The End...

The end of something is merely the beginning of something else. 

This blog has been fantastic for me for many many reasons.  I have had a roller coaster of a year in so many ways.  Personally, physically, emotionally and it has just been amazing.  I will not do a good job of describing all of my emotions, but I will do my best.

I have been alone for the majority of my adult life.  It isn't always easy.  I have dated, of course, but never married or lived with someone.  Now don't get me wrong, being single isn't the worst thing ever-however it does get lonely.  Not just lonely, but there are so many things that a person feels like they can't do because they are single.  When I was rapidly approaching 30 I realized that I had put a lot of things off that honestly-I didn't have to be with someone to do-and people make such a big deal about turning 30.  So I wanted to turn 30 into something wonderful for me-rather than wallowing in being 30 and single. 

The memories from this past year are some that I will cherish forever!  I am going to put together a photo album of my pictures/memories.  I have taken time with my family and friends to really enjoy life with them.  Sometimes we get so caught up in work and planning that we forget to enjoy the ride and the moments that are passing us by.  Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon...tearful with my Mom is one thing I will never forget!  We both were there-in the moment-taking it in and enjoying being with each other.  And oh the trip with Dad and Neil to Memphis.  It's a trip that we could have planned for years and it would have never worked so perfectly.  I will never forget being there with my two favorite men in the world...singing and laughing with each other. 

I want to grab on to every opportunity and enjoy the most lazy of days.  I am not going to let being single, or my weight, or anything else hold me back from doing things.  That's what this wonderful journey was about.
Thank you for listening to me, adding to my trips, and enjoying the ride. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

And as for the items I didn't get completed...I guess we don't ever get everything checked off our list...but it does give me something to look forward to in 2012. 

Skydiving, South and Championship!!

I was supposed to go skydiving on my birthday.  Unfortunately the weather that day wasn't so great-so we bumped to back to the 31st (New Year's Eve).  Mom came up and drove me over.  We had to wait a little longer than most because I had ordered a video & pictures! But once I finally got suited up I was on my way!  The pictures that Mom took while I was getting suited up didn't take..but we can go straight to the best ones!!! JUMPING!!!

Pulling the chute

Whew...it opened! HAHA

Sliding in for the landing on my bottom!

It was a fantastic experience!  Honestly I know how people get addicted, but it's something that I just can't afford! I am really glad I bumped it up and on my list!  Mom and I watched the video with Aunt Debbie and Madison this past weekend.  Mom kept saying how much I obviously enjoyed it...I was laughing and smiling the whole time!!  It is def something I will remember for the rest of my life!

The Thursday before the Championship game I headed SOUTH to see all my people!  I have missed Aunt Sharon, Uncle Lewey, CA, and everyone else down there! I didn't realize ti until I was on my way down that Friday was First Friday!  For those who haven't been able to attend this fantastic place on the first Friday of every month it's an Art Walk, where the streets of Fairhope are flooded with people walking from gallery to gallery...bands on the sidewalks...snacks everywhere and enough wine to go around twice! It is so much fun and we always have a blast!  I got to spend Saturday morning with Carol Ann and Becky...we picked up our throws for Mardi Gras and they got fitted for their costumes!  I am SO ready for Mardi Gras!  Saturday night there was a Welcome Home party for my cousin's husband Joey who got back from Iraq about a month ago.  It was really nice to see Joey and hangout with Bryan.  WELCOME HOME JOEY!!

Sunday I have to tell Uncle Lewey and Aunt Sharon good-bye because I had tickets to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!  We stayed at the Beau in Biloxi-Aunt Jenny, Uncle John, John-John, Jerry D, Mom, Dad and Me...what a group huh?!  We had a blast on Sunday night and the place was flush with Alabama Fans!  We woke up Monday morning and had to be at the SuperDome by noon to pick up tickets at will call!

Driving down...BackSeat Sistas!!

I LOVE my Uncle John!  We are so ready to be in NOLA!!

We finally got into NOLA and got parked in handicapped parking...which was right next to the Dome! :)  And off we went!

What a GOOD LOOKING group of Bama Fans!!!

Stephens Family! How amazing for John-John to be in school at the University and attend this game!??!

After getting everything settled at the SuperDome and taking pictures we decided that it would only be right to go to the Rusty Nail where Gallettes set up with Yellow Hammers!!  Gameday traditions are important, right?!

After leaving the Rusty Nail we went to meet the Stephens for a late lunch!  We had a blast hanging out across from where the University of Alabama football team was staying!  We were hoping we might get a glimpse of them...we didn't but we had a blast!

