Thankful Thursday!

Today is a new day! & it is that time again! It's Thursday! For those new to my blog or my thankful Thursday link-up, today is a day where I always take the time to list some things I am thankful for! They don't have to big, monumental things, the little things count just as much! I do it every Thursday, so my list varies every week depending on what kind of week/day I am having. I usually list about 20 things, but feel free to list a couple or tons, whatever you feel like doing!

I'd love some more participation this week! Last week was my first offical week of providing a link-up and the success wasn't huge, but I'm not complaining! I'd just love for more people to see this opportunity and join in so we can all be reminded of the things in our life we are grateful for!

Now remember these are the rules for participating:

-You must be a follower first to participate! Actually, if you arn't that is perfectly fine! I don't want to be selfish here and ask for that, I just want you to reflect on these things!

-Grab my button for thankful Thursday on the right and place it in your post or on your blog!

-Link up on this post directing us to your POST, not your main page of your blog!

-Please comment on this post so I know that you participated and may just come follow you in return!

-Please make sure it is a family friendly post!

-& feel free to comment on anyone and everyone elses post!

-and most importantly, have fun & enjoy reading other bloggers blessings!

I will put the link thing at the bottom of this post for you to all list your blog on there! But now it is time for my thankful Thursday list!

1. Waking up THIS morning on time! I haven't been all week!

2. The motivation I had studying last night

3. For such encouraging friends who always help lift my spirit!

4. The soon approaching weekend
5. Once again, coffee. I have lived on it this week!
6. Being raised in such an awesome church! It was great to go back there for Easter Sunday!
7. Already having the stress of registering for summer and fall classes out of the way.
8. Summer soon coming!
9. Going to London in less than a month! (21 days to be exact!)
10. My dad fixing my car up this past weekend!
11. Being blessed in finding such an amazing sorority!

12. Having such cute nephews!

13. Being blessed with money to buy food when I need it.
14. Being blessed with a job in general!!
15. My creativity
16. My little brother being so smart! (It will be easy for him to get into any college he wants)
17. My boyfriend constantly being understanding and supporting of me
18. The Hazelwood act that pays my tuition! (If you or your dad entered into the service from Texas, contact me!)
19. My last test of the week being over after today!
20. Being safe during all the bad weather lately!

Now here is the list for you to put your blog link on!!

Unworthy

CAUTION: I FEEL THE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MY SAD FEELINGS TODAY. SO I AM GOING TO BE VERY HONEST AND OPEN WITH YOU ALL. SKIP THIS POST IF YOU DON'T CARE TO LISTEN.

Today is one of those days where I don't feel worthy at all. Yes, I am a normal person and feel this from time to time. This is just one of those weeks where nothing seems to be going right. Just a little personal note, I do have depression and take anti-depressants. This of course adds to my feelings of self worth. My last semester of school was the worst my depression has ever got. It was absolutely awful. I mean AWFUL. That's all I will say about that. And another side note: I know some older people don't believe that so many college kids have depression now a days. Some people say that they are being too flexible with the symptoms and basically prescribe anyone medicine. This may be the case but I just want to throw out there that my case is very much legitimate. I am a very strong person but this does get me. But anyways when I get into this slump of "I'm not worthy of anything", it is hard to get out of it with depression sitting on my shoulder.

I have such an amazing support group of friends and family that continually let me know they love me. My boyfriend does his absolute best to make me feel loved and he does a great job of it because I know I am! Days like today though, none of that seems to be enough though as petty as that may sound. However, there is one thing that always helps to revive me no matter how hard the devil is trying to bring me down. Of course, that is my father God.

If I was not a Christian and went through depression I do not know where I would be. God is my rock, my strength, and my refuge. I am so so worthy of everything! Jesus died for me... for ME! If I was not worthy, would God really send his own son to sacrifice on my behalf? I have so much to be thankful for in my life and so much to live for that I should not wallow in sadness. I should always be joyful because God has given me so much and has so much more planned for me then I can even imagine now. No matter how down I feel on myself, I know that I AM worthy and I AM beautiful and I AM loved. God made the ultimate sacrifice for me!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isiah 41:10

God is always there for me to lean on and to cry to. He hears my prayers and will answer them. He gives me the strength I need to be joyful when I feel like I can't be. He lifts me up when I feel the devil trying to drag me down. What an amazing father I have! Goodness, just by simply writing this post about Him I feel renewed and more joyful than I was an hour ago.

I hope this post does serve a purpose and touches someone out there who may be struggling with the same thing. I was writing a post earlier about a different topic but I kept feeling like the only thing I should write about today was this. So I hope by throwing myself out here like this, that someone else benefits from it and feels encouraged! Now remember, tomorrow is thankful thursday! So please link up with me as we talk about what we are all thankful for tomorrow! What a great follow up to this post right??? Haha!

