Remember the days?

With my big brothers: Easter 2011

Michael, Me, Richard & Andy

Remember the days when the whole family was home all the time.  When your big brothers or sisters were still in high school and college wasn't even in part take yet?  The last time I completely had my whole family living at home was when I was 8.  I'm 19 now.  And I don't quite live at home anymore as well.  I miss those days more than ever.  I'm the baby of the family and there are 7 years between my brother, Michael, the younger brother of the three, and me and 11 years between the oldest brother, Andy and I.  It's funny to see how far apart I am from them all but yet I'm pretty close with each one of them.  But when I look back to when I was younger, I was closest with Andy, maybe because I was always with him, mainly because, if he got in trouble and he wanted to go hang with friends, he always had to bring me along.  Richard and Michael on the other hand, I exchanged nothing but screams with them.  I damaged my vocal cords due to them teasing me ALL the time.  But that was a phase that soon faded away and now all we exchange are careless, fun arguments or laughter.  And of course, I always get dirt when I'm dating someone, seeing that I'm the baby sister and the big brothers always need approval.  But usually I don't care what they think, especially because it's me that's dating the person, not them, but they usually say, family knows best.  Anyways, Easter weekend was a great time with the family.  Sitting around the kitchen, late at night with everyone, laughing about anything and everything, put me at such ease.  Listening to my brother Andy argue his point on whatever the subject may have been, having my mom come in to tell us to quiet down because were getting too loud, my brother Richard letting me try a sip of his drink when my mom wouldn't be watching, just overall having some good sibling bonding time.  This doesn't happen often and when it does, I'm thankful for every moment I get with them.  Even with the little time we all get together, I have my moments where I get annoyed of them but I try to overlook them and think about how this moment will be gone soon and it will be awhile before it comes back.  

But when it come to something I miss a lot, it's how I used to spend my birthdays.  Every year, my brothers would be around during my birthday and we would always, as a family with a few friends as well, go bowling and get pizza and cake, whatnot.  One year when my brother Andy couldn't make it home due to college, he called me and put me on speaker so his whole Frat house could sing "Happy Birthday" to me.  Good thing I wasn't physically there, else they would have seen a little red-faced, embarrassed girl.  But in reality, that meant a lot to me.  Especially when it's 20+ year old guys, in a Frat, singing happy birthday, to a little 10 year old girl.  Little things like that made my birthdays better.  It's been a few years since I spent my birthday with my whole family and to be honest, my last few birthdays haven't even been that great.  Sometimes they just feel like another day in the year with no meaning.  Maybe it's cause I'm getting older?  Whatever it is, I don't know.  Sometimes, I feel like it's a drag when my birthday comes around though I try my best to just be happy about it.

 Enough about that.  Anyways, these three boys mean so much to me, I don't know what I'd do without them.   Growing up just wouldn't have been the same without them in my life.  Though they may not seem to be the first for me to run to if I have a problem of any sort, I know I can always depend on them for anything if I really need it.  We may not be like other families that go out and do events together or know everything about each other but we have a special bond that's hard to describe but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  I love these boys with all my heart, and I know I rarely ever tell them that, but I do.

Travel Through Time with photos <3

 Andy & I (March, 1992)

 Richard & I (March, 1992)

 Michael & I (March, 1992)

 Richard's Wedding (June 30, 2007)

 Always known for the 'muscles" ;)

 Andy getting sworn in (date noted)

 Michael & Andy

 Andy's Wedding, a 'normal' picture with us all, laughing and not paying attention :) (August 16, 2008)

 Supporting me at the Miss Rogers City Pageant (July 30, 2009)

 My Graduation party (May 23, 2010)

 The usual :) 

Noticed from this picture and my pageant picture, we are all in the same order and I'm always in the same spot for every picture as well.

 Graduation Day (June 6, 2010) missing Andy.

 Hanging out, random summer day 2010

Effects :)

Spring is in the air.

Go outside today, take a breather, think about life's finest things and rejoice them.  We tend to forget all the little things that make life so beautiful and think too much of the big picture.  We worry too much about all the things that are going wrong and forget all the little things that are going right.  It's the small things that create the big picture and without them, no picture can be complete.  And on the most beautiful days, no matter how busy we are with our lives, we must take advantage of the fresh air and breath it in, whether it's for an hour or for even just a second.  You'll find yourself at ease for that moment.  It's like that moment when you've been holding something in for too long and it builds up all this stress inside you.  And simply taking a second for yourself and taking in a breath of fresh air releases that feeling of stress.  We can't shelter ourselves inside too long.  There comes a time our minds can't handle it anymore and we just need to let go.  Maybe not for long, but for a moment, just forget about everything.  Just think about nature's beautiful creations, smell the flowers, listen to the flow of the river, hear the birds chirping, let the breeze take control of your hair.  It is spring after all, take advantage of this brand new fresh air.

