My Last Day As A Twenty-Something

     I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling 22. And that is ok! Today is my last day in my twenties. As I was thinking about this past decade, I realized I've had a good run, lol! Here are some of the things that I experienced/learned in my twenties (in no particular order): 

*Moved out of my parents' house. Into Apt. 711 nonetheless :)

       
*Flew in an airplane for the first time and went halfway around the world to Ukraine.

*After a lifetime of being a picky eater, God helped me taste foods I never dreamed I would eat. 

*Survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. (A tree fell on my room in the house I lived in. I wasn't there at the time, but it took almost a year to be repaired.)

*Worked 32 hours a week during college.

*Earned a bachelor's and master's degree in speech-language pathology.

*Went on my first date, ha!

*Discovered my love for a good DIY project.

*Earned my Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology! (CCC-SLP)

*Walked in sunflower fields while on a mission trip in Moldova.

*Walked around Vienna and even ate weiner schnitzel.

*Discovered I have hypothyroidism after months of suffering with chronic hives :( 

*Landed my first job as a speech-language pathologist!

                                         

*Fainted while working out and subsequently hit my head shortly after completing my internship with traumatic brain injury patients.

*Lost a ton of weight after years of trying with no success.

*Moved to two new cities where I didn't really know anyone.

*Learned a thing or two about car maintenance.

*Completed a 5k and a 10k.

*Started writing this blog to share my story :)

*Got my sweet Effie whom I love so dearly!

*Experienced my first and hopefully last kidney stone!!!

*Experimented with different hairstyles and colors.

*Transitioned from college furniture to sophisticated, adult furniture, lol. :)

*Bought my first car.

*Met a ton of people and made lots of friends and just had a blast!!!

*And last, but certainly not least, grew in confidence and became more outgoing!!!

I can remember graduating from high school praying, "How am I going to do all the things an adult does? I have no idea how to do those things." I can see God's hand with me during all of these moments in my twenties. He was with me during the challenging and fun college years and through my loneliest and happiest of moments. He has provided for me, protected me, and guided me. Through all of this, He has made me the person I am now.....A very independent woman who is still learning who I am and finding my place in life. And let me just say, I am excited about my thirties!!! The best is yet to come!!! :) 

Southern Girl

     I am 100% a Southern girl. Born and raised! I say things like y'all, might would, and sometimes when I say why it rhymes with ha. ;) I drink sweet tea and eat boiled peanuts, fried okra, and fried chicken. Now, I know how to make boiled peanuts and fried okra, but I have never made fried chicken before. As a true Southern girl, I decided that is something I should know how to do. So, today that's what I did! It really was very simple. Surprisingly, it was delicious and juicy! I am so glad it didn't turn out tough! Here is the recipe!

I even used a cast iron skillet. Beautiful!