life through bon's eyes

One Reason Why I Love America.

2010-01-19T13:01:00.001-05:00

We should be very proud today.

http://literallygenevieveclare.com/post/342767826/anderson-cooper-rescues-boy-from-looting-spree

Sidenote, that blog is one of my favorites, so you should follow her now :)

is this possible?

2009-11-09T22:34:00.004-05:00

didn't we just get to college and start wondering who on earth everyone would end up with? we can't possibly be old enough for bachelorette parties, right? WRONG. just spent the last weekend celebrating miss annie booth's singledom in a big way in the big easy. i'll spare you allll the gory details but basically there were cajun seasoning, margaritas, b52s AND 57 chevy's, pat o's, trolley cars, blingin' rings, karaoke (ish), speeches, guitars, crabs, mcdonald's, pizza (for the chosen few), taxi's, tiara's and love. lots and lots of love.

can't wait til January 23rd. until then, there's this:

someone stop me before i get to this point.

2009-11-01T20:38:00.001-05:00

oh, and happy halloweeeeeen.

i'm running out of time

2009-10-27T19:43:00.003-04:00

ok maybe I am not really running out of time, but it is definitely running away from me at a rapid rate. As an example of this, please read the article below and know that I would definitely be guilty of this, since I walk through metro stations every single day, and try my hardest not to stop. I'll think twice about that next time.

http://bitsofwisdom.org/2009/10/21/interesting/perception/

crab cakes and football...that's what maryland does!

2009-04-28T21:52:00.006-04:00

we took an adventure out to annapolis for sunday funday this week, to get out of the city on the hottest day (90 degrees!) of the year so far. it was literally one of the most perfect days I've had in a while, sitting on the dock drinking beer and then cracking open some crabs at cantlers inn. ok, it was also the messiest day i've had in a while, as you'll see in the pictures below. those poor crabs never stood a chance. i felt very "new england" sitting in maryland, eating crab and drinking yeungling on a dock and getting sunburnt because we have all just barely survived a long, cold winter ;) good thing dc doesn't do spring and we jumped straight into summer this week! hello, sunshine!

so what should i plan for this summer? got any ideas for trips, activities, sunday fundays in the future? or you can all just come visit so you can also take part in them too. because i am not moving back south anytime soon. my heart is in this district. well, most of it anyways...

before

and after...

hey life, please slow down. love, bonnie

2009-03-29T20:52:00.004-04:00

so it's been a while. i know. Thanks to my dear friend crob, i am updating but don't know where to start! Today was one of those days. the great days. The sun came out, I ran around some monuments and watched sweet kiddies fly kites, and then meg and I sat and watched the world go by from our porch steps. life doesn't get much better. seriously.

whit came to visit last weekend which was just what i needed and a little pick-me-up when i was missing home and loved ones. she is such a wonderful friend to me and i am lucky to have her in my life. we also had a bevy of other visitors, making our house seem like a hostel for a few weeks but we love it and welcome anyone who wants to visit the district! You'll fall in love with this place just like i have. plus i just have cool roommates.

And, for fun, here are a small list of my favorite blogs, which I think everyone should check out for a laugh or just a good read:

Next weekend is the cherry blossom festival in DC, which means pretty flowers, a parade and japanese food, oh and also brett. well, he's not really part of the festival but he'll be here all the same so i put him in the same category...

priceless moments

2009-01-08T20:33:00.002-05:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. I just got to spend a perfect week cruising the caribbean with an amazing family who, no matter how far I am away, is loving and supportive and hilarious. It didn't seem long enough, but I am so very very grateful for the time I did get to spend with them. I danced to single ladies with my sister Claire (she is 14 now, duh), zip lined with James (who is a lot braver than I am), laughed with Lisa (whose laugh can light a room), listened to my grandparents as they told the stories of their growth, and watched my parents who are more in love than ever. Life is good.

Yes, I may have gotten delayed and stranded in Atlanta by Delta, but that meant I could see Brett which was unexpected, surprising and perfect. We "luck" out a lot. What I mean to say is God's plan is working pretty great right now, with little or no help from me- that's for sure. My delayedness also meant I got to work a half-day of work on Monday by accident, giving me a trial run before heading back into 9-hour work days. This month is going to be crazy, but that's just the way I like it! I will not complain about being busy in an economy like this. I am simply blessed.

a very merry-tacky-wonderful-joyful christmas to you

2008-12-14T11:46:00.003-05:00

Just to be cliche, I love Christmas. I especially love Christmas in DC. I am lucky enough to live with a sweet Christmas elf who decorated our house to look like a beautiful winter wonderland, which I personally would like to keep well after the January 1 norm. Brett came to visit last weekend and how perfect that we should run into Santarchy 2k8. What is that you say? Click on the link here to find out. Suffice it to say, about 200 santas were running around the washington monument like crazy people. I think they might have actually been crazy. Well, anyway it definitely put us in the Christmas spirit. Oh wait, then a week later I went to nyc and what did I find? Santarchy 2k8 AGAIN. Just call me mrs. claus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

change and stuff

2008-11-05T20:19:00.004-05:00

yup. I live here. ok maybe not in the white house, but here in the nation's capitol. This week has really been the most amazing time to be in DC. No, I did not vote for Obama, but regardless of your political beliefs, this is a distinct moment in time. And we (hopefully) all took part in it. Everyone I know voted. Everyone knows more about what they believe than ever before. We are the most informed group of voters there has ever been, and that is very cool. When I walked into the poll booth to vote at the hospital around the corner from us here on A St. yesterday, I felt even more alive and more like I belong here in this city. Today, walking down the street, people were fired up and passionate and excited for the future, which is great, no matter your party. McCain went out with conviction and with honor, and for that I am so very very grateful . Our country has a long way to go from here, but I am confident that we will be ok. To top all of that off, I got to go to the Republican National Committee election party last night, courtesy of my dear friend Caitlin. It was a tad depressing, yes, but also just very "DC" and fun. Courtney came too and we celebrated the election being over and acted like we belonged there :)

