Growing and Walking

Hey y'all.


So I have to say that this week has been tough but I am slowly getting stronger and healing from the break up. Even though this week was tough I did not let it stop me from growing in my faith with God and spending some quality time with my dear friends and coworkers. 

Study Date with Kaitlyn :)

Oh the joys of study dates at Flying Star with Kaitlyn. I don't know why but we always have some interesting stories to tell after we leave. A couple weeks ago we had one of the employees came and sat with us and started telling us about this girl that he was in love with and it was super awkward. Last week he told us that he was making her a ring and that he was so excited to see her. It was cute but we could never  figure out why he was telling us this. And, get this, he is now done working at Flying Star and is going to work on a FARM... of all things haha. Weird guy. 

Later that night, some ladies came to sit at a table that was near us and they smelled like HOT DOGS. I kid you not! :p It was kind of gross. 

Another study date is planned for tomorrow night and I am so excited for more of our crazy adventures. 

Rock and Worship Roadshow :D

Last Thursday night was incredible. My friend, Bailey, and I went to the Rock and Worship Roadshow where we saw some incredible bands perform. Sidewalk Prophets, Disciple, Hawk Nelson, Lacrae, Tenth Avenue North, and MercyMe all performed and it was so amazing. Tingley Coliseum was packed full of people worshiping our Lord and Savior and it was so awesome to see everyone sing along, lift their hands to God, and get excited about the Good News!

Me and Bailey waiting for the show to start (yes, I did dye my hair back to brown)

Sidewalk Prophets kick off the show. Such a great performance and they did one of my favorite songs, "The Words I Would Say." :)

Hawk Nelson! :) They did a cover of "Don't Stop Believin," which I thought was very appropriate for this concert

 And the greatest band of the night, MERCY ME! :) They were so incredible. Everyone should look up their song "Hurt and Healing Collide." It had such a great message and catchy tune too! :)

This week was great and I am looking forward to growing in my relationship with God and figuring out what He has planned for my life! :)

Hanging In

Hey y'all.


I just needed to say that I am doing okay. Actually I'm not... I keep telling myself that but in reality I am hurting so much inside. If it weren't for my Lord and Savior and my dear friends, Dave, Chris, Tina, Kaitlyn, and Cayce I don't know how I would be doing. We'll see where the future leads me but for now I just am taking life one day at a time and following my heart and listening to God to see what actions I should take in my life.


I have faith that I will be okay. That Chris and I both will (Chris was dumped one day before I was so we are going through this together). I have faith that I will find the perfect guy, somewhere, someday. 


I may hit some road blocks in the road but that will all be worth it when God leads me to the life he has set out for me. I cannot believe how much I have grown in my faith and my trust in God in the last couple of days but that is one thing that I am very thankful for.


I love all of the people in my life and please note that I will be okay... No matter how long it takes I know that He is always there for me to lean on when nobody else is.


I must get to bed now but I will write again soon, hopefully with some happier news.


<3
Ali :) 

One Chapter Done

Well this weekend did not take off to a good start.


Caleb and I are no longer together :( As much as it broke my heart and as much as it hurt, I know that God has a great plan for my life and his, even if it isn't together. I pray that Caleb still gets into dental school and I wish him the best. So Caleb, if you are reading this, I still care about you and want what is best for you. You will always hold a place in my heart, even as just a friend. Good luck.


To the Mangums and O'Briens, I will miss the relationship that I have with you all and, even though I'm not dating your son or brother, I hope to never lose you all. I love you guys and always will. I hope to see you soon but for now I need time to heal. I'm sorry. :( 


But now I think that as one chapter of my life is done, another one is opening. I am now going to just focus on myself, school, and work and take a break from the stress that life has put on my shoulders. I still don't know where God is leading me, but I'm only 19 so there is no rush to figure it out. 


We'll see what happens. 


<3 always,
Ali 

I Don't Know What to Do

Hey all! :)

So I need help and prayer from y'all. Today I got to have lunch and coffee with my boyfriend's sister, Erynn, and we got to talking about my life. Since I am in a great relationship with her brother, I felt comfortable talking to her about this as I try to figure out what I'm going to do.

So as I said in my last post, I don't know what to major in and I guess it is stressing me out way more than I thought it would. I feel like the world is putting a time limit on when I have to figure out my life and that there are so many expectations for me to be the absolute best, even if it makes me do something that I am not happy about. 

