Where I come from

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Growing up I never truly valued my hometown. Don't get me wrong, I had nothing against it...it was just one of those things where I wanted to move away to college and get a job working in a big ol' city. My hometown is the perfect low-key, you know people but not exactly their entire life story kinda town. A town that is perfect for settling down and raising a family.

Just not a single girl town.

Today I realized how much I really do value my hometown and how I have never been more proud to say it's where I am from and where I call home.

Yesterday I did a post about how our community lost one of our own, he died August 4th in combat in Afghanistan.

Yesterday was his homecoming.

I wasn't able to attend, but I am ever so grateful for the many residents that literally stopped what they were doing and came out to wave flags, show off their home made posters, and honor the man who fought and died for our country.

These are just a few pictures, taken by my local city paper...as I looked through these pictures, I was overcome with so much pride to not only be an American but to be from this town that I have always called home.

If you were to ask me what I think America is. This is it.  People from all walks of life, from retired military, business men/women, teachers, children, fireman, police officers, bikers...everyone rallying together to celebrate the life of someone they may have never known. They were lined up on the highway for miles and miles. There wasn't an empty spot.

I have never been more proud to not only be an American, but to say that this town...is where I come from.

God bless America.

Photo credit via here

A homecoming

I try not to talk about such heavy or controversial topics on this little blog of mine, but today I have a heavy heart.

In the last couple of weeks Oklahoma has lost about four or five soldiers to the war. One of them being from my hometown.

Today he is coming home.

I didn't know this man, and unfortunately I will never get the chance to know him.

Sgt. Anthony Peterson died August 4, 2011 while serving our country in Afghanistan, he was 24 years old. A son, brother, father, best friend and a man of God.

As I type this, my hometown and hopefully thousands of residents are lining the streets to pay tribute to this fallen solider as he is brought home and layed to rest.

The outpouring of love and support and kind words for this man is abundant. I have learned so much about the man he was, just from what everyone says about him on facebook.

"He lived with character. He lived with purpose. His name wasn't known to most. BUT, he died with that same character and that same purpose. Now, look at all who knows the name Sgt Anthony Peterson. Proof that how you live matters." from a friend on FB

My entire news feed are statuses like this about this great man of God.

Now, with all this love and out pouring support there is a church, I am sure y'all have heard about them. Westboro Baptist church. This is the church that protests at military funerals and they have listed on their website that they will be protesting this Sgt.'s. funeral.

I try not to get into politics and religion, and I am not going to for the most part, however, I will say this. As a Christian woman, I do not understand how a church can protest and say that a life, a man of God, doesn't deserve a homecoming or that his life didn't matter.

His life mattered. His risked his life for our lives. Does the sound familiar to anyone?

Hopefully between a group called the Patriot Guard Riders and the many residents of my town, will show up in full force and stop these people from protesting.

I just want this man, who fought and died for our country to come home to the homecoming he so greatly deserves.

May you rest in peace Sgt. Anthony Peterson, thank you for all you did for me and my country. Your home now and please if you see a blonde hair beauty, wearing cowboy boots, tell her I said Hi!

 

I have a problem

a sugar problem.

Yes, I have said it before...I am addicted to the sweets.

I love them all. Cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, candy bars.

You name it, I eat it.

I didn't realize the extent of my problem until yesterday.

See, I didn't really do much this weekend or go anywhere, I needed a weekend of nothingness. I needed to organize my closets, drawers, etc. Just chill and catch up on my dvr.

Well, I also didn't go to the grocery store and buy normal food either.

I made cupcakes on Thursday for my mom.

This weekend I ate them all, well not all of them but most of them.

I know, I hate to admit it, but it's true. I ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Honestly I didn't eat anything but cupcakes.

Oh, I had some cookies too.

My body is cringing at the thought of running off all these sugary calories.

What is wrong with me?

I have a bachelors in nutrition...I know better than this.

Good grief, I have a sugar problem, Facebook must know of this because this morning I saw an article that "Self" magazine posted and it spoke to me.

It's how to overcome your sugar addiction.

For all you other sugar-olics, I know you are out there, here is an article on how to kick that habit.

http://goop.com/newsletter/103/%20%20'

Wish me luck, because I have a feeling I am going to be a grumpy, grumpy girl not having any sugar.

 

Confessions

I think it's time I make some confessions, don't you?

I confess that last night I made some red velvet cupcakes for my mom...but really more for me so I could lick the bowl and the spoon afterwards. Yes, I am five years old in case you were wondering.

I confess that I am now officially addicted to pinterest. Just like everyone else in the blogger world. I absolutely love it and waste more time doing that than anything else.

With that being said, I confess that I made a wedding board. I am no where close to getting married...a boyfriend would be nice, but I figured I need to put it out there. The universe needs to know I have a wedding board.

Speaking of...the universe is apparently listening to me because the other day I did a post about how I wanted fall like weather and low and behold...Oklahoma got some fall like weather.

Universe...I want a million dollars...I want a million dollars.

Just sayin'

Does it make me sound crazy to keep saying "universe", oh well : )

This isn't really a confession, but I just wanted to say that I am LOVING Adele's song, "Someone like you."

I just can't get enough of it.

I do confess that the other night while I was drinking my bottle of wine, I sang to it. Out loud. While taking a bubble bath.