Last weekend we all hiked in Shenandoah, VA and enjoyed the beauty that surrounds this city. A little adventure trying to find the highway. Ok, maybe the hard part was actually getting onto the highway. My bad. but we finally got on the road and made it there and back in one piece. Didn't even have to fight a bear or anything. Caitlin totally would have bailed and left me and Courtney to survive on our own. That's definitely how she would last 2 weeks in the wilderness while any normal person would not. Cheater. I love new friends and new places and new adventures. Life is pretty good and I am incredibly blessed. More to come...

transitions

2008-10-11T09:00:00.001-04:00

I had a few requests for more pictures of my life in dc, so here you go! The first one is our view of the capitol building from about two streets over. Seriously. The next two are of our house and the street we live on! We are living on Capitol Hill which is a very residential, cute area with trees and sidewalks and row houses. I walk to the metro for work and we are really close to Eastern Market which is an open-air market on weekends and has lots of fun restaurants and cafes. Since I had never seen the area or our place before moving day, this is way better than I imagined and is perfect for us. I know this isn't a long post, but hope that gives a little more of an idea of where I am and what I'm up to!

lovin' america

2008-09-16T20:18:00.005-04:00

I made it! A little bit delayed on the update, but I now live in dc in a sweet little house with two fabulous roommates and a challenging but wonderful job. Am I blessed or what? It almost seems too easy and perfect. Amazing to think that four weeks ago I had no place to live and was stressed beyond belief. No need to be restless and anxious, because in the end, it really does work out.

I am literally living the dream in the nation's capitol. I still look at the monuments and incredibly important buildings around me and think I can't believe I am lucky enough to live here and call this my home. Pretty amazing.

Side note, my job is awesome. On Thursday I worked a press conference for a client who happens to have Michael Phelps as a spokesperson, so I got to have lunch with him and hang out for almost an hour. Basically, he's pretty great and seriously one of the nicest people I've met. Down to earth and normal, which is hard to believe, but so true! I'm now a big fan and might even have a tiny (ok HUGE) crush ;).

While I really am having the time of my life in dc, I really do miss home and family and friends sometimes, so make sure to keep in touch and keep my updated on what's going on with you. and you have a place to stay anytime you're in the neighborhood or want to plan a super fun trip!

my greatest adventure yet

2008-08-14T15:48:00.003-04:00

Well, it's happening. I am moving to DC in a little over two weeks! I'm still having a little bit of trouble letting it sink in that this is it. this is my real life. I got a job at Ketchum PR which I am incredibly excited/nervous/anxious about. This summer, interning at Weber in Atlanta, I have met some of my most favorite people in the world and will not be happy to leave. Not even a little. My Ketchum coworkers are going to have a LOT to live up to. Even though this is an internship and not a "real" job, everyone here has been welcoming, patient and helpful. Not to mention they are really fun and young and hilarious. Today, my boss decided she will set me up with her cousin. He is 42. This is bad.

I still really might cry next week when I leave (hopefully without a stalker 42-year-old). I realize this is just a job, but the people here are friends now and I'm sad to leave. I'm also sad to leave my family and friends, but know this is something I am meant to do and really need to go out and see someplace new. I will end up back in Atlanta, I have no doubt, but for a while I'll be attempting to make it work in DC.

After an entire year of worrying and dreaming and thinking, I have finally made a real decision and am sticking with it. Crazy. I don't know if I ever thought I'd live in DC, but here I go anyway. Crazy. I'm homeless and have no real plan other than a job right now. Crazy. I have never jumped like this, without knowing every little detail of my life and planning every step, but this is a true test of my character and my motivation. Here goes! I really do need your thoughts and prayers that everything will work out. And also you must come visit. I repeat: you must come visit.

That is all.

game time

2008-07-30T16:04:00.002-04:00

Life happened to me in the last few weeks. I always said that once I got back from our family trip to South Africa, I'd get serious about finding a job and figuring out my life decisions. Well, guess what: I'm back. Scared out of my mind but feeling like it is definitely time to live by faith even when I'm fearful. Maybe especially when I am.

Our trip was literally the most amazing family adventure we have ever had. I laughed more and appreciated the people around me more than ever before. My family is amazing. Simple as that.

While over there, I got a call for a phone interview and ended up doing it from Kruger National Park- aka. in the bush with the monkeys. It went pretty well and I flew out to DC this week for an interview. Even though all of this is quick and overwhelming and serious, I feel this is right. I'll make final decisions about moving soon, but right now it's looking like I may be leaving Atlanta to start somewhere new! With or without an offer from this company, I need to get serious about where to put my jobsearch effort, because I was not made to be an intern forever (though I loooove the company I work for now. stupid economic downturn.).

So for everyone wondering what all these vague explanations mean: I am thinking about a move but nothing is final. Any suggestions, comments, concerns? Someone just tell me what to do. No, seriously, do it.

mayhem

2008-05-31T13:11:00.002-04:00

In case you live in a hole, Sex and the City opened yesterday and I am fairly certain all females between the ages of 17-50(and all gay men) were in attendance- at least at Phipps AMC they were. The line went around the atrium and I don't know if I've ever seen aggression from a bunch of girls like that. Chaos. It even required a security guard on a Segway, duh. But all in all that may have been the most animated and excited audience I've ever been in for a movie and I thoroughly enjoyed my $11 viewing...yikes.

The job at Weber Shandwick (ok, internship) is going very well and I have learned so much in my short three weeks already. They tend to take older interns whom they expect a lot from and I am honored to have been given the responsibility- can't wait to see what happens out of this opportunity. I do have typical (fun?) intern duties too, though. Yesterday Caroline, my sidekick, and I got the duty of carrying a 10 foot tall sign down the service elevator, to the loading dock and stuffing it into the dumpster which did not go as planned and I was half-expecting a memo to go out over the company e-mail list asking what idiots left the poster sticking out the dumpster. oops ;) hey, the elevator guy told us too, right?!

just plain blessed.

2008-05-25T19:57:00.002-04:00

I am a college graduate. I am a college graduate. I am a college graduate.