After getting some grub and finding Uncle V and Judy Karen we started toward the stadium! We bought all of our ticket holders and programs on our walk to the SuperDome...and we were travelling in a sea of Crimson!  When we got to the Dome it was packed with everyone waiting on the doors to open.  We split up-a few taking the programs to the car and the rest of us working our way to the place we agreed to meet at.  With Neil in his wheelchair it was hard to maneuver-but we had the help of some of Baton Rouge's finest and the LSU fans helped us get to our meeting place!  I honestly didn't meet a mean or rude LSU fan the whole night.  Everyone was just glad that both teams were there...we all agreed that this was going to be a fantastic game!!

We got inside the Dome, said our I Love You's and ROLL TIDE's...then we were off! On our walk up to the rafters of the SuperDome we saw a friend from Mobile and visited for a few minutes-it was a nice reason for a breather.  But onward and upward we went!  And then...GAME ON!!!

Dad and I had a fantastic time being there and experiencing the game together!  It was a trip I will never forget!

It's hard to make out but BAMA WINS!!!

That might be the best the SuperDome has EVER looked!!!

I just have to say that this was an amazing trip to take with my family.  Again, I know many people don't understand why or how much I love being with my family...but they are honestly some of the most amazing people! 

I also need to apologize to my sweet Carol Ann and Becky...I was so exhausted after this big trip that I didn't make it on the AML Bus trip to NOLA this past weekend. Although I did go to the gymnastics meet Friday night-I was MISERABLE.  My Mom, Aunt Debbie and Madison were coming up here anyway and going to stay while I was with you guys in Spanish Fort-so I felt like I had to go with them. I now know why I was so miserable...I have a horrible bronchitis infection.  Please forgive me and I will come down a night early for Mardi Gras to make it up to you!! I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY Birthday & New Year!!! & Grand Canyon Pics Part 2

Mom came up this past weekend for my Birthday! Neil apparently couldn't stand to wait on me to open my present so Mom called me over to Rachel's to open it when she got up here.....just a few hours early.  Rachel apparently knew what I was getting!  After slowly opening it up I found 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS!!!!  I was in shock and Mom went bananas when she found out one of them was for her!!  What a great way to start my Birthday weekend!  Plus the game will be a great way to start off 2012...but I still had an airplane to jump out of in 2011...plus FAB's Birthday/New Year's!!!

Nope I wasn't in NY at midnight...I was actually in bed-exhausted from a full fun day of Skydiving!  That's right I actually JUMPED!  Unfortunately they had to push the date back from my birthday to the 31st, but because it was so clear yesterday I was able to go 4,000ft higher!  It was like nothing I have ever done before and the rush-WOW!  It was beautiful, scary, exciting, thrilling, and breathtaking.  I must give credit where credit was due-Aaron my instructor was fantastic and super nice!!

I had a fantastic videographer-a little strange, but I think you have to be to jump like that every day! Unfortunately I can't get pictures or video until they mail it out.  Hopefully they will be mailed tomorrow!

As for the rest of the Grand Canyon pics-I guess it's a good thing I was off work today so I could get them posted!!

The second day at the Canyon was SNOWY!!  It was amazingly beautiful!  We went on about a 2 1/2 mile hike to this overlook, because of the snow and ice we bought these things to put on our shoes that reminded me of the old golf shoes with the metal spikes.

On the way to the trail head we walked down one of the trails into the canyon just a short distance...

Looking up at Mom as I walk down into the canyon

It's like "Where's Waldo" Mom is up there!!

An opening in the rock for the mules to get down into the canyon on the trail

Once I trekked back up the trail into leading into the canyon we started on our hike!  Just so you know Mom is in blue and I am in the red...huge snowflakes started falling!!

I am in the red...HUGE snowflakes!

The sun tried to peak out a little!

This is one of my favorite pictures!! Just looking into a crevice with the snow everywhere

Making a snow angel

Finished the snow angel!

The back of the lodge with fantastic icicles before leaving for Flagstaff

Montezuma's Castle...or the Cliff Dwellers-can you believe people used to live up there!!

There were so many pictures that it was really hard to choose a few specifically!  It was a fantastic trip and memories with Mom that I will have with me forever!!!




 



Birthday, Christmas, Birthday, New Year's...oh and Mardi Gras!

