Blogger Challenge: Day 5

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member.

Yesterday was we celebrated the 28th birthday of my best friend, Kathryn Keenan. She is hands down the BEST friend that I have ever had. I consider her my big sister and my soul mate. We met my freshman year of college at Towson University, when she roomed with my childhood best friend Natasha. 

Kat Keenan has a strong personality. When I first met her back in 2006, I did not like her. I felt she was taking away my best friend (Natasha) from me. Although Kat was always kind to me, her pushiness and bluntness turned me off. Yet, I would continue to attend parties with Natasha and her and humor her company.

My sophomore year, we were friendlier and made plans to live together during my junior year. That year, NPP was born <No Party Poopers>. Kat and I became very close, very quickly and truthfully the rest of our friendship story is history. We were one another's wing woman. We were always up for a party or a good time. We became inseparable. She immediately was dubbed my best friend.

Kat went on to graduate from Towson, and I remained for one final year. She moved off campus into a neighboring suburb, but that did not dim the light on our friendship. If anything, it made us grow closer together. 

Flash forward five years, and we are closer than ever. Kat will marry her best friend July 25, 2015, and I have the honor of being her Maid of Honor on that special day. It would be an understatement to say our friendship makes people jealous. Kat's on fiance always laments that if she had to choose between he or I ... she would always choose me. 

I am not sure how I got so lucky discovering a friend in someone like Kat. However, I cherish all of our memories together and the special bond that we share. I pray that we remain lifelong friends ... sharing all of life's milestones together. She is one of the only people who knows the words to my song when I forget the lyrics. I appreciate her truthfulness, her loyalty and her companionship. There is NEVER a dull moment when we are together. No topic off limits. No activity too dull or boring. No drink undrank. She is one of the most important people in my life and I cherish every laugh, every cry, every heart to heart we have shared together. 

Blogger Challenge: Day 4

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

I would really like to get a tattoo, of the biblical scripture Romans 8:28. This scripture states, "All things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

This quote reassures me that things are always working in my favor, even when it does not seem like it. It gives me comfort to know that God has a plan for my life and it's not to harm me or lead me down the wrong path. 

I recite this quote when ever I am going through tough times, or when things are not working out the way I had envisioned them. It's sort of my fancy way of reminding myself to "Let Go and Let God" every single day.

Blogger Challenge: Day 3

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

Dog drool. Getting my hands dirty - literally. Small, crowded spaces. Humidity. Bad body odor. Invasion of my personal space. Ants. Bugs. Spiders. High heeled shoes. Foods with gluten in them. Jokes that discriminate. The smell of curry. Taking baths. Dirty homes. Clutter.

Blogger Challenge: Day 1

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less...

My name is Christina. I was born on August 16 and I grew up in Germantown, Md. I am the oldest of three children, and act very much like a first born child. Growing up, my mother was a stay at home mom and my dad worked night shifts. It is perhaps the greatest, most cherished sacrifice I think two parents could make. Mom was around to help raise us and Dad's work scheduled permitted him to be up with us in the afternoon for homework, sports practices and to eat together as a family at the dinner table. 

At a young age, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. I used to make the day care kids (neighborhood kids that my mom watched before and after school) sit through my lessons. I also aspired to be a children's book author ... but I gave up that dream to become a blogger instead. I was heavily involved in sports and after school activities. I played basketball, soccer and swam on the neighborhood swim team growing up. I also was a Girl Scout for 10 years. 

Some of my closest friends still today, are the girls I participated in these activities with. I cherish my childhood and the memories I have growing up. It was a special time - one that I hope to give my kids one day. In school, I was a total good girl. Earned straight A's almost always and was in all of the honors classes. I struggled a lot with who I was. I was teased for being "too white" and that made me ashamed of my grades and academic accomplishments. 

Sad but true, I have ALWAYS wanted to fit in. But fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), I have always stood out. My path has been very different than my friends and I continue to struggle, to this day, with accepting the journey I am on albeit lonely sometimes. I went to Towson U for College - and it was perhaps the greatest four years of my life! I learned SO much ... grew up SO much ... and made some friends that I will certainly keep for a lifetime. 

