The last day

Today is the lastday in my apartment. By tonight I will be packed and everything will be gone except my bedding. In the morning I will ball that up and throw it in the car and turn in my keys. Then when I get out of school tomorrow I will drive back to Plano to my momma's house where I will be staying until I get married. I am actually really excited to move in with my mom. I think it will be very good for the both of us. It will give me a break from paying rent and possibly allow me to get ahead of my money. And I think it will be good for my mom to have someone around that she can ask to help out and will actually do it without protest. Now I am sure I will have my moments but I now know what it takes to keep up a whole house so to just have to do part of it will be a break for me! But with this excitement does come some saddness of leaving my apartment. I lived here for 2 years and it was my very first apartment to ever live in. Sure there have been times when living here wasn't very fun but over all me and my roomates had lots of fun. Well normally they had more fun than I did since I wasn't being funded but we really did have some good times. Plus it was my first on my own pay for yourself place and I think it was a good apartment for that. Anyway, as most of you know I am completely emotional about everything. So I sit here in my almost completely empty apartment and I am sad that I have to go, but I know that what lies ahead will be wonderful too!

Blessed with siblings

I was walking to my class yesterday at 7:15am and for some reason I started thinking about how I am completely blessed by my siblings. This is one of those things that you are completely aware of at all times but you don't really ever express it because you assume that they already know. But lately I have had the feeling of being very distant from my siblings. My sister recently was in town and we went to the mall and just got to be sisters for a day and I think that is what has sparked my feelings of being distant. Anyway so I decided to let you guys know why I am blessed by my siblings. (By siblings I also mean my siblings-in-law).

Sarah- Sarah is my older sister. She is someone that I have looked up to my whole life because of how strong of a woman she is. She has a way of standing up for what she thinks is right and doing what she knows is right and still keeps everyone else happy at the same time. She has a very giving and kind heart and always knows how to make you feel special. In the past two years I have had more of a reason to look up to her for how great of a mother she is. She is very patient and laid back with her children. She is very wise and they will learn a lot from her as they grow into wonderful people. Sarah's faith in the lord is something to be jealous of. She stands tall and strong next to her heavenly father and never falters from him. My sister is one of the most well rounded and loving people you will ever meet. I am extremely blessed that I have her!

Landon- Landon is my brother-in-law. He is a wonderful person to just sit and talk to. He knows so much about so many things. The best part is that he is never judgmental. He has so many things in his life that are going in the right direction but no matter what direction your life is going in he is simply there to listen and help guide you to where you need to be. No judgemental questions or comments. He cares so much for the people he is surrounded by and puts his heart into them. He is Sarah's husband so I have also had the privilege to watch him parent. He has so much to offer his children. He will be there with open arms for them no matter what. They will have a rock to hold them all of their life because he will always be there. He has a way of showing his love to his children that they will always cherish. His faith in the lord is deeper than anyone may ever truly know. You can just see how the lord has blessed him and how humble he truly is. I am extremely blessed that I have him!

Scott- Scott is my older brother. He is someone else I have looked up to my whole life. He is so confident in who he is and where he wants to go in his life. There is nothing that can hold him back. I have always been envious of how much of a gentlemen Scott is. He is has the ability to be surrounded by people who are selfish and have no interest in others, and still care for them and show them love in stride. Like there is no reason not to care and love for them. He holds himself high and so just being around him makes you stand tall and proud. He is extremely smart. Just having a simple conversation with him you can tell that he embraces knowledge and he is just blessed with intelligence. He is one of the most graceful with his faith. He constantly is setting the example that the Lord put him on the earth to set, but in a very soft way. He doesn't push anything on anyone they simply want to be closer to the Lord because they know that is where he gets his peace and happiness from. He is so positive and there little that can make him falter. I am extremely blessed that I have him!

