Hurdles, hurdles and more hurdles...

Focus on the race, focus on finishing.
Stress is stressful.
Just take it one day at a time.
I love you.

Wonderful things my friends and family have said and continue to say to me. I am trying, but this week has been one of bad 'ju-ju.' I just can't seem to win.

Oh and yesterday I came home and my computer was dead... Jon worked on it all night last night and tonight and it is fixed- YAY!

Okay enough whining-

Tonight Jon had Grumpy Old Men playing in the background- I just LOVE those movies, Grumpier Old Men is just as funny.... and the bloopers are hilarious. :)

Time for bed- I am exhausted.

old but good...

Blake & I -- 2004 (I think)

Rach, Me, Leah :)

Craig and I --Houston '04

Julia and I -- '03

Wendy & I-- my 20th birthday

Craig & Frankie -- Christmas 02

Pfeiffer family -- 2002 (pre Riley and Nick)

Mom and the boys-- 2002

Leah's birthday --'02

Mere being silly -- '04

Mandy in our house --'04

Tiff and I South Padre summer '04

Mere, Tiff and I -- Wichita Falls 04

Mom & Cindy -- Aug '04

Frankie, Dad and I -- Aug '04

Rach, Wendy, Leah and I -- '03 visit

Fun trip down memory lane :)

Time for PICTURES

YaY! Time for more pictures!!!

Mr. Big-- adorable as always

Jannibah and I at her podcast party!

The roses I got from Jon for Valentines day.the new daddy!!

Can you believe I have a picture that is exactly like this, from Mom's birthday, that was TEN YEARS AGO!!! :)

Mom & Uncle Jesse

Jon and I

Mom's table at dinner :)

Life

So, I don't think anyone actually reads this anymore but I will continue to write and post pictures. *That is really the point, isn't it?!

So, this morning I was riding the bus to work *the joys of campus transportation* at least I wasn't out in the snow. Back to the bus ride, I was listening to the people around me talk about mid-terms and what not when it suddenly hit me that in two months time I will be leaving Texas Tech for good. Kind of sent a shiver up my spine and caused me to gasp for air.

I have been at Texas Tech for almost seven years, the entirety of my adult life has been spent in Lubbock, Texas and in two very short months I will be packing my bags and leaving my home. (Mom, don't get upset because I called it home, Briarwood will always be home-home, Lubbock is though I mean seriously seven years in one (West Texas) city... JEEZ)

I guess I am just getting the 'moving on with life' jitters, what if I have acclimated so much to West Texas that I move and I am considered a FREAK!?

Okay, not serious, but I am serious in my reluctance to pack up and leave this place where I have changed so much (for the better and worse), grown up, figured things out (a few things anyways), made friends, lost friends, gained love, and made memories to last a lifetime. When I moved out here in August of 2001 I was in the mind-set of four years- get in, get out, get on with my life. Obviously the four years came and went and I was still here and then I graduated and was torn between wanting to leave this city and wanting to stay so badly. Love makes you feel crazy.  I was given the opportunity to attend graduate school and for the first time I recognized that I do have a passion for learning and figuring things out. During the last two years I have spent in Lubbock some things have changed so much and some things have stayed exactly the same.

I know that it is time to move on; I know that Lubbock and Texas Tech are just a part of what my life has in store for me, but it sure is frightening to think about leaving the city I have been in for seven years and leaving the only career I have mastered so far- being a student. (19 solid years of education)
In reflecting on Lubbock and my life thus far: I will be sad to leave this city, not as thrilled as I once imagined, but I will embrace the next phase of my life with wide open arms and of course the same anxiety everyone knows I have. I am not scared of change, I love it, I am just going through the jitters of turning my world upside down and hoping I come out on top.