The End, Conclusion, Wrapping Up, Finale.

Today is kind of a big deal in my little life. Today is my last day being employed at Liberty University. I know it's really not that big of a deal... but being the over-dramatic person I am, it is a big deal. I am happy to say I have found a job and I am more than confident I will love it! I cannot wait to join Virginia Eye Clinic and HIS Ministry. I will help manage most of the marketing and public relations for VEC and I will be conducting public relations, event coordinating and networking with HIS Ministry. In all honesty, I have no idea what all that practicality looks like- but I can say, I am thrilled to be joining the team and so thankful the Lord has provided me with a wonderful job!
  
I start on Monday.

I am not walking. But my roomie let me borrow her stuff! :]

Those of you who know me, are most likely thinking- wait, I'm sorry, WHAT? You're staying in Lynchburg? And my answer to your question is, yes, for now! I can say the Lord has truly been working on my heart this year and through many unexpected turn of events- here, in little Lynchburg, I will stay.

I do have a few fears about staying here:

1. Developing a Southern accent. When I go home, to the North, I would greatly appreciate it if you could continue to make fun of me and bring to my attention any type of southern drawl I may have developed. [But please stop making fun of my love of Sweet Tea. It's really good. okay?]

2. My driving skills. While I have lived here my skills have been declining. I am so frightened that I will continue developing bad driving habits and start yielding before I get on the highway and I will never drive with my lights on.

3. I will view the grocery store as a leisure activity. You Northerners know Wal-Mart/Kroger are not the places to catch up with an old friend, talk on your cell phone, or go to just 'hang out.' The people here do not really think of the grocery store the same way we do. I have caught myself a few times lollygagging near the baking section!!

As long as I am aware of these issues and deliberately try to work at them, I think I'll be okay.

So, this is it. This is what the end of college feels like. [Again, humor me, I am dramatic] My friend Ashleigh Brooks and I LOVED the show Gilmore Girls. We watched the last season together around my sophomore year of college. In the last episode, Rory is graduating and Logan purposes [she says no, which I still think is stupid of her] and then she says goodbye to her town and becomes a traveling journalist. My sister was Graduating college around that time and I vividly remember her saying, "Guys, this is sad! This is like my life right now!" [Two Things: I have no idea why I remember her comment. And how the HECK did Ashleigh and I get Blythe to watch Gilmore Girls??!!  She will probably be mad that I confessed that in my blog.] Now I can understand her statement, while this is all very exciting, it is sad.  As I am leaving a really wonderful chapter of my life, I am so ecstatic to begin a new one.

When I packed up my apartment I started the Seasons 8, 9 and 10 of friends... I really, really, really believe that is the best way to end something.

So as I sit here at my desk until 3:00 pm today, I will enjoy my last day and day dream of what is ahead, I’m convinced it is going to be amazing.

A couple nights ago, I found myself stressing out and second guessing all my decisions that have brought me to this point [It was after I watch the last episodes of friends- Rachel second guessed herself! It got me thinking…] I literally stumbled upon this comfort. [I thought I was reading Colossians the whole time…and then I was like, wait, this is isn’t Colossians] but I’m sure glad I found this when I did:

Happy life changes to everyone!! Enjoy them.

Christmas Update

So, here's a little bit about my Christmas! :]

Some of my favorite gifts:

My own French Press with glass mugs! Love it!

Starbucks Coffee beans and syrup! YES!

And now I can begin some recipes on Pinterest!

Creamy Tortellini Soup

Orange Chicken

 Chicken Tortilla Soup

My mom had time this Christmas to decorate the house a little differently then she usually does [I think she holds the same creative level as Martha Stewart]. But as I searched the house I found this throw back picture of me and my older sister and brother...

My dog Meadow was excited for the Christmas Festivities!

My siblings and I draw names for Christmas... Blythe had me! She got me Seasons 1 and 2 of Friends [Major YAY! I want to have all the seasons by 2013!] and she also gave me some head shots she had taken over this past year! I have posted a few of my favorite below! 

               

My daddy and I! :] Love him!

If you want to see anymore of my sisters, Blythe's photography check out her Facebook! She does engagements, Senior pictures, family pictures and whatever else you need!! Also check out her blog... it will be updated while she travels the world!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year! [New Years resolutions post coming soon!] My goal this break is the read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers! I'll let you know how it goes! :]

Yes, we are ALL single. [I know, we can't believe it either]

Traditions, Traditions, Traditions!

[I encourage you to play this song as you read this blog. It may make it more interesting] 

My family is all about tradition. Thinking back to when I grew up (oh, so many years ago) I can think of numerous traditions my family clung tight to for as long as we could.