And by definition, that makes me reflective, confused, anxious and excited- all within a five minute span of time. No but really, I am so blessed to be where I am, with the opportunity to choose my next step and make it what it will be. My parents are quietly letting me find my own way but at the same time being there to catch me if I fall, giving me a chance to leap and take risks to find a future that fits. I just spent about an hour looking through old(and some more recent) pictures of my life in the last four years and over and over all I could think was: I have been given more life and happiness and growth than I deserve in a lifetime, nevermind before I hit age 22. I can only dream of giving to my children what my parents have already given me. This probably is of no interest to anyone else besides myself but I guess what I am saying is that it is so incredibly important to take time out and be grateful for everything and everyone in our lives that got us to today. I know full well that I definitely would not have studied abroad, or been in AOII, or gotten involved in HERO without someone (parents or otherwise) telling me I could and should and to take chances and to be uncomfortable. I have to remind myself of that now as I am heading into an even more unknown time and place and I just need someone to tell me everything is going to be ok. And I have that: In my friends. In my family. In my colleagues. Quite simply, I am blessed.

And no, I have no more life updates but as soon as I have any, it will go here. Mark my word!

winding down

2008-04-28T10:37:00.002-04:00

Seriously, where does the time go? That may be the most cliché statement ever typed on this blog, but really I just need a few more weeks here in athens to get my thoughts together, pack up my stuff and say goodbye to the people i truly care about. i really have had the opportunity to make the most of these last few weeks since i don't have a ridiculous amount of work or anything, so life is pretty great. last week we had our AOII senior banquet which was incredibly bittersweet but really wrapped up the last four years pretty nicely. i got burned, cried a little and loved a lot! we all danced and laughed all night and i got some sweet letters from people who mean a lot to me :) there's nothing like a solid goodbye to make you feel loved and appreciated. on the other side, i think i might be ready for life post-athens. i have felt so anxious lately, just waiting for the next part to start while at the same time not wanting to leave anything/anyone behind or anything left undone. it is such a weird position to be in to feel like you may still have some things left to do but you are tired of wondering what's next. slowly a lot of my friends are making decisions and plans and i secretly wish someone would make my decisions for me and just put me where i am supposed to be. i know that's impossible because this is the part where i "follow my heart" but that doesn't mean i have anything figured out. for all of you(or none of you) wondering, i will be in atlanta this summer doing an internship and living in good ole east cobb until august. after that, life starts- wherever that may be. I've gone through so many different cities as prospects for a job and think i may have it figured out. DC is looking pretty great right now and i am hoping that some doors will open and everything can fall into place. until then, i am having faith in Him that the plans He has, i will follow. Don't worry, i am sure to have some crazy realizations this summer and will be updating when things change or i figure anything out. until then, keep all of us graduating in your thoughts and prayers. this is the big time.

Would you do it again?

2008-03-27T15:38:00.004-04:00

All day today, my mind has been racing over every little decision I have made in the last few years that has brought me to being a senior with a severe case of life-anxiety. Once I had completely overwhelmed myself with that, the next logical question is: would I do it all again??? Obviously I have pangs of wanting to stay here just a liiiittle bit longer, but I am not convinced I would like to go back to freshman year and start over. I struggled through this huge campus all of freshman year and did not really feel comfortable here until end of sophomore year. So no, I definitely would not do freshman life again. Would I pick the same major? Yes and no. I would still like to do PR but I might change the Spanish major to something in the business school....maybe.... minus the whole accounting thing; that still freaks me out. I most definitely would go back to Spain and London which continue to be my most favorite moments in college. Weird, too, since none of my best best friends went with me. I think that is why it was wonderful. I saw I could have these amazing experiences on my own and still come back to people who love me. Priceless. Would I choose the same activities and people and ministries in Athens? YES YES YES. I don't have any regrets there- just wish I had spent more time enjoying it all. So I think my consensus is this: while I have loved many of the experiences during college and would pick the same road a second time around, I do not want to go it a second time around because I am(or will be in 6 weeks) ready for my next decisions and experiences. It's still hard to see if I have regrets over the last 4 years right now, since I am still in college and still loving this place. Ask me again in two years and let's see what my answers are then. Would you do it all again? Would you want to?

praise and thanksgiving

2008-02-17T22:55:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure how my blog posts have come across this semester to everyone else, but I think my overall sentiment has been ungrateful. That may sound harsh but I had a moment the other day when I finally realized just how incredibly blessed I am right now. Somehow with all the pressure for after graduation and in my friendships and wanting what other people have, I forgot to say thank you to the God who gives me more than I deserve. If I truly got what I deserved I would have nothing and I seem to walk around forgetting that fact every single day. I wish I could say that starting now I am never going to forget all the wonderful things in my life, but that would be a complete lie. I am constantly looking for "the next great thing." The blog directly below this, anyone? I mean really... Wow, it is so good for me to see my thoughts out in the open like this though and hopefully by my brutal honesty to myself, someone else can learn a little something, too.

I know I have felt unsettled and anxious for a while now and am just now seeing that the plans I am making are ridiculous and will definitely fail if I ignore the Truth. I might be freaking out almost daily with all the changes about to happen, but when I really sit to think about what to do, I realize it is not up to me and never will be. I can only hope to retain some humbleness once I am off trying to make it in the world because lately it has been so easy to try and do everything myself and make my own life plan. I have already suffered disappointment and my life is not where I would like for it to be right now in many ways, but I really need to keep myself in check and not put that much pressure on myself to succeed. If I keep this up I can see my perfectionism turning into something much darker and scarier so I think my realization the other day that I already have so much to be thankful for really was a saving Grace. The only reason I listened finally was because for one day I actually stayed quiet and tried to quit thinking about myself for like five minutes. I pray for peacefulness all the time but I never take the time to physically sit still, so consider this my note-to-self on that point!
So, anyone who reads this, take the time to sit still sometime this week and see what you may learn :)

the next great thing

2008-02-09T21:31:00.000-05:00

Maybe I am just having the weirdest week/weekend ever, but I actually feel ready to graduate. I still only have class two days a week and nothing else filling my days to make me feel worthwhile, so I think I am just ready for the next challenge that gives me more value. I am always happier when I have a lot going on(even the worries that go along with that) and right now that's just not happening. While sometimes it is nice to be able to make my own schedule and have time to do things for myself, it feels selfish to just run errands and go to the gym all day. I spend most days daydreaming about what I'll do next and where I'll live and what I'll be doing and who I'll be doing it with. It is still so crazy to think how different my life will look at this time next year and that I really have no idea what that will be! I have broken down a lot lately thanks to the anxiety and the unknown but at the same time, in a weird way, I am grateful for the not-knowing. One thing I do wish, though, is that I would not have to go to any more career fairs.....ugh..... I think I genuinely have a hatred for them.

