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  So much has happened since I last posted. I am sorry if I left you guys hanging. Words are appearing faster than I expected for this new chapter of my life.  My life lately has consisted of wedding planning, job interviews, novel writing, house hunting, and a bit of traveling. Most of it has been exciting and fun of course. I can’t deny that not everything has gone great. A few times in the last two months, I have felt very overwhelming. A story with no trials or failures is very boring though. I’m glad that He is using all right elements to keep my story interesting.

Only in a Mind of a Unicorn    

Figuring out which direction I want to go professionally has been more challenging than I imagined it would be. I will admit that I am very optimistic. I really thought I would have a part time job by now. I should already know that things do not magically happen. I still haven't been hired.  

    Only in a mind of a unicorn would life be perfect and stress-free.

    Even though I might have been struggling with finding a fitting part time job, I have enjoyed getting experience. I have done a couple of phone interviews, a couple one on one interviews, and one group interview.  I improve and gain more confidence each time. I’m learning what my strengths and weaknesses are. I will find the right one sometime soon.

Portable Magic

Although I have been focusing on finding a decent job, I haven’t forgotten about my passion for writing.  I am working on my first novel and my first official poetry collection.  I know some of you are eager to hear the details. 

What is my novel about? Is it a series? What kind of poetry? When will I be finished? Who is going to publish my work?

One of my most favorite authors, Stephen King, once said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic." I am still trying to master my own “magic” tricks. So sorry, you just have to wait. My mom and I are going to a writing conference in New York in a few months. I plan to be almost finished with my novel then. I CANNOT WAIT!

A Girl’s Fantasy, A Woman’s Reality

    So the wedding planning has been amazing. We have set a date which is March 24 of next year (211 days!). We have already booked the venue and most of the vendors. I even got my uncle Joel aka Geaux DJ to play at our reception. He is the best! Go check him out on SoundCloud.

The first thing I did wedding wise though was bridesmaid proposals. I already knew who I wanted by my side on my big day.  I am so happy and excited that they all said yes!

My cousin Brianna is my Maid of Honor. We grew up super close. She is like a sister to me!

My Matron of Honor is my best friend Heidi. We met in High School. She is so sweet and funny She became one of my PCA for a few years.

My Bridemaids

'Taylor and I met in Junior High. She has kept me smiling and laughing. Her daughter Kenlee calls me Aunt Bebe and she is the flower girl. We spend most weekends together. Taylor was the one that convinced me to try online dating, hehe! 

    

Paige and I met in 8th grade. She has been my rock. She has a big heart! We always have fun together! She is my Pebe and I'm her Bebe!

Elise and I met at Lions Camp a few years ago. we became best friends instantly. She is so outgoing and funny. We have so many fun and crazy memories together! 

Sarah is my cousin. We were the first grandbabies of our family.  We were wild and adorable. We were double trouble HAHA! She lives in Georgia now and She is a ER nurse. I'm so proud!

I am not going to go into a lot of detail about my wedding dress because I want it to be a surprise and I know my fiancé will probably read this (Hi Honey!). I will just tell you about the moment I found it.   On June 17, Mom and I went to check out a couple of bridal dress shops. We had no intentions of trying dresses on or buying one. Little we both knew, it would not end up being the case. We went to Bridal Boutique off the Rack. There it was. The first dress on the rack and it was my size. It was far from what I imagined of wearing, but somehow I knew it was the one. Mom loved it too.

“It’s so unique and beautiful,” she said “We should try it on because we don’t know how long it will be here.

“OK”

This shouldn’t be this easy.

Getting into it was very interesting. Thank God that my mom is a pro at getting me into dresses. We were able to get it on enough to see how it would look.  I couldn’t believe it.

Wow…this is like the dress I imagined wearing at my wedding as a little girl.

“It is beautiful,” Mom awed “Do you love it?”

I looked at myself in mirror for a couple of minutes and smiled

“Yes!”

Needless to say, the vision I had as a little girl is coming true. I will be wearing a gorgeous white dress as I marry my own prince charming.

More than Grateful 

    For a few months now, my stepdad Todd has worked so hard on finding Brandon and I a house. I am happy to say that he has found a great one and he has started remodeling it this week. So Brandon and I will be in our house probably by November! We both are more than grateful Todd’s kind heart!

