 ticket to Africa...Thanks. It's not like it changes my mind about going, and NOT really that huge of a deal, but today it was just more crap to to add to my list that seems to be never ending.

In addition to my world toppling in on me, people are just getting on my nerves! When someone calls you, call them back, excuses are overrated and I get so sick of being the one who puts in effort into friendships. Also, when someone talks in class, don't act like a know-it-all and annoy the whole class. You're not the smartest person in the world, and you're not better than the rest of your class. Sometimes I just wish I could make a sign that says GROW UP or STOP TALKING, NO ONE CARES and slide it across the table without being looked at as offensive.

Oh, AND...my "little friend" who is in town once a month is visiting this week and all I want to do is eat everything in front of me. Too much information I know, but I think it adds to the irritation of my life right now.

TRYING to be optimistic I decided to link one of my favorite songs that sometimes helps me get through overwhelming times. I just have to remember that I'm being a little dramatic, I just gotta breathe and take one step at a time. It's time not to complain, it's time to work. So my rant is over, if you got this far...well, I'm sorry for too much information and for being so whiny. I promise after my to-do list is a little more completed I'll be in a much better mood! Just need to remember that I'm not going to drown if I keep swimming, and to just keep breathing!

Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fORAPkfVV_A

<3

new adventures..

A few days ago I put in my 2 month notice at the apartment I'm living in. What does that mean? For starters, that I'm scared out of my mind. AND...That I'm leaving Fargo. I'm saying goodbye to this town and to what it can offer me. I'm saying goodbye to college life and I'm saying goodbye to friends and family for a while. I'm going to take an extended trip to Africa, Arusha Tanzania specifically and see what else this world can offer. 

It's time for an adventure, time to make stories of my own. Over the years while sitting in my college classes, countless professors have stood before me and told me stories of their youth. "When I was in the Peace Corp in Guatemala....When I lived in Spain...When I was traveling through Indonesia...When I lived in ___(fill in the blank)______..." We all know the stories. The stories you think "Wow, what an amazing experience, I wish I could do that..."  It's the time in my life where I want to make stories of my own. I want to experience life abundantly and explore this world that God has created for us. It's time that I take a leap of faith and trust that I can take a step away from my comfort zone and delve into the unknown. 

It's an exciting time, but also bittersweet. Going along my days knowing that I'm heading out of here in 2 months is crazy, but all the more reason to make the most of it while I'm here. The friends I've made here have become my family. I know that though I will leave Fargo physically, the people who are important to me will remain in my life for years to come. There's comfort in knowing that the people in Fargo, won't hear goodbye, but just see ya later! :) Cheers to good friends and new adventures. 

<3