This time in my life was also dark at times ... as I wrestled with depression and other dark demons. These demons would follow me out of college and haunt me for years ... until recently. First loves break your heart the hardest ... and the scars I wear from that relationship have impacted me in more ways than what I could have ever imagined. I am grateful, however, for the struggle. It has made me who I am today. 

Since college, I have been teaching special education for five years. I have moved out of my parents house and lived on my own. I have purchased a new car ... traveled ... and lived life to the fullest. The past two years have been two of the GREATEST of my life. I have learned SO much about myself as a woman and I have had so many wonderful experiences/life lessons. I am excited to see what the rest of this year has in store for me, if not the rest of my life. I am truly a blessed and it's incredible to see how God works in our lives ... when we let him.

And that folks, would be my life story (although it's probably not 250 words or less).

Blogger Challenge

I want to get back to the basics. You know, the writing stuff. I am so incredibly busy that I neglect this little blog. And when I do find time to sit down and write, my thoughts are as dry as the Sahara Desert. So I am taking on the Blogger Challenge - a challenge to blog every single day, for thirty days. Are you with me!? 

 There really aren't any rules. If you miss a day, you can make it up or skip it. The blog police will not come knocking. Here are the topics. You can be as creative and awesome or as boring and bland as you like with these. Take 'em and run with it. Use creative post titles. Interpret each "prompt" however you like. There's no wrong way to do it. Have fun.

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)
Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?
Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

F O U R

I hardly EVER have time to write anymore! However when I logged on today, I saw this fun little post on some of one of my followers sites! Therefore, I am joining in on the fun .... here we go! 

Four of my Nicknames

1. Chriss (preferred)

2. Nina (My Aunt Missy used to call me this as a kid)

3. Chrissy (only Kat and Anne call me this)

4. Christina Marie (inside joke)

Four Jobs I've Had

1. Special Education Teacher 

2. Summer Camp Counselor 

3. Towson University Tour Guide 

4. Tutor/Nanny

Four Movies I've Watched More than Once

1. Remember the Titans (favorite movie of ALL time)

2. The Aristocats 

3. 27 Dresses

4. The Hunger Games Movies 

Four Things in my Purse (other than my wallet)

1. EOS lip gloss (more than one)

2. Comb

3. Lotion

4. Miscellaneous Bobby Pins 

Four Place I've Lived

1. Germantown, Md

2. Rockville, Md

3. Towson, Md

4. Silver Spring, Md (2016???)

Four Places I've Visited (Outside of the Country)

1. Freeport, Bahamas

2. Italy (June 2016)

3. Greece (June 2016)

4. ????????

Four + Places States I've Visited (In the Country)

1. Florida
2. South Carolina/North Carolina

3. Virgina/West Virginia

4. Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/New York

Four Places on my Travel Bucket List

1. France

2. Spain

3. Mexico

4. West Coast, USA

Four Things I Don't Eat

1. Spare Ribs

2. Chidlins (sp?)

3. Pigs Feet

4. Indian Food  

Four TV Shows I Watch

1. 19 Kids and Counting

2. Dance Moms

3. Modern Family/The New Girl 

4. gLee (before the show ended)

Four Things to Look Forward to this Year

1. Turning 27

2. My Best Friend's Wedding

3. Starting up my LAST year of graduate school

4. CHANGE! New beginnings, fresh starts ... it'll be good :)

EVERYONE wins when cancer loses

Please join me in supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) by making a donation to my fundraising campaign for Man or Woman of the Year. I am part team Faith. Hope. Believe. working to raise as much as possible in a 10-week period. 

I am doing this campaign in memory of my grandmother, Mary Jane Harris, who passed away from Leukemia when my father was a junior in high school. Although I never had the opportunity to meet her, her memory lives on in the hearts and stories of our family.

I am also doing this campaign to honor my grandfather, James Harris, who passed away from cancer when I was in third grade. I have only a few memories of him, but I am fond of each one. Grandaddy Harris was a warm and loving man, and I wish that I had more time to make more memories with and to learn from him.

I did not know it when I joined the campaign, however many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients, but are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.

And as you may already know, EVERYONE wins when cancer loses, and thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund the therapies and treatments that save lives, not someday but today.

Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers. We really are getting close to our goal of a world without blood cancers!

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my Web site often and tell friends who would also like to donate! On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support! 

http://www.mwoy.org/pages/nca/dcmetro15/cmharris