I am also more than grateful that I spent some time in Cancun with my family, just the four of us. Cancun was beautiful and very accommodating. The best part of the trip was getting to swim with a dolphin named Fernando. He was so sweet and gave kisses. Mom and Todd got to swim on his belly. That was incredible. He even danced with my little brother Peyton. I have always loved making memories with my family!

I might not know what is on the next page of the story, but I’m sure whatever He plans to write is going to be awesome.     

Beginning of a Exciting New Chapter

       Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This is really happening!

       The best moments in life are the unexpected ones. About a week ago, I headed to Orange Beach with my family and boyfriend Brandon.  Little did I know, it would be one of most memorable vacations ever. On Sunday, May 28, I got the biggest surprise of my life. I was standing amongst about 50 family members smiling for the annual family beach photo. Unexpectedly, Brandon got on his knee and held out a beautiful diamond ring.

     "Will you marry me?" He said holding my hand. 

       I was completely stunned. I couldn't speak. My heart was pounding out of my chest. 

       "Yes" I nodded smiling. 

         He stood up and hugged me tightly.

        Everyone clapped and wiped tear drops off their cheeks. Surprisingly, my dad and Brandon's mom sneaked in without me knowing. I was so grateful that they were able to come. I couldn't stop smiling or shaking. 

       "Babe, stop shaking.  I can't put the ring on you." 

       Laughter escalated quickly across the field. My whole body was shaking. I'm glad my legs were hooked in. I could barely balance myself. I giggled and tried to calm down. He gently put it on my long skinny finger. The ring fit perfectly. It felt like a dream. A dream that I have always wished to come true. I have found my soulmate and I get to spend the rest of my life with him! I loved the fact that I experienced the special moment with my family, especially my great grandmother.  I will always cherish the special moment in my heart forever!

        I'm definitely loving this new chapter of my life. It's exciting and a bit nerve racking. I have overcome the challenges of being in college. Now I'm facing new challenges like finding  a job and preparing for the transition from living with my parents to living on my own with Brandon. Of course, I know it is not going to be easy. Life is suppose to be a bit challenging though. Challenges are what keep people believing in faith. 

 

The magical moment 

 

 

I love the fact that my stepdad Todd has a huge smile on his face in this picture. It makes me feel very happy to have two caring dads. 

 

Mom is super excited about planning the wedding. 

 

I'm so glad Dad was there with us. 

 

I'm also glad that Brandon's mom, Mrs. Kathy, was there too. I'm grateful to be a part of her wonderful family.  

 

I would not know what love truly is without my beautiful mom and grandmother. 

. 

 

I can't wait to do wedding activities with my cousins/ soul sisters Sarah and Brianna.  

Ready for a New Chapter

            After five years of writing ridiculously long papers and taking difficult exams, I have officially received a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in History. My overall  G.P.A. ended up being 3.2. Being able to say I am a college graduate is pretty awesome. I mean there have been people who have doubted my ability to handle college. Now I have proof that shows my disability has never stopped me from receiving a higher education. Sure, I had moments where I wanted to give up and drop out. I failed math a couple of times. I was not the best essay writer. However, I chose to keep striving. I'm glad I did not drop out. If I had, I would not have gained the skills to be a great professional writer. I felt so proud when I finally rolled across that stage and received my diploma. I am actually the first in my father's immediate family to graduate from college.  So all the frustration and tears were worth it. Needless to say, the chapter of my college career has finally ended, and I am ready to start filling up pages of a new one.

           What is next for me? Honestly, I have no definite answer. I plan to write short stories and novels. I don't know when I will try to get them published. I also plan to get a part-time job. I have been looking around. I also might try to become a model for fashion lines for the wheelchair bound.  All I really know is that I will never stop sharing my story and inspiring others.

My mother, stepfather, and boyfriend

Brandon has been by my side for almost 2 years now.

My father

Mawmaw Sharon

Mawmaw Lisa and Pawpaw Wally

         

Worth It Part II

In 2014:

        I wouldn’t deny that I have always been optimistic majority of the time. However, I can honestly say there have been moments where I just wanted to scream “WHY ME, GOD? WHY ME?”  One thing that I struggled with the most growing up was having guys underestimate me. Like any other girl, I crushed on guys and flirted with them. I was never afraid to go talk to a cute guy. Liking a guy wasn’t ever easy like I wanted it to be though.  They always underestimated me. I would get the same response every time. 

