a penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar

I don't really know why I am writing this but...
I am going to brag a lot about my friends and family in this blog. Just forewarning you :]


I have been a very lucky young woman when it comes to evaluating the relationships I have made in my life. I can honestly say that I am a family person. I am not the 'family person' when I am trying to impress a guy or when I am trying to sound more responsible and whatever else that may make me when I am talking to anyone. I am a family girl through and through. I do not enjoy anything more than spending time with those closest to me.


My family is one of a kind. Although it is HUGE and totally dysfunctional at times, I would not trade them for the world. I have my Mom's side and my Dad's. I can not imagine my life with them together, nor do I want to imagine it that way. They are both so much happier in the paths they have traveled down. I am not trying to put all of my families business out there, but I want to make it clear that I love my life, and everyone in it. I love that I spend my summers at home with my families instead of with friends causing trouble. I would choose jeeping with my mom's family and extended jeeping family, or playing volleyball with my dad over anything my acquaintances would invite me to. [in fact I have done that MANY times] I turned down a free Giants game last summer to play in a little pick up volleyball game with my dad and his close friends. I went jeeping last year and spent time with my mom, grandparents, siblings, best friend, uncle and all the other crazies that I could not live without instead of attending a high school friend's wedding. At the time I was upset and bummed that I was missing those things with friends, but I am so grateful for all of the family time I have had in my life. I knew I was lucky and fortunate enough to have that much time, but have not fully appreciated it until recently. (Don't get me wrong I do love the girls very dearly that invited me to their special days and attempted to include me in their fun summer plans).But lets face it- I am always that girl that "has something to do". My friends know I am busy, and understand that I am with my family 94% of the time. It is what it is, and I want everyone to know I love that. It is by choice and I thoroughly enjoy every thing we do together.


Everyone thinks that they have "the best family" or the "best friends" and I respect your opinions and really hope you believe that rather than say it to say it but I honestly do have the 'bests'. [sorry]


My best friend Shasta has been there for me through thick and thin. We have built our friendship since 2nd grade; we finish each other's sentences and know what the other is thinking before we even think we are thinking it. There is no replacing this girl.


I have friends at Guilford that I am very close to, and hope to continue talking to after graduating college, but understand that probably wont happen.


But I have to say, I have found another set of friends in Ireland that I would call my best friends. It is a completely different bond. At home, many many years and specific events and circumstances have helped build those friendships. Here, a few weeks and immediate need contributed to building these friendships. I realize that I have found lifelong friends, not just college friends that I will lose contact with once leaving Ireland. These are not the girls that I will ONLY spend nights with in the bar playing cards, gossiping and drinking with. I have laughed until it hurt, cried from laughing so hard and shared our most personal stories with one another. I feel an immediate sense of comfort with them that I have only found with my family and Shasta. And that- to me- is truly what friendship really is. I can not wait to see what Ireland has in store for us, and then what we will get into once we return to the states.


I am so thankful I get to share this adventure in my life with these girls. It is in the conversations and stories that I realize I am not only learning about them, but a lot about myself as well. I truly believe I am finding who I am more and more every day. I just smile when I think about my life and who I am sharing everything with. 


I do not like to say I will do things with no intentions of going through with it; whether that pertains to friendships and staying in touch, or studying abroad in another country. I want to do everything in this life that makes my to-do list. I want to thank all of the people in this life, you are all making this possible for me. I have so much support and love that it should be illegal. Honestly.

Thank you so much. It is because of every single person I have encountered in this life that I am the way I am. This is a journey to find myself I believe, and I am very satisfied with how this has panned out so far :]
{Ps. the title of the blog is from the country song I'm listening to :] }

The people who can’t love you for who you are, don’t deserve to ever be with you at all.

I learned a lot about friendships. I lost people that were once my best friends. I lost old friendships that I thought would last beyond high school. People I once trusted ended up showing me the opposite. Although I lost those people, I also built more valuable relationships with the people who stayed. I kept the friends that really mattered. I gained stronger friendships with people who were there for me. I realized that besides family, I only have a few people I can truly rely on, but that's okay. Having a huge group of friends isn't that great when most can care less about you. In the end, having a few valuable friendships with people who really have your back is always worth so much more.