End of another year...

Can you even believe it?!? This has been one of the most eventful, exciting, and crazy fun years of my life. I have literally traveled the world, adjusted to my new home, developed some new incredible friendships, maintained friendships with my california amigos, spent another year working for starbucks, bought my first brand new car, and created some memories that will never be forgotton. My Grammy and Poppy moved out here, Gramma and Grampa surprised us all for Dads 50th bday, had a fun girls night out at the irvine spectrum with my favorite cousins, bonded with my sisters more thru dance parties, game nights, cooking, shopping trips, fights that turn into tears and laughter, and now playing Wii games together, almost all of my favorite friends have come to visit me... wow. I am so thankful for each and every moment, good and bad and the ups and downs I have been blessed with. it has been quite a year, trying at times to say the least, but the good times outweigh the bad by far and as this year comes to a close I am excited beyond belief for what this new year holds. I have new friends to create new memories with, a few trips to look forward to, a second job to be thankful for, 20lbs of europe weight to lose, my friend Mike back on american soil...lots to accomplish and lots to look forward to!

Thank you to all of you for being such a big part of my life. Love you all!!!

Happy Monday!

Good Monday Morning blogworld!

What an absolutely FABULOUS and beautiful fall carolina day!!!! Its been a really good past few days...Working a lot, spending time with good people, reading some good books...
Yesterday I spent some quiet time in my new favorite place, Blythe Park...took a book and sat in the sun for a couple of hours by myself just enjoying the scenery and all God has given me. Then went to lunch at a nice italian place with Blake, caught up with Lauren at Starbucks and had a wonderful pasta/wine/baked brie dinner with Mayya, Jo ellen, and Veronica. I love my friends!

It has been a great week...bought my very own BRAND NEW 2010 toyota corolla!!!! Finally a big girl car!! Got the big girl bills to go along with it but hey, gotta grow up sometime right? Getting my financial ducks in order, working hard to pay the bills, and being oh so thankful for all I have been given. My soul feels refreshed these days, something in me has changed for the better and I love it :)

My friend Christina is heading to Africa in a few days on a mission trip...her generosity and giving spirit has really got me thinking that I would love to go to Africa someday. Hopefully someday soon! The heartwarming stories I have heard about the sweet people that live there would really be humbling and good for me I think. Prayers for her safety would be wonderful!

If you havent already, read Kristi's latest posting... (Kristibowers.blogspot.com) GOD IS SO GOOD! Get chills and teary eyed every time I think about what He has done in her life. Continued prayers for the health of her family is so appreciated, the power of prayer is more incredible than any of us know, and our family has gotten a firsthand glimpse of Gods power this week. Breathtaking!!!

Well I am going to lounge around for awhile with my pup before heading into work, I hope that all of you enjoy this pretty day, whether in carolina, california or elsewhere...Love you all so much!

My Everything.

Find me here, speak to me

I want to feel you, I need to hear you

You are the light that's leading me to the place

Where I find peace again

You are the strength that keeps me walking

You are the hope that keeps me trusting

You are the life to my soul

You are my purpose

You're everything

And how can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

You calm the storms and you give me rest

You hold me in your hands

You won't let me fall

You still my heart and you take my breath away

Would you take me in, take me deeper now

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

Cause you're all I want, you're all I need

You're everything, everything

You're all I want You're all I need

You're everything, everything

(Everything by Lifehouse)

My God is so good. I cannot emphasize that enough. So amazing how at a time when I have every reason to be so down, He gives me peace, healing, comfort and a reason to wake up smiling in the morning. Really not anything that can be verbalized, just a peaceful feeling. A feeling that I am so incredibly thankful for and a feeling I want to share with everyone. Definitely needed to go thru everything I have to bring me back to my knees both literally and figuratively, to remember that when all else fails and there are worldly inconsistancies that One will be consistantly there.

Praying for my sweet cousin Kristi tonight, for a peace and relaxed state of mind as she has surgery soon. And, for her family to find healing from all the yucky sicknesses that are going around. Love you Kris!
Also for Mikey as he finishes up his tour, and all my friends who are struggling to get through school and find good jobs. I am missing home and all of you so very much, but really do think and pray for you by name daily.

