Matea

I’ve actually been dreading writing this blog. I’ve sat down to write it multiple times and then stopped. I get over-whelmed with sadness each time.

Today I am saying good-bye to a very dear friend.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Matea—practicing yoga with her for the past year and a few months.

Today she is headed back to her home country of Croatia.

I remember the first time I realized she was going to be a regular at the yoga studio. 

She was so cute with her little accent. Her yoga practice took off in a flash and I found a new place for her within my little circle of friends here—within my soul.

And although I know it’s time for her to return to her boyfriend and family—words cannot express just how much we are all going to miss her here in our community and in our kula.

Matea,

I will miss seeing you every Monday at 5:30 and every Thursday at 6. Your laughter and joy will be missed as I’m hanging upside down in splits up the wall-or grimacing in torture pose. You will be missed at every yoga conference we go to. And I’ll never forget our time in New Orleans together;)

I know this isn’t a good-bye but more of a “see you later” because you can bet your best dollar that as soon as I get time from school, I’ll be over to visit. I already have pages marked in my Croatia book that I must see in real life.

I will miss you so much dear friend. You have changed our Kula for the better and touched so many people’s lives.

I’ll do my best not to cry today when we have lunch. But I probably will anyway.

Here’s to you my friend! May you continue on your journey with peace of mind and a heart full of love. May you never quit learning, discovering, searching…..

Until we meet again,

I love you!

Jen

the dirty 30

As I sit here typing this birthday blog I am reminded that I only got 3.5 hours of sleep last night.

 Guess what that means?

Yep. You guessed it.

I did my 30^th birthday up right.

The entire weekend was a blow-up-mega-double-dose birthday weekend bash.

If that didn't make any sense I was trying to say, is that…

My birthday was out of control….in the best way possible of course.

I had the privilege of spending the entire weekend with just about every single favorite person I have in my life today. There were a few missing (Cathy and Eric) but for the most part, I got to see every one that is near and dear to me and well…

Gosh golly…

I felt so loved.

I really did.

I felt like a magic mega roman candle the entire weekend
 (thanks, Patrick).

Friday evening my dear sweet precious amazing talented friend, Tammy, had the most lovely birthday bash for me at her home. She has become really close to me this past year and is such a blessing. I have the utmost admiration and respect for her and I am truly lucky to call her my friend.

Her pumpkin cheesecake was the best drug thing, hands down, I have ever eaten.

Tammy, thank you once again for making me feel so special and so loved. I’m looking at the most beautiful basket of flowers I have ever seen (and yes, I remembered to water them) and my heart is just filled with gratitude and joy.

And thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with me. It really did mean so much to me.

Saturday afternoon, (my actual birthday) my sweet Lydia and I headed on to Meridian to celebrate with my family. Lydia and I have been close for over 10 years now and she had never been to Meridian with me! I loved having her home with me.

 It was extra special with her there.

Before we left, I got to have a special birthday lunch with my main Jackson man—Malcolm White.

His friendship not only means the world to me—it’s also so much fun.

Once in Meridian,

My family and a few close friends enjoyed dinner at Sake Sushi.

It was so awesome to have all my siblings home. 

 It was, as usual, a crazy Nanney show-down where many stories were told and laughs were heard….(throughout the entire restaurant, I’m sure.)

I want to highlight a few friends that were there...

Josh has been a friend of mine for years and years….we grew up together in Meridian and I’m so happy that he’s still in my life. Josh is a real sweetheart. Such a gentlemen. Such a Catholic. Super funny. And a little quirky. And I’m so glad that he was there to celebrate with us.

Patrick and I have known each other for years. I really don’t remember not knowing him…..but we were never close until the past year or so. My family so graciously and gently reminded all of us about the time Patrick came over for lunch 11 years ago….in which case that story deserves its own blog entry... but let’s just say Patrick has always had a very special place in my heart and I truly am so honored to call him my friend. 

He is one of the most amazing male friends I have. He’s so kind. So humble. He literally exudes creativity and I have never seen an imagination work quite like his. He has been so supportive of me and I just don’t know what I’d do without him.

Theresa has been with me through thick and thin. Our relationship is a true testament that tough love works. She is family to me and I can’t imagine life without her (and of course it goes without saying that I feel the same way about Josh and the kiddos).

I also must confess to you that I had a little relapse with my smoking.

After being surrounded by smokers for a few hours, I decided I should be able to have a cigarette on my birthday. And so I did. And of course I didn’t have just one…..i had about 20 in a span of 3 hours (yep..that is truly how I role).

