Day 21 of the 30 Day Challenge

day21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

                                                                   BEFORE LOOK

AFTER! uggh look how miserable i look.



The day I cut 14inches of hair off my head! Stupidest decision ever. And I get reminded daily when I look into the mirror! I keep telling myself it will grow and be long again... But at this current stage of hair length I feel like a soccer mom who should be driving a caravan.... grrrr I want my long locks back! (dont get me wrong... most people can totally rock the short hair, and i love it but i simply CANNOT!)

Day 20 of the 30 Day Challenge

DAY20-A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

I would love love love to go to the Vatican. The Vatican (Vatican City) is a separate state located within the city of Rome, Italy, that serves as the religious and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the official home of the reigning Pope and the meeting place for the leaders, or cardinals, of the Church and is also recognized as its own Country. Being Catholic you always hear how beautiful,  Holy and Scared this place is. There is also so much history here. All the paintings on the ceilings were hand done that took years and years to complete. There are soooo many rooms and special things inside the Vatican. I wont ramble on, but I am just so amazed by it all. I wish I could post millions of pictures of this place, but this would probably be the longest post ever.

Sistine Chapel

The chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today it is the site of the Papal Concave, the process by which a new Pope is selected.

** Interesting Fact**

The Vatican museums are over 9 miles long, and it is said that if you spent only 1 minute admiring each painting it would take you 4 years to complete the circuit!

St. Peters Basilica

Easter Mass at the Vatican. How amazing is this? I hope someday to visit this Holy place and be apart of something so special and meaningful with such long lasting traditions.

Day 19 of the 30 Day Challenge

Day19 - A picture and a letter

These are treasures I tell ya. I am so glad I saved all these. Don't ask me why I thought I needed to, but
I don't regret it one bit! I have been laughing my butt off reading these. it totally takes me back to middle school, and I seriously remember everything that was written. We sound like such valley girls. If you notice in the pictures, Jenni really got into writing notes. Some were multiple pages long and she even displayed her fine art skills. With cell phones and texting going on now, i doubt kids know how to write notes or even fold them into origami style. :) ohhhhhh how I loved my childhood.

Day 18 of the 30 Day Challenge

Day 18: A picture of  your biggest insecurity

My weight. No matter what size, i am never content. Its disgusting and i wish i wasnt that way. Im losing weight, but never fast enough for my liking. Whatev. Ill get there. blah.

Day 17 of the 30 Day Challenge

day17 - A picture of someone that has made a huge impact on your life.

So many impact my life, but I would have to say my Momma. She is seriously the hardest working lady I know. She wakes up at the butt crack of dawn, goes to work, comes home, cleans the house spotless because she is super anal about cleanliness, then can work out in the yard until dark,. She has so much engery. My mom inspires me. Since the accident my mom has been the back bone of our family and i dont thank her nearly enough as i should. She has the best personality and can always make me laugh. Its funny... Now living out on my own people call me Lori junior. I promised myself i would never be a crazy clean freak, but i must admit we are too much alike. Personality too. I love my mom and I think its quiet the compliment for people to say i am just like her. I love you momma and thank you for all your laughs, love, and being the best mom a daughter and family could ask for.

 

Day 16 of the 30 Day Challenge

Day 16: A picture of a person who inspires you.

 
                 
                                                     

My Dad inspires me everyday. I cant even explain to you how much I love my Dad. He is the most loving, selfless, funny, and giving man I know. He has worked so hard for us and been the best provider for our family.

Our lives changed my Senior year on September 18th, 2004. My parents were in a head on collision. A lady under the influence crossed the center line and hit my parents head on going 60 mph. My mom suffered from minor injuries, and took on more of the emotional trauma of the accident. My Dad took most of the impact. He told my mom he didn't think he was going to make it and told her to tell us kids that he loved us kids so much. After being stuck in the car for over 30 minutes (they were coming home from Florence) he was rushed to Sacred Heart where he wasn't given much change of survival. He suffered from a crushed pelvis, an ankle broken in 30 places, his femur bone broke and pushing through his skin in his back, a compound fracture in his elbow that had broke completely through the skin. He also had to get a bone graph from his pelvis and put in place in his foot that was crushed. His ACL, PCL, MCL's were all torn, his siactic nerve was crushed causing chronic nerve pain and damage, leaving his other foot numb and the other one that was crushed is now fused, so now there is hardly any movement. This whole event is so surreal now. I cant believe we lived this. My Dad was in the ICU for 7 days, everyday was a miracle, his heart had stopped beating one time, so we took it day by day and everyday was a gift from God. He later spent 4 weeks on the rehabilitation floor. Where he did minimal sitting, mostly just laying and recovering the best he could. He later wasn't allowed to come home in his condition so he was moved to a rehabilitation home for ANOTHER 4 weeks. At this point my dad hadn't been home in over 2 months. He finally was able to come home after that miserable stay in that home. And when I say he was at home he was still in a hospital bed with around the clock care, that lasted that way from months on end. It has been a very long road with countless doctors appointments, surgeries after the long hospital stay, and the emotional toll we all took was so overwhelming. My dad was told he would never walk again. He spent 4 years in a wheel chair. As all of this sounds so horrible, I promise I am not trying to get a sympathy vote here I just needed to explain to you what my Dad and family has gone through and why my dad inspires me every day. He was told he would never walk and now he is without a wheelchair. Of course he cant walk long distances by any means, or even around the block but he can walk. He deals with intense, chronic pain EVERY SINGLE DAY and he never complains, never. My Dad is the strongest man who loves his family so much and would do anything for us. I love my Dad with my whole heart. By the Grace of God my parents are here today, and I am forever thankful. I love you Dad, you inspire me to be a better person. I hope one day to find a husband who is half than man you are... Lets be honest, nobody can compare to a girls Dad.

What was so hard was not having my Dad be able to watch me play Volleyball my Senior Year. He was my number one fan and pushed me in sports and made me the athelete that I was so of course I wished he could of been present every game. He got permission from Doctors to go to my Senior Night Game. That was so special to me because I know with how much pain he was in, he wanted to be there with his whole heart. After every game we all would go back to the hopsital and give him my stats and the play by play of the game so he wouldnt feel like he missed out.

This was about a month or so after the accident.

My Dad was unable to see me get crowned at the Homecoming Game so we relived it in the hospital for him :)

Senior Night Game

Prom, Look how great he looks. (8 months after the accident)

And here we all are, 7 years since the accident. We have come a long way, especially my mom and dad. I love you all.



Day 15 of the 30 Day Challenge

Day15: A Picture of something you want to do before you die.

I would love to get married before I die. Lets face it, some people go their whole lives without marriage. I hope I am not one of them. I already have so many ideas on how I want my special day and how beautiful its going to be. haha I'm not psycho.... I'm pretty sure every girl dreams about her special day. Hopefully my turn will come before I die. ;)