I am extremely grateful for the time I have had lately to put into some friendships that I have neglected for a majority of college. It is so important to me not to lose touch of people who I love and hope that even though it is impossible to stay close to people forever and ever, that we can retain all these important friendships in the next phase of our lives. I look back on friendships I have kept from high school into college and, while they aren't exactly the same, they are equally valuable to me and that's pretty amazing. If you looked at the group of girls we were in high school and the same group of girls when we get together now, we have all changed but still kept who we are and why we all work well together. An outsider might not pick each of us to be in the same group, but four years later it still works. I hope beyond all hope that that is the case for my friends I have from college too. My friendships here look incredibly different from high school ones because we don't all have the same exact group(less drama anyway) so I have been able to get to know people on all ends of the spectrum. I can't tell if after college that will be a good or bad thing because we won't be able to all get together a lot and that will make me sad. I guess I just spend a lot(and I mean a LOT) of time trying to picture what my life and I as a person will look like next year and on into life after college. Ridiculous and pointless, but it is hard not to at least try.

I would love to know if anyone else is having these same thoughts and worries right now because sometimes it feels like I am the only person in the world spending all this time thinking and wondering while everyone else has it more figured out.
Please pray for me to be patient and content with the here and now, if you don't mind!

Law of Bonnie

2008-01-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

The title of this blog comes from Annie and my term for my life. If anything weird/awkward/bad happens to anyone, chances are it has happened to me before, too. Case in point: I somehow got mono at the end of last semester. No I did not get it that way, I have no idea who was nice enough to hand the virus over. Lucky me: law of Bonnie.

Yesterday an 80-year-old grandma in the car in front of me flicked me off. I am not kidding, I was mortified and I didn't even do anything wrong! She stopped in the middle of a green light(who doesn't , right?) so I tapped my horn and then WHAM. finger in the air. classy. Law of Bonnie.

For the second time this year, a guy who seemed for whatever reason to enjoy my company, went away on a break(Thanksgiving, Winter) and came back with a girlfriend. That's so neat. Does not do much for the self-esteem though, that's for sure. At this point in my life, I am surrounded, and I mean SURROUNDED by people either starting a relationship, in a serious relationship, or ending a serious relationship. That translates to 90% of my time is spent helping analyze guys' actions and words and acting like my life is just so peachy because I am single. That's a lie but I am trying really hard to focus on other things that are a lot more important right now, like finding a job!

My dream is to move to new york city and live with some of my best friends from high school :) and try hard not to starve on the small salary I have, if I even have one! So please pray for me to have success in the process of applying and having everything fall into place in the end. It is so hard to believe this is it. My last semester of school ever. I think I will be ready to move on from classes and maybe even Athens by the end, but until that point I am going to put all my time and effort into enjoying the moments we have. If you need a good song to listen to, any of you seniors, listen to "Best Days" by Graham Colton. Sums up our lives right now I think!

blessings all over the place

2007-12-02T15:32:00.001-05:00

I think yesterday was the greatest day ever. UGA HEROs raised over $306,000 this year which was something I never truly believed possible. I may have acted confident in our goal on the outside but inside, I think I did not have enough faith to believe in us. I have never been happier to be wrong in my entire life! When that total was announced yesterday, I have never been so surprised and overwhelmed and happy and satisfied. I have been so blessed to have been given the opportunity to take even a small part in this organization for the last year. Good times and bad, I have learned more about myself and what it means to live by faith than I ever imagined. I played at the HERO Olympics all day yesterday with my new little friend Josalyn and had the best time ever acting like a goofball kid. Too bad I can't spin around like a used to, I almost got sick on one ride while Josalyn spun me around in circles which is really sad! She taught me how to dance a little better(not much improvement there) but also gave me a chance to know where the money we raise can really help these children to have not only one day of fun, but a lifetime of growth-let's hope. Thank you to all of you who supported me this year and put up with my many many fundraising pleas- it all came full circle yesterday, I promise!

Add on top of that emotional rollercoaster the fact that the #1 and #2 football teams in the country lost last night, giving us a (small) chance at a national championship game.....what a day what a day. And that, my friends, is why December 1, 2007 was my greatest day so far. Where do I go from here?

it's all about adjusting.

2007-11-08T17:33:00.000-05:00

It's been an interesting week since my last post. I have had to deal with a pretty bad mood that's been hanging over my head for no real reason, which is not exactly fun. I am learning to do a better job of communicating because of some recent events and hope that I can be a better friend for it. I learn so much from my friends and even if I don't always want to hear it, I know it is important to hear criticism and hopefully do a good job of taking it gracefully. let's just say that part of my personality needs some improvement.

On the flip side, I kind of love that all the stores are starting to put up christmas decorations. i know some people get angry since it isn't even thanksgiving yet, but i really do just love this time of year. i went into starbucks today and they had peppermint mocha! woohoo! i am a total cheeseball but i love it! I can't even believe how quickly it got so cold and i am already running out of warm clothes but yay for sweaters and scarves! especially the scarves part.... be prepared to see that allll winter long from me :)

Well, that's all for now from me. Please pray for me to get out of this funky mood soon- we'll all be better for it!
peace

it's good to be in athens.

