"The Moment May Be Temporary, But the Memory is Forever."

"I'm moving on, letting go, holding onto tomorrow.
I've always got the memories.
While I am finding who I am gonna be.
We might be apart but I hope you always know you'll be with me, wherever I go."~Wherever I Go- Miley Cyrus

         As I sat at the breakfast table, where my host mom has made countless delicious meals for the 3 of us (we all agreed we got spoiled), I looked out the window at the cold, rainy, grey day that lay ahead. I thought I have a week left here in this beautiful place the world calls Europe. As much as I say I am ready to go home and see my family and friends, I know I am going to miss this place and the people I have met along the way. Taking trains everywhere, seeing all that Luxembourg and the rest of Europe has had to offer. This is a place that has shown me a new way of life and a place that makes me appreciate home and the importance of family. As I leave Europe, I leave a piece of it with me in each of the places I have travelled. I also leave a few new friends behind, of whom I care about and love greatly. I want those of you who remain in Europe but still apart of my life, to know, "Though an ocean may lie between us we are never far apart, for love and friendship knows no distance...it is measured by the heart." I appreciate all you have given and brought to my life.
        To those who have welcomed me with arms wide open into their lives here especially my fabulous host mom, those at school, and those random strangers who have had to put up with me and my English because I had no other means of communication. I thank you and forever you will have a place in my life.
       To my friends that I have made here at school, I thank you for the many laughs and memories we have shared. I look forward to many more as return back to main campus. And I know this semester would not have been the same without any of you.
        Each day I was here, I know I was being shaped into who I want to be, reminding me who I am, and showing me what is important to and remember about life. Whether that was through friendship, the beauty of the landscape, the cultures all throughout the continent. I'll take what I've learned with me in hope of adding to who I already know I am and who I am becoming as a young adult. Europe, allowed me to take the jump and take the chance to find more of who I am and what I want.
        Lastly, I can't forget thanks mom and dad for giving me this chance and support, none of this trip would have been possible without you!

Au Revoir Europe, Thank you all again for the many memories you given they are something I can take home and never lose. It is however, time to return to the place I have been away from too long... home.

All my love

Forever,

Stephanie

Thanksgiving--What Matter's Most

The food, the smells, the friends, the family, the celebration... all are pieces that make up this special holiday, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is that day to celebrate with the ones we love and to give our thanks. It is at this time I realize I should be more thankful during the year and not just at this time. But luckily, we are given this time to share it with everyone we love. This day offers us time to think about what really matters to us. So I ask you, what are you really grateful for?

I am thankful for family. Being away from mine for this amount of time and not being able to pick up the phone at anytime and call, has made me appreciate them even more than I did before. I'll even go as far to say I miss my little brother(s) (who would have thought I would ever say that?). I also want to thank my family, for all their support and giving me the most amazing opportunity and experience I have ever had. I truly thank you for all you have done for me. To my parents, a special thanks without you I would not be where I am today without you. There are no words that I can say to express my gratitude. Although, I cannot find the words I hope you do know I am grateful for everything and to have loving parents as you two.

To those who I have just met, I have known for many years, and those I have new  friendships with. I am thankful for each and every one of you. I could sit here and type to each of you why I am thankful for you. (However, there is not enough space to do so, if you request I will write a personal note to you--just let me know). In general, what have you all brought me is friendship and have shown me the meaning of it. I want you to know all of you have each become a part of my life in one way or another and have had an impact on it. Whether it was in passing and we've only ever said "hello." Whether you were someone I met on a train, in an airport or just someone I've met in my travels from a different culture or even my own. Whether you have been there in support of me and been there in moments of laughter or tears. You have all touched my life in one way or another. I would not have some of the experiences life has to offer without any of you. For that I am truly grateful and I offer my many thanks to each of you.