1.  The Candy Cain Hunt. [My mom would give us all different flavored Candy Canes and hide them around the house, the kid who found all of theirs first won!] This was never really my favorite tradition because my sister was way to competitive about it [and always won... just like at Easter] and we always ended up with weird flavored Candy Canes by the end. [No one wanted to eat them.] 
2. The Pumpkin Patch. This was BY FAR my FAVORITE event of the fall season. We would all pile up in our red minivan and head to Heritage Farm pumpkin patch. We would listen to Adventures in Odyssey on our way and discuss the type of pumpkin we wanted. And of course when Halloween rolled around so did the book, The Ghost Eyed Tree and Dad's Halloween song. (He still calls all of us and sings it on Halloween. I'm telling you, we are all about the tradition)
3.  Christmas Tradition. Why do we insist on Dad waiting to bring  the gifts to the tree after we are asleep? We all know Santa is NOT real. But, That's just what we do, cause it is TRADITION. My family is stubbornly stuck on traditions... There is a continues argument every Christmas about moving where we open Christmas from the basement to the living room... It is always 3 verses 3. But, Chandler won't be at Christmas this year.... So, maybe I have a fighting chance? Christmas in the living room anyone?

So, this is a little taste of my family. My family who have come to mean so much more to me over the past year of my life. Sometimes, at the end of everything, all you have is family and that may have been all you needed in the first place. I am so thankful for them and so blessed to belong to this amazing and eclectic group or clan. (As my mom reefers to us, 'The Collins Clan') 

2006? or 2007?

In the UP representing our family Roles. Go ahead and take a guess at what they are. 

2007? At  another 'Back to School' tradition. :]
Which I reinstated this summer, with dinner and coffee.

Let's go youngest to oldest. 

This is my little brother, Guthrie. or GU3. or Gunther. or Goose, whatever really. His personality matches the description you would seem to gather in these pictures. He's starting his Senior year at Calvary and I think there might be a sigh of relief once the last Collins kid leaves the campus. We may, or may not have been instigators throughout out our many years there :]] 

Turtle Hunting, another Collins tradition.

  

This is my older sister, Blythe. Who will probably not read this blog post, because I know she sees blogs as a waste of time, and that is just one of the many differences between us. I think our differences have brought us closer the past 5 years and maybe not sharing a bathroom helped a little as well. :] 

This is my lovely and super smart sister. Always doing something, always being somewhere, always with someone, or making friends as she goes. She has recently picked up photography and check her out, she's SO great! I love her. We had a longstanding tradition of spending Spring Break together, in Florida with our Grandma for about 5 years? This is one of the many pictures we took on the Spring Break affairs.

Florida... 2007?

Florida 2009?

Last Spring in the Burg.

And, the oldest and most wise sibling,Chandler slash Chan. I love my big broski. He has a blog as well, check it out! He has moved to Israel for the year. [Tear.] But, not because I'm super proud of him going and doing something different. I love to claim him as my older broski and he's seriously fabulous. And, if you were inquiring, he LOVES being named Chandler, especially because of its natural association with the popular TV series, Friends.

This pretty much sums him up.

Please note both shirts represent the amazing state of Michigan.

And of course, we can't forget Mom and Dad. These two people are responsible for the weird, quirky kids we are.  I thank God everyday to have parents like them. I know I am a really blessed girl and I cannot forget that. My parents are pretty awesome in their own quirky kinds of ways as well.

My dad has an iphone... and he is really good at taking pics like this, and mass texting them to all of us kids.
My favorte one was when he texted me a pic of him in a do rag, and asked if it looked alright.... and texted me another pic with a different one asking which one looked better.

My beautiful Mom! Who was really the mastermind behind
all these wonderful traditions and memories!
Our family would not have these funny and wonderful memories without her!

And lastly, the most recent and probably most loved member of the family... Meadow.

So, this is my family. I love them all. Now, after meeting all of us, I think I should tell you, we are all single

And yes, we love Michigan. Very much. So, don't mess.

No Crafts. Just Pictures.

Well- I haven't crafted at all. But, I do have some really fun pictures to share with you! I am currently stuck in the little Lynchburg airport. Waiting to head to Chicago to spend a day in the city with my sister, and then drive home. There was a little delay, so using this time to my advantage. I'm blogging.

Over thanksgiving break I forced my boyfriend to into a photo shoot with me. ha! Despite the complaining- he enjoyed himself. My sister, Blythe, took the photos. To check out more from her photos - click HERE.

Enjoy!

I edited this one on Picnik -- JOIN!