A Lot to Be Thankful For

Whoa! How do six days manage to fly by and leave me not ready to go back to Lexington? They always do, right? Unfortunately, that is the case. The days I have at home are so jam-packed with exciting things to do that before I know it I'm heading south again... It's simply not fair!

Because I am impatient and wanted to be home so badly, I left Lexington Tuesday morning at approximately 5:00am. I already had the truck loaded and just needed to get Reba and I in it. This made for almost a whole day at home! Reba and I visited Momma and her friends at work for a little while, then made it home to see Dad for lunch, and ended my afternoon surprising two kiddos at school to pick them up! This was some much needed time with these monsters for sure!

While I was home I managed to squeeze in two full days of job shadowing. It was fun to see the behind the scenes aspects to some of the jobs I have applied for and determine whether or not to apply for others. What I learned from shadowing: I love people and sitting in an office all day is just not for me!

Thanksgiving Day was full of fun! I successfully completed my first race! It was bitterly cold out, but I managed to finish with a time better than expected and I can't wait to register for my next one! A huge thank you to Morgan's sister, Casey, for agreeing to run the race with me and serve as my encouragement!

Then it was off to grandma's house for the annual Thanksgiving Lunch. It was great to have these crazies there with me! I ended up napping on grandma's couch for a little while after we ate. It was great to visit with everyone... BAHAHA! 

We then had a wonderful meal with Morgan's family on Saturday! I love them! We watched football and had lots of laughs! 

Sunday was spent with Daddy in the shop working on my truck. I needed to change the oil and wash the mud off of it, so I got to spend some time with Daddy doing that. I also had the chance to visit with my Great Uncle Don from Georgia on Sunday. He and his wife visit once a year and it has been a while since I have seen him since I have been at school. He is a wonderful man and I love visiting with him. In conversation he told me that if he wakes up in the morning he thanks the Good Lord above and knows it's going to be a good day because it was given to him. Such a positive outlook on life and the blessings he has. 

Finally, one of my favorite traditions is putting up the Christmas Tree with Momma. It is always lots of fun! Every year Momma buys us girls an ornament that represents something that happened in our lives in the past year. So, I got to open my ornament for this year and I love it! 

It's kind of weird for me to think about how next year's holidays will be completely different. Morgan and I will have our own tree to put up, and we will have our own traditions to begin. I have been very blessed and I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and every other year. I can't believe it is December already, but I am very excited for the eventful year I have ahead of me! 

Just in case anyone is keeping track (but I'm not counting):

158 days until Graduation!

262 days until the wedding! 

Our Story

For those of you that know me pretty well, you know that I am a planner. I love to have a plan, and most of the time I am not happy unless there is a plan for every thing happening in my life.

So, as most little girls do, I had planned my life out based on many of the fairy tales I had read as a child. Planning my job and what pets I would own and where I would live and, most importantly, the man of my dreams. But, one thing is for sure: I could not have planned for a better-looking, more supportive, more intelligent or more caring individual to call mine. The best part is -  I get to keep him all mine forever!

We aren't high school sweethearts, and we didn't fall in love with our best friend, but he did manage to sweep me off my feet, and I'm so happy he did! The past three years of my life have been a true blessing because of Morgan. Our story hasn't been the fairy tale many girls dream of. We have had our trying moments and we have had our unforgettable moments. This story isn't what I had planned, but it is our story and I wouldn't change a single thing about it.

Morgan, your love and support through the toughest adventure of my life has kept me going. Your willingness to pick me up and dust me off, but yet your boldness to tell me to get over it and try again, is the exact support I have needed right beside me. You have become my best friend and I can't imagine my life without you. 

The first chapter of our story ends with Morgan asking me to be his wife! I am so excited to plan our futures together. So, as we plan to join our lives on August 23rd, we will continue to write our story together as it unfolds before us.

Our Journey Together:

 Photos by Kali Parmley :

Let the Countdown begin:
166 days until Graduation
270 days until I'm Mrs. Longshore!

Unreal

When did it get to be September?
Where has the month of September gone? Oh well, who cares as long as it keeps going?! After September comes December, and after December comes May (close enough)!
The past three weeks have been absolute madness in my life! I moved back to school just in time for Ambassador Retreat. Then, three days later, classes started. The next week was UKAg Round Up, which is a week full of events for faculty, staff, students, the community and alumni. The next week was rush week for Sigma Alpha - a week full of events for recruiting new members to the professional agricultural sorority on campus. No wonder the month has flown by! This week has been really busy too, but my poocher comes home to me tomorrow! So, here is a really quick visual recap of the last couple weeks. Enjoy!

