Cross that off the bucket list

May 3rd my final grades were posted and I officially passed and will graduate with a masters of science in management of nonprofits and associations. It doesn't feel like two years ago when I started on this journey.

It's been hard at times, juggling a full time job, school work, social life and marathon training, but I did it.

I am not quite finished, I am going one more year and getting an MBA too.

Currently life is in transition. I have moved two months ago and I am currently looking for a job in the nonprofit world and moving on from Nannying.

Luckily for me I live in a great area for non profits.

Big things and big changes are coming my way. While the uncertainty of it all makes me nervous, I am constantly reminded its not my timing or my plan, but God's and I need to trust in him during this time.

Stay tuned. :)

Happy Mother’s Day

All mom wanted for her birthday was pictures of her kids, with Austin in his uniform. We didn’t get her that. We waited til Mother’s Day. (mainly because Austin was getting promoted and wanted his uniform updated before we took pics)

Luckily I know a great photographer, who gave me a sweet deal on a photo session. (Perks of dating said photographer)

Anyway – getting these pictures was not easy. It is awkward taking professional pictures with your adult sibling. Most poses are either very childish or engagement like.

Anyway – here are a few

Mom wanted this picture – she said “make angela play with your hat” Seriously? No mom.

I had just made a crazy face and Eric took my picture- this is me cracking up at it

Had to get the pup in there.

 

And a couple out takes

Haha – pretty much sums it up

My dad and Eric planned a photobomb!

 

Anyway – Happy Mother’s Day mom! Enjoy these – you won’t get anymore until someone gets married

To Boston, With Love

I read about the explosions at the Boston Marathon as I was walking out the door from work.

I turned on the radio, and began listening to the news reports and the tears started flowing.

6 months ago I was running the Marine Corps Marathon. 6 months ago, my family and friends were running (some literally) around DC to see me along the way.

6 months ago I crossed the finish line and tears of joy streamed down my face.

I had trained for a long time for that moment, and while it didn’t go exactly as planned, I reached my goal. I can’t even put into words the joy and excitement I felt.

I cried the whole way home, I turned on the tv and laid in bed watching the news and cried.

I cried for those who died. I cried for those whose joy and excitement of reaching such a goal was diminished by such tragedy. I cried for those whose training brought them so close only to have to run for their lives the opposite way of the finish line, some coming so far as to see the finish. I cried for the friends and family who were supporting the runners and carrying them through those miles (Lord knows I would have been in much worse shape without them) I cried for those who will never be able to run again.

I was so sad all afternoon and evening. I kept thinking that could have been my mom, dad, brother, Eric, Lindsay, Ray, Kevin standing on the sidelines cheering me on. It could have been Aubrey, running a kick ass race. I kept thinking about the 8 year old who was probably cheering on a parent.

Today, I am still sad, but after hearing the stories of those who lost limbs and the traumatic event so many have experienced, my almost 6 month running hiatus is officially over. I love running, I miss running, and I am going to run for those who now can’t run. I won’t take for granted something as simple as a run to clear my head. I won’t sit back and let my passion for running fall to the wayside because I am too tired, have too much homework, need to apply to more jobs. I will run, and I will run multiple times a week again.

Many runner’s lives were forever changed in Boston. Mine was changed right here at home.

Pray for all those in Boston, the runners, the spectators, the volunteers, the medical and emergency staff. Pray they have peace. My run today is for them.

Hiking

Eric and I have decided we were going to not waste beautiful spring days. Today we wanted to go hiking.

Aubrey and Richie joined us up at Cunningham Falls state park and we hiked 1.5 miles up to these crazy high rocks where according to the kids there when we got there "you could touch the sky"

I am pretty freaked out by heights but Eric was super sweet and patient helping me get up and down the rocks. I really am lucky to have him. He is so good to me.

It was super fun and I can't wait to go hiking again. Hopefully we can get bikes soon too and add that to our activities on the weekends

Eric turns 30

I have always said I want to have Redskins season tickets one day. I also said I would go to every game through October – and then sell the rest because I HATE the cold.

I decided to sacrifice this for Eric’s birthday since December was mild and the game was at 1pm.

Until the week before the game, and they changed it to Sunday Night! HOLY COLD BATMAN! I didn't sign up for THIS!!!!

It was so cold, but it was amazing to see the Redskins beat the cowgirls and win the title!

Redskins themed birthday cupcakes

Birthday boy with his birthday present (the redneck mossy oak jersey)

Tailgating

We had a great time and it was the best way to celebrate his birthday! I think he was really happy!

Christmas 2012

 

Christmas eve brought SNOW! Enough to cancel church. It was WEIRD and I wasn’t a fan. We also didn’t go to waffle house. The waffle house came to us VIA dad and me.

not the same

We opened presents on Christmas Eve – I got Eric redskins tickets –since they were playing the cowgirls on his 30th birthday, I splurged a little.

He got me a very pretty necklace

Christmas dad we did the grandparent shuffle – back and forth to everyone’s house.

Even though we didn’t go to church or waffle house, it was still a great Christmas!

1 Year

**I am fully aware that I am painfully behind in my blogging – I have spent the past 2 months off of school, reading, watching the west wing and enjoying my weekends with my love – not blogging – then I moved and started school and life is NUTS. I will catch up soon – but this is important**


When I was planning where I would ring in the new year 2012 – I struggled a lot. I wanted to be with my college friends. But I didn’t want to start a new year off with the drama of the past – meaning I didn’t want to hang out with my ex. I was invited to the beach (in winter mind you) with my friend from high school and a bunch of their friends. I decided I should go there. I had nothing to lose. Someone even said “hey you might meet somebody” I am pretty sure I laughed and said yea right.

Well, YEA RIGHT….

I met some people, and a few days after the trip I get a Facebook friend request and then start chatting with Eric. After about a month of chatting, we hung out at a super bowl party and then decided since we didn’t have work on presidents day we would hang out. (I may or may not have taken the day off - because I didn't actually have the day off :-P)

We spent almost the whole day together, we walked around downtown for a few hours (literally walked over 2 miles) went to the movies and just hung out. I am pretty sure I spent the whole day laughing. I could already tell I really liked this guy.

It was pretty scary for me. I had been out of a 5 year relationship for about 8 months, and had gone on a few dates and talked to a few guys, but never felt anything. But I felt something with this one.

Spring came, and we continued to hang out and talk. There was never a formal hey will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend discussion – it just naturally progressed there. We decided on our first date as our anniversary.

This relationship felt different. I never realized how happy one person could make me. I could see it in my pictures, I could feel it in my heart. This man made me crazy happy.

Most mornings I get a text, wishing me good morning (I say most bc sometimes I beat him to it) and multiple times a day I get little butterflies in my tummy from something he says. We spent the summer going to concerts, the beach and ended with a little road trip to SC.

I have found someone who cares for me like I have always wanted. Someone who wants to call just to chat, even if we just finished texting. Someone who tells me I am beautiful. I have someone in my corner who gets as upset, or more upset when bad things happen to me. I have someone who truly loves me.

I have someone who makes me laugh, oh man do I ever laugh. I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t crack up. I love that he wants to go and do things, will go outside and play or go hang out with my friends, but is happy with the occasional night in too.
 
The way I feel now is so different from any relationship I have ever been in. I am head over heels (even tho I switched to flats )  crazy about this boy.
I hope it never goes away!

I love you Eric! Thanks for changing my life and showing me what true happiness and love is.