Have you ever had a man hype you up, when you can't breathe out of your nose and you feel like your head is going to explode from the pressure? Ever had a man build the most random things for you to fulfill your wildest athletic training dreams? Ever had a man be your best friend and someone you can share anything with? If not, let me tell you how awesome it is.

A little over 8 months ago I met the man of my dreams and I wasn't even looking for him. I was at a time in my life where I wasn't looking for a relationship, I was looking for a distraction. I would aimlessly swipe left and right, never looking for anything serious. I was praying that the right man would either fall into my lap or walk across the threshold of my house. Hurrication hit and I had a lot more time on my hands. I stumbled upon Ryan and swiped right the night before his birthday. We hit it off over chat and I gave him my number. The next day he invited me to come to his birthday party. I went and in person we were 10,000 times better.

Over the next couple of days, we set up an official first date. He talked to my sister about my favorite food and restaurants. One the day of our first date, he came to the door, in a suit, with flowers, and met my mom. He walked across my threshold. He walked across my threshold. And the next 8 months have been blissful.

I am writing this to give every girl out there a kick in the pants, that it isn't your timing it is God's timing. I've written a lot about how I needed to trust God's timing, but it never seemed to click in my head. A door closed is another door opened. I never thought I would find someone who loved me or thought I was beautiful. I never thought that I would find someone who cared about me, but I did. Ryan is my best friend and one of my favorite people. I can be my full weird and quirky self. God has blessed me with the most amazing man. So I implore you to stay faithful in your prayers, because a no now will be a yes in the future!

Giving Grace

In my first staff meeting, on my first day of my first school year as an athletic trainer, my principal had all of the staff pick a word that would represent our year. We would turn to it when we struggled, or were feeling down. We would use it with our students and coworkers to help better those around us. While others were choosing words such as strength, perseverance, and passion, I chose grace. Here's why.

All of my life I have held those around me and myself to high standards. I would always want to be the best at everything that I do and would not surround myself with other who did not feel the same. When things didn't go as planned or I failed to do what I thought I should be able to accomplish, I would beat myself up about it. I would feel like a failure. This is something that I struggle with now.

I have been in athletic training since I was a freshman in high school as an athletic training student aide. I finally felt like this is something that I could do without failure. I could be the best athletic trainer ever and never mess up. But I was wrong. I seem to fail everyday, or at least it feels like I do. I place 7,000 phone calls and 10,000 text messages to the other athletic trainers in my district everyday because I constantly second guess myself and my judgement. My friends get calls from me all the time because I can't think of the right word to type on my paperwork. I never know if I'm making the right call on a diagnosis. I always feel like I'm doing something wrong. And I put that on myself.

So I think I need a little grace. For myself. For my students. For my coworkers. God give us grace everyday when we fail him. Grace is what he doesn't give us what we do deserve. Grace is what I need to give myself when I feel like I am failing. Grace is what I need to give my students when they choose to go against what I tell them. Grace is what I need to give when a coach doesn't communicate with me. Grace is what I need.