The things I love....

It is holiday season so I've been spending a lot of time with family and less time reading my book. So, NO this is not an update on the book but more so a list of the things I love and what I have to look forward to in 2011...

I love my parents for being the most stable rock I have in my life right now. Sure, we fight and sometimes bring out the worst in each other. But we always find a way to make things work. My dad provides me with the guide book on right and wrong. My mom provides me with the best friend I know will always be there. My step-mom provides me with a shopping buddy, and an extra ear to listen to all the drama that consumes me sometimes. My step-dad provides me with the humor I need on a not-so-good day. I couldn't ask for a better set of grown-ups to look up to....

I love my siblings. Before my step-brothers came into my life, it was just my younger brother and I. We were best buddies and nothing could come between us. Now, I am the happiest girl in the world because I get to share that love with not only 3 other brothers, but 3 sisters. Thomas has been my best friend since the day he was born and always will be. Sammy is my guidance counselor, always there to talk to and I love her with all my heart for it. Ross is a role-model in that he will continue to prove to people he is capable of anything in this world. Leslie is not my closest sister, but I know would always pick up the phone if I needed her. Marcus is my protector, making sure my heart is never given to the wrong person. Mike and I are the closest in age and therefore we will always look out for each other. I see him with Kingston and pray that I can be the type of parent he is. Sam is my dance partner in crime, never afraid to make a fool of herself with me on the dance floor. My siblings mean the world to me....

I love my neices and nephews. Every single one of them! They are the loves of my life and always will be. They are the smiles that keep me going every morning and they are the laughter that fills my heart with sunshine on cloudy days! (Everyone knows they are the cutest things in the world too!)....

I love my friends! I throw around the term "best friend" a lot but those that truly are my best friends are the ones that have made the biggest impacts on my character. I have those that have been my friends forever, and those who have just recently become a big influence to me. My girls (you know who all are but to give specific recognition to Rachel, Ellie, Amanda, Allyson, Treasure, Taylor, Renee, and Amber) you girls are my loves as well. I can always count on you to be there! We all know that I am not a fan of having girl-friends so you are the special few! Rachel, you are by far my best friend. We think on the same wave-length ALL the time and I couldn't ask for Eric to have brought a better person into my life! Ellie, you are my big sis and always will be, no matter how far apart we live. Amanda, you are my little advice giver, my go to girl for any question I might have. Allyson, you are my little firecracker, ready to do whatever to have fun! Treasure, you are my office mate that I miss so much! Taylor, you are my little sis and I am so excited to see you grow into the mom I know you are going to be. Renee, you are my little mom, the mature one making sure the rest of us stay in check. Amber, you are my north star, my light on my pathway through life and I know you are going to be an amazing woman in the future! I love you girls to death!!! To all of my guy friends (and you know who you are and I don't need to pinpoint out each of you since guys do not like this kind of thing anyways but ) thanks for letting me be "one of the guys." I wouldn't trade my time with any of you (especially those of you who have stuck around for longer than a couple of months in my life). Eric, Austin, Chris, Ian, Corey, Drew, Nick, David, Danny, Marshall, Ryan, and Nathan... I love you boys! Thanks for putting up with me and my habits for longer than a week!! =) My friends are the best a girl could ever ask for!.....

As odd as this might sound, I love my ex's and my flings. Thank you for teaching me what a relationship should and shouldn't be. Thank you for showing me what I truly needed to find within myself before allowing my heart to be given to another. Thank you for showing me the difference between love and lust. Thank you for showing me that my heart is the most precious gift I could ever give someone and it should not be taken lightly.....

I love the freedom I have as an American because of the men and women who fight for that freedom on a daily basis. Thank you to those who are currently or who have ever served in the military! (By the way, I will be working starting this semester on a new organization called "Women of War" for Las Vegas. Majority of the services offered for military coming home from war are targeted towards men and I feel that something needs to be done for the women who are giving their time just as equally. If anyone is interested in helping, let me know)......

I love that I have been given the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the world that many people will never even see pictures of in their lifetimes. My adventures will continue throughout the world, as soon as school allows me the time.....

I love the joys of late night movies, cuddling in bed on a rainy day, kisses from my puppies, the New York Yankees, the Arizona Cardinals, my collection of books, being a girly girl and tom boy at the same time, flowers from someone I love on a random day, laughing to the point of crying with a friend when no one else in the room understands whats going on, youtube videos that become inside jokes and ringtones (ding ding ding ding ding ding), the ability to do what I want to do when I want to do it, the accomplishments I thought I would never have, and being an individual so unique that saying I fit the standard is far from the truth....

I love that I have the opportunity to further my education as a female in the U.S. We still do not make nearly as much as we should in the same profession as men but let me tell you, I'm going to be the most badass counselor any one will ever go to!....

I would love it if everyone would comment on here about at least one thing you love! Let's all share things that mean the most to us! I'd love to hear them!...

In closing, I love the person I have become and the person I know I am going to be in the future. My future is bright people so if you are coming along for the journey, make sure to bring your sunglasses!!


"God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry the weight."
- Reggie White