2007-10-30T20:04:00.000-04:00

After what was probably the best fall break of all time, it really is good to be back in athens! I still can't really believe that football game saturday but am so glad to be here with all of the amazing energy and pride I think we all have right now. It is kind of weird to know that was most likely my last time going to St. Simons for GA/FL but we really made the most of it and had a blast!

I am still no closer to figuring out next year but am just in love with this place and the people around me and look forward to sharing everything on here once I do have an idea of where I will be and what I will be doing. In the meantime, I plan to really take time away from school and stress and just focus on knowing people and loving people. It's funny, I think I thought that since I had been here so long already that I had met all the people who would be my greatest friends but I was SO wrong. I constantly meet new people who teach me how to be a better person, which I believe is our purpose right now. College is for becoming a better person and taking a little bit of everyone you meet along the way, both the good and the bad. I can't even believe what a difference four years can make in your life. I have changed so much since freshman year and have learned more than I ever imagined about how to relate best to people and how to look at myself in different ways as well. I have a lot more to learn, though.

Since I don't really have a whole lot more to say abouot life, I just want to give a shout out to anyone who reads this to please please vote for the University of Georgia Hero Olympics on www.grablifegivelife.com so we can hopefully win some money for a great cause! We are in the top 5 right now and need to stay there so help me out- it only takes 10 seconds! Thanks and sorry for the advertising ;)
-Peace-

back and better than ever...

2007-10-14T20:10:00.001-04:00

ok, no false promises this time. Instead of trying to catch up on everything that has happened since I wrote on this last time, consider this a fresh start. I have been doing so much thinking and praying lately, that it seems like there is a lot going on in my head that could be on here. I think the biggest reason I haven't updated in a while is that I just didn't have anything exciting going on but I do have a lot of thoughts so here goes.

This is such an amazing time in my life. I am completely and totally unsure of what life holds for me after this year and college is over, but as scary as that is, it is the most excited I have been in a long time. I love the idea that the next step is not laid out and that I am not signed up for anything definite yet. My parents may not exactly think that's the best idea, but as usual, they are being so supportive and are eager for me to set out in the next direction. Any ideas? I am definitely up for suggestions at this point! It's funny that I am not really scared to death or even that worried, it is more of a peace about not knowing and believing enough in myself to think I'm going to be doing something. Let's just hope I don't eat my words in a year.

I have been incredibly blessed in my friendships this year and all throughout college. I am learning so much from everyone around me and really taking everything in right now because I really do want to grow and understand the lives of people around me. I love hearing everyone's stories and experiences and figuring out where I fit into all of this. To me, life is about relationships and our interactions with one another can really change everything if we let them. I absolutely would not be the person I am right now or who I will become in the future without each and every person who has been placed in my life and hopefully will continue to be placed in my life. I really am learning to appreciate just the time we spend with one another and not worry so much about the things I have to do or places I need to be.

I hope to be able to write more throughout this year and to see how much I am learning and working out as I get closer to life outside of Athens because I think sometimes half the struggle of getting somewhere is just understanding the journey. Can't wait to see what's coming up, so stay tuned.

living and learning...

2007-07-23T08:32:00.001-04:00

So much for being better about the blog over in London- I have been terrible and am going to attempt cover what has been an amazing and full summer in just one blog post. yeah, right. I'll just write a few different posts...

Well I have learned a lot again this summer and am starting to come to terms with the fact that we are getting older and have to start making real decisions about the future soon. Especially since over here I have been meeting people already working and living in the city, I have been thinking a lot about what to do after graduation- not a fun thing to think about but definitely a necessary one. I really feel like I could do anything and be anyone and that is an amazing and scary feeling to have right now. Obviously I have a whole year before I have to make any huge decisions about where and what I will be doing, but if I want to do something crazy like move to London permanently, I have to start that process now- and that's not out of the question for me. If I don't go and do that now, when would I? Still a dream, but a dream that could actually happen someday.

Well Spain and Cadiz was as amazing as I remember it- maybe even sweeter the second time around. I survived on my limited Spanish and really took everything in and loved being there with Annie too! It was so much fun to see the same places we went to last year as well as seeing where their group loves to hang out. I even got to have Plaza Mina gelato- still the best in the world if you ask me! Taylor came too which made it so much fun to have someone else from our group to hang out with and reminisce about everything and everyone and all the stories we have. Not the same without having everyone there but I will always have a special attachment to Cadiz and always love that place. I'm already trying to plan my next trip ;)

More to come in the next few days....sorry for the long wait!

remember me???

2007-06-06T23:10:00.000-04:00

oh wow.... i don't even know where to start at this point. i am looking at pretty much everything i own right now which is covering the floor of my bedroom (still not in suitcases!) getting ready for what i hope will be the best trip of my life. i leave tomorrow night for london and am feeling a little bit of everything right now. i am a little bit worried about the first leg of my trip since i will bbe getting to london friday morning, flying to jerez, spain on saturday and getting on a bus to cadiz to see annie! talk about a little jet lag. i thought i would be totally fine traveling all by myself around south of spain but now i am pretty relieved that taylor is coming with me! soo weird to think that this time last year we were studying down there and living the life. i never thought i would be back a year later to see it-and eat the gelato- again. my life really can't get much better at this point. so while i am still anxious to see how all that traveling works out, i am extremely excited to live in london and live the day-to-day there. with all the excitement i am also pretty nervous that this won't all live up to how i have built it up and hope i can just sit back and let myself take it all in. hopefully my summer last summer taught me how to do that better and i think i will be able to soak it all up. i am so pumped to meet all the people on my trip and live with katie! our location in london couldn't be much better so that is already setting us up for an amazing time! so many people are coming through london this summer too- whitney and forbes, alison nester, haley gardner, and my sis are all going to come at some point so it willl be refreshing to see all of them. well, i am going to attempt some sleep now- wish me luck and look for some more interesting updates from the other side of the pond shortly!

where is everyone?