God reminds us every day of his love, sometimes we just dont notice, though this is pretty clear. How gorgeous.

Oh, college..

Once again the life of a college student creeps back up on me! Sorry everyone I kind of left you in the dust for a few days! I'm back though to tell you about my weekend! I'm still pretty busy at the moment so this will be a semi-short post, but full of pictures!

So the K of "MELK" is expecting a baby! I'm so excited for her and her husband, she will be a great mom! We always knew she would be the first to be married and have kids! It is what she has always wanted and she is perfect for it! We threw a western themed baby shower for her this last weekend. It was a lot of work but turned out to be a big hit.. I think! Kelsey enjoyed it at least and took home a lot of goodies. Here are a few pictures:

My boyfriend helped me make the tiny lassos! Bringing out his crafty side!

My miniature diaper cake with leftover diapers

My HUGE diaper cake! His name is Remington, nicknamed Remi.

L, K, & M

my mother!

Since Emily could not be with us, we left a spot for her! M. (E) L. K.

Then the next day was Easter! It was so nice to see my family and spend time with my little nephews! & of course it was very nice to see Ryan and spend time with him!

my 3 nephews and brother!

Thankful Thursday

It's time again for thankful Thursday! This time I'd like you to join me! I really think its important to take time to reflect on things you appreciate in your life. I have never hosted a link party before so this will be my first! I'm learning all these technical aspects of blogging so if a link or something isn't working, I apologize and would love if you would let me know.

Thankful Thursday is about listing things you are thankful for, whether it be a few or many! I will usually always list 20 things on my posts. It's great to be able to look at others blogs and see what they are thankful for in their life too! It gives you a different perspective sometimes and reminds you of things you may take for granted! Here is my thankful Thursday list for today! Normally I will include some pictures in the list, but not today (short on time)!

1. Free Chickfila on campus

2. Coffee this morning

3. My mothers wisdom on cats (George had an eye scratch yesterday!)

4. My sorority electing me publicity chair for next year!

5. Not having work tomorrow

6. Owning shoes

7. Owning and having access to a computer

8. My father, who helped me out financially yesterday!

9. Going home for Easter this weekend!

10. My older brother being save in his service in the Navy

11. God's grace and peace He has given me lately

12. Having a cell phone (though I may rely on it too much!)

13. Being given an artistic talent

14. Being able to eat when I'm hungry

15. Having a supportive family

16. A big bed

17. All my mistakes and learning from them. (without making them I wouldn't be who I am now)

18. Having a decent amount of smarts.

19. The thunderstorm last night.

20. My boyfriend having a real job!

Now the rules to participate in this link party are the following:

-You must be a follower first to participate!

-Grab my button for thankful Thursday on the right and place it in your post or on your blog!

-Link up on this post directing us to your POST, not your main page of your blog!

-Please comment on this post so I know that you participated and may just come follow you in return!

-Please make sure it is a family friendly post!

-& feel free to comment on anyone and everyone elses post!

-and most importantly, have fun & enjoy reading other bloggers blessings!

List your link here..

Picks of the Week!

I haven't done picks of the week in awhile, sorry! Here are my picks of the week that I've been craving lately! I'm definately ready for the summer weather! It keeps going back and forth here though in temperature! Yesterday it was 90 degrees then today we had a random hail storm! It's so crazy. I'd love for it to stay one temperature that wasn't so hot ALREADY but that is just wishful thinking!

Aerie

Aerie

J Crew

J Crew

Steve Madden

Steve Madden

Steve Madden

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you so much to Maddie at spark for the One Lovely Blog Award!! I'm very excited! After winning, I am supposed to share 7 things about myself and then award 15 more bloggers. I'm so excited to get my first blog award!

1. I'm very much a night owl. I'm talking 2-3 in the morning on a normal basis. RARELY do I ever go to sleep earlier then that.
2. I love being outdoors. Fishing is one of my favorite things to do! I grew up fishing with my dad and enjoy doing it any chance I get! I have my own fishing pole and all!
3. Mexican food is by far my favorite. I can eat Mexican every day for every meal and be okay! This probably makes sense since I am from Texas! Chips and salsa is my favorite snack at any time of the day!
4. I have a huge travel itch. I pretty much want to go everywhere and do everything. I know this will NOT happen, but it doesn't keep me from dreaming of it.
5. I have 3 nephews that are the cutest little boys ever! I will have a post one day dedicated to them entirely! I wish I could be even more involved in their lives but it is hard since I am a busy working college student.
6. My favorite color is green! I love love love it. Oddly enough my high school color was green, my current college color is green, and the college I really WANTED to go to was green. Coincidence? I'm not sure.
7. I sleep with a stuffed animal named Kim-bear. I am saying that proudly. This bear was ACTUALLY my boyfriends bear when he was a little kid. His mom found it about a year ago in their house. He gave it to me the night one of my grandfathers passed away (a year ago) to comfort me and I've slept with it ever since.