I think that's all I have to confess for now.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

 

One glass of wine too many

Just a fair warning ladies...this blog may make no sense whatsoever...not that it probably really ever does, but I actually have a reason this time.

I've had about a half a bottle of wine

It's ok...I'm of age.

Speaking of age, I am turning 27 in two weeks.

2 freakin 7

You know what I thought my life would be like when I turned 27?

Not this.

I for sure thought I would have married my college sweetheart(if I had one), and have a least one child or expecting one.

Ya, not so much.

Obviously I am not married, and that college sweetheart...if that's what you want to call him, got married a month ago.

It's ok, I am not bitter or anything.

Children...do my fur babies count?

But you see, even though my life isn't at all what I thought it would be like approaching the ripe ol' age of 27...I'm ok with that...because God knows what he is doing.

26 was pretty good to me, I didn't really do anything that I said I would do like Jump out of a plane, ride in a hot air balloon, get another tatoo, get married(I think you have to be in a relationship longer than 3 months for that to happen)...but I did have a pretty good year.

And all that stuff is for sure on the agenda to accomplish in my 27th year as well as run a half marathon.

Wish me luck on that one.

I did however get to spend time with my baby brother during his senior year, that's something you can't ever get back, celebrate his 18th birthday and we have grown a lot closer and I couldn't ask for anything better.

26 brought some big changes in my life, things I never expected, but it's nothing I can't handle. I think if this big changed had happened at any other point in my life I wouldn't have been able to deal with it as well.

So with that being said--if any of it made sense--I am looking forward to turning another year older, another year wiser...who knows this time next year as I approach my 28 birthday I could be writing about my upcoming wedding....you never know : )

Oh the possibilities. .

Want to see pic's of this blolnde Okie through the ages?

Well that won't happen tonight because I don't feel like scanning old pictures in. This half bottle of wine makes me sleepy.

I will however leave you with birthday pictures of my 20s, aren't you excited?

Somehow my 21st pictures have gone missing...I wonder why??

22nd birthday--favorite birthday ever

23rd birthday--last birthday with DonEtta



24th Bday

25th Birthday

26th birthday

Clearly by the many sombreros in the pictures it's obvious I like maragaritas on my birthday.

I plan on having one for my 27th.

Well, I think that is all...my wine glass is empty and I should go to bed.

Peace and love y'all

Dreaming of fall...

I heard a disturbing fact on the news this morning. Disturbing, because it's true. So very true.

Oklahoma was the HOTTEST, yes hottest state for the entire month of July.

Trust me.

Ever since I came back from my trip where I got to wear a fleece jacket and a scarf and experience fall like weather. I have been day dreaming of temps in the 70s.

I wonder what that's like...

So, today we are going to talk about fall. Don't get me wrong I love summer and I definitely remember when I was in a blizzard back in February and never ever want to experience that again...but a girl can't deal with 120 degrees. It's like a constant blow dryer is blowing in my face.

I dream of the day when College Football starts...in particular my Cowboys.

Go pokes.

I can't wait for the games

The scarves...

Pistol Pete...well, kinda pistol pete.

I can just smell the pumpkin spice latte's at Starbucks

I'm ready to wear my boots, blazers and scarves.

Essie even has their fall colors out...

but I won't wish away the summer just yet....after all we still have a lot let to do.

More lake time

Going to Kansas city to a water park for my birthday in two weeks.

Yes, I will be 27. Yes, I am going to a water park.

Until then, I will be very thankful for my A/C and the 90 degree temps we are having this week...it's crazy what a 10 degree difference can do.



Last day in San Francisco

I think I have been putting off the last post about my trip to San Francisco because I am in denial that it's over and that I have been back in the real world for a week now.

I have post vacation blues.

That and I left 50 degree weather and came back to scorching 114 degree temps.

I still haven't recovered yet.

So, here it is the very last day of the most amazing trip ever.

You may know the real reason we went to San Francisco was to run in the San Francisco Marathon. Three of did the progressive and we ran a 5k, but Miss Football is a rock star and ran the half marathon.

Yes, rock star.

This is us at 5:00 in the morning catching the bus to the race, we didn't run until about 7:45 or so, but we had to see Miss Football off. Please excuse the no make-up.

Before the race...

We saw Miss Football off and we were waiting to get a picture of her as she was starting the race, we found her and she had this panic look on her face, she yelled at us that her ipod isn't working. Like dead. As in the two girls who used her computer the night before to sing Karaoke were supposed to have charged it and somehow it didn't get charged.

She ran 13.1 miles without music.

I can't even run 3 miles without music.

She also ran 13.1 miles with Amy Winehouse's song "Rehab" in her head.

No...no...no...

Our rock star

After the race we all celebrated with breakfast...but mainly we were there for the post race mimosa's

Then we spent the rest of the day walking the city...because that's what you do after you run, you walk an entire freaking city.

It's amazing what a shower, make-up and non sweaty clothes can do for a person.

We went to where the "Full house" house is...it made for the perfect photo op

It wouldn't be a girls trip without representing our Alma Mater

Photo shoot in the park...why not?

After all the paparazzi we headed out to Pier 39 for you guessed it more photos



Probably my favorite picture of us ever and you can't even see our faces...



Lastly we ended the night with the best Italian food I have ever had at Pinocchio's



It was the perfect day to end the perfect girls weekend.

I love these girls with all my heart and I am so incredibly blessed to call them my best friends....here's to many many more girls weekends!

Xoxo