Accepting Changes

 

(The crew in 2005)

In over 27 years of life, change has been a hard thing to learn to accept. Moving to a new country, new school, new friends, and new experiences all shaped me into the person I am today. I have not always embraced these changes willingly, the most glaring upon reflection is moving as a child. I held onto the place I came from before with tight fingers because not always was I thrilled to start over. I wanted to keep those friends I had made close because I wanted those girlhood dreams of tight friends that you have for life. I have friends like that, but not the ones I once expected to fill those voids. My friends are amazing and I am so grateful for the ones I have, but the tight 'for life' friends are my cousins. The four that are standing up for me at my wedding in 53 days.

Erin and Kevin, you two were like my anchor growing up, especially when we made the move from Texas to Michigan. I loved when we were kids and would run around playing army and spies. (The BARN Olympics!) Now as adults I am so happy that we are still friends. I am so glad that I have been able to see you and be apart of your lives. I can't wait to see you both all spiffed up for the wedding and I cannot wait to celebrate the day with you and your significant others.

(Kevin is joined by Brad's Brother from another mother)

Alex, I love you girl! I was sad when you moved to Florida because you were so far away, but you were happy so I was happy for you. Now that you are back I am so excited for you to be back here in the midwest. I can't wait to see you in a couple weeks for the girls weekend. I loved that after seven years of not seeing you that when you came back into the family fold it felt like a missing piece of the puzzle had returned.

Beth, my girl! I loved getting so close to you during the 'growing' years of being a teenager. I love that we can pick up the phone and have an hour long conversation without even realizing any time has gone by. I love that you are close by again. I wish we had more time to see each other like when we were younger, but that is just another one of those changes I have had to accept.

(Beth, we need new pics together)

My brother is also helping out in our wedding as an usher and he too is one of my friends that I never expected. We don't have super long conversations but I enjoy spending time with my brother doing stuff. Traveling up north in the truck are still some of the good times we have had.

I'm starting a new chapter in my life in a few weeks. Its a big change, being married. Your priorities change and so does your outlook. I have been with Brad for 8 years now and the 'we' outlook has honestly been harder to adjust to than I thought it would over those years. Now it has started to feel like second nature to me. Then I start thinking about the future again. Kids are on the agenda at some point. Kids? When did I get old enough to be thinking about kids? Getting older has been another of those changes that has been hard to accept simply because I feel at times I haven't been able to savor the moments enough. I feel like I have just let them float by without acknowledgment. Unfortunately, you can't go back and collect those moments. You have to learn for those moments of "where did the time go" and slow down to smell the flowers.

Have I been sappy enough with this post? I hope so. I love my friends and family dearly. I hope that I get to have you all around for years to come.