So close, yet so far away....

This past weekend was probably one of the best weekends of my life. No joke. I got to thinking that this may be a preview of what summer is going to be like! And, if that's the case.....WOW!

The Delta Saints

For everyone that knows me, you guys know that I love love LOVE concerts! There's just something about being there hearing the songs, front row, everyone pushing towards the front, your ears ringing afterward.... I just love it. I couldn't begin to count all the concerts I have been to in the last year. I know that last summer I went to...15ish something like that. Now, these aren't typical concerts like you would hear on the radio, they're mostly just some local bands that no one has ever heard of before or something like that, but those are my absolute favorite. Friday night was the first concert of what I like to call "concert season." Sarah and I went to see our friends The Delta Saints. That's another reason why I love local concerts, you can always meet the band afterward and hang out. That's how we met The Delta Saints. If you like bluesy, roots rock music, you should check them out for sure. Well, anyway the show was FANTASTIC and we hung out with them before and after. I loved it.  I didn't love the fact that I didn't get home till 6 in the morning, but it was so worth it.

My daddy's birthday cake! 

Happy Birthday! 

Like I mentioned in my last blog, my dad's birthday was Saturday. I had plans to wake up early and drive home at 10ish. That didn't happen. My dad called me at 11:30 and was wondering where I was. Well, I was most definitely still in bed, so I hurried and got ready and left for Seymour. I met my dad at home and we decided to go to Downtown Grill and Brewery for his birthday dinner. I was absolutely ok with that choice! I love that place! So, we went there and some delicious food. Then, we decided to walk around downtown Knoxville for awhile. Somewhere I basically live during the summer. Haha. Well, it started raining. And, of course neither of us had an umbrella, so we ended up running into Coolato Gelato. If you've never been there, GO! It's amazing. We shared birthday cake and strawberry gelato and a root beer! YUM! We left Coolato and headed for my older sister's house. My sister has 4 kids. The oldest is only 9, so it is always chaos when we go over there. My sister had the idea of all us playing Rock Band. Never play Rock Band with 4 little kids, learned that the hard way. It was fun nevertheless. We brought all the kids in the kitchen and brought my dad his birthday cake while the kids sang or shouted "Happy Birthday." After cake and ice cream, we decided to head home. I was going to meet some friends later that night, and my dad was going to go to bed since he had to work a double the next day. So, I picked up Sarah and we headed to the Cereal Bar in downtown Knoxville to meet Rachel, Gabi, Chris, Brendal, and Rachel's friend, Wesley, basically the gang that always hangs out in the summer. I love going to the Cereal Bar. It's so chill. None of us got cereal, but we just love to hang out in there. It reminds me of a big living room. It was so awesome to just be with my friends back home and roaming the town. Everyone wanted some gelato, so we walked to Coolato. (Yep, I went there 2 times in one day) We hung out there for forever and headed back to the car. Everyone said their goodbyes and Sarah and I headed back to her house for a night of Just Dance 2. My workout for the weekend.

This picture was so dark, so I had to lighten it a lot! That's why it looks so weird! 

Sunday, I woke up late, of course. And hurried to get ready and make it to church at Knoxlife on time. Knoxlife is an  amazing church. It's in downtown Knoxville in a coffee shop, but it will be moving to the Bijou in May! It's so contemporary and most definitely not like your average church. I love it. I have grown so much there. The messages are relevant to what I'm going through every time. I felt bad though, because right after church I had to leave and come back to Johnson City to study anatomy alllllllllllllll day and night. I didn't have time to hang out and chit chat or grab lunch like I always do. Well, I made it back to Johnson City and studied and studied and studied some more. A bad way to ruin a GREAT weekend.

Last summer, after Sundown! 

I realized that summer is only 5 weeks away. That is so close, yet so far away. As I look at my calendar, all I see are tests, papers, presentations, appointments I have. I can honestly say that especially after this "preview" weekend of what summer is going to be like this year I can not wait! I'll be home for half of May and all of June. Sarah and I move in our apartment in July. Random road trips, concerts, swimming, I just can't wait.