2007-05-05T16:24:00.000-04:00

after about two days of staring at my room and hoping the boxes would pack themselves, i finally broke down and starting putting my life away. i have way too many picture frames and whatnot, i decided. how in the world did i accumulate so much stuff and how does it not even look like i have made progress?! i really wish i lived a little bit neater so that this would all be a breeze. my mom is coming up tomorrow to take a load back so i am not stuck like i was last year with no help! i so reallllly wish i was done with school like so many people are but i really don't want to leave athens yet at all. i haven't gotten a chance to see everyone i wanted to before summer snuck up on us and now so many people have already left. so sad!

i haven't really felt like being extremely social lately though which is kind of weird considering i am not going to see anyone for about 3 months. not really sure why i have been in such a funk but i am just going to attribute it to finals?! even though i am not that stressed so its not all that. anyways i hope i perk up soon before i am hanging out in the ec bored out of my mind! i am pretty excited to see my family and La and jess though! i miss them all! ok well now that i have avoided being productive for another thirty minutes, i guess i should get back to it. more thoughts soon though because once i am in marietta we know i'll have lots of time on my hands...

everything in moderation.

2007-05-02T11:05:00.000-04:00

after completely stressing about everything for about 2 days, i decided i needed to take a step back and relax a little until i really need to study/ do my projects. i think i'll be much more productive if i have slept and maybe even gotten a tiny tan! so thats what i did yesterday and then accidentely slept in today... guess i needed it?!

I started taking all of my stuff down in my room too and packing it into some boxes which is pretty sad. as ready as i am for not having to go to school and do group projects, i am not ready to say goodbye to athens. i am reaaally going to miss this place and everyone here. i thought that by junior year i would be used to saying goodbye and knowing how it is when you get back in august, but it really doesn't get easier. especially after we just had senior banquet and i am NOT ready to be a senior whatsoever. i would like to just freeze the time after finals and stay there forever. i am pretty excited to get to see my friends at home though since i didn't really get that chance last year. well, get ready because i am making this(probably my last) summer the best one yet!!! it has a lot to live up to from last year though that's for sure....

annie and i went to meet with the landlord yesterday which made it finally real that we officially have the cutest house in athens for next year with the best group of neighbors ever so everyone absolutely must come visit all time! after two years of not really being able to invite people over or entertain or cook, i am definitely ready to have a place where i can do all of those things. also, i couldn't ask for a better roommate :) so even if it is our last year or whatever i think i have some pretty amazing things ahead and will still be learning as much as i can about life before i hit the big time. can't wait!

high strung?? not me....

2007-04-29T17:12:00.000-04:00

i can't even believe how stressed out i have been and how much i have let school get to me. i like to think that most of the time i manage my stress and don't take it out on other people but clearly lately that has not been the case. I have been living and breathing projects and tests and i am sooo over it. i really think sometimes i should just take my own advice and let it go! i mean if you read my posts from a couple weeks ago, i said i was "getting perspective" and realizing what was important. then one bad week comes along and i throw that all out the window and get all high strung. not cool, bonnie.

i did get to be a little social this weekend though and went to twilight and then renee's videopalooza party to see the video from cadiz last year. made me sad to see all the places we went but it was sooo fun to hang out with everyone and we played an awesome/hilarious trivia game. twilight is always really fun too because athens just feels so full of energy and has the neatest atmosphere. i didn't see any cool crashes though so that was kind of sad...haha i am kinda morbid today i guess! oops.

well today is kind of a short post because, like i said, i have no life right now outside of school so not much else is going on. sad day. look for more updates when i get my life back...

a little inspiration

2007-04-26T20:31:00.000-04:00

ok tonight is all about me bragging on hero. OMG we have already raised over $78,500 in just four months which is more than all of last year combined!!!!!! We ALSO won best organization of the year and 2007 best campus event for the hero olympics so it's safe to say we are kind of on a high right now! i could not be more proud to be a part of it all even in the smallest bit and see how enthusiastic all the committee members are...one girl has already brought in $3500- i mean, i think she might be insane but it works out great for us. anyways that was just the perfect boost for what has easily the most stressful week of my college career. two papers, 3 tests, a presentation, and 2 projects later i am alive to tell about it but it's hard to go the whole week and not really have time to just chill and hang out with the people i care the most about. i realllly don't function well like this but i'm just gonna keep truckin' til next week when this is all almost over. crazy to think it's so close to summer now- i'm not ready to be a senior! i'm really not, like that is not a joke in the least. i am not ready to say goodbye to some of my favorite people who will be leaving me shortly for bigger and better things in the world :(

enough about the sad stuff, i just got back from dinner with some of the people i went to spain with last summer and who i definitely have not seen enough of this semester. if someone had told me this time last year that i would come back with such an incredibly close group of friends after that trip, i would have told them they were crazy but that is exactly what happened! more so than so many of my friends who have gone on study abroad trips, our group is just amazingly close and get along great and really do(minus this semester) see a good amount of each other. we pretty much go to dinner once a month at least and have big blowout parties like twice a semester which is a lot considering we all have other friends and things going on. these people are amazing. i know i talk about my spain trip and all the people from it way too much, but they are so much a part of why i have been so happy this year and just so fulfilled after last summer. they made that trip what it was and every time we hang out i am reminded of how much FUN we have even though we have been back for almost a year(sooo crazy to think about!). just shows me how God placed each of those people there for a distinct purpose and i am so very appreciative of the time we got to spend there. the group i am going to london with has a lot to live up to in my eyes! just kidding. but seriously...

haha well grey's is about to start and helen and annie and maybe waud are coming to watch with me- hooray!
more thoughts on my life later-

still learning

2007-04-22T20:03:00.000-04:00

wow, what a weekend. A lot of this weekend was about me facing things i don't necessarily like about myself. not to sound like poor, pitiful me or anything but the last few days have been pretty rough just learning some stuff about myself that is upsetting but also hopefully will make me better off in the long run. i had some interesting reactions to situations i wouldn't have guessed would make me act so weird or feel so down... so as usual i decided to think so much about it my head started hurting and i ended up crying. sometimes crying is good though and i seriously do feel a lot better now(might be the 5 kinds if medicine i am taking for my illness but whatever!) i haven't slept well the last few nights either which doesn't really help alleviate the emotions or stress so hopefully once i am done with my papers and tests i can relax and realize life shouldn't be this hard!