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.  ~Virgil A. Kraft

Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing.
~Albert Laighton

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out -Walter Winchell

This post goes to my girls, Paige & Cheyenne. :) love you guys!

This picture is from this past weekend spend up at CMU with Cheyenne at her dorm. 

This past weekend, I've come to learn who my best friends are, these two girls right here, I can tell them everything and they welcome me with open ears to listen to everything just as I would do the same for them.  Today was one just one of those days and to know that they cared enough to ask me what was wrong, and listened to everything I had to say, whether it's something completely ridiculous, or if it was a serious matter, showed how much they care and I appreciate that more than anything.  Usually in a relationship, I say it's the littlest things that matter the most, I believe that applies with friends as well.  I wouldn't trade these girls for anyone else.  I can't wait for it to be summer when were all back together in the same town and not have to plan when we can drive somewhere just to see each other.  Cheyenne is getting married this summer and I'm so happy for her that she has found her "one."  I wish for nothing but the best for her and Jesse and the rest of their lives together.  I know God will be by their sides to help them get through any of life's obstacles that get thrown their way.  To be honest, I don't know how I'm going to be at the wedding, though I am the one taking the pictures, but emotional wise.  One of my best friends are getting married.  Not to mention, my cousin is going to be having a baby in June as well.  I'm so used to going to weddings for people in my family, or friends of our family, but this time, it's different, it's MY friend's, not a family's friend or someone that used to babysit me.  This is where life hits me and tells me that everyone is growing up and we aren't kids anymore.  I miss being a kid where everything was carefree and you never thought about things like this.  But of course, those are always just going to be memories just like everyday that passes by, you'll never be able to get them back but you can always look back at them.  Anyways, I just want to thank these girls for being so amazing and that I love them soo much!  I will always be here for them no matter what and will always have open ears to listen to anything and everything they have to say, no matter what the situation is or if there even is one.  Once again, thanks girls, I am blessed to have you in my life and even more blessed to call you my best friends. <3

I will though say there is two other girls I haven't mentioned, my cousin Liz and my other best friend Emily.  Others that I love dearly but there will be post in the future for them. :)

With Emily & Liz on the band bus heading to to Band Districts :)
Speak No Evil. Hear No Evil. See No Evil.

"A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself." 

"I get by with a little help from my friends."
- John Lennon  <3

"Though our communication wanes at times of absence, I'm aware of a strength that emanates in the background."
-Claudette Renner  

Remembering stories about how you met someone.

 

I recently came across a blog called "Little Things" and instantly fell in love! She posts all these little things that we fail to recognize and appreciate in life. As I was reading through all of them, I came to find many things in life that I never really thought to think about.

With that being said, I came across this one and immediately thought story time for my blog! :P

The story I am going to link with this Little Things is how my boyfriend and I met.  