And let me just tell you, after over a year and a half of being a non-smoker—it didn’t taste nasty. It tasted amazing and delicious and reminded me that smoking is pretty much one of my very favorite things in the world. I never coughed and my throat didn’t feel like complete shit today. I guess I was just born to smoke. Ha!

But before you get mad, upset, or judgmental---(hold on to your white horse)….It was only just for that one night. I haven’t had one today and I don’t plan on having another one ever (well…maybe until I turn 31;)

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Faraway Places (as usual)...

I had lots of compliments on my green blouse—courtesy of The Orange Peel.

I can go ahead and already tell you that I love being 30 (and one day).

I could go on and on about how thankful I am. How grateful I am. How blessed I am.

But….

Somehow, I think you already know that.

To ALL of you who wished me happy birthday via facebook/texts/phone-calls/cards/messages…

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

It made this ole gal feel so special and loved.

And isn’t that what birthdays are for?!?!

And now it’s back to reality for me.

I think I’m going to have to go in hibernation mode for the next few weeks to gather back my social graces and get serious about this semester…(hello, Neuroanatomy! I hear you knocking and I’m about to answer you…tomorrow).

Here’s to you my friends—for making my life so full of joy.

Here’s to you, 30! You’re already rocking my face off.

 My 30^th birthday portrait taken by none other than Lydia Grey.

And yes, that is the red couch in Weidman’s bathroom.

the truth is......

as usual, the weekends go by too quickly.

i had the pleasure of spending this past weekend with my all-time favorite people.

my nephew.

and my boys.

I got to spend some really good quality time with Irwin. This little (16month old) boy brings me joy like no other. I honestly wish I could see him every single day. I enjoyed every second of chasing him, playing cars with him, throwing the ball with him, feeding up, bathing him, reading to him, and putting him in bed. He is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever seen. And might I brag and say his hand-eye coordination is remarkable for a 16 month old. He can actually throw and catch the ball.

And then I also enjoyed some QT with my favorite rambunctious crew—the “Uncle Goodtimes” (as I so affectionately labeled them over the weekend).

And I have a confession to make.

I throw the boys under the bus more than is necessary.

I embellish, boast, and make-fun of these guys so much that you might not actually know how much I really do love them.

If you haven’t already figured out by now, we (all 4 of us) are very lively characters. Our real lives and stories often seem more fictional than real. However, we can assure you, they are very real.

This weekend was no exception.

I spent Friday evening carousing around with them……listening to them moan about losing lovers they never had, and dancing to crazy, silly music. Then of course, they had to listen to my countless stories of lovers I don’t yet have, and all the recent “fumbles” I’ve made with love. At one point, we were all rolling around on the ground dying in hysterics.

You really can’t make this shit up.

I won’t re-tell any of the stories here because I can assure you, you would either A) not believe me or B) never speak to me again.

The night ended with an almost-bar- fight scene up at Weidmann's. I pretended to be largely embarrassed…even though I was mainly just giving them a hard time. I thought the whole entire thing hilarious. The fight ensued because some red neck hillbilly made fun of Eric’s scarf. I remember him yelling, “Don’t ever make fun of my scarf, bro!”.

And then he said, “Jen, would you push someone off this balcony for me”. And I said, “no eric, I wouldn't”. and He said, “I would. I would kill for you. I would gladly take any bullet or push any man off this balcony for you”.

And you know, as the weekend has come to a close….and I’ve thought about how much fun I get out of watching them make themselves look stupid….i have to get honest:

The truth is I would push someone off the balcony for you, Eric. I would also take a bullet for you or jump in front of a car for you or whatever else ridiculous nonsense thing we make up.

The bond I have with those boys is thicker than blood.

They’ve seen me at my lowest. They know all the skeletons hiding in my closet. They listen to me ramble on and on about things that don’t matter. They’ve helped me pick up the pieces over the years and move on. We’ve celebrated both good and bad times together. We’ve been through break-ups, deaths, marriages, relationships, children……..

They are the ones I want standing on my side if I ever get married.

Their opinions are the ones that matter when it concerns possible love interests, jobs, major and un-major decisions.

The truth is that I would rather spend my weekends with them than anyone else.

The truth is that I can’t imagine my life without them.

Eric, Patrick, (and Seanie-baby even though you weren't there, you were in my heart)

I love you.

Thanks for being my boosJ

I look forward to you all inundating my home this weekend!

 here are some photos from the weekend:

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready for a new week! Last week in September, here we come!