      “You’re a cool girl, but I…think of you more as...a friend.” 

        It was like the fact that I am in a wheelchair made them doubt me as a person.  I hated it. I would sometimes go hide in the girls’ bathroom and cry. 

        With teary eyes, I would looked in the mirror and think “I hate being different!  This is pointless!  Nobody will fall in love with me ever.”

        Although, it was difficult, I have learned that I have only grown stronger because of it. God wouldn’t have put me through it if he didn’t have a reason why.  I knew all the pain and frustration would be worth it, because someday somebody will see what God sees in me.                 

Now:

         I wish I could tell my younger self that pain and frustration would definitely be worth it. Finding love seemed impossible to me back then. 
         Why can't I find someone to love me as I am?!? 

          But I have learned that love is not supposed to be found. Love supposed to be received. 

          18 months ago, Brandon and I started dating officially. Since the beginning, Brandon has proved to me that I'm worth it. I can honestly say that our relationship has had many up and downs. We both were pushed over the limit when the Great Flood happened. However, we have grown closer and have helped each other stay positive.  I can't explain how it feels to be madly deeply in love with someone who madly deeply loves me back. He has always put me first. He has always been there when I have moments of sadness or anxiousness. When I get sick, he always makes sure I have everything to get better. When I have issues with my chair or my computer, he always tries to resolve them. Even when I completely drive him insane, he stays devoted. He is truly the guy i have waited my whole life for. I am beyond grateful to be his. 

The Last Four Months

I used to my life being a bit crazy. I am prone to having challenge after challenge. I honestly believed  I could handle anything. God proved me wrong, though.  Four months ago, my family and I became victims of the Great Flood of 2016.  About 4 feet of water came through our beautiful home. It was the most difficult thing we all had to go through. We didn't only have to rebuild our house; we had to 'rebuild' ourselves.

Stop the Chaos

In the beginning, I was frustrated with God. I honestly wanted to knock the pen out of His hand and crumble up the pages. I wanted the chaos to stop.  My family didn't deserve to be dealing with such a disaster, nobody did. I knew there was a reason, but I didn't have the patience to learn what it was. I just hated seeing my family and boyfriend broken down. It didn't matter how hard I tried. I couldn't keep any of them stable.

A New Canvas

I will never forget the moment I rolled in our gutted house. It was just a couple weeks after the flood. I rolled around and took it all in. I held back the tears until I remembered the first time Todd brought mom and me to see the house in 2011. The house didn't have walls yet. Todd designed the house himself. He was so excited to give us a tour. Seeing it destroyed broke my heart. He worked so hard on it. It wasn't fair. Although, I began to realize that God had given him a new 'canvas.' No artistic mind can stay unchallenged.

Rather be Shoeless

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love shoes. I have about 30 pairs of shoes, including high heels. The first thing I did to prepare for the flood was putting all my shoes and clothes up high.  I regret about only worrying my wardrobe. I really do. I hate myself for not thinking about things like my senior yearbook, award certificates, and baby photos. I can't explain how it felt when I saw those things all soaked and muddy.  It killed me. "I rather be shoeless," I thought. Photos and award certificates aren't replaceable like clothes and shoes are.  I learned my lesson.

Better than Superman

As I mentioned before, the flood happened on the weekend of Brandon and I's first year anniversary. We had planned to have fun, romantic weekend. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to be a party pooper....literally. From the beginning, Brandon has done everything he can to make the situation less stressful. He helped keep the generator dry and going. He stayed brave as he walked in water waist deep. He was there when I had my breakdowns. He managed to come still see me every weekend while he dealt with rebuilding his house. He helped me through a rough semester. He is definitely better than Superman. I am beyond grateful to be his girl.

The New Normal

            If my mom had her own super power, it would be transforming chaos to normality. Through it all, my mom managed to keep things as normal as possible. Well, our lives have always been far from normal.  I meant to say she did a great job with helping each one of us adapt to the new normal. While our house was being rebuilt, we stayed at my step-grandmother Pam's house in Baton Rouge. We stayed there for three months. Being misplace for three months was difficult. Mom worked her magic, though. She was always there to get a smile back on our faces.