Luckily tonight i got to go to ruf leadership dinner which is pretty much exactly what i needed to make myself feel better and even be a little social. i also got to "study" outside with my sweet friends which really made the day that much more beautiful! It's amazing how a change in weather and scenery can really make you feel 10 times better and change the mood also. i have had a lot of time to just sit and think about everything and find time to myself over the weekend which is really important to me. i don't function very well without some alone time. so while i was supposed to be studying for my research exam i also fit in some time to process my thoughts on life and myself and that's where the real learning happened i think. it's funny how sometimes i think i have myself figured out but then someone points something out or i am in a situation i am not prepared for, and i am a totally different person than i thought. that happened this weekend but i think now i am understanding more which is what college is all about- not just understanding school stuff but understanding people, including myself.

Well that's enough deep stuff for now, until next time! ha hopefully it will be a little more lighthearted...

overwhelmed

2007-04-18T19:43:00.000-04:00

Ever since everything that happened on monday i have just kind of been thoughtful and not feeling very social at all. it is probably a combination of all of the tragedy and also the fact that school is hanging over my head and causing a little stress. but at the same time when i feel myself complaining about my unfortunate stress or whatever i have to realize how small my worries really are compared to what else is going on in the world. as always, a little perspective goes a long way... my heart still goes out to everyone at virginia tech as they attempt to not only understand what happened but also come to terms with their loss. i hope there are more stories of heroism and courage in the face of whatever monster could so something like that. i have been grappling with the idea that one "human" could have that much evil inside. what he did was not human. something bigger than humanity was at play in that person's mind and that is extremely terrifying and hard to comprehend- even a little bit. i like John Mayer's lyrics that "the heart of life is good" but you have to wonder which life really is good. i know i don't believe this is all we have to look forward to, especially when things like this are going on and there is so much pain. it's just really overwhelming to think about, even for me all the way down here in georgia so i cannot imagine how the students at Va Tech are dealing.

One other thing that really has been laying on my heart though is how much good we have the ability to do with our time. I had my last hero committee meeting tonight and just knowing that all of those college students are using time they could be doing tons of other things to instead raise money and help our cause, my faith in people gets really strong. i see the good we have been able to accomplish already and that makes me feel comforted that there really is so much more good around even amongst such evil.

-------------------------------------------------------

On a lighter note- if anyone was riding in the milledge bus i was running alongside of yesterday that then shut the door in my face when i got to it, i bet you had a good laugh. it was not my best moment on the milledge bus line i have to say. mean driver... oh, and i was running with coffee in my hands(yes i was that girl). anything i can do to provide a little entertainment for y'all!

prayers needed

2007-04-16T23:48:00.000-04:00

Before I can even think about doing any schoolwork, I really need to just think about everything that has gone on today up at Virginia Tech. It is absolutely devastating to think of the damage one person(well, hopefully it was just one) inflicted on an entire community of people that spans to affect the whole U.S. i think this tragedy really hits all of us at uga so hard because blacksburg could so easily be compared to athens. it could have happened here and that's tough to swallow. i mean, these students were in class at the same time as me, doing exactly what i do on a monday morning and the next thing they know they were changed forever as we all watched. to hear the students talk on the news made me think it could have been any of my friends, both here or far away, and i just need to say how much i love each and every one of you and we do not say that enough. i pray that the families and friends of the victims can find some kind of solace in the fact that the whole nation is here in support and hopefully the good wins out in the end but it is hard to see that perspective with such evil all around. how can a person do something like that- it seems like a monster from a movie...

the lucky one...

2007-04-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

Wow I am so blessed. The whole family just came up to run AOII run for the roses and were such troopers! It was freezing but they drove up anyway and i love them for that. Lisa's been here all weekend so it's been fun to see athens through the eyes of someone so new to it all. I felt a little bit like a tour guide but i hope she got something out of it (besides the cute dresses)! I still can't believe she gets to start this whole college thing while i'm about to be a senior. sooo excited for her but definitely a bittersweet feeling for me.

I am so incredibly pumped for my london trip now after we had our meeting thursday. I think it will be an amazing opportunity for me to see if london is somewhere i would want to be long-term or not. It's always been this far off dream for me to be in england but now i really get to see if the culture and way of life over there is something i could get used to and maybe go back more permanently. scary thought but also really motivating for me to try to do and see as much as possible while i'm there this summer! i really hope i get as much out of this trip as i did from last year's. i don't know if i have ever grown up so much or learned so much about myself and other people as i did when i went to cadiz last summer. something about being put with a whole group of people you don't really know and who are all equally excited for this great chance makes it easy to bond and get to know each other and, out of that, learn about yourself. i know i became a lot more introspective but also more confident last summer and i attribute a lot of that to being in a foreign environment with a group of people i barely knew and just having to branch out and experience life on my own terms. it is all exremely liberating and made me have a lot better perspective of life overall and what things i value the most and that is why going again this summer is so important to me. i still have a lot of growing up to do before i can make decisions about my life so i hope maybe this summer will be another opportunity for me to do that and come back with some kind of clarity and maybe a plan?! ha doubtful... I used to be a planner but now i am kind of forced to just go with it and see what happens. my life should be pretty interesting i would think!

so little time...

2007-04-10T16:14:00.000-04:00

i really can't believe how few weeks of school we have left....and how MUCH will fit into all of them. School is pretty much kicking my butt right now but that's ok it will be over soon and then I will be on my way to London. Yup, that's right my dream of finally living there will come true this summer when I'm doing an internship and also traveling down to Cadiz,Spain-where i was last year- :) to see annie. life really doesn't get much better than that! luckily i have all that to look forward to while i'm struggling to like/pass school.

A little shameless plug for HERO- my committee is putting on a percentage night at JR's downtown wednesday night so if you are in athens, please come upstairs and help us out! I'll be there so you should definitely come...

