Small Town Girl: changes

Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts

June 24, 2016

New Transition

Small Town Girl will be having a little transition.

From my last post, you'll read about my life currently and how a few things have changed. These changes are less external, and more internal regarding my perspective and decisions. Let me explain a little bit more.

Recently, I'm more focused on my education and not just "getting by" but actually putting in all my effort towards my classes and grades. In my last semester of college, I only received A's & B's - that was the first time since 8th grade. I realized that if I'm willing to put in more work for a shorter period of time, then I will experience the benefits afterwards. So in the next couple of months, I will finish a summer class, register for state tests, and have an interview to get into The School of Education at UNW. To say I have a lot ahead of me, is an understatement, but I'm looking forward to those adventures. :)

Also, since I'm working 3 jobs this summer, I have a lot less time to blog and keep up with everything going on in my life. However, I still LOVE to write. I'm constantly typing up small paragraphs on my phone, writing quotes in a notebook, or occasionally getting on my laptop to type up a blog post. Writing is how I best express my thoughts and experiences.

So with all of that being said, my blog, will be transitioning to more of a journal. I've been away since March, and during that time I really felt no pressure to hurry and get a new post on my blog. Blogging is something that I love to do, but I don't want to feel any pressure to have the most page views, or followers, or shares. I just want a place to document my life and have fun reading my fellow writers' blogs as well.

For the future, you'll still see posts, pictures, and life updates from me, but just whenever I have the time. I hope you'll continue to stop by, enjoy catching up, and looking at pictures. Feel free to follow me on Instagram, find me on twitter, or shoot me an email - I'm always checking my social media and texts or emails from people.

Thanks for always being such fantastic followers and great friends, too.

xoxo,

Michlyn

August 15, 2015

What I'm Going to Miss.

Being the first born of a family has it's pros and cons; just like everything else in life does. There are always positives and negatives but you just have to focus on the right reasons and keep your chin up.

I've always loved being the oldest in my family. And now I'm heading to college in a couple days and it's a whole new experience. I'm the first one to leave the house and go to college. First generation headed to a 4 yr university. I know it's going to be such a fun experience and I'm going to learn so much but I'm also going to miss a lot from home.

My family first and foremost.

My dad whistling in the kitchen as he cooks. Or coming up with ridiculous jokes to make my boyfriend laugh. Or him tickling my feet because he knows it drives me crazy.

My momma. Buying me clothes. Doing my laundry. Listening to her praying with my little siblings - how she's raised them just the same as me. Feeding me truth and wisdom. Singing country songs together in the car.

My best friend, my sister Erin. We've shared a room since she was born. We make up our own words and jokes and laugh about it for years. Or talking about boys in the dark before we go to bed. How we can hate the same thing or love completely different things.

My little siblings too. How they look up to me. How my youngest brother pronounces my name wrong. My littlest sister wanting to be just like me.

Driving down the backroads with the windows down and the music blaring. (I won't get to bring my car on campus as a freshman) Going for late night junk food runs with my sister. Missing my job and my coworkers for how hard they work.

Things are going to change but it's going to be a good experience. One I'm getting very excited for and very nervous for. Hoping these last few days go a lot slower than the rest of my summer. Soaking in every last detail.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

August 6, 2015

Preparing

The countdown has begun. Only 12 more days until I'm moving onto my college campus. TWELVE.

Nerves are kicking in. Excitement is rising. Dorm checklist is getting smaller. Time is getting shorter.

I'm preparing myself for the unexpected. I've never done this college thing before. I know I'm going to love it. I know it's going to be different. I just don't know what to expect. My friends and I are all going different ways. An hour away from home. Taking a year off. A couple are moving east and a couple are moving west. My best friend found her dream college 5 hours away from me. We're all just preparing ourselves for change.

We've done it before. When your childhood best friend and her family moved across the country. Or when your parents got divorced. You had your "goodbye dance" after middle school and prepared yourself for freshman year of high school. Now it's a little different though. We won't all have our parents to pay for our groceries and car insurance. We'll have to schedule our own appointments and buy our own clothes for a job interview. It's all changing.

But it's a good change. Growing up is intimidating and thrilling. We'll all do it individually and life will get busier and more exciting. We'll meet new people and call them our soul mates. We'll forget those girls in high school that only strived for beauty and popularity; not intellect and originality.

Life is a journey and nobody travels it exactly the same way. So I'm just preparing myself - my mind, my heart, to strive for my dreams and pray that God will always be by my side.

And every little (or big) thing is gonna be alright.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

July 17, 2015

Change

Hey everyone!

Phew it's been quite a while since I've been able to sit down and actually get my fingers to type words. I meant to get a couple posts out weeks ago, but you know how life is and priorities get straightened out. So blogging unfortunately is at the bottom of my to-do list these days leaving this blog empty.

I can't tell you guys how much it means to me that people take the time out of their day to read about my crazy life, deep life moments, and the fun I have along the way. This time in my life has shown me how incredibly grateful I am for everyone and everything around me. For the people that came to my grad party, for my family who has helped me get closer to my dreams and supported me, my best friends for making me laugh on days when I most need it, for blogger friends that encourage me from thousands of miles away, and my Jesus that oversees my life and knows what's coming next even when I don't.

