so much to be thankful for!

there has been so much going on in the past month i guess!
i should have been updating this, but shame on me, i guess i start chatting or get distracted, constantly think about what i'll write about, and then never get it down on here for mommy to read!
anyway... so here i am.. wow, i think that i'll start with graduation.. what an experience, one that would have in no way been the same without all of my awesome family and friends that made it special. Normally, I really would be the one to say, it's not a bid deal, but I can honestly say that i have never felt so loved and admired in my life. It felt like everything else just stopped. At pinning I sat there and looked behind me, the entire front row was filled from end to end with all of my parents, best friends, siblings, and even my best friends mom, each one of them believed in me when i didn't believe in myself, and needless to say, jenny told me that i had the biggest smile on my face in all of the auditorium, and i completely let myself smile and enjoy every minute. I didn't worry about what happened before that minute, or what was coming, just smiled, happy for every person in that room. We all had our moments, but this one was just great. I was so proud of everyone there, and hearing all those names just made me happy, lab partners, group projects, braniacs, annoying question askers, etc.. it did not matter, we all made it. my mom's blog actually sums it up better.. titled cleverly as.."what's a naturally blonde girl to do".. haha.. it makes my brother and i giggle and laugh, but oh how well your mom really does know you, it's almost scary, but just the way it should be!
so, thank you. everyone. mom, dad, aj... everyone.. it did mean the world to me that you were all there. each of you never stopped until you got what you wanted, why should i?
so, now what? over the past year and a half i have met so many new people, very, very interesting and special people, many of whom have made me realize that it's okay to just be myself, it's okay to let go, and most importantly, just to appreciate what you have, and to not let life's curve balls throw you off, but just to remind you of what you have to hold on to, or let in!
so, yes, i'm done with school.. well, have to pass those boards first, but i can't complain about them on here. but, next step... job.. yes, i went to graduation with a job, which validated all of the loans that i had taken out! but, as i have said before.. what was i going to do, just not go because i didn't want to have loans, fidn a job i may not have liked just to get by, pay the bills, go throught the motions? no way! that scares me. Boredom scares me.. loosing the spontaneity (sp?).. of what life has to offer, and wish that i had done something different.. no way. I just picked something that will pay off.
so, next stop.. europe! yes, jenny and i are leaving on tuesday afternoon! whoah, neither one of us can believe it! at work i didn't talk about it too much.. then i mentioned it and ofcourse got comments of excitement, and the less favorable ones of.."well, aren't you lucky.. or you have money to do that..".. the truth is, no, not really, but thanks to so many friends and families who are funding this trip, and most importantly, jenny brady, who will receive my first pay check! i am pulling this off.. and it will be fantastic. I'm going to see so many new things, and just relax.., totally out of the environment that i am used to.. talk about good people watching and site seeing!!! i feel so priveledged to go, and am happy i am letting myself go explore! it's part of my newly found zest for just being happy, not missing good opportunities that present themselves.
so, now i must finish my list of things to do before i go..
thank you notes, to all those people i didn't even realize were cheering me on, and packing lisa's pack.. so a part of her will be with me! and hanging out with some of the coolest people that i have met who have really enhanced my life recently. more on that subject later.!!
i do wish i could beam up to the farm before i go! but i'll have to wait until i am back and can tell my mom what the streets of sweden are really like!!!
lately, i have just discovered that seeing the same landscape with new eyes is a beautiful thing, so as much as europe will be amazing, i am so excited to come back to new jersey and begin a new adventure!
oxoxoox
smiles to all!