As The Table Turns

This week has been quite the step. Another step into my adult life that I just did not realize would come so dang soon. Today, the words, “I bought a coffee table,” came out of my mouth. What the hell?

Last week I was doing homework on my bed, blinked and ended up with a tea kettle on a stove with slipper sandals on my feet. I mean seriously, when did my life catIMG_0501ch up to the “When I grow up…” part? It’s flying, but I am trying to love every single minute.

Yes, my coffee table has a new home, and apparently so do I. I signed my first dotted line on Tuesday to live in an apartment next year. My dotted line was fabulous. Fabulous, in that it was my signature, but not necessarily my money. Mom and Dad’s dime seems to pull through yet again (and, hopefully, will not stop anytime soon).

Over the past few months, I have been struggling to make one of my most difficult decisions I’ve made so far. Should I transfer? No, I should stay here. Should I step outside my comfort zone? No, this is satisfying. Can I really do this? Yes, yes Lindsey, you can.

I suddenly had the feeling that Journalism was calling my name. It is pulling me to the dark side with this intriguing life of writing. Oh yes, you guessed it. My apartment is in gosh darn Columbia, MO- home of Mizzou’s J-School and now home to me.

Even though I have finally come to the conclusion that this spin of the table seems to be in the perfect direction, my family and I have spent many hours on many worries of the big “T” word (Transfer, in case you didn’t catch my drift). I am headed into sophomore year as a first year newb all over again. It will take time and there is no guarantee it will progress as smoothly as I imagine; but I am prepared for my huge leap of faith. Hopefully, with endless nights in the library, new friends and connections, and even study sessions in my new living room, I will be prepared for the career of my dreams.

This coffee table was $25 in an antique store (I know, go me!). I would like to say it’s pretty beat up and useless, but my Mom had to explain that “college houses” are not top notch. In fact, college houses are the foundation of “Remember that one night?” stories, and under no circumstances need Pottery Barn’s best seller. The table in my trunk right now, just like me, has no idea what’s in store. We are both moving into a new place, in a new town at a new school. I don’t know many people, just as the coffee table does not know who will surround it, play games on it, or who’s feet it will support. We have so many memories to make together.

My new slab of wood with four legs and lots of scratches has brought me to a turning point that I did not know would come so soon. Each scratch it already has is a memory of its last home, and I am eager, anxious and beyond excited to put more scratches on MY new coffee table. This life is crazy and this life is fast, but oh man, this life is so so fab!

I MIZ You!

The weekend before last, I went to Mizzou and oh my goodness was it fun!

My Big & travel buddy, Grayson, and I left Kirksville for our people in Columbia right after class. The amount of bags I had for 2 days was excessive, but hey I’ve never regretted being prepared for every occasion. She was spending the weekend with her twin, and I was moving in with Annie, a best friend from high school.

You see, I live in a very exclusive bubble in Kirksville. The biggest decision of the day is whether I’ll have Greek yogurt or almonds for my morning snack. And whichever one I don’t have, I’ll eat in the afternoon. So when I arrived in Columbia, I was thrilled to see all of the shops and restaurants. The feeling of jealousy was also creeping through.

I pulled into a 15-minute parking spot to give Annie all the hugs and excitement for the weekend ahead of us. We had seriously missed each other SO MUCH. So far, so good- but if everything went smooth, this would be boring right? Right. I went to move my car, and it was flat stuck in park. I called a few people, but this thing was not moving. Now, if you think we were going to address a broken car before continuing our fun and planned out weekend you are dead wrong. We locked the car and prayed for it to be there in the morning  #Seeya.

Our concert started at 7, but we were just sitting down to a dining hall meal and calling an uber around 7:10. Classic. Florida Georgia Line gave us all the feels as we danced and sang to every song! We were having such a fabulous time, to say the least, and the people around us could attest. The night did not end there because of course I needed to see what all the rave of Mizzou is. (Don’t worry, I did- I certainly did.)

