My last week in Florida was fabulous. Jenn and I got to enjoy the sunshine & entertainment of the city while hanging out with awesome friends. I miss everyone in Jacksonville, but I’m glad to be home. I started working with my buddy through Pathways a couple of weeks ago, so I’m in Ashland with him 3 days a week. It’s quite convenient considering my boyfriend Jason (WHAT!?!?) lives in Ashland as well. ☺ I’ll get to that a little later. I finally found out yesterday that my CA license is valid, and I can begin working on August 11th. My family reunion is next weekend, and my dad and I will be leaving Sunday evening, August 1st, to begin our road trip out west. Our planned route is to leave from OH, drive through KS & get a hotel room, leave & drive to CO & stay a night with Lynsey & Mike, leave & drive to Las Vegas & stay 2 nights, go to the Grande Canyon while we are there, then drive down to Los Angeles, up the coast to Santa Barbara, then on up to Santa Maria. I will be sure to get plenty of pictures as we are site seeing along the way, as you already know. My dad gets 2 weeks off for vacation, so he will get to spend a week in CA with me too while I get settled. I am still working out the details of an apartment.
Now for this summer……
It has been filled with drama as well as excitement. I was ready to leave home a week after I got here, but I’m glad I didn’t. My second week here, I met a guy, a good guy, and unexpectedly like him a lot.
I hate to even write about it for the fear I may jinx myself, lol. As you all know, I’ve been against the whole dating thing and used every excuse in the book as to why I didn’t need to give anybody a chance right now. I guess it turns out exactly like I’ve been told –when I least expected it. However, it has happened, quickly, and I am so happy it has. Jason is quite a handsome fella, but on top of that he is such a great guy. We have both decided to give this a shot, distance and all, because we know it’s worth it. I haven’t felt this way in….. well, EVER. One step at a time….. but for now, I’m incredibly happy. 
In the short amount of time I’ve been here, I’ve gotten to spend a lot of it with him, so leaving next weekend will be a bummer. He will be going with me to my family reunion, though, so at least we still have that time together before I leave. I keep reminding myself…. 10 months is nothing!!! I am still going to California. Although I’ve bit off more than I can chew with what it’s costing me to move out there, I will never get this experience if I don’t do it now –for me. I refuse to give up on my dreams and the expectations I set forth for myself. Jason is very understanding and respects me for this. A long distance relationship will give us the opportunity to build communication and trust, and to get to know each other on a different level. We will see each other along the way. My family & friends will hopefully visit too. I wish I could’ve spent more time at home this summer with my family, but I’m also glad I haven’t. I needed to get away from Logan and all of the drama that finds me there. My family is so supportive, like always, and want me to find happiness. I’ve found it being here in Huntington/Ashland.
Jason and I got to go to Tennessee a couple of weekends ago, which was quite the experience. He has an amazing group of friends who were nice enough to invite me to their wedding. The best part was that we all (8 of us including the bride and groom) had an entire cabin in Pigeon Forge to ourselves for the weekend. They got married in the Little Pigeon River in Gatlinburg with this small audience of close friends. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this relaxing yet fun and entertaining time. 
I also went to Jamboree in the Hills with my friend Selena. I’ve attempted to go for several years, but it never worked out until now. Let me tell you –this was the MOST fun I have probably had EVER! This reconfirmed that I enjoy living the lifestyle of a hillbilly and not a big city girl. The Florida/California experience is great for now, but gosh I will forever be a country girl. Don’t let the bleached hair & descent sense of style fool you. This was actually my first time camping, first time shotgunning a beer, first time flipping a cup, and first time pooping in a porta potty (sorry for the unnecessary info, but I seriously had issues before about that but after 4 days ya kinda have to get over that), LOL. I got to see dozens of country artists perform (freakin’ awesome!) which was not even the best part. The best part was the crazy group of people I got to laugh and have fun with. Great times, I’m tellin’ ya! I WILL go again. You should too! 
I finally got to cuddle my best friend Kayla’s baby girl, Delaney Ryen Boggs. She is a perfect little angel. She looks exactly like her daddy. I’m the person who always laughs when people say that because newborn babies look like babies –not their parents. This time, I totally see her daddy. It’s crazy! June 28th made 5 years ago that my mother made her journey up to Heaven. Apparently it took me 5 years to heal the wounds that were formed when she left. This has been the first year that I did not cry on Mom’s birthday, Mother’s Day, or the day she died. These are the days I usually break down, but this year was a lot different.
I’m growing up. I’m healing. I’m learning. I’m loving. I’m living but not forgetting. It’s a feeling of relief and contentment. I’m a fan. ☺Can I end by pointing out once again how fast time flies??? Seriously, where did Summer go? I leave in 10 days ☹ and I swear I just got here. Boo!
Don’t blink……