Kelly- Kelly is my sister-in-law. She has been in my life since my freshmen year in college. She is someone that you just want to label as perfect. She has a way of putting everyone before herself but still keeps herself very well put together. She loves everyone no matter what walk of life they come from. She is someone you want to just learn from. She has so much to offer anyone, and all you have to do is ask and offer she will. She embraces everyone she meets to the fullest. She has an tremendously caring heart. She is so sweet and loving in everything she does. She is also very close with the Lord. This is why she is so confident in who she is and where she is going in this world. She embraces the Lord with everything she has, and you can see that from just being around her and watching the way she works. She is secure in her relationship with the Lord and has no problem sharing that with you. She is one of the most uplifting people to be around, and after being around her you just want to go and make yourself better. I am extremely blessed that I have her!

Travis- Travis is my little brother. He is my weak spot. If there was anything that would hurt me it would be if something happened to Travis. He is someone who has so much potential. He has endured so much is his life already that has made him very strong. He is someone that I wish I could just let him see how wonderful he is. He cares very much about the people around him even if he thinks he is to cool to show it sometimes. He is unbelievably smart. He may not always think he is but if he really puts his mind to anything is will be done almost perfectly. He has so much to offer this world and in time I know he will. I wish I could give him the world because he deserves it. He holds the Lord close and I know that will prove to be the best for him. I love to be around Travis because he is so fun and sweet. He can always bring a smile to my face. I am extremely blessed that I have him!

Dear siblings,
I hope you all know how much I really do love you. I am not always the best with putting my feelings into words, so I did the best I could. I will forever cherish every single one of you because of how unique each of you are. You will never know how much all of you have touched and shaped my life and I will forever be thankful for that. Thank you for always being there for me without question, and I hope one day to return the favor. I cannot explain how blessed I am, and I know the Lord put each of you in my life for very specific reasons. I love you all and I forever will.

-Laura

A Bittersweet day

So I got two test grades back today and I WISH I could tell you that they both were just great... but unfortunately only one was good...

On my Probability and Statistics test I got a 95%!!!! YAY!
On my Anatomy test I did not..... I'm so sad about my Anatomy test that I can't even get excited about my 95% on my other test. Curse you Anatomy and Physiology!!

Hula Hoop Champ... Or something like that....

So on my last post I talked about the Wii Fit... Well we made Kyla a profile so she can play with it to and we let her try the Hula Hoop one, and lets just say she is NOT going to be a Hula Hoop Champion any time soon....

ENJOY!

This is our FamWii.

Ha Ha! I love it!

Taylor was doing Lunges on the Wii Fit and Kyla just stood up and got behind him and started doing them with him. How Sweet is that?!?!?!?!?

Wii Fit

Ok if any of you know my fiance you know he is a big video gamer. You might also know that I am not a big fan of video games, especially if played for hours and hours on end. Since we have been together we have, however, found a gaming system that we do enjoy to play together. The Wii. It combines video games (which Taylor loves) with being active and constantly moving (which I love). But now Wii has out done itself. I loved bowling and playing tennis and dodge ball and all the games that we can play on the Wii. Now they have put out the Wii Fit. You may have heard of this great system. It comes with a balance board and there are many things you can do from yoga to balance games to strength exercises. Since I heard it was coming out I told Taylor I wanted one, he was like yeah ok. So for his birthday (July 31st) I got him one. But I could not wait to open it so I gave it to him early and we have been playing with it. Which brings me to why I am posting. I have never been so sore in my life. The game kicks your butt! I mean it is awesome because you workout in your own house and you have an instructor reminding you to breath and keep your center of balance. The thing that I think is totally awesome about it is that it doesn't let you go on to more advanced things or more reps of things until you have mastered the beginners version. Also, it takes your weight and your BMI (Body Mass Index which takes your weight and your height and tells you if for your height if your weight puts you in a normal body composition range, a over weight body composition range, and an obese body composition range.) and depending on where you are in that range it helps you set a goal to lose X amount of pounds in either 2 weeks or a month and it helps you track it. Everyday you work out you take a body test and it keeps a graph of your progress! It is like the coolest thing EVER! If you have a Wii you HAVE TO GET IT! I cannot believe that a video game it so freaking cool. I love love love love love love love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Difficulties

This is something that I struggle with a lot and I definitely have issue with it when the ones I love have to face it but in truth....

