Hey there Big Apple!

So I have officially been living in the city for almost a week now, and yes, I do realize that I have yet to post a new blog...so here goes! 

I am absolutely HEAD OVER HEELS in LOVE with this City. It is true. I adore it. Seriously. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt right at home. Everything just seems so oddly familiar. I guess I should begin the story of my adventure with my first experience after collecting my belongings at baggage claim. For those who know me, I am sure you can imagine the amount of "useful items" that I carried along with me for this little 8-week excursion. For those that are unaware, I found it completely necessary to shove 90% of my own personal belongings into 3 black suitcases and lug them off to New York. This is not a hard thing to do when you have your mother and father available to assist you to the check in counter, but it is a whole other story when you find yourself alone in an airport with about 100 yards between you and the taxi line. Long story short, I am sure onlookers found the sight of a little blonde girl from Alabama attempting to haul over 150 pounds of stuff over the length of a football field. Fortunately, I survived in one piece though, so on we go with the rest of the story!

Saturday was just like every other time I have been up here this year, which was incredibly comforting and definitely helped with the adjustment. Susan met me at her apartment and we walked up the street to one of our favorite restaurants to catch up over a late lunch. We then promptly headed home to enjoy an amazing 3 hour nap (also typical) before getting dressed and heading to dinner at the historic Delmonico's Steak House. The only word that can be used to describe the filets we ate is flawless...absolutely flawless. If you are ever in NYC, it is definitely a must try...especially during the summer when they have a wonderful dinner "date" deal! We then headed over to the West Village and met up with some friends for a very fun first night in the city! 

Sunday I was able to check into my dorm and meet my roommates for the summer! It was so much fun getting to know everyone, and I really do love our new home! These residences are super nice and I am so lucky to get to live somewhere like this for 8 weeks.

I began my internship bright and early Tuesday morning at 8:00 am. After a few missed turns and getting stuck out in a significant amount of rain, I finally reached my destination at 685 5th Avenue. Its a wonderful place to work (literally ONE block away from Cartier!). I could not have asked for a better work environment to spend my summer. I really have enjoyed my first week with this company, and I know that I will gain so much from what I will learn there this summer!

Tonight, Susan and I enjoyed a typical "frenchy" picnic on her floor and watched 27 dresses! I think we are going to head up to her home in Westchester tomorrow for the night...so fun. 

Anywho, I think I am about to jump in bed, chat with my roommate a bit, and get some sleep! I will definitely try to update more now that everything is starting to settle down! Goodnight city :)

Packing it All Up

I can't do it. I have been trying for three days to pack up my apartment, and I cannot bring myself to do it. I feel like my subconscious keeps preventing me from taking yet one more step towards making everything so final. I do not enjoy this whole change one tiny bit! This house holds so many memories, I can't imagine leaving it. Sunday afternoon, I came home from Toney's wedding and walked straight into her room, just like I normally would. All of a sudden, the realization that she would never be coming back hit me like a ton of bricks. So, like any other mature 22ish-year old girl would do, I promptly sat myself down in her floor and had myself a good long cry. I miss you ETP, and no matter what your marriage license may say, you will always be my Toney :)

Here are some pictures from Elizabeth and Caleb's beautiful wedding in Huntsville. It was truly an honor to share this wonderful day with you two. Love you both!

A Blonde, Brunette, and a Red Head...Always.

Love my Toney!

The Bride with her mashed potatoes...of course!

Elizabeth and Caleb's Sweet First Dance

Formal Photos before the Wedding

Being a Bum

Today is all about being lazy. Isn't it nice, every once in a while, when you have a day when there is literally nothing that you have to do? No obligations, no appointments, no worries. I am so used to having all kinds of random commitments, so when one of these glorious opportunities does finally arrive, I often waste it away feeling anxious and guilty about not being productive. But not today! I am truly enjoying this beautifully lazy summer afternoon on my couch, listening to music and catching up with friends! It is fantastic. 

And I have good reason to rest up today because this weekend will most assuredly wear me out! I cannot believe May 23rd is only 2 days away!!! My sweet Toney is getting married! It seems like just yesterday she was running into my room to show me her new "Christmas Present!" I cried then, and I can guarantee that when we are all standing together at the front of the church on Saturday, I will cry all over again (very happy tears, of course!). Elizabeth has meant more to me this year than words can explain, and I could not be happier for her and Caleb! I know that they will be so good to each other, and I cannot wait to see the beautiful marriage that God has planned for them. Love you both :)

Baytowne, Bachelorettes, and saying goodbye.

This past weekend, we loaded up the cars, packed 11 girls in a two bedroom condo, and had a blast in Sandestin for Toney's "Last Big Fling before the Ring!" It was a fun-filled weekend, complete with sand, sunburns, and lots of seafood! It was so wonderful to get to spend one last weekend with some of my best friends from college, and celebrate the upcoming marriage of one of my all time closest friends. After a rocky start, we finally arrived late on Sunday evening. Ashley and I promptly made our way through Baytowne to Hammerheads and quickly devoured two amazing Mahi sandwiches while listening to a wonderful live band. Monday, we woke up, ate breakfast at my FAVORITE breakfast place ever (Another Broken Egg. Blackberry grits are a must try!), and spent the entire day at the beach! I am not usually a big fan of just sitting on the beach in one place for extended periods of time, but after "finals" week, I appreciated the rest and when right to sleep! Monday night, we threw Elizabeth a lingerie shower, then donned our "bachelorette gear" and set out for Rum Runners. After a very fun (and memorable) night, we all ended up sitting together in the big chair, wishing the weekend (and college) wasn't drawing to a close.