Now for the next award winners..... drum-roll...

Texas Prep
So Young and Full of Running
serving of sophia
Lovely Undergrad
in His Grace
College Prep
Boerman Ramblings
Smile and Wave
For the Love of All Things Beautiful
ValValVoom
The World According to Pia
Christa Jae
pure and noble
{simply sadie jane}
blending life seamlessly


Now you all continue to pass on this award and share your 7 things!

One of my favorite places..

I apologize for my lack of communication this past weekend! My boyfriend was in town visiting me, therefore I didn't get on the computer much. On Saturday though, he took me to the zoo! Now this brings me to my random topic of today's post...THE ZOO!

First off, you should probably all know that I am a huge animal lover. HUGE. I get this from my mother, I'm sure of that. My family has always had animals throughout my whole life. My favorite shows as a little kid where things like Jack Hannah's shows and "The Jeff Corwin Experience". I wrote a paper once on how I wanted to be a zoo keeper or a marine biologist. When I was realllyyyy little I would catch bugs and play with ants. This is not a joke. I remember one specific example! I was at softball practice and I was sitting behind the cage behind home plate. I think I may have been waiting to practice batting or something, but obviously I wasn't interested. Emily was sitting with me. There was an ant bed there beside us and I started picking up the ants and letting them crawl on my arm. They never bit me! So of course, I convinced Emily to do it. She, however, did get bit by the ants. She called me the ant charmer a little white after that I think! Very funny and strange story, but I felt like sharing it!  But okay, now that you see how nerdy I am I will go on.

The zoo is one of my favorite places to visit! I LOVE looking at all the animals and spending the whole day there! Ryan and I started going to the zoo when we first started dating and have gone multiple times since then. Ryan wasn't a big animal lover, like myself, until he started dating me so long! Now he loves the zoo ALMOST as much as myself! We went this past weekend as kind of a late celebration of our 5 year anniversary. Here are a few pictures from our trip!



At the majority of the zoos we have gone to, there has been some sort of walk through bird exhibit with all of these little parakeets. These always seem to be the funnest place to take pictures! I've always gotten really good and sometimes hysterical pictures!


The otters are always so much fun to watch too! Ryan had fun watching and even got in this little dome thing that kind of goes into the water! He was in there for maybe 10 seconds before he was bombarded by little kids, ha ha!

Now, tigers are my favorite animals of all time. I spend the most time just sitting at the tiger exhibit! In this picture, I was just simple excited that our cup was all about tigers! I told you that its the little things that count too!

the window was awful to take pictures through!

This is me at the tiger exhibit!

Now like I said, Ryan and I have been to the zoo a lot! We have been to 6 or 7 different zoos and at least half of those more than once! I will leave you all with a few old pictures from our years at zoos...

Side note: I was EXTREMELY excited about this

Coolest show EVER!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm starting a new tradition for my blog! & I am calling it "Thankful Thursday"! Every Thursday my blog will be dedicated to things I'm thankful for. We are all so quick to forget blessings in our lives! I know at least for myself, I often do not appreciate what I have! Even the little tiny things are important! I want to do this to remind myself AT LEAST weekly and to inspire everyone out there in blog world to try and do the same! Take a moment or two and grab a piece of paper and jot down things in your life you are thankful for! Take a moment to pray over them if you like! Even if you aren't of a religious faith, you can still take the time to reflect on what you are thankful for.

What I'm thankful for today:

1. Waking up this morning! (tomorrow's are not guaranteed!)

2. Still having a job!

3. Having a nice apartment to call home!

4. Being able to go to college! (though I don't always want to)

5. Coffee

6. My car! (so far it has lasted me 5 years)

7. Being able to have a variety of clothes (though I do wear the same things over and over again)

8. My wonderful parents!

9. My AMAZING boyfriend

10. Being in such a awesome Christian sorority, Sigma Alpha!

11. Having such loyal friends!

12. The option to make or simply PICK UP food (though I take advantage of that far too much!)

13. Being pretty much healthy!

14. Forgiveness from my amazing God!

15. Being raised in a safe, loving & Christian home

16. Sunshine. (the happy feeling it gives you & the tan it brought me over the weekend..ha ha)

17. Being able to have 2 cats even though I'm in college!

18. My brothers!!!

19. Being raised in Texas!

20. My dad and brothers teaching me how to take care of my car on my own! (changing tires, changing oil, replacing bulbs, etc.)

When my big brother taught me :)