I've stared at this empty blog since I made it a few days ago. I made it all pretty and exactly how I wanted it but then I didn't know how to start. How do you make your blog different from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram without it going on and on about boring stuff? I still haven't quite figured this out...So please bare with me! I guess I'll go ahead and get my history out of the way. A quick compilation of amazing events that changed my life. If they wouldn't have happened where would I be?
Would I still be her? That's the "old" me at 300 pounds in High School. After graduation I decided to move to Florida to live with my sister at 17, almost 18 years old. I was so excited! Finally, it was my chance to be the next success story for escaping city I was born and raised in. I was seeing the world!
Boy oh boy was I wrong! I was 18, still a child, naive and very inexperienced at life. I found myself struggling with guilt and anxiety for not being able to find a job, not having a license or a car and not being able to pay my way through life. But I was also living with my sister and her family so nothing felt like it was mine. I was doing nothing on my own.
A word of advice? DON'T MOVE 4 STATES AWAY WITHOUT HAVING YOUR LICENSE! Seriously! It's a vicious cycle. You need a car to get to your job. You need a job to buy a car and you need a license to be able to drive said car to said job. A vicious cycle that could have been a little easier if I would have had my license.
By a series of amazing events...
I did not have my license when I moved! I am so thankful for that because there are so many visions of what my life would have and could have been if I would have found a job and had a successful move to Florida.
Three other things happened while in Florida:
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Gainesville and built a house and I was able to witness the crew really build the house in less than 7 days! It was an amazing experience to watch. To go from just watching the TV show every Sunday and then all of a sudden there's a build happening in the city you live in is such an inspiring good time.
- Being so full of guilt and not bringing in my own money pushed me to make a great decision for my life. Instead of drinking the juices and soda that cost money, I tried to be invisible by just drinking water. Pretty soon that's all I wanted and the cravings for sugary drinks subsided. I am still, 4 years later, drinking water and have inspired others to do the same since it has been the main cause for making me look like this:
This is the most recent picture of me and although it is only my head, it really does show my weight loss. I haven't reached my goal of 199 yet but I am now a much healthier 215!
3. The last amazing thing that happened was I decided to move back home. Nobody ever wants to be defeated and move back to the city and state they thought they escaped from but looking back, it was my only good option and it was the end of a brand new beginning.
Moving back to Springfield made me realize that I didn't hate it so bad. My friends and family were here. I knew the public tranportation and I started making new plans for my life immediately.
Of all the things, a tv show was my biggest inspiration in 2010.
The Buried Life was a series that followed four guys who made a list of things they wanted to do before they die and for everything they crossed off, they always helped a stranger cross off something on their own list.
I've had this giant roll of paper for as long as I could remember so I got busy and made my own list. I lived through my list, I talked about it all the time. Like most things in life, my list has been placed on the back burner. I haven't forgotten about it but I have just been given amazing oppotunities that should be placed on the list just to be crossed off because they are THAT amazing! I am also trying to figure out where to fit my list into the newest part of my life. I will get back to it and it will get completed.
In a later post I will create my list and show what is crossed off with some pictures. My list, like the water, has inspired others to make lists or just chase their dreams.
If I didn't have my list I wouldn't have had anything to talk about to all of the amazing people I've met since moving back.
*****This would be a great time for an intermission*****
Welcome back! Hope your break was nice. Did you get some popcorn? It's gonna get good! Sorry about it being so long. Actually I'm not sorry! This is my blog!
So as I was saying...those amazing people I met while going to Clark State for photography. I found myself needing a major and the one that sounded the funnest was photography. What would my life be like if I chose business again?! Boooooooooring!!!!
It took me 2 years but I finally completed the certificate. I learned so much and made life time friendships that never would have happened without photography. I'll get more into these in the later posts but you should know who you are!
*********Can you smeeeeeeeeell wear this post is going?!******
Disney World!!!!!!!!
Florida to Ohio to Clark State photography back to Florida and DISNEY WORLD!!!
I had to do an internship for photography so I did mine with
Lora Krugh Campbell Photography. A year and a half later and I am still working for her and still loving it! She introduced me to another amazing opportunity that would change my life forever! I looked into
it and...
By a series of amazing events...there I was back in Florida 3 years later on completely different terms. I was going to Disney World for the first time EVER and not leaving for 6 months!
But lets back up a few months because Disney is a whole blog in itself!
One day during my internship for photography I was invited to a church picnic. The best decision I ever made was to attend that picnic because I was then invited to start coming to church on Sundays. Before I knew it I was going to church three times a week, helping with church plays, and slowly but surely learning all about God. While in Florida, going to a church close to Disney I was saved on April 4th, 2012. I accepted Jesus into my heart as my savior and an overwhelming peace took over.
I'm still learning about everything but it's all so positive and great living with guidance and assurance every day. Upon my return from Disney, I officially joined my church and on November 4th, 2012 I was baptised at First Free Will Baptist in Springfield. My journey with God and through church has been incredible. They have become my family.
Spring/Summer is coming up! Would anyone like to come to a church picnic?!
***********************************************************************************
What is one thing that would have changed your entire life had it never happened?
What do you want to do before you die?
Don't have your kids say cheese, it causes an unnatural smile.
Try drinking water and order the Mickey Shaypid Wayful at Disney!
Don't worry everyone that was the life story post. Now it will most likely be things that pass through my day, short stories that I'd like to retell or major happenings in the series of amazing events. I'm only 21 and life has changed so drastically in the past 4 years that I want to share with others how God guides me through the upcoming excitement as I chase my dreams and reach my goals!
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll return!!
BE HAPPY. It looks good on you.