road trip TX ➳ PA

To my surprise, a few people asked why I did not blog last week. I usually blog on Thursdays, but last Thursday afternoon, as I contemplated what to blog about, Nolan told me that for business reasons, he needed to go home to Pennsylvania. Not wanting to miss this opportunity to see my family and friends, I neglected my blog to contact professors, google flights, and get my life in order to leave in the morning.

Friday morning, we were Pennsylvania bound!

We left Texas, headed a way we hadn't gone before. After grumbling about the road construction, tiny towns, and low speed limits we rolled into Lindale, Texas to stop for gas. For any of y'all that love Miranda Lambert as much as I do, Lindale is her hometown and also the home of The Pink Pistol, Texas. Since our move to Texas I've been thinking about a road trip to Lindale and here our travels took us right through it! Wanting to keep on going, Nolan was unenthusiastic to stop, but I am so glad we did. I LOVED everything about the Pink Pistol; the old truck door out front, bright pink stair case, Miranda memorabilia, and of course the vintage country/rocker feel. So awesome. 

Still swooning over The Pink Pistol, I got back in the car and we kept movin'. It seemed to take forever to get out of Texas. But once you approach Texarkana, if you blink you'll miss it and wind up in Arkansas. We watched the sun set in our rear view mirror in Arkansas and it was pitch black long before Tennessee welcomed us.

On the other side of Nashville, I got to do a little driving. If you ask Nolan, I drove for about an hour, but I promise you it was more like three. (I offered to drive more in the day time, just for the record). Three hours later and thankful to be in the passenger seat, all the caffeine I inhaled couldn't stop me from sleeping like a baby.

I don't remember much of Kentucky, but the Ohio sunrise is one I'll never forget. The sun slowly rising above the frosted fields and miles of farm land. Finally seeing cattle that weren't Brahman influence excited me. White farm houses and old barns made me anxious for home. I love Ohio; it combines my two worlds. It reminds me of Texas with its flat farm land that goes on for miles, but when we reach Ohio, I know home isn't far.

When we decided to come home, we only told my mom, my dad, and my sister. At the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" sign, I snapped a picture and sent it to my friends! We made a quick stop in Washington, PA to "surprise" my dad at work, even though he knew we were coming. Then, we stopped by Gerry's Western Store. I walked in and my grandma just looked at me like she didn't believe what she was seeing. I smiled and all she could say was, "what in the world". It was a surprise so worth keeping.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and there is an abundance to be thankful for this year. I am so thankful to be home this week, spending time with my friends and family. I'm thankful for my dogs, even though my mom let Boomer get fat while I was away. I'm thankful for my education that allows me to pursue  my passion and the endless opportunities that will bring, for the guy I love, who will drive 17 of the 20 or so hours home, and for all the support and love we have from this great community of Somerset County; a place that will always be home.

why I blog

Updated version: I started my blog in my first semester of college. For an escape and a place to share my thoughts. Five months later, it's hard to believe how much it's grown. A week ago, I wrote my first viral post! Crazy. Now I'm on my own site, with a name other than my own, ready to make things happen.

Though much has changed in the last couple of months, my reasons for blogging have not!

I contemplated blogging for months 
I read article after article, blog after blog, about how to start one, why to blog, the do and don'ts of blogging, etc. It was overwhelming and for months I let myself be discouraged by this. The week that I finally wrote my first post, I wrote the blog first and took the rest of the week to decide which blog site to use. I liked the way I could personalize Blogger and make it my own. Plus it was super easy to use! However, I quickly outgrew blogger and began looking for something more professional.

Writing for comfort and empowerment
That week, I was so homesick I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted nothing more than to go home, but that wasn't an option. Writing has always comforted me. I've kept various journals for years, but never actually kept up with them. I never minded writing papers in high school or the dreaded scholarship essays. I actually have my writing skills to thank for many of the scholarships I received. So when I was battling the worst homesickness I've ever experienced, I decided to write about it. When writing "battling homesickness", I thought if I could take my experiences and turn them into something that could possibly help someone else, that maybe it would help me as well.

I only shared my first blog post with about three people; my mom, Nolan, and Abby. I wasn't blogging in hopes of recognition, I was just happy to write and even happier if someone else happened to like what I wrote. Week two I wrote "When Your Best Friend Goes to The Army" and again shared it with Abby. I thank her for the encouragement to share it with the world of social media.

Finding myself
About the time that I was dealing with major homesickness I barely passed my first economics exam. For some reason I thought ag economics was what I wanted to do with my life... Boy was I wrong. I actually hate economics. So then set in the panic of what am I going to change my major to? Agricultural Communications and Journalism had been in the back of my mind since my first visit to College Station this summer. They say if you do what you love you'll never work a day in your life. So ag comm it is! Well, until I change my mind again because lets be real, who in college actually knows what they're going to do with their life? For real, ag comm it is. I love it!

To clear my mind
I don't have a list of blog topics stashed away and a calendar of when I'm going to write about what. I just write about what is on my mind, whether it be that week, that day, or maybe just that second that I open up my laptop and sit down to write. Some weeks you may love my blog, some weeks you may hate it. I most definitely don't love everything I write. If just one of my blogs makes you smile, helps you get through something, or is even just relate-able, that's enough for me.

It is so important to take a little time each week and doing something for yourself. That's why I blog.

Please continue to share when you like what you see! I appreciate it a ton.

Thanks y'all

disappointments do not define you

Some events in our lives can seem like the end of the world. My every hope, dream, and aspiration seemed to be crushed last January when I didn’t win the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Contest. 

Putting every ounce of your passion, time, and energy into something for it to not go your way is devastating. It takes a while to recover your confidence and self worth. 

Now, ten months later I realize that single most disappointing moment in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me...

Here's why:

I was so confident in myself going into states. I put everything I had into the preparation. I executed my introduction and speech just like I had practiced, and I handled the interview with grace. I couldn't figure out (and still can't) where I made mistakes. But had I won, I might not have realized how important it is to know and believe that someone else's opinion does not define you.

I wanted to be the state fair queen for so many reasons; passion for agriculture, love for fairs, etc. However, another important aspect was the ability to take a semester off college. Six more months after graduation to figure my life out sounded so perfect to me. Not winning forced me to make decisions.

Ask anyone very close to me, it took forever for me to truly get over it. Once I did, I jumped head first into every opportunity that I could find to promote my fair, 4-H, agriculture, and the fair queen program. From this came many opportunities and experiences that I never would have had. 

You hear this saying all the time, but I truly realized months later, everything happens for a reason.  During my reign, the queen coordinator position changed hands. Somewhere along the line a lot of important information was lost. Thankfully, I had it all. I was able to play a huge role in promoting the Somerset County Fair Queen Contest and helping two wonderful people make it a success. God knows what he's doing. Trust him. 

The funny thing is, I also realized that deep down it really wasn't what I wanted anyways. Yes, being the State Fair Queen is an awesome experience. But instead, I showed my pigs and steer all spring and summer long. I was able to work alongside my best friend every single day until she left for the Army. I enjoyed my friends before we all left for college. I had fun. Had I won, I would've ran from responsibility and life by taking a semester off of college. I guarantee I would not be where I am right now. 

I was humbled. What I thought to be the end of the world, made me brave, strong, and courageous.

Looking back I would not have it any other way.

Rockwood Fall Festival Parade

2015 Queen Contest with Gale and Larry, the wonderful new coordinators

& 2015 Somerset County Fair Queen Jillian Svonavec

Planting Activity at Maple Ridge Elementary School

Fun fact: Miss M was the fair queen too!

2014 Fair

Thanks for lifting me up when I was down.