Oh that Holiday Season! In my particular family there are many reasons to celebrate!  My Brother's birthday was on the 18th, Christmas, MY birthday (30th) and then New Year's...finally to top it off-Mardi Gras!!! Whew...I am tired just typing all of it!

My family has a different kind of Christmas tradition-we eat Steak on Christmas Eve rather than the traditional meal.  We all gather together, go to Church for Communion, and then eat steak and linger after to open a few presents and catch up.  After the majority of the family leaves it is just my immediate family and Janice and Gene (Dog) Strickland.  We all trade presents and then the other different tradition begins-we roll Mom's change.  Yes, I know it's rather strange.  In fact, I would need to ask Neil because I honestly can't tell you when this started!  I know we have been doing it for at least 5 years-the giggles at Dog and Neil struggling to get down & roll the money are so worth it to DeAnn and me!

I love to get presents for people that I know they will enjoy-it makes me so very excited!  I enjoyed so many of the presents that I got for people this year! It was a very Merry Christmas! I loved the extra time with my family and friends!

On the horizon-is my birthday on Friday and then New Year's, which also happens to be FAB's Birthday.  Finally Mardi Gras.  This is my last year on the float so I am going out with a bang!!  Ready for my Float 4 girls!! :) 

Talk to you sooN!

Reese

SKYDIVING!

So I booked this right as I was starting this whole journey.  And although it is good for 2 years I am going to be jumping on my birthday!!! I am so excited!  I get to pick 2 songs...wonder what I should choose!

Talk to ya soon!

Reese

GRAND Canyon! (part 1)

Mother Nature was just a show-off.

Mom and I knew it was going to be cold and we packed accordingly.  We lost basically a dayflying there and a day coming back.  But we planned it so that I didn't have to take much time off work at all.  When our plane touched down in Flagstaff we knew we were in for a rollercoaster-there was snow everywhere.  And not just a little snow...a few inches. 

We went to Enterprise to get our car and we had heard that the I-40 was closed, so we asked if there was another way to get to the Canyon.  Now before I go further let me tell you that we made plans for ourselves which is why we got the car.  We thought we would be able to do some driving and go to see the Painted Desert, Montezuma's Castle, and other things.  The nice gentleman at Enterprise said that there was another way and we got those directions. 

On the way up we stopped at a Target to get necessities (at least for us) Diet Mt. Dew for Mom and Sobe water for Me and a few snacks for us both.  And off we went.  Mom and I were both a little worried about driving on the snow/ice.  But there were others out driving in cars that were smaller than ours-plus there was someone in front of us almost the whole way there.  We liked that too. 

Mom driving up...a little white knuckled!!

Once inside the park we slowly made our way to the lodge.  It was dark and very cold by this point. I think we were both ready to put our stuff down and chill out from the plane ride to the car ride, it was taking a toll on us.  So we took our luggage inside and checked-in, where we were promptly told our cabin was just down there and we could drive if we wanted to.  I think Mom and I both wanted to laugh hysterically or sob-but we "womaned" up and took our stuff down to the cabin.  OHHHH the warmth when we opened that door!  They hadn't left the light on for us, but they had left the heat on!  We unloaded and got comfortable!  It was great but we were starving. We hadn't eaten since our quick breakfast on our layover in Charlotte.  So we decided to go to the lodge for dinner and we were in bed by 8 that night!




Our little lodge! 


We had looked over the options of lectures and things at dinner so we knew we wanted to do the nature walk at 10 and it was a great place to start-because it was at the visitors center.  We got there early enough to catch the movie and then we went on our walk and got our very first glimpse of the canyon!  Ty, the park ranger who gave the lecture, we informative and funny.  He told us about the plant life, wild life, and how the canyon impacts them all.  He answered all of our silly questions and I had tried to convince Mom that we should try the trail to the geology museum.  Ty helped me out and told us that he thought it would be clear so off we went!  During the walk one of us would just stop because we saw something that just took our breath away.  Pictures do not exactly do it justice because the scale is something that is very hard to catch.

Our first view of the Grand Canyon!!

The day started out a little overcast and gloomy-but as you can see the sun is starting to peek out!!

The start of the hiking!!

Elba Tigers were playing for the 2A State Championship and we were supporting them in our way! 





ELK!!!

These were both taken at one of our favorite overlooks!  Mom wouldn't go out quite as far as I would but the view was amazing!

We loved this!  We thought it looked just like a deer!!



I like to put things into perspective!  There is zoomed all the way in....see the people on the ridge?!




This is the same perspective just zoomed out!  Hope that gives you an idea of what we were looking at!!!