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The next morning (praise Jesus) my car was still there! We miraculously moved it to the parking garage and I caught lunch with some fun dudes. They showed me around and brought me back to Annie, where we laid on the floor of her room for hours and hours just plain talking. Oh, how I’ve missed these friends and the happiness they bring to my life.

Dinner came and went and we turned our wild night out to a perfect night in. We put on our jammies and discovered Gooey Butter Cake ice cream with delivered Hot Box cookies. We all know I would choose good friends and sweets over a loud crowd any day all day. But seriously, if Annie would have said we’re going to a Prom, I would have pulled a ball gown out of my Mary Poppins bag- THAT is how prepared I was.

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My last day arrived and I had to deal with this car- this dreaded car. I made a trip to the parking garage, with one too many bags, to pull out my keys. Or should I say my key chains? The only thing I had was my puffball and pineapple- the key was gone. As in G-O-N-E, gone. Not only was my car most likely stuck in park, but I couldn’t even start it to see!

A quick call to mom, and in two short hours she was there! Lunch in Columbia and then a drive back to Kirksville. Seriously WHAT would I do without her? I balled when she had to leave me, but she did get me fruit and coffee before she made the departure, so I’d call it even.
All in all my weekend at Mizzou was beyond fun. I loved catching up with my friends, popping the Kirksville bubble, and getting to see my mom was just the icing on the cake. Weekends like these that turn straight into memories are what makes life fabulous. And oh how fabulous it is.

Sunday Thoughts

It’s Sunday. Sunday, February 12th. Today my Sunday is straight from the heart and all in all, the truth. What’s the point if I’m not completely honest, right?

I absolutely love Sundays. They are the perfect day to regroup for a fresh week of routine and focus. This morning, my wonderful Sunday started off with class at Barre3 with my favorite person (mom) followed by breakfast with the whole family. After breakfast, my mom and I grocery store hopped to purchase all of our best finds for our day of cooking.

Now, you may be wondering why I am home, and honestly I’m wondering the same thing. I should 100% still be at school, but I have been missing home way too much. Sometimes you just need extra hugs to fill the heart. I wish that I could say I am crazy happy at school with a fabulous group of friends, but honestly I am not. My heart has been quite empty lately, as I am having a hard time this semester. A whole month home over Christmas break reminded me just how much I love {and MISS} my people and my place.

It is so hard to be studying at school while they are home and living life. The life I have lived at home has always been so independent, so I was not dying for the freedom or liberating feeling that college comes with. For me, I am much more intrigued by the life after college without frat parties and stupid nonsense. Trust me, I get it. It’s fun, but fun for like uhhh 3 quick minutes.

Right now, my prayers to God are for happiness within myself. I’m confident that after I feel good, I will be able to find a fun friend group that loves me for, well, me. The constant state of worry has overcome me for this perfect life that I am not living right now. This picture I had in my head of what everything would be like meeting the not-pictured reality is hard to accept. How do I be the best possible me? How can I show others that I truly do put them first? Am I actually giving back to God enough? Where is He taking me?

This life is the most fabulous gift we could honestly ever ask for, and I am forever grateful. There are one million and two things to be thankful for and just not enough time in the day to name each and every one of them. I understand this beautiful side of life, but at this very moment, I’m trying to find that silver lining. Of course it is there, but it is my job to go find it.

Amazing people are always put into your life at just the perfect times. Reflecting on previous experiences, these are the parts of life that God pulls through the most! My lifelong friends were hand placed in front of me all at different stages of life, but with impeccable timing. I’m trusting that these cycles that have led me here will only repeat itself for the rest of my life.

Through prayers and a positive attitude, my smile is shining bright. Today is Sunday. Sunday, February 12th. It sounds to me like the perfect day to end the weekend at home with an overflowing heart and one too many cookies at dessert.  I know that school is calling my name, and I’m ready to return with a focused attitude and acceptance that this is just life right now. But even when life is hard, there’s a way to make it fabulous.