This week, Slay and I are taking a one week class at Jeff State, completing an entire 3-hour course in a matter of 6 days. It is wonderful! I am wishing I had taken advantage of this before! I came home tonight, and as always, sat on the back porch with dad and enjoyed some good wine and good conversation while Tinka chased the squirrels (unsuccessfully) all around the yard! I cooked dinner for everyone tonight, under Dad's constant "advice" of course. It was yummy, and I had such a great time getting to sit down and catch up with my sweet family!

3 weeks to New York....:)

Free at last.

Today essentially ended my final exams for the semester! WAHOOO! I have not been to bed since I woke up yesterday morning, but there is just such a great feeling that comes along with knowing that you have NO more class obligations! Needless to say, I am super happy :)

And what is there not to be happy about? I have realized lately just how blessed I truly am. Not that everything in my life has been working out perfectly (far from it!), but I have been learning to find contentment in the little things that make life great each day. I mean really...life is wonderful! I am so excited about this week's events...starting with a fun day with friends and Cinco de Mayo tomorrow!

On another note, I don't think it has really hit me that most of my friends are GRADUATING on Saturday! My best friend, Teresa (aka T-Rere) is included in that group, and I cannot believe it is already happening. Fortunately Niknik and I are a little slow (in more ways than one) and will both be hanging around for a while longer! It feels like just yesterday that the three of us were just getting back from summertime in Texas and we drove to Livingston to drop Teresa off at school. Talk about some crying...it felt like we were all being separated by way more than a 3 hour drive across the state! And here we are, 4 years later, still as close as always. My girls. I can safely say that I doubt there will ever be two people who will have such a unique impact on my life. I am who I am because of their friendships, and its a wonderful thing :)

Make it stop.

Time. I feel like the more you try to hold onto it, the quicker it runs away from you! Lately I have been trying to squeeze out every last memory from this year, but it always leaves me wishing there was time for more. Many of the things that I have taken for granted for so long are all coming to an end, and it is making me realize just how precious our time is. I would give anything for one last chapter meeting, another college spring break, one more Tuesday night with WEGP, and another year to live with the greatest roommates ever. It is teaching me that no matter how much I might want to wish for the future and think "I can't wait until this, that, and the other thing...", I need to seek to be content with each moment the Lord decides to put me in. Cause hindsight truly is 20-20, and you never know how much you will wish you could go back and love everything all over again! 

I had a wonderful weekend with some of my best girlfriends, celebrating the engagement and upcoming wedding of our sweet friend, Mandy Jones. After spending a fun night in Montgomery with Mom at Nana and Joppy's, I met up with them and drove down to her hometown of Troy. We spent some time catching up and getting ready, then threw on our boots and headed up to the football suite at the stadium for a night of good food and country music! We had a great time and I even got the special treat of running into my brother, who had come as the date of one of Mandy's family friends!

I received some INCREDIBLY exciting news on Thursday. After interviewing, I have been given the opportunity to intern with HFP Capital this summer in New York City. I cannot wait to work really hard and learn lots and lots about the practical applications of everything have been studying in college! I know it will be very challenging at times, but I am so very very excited to see where the Lord leads me in this process. I will be moving up to the city on June 5th and returning back to the South on August 6th. Ahhh...NewYork NewYork here I come!!

Tonight I am working on some final projects for my classes and I will probably go for a run to give me some time to think about everything I need to do in the upcoming week. Before gas prices shot up and the economy went bad, I used to love jumping in my car and driving down Wire Road with the windows down when I needed some good alone time to think and decompress. Currently, running has replaced this, and become my new, less expensive "me-time." I have found it to be much easier on my bank account, yet horrible for my ankles! 

Home Sweet Home

It never fails. There is nothing that can put a smile on my face like being able to spend a lazy weekend at home in Birmingham. There is plenty of good food, good wine, and long conversations with my parents that always serves to rejuvenate and redirect me. And this long Easter weekend has exceeded expectations...

The highlight of the weekend occurred Friday night when my entire family (grandparents included) attended "Secret Church" at the Church of Brook Hills. This 6-hour long lesson would be most closely compared to what I would call a Bible-Study-Marathon. It was an intense study on the "Cross of Christ" and turned out to be a night I will not soon forget. Throughout the night, we had the opportunity to gather together in prayer for the many persecuted churches around the world who are unable to meet as we do in the United States. The sermon given by Dr. David Platt was such a blessing, and I am so grateful to have had the chance to experience this event. 

Tonight, we are enjoying a relaxing night at home, complete with homemade spaghetti and apple pie! I am so looking forward to the large gathering of family and friends we will be having for Easter lunch tomorrow. I know it will be a special time of AMAZING food, fun, and fellowship as we remember the Resurrection of our precious Savior, Jesus.