gold and blue.

i loved college.

loved university of akron.

zip for life. 

sure our sports weren't apart of the big ten.

but it was our school.

big enough to meet new people.

but just getting off the ground enough to run it.

bye bye bob's.

hello huuuge stadium

we have a new stadium.

they basically squashed all our favorite hang out places.

put this bad boy directly on top.

if you look in the bottom right hand corner.

basically underneath the stadium.

you'll see my sorority house.

ha the stadium is a tad out of place.

but i'm happy for it.

happy for the new students.

i hope you love it like i loved it.

i hope you toilet paper houses.

go paint the rock.

paint the rock right after someone else did ;)

gain the freshman 20 (or 30)

i hope you learn when to go eat at the cafeteria 

(whenever the football and baseball team eats) ;)

i hope you cookout and play volleyball all summer.

be a student orientation leader. 

sure it's nerdy.

but it'll be the best summer ever.

listen to wzip.

be proud that it's the number ONE college radio station in the country.

lay out on the lawn. 

even though it's ohio and you'll never get a tan.

play intramurals.

even if the other team rips your sweatpants off in the middle of the game.

play hard.

go greek.

get involved.

it's only 4 years (or 7 for some)

love it all.

she can make anyone smile.

name- Dylan maranto

age-  Almost 1 1/2 years old! wow

eye color- brown eyed girl

hair- ha as if you could miss it

job- making the world a better place.

my brother in law's mom donna sent these, and they made my life. 

i didn't know you could love someone this much. 

funny thing is she makes so many peoples life that much brighter.

she has no idea that she is the smile of so many days.

First one, just chillin like a villian.

next.

lunch break. i mean what? 

everyone eats with their hands. 

and wears it.

even with food all over. no one can resist the smile.

hahaha please notice the hair.

hahahah and this one. 

first off.

i stand by the thought of a musical prodigy.

second.

the.hair.is.amazing.

i can't not laugh.

she rocks.

I wanted to share with everyone.

i hope she makes you smile too.

Lil' Frail in the houuuseee

So I love this show.

I've been laughing so hard.

me on a hip hop show. 

i'm learning a lot.

haha to say the least.

we all came up with our own hip hop names.

I'm lil' frail.

i've got another story.

of nyc vs. lindsay

so c pad and I were riding on the subway the other day.

and we weren't sure which stop was our venue stop.

so anyone that has ever rode the train, knows the doors don't stay open long.

so we stop, and she decides we should get off there.

she walks off.

the door starts shutting.

i was not about to stick my arm in it.

carrie looks back

i stare in confusion.

i try to open it with my finger (like that would work)

and out of instinct, yell "carrrriieeee" 

ahha and realize what i just yelled like a child, we start laughing.

she is standing on the dock as it pulls away.

im standing in the train.

laughing. uncontrollably. 

i turn around and EVERYONE on the train is laughing.

i couldn't believe i got stuck on the train.

and then yelled like a little girl.

haha laughed the whole ride.

when i got to the venue. 

we were crying laughing.

haha the little things. 

we're special sometimes.

here is the view from my hotel.

tribeca.

so cute.

miss my nashville. 

see you next friday.

trust yourself.

I'm in Harlem. 

I like saying that.

It makes me feel brave for some reason.

Like, this little small town girl, is staying in Harlem and is Still alive.

VICTORY!!!!

I must say I love it. 

I go running by the river.

there is a church next door.

You can hear the sermon and the singing.

It is a great city, truly.

sure makes me miss nashville though.

Last weekend we went to Raleigh. 

So fun.

We laughed and sang and danced at concerts. 

Visited old friends.

Made new friends.

And we also watched city of angels.

one part. 

hit hard. 

I loved it.

Seth: You're an excellent doctor. 
Maggie: How do you know? 
Seth: I have a feeling. 
Maggie: That's pretty flimsy evidence. 
Seth: Close your eyes. It's just for a moment. 
[touches her hand] 
Seth: What am I doing? 
Maggie: You're... touching me. 
Seth: Touch. How do you know? 
Maggie: Because, I feel it. 
Seth: You should trust that. You don't trust it enough. 

I loved it.

How often do we go against our feelings?

Just because something isn't PHYSICALLY there.

is it wrong?

feelings are never wrong, correct?

You feel what you feel? 

they may not be easy or fit into your life.

but they are real.

I think sometimes we search for approval.

we want to be "right"

not to be called foolish. 

wait for the right timing.

what if we didn't? 

what if we went with what we felt and just had faith the rest would fall into place?

Too many scared people. 

afraid to be what they feel.

terrified to love who they have feelings for.

It's almost like we're all OK with being the same.

In fact, we LONG to be the same.

Same size, same outfit, same home. 

B.O.R.I.N.G.

It's like we're afraid to be anything above average.

Why, because we might have to take a step alone?

Take a step in the dark.

Risk something on someone, with out knowing what will be?

Just go.

on feelings and not what "makes sense"

As kat would say "go team nike".

Just do it.

That's all on that. 

they are real. 

this is a picture of Lara and I bowling.

it makes me happy.

she makes me smile.

board games aren't just for kids....

everyone, meet amanda. 

amanda, meet everyone.

(and by everyone I mean Kate, Kat and mom)

amanda is an awesome friend.

she is in nyc right now for work.

she came to visit us for the weekend.

this is amanda playing a little game called hoopla.

she had to act out what was on her card.

what you're about to see, is why life will always be ok.

no matter how bad of a day.

God puts these random situations in your life.

things you can't plan.

and you end up crying from laughing.

amanda.

the queen of hoopla.

say cheese!

i'm lucky...here are just a few examples.

boat 18. redneck? maybe. fun? absolutely.

never need to question if my friends will be there when I need them. ever.

a guardian angel given to me when my hands were shaking.

janelle shining. 

i don't know if there is anything more natural than a camera in that girls hand.

Ruthie taking a leap of faith. truly awesome.

no more being scared.

Dyl bean. haha ohhhh hil and stu have their hands full.

loves.

blessed doesn't even begin to describe it.

i can't sleep.

i don't want to sleep.

i want to soak it all in.

i don't even know where to begin.

this is all so overwhelming.

i wish you all were back in the dressing room. 

because it would have made the on stage part that much more shocking.

i was crying.

i couldn't control it.

they just came. 

part nerves and part "oh crap, what are we doing?"

the no turning back thing, kind of scary.

the amazing friends that came back and prayed with me.

and told me "it's ok to cry, your mascara is waterproof!"

even though it wasn't.

the second, the very moment i got out there.

God took over.

he took my nerves, the words, the chords, he took over.

i felt as comfortable on that stage as i do in my own car.

it was odd.

the people that make up my life.

i don't deserve the love that i get.

but i'll take it. 

the ones that came and cheered and laughed and cried with me.

the ones who were there in spirit, praying.

thank you God for all of you.

no one can do life alone.

you believed for me when i was scared.

and i'm blessed to be surrounded by the best.

truly.

i wish for all of you to do this. 

do something that you've talked about.

something you think is just for other people.

something that seems out of your reach.

just try.

sept 12th, all of you. 

be there.

get there somehow.

lots of love.

these appeared right after the show.