My first official 5K

Since quitting cheerleading (after 8 years of it consuming my life), I've had trouble finding my place in being athletic.  Yes, I still worked out at the gym, but I didn't have a way to set goals, compete, get awards, feel accomplished, etc.  I really like playing tennis, but you have to find another person who likes to play, has the same downtime, and lives near the same court (impossible with my group of friends).  So needless to say, I haven't played tennis in a long time.  I joined a school "pickup team" for fun, but they always play on Friday nights, and I'm usually busy with something.  I told myself that I needed to find something athletic I could do by myself, so running came to mind.  My class at SCO is filled with great runners (and by great I mean people who run 1/2 marathons at paces faster than I can run 1 mile!!!), and I've always been envious of their abilities.  I also see those I know in their 60s still running, and know that it's something I can do, no matter how old I am.  So the light bulb came on in my head, and I thought, I need to start running, and after completing my first 5k, I think I've found a new hobby!!!   

My sorority (Sigma Alpha Omega) has a national philanthropy - Ovarian Cancer Awareness.  When I was in undergrad, we participated in a local walk every year and raised awareness by handing out pamphlets in the brickyard and answering the questions of passers-by.  After graduating from NC State, I still wanted to help, but it became challenging being away from the support of my sorority sisters.  However, one of SCO's students was diagnosed with ovarian cancer during my first year, and my reason for wanting to help out with this cause had new purpose.  This student was a part of the class ahead of me, and after her courageous battle, has picked up again with the class behind me.  She never gave up on hope, and impressively hasn't given up on her dream of becoming an optometrist.  She's so inspirational that I found extra drive to participate in the cause so dear to my ΣΑΩ heart!

I decided to see if Memphis had a 5k for Ovarian Cancer, and sure enough they did (p.s. if you didn't know, September is National Ovarian Cancer  Awareness Month)!!!  I signed up, and felt really good about it!  I thought my first 5k would be the Eye 5k (a fundraiser for SVOSH) in October, so I had been training a little bit, but I started training a little harder after signing up for the Teal for a Cure 5k.  I told my friend Amy that I had signed up to see if she wanted to run with me.  She's been a runner since high school, and has participated in many 5k's.  She also enjoys helping her friends get through their first ones!!!  Therefore, I was very thankful for her yesterday, being my cheerleader and helping me keep up at a good pace.  She probably worked harder trying to go slower than she wanted down hills and what not, but she was so great to push me and be there to prove to me that I could do it!!!  I'm so thankful to God for her presence.  She helped me complete my first 5k and within my goals.  I said that my goal would be under 30 minutes, and my super goal would be 25 mins... well I made my super goal, thanks to her!  And the best part is, she got 2nd place, and I got 3rd place in our division, 20-24 F.   Anyone who placed in the top 3 of a given category was given a wine glass (unless your category's age was < 20 haha)!  What a great prize!

I'm so excited, and now I have the motivation to continue running.  I would love to compete in a 1/2 marathon eventually.  I just love that getting involved in running allows me to give back to various causes, while still having a great time!!  Until my next race, please enjoy these pictures!

Before - yes, I wore a teal ribbon in my hair.  Cheerleading habits remain! :)

After - we made it in 25 mins!! 

With our wine glasses/awards.  Good thing I told Amy that I wanted to stay for the awards ceremony haha.

First 5k - check, goal time - check, award - check, new hobby? I think so!

Close-up of my wine glass

Another close-up

Screen shot of the PDF file on my computer displaying the results!

Kenley Laine Compton - My new niece!!!

I'm so excited to finally have some time to share pictures with you of my GORGEOUS new niece.  She's just a little over a month old now!  The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to go home over my break week between the summer and fall semesters.  She was only 2 weeks old then and the most precious thing I'd ever laid my eyes on!!

I tried to help my sister and Kevin out as much as I could.  I'm definitely no where near ready for that point in my life, and I don't know how female students in my class who are new mothers, handle both the demands of a newborn and the demands of school!  I already had a lot of respect for them... but wow!

Miss Kenley was born on August 14th, 2012 at 1:40pm.  She was 7lbs, 2 oz, and 20 in long!  Of course, I had clinic this day, but when I got home, I got to Skype with my sister and see how new baby and mommy were doing.

Mommy and baby!

Screen shot from our Skype call

Another screen shot

This was my last day in clinic for APC (adult primary care), meaning the next week was finals week.  Studying was so challenging when all I wanted to do was go home and see my new niece.  But time passes quickly, as it always does, and I made it home to say hello!  Tyler unfortunately couldn't come with me because he was already back in school teaching, but he will get to say hello at Christmas.

My first sight in person!

With Jamie!

Grand-paw giving Winston some of his Cookout milkshake... Winston loves his Grand-paw

Friends for 25 years!

Aunt Kim!

Kenley with her great grandma!

Winston is depressed!  He doesn't get as much attention anymore with the new baby in the house.

She loves her daddy!