 Guest Speaker at the Lexington Rotary Club Lunch at Round Up

 Ag Student Council Hosts the Student and Staff Picnic at Round up

 

UK Ag Ambassadors run the main Round Up event 

Sigma Alpha Rush Week Day #1

  

Sigma Alpha Active Membership (24 lovely ladies)

  

 Sigma Alpha Active Membership with New Membership Candidates 

(46 amazing ladies!)

 

Four Amazing Kelsey's =] 

Some Much Needed Tailgating with the girls!

And My Love came to Visit! 

Kentucky v. Louisville Game

UK See Blue Preview Night in Chicago, Illinois 

I'm really blessed by these amazing opportunities and wouldn't trade my crazy schedule for anything! I'm really thankful that my family is understanding of the craziness since it will be another month or more before I get to go home for a weekend!

And... In case anyone was wondering.... 235 days until graduation! That is unreal!

My School Family

Being away from home is really hard for me, but having a group of close friends that I spend a lot of time with makes it a little easier.

I have become really involved on campus and these are the friends and the moments that I will remember forever! One of my favorite groups to be a part of on campus is the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Ambassadors. This is my family. They are just as crazy as my real family, and they are always there to lift me up when I need it most. So, for that I thank you all!

This past weekend was the Ambassador Retreat. This is a weekend spent learning about the college, but more importantly, this is a weekend spent learning about each other and making connections that will last all year. I couldn't have asked for a better group to spend my last year on campus with. This group includes some really amazing people, and I am really excited to see where this next year leads us.

Our weekend included a day of meetings at the office, and then we spend the rest of the weekend at the Red River Gorge, in Eastern Kentucky. First thing is first, hike up the see the Natural Bridge.

Th whole group made it to the top in one piece! 

Shelby and I being ourselves - ridiculous! 

Kaitlin and Renee - the best sisters a girl could ask for! This was before the hike (when we were still having fun!) Haha. 

 This year I have the privilege of being Kayla's mentor. She is the best mentee ever, and I can't wait to work with her all year! 

I'm so thankful for the family I have at school. These people keep me sane and help me to not be lonely.

But, I honestly could not do it without this girl. She is the best one-woman support system ever, and I am so thankful to have her all to myself! She dries my tears when my Momma can't, and always knows how to make me smile! I love you Kristina! Thank you for everything you do for me!

Next Step

Looking back on the amazing summer I had, I can't believe it is over.  Just like that.  I am so thankful for the amazing opportunities that I had this summer and I wouldn't trade the crazy schedule, sleepless nights, living out of a suitcase, or making over 1000 phone calls for anything. I had a blast! 

After a crazy-busy summer away from home, it was nice to be able to come home and spend the weekend with the ones I love the most before school starts. Daddy, Momma, Morgan and I packed up and went north for the weekend. We spent the weekend at the National Tractor Pull Association Championship in Bowling Green, Ohio. It's always a fun time, and it was great to spend it with three of my favorite people. 

 I think this one sums up our relationship quite nicely, HA. I love him! 

It's crazy to think that this was the last summer I will spend as a college student. Next summer, I will hopefully have a big-kid job and be planning my future. I can't believe that. I can't wait to see what my future holds, but for now I will pack up and head back to Lexington to plug away at school. That's the next step to my future and the next step to my goals!

264 days until graduation! 

Ready... Set... Go!! 

Texas

I have three words for my recent travel.... Texas was AMAZING!

I had such an amazing time traveling in this amazing state that I have always dreamed of visiting. I flew into Amarillo and spent most of my time in the panhandle area of the state. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel some and see this great state. A couple of farmers I had to visit were a couple hours in different directions, so this allowed for lots of travel! In previous posts you have seen that I tend to have good days and bad days on my trips. Not Texas. Texas was so good to me, and I didn't run into one unhappy person the entire time I was there. (And my Wednesday of this trip was my best day!) I don't have a lot else to say about it, so enjoy it as much as I did through my photos! 

Buffalo Lake Wildlife Refuge 

Feed Lot 

Feed Lot - this looked like a nice size feed lot until I rounded the corner and saw that it was a HUGE feed lot. Feeder calves as far as the eye could see. 

Large Wind Farm 

The storm I followed home Wednesday evening - I loved these clouds 

Because I am a hard worker, maybe the southern hospitality helped - I was able to spend all day Thursday as a tourist in this great state. I got all of my work done and was able to enjoy the day site-seeing. 

Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, TX

Palo Duro Canyon - Amarillo, TX

I went horse back riding through this canyon. 

Historic Route 66

Heaven

I couldn't help myself - Had to get a new pair! I call them my authentic Texas souvenir! 

Ended my trip with this beautiful view. I was definitely somewhere over the rainbow all week! 

An absolute dream come true to visit Texas. I can't wait to go back in the near future just for fun!