I could really use the prayer and any advice that y'all may have. I am just very overwhelmed and I have no idea what to do or how to do it. 

Thank you guys! :)

<3

Ali :)

School, Birthday, Valentine's Day

Okay so keeping up with this blog has become a challenge. I apologize again for not writing a lot! :) I'll make an effort from now on to post every week. 


School and Work
School has been going pretty well. I had to drop my Psychology class because it was just going to be way too much work, but my other classes are going pretty well (besides my Chemistry lab, which I am really not liking). I had my first Chemistry test last week and it wasn't too, too bad and I have my first Calculus 3 test this Friday, which I am a little worried about. We'll see how it goes.


I am considering changing my major again. I have gone from Mechanical Engineering to Medical Laboratory Sciences to ______________. I have come to the conclusion that if I don't like my Chemistry lab then why am I going to like working in a lab for the rest of my life? Now comes the hard part, figuring out what I am going to do. I have been thinking about teaching mathematics and maybe special education but we'll see if I decide that or if it's just a thought. Hopefully I'll let y'all know soon. 


Other than school, my life has been full of work. I have been working between 20 and 30 hours a week, which is a challenge but it's nice when the paycheck comes. Also, I have been applying for new jobs at higher end restaurants like TXL&C and Applebees but I have to get a liquor license before I continue the job search so I am just going to stay at Dion's for a little bit longer, which shouldn't be that terrible. Don't get me wrong, I like my job and I like the people I work with but I have been working there for quite a while and I'm just looking for a change.


Birthday
February 8th was my 19th birthday and it was a great 5 days of celebrating. On the night of my birthday we went to my favorite restaurant, Texas Land & Cattle, with my mom, my sister, my aunt, my grandpa, and my grandpa's girlfriend. I got some amazing boots, a really cute dress, and a shirt. :) It was a pleasant night! 

The celebration continued on Thursday night when Caleb took me to The County Line for dinner and surprised me by taking me to Putt Putt where we got to play a round of mini golf, which was so much fun! :) I had a great night with him and I could not have asked for a better birthday celebration from him.


On Sunday, I went to the Mangum's house and had yet another celebration. They made a fantastic lunch with brisket, salad, potatoes, and sparkling cider :) It was very yummy. Then, I opened my gifts from the family and they were way too generous! :) I couldn't believe it. Thank you all! :) And to end the celebration, we opened the ice cream to find a smile! 

 It has a giraffe inside!! :)

 Can I admit that I have no idea what we were laughing about? Haha :)

It was a great birthday! :) Thank you to my family, friends, and the Mangum family! I love you all! :)


Valentine's Day <3
Yesterday was Valentine's day and it was the greatest one I have ever had. I have such a great boyfriend and I could not ask for a better valentine. I am so blessed to have him in my life and he definitely made our first Valentine's day pretty darn special. 


It's MICKEY! :)

 And MINNIE! :)

And I got DONALD DUCK, too! :) 
Plus roses! :) 


Thank you so much, Caleb!! :) <3


Well I have to get back to school so I will write again soon.


Howdy y'all! :)


<3
Ali :)

Wow...

Well I know it has been a while... Sorry haha.

Lots has happened since I last wrote :) Caleb's interview at University of Colorado Dental School went well, from what he told all of us, but we still have to wait to hear the results. And good news... HE GOT ANOTHER ONE! :D On Saturday, he is going to be in sunny California at Western University of Health Sciences (wow I hope I got that all right). GOOD LUCK, CALEB!!! :)

I have almost completed my first 3 weeks at UNM and I don't think it is going to be a bad year :) My classes are not too bad, other that a psych class that I have already dropped, and the homework load will be rough but it won't kill me.

Along with school, nothing else has been too bad. I have been working about 25-30 hours a week so that is making it somewhat tough to have a social life. But I have still found time to go on some incredible dates with Caleb, hang out with some of my friends, and just take time to watch tv and not worry about things that are causing me stress (not that there is a lot). 

That is all for now. 

This coming week should be fun :) and February should be fun too :)

I had to share this picture really quick for anyone who has ever seen Mean Girls :) It is such a funny photo!! :)

 Isn't it great!? :D

Goodnight all! 

<3
Ali :)