Difficulties are aways there. They are a part of life. And it is good they are there, otherwise there would be no growth. Difficulties are challenges. They provoke you to work, to think, to find ways to overcome them. The very effort is essential. So always take difficulties as blessings.

It is a hard thing to do but sometimes the result will take you to somewhere so much better! Keep your prayers flowing and your chin up.

Dead Presidents

I hate money. It is the cause of too many horrible things. I mean it might be possible that I would like it more if I wasn't constantly struggling to have enough but truly I still think I would hate it.

Super Target

I have found that when I go Super Target just to get one or two things I ALWAYS end up there for at least an hour and ALWAYS end up with more than two things. I just went to get a new planner for school because my current planner ends in August. So I went and I ended up spending $72.00 and I didn't even get a planner! Totally ridiculous! Another thing that I think is funny about Super Target is that for some reason I always end up having a very emotional trip when I go there... I think it is because there is so much there and it just hits every aspect of my life.
For example I was just there and these are some of the feelings I had:

• I find it sad that there is now specific cards for support for those suffering from breast cancer. Don't get me wrong that is great but that means that the relevance of breast cancer is so great that there is a demand for such cards. This makes me sad.
• I am not sure why but I get very emotional about my sister having children. (I don't know if it is just her or if it will be any of my siblings but Sarah is the only one with children so this is my only experience of it.) anytime I am looking at something for them or her while she is pregnant or anything like that I always cry. So I am sitting in the middle of Super Target looking at a card to give her for her baby shower present and I am like bawling crying at every card I read. I am just so thankful that she is my sister and her children are very lucky to have her as a mom, that i just get super emotional about it I guess.. but it always happens.
• Then from the card section I went to the club wed section and was looking at some Wedding invitations that you can print yourself and I got super excited for my wedding day. I just cannot wait to be married and be a wife!
• Then I went looking for a planner and they have like 2 and they are either the size of me or a pocket size one that you can fit a three letter word on each day. Totally annoyed!
• And then I proceed to the check-out and the lady scans my stuff and tells me my total of $72.12. I swipe my debit card. And my mood goes to depressed because I just spent $72.00 when all I needed was a planner.

So in the Hour and a half that I was at Super Target. I felt sad, thankful, excited, annoyed, and depressed. This cannot be normal!

WaaaAAAALLLLLL-E

So Taylor and Kyla and I went to go see Wall-E tonight and I LOVED IT!!!! Taylor actually liked it too! And of course Kyla loved it!! It was so cute and of course Pixar never lets me down!! The other thing that I thought was very interesting what the MAJOR messages that it sent. I would talk more about it but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. But the big messages were very surprising to me for a kids movie. But I LOVED IT JUST THE SAME! In fact I think it might have made me like it more! So if you haven't seen it GO!

Study Break

Yes your read the time stamp correctly. It is almost 2:00 in the morning. I am up and studying for my Anatomy Lab test that I have tomorrow. I really hate to study... Mostly all it does is make my back hurt a whole whole lot and I get bored of looking at the same thing so I always end up doing something that has NOTHING to do with what I am supposed to be studying for. (i.e. Blogging) So mostly I end up cramming right before my test. Somehow I seem to pull it off most of the time but one of these days (Physical Therapy School) I am not going to be able to do this and I am gonna fail miserably. But until such a day I will with out a doubt study by cramming right before my test. Because I can get away with it... So I guess I will go and try to continue studying since time is a factor at this point!

Good night!

Free slurpee

So today is July 11th.... which if you write that in numbers the date is 7-11. Yes like the gas station that sells slurpees. And on this very day they give away free slurpees. So I had a thought...

