My friends are back!

Meow. (Josh knows I have a crush on him)

Yeah, she's kind of annoying on the show but in all seriousness, if I could have a hot bod, it would be like Kate's.

Meow, again. In a rugged mountain man, peculiar sort of way.

Does this guy know what he is doing with the clan?

And hello Creepo.

A cluttered room...

Is a cluttered mind. 

I just spent the day cleaning out my room and starting to pack it up since in 31 days I'll be moving out and into my new apartment. I had an emotional breakdown last night about all the overwhelming things I have going on in my life and realized that my room was an absolute war zone. I cleaned it all up today and my mind is feeling much better. I still have just as much to do (besides cleaning my room) but I'm feeling more in control about it. 38 more days to take care of it all, I'll be good. 

I'm really having a hard time containing all of my excitement about the wedding. It's coming up fast and all the feelings and emotions are starting to swell up. Cannot believe it. When this all started it was 9 months away, now it's just a little over a month. AHHHHHH!

Remembering those moments

There are significant moments in my life that I wish I could have shared with important people in my life. For example, The Call in Nashville, I wish Josh were there because I wish he could have experienced that with me. I'm sure some of it he would have been skeptical about but that was a really important point in my life. I was awestruck seeing so many believers there together for one purpose, to worship. That prayer walk that morning brought me to tears. Imagine seeing thousands of believers all walking in unison, an ocean of people and a tiny glimpse of what heaven will be like. Unbelievable.

Here's a video that gives you a glimpse of it all.

The other very moving part for me was when they had three couples that actually got married during the event. This was at time where I realized that Josh and I would be together forever and so the significance of these marriages before God were so meaningful to me. And now the closer I am to my wedding, the more beautiful it is to me.

Meet my new friend!

Meet Ali. She's my new inspiration in life. This girl is absolutely amazing. She's on this season of The Biggest Loser and every time I watch the show I just see this chic and see how much she's overcome and how her life seems that much more valuable to her now because she's living a healthy life. She looks absolutely amazing! If I could meet her and tell her how much she's impacted my life at the moment, I totally would. To see this girl lose 99 pounds in a matter of 15 weeks while losing the majority of it at home in her natural environment is one of the most astounding things I have ever seen. Seeing her transformation motivates me to really take hold of my life and live it to the fullest which involves me taking care of this body that I have. She said something along the lines of "See this body? I have sculpted it, I have changed it, I am the one who did this." I am in control of my body and I deserve to live life to the fullest and taking charge of my health is something that can only increase my passion in life and happiness too. So, thanks Ali for changing my perspective on life and we haven't even met, maybe someday.

Wedding Nightmares

I already lose enough sleep over the wedding by thinking about it all the time but these wedding nightmares are the worst. I had one last night that was just horrible and every time I woke up to try and shake it off I'd fall back asleep and the dream would come back. We show up at the church, which isn't the church we are really getting married in, but I by myself and I was trying to find the room where I could get changed and I kept getting lost on this winding staircase that was gradually getting narrower as you went down the staircase. Finally I find the room and I'm still by myself getting ready. My mom isn't there, my bridesmaids aren't there, no one. Finally my mom, my aunt and five out of the six of my bridesmaids showed up along with my photographer. On top of all the stress of people showing up late and the frustration of the location it was pouring outside. I'm freaking out that all of our pictures will have to be taken inside in this crazy church and the time is just going by so fast and I'm not even ready yet. My Maid of Honor hadn't even showed up yet and it was about five minutes until the time we were supposed to take pictures. Once she finally arrived, the rain had stopped and we had such a limited amount of time to take the pictures and as we were outside taking pictures I was noticing all of these people that were arriving at the wedding that I didn't even invite. There were tons of other details that were totally aggravating but that was the gist of it. 

I'll be so happy when all of that is over. I have about 46 days left. Still waiting for the apartment complex to call and verify everything. That's really been bugging me. I'm getting really antsy inside now and can't contain my excitement. Argh! I'm so done with all of the planning and ready to be Mrs. Klipsch.

Big Day!

Tomorrow is a very big day for us. Josh and I could possibly have our new home together. It's very exciting for me and kind of nerve wracking. I would love to walk out of that leasing office tomorrow with that apartment. I just have to put my trust in Jesus. If this is where he wants us to be, it is where we will be. I'm ready to be a big kid. It's the next step. Now we are 49 days away from being married and in weeks it's 6 weeks left before I become Mrs. Klipsch. I love the idea of all of it. It's going to be fabulous. I'm done calling him and saying goodnight. I'm ready to turn over in bed and say goodnight. I have such a hard time containing my excitement. Argh! I need to start packing my life up!!!

Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?

I've been reminiscing about my travels around the world and wanted to post some of my favorite pictures.

It was so hot in Africa. I can't remember a time when I wasn't sweating. But it was always a good time.

The boys needed new shoes so I bought them all new shoes and this was their arrival at the orphanage and the boys approving of my decision.

All the beautiful babies.

Adeliene, Paul and Vero decided to join me in a picture. Paul was my little man and we spent a lot of time together. Paul has a new home now and has been adopted by a loving family in France and I couldn't be happier.

This is baby Isaiah, we took him in to take care of him and sadly about two weeks after I returned back to the states little Isaiah passed away.

On my way home from Burkina I made a stop in Paris, this is me with the Eiffel Tower, duh.

Le Arc du Triomphe

Back in Burkina: This moto had probably one hundred chickens tied to it.

My beautiful henna. One of the very things that made Josh notice me. ;)

Henna is always a good conversation starter.

My humble abode in Yako, Burkina Faso.

My lovely bathroom. A concrete hole in the ground. :D

Now I'm in Guatemala!

The picture on the left is me walking on the worlds smallest main street in Placencia, Belize. It's actually in the Guiness Book of world records as being the world's smallest main street. On the right I'm enjoying a strawberry daquiri.

On the beach in Belize.

The adorable little Alvaro.

Our team from Texas and all the ladies that work at the Hostel.

Me with Alvaro and Chiqui. That background is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see.

Happiness

I think that was the name of a dish at a chinese restaurant I went to once. Seriously. This blog is dedicated to all that makes me happy at the moment. Enjoy and be happy yourself!

Josh makes me happy of course. This is us at an 80's mustache party after we started dating. Hilarious! His name that night was Lloyd and I could hardly take him seriously for days after that.

My pal and matron of honor, Jessie. This girl is always so easy to be around and somehow she finds my sense of humor amusing, so it's always great to be around her because I can be myself.

Ellen DeGeneres and cute kids. Look I found both in one.

Another Ellen video to top it all off.