For the first time in a long time, I have no idea what is next for me. I hope for a new career, more travel opportunities, to meet "Mr Right" etc etc...but I am doing my best to have patience and faith that everything will fall into place as it should. As it always does.

Opening in the morning, on that note, i am getting to bed early. Love you all so very much.

Times like these

So its been a crazy past week. Emotional ups and downs, lots of tears and hard work, but times like these really force you to take a look at yourself and dig deep, ya know? In the midst of dissapointment and stress I am proud to say I have spend a good amount of time with God and taking time to be selfish and work on myself. I am so very far from perfect as hard as I may try, and it is just thrown in your face hard sometimes that everyone messes up. I am very thankful for my great support system of family and good friends who love me unconditionally even when (especially when) I make mistakes and bad choices. Not to say anything lately has been a bad choice, I am very happy for my relationship, all I learned and the friendship(s) that was/were developed.

On another note, heard from Mikey! He gets home the first week of next month and I am so excited to catch up with him. So glad he has made it thru this crazy time safely and sanely as possible. His plans now are to go to law school and he says he wants to run for senate...if anyone can do it he can...gotta love the political man that is Mike Cicerone! haha.

Workin on planning my next trip, VEGAS and CALIFORNIA end of february with Lauren! ALL MY CALIFORNIA GIRLS...get your lil butts out to vegas and then help me show lauren a good time! Gunna do all the touristy stuff..Laguna, Hollywood, San Diego...etcetc. WOOWOO!

anyways, time for wine and cheese with my friend Jo Ellen...will try to keep up on this blogging stuff:)

love you all!!

Been Awhile...

I am so bad at this blogging thing. Ever since getting backf rom Europe its been one thing after another...getting really sick, my boyfriend getting sick, working too much, trying to catch up on sleep and sort out all the incredible things I experienced abroad...exhausting to say the least. I experienced a bit of post vacation depression, as you do with any huge lifechanging event and growing/learning experience. Part of the reason I haven't gone into much detail about my trip with anyone. It is frusterating to have experienced such incredible and breathtaking things and not be able to find words to describe the emotions I have felt. Its almost like Lindsi and I have this special bond through the experience we had traveling the world and it is our private special experience. Now ay to share what we went thru with anyone else as they werent there and couldnt possibly have experienced all that we did. So I apologize for the lack of what may seem like excitement, I am still pinching myself over this trip and wishing on a daily basis I could take a handfull of you all and go back and do it all over again. I would in a heartbeat.

Linds and I did great together, got along perfectly, had the best conversations and got so much closer thru the vacationing together. She is without a doubt my best friend and will be forever. So blessed to have her in my life!

Again, sorry I am having trouble putting everything into words. Its still just overwhelming.

Other than Europe and trying to pull myself together I am doing well. Just enjoying the changing of the leaves, new friends, and spending time with my fabulous boyfriend. Couldnt really ask for more! We are going to Myrtle Beach this weekend to spend Blakes birthday with his family...I wanted to throw him a party but he just wants to do something low key with his family and me. I think itll be fun regardless, we always have a good time together.

Oh and Grammy and Poppy moved out here! It is so cool having them literally down the street from us!

Prayers for my sweet cousin Kristi would be appreciated...she has been sick and dealing with a lot. Hopefully this will be a week of answers, but prayer for her that she would find healing and peace would be great.

Well I am off to work another looonngg day, makin that money money! Gorgeous day out today, hope you all have a great Monday!

Bon Voyage!

This will most likely be my last post before leaving for Europe...so much to do still and just praying that it all falls into place as planned.
I am so nervous/excited for all the traveling, growing and learning Lindsi and i are going to do this next month. I am blessed beyond belief to have this incredible opportunity!

I am going to try to send out emails as much as possible to keep everyone posted on our whereabouts...will not have a phone but will do our best to keep in touch!

I want to say thank you again to everyone who has made this possible with words of encouragement, early birthday money, and above all prayers. It is going to be the trip of a lifetime that I cannot wait to share with you all. Will miss my family/friends/Blake so much but its going to be amazing! As you can tell I am pretty pumped :)

Wish you all a safe, happy and healthy September! Please please feel free to send me an email at B_green927@yahoo.com to keep up on my travels!!!

love love love!