Since my wedding is 7-11-2009 do you think we could just have my reception be that we go to 7-11 and get free slurpees? I think it would ROCK! Anyway I'm just saying I think it would be totally wonderful!!!! Just a thought!!!

And the Count Down Begins!!!!!!!!!

Today officially marks ONE YEAR until my Wedding! I am so excited and I just can't wait. I know that for some ONE YEAR might seem like a long time but I'm sure that in this case ONE YEAR will come very quickly and I am very excited!!! According to my many checklists this month I have to:

1. Make sure to insure my engagement ring (Done!)
2. Start interviewing caterers
3. Scout out reception sites (IN THE PROCESS)
4. Start looking for an officiant who suits my style and spirit
5. Book my reception site as soon as i see something I love and that's available on July 11, 2009!!!!
6. If I am having an engagement party I should be setting a date, drafting a guest list, and purchasing my invitations. (I thought people were supposed to plans that for me...... WHATEVER!!!)
7. Begin working on a preliminary wedding guest list and decide on my wedding's approximate size. (DONE)
8. Get organized! Start a notebook/file folder to house all your wedding-planning paperwork in one place. (DONE!)
9. Choose your bridesmaids/groomsmen and ask them to be in the wedding party (DONE!)

I've already started or completed most. I am so ahead of myself I don't even know it! Anyway I am super excited and I can't wait to be married to the most wonderful man in the world Taylor Long! As for now, I will continue to check things off my list.

I CAN'T WAIT TO BE MRS. LONG!!!

I USED to love Texas heat...

Until the air conditioner in my car stopped working. This happened about 2 weeks ago and I thought maybe it would just start working again. But it hasn't. It is AWFUL! I can't get in my car and go somewhere without having to take a shower when I reach my destination. It is very frustrating and very HOT! Would anyone like to donate their air conditioner to me? If so please contact me!

I love you to the moon and back

How cute is this necklace?

I got it for Kyla, and there is a book that has that saying

at the end and it always makes me cry. I got it from coolmompicks.com

which I found on my sisters blog. Anyway, I LOVE IT!!!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalms 139:13-16

My Favorite

Does anyone find it weird that my favorite place to cry is in the Shower? Well if you do too bad because it is. I just took a 30 min shower and just sobbed through the whole thing. Everyone needs a good cry. Next time try it in the shower YOU'LL LOVE IT!!

School Update

So the grades for Summer 1 have been posted and I didn't do as well as I had hopped but I suppose it will have to do. In Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture I got an A in the Lab I got a B (NOT HAPPY) and then in my Quantitative Analysis in Kinesiology Class I got a B (this is a B I am actually quite proud of. Most people take this class more than once and it is VERY difficult to do well in...). So that's a Summer 1 GPA of 3.43 but an overall Summer GPA of 3.6 so far. Which I guess isn't too horrible.... I just started Summer 2 on Monday and I am taking the second half of Anatomy and Physiology and Elementary Probability and Statistics. It shouldn't be a bad semester. I will keep you posted as things go along.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!!!!

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!!!! I hope everyone has a great one and has fun watching fireworks!! Me and my family went to Kaboom town last night and Ellie LOVES LOVES LOVES fireworks! She wanted to go to them!!! She is so CUTE! Anyway HAPPY FOURTH!

Hello World.

Well, so if you read my last blog you know my life is very chaotic right now but I do get a little break this weekend. I have my last two tests tomorrow and then I don't have to think about school until Monday. Also, my sweet baby niece Ellie is coming into town with her very pregnant mommy and her daddy. I'm so excited to see them! I miss them so much!! As far as how chaotic my life is, I'm sure it will start up again on Monday because I am taking similar classes during the second summer session. I will do my best to blog more this coming up summer session. I'm sure I can do it if I put my mind to it. :) For now though I must go and study some more for my tests tomorrow. I will be sure to blog my grades once they are posted. Wish me LUCK!!!