On this Thanksgiving day eat lots of turkey, sleep because of too much food, celebrate with your friends and family, count your blessings, and tell those you love, that you are thankful for them and what they mean to you (even if they drive you crazy). Remember, "It's not what you have in life but who you have in your life that counts." 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone

Forever all my love,

Stephanie

Note: not my photo

My Goals For 2011 and a Life Update All in One

Hey all you followers,

First off thank you for following me, I hope my life can be something you will enjoy to follow. Thought I would share my goals for the year and give you an update of what's happening in the life of Stephanie. Instead of resolutions, I thought goals was a better term. Resolutions, to me, are things I need to fix...sounds kind of negative to me. Goals are more positive and with those you are supposed to write how you are supposed to achieve them.

My Goals for 2011:
~Make the Dean's list Spring Semester (this will go towards my long term goal of graduating college with some sort of title): meaning STUDY, take notes, ask questions put myself in a place with no distractions.
~Find a job/Internship: means job searching and using the link through school to help find internships. However, I have found one at school one day a week, making pizzas for 3 hours! So its not much and I would never be able to support myself on that job but, its a job which will give me work experience and a little bit of money. I also have been attending orientations regarding interviews and how to prepare for recruiters when they are here at school. I set an appointment with my career advisor and its about time because I have no idea what I am going to do once I get out of school or what I can even do with my major. She gets to help me figure all that out. It's really exciting to know what I will be doing with the rest of my life! (Well, at least, what I think I will be doing for the rest of my life).
~Eat Healthier: I know, this is on a lot of peoples list for the new year but because I am a major which deals quite a bit with nutrition, I have the tools I need to make up a healthy diet....not giving up the chocolate or sweets, just need to eat them in moderation... you need to reward yourself sometimes.
~Workout More Often: now that I have quit, let's say retired, gymnastics (which was a really difficult decision), I have to keep up with the exercise. I bought a pass for the rec group workout classes and enjoy them all especially with the abs class, love it!!!
~Find an apartment: This meant searching online, the newspaper, etc. I FOUND ONE! I am so excited to have my own place for the next year, no more dorm life (although it is a good time sometimes).
~Learn to Cook: Seeing that I will have to cook my own food, because I will not be eating at the dining halls (YAY), I thought it would be a good idea and I can control what goes into my food. So Dad, get ready, because you get to teach me!!!
~Join Groups: I am looking up stuff related to my major, going out for club broomball, trying to branch out and meet new people. One of the groups, is a peer educator group where I would be promoting healthier lifestyles, by giving programs and speaking to groups here on campus. I have an interview coming up for that, keeping my fingers crossed for that one!


So those are my goals and some of the stuff I have done to work on them. I have one accomplished...find an apartment, which is good because I need somewhere to live. I still have not heard whether or not I am going to study in Europe...oh the suspense.
Valentine's Day is coming up soon, and although I'm single (yes I know so sad) I am celebrating with my life buddy Katie who's boyfriend is a little to far away to come and celebrate it with her. The day is not as awful as some people make it out to be. It's a day to celebrate love no matter what that love is, so if you love your dog take it on a long walk and rub its belly...it will love you forever. I also realized, as I was sitting here thinking about how to get through this day for couples, if you have a friend who happens to be single or (like Katie) have a significant other too far away, celebrate together. That way you celebrate the love of your friendship. As for those you have someone make sure you celebrate your love for one another and enjoy each other's company!

I hope each of you is doing well and life is treating you well, if not I'll leave you with this quote that has helped me get through some rough stuff this past year "Be strong now, things will get better. It may be stormy now, but it can't rain forever."


Forever,
Stephanie

Blogging World

I am so excited to be starting my first blog, Forever Stephanie,
      About a week ago, I was sitting and thinking about how I will, hopefully, be traveling to Europe next Fall to study abroad and I thought to myself what if I started an online blog. It would be a great way for the people in my life, those who are interested anyway, to keep up with what I am doing, how I am feeling, what I am seeing and who knows what else. I will most definitely have more blogs written about what is going on in my life no matter what that maybe before I go to Europe (again, fingers crossed!). I also have always loved to write and I am always writing down thoughts and ideas, this way I am able to share them with all of you. I hope you enjoy, find inspiration or even learn something from my posts. Like me life is full of surprises, so ride along with me as I sit on the roller coaster of life enjoying every minute of the ups and downs, twists and turns life brings.

Love you all

Forever,
Stephanie