Lately, I've been struggling with a great deal of nerves and anxiousness about the changes in my life. In exactly one month I'll move onto my college campus - living away from my family (longer than a few days) for the first time. I've been so so excited throughout the past year to be going to my dream school and getting to pursue teaching - something I've wanted to do since I was 9 yrs old. But just as the countdown gets lower and lower, my heart starts beating faster and faster. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very excited but I just think expecting the unexpected is a little hard right now.

The day after I move out, I'll also be trying out for UNW's varsity volleyball team. Whether it means I make the team or it's not for me - it will be ok. I know that I'd like to give it a shot and try my best instead of not trying at all. But I think those 48 hours of complete change will be very hard but also very rewarding and I can't wait to see what God has in store for my future as an Eagle.

Otherwise, if you're wondering how my summer has been going so far - it's been wonderful! I've been trying to see my friends as much as possible, before we go our different ways and enjoying each day. Trying to help my family juggle our busy schedules and also soaking in the time with them before I leave. I'm working 2 jobs this summer to try and save a little money for college expenses in the fall but also to have a little fun too.

As you can see, I haven't really had the words (or time) to say what's on my mind but I hope this post finds all my followers well and enjoying the summer. If you're in my boat - just know you're not alone! Being nervous about college is normal but also stay excited - you never know what the future will hold.

xoxo,

~Michlyn

May 28, 2015

Happiness.

Recently, I've been encountered with the question "Are you happy?". And to be honest, this year was a growing year for me in my strength, maturity, and faith. Nine months ago, the beginning of my senior year, I didn't feel happy. I was stressed, disappointed, lost. Everyone else around me had their lives and plans put together and smiles on their faces.

It felt like I was getting over difficulties in my life and I had no one to turn to. But I kept a smile on my face and went through the motions. I prayed to God to "just make me happy". I quickly learned that He couldn't just "fix" my problems. It takes positive changes and efforts to gain what you want to achieve.

If something makes you unhappy, you have to know what needs to change. Sometimes it takes weeks and sometimes months. Happiness is something everyone wants. If something makes you radiate joy and the people in your life are witnesses, then keep it. Other peoples' opinions often shouldn't matter but when they're people that love and influence you, listen to them.

I'm so thankful for a Savior that loves me unconditionally and is there when it feels like no one else is. He lifts me out of the trenches and back onto the right path. Today, I can honestly answer that question with a positive "yes!".

Do what makes you happy.
xoxo,
~Michlyn

January 29, 2014

As Time Passes {Wordless Wednesday}

January 1, 2014

Reflecting.

This is a post mostly for myself. Something that I need to write down so I can come back and remember. If you want to, go ahead and read along but I warn you - it might get a little long and be a tad boring. :)

Looking back on this year, it has been a year of growth and struggle. Good struggle & bad struggle. A full year of fitting pieces of a puzzle back together, erasing scars of my heart, and opening new doors. I look back and realize that I fit a lot into this past year and it brings nothing but joy. I had a lot of stressful moments but I had support and comfort after the storm. And that just brings joy that overpowers all the hard times. For that I'm thankful.

But something else I've noticed is that I have not grown in my faith with God. And that's something I've really struggled with in the past 2 years. You can go read this post and that gives you a little smidgeon of info. We lost our youth pastor around that time and it's been hard ever since. (We do have a new youth pastor now and he is super awesome! Just losing the one before him was pretty rough for a while) Someone really special to me asked me the other day "How is your walk with God?" and all I felt was disappointment. In myself. In my church. In my heart.

My faith has been tested a lot over the past 2 years and I've realized that I rarely turned to God when I needed something or was hurting. I turned to my friends or raged at my parents or cried alone in my room or complained to God. I never prayed to Him or thanked Him or cried out to Him. And I'm SO THANKFUL to everyone in my life who has and will always be there for me in hard times. Whether it's girls from my team, my parents, my best friends, or my grandparents. But most of all I'm so thankful to have a God that is so forgiving, so loyal, and so selfless. If it wasn't for Him not giving up on me or letting me give up on myself then I'd be in a lower spot in my faith than I am right now.

I'm the girl that tries to always have a smile on her face, who hates letting people down, and has a positive outlook on life. My life is beautiful. And there are times when I think "my life couldn't get any better" and times when I think "my life couldn't get any worse". But whether it's good, bad, or beautiful - it's not perfect and I'm not perfect.

So reflecting back on this year it's been an adventure. A crazy one. In 2014, I want it to be even crazier. I want to be crazy for God and for the life and future He has for me. Not the plans I have for myself but the plans that HE has for me. I want to strive to learn about Him and to seek Him in all that I do.

"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." 2 Timothy 4:17

xoxo,
~Michlyn

December 31, 2013

2013 Year in Review

Wow, can you believe 2013 is already over?!

One year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. Already in the rear view mirror of our lives.

This year, 2013, has brought unbelievable blessings and trials. God has shown me time and time again that no matter what we go through or how great our life seems to be, there will always be new adventures coming our way. Those adventures have shown me that God is the only one in charge of our lives and living it to glorify Him is going to be way easier than trying to do it our own way.

So cheers to 2014 and the great journey it will bring!

JANUARY