It's All In How You View It

Oh my, so much has happened. I do this every time... I never really share the end of my adventures. I would like to blame it on time, but it is really so much more. It’s hard. You know? Endings are not my favorite things, and it seems the past year has thrown so many in my direction. London ended. Junior year ended. Apartment life ended. Relationships ended. Lives ended. To be honest, it has been hard. Maybe that is why I never share the end, but I learn so many things about life, myself, and others through all of these closings of chapters. I need to be reminded of that often; these experiences have molded me. They have changed everything about me. These endings lead to new beginnings, and for that I am beyond grateful.

The current new beginning is... are you ready for this? SENIOR YEAR. That’s right kids; this girl had her first day of senior year today. It is such an exciting beginning; I cannot wait to spend this year with some of the people I care about most in this world. I am living with my dear friends Brooke and Caroline again, and we also have a new roommate, Sarah. I have been reunited with the people I missed most, and many hugs, stories, and laughter have already been exchanged. I am beyond ready to share my life with these friends again. They mean the world to me.

My friendships are one of the most important aspects of this college life to me, but my classes are also pretty intriguing this semester. I am taking a forensic psychology course, social dance (that’s right... we get to wobble in class), North American landscapes, physiological psychology, and my senior research. Sounds like a legit semester to me. Right? It is crazy to look back at how my interests have changed. I mean I fell in love with geography this past semester... who would have thought that the girl who once got so lost she had to simply follow the hospital signs till her mom could come pick her up would declare a geography minor? Not me, that’s for sure.

Anyways, I am beyond ready for senior year and all it has to offer. Come at me. 

Here's to seeing a new beginning and not an ending. 

Seeking

The world is so vast. 

I want to change it. impact it. better it. desperately. 

This is my passion. 

How will I do this?

I am seeking... 

Sometimes You Just Have To Treat Yourself

 It’s been a week, and I still am at a loss for words to describe Tonja’s visit to the Magic City. I am pretty sure I could not do it justice, so I have decided to just use some of her own words to paint the picture. Brace yourself.  

“Sometimes you just have to treat yourself.” Jane Marie gets the credit for this, but Tonja decided to make it her life motto for the weekend."

“We have taken over this place... you two take over everywhere you go.”

“Queen Tatiana (umm... your name is Tonja...) needs some water... I mean could you put some more ice cubes in it”

“Will this make it on the blog?”

“Oh, you better not put this on the blog Christine Pappas!”

“He was very nice, but he is no Rex.”

“I would pay $80 to see her in Vegas!”

“Is this the world’s largest Krispy Kreme?”

“Oh, you shouldn’t come here at night Christine...”

“Her voice... her laugh... I hope you’re not like her when you grow up Christine.”

Well, those are just a few of the gems Tonja left me with. She is truly the best.

Here’s to a mother’s wisdom...

Hear my cry

I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2

Enjoying the Moments

"Stop. Slow down. Enjoy the moment. We are making memories, Christine." I can not tell you how many time my mother has said these words to me. It is true... I do get caught up in reaching the goal and often miss the small things.

As I have reached adulthood, I must say these moments are slowly taking precedence over the larger outcome. This visit home had no particular "goal," but that allowed for me to slow down and take in all of these smaller moments. Here are just a few.

I held baby Maddex for the first time! He immediately stole my heart, and I can not wait to watch him grow into a man. I must confess, I have never found myself attached to a baby. I could take or leave them but not Maddex... He hooked me instantly.

I spent an entire day with one of my favorite people in the world, Abbie Roberts. We canned pears, made dinner, did some crafts, and ended on a meaningful discussion. The Roberts family is one of the biggest blessings I have, and I cherish each one of them.

Tonj and I had more simple moments this trip then we ever had. We watched the opening ceremonies, got pedicures, saw a movie, had breakfast together, shopped a little, and simply laughed. It was joyous from start to finish.

There you have it. Just a few of the memories from this weekend. There were so many more great moments, and the trip was a great reminder to slow down and appreciate all the little moments.

It is funny how the words I once rolled my eyes at are the ones defining who I am and who I want to be.

Here's to stopping and enjoying the moment for all it has to offer.

Sometimes It Takes Leaving

I am going home tomorrow!! I am beyond excited to be in the city I call home, laugh with my mother, hug my best friends, and so much more. Knoxville simply has a piece of my heart no other place can take, but preparing for this trip has made me aware of just how much Birmingham also holds its own place.

This will be the longest I have been away from Birmingham since I moved into the apartment, and to be honest I am a little sad. It has become a home of its own. It has housed an abundance of memories, laughter, real talks, and simple daily tasks this summer, but the people who make all these things possible are the true blessings.

My roommate, Sarah, has been one of the brightest joys of the summer. She is simply joy herself; I never see her without a smile or a laugh on her face. It is that joy that makes coming home so great! I will miss sharing my days with her while I am home.

Remember that laughter I mentioned? Well, Drew and Caleb are a major source. They fill the apartment with laughter every time they visit, but they are also so much more then that. The meaningful talks, the genuine kindness, and the openness are all aspects that make me so appreciative of their friendship individually.

Doug and Paige also called Birmingham home this summer (Doug commuted but just go with it). Everything from game nights with Rex to some of the best pool days of the summer were shared with these two. Doug always says exactly what is on his mind, and I find it beyond refreshing to be surrounded by someone so true to who they are. Respect. Paige has such a giving heart and is beyond gifted in so many areas of life. She is simply fun.

These are the people I have shared so much of my life with this summer. These are the people who have pushed me to grow. These are the people who became my family. These are the people I will miss while I am home.

Here's to each of them. Thank you.

And It Got Me

You see, this story requires some background material. So, won’t you join me for a stroll down memory lane? I thought so. My friend, Evan, is from California, and last year he invited a group of us to travel the open road with him to California. How could you pass that up? I didn’t, that’s for sure, so the adventure across country began. Seven people. Two weeks. Thousands of miles (ask Matt for the exact count... or you can check his facebook timeline). Even more laughs. A lifetime of memories. There is a bond. We traveled the country together.  However, this summer life and adulthood got the best of us. Two weeks was simply impossible for most of our schedules, so we had to settle on a weekend. Nashville was chosen, and now here we are.

Evan hosted us all at his aunt and uncle’s house, and the trip was simply wonderful.  It fell at just the right time, with just the right people.  Not to mention, simply being in Tennessee brings a certain joy no other place can fulfill. It is home; it always will be.

Now, I have been to Nashville several times: school trips, concerts, and random visits. There is just something about the city. It offers so many different aspects; great music, heritage (Tennessean, and not to mention a little nod to my Greek roots. That’s right, I see you Parthenon replica.), and oh man the hipsters... aka I love it.

However, this visit was a little different. There was no agenda; it was more about the people not the city. So, we filled our days with good food, great conversations, Minnesota accents, intense games of spoons, sweet brown, spades, Hot Rod, a little shopping (thanks, boys),  Newsboys and Nsync (winning combination, if I may say so myself), and plenty of laughter. It was simple. It was refreshing.

I have been very blessed to experience so much of life. I mean, isn’t it everyone’s dream to road trip it to California? How did I get so lucky that it was a reality in my life?  There is no reason; I am simply blessed. 

Here's to experiencing life together.