Time for a Slow-down

It has been a month since my last post, not that I haven't attempted to write in the meantime (there are 4 drafts from these past few weeks unfinsihed!) but I feel I have been running in 32 different directions and haven't found the time to write. The past month has been amazing though, I will say. Even better than I may have expected. Where to begin....

June 14 was Alix and Drew's wedding. The long-awaited event I moved to the east coast for. The week leading up to the wedding was packed full of last minute activities as I am sure you can imagine, only it must be said that Alix decided to do everything herself for the wedding! Amazing. She made the invitations, RSVP cards, the programs, the centerpieces for the tables and we even made the bouquets ourselves!

She is incredibly creative and I am in awe at what she was able to do; however, have fully decided that I will GLADLY pay someone else do it all of this when My Day ever comes around. Too much stress for me. But, it all went off perfectly and everything turned out amazing... including the outside wedding during the thunderstorm!! But, Alix and I laughed through the thunder and she was able to thoroughly enjoy her day, the only thing I could have asked for as her best friend and maid of honor.

A great part of the wedding weekend for me was that Brian was able to come up and attend and we were able to spend some quality time together during the festivities and once things quieted down. It was great to talk and laugh and just be around him again.

The next weekend I went down to South Carolina to attend a formal function with Brian and his squadron. I was very excited to be invited and looked forward to the entire weekend all week leading up to it. The dinner was in Savannah GA so we were able to spend some time walking around the riverfront and seeing the sights there (and eating raw oysters!!! yum yum yum), what a fun city. We had another great weekend and again, I was very thankful for the time I was able to spend with him. It's amazing what you realize you have missed once it is brought back into your life...

I went back to work and prepared for the visit from my closest girl friend in San Diego, Alicia!! We were SO excited to be together and hanging out again. Even though I had just seen her and spent the entire week wtih her when I visited San Diego it seemed it had been forever and I could not wait to have her here. We had a great visit... days spent in the pool, evenings leading into nights spent out making memories... "San Diego, SuperChargers!!" hahaha I love that girl, and could not ask for a better friend. It was a visit we both needed, time together to talk openly and honestly and reflect on each of our lives and what was going on in them. There is not another friend I have that I know I can say absolutely anything to without judgement and hear the most honest answer without hurt. I thank God for this girl, daily. I have been very blessed.

When Alicia left I was still on vacation =) After working for almost 4 months straight a girl needs a week off! haha Plus it was the week of July 4th which is my favorite summer holiday! From experience I have learned that if I work July 4th I am extremely sad and depressed, even the holiday pay doesn't help, I need to be outside enjoying the sun and the cookouts and the fireworks!!! Brian came up and we headed north to Norfolk VA to spend a couple days with the friends up there, and some who were coming into town just for the weekend. It was worth the drive and a lot of fun! Thursday night we were able to see some old friends, one of his best friends who I have incredible respect for because who he is and what he does. It was great to see the boys together again, and it was fun to see him myself too. Friday was the best day... we spent the entire day on a boat anchored off the beach! We all know there is nothing I love more than being in the sun, and especially on a boat!!! It was fantastic. And, the fireworks that night... phenomenal. On the beach, all the people bring their own fireworks, there is not a professional show per say, and they set them off up and down the beach. Now, these are not just small bottle rockets and things of that nature, these are legit fireworks and the "show" went on for about an hour or more! Not to mention the "natural fireworks" that had started, also known as lightening. Now, we had heard the storm cell was going to pass north of us and we had nothing to worry about, ok... then it started raining. So, we gathered everything up and prepared to start the boat and head home... then we found out that the iPod which had been providing wonderful entertainment all day had also drained every drop of life from our battery. The boat wouldn't start, but the storm sure did! So, the 11 of us were inside the boat waiting out the storm and waiting for help to arrive... for about 4 hours. What an entertaining time to say the least... once the storm subsided and the fears calmed. Regardless, it was a great day and we got home safely and I would do it all again!

So, now my vacation is over. I think my schedule has calmed, at least for the next week or maybe even two! I am back to work... and starting to think of where my next adventure will be. My contract here ends the end of August so it is time to start thinking about the next move. Things at this hospital are not bad by any means, but not great enough to keep me here. I am ready to move on and find someplace new... and of course I must keep in mind that winter is just around the corner so I must move someplace warm! I have time, I will figure it all out.... I always do!

I must say, amidst all of the fun and excitement my life has been the past month not a day has passed that I have not wished I could call and share all of it with my mom. The wedding was especially difficuly, in hindsight, realizing that I will never share that day with my mom like Alix had the blessing of doing with her's. There were some hard times related to an immature and awful person that I really needed my mom around for shortly after the wedding. My mom never knew about Alicia or the amazing friend she has been to me. I haven't had her to talk to the past 5 1/2 months about relationship things a girl needs her mom for. But, I know she is watching over me. I know she loves(d) me. And I know she is proud of who I am, mostly because I am so much like her! haha I love you, momma, and I miss you dearly each day.