It was so great to go home for Easter this weekend and hang out with the whole family. I seriously have the most generous parents anyone could ask for and am really really grateful to them. lisa and i also decided she is coming to stay here this weekend! yay! i'm so pumped for her to come on a non-football weekend and see the greatest place ever where she will be next year- crazy.... makes me feel pretty old....

well that's it for now- more thoughts on life later... ;)

Dance!

2007-04-05T10:18:00.000-04:00

Last night was a whole new level of procrastination for me, but I honestly have so much more energy than I would have had, had I not spent that time with people i love! Annie played this great song all night called "Dance" by Caedmon's Call that I think everyone needs to listen to on a daily basis, especially if you are stressed and need a break like i did(alright,honestly, i listened to it like 7 times...) If you drove by redeemer at about, oh, 11:00 last night you would have understood what it means to dance(B.Aills has got some moves)! But everything I did yesterday to avoid my presentation and test today was extremely good for me. Rob's message at RUF last night was powerful and really hit right where I was the day before about feeling confused and wanting to have all the answers right now. He told some awesome stories of things that didn't make any sense at the time but then later you realize it was God's idea the whole time, you just needed to have a little patience. Crazy to think about but also awesome to step back and get a little perspective. I mean, who am I to think I have it all figured out and know the best thing for me? HA that is a good joke since I can't even make a powerpoint without getting distracted for like 9 hours.... and that is why Annie's song(which will now officially be our theme song so no one steal it) was so great because instead of me sitting here worrying about the future and why thing's aren't happening exactly like I want them to, I need to just appreciate all the precious gifts I have like great friends who will act like complete idiots just because I need the break! Life is GOOD!!!!!

so thankful...

2007-04-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

today i am just so thankful to have the friends that i do. today was one of those days where i needed someone to listen, be patient, and hear me out and i had a few people who cared enough to pay attention and give some really good advice :) sometimes i have to just get my thoughts out in the open and then i feel better, even if the problem isn't exactly solved or even over. i think there is nothing more important during this time in my life than having amazing people in it to share it with and learn from. i have been so incredibly blessed to have people who are honest and don't just necessarily tell me what i want to hear to quiet me down. i cherish honesty. the people closest to me understand that if you want to know the real thoughts and feelings i have, you have to first tell it to me like it is and not sugar coat anything.... thanks for that today, annie :)

I also got the opportunity to chat with sweet Waud for a while which to me was a huge bright spot in a very stressful day! I love that i had some of the same feelings and worries about everything that she has had coming to uga and it is comforting to know that i was not the only one who didn't just come here, fit in, and love athens immediately. it takes time to get there and it is refreshing to talk to someone else who may have struggled and is now so content and is also pretty awesome too! i'm still learning to be content where i am and that's something i thought about a lot today...as usual, i think too much and overanalyze everything but today i feel especially anxious about a lot of things that i seriously need to get over and embrace the now. easier said than done i think. i really should be researching for school rather than sitting here analyzing life but this is nothing new for me. if you have any clarity in life or can see the future, let me know because it's all a little hazy to me right now and i am working on just trusting that God will provide and has my plan already set. until then, i will just stay confused...

for real???

2007-04-02T23:02:00.000-04:00

ok i know how stupid this sounds, but i just got done watching the bachelor and could not believe some of the girls were allowed to even be on camera.... i know that show is a huge joke in general but i think this season might even be the worst yet because either the girls are barbie blonde or completely weird for the most part. wow...

alright since that really has no relevance to life or what i really care about, i'm done venting for tonight!

tonight at our hero exec. we actually got a chance to hang out and just relax for a minute which was awesome and the stuff we talked about really helped me stay motivated to raise a ton of money and get pumped for us to do some really awesome stuff to fundraise for the kids in atlanta. i know my friends get so tired of hearing me talk about hero all the time but it is something i really believe in and feel like i am actually making a difference. so for me, it has been one of the most positive things i have been involved with in my life. i think thats why i like this year in college so much. instead of spreading myself over 100 different activities and events in small ways, i put more effort into the things and people i love and who make me feel loved and important. it is a blessing that i even have the chance to do any of this and i really really believe it is our obligation to give back and do as much good as we can with the opportunties we are given. my dad has been the biggest influence with that point of view in my life and hope that when i am older and have a family, i will have the means to give as much as i can because that really is what makes me happy. that may sound incredibly cheesy and insincere but i guess it's what i'm thinking and that's what this is for, right?

today i got to sit at walker's to study and got distracted thinking about how much i really do just love athens. i don't think i would have seen that coming as a freshman when i didn't really feel comfortable here at all but now i know that this place is the perfect town for me right now. to sit outside and just enjoy everything around me(while still kinda being productive?)-life doesn't get much better!

something new

2007-04-01T15:59:00.000-04:00

well i decided to start a blog. i know most people won't care about this but i think it's pretty neat and i have a lot going on in my head so this might be good...

anyways i am sitting here right now listening to the rain which is awesome, so i decided not to do my spanish paper but instead to do something i actually care about: write my thoughts. right now i am in the middle of a lot of different emotions coming mostly from the fact that i am really really happy. Not that i have been unhappy lately, but right now life is pretty great. i have some amazing new friends who i adore and who i have really enjoyed spending time with as of late and for that i feel so blessed.
i can't believe that pretty soon i will be heading into my last year of college. I am not one of those people who has savored every minute or enjoyed every second at uga but now that i can see the end, i am very content to stay here (forever) and enjoy the moment. it's not that i regret how i have spent the last three years because everything has brought me to this exact point, i just know that for the rest of my time i intend to appreciate it all. that goes for everything in my life. i tend to get wrapped up in my busy schedule and forget about the things that are important and that make me feel better about myself so i have to check myself often and simply slow down. today is one of the days where i am getting perspective and taking a step back from stress. it really is not worth it- that's the biggest thing i have learned in college. three years ago i could not see everything that way and i am so grateful to have been able to change by viewpoint on some of what matters. that's not to say i never worry or put unimportant things on a pedestal, but i do try to spend time with people rather than work stuff and not get into a hole. gotta live for today, right?
well thats all for now- until next time!