Back in July of 2010, Thursday, July 8 to be exact, my cousin Liz, Ashley, Diana and I decided we wanted to go to the "club" in Indian River, called "Brown Trout" for "College Night."  Neither of us have ever been there except me, but when I went, it was a restaurant.  Little did I know that it turns into a club/bar at night.  Anyways, we go to Onaway beforehand to 'pre-game' and get ready.  About 10:30 p.m. rolls around and we head to the club.  *A little FYI, this is no bumpin' club like your average ones, just think of someone's hunting camp, add a DJ, a dance floor, outside deck, and a Bar, pretty much a woodsy setting.* We get there by 11 o'clock and there really isn't that many people.  We kind of felt stupid just being there thinking maybe this really isn't that cool.  But we go out and dance anyways.  As time started going, it's almost midnight and BAM! There's a bunch of people at the door.  To say the least, we learned that the time to come is around midnight because that's when every one arrives.  We felt a little better once more and more people were coming.  The only down side of this club, is the dance floor, it's so small! But other than that, I would say it's a perfect little club for a Northern Michigan setting.  So as were dancing, everyone's drinking, having themselves a good ol' time.  Seeing people we know, going outside on the deck to cool off, etc.  Not to mention, I've had a few drinks of strangers spill on me but in all honestly, that was the least of my worries.  Well I'd have to say it's around maybe 12:30-1 a.m. and I'm on the floor dancing with Liz and Ashley and I just happened to looked across the dance floor and make contact with this guy.  All the sudden, he points at me in that "come hither" motion.  Why, I'll never know to this day, would I come to someone that I don't even know especially someone that thinks they can point to me and make me come to them.  Oh the things in life we question.  Anyways, I responded and walked towards him.  I mean afterall, I guess we are in a club and you do tend to just dance with random people.  So of course, we do what most people would naturally do and we start dancing.  Within seconds of dancing, we were looking at eachother in the eye and he has the guts to say, "You want to kiss me." And I immediately respond with, "Haha what?! No I don't." "Yes, you do, you have that look in your eyes," he says.  And bam! Next thing you know, here we are, two COMPLETE strangers, making out on the dance floor.  Don't even know each others names yet.  My cousin Liz, looks over at us, astonished by all of this, especially coming from her point of view, she says the dancing was quite..different, as he's picking me up from the floor, and as she would like to say, 'humping,' so it looks like and whatnot.  Gosh that's soo embarrassing to think about.  Finally we introduce names and by that time, Liz walks over and asks who he is and he tells her that he is Rick.  Her immediate reaction was, "That's my dad's name. Awkward," and walks away.  I wanted to go on the porch and I asked Rick if he would come with me and he said, "Only if you give me your number."  Geez! I thought, clearly he's someone who just says what he needs to and to the point.  "Whatever," I said.  So we went out on the porch and exchanged numbers.  "I'm going to text you at 11 a.m. tomorrow," Rick said to me.  Of course, me thinking, "HA! Yeah right, you're drunk, you won't remember this."  But he was set on that he is going to text me.  "Whatever," I thought, he texts, he text, he doesn't then he doesn't.  Then the song, "My Chick Bad" comes on, I believe that's what it was, and he says he wants to go back in and I told him not yet.  Liz was agreeing with him but Cliff (Liz's boyfriend at the time, now husband) and I were not.  Rick has the gulf to say, "I'm going to find another girl to dance with then!" And I, to my defense, said, "No you're not!" Talk about getting defensive already! What the heck! Well then we all go back in and of course, proceed back to dancing.  Not to mention that Rick spilled his beer a couple times down my back.  Then all the sudden he said he'll be right back because he has to go dance with this other girl which I'm thinking "umm okay?"  Then shortly after he came back and at one point, he was inviting me to go to the car with him and I was telling him I can't leave my friends plus we JUST met.  It wasn't long before one of his friends came and said they were getting ready to leave.  He reminded me that he was going to text me at 11 a.m. and I just thought, "Alright, let's see if this happens."  As the club was dying down, around 2 a.m., we decided to head back to Onaway to Liz and Cliff's apartment.  We decided to do a little bit more post-gaming as I would call it.  I wasn't checking my phone often but when I did around 4ish, I had a missed text already from Rick saying, "Why hello Brogan, how are you?" I remember responding with something along the lines of, "I'm good, how about you?" He didn't respond but I went to bed shortly after.  The next morning, we all wake up and Ashley, Diana, and I have to get heading back to Rogers City because Ashley needs to work.  Took awhile since Cliff accidentally grabbed my keys along with his on his way to work.  After a trip to Brewbakers and getting my keys, we were on our way home.  I can't exactly remember what time that was at, I want to say 10 a.m. maybe?  Anyways, when 11 a.m. came around, sure enough, I got a text from Rick.  I was completely shocked to see that he remembered and I remember responding to him something like, "You remembered, I didn't think you would." And he said something along the lines of, "Yeah, how could I forget?"  Well from that moment on, we started texting and whatnot.  I found out he was from Cheyboygan which is about 40 minutes from Rogers City.  From our little bit of texting so far, we made plans to hang out for the first time, sober as he said, the following Monday.  We've known each other for about 3ish almost 4 days now.  We both had somewhat in our minds that this wasn't going to be anything more than maybe a fling.  I mean, I was planning to move to Grand Ledge mid-August for college so I didn't really have any plans of starting a relationship yet with anyone for the fact that I didn't think anyone would want to work a distance one that is.  I told him all this right away too just so he knew.  After the first time hanging out, it was clear that maybe sometime in the near future we could be something.  I remember that first night we actually hung out, where I would say that "first" kiss is more acceptable than the one we had on the dance floor within minutes of meeting.  I started to notice how much happier I was instantly becoming.  We started hanging out a lot more and by the time August 15th came around, we decided to make it official.  It wasn't long after that, I moved.  I have never worked a long-distance relationship so this was very new to me and also him.  But here we are, almost to 8 months now :) Thanks to technology, we are able to make this work.  It's not as easy though but it's worth it.  We see each other as often as we can, he comes down, or I go up.  I'm VERY thankful for Skype.  One of the best inventions ever.  Helps with the times where we can't see each other in person for long periods of times.

Anyways, I would have never thought in a millllllion years that I'd find someone who would later happen to be someone that means soo much to me, in a club.  All I can say is, I don't care how lame that club is, I'm soo glad I went that night. :)

Ashley, Diana, Liz, & I the night I met Rick. (I still wonder to this day, why, out of all the girls at the club, he pointed at me, I looked like CRAP! I guess I'll just blame in on the alcohol but at the same time, not worry about it cause it brought us to where we are today)

:)

Ricky & I at Brown Trout for the first time 'together.'

:)

Pretty much this post is dedicated to my loverly boyfriend, Richard William <3

and to Little Things for getting the idea about writing the story from of her posts :)