On a serious note, some of you know Jessica Loveday. Her brother was in a very serious car wreck last night. He had to be air lifted to a hospital in Knoxville. I don't really know all of the details, but I do know that they need our prayers, the whole family and the medical staff. Please remember them!

Happy Birthday!

Because I don't want to study and I'm a great procrastinator, I'm going to write this to my daddy. Tomorrow is his actually birthday, but I probably won't have to time to do anything this weekend. Stupid anatomy test.

Anyway. My daddy's birthday is tomorrow! I'm really excited and I want to take this time to just tell everyone just how amazing my dad is. :) My dad is my absolute bestest bestest bestest friend. No lie. He is always there for me and is always encouraging me and supporting me. I don't know where I would be without him. He is probably the only person who knows me better than I know myself. I tell him everything. That may sound weird to some of you seeing how normally girls are closer with their moms than dads, but as many of you know I did live with my dad growing up and such which made us super close. Not to say we don't have our moments when we get in arguments, because we most definitely do, but we always tend to just get over them. Normal father-daughter arguments such as he talks too much or asks too many questions and just gets on my nerves. Haha. We're pretty much the same person. We think the same way about things. We like the same foods, etc. etc. We're both super stubborn. We both love to be right, which causes most of our fights. But, in the end, I know he is one of the people I can always count to be there for me. He has never disappointed me, and I don't think he ever will. I love to go home and hang out with my dad more than anything, or when he comes up here and we go out to eat and don't really do anything but sit in my apartment afterward and watch TV. Haha. It doesn't take a lot to entertain us, obviously.

Not much to entertain us! 

He is my number one supporter. When I have a problem or get super stressed out at school, I call him first thing. He always brightens my day. Then, he'll send me little cards in the mail, even if he already sent the same one before and forgot. Haha. He is my wake up call every morning, even when I know he doesn't have to be at work early and I have class early he'll call and make sure I'm awake. I couldn't tell you the number of times his calls have saved me from missing class. I talk to him every day about everything. Sometimes our conversations are short, sometimes they are super long and we'll talk about everything. My day seems off if I don't talk to him at least once in a day,  whether that be my wake up call or at night before I go to sleep.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

 Well, I realize I'm just rambling now, but my last thing I want to say is HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the greatest dad and bestest friend ever!!!! Thank you so much for everything you do for me! I love you so much! And, I can't wait to see you tomorrow!

I forget how big I'm blessed...

Have you ever just had a moment when you realize just how blessed you are? I mean I know I am blessed without a doubt, but sometimes it seems that I forget or I just think that I deserve certain things. When in reality, I don't deserve anything. Random thought for the day. I honestly feel like that is something God is really teaching me right now. "In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed!"

Anyways. Last night was The Well (for those of one who don't know what The Well is....it's a campus ministry that I have went to since freshmen year. 500 college kids gathered together to worship and learn more about JESUS! It's awesome!)
 Back to my story, last night was The Well, like I said, and we have been in a series called Word Play which is basically just about how important our words actually are. I've noticed I complain or grumble A LOT. I honestly don't know why I do, but I feel like if I complain it makes me feel better in a way? I don't know. But, as I was thinking about how much I complain these past couple of days, I was thinking about how it effects people around me.  I know when I'm in a good mood and someone is just complaining the whole time, I eventually get in a bad mood too. On the opposite side, if you are always in good spirits and in a good mood, it rubs off on people. Last night, James said that the person we are talking to should be lifted up as a result of your conversation. Wow. Talk about feeling convicted big time! I felt I had been smacked in the face. Haha. My life is not horrible. I don't get why I complain so much and all the time. So, here is my challenge to myself and all who read.....let's try our absolute hardest to not complain the rest of week.

I caved...

So, some of my friends have told me lately to get a blog and start blogging, here ya go.... Haha. I basically want to do this to share what's going on in my life, my thoughts, etc. I can't promise it will be the most interesting thing, but I'm sure it will have some entertaining moments. :)