Crazy face - so dramatic all the time! hehe :)

adorable

Bath time in her new whale tub

I had just gotten lowlights in my hair, so that made for a good excuse to take another picture with Kenley!

Picture from Jennifer, my niece will love Boy Meets World :) 

So, the next time I get to see Kenley, she will be 4 months old!  She's growing so fast already!!!  I cannot wait to be in Charlotte this time next year, so I can visit Kenley (and my sister and brother-in-law, too) more often.  Come September 2013, I will only be about 30 minutes away, which is a much easier trip than 10 hours.   More pictures to come at Christmas!  <3

I'm still alive I promise!

An entire semester without a blog post!  Shame on me.  Guess this summer was a busy one indeed.  Usually, I have to summers off to do as I wish.  However, professional school is preparing me for the professional world, so now my summers are filled with class and clinical experience.  I tried to juggle a lot of things this summer, and I wouldn't have changed it for the world.  I came back to NC a grand total of 4 times - Molly's bridal shower, Jennifer's baby shower, Molly's bachelorette party, and Molly's wedding.  Traveling that much was certainly exhausting, especially with keeping up with my studies in the midst of everything.  But I did it, and finished the semester with pretty good grades.  I can't complain.   Here are some wonderful pictures from my busy, but exciting summer!

The bride and her maids at Molly's bridal shower

Filling out the mad lib game.  Molly's future Mother-in-law and sister-in-law

BFF

Molly next to some beautiful flowers

Mother-of-the-bride with the bride

Jennifer's coming home dress on display.  Dresses were used as center pieces at the shower

The adorable dress cake made by yours truly - my mom!

Rubber ducky

Wishes for baby all hanging up

Mom and Dad

Pillows embroidered by Mom for the nursery.

All of Kenley's bows and bibs

Cute dress cookies were the favors!

Mom and grandma

High school friends

Jennifer's close friends

Jennifer and the party planners / helpers

I also came from Molly's shower to another bridal shower in Memphis for my friend Tina, who just got married this past Saturday the 25th.

Celebrating the bride with some southern college of optometry friends

When I came home, I was blessed with the opportunity to see some old friends.

The always stunning, Lauren Donaldson

One of my best friends since 3rd grade, Mr. Derek Dixon!

We cheered together in middle school!!  Her mom brought some embarrassing pictures of me from Carroll.

I got to participate in 2 bachelorette parties! Molly's and Tina's.  Fun times were definitely had!  Tina's was technically a triple bachelorette party as we had 3 girls in our class getting married at the same time!!

Drinking glass I spruced up for the bride :)

First stop for the day was lunch and cupcake decorating at a cute cupcake shop in Greensboro, NC

fancy balloons for Molly

It's the bachelorette and me!

Looking good!!

We had dare cards at Molly's bachelorette.  One of them was to kiss a bald man on the forehead.  This sweet old man participated and started the night off right!

group shot

Elisa had to get someone to propose to her!  I can't express how cooperative and fun the staff was at this restaurant!  What great sports! :)

We found a guy with a tattoo!

Tina's bachelorette party was equally as fun.  We had a scavenger hunt to participate in - one bride vs. the other.  Team Tina vs. Team Kamri.  I was on Tina's team, and we definitely won!!

Tina, Kamri, and Julie.  The 3 OD '14 brides! :)

Find someone to buy the bride a shot!

Take a picture with a single girl and a guy.  We had to add the sign that says, "Call Me Maybe," and the fact that our guy was a bouncer makes the wad of cash an added bonus to the picture.

Tina on a trolly :)

with an uncooperative police officer

with elvis!

With the biggest balls down town... haha

Team Tina - the champions!

Finally, Molly's wedding (technically these events are all out of order, but the flow of similar events was nice haha).  I'm so fortunate to have had her as a bridesmaid in my wedding and get to celebrate as her matron of honor two years later.  She's my best friend who I've stayed close to since 3rd grade.  We are both now happily married, and I cannot wait to be closer to her, so we can have some fun double dates!

The siblings! - rehearsal dinner

dancers

groom's cake - rehearsal dinner

What happens when the rehearsal dinner is at the Angus Barn.  YUM

practicing for the real deal the next day!

brother's speech

emergency basket for the big day!

bouquets

Mom putting on a special necklace

Molly's dance students who came to see her!

Me with the bride and groom after finally making it to the reception.

They're adorable!

father-daughter dance

After the father-daughter dance, any other father-daughter pairs were invited to the dance floor. 

The beautiful cake!

I was trying to get the Mr. and Mrs. Tags on their chairs, but they're kind of hard to see.

Cutting the cake

giving my speech

oo, la, la

with my parents :)

going away sparklers

off to the honeymoon!

It was such a wonderful summer full of many things to celebrate.  My sister had her baby August 14, 2012, and of course it was Tuesday, my Adult Primary Care day.  So after school was over for our week long break, I came to Charlotte, NC to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and the beautiful new addition, Miss Kenley Laine Compton!  I'll put those pictures in another blog post!

I promise to be better about keeping up with the blog this fall semester.  It feels good to be mostly caught up :).