Saturday Nights

             The flood affected a lot of things. However, it didn't affect my time with my dad at Tiger Stadium.  I have always enjoyed cheering on Tigers with him. We sit right by the locker room, and I get to high-five all the players. Sometimes we get to see celebrities down on the field.  Over the past two years, we have met Jase Robertson, Tom Cruise, Marcus Luttrell, Marty Smith and Patrick Peterson. The best part though is getting to make unforgettable memories with my dad. 

Rise

It took me awhile to trust God again. I was so angry with him. It felt like he was twisting the 'plot' of my 'story' too much. I barely had the strength to face it all. He truly knocked me down. He had a good reason though. On October 7, I finally got a standing wheelchair.  I was beyond excited. I will never forget the moment I stood myself up. I looked at myself in the mirror for a few minutes. Then I realized it. God had to knock me down so I could rise. So I could become stronger than ever before.

New Chair, New Experiences

I can't explain how grateful I am to be an owner of a standing wheelchair. I love having the ability to stand whenever.  I have experienced so many new things. I stood for the national anthem at Tiger Stadium. I have been able to reach all my clothes. My best friend recently got married. I stood alongside her other bridesmaids. Nothing has been more special than having the ability to fully hug my family and friends though. I'm so excited to see what other experiences I might endure with Stella (yes, I have named my chair, I have named all my chairs actually hehe!)

These past four months have been a whirlwind. It wasn't easy to rebuild our lives, but we have become even stronger and closer.  I want to thank everyone who helped us. (Especially, the National Guard, Bernard-Normand Construction, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Marshall, Mawmaw Pam, Mrs. Kathy, Mawmaw Lisa, and Pawpaw Wally). God bless.

P.S. Sorry this was a tear jerker. My eyes leaked several times while I was typing this.

Great flood of 2016

Things that I worried about 5 days ago:

Which outfit I am going to wear for 1 year anniversary dinner 

Which jewelry will match it

What color should I paint my nails 

That fact that I'm starting my senior year of college in a week 

Things that I worried about 3 days ago:

The fact that my family and I might have lost everything we owned

The fact that I'm without  my motorized wheelchair and the fact that it might be ruined 

The fact that my whole body is in pain from being in an unsupported wheelchair and having to sleep along the floor

The fact that my dad might be in more pain than me because he has none of his medications for his broken back 

The fact that we might be stranded in Denham Springs for a while 

Things I am worrying about right now:

The fact that I still don't have my wheelchair 

The fact that I can't help either my family or my boyfriend save their belongings and clean out their houses 

My life has truly been turned upside down. I would never think that I would leave my house in a boat. I would never think my family and I would be dealing with the lost of our beautiful home. But, like the weather, life is completely unpredictable.  There are no words to describe how I truly feeling right now. All that I can say is I'm grateful that my family, boyfriend, and I are alive and well. It was a devastating experience for all of us, but it strengthened us. I pray that everyone else in the Louisiana is safe and well. I plan to write about my experience  more in depth this weekend. God bless

Fearless

"Not all girls are made of sugar and spice and everything things nice, some girls are made of adventure, brains, and no fear"

Since I was little, I have always  love being adventurous and trying thrilling things. In February, I got to go skiing in Beaver Creek, Colorado with my family. I skiied before in Colorado when I was 12. I have to say that getting back on the slopes was little nerveracking., Once I did my first run, I completely let go and enjoy it. My instructor was amazing. He brought me to the blue trails which were a little harder slopes. I loved the challenge. I did great. I only fell a couple of times. Hehe! It was an amazing experience.  

Mom and I 

 Brandon was able to come too. 

It was our first flight / trip together. 

Being in love can be thrilling also.  I mean  every minute with Brandon is so breathtaking. I know it sounds cliche but it is true.  I didn't think I could smile this much. He is beyond amazing. We make a year in August. 

On the education front, I did pretty well this semester. I got a 3.5 GPA. I also improved my skills as a poet and fiction writer. 

Whatever life brings, I will always be fearless.