Meet My People.

We all have people in our lives who encourage us, laugh with us, counsel us, stand with us, and even carry us at times. I am so blessed to have these people {my people} in my life. I firmly believe God placed each person in my life at a different time, for a different reason. I am so thankful to have a God who cares about my relationships and intentionally places people in my path. For if I did not have my people, I would not be the person I am today, nor would I be half as mentally sound.

I have become increasingly aware of the impact my people have had on my life since I moved some 1800 miles away from most of them. So here is a little bit about each one and why they are so important to me. 

disclaimer: they are in no particular order and these mere words will not be able to match the greatness of each person.  enjoy the facts on each photo. 

My People

Andy Buck
Let's just start by saying two things:
1) I don't know how I ever lived without him and 2) He is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Don't worry I'm not going to get sappy on you, but I really need this guy.
He soothes my melt downs {which happen frequently}, doesn't get offended when I have "teala moments" or when I need alone time, steadies me when I become a whirl wind, and loves me through it all. Plus he's really fun, makes me laugh, is never demanding, and eats anything I cook! Andy has a way of making the things that are important to me, important to him too.
I trust him with my life.
This trust was tested when we went scuba diving in St. Lucia. I was pretty nervous about diving. I panicked a few times and came shooting back to the surface. I can't even describe the panic to you except it felt like I couldn't make my lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide- they just wouldn't work. It was terrifying. Somehow Andy calmed me down and took me back under. And I did it. And eventually even let go of his hand. His presence and calm demeanor is soothing to me. This example is one way of how he helps me in life- he calms me, leads me, and reassures me.

He hates running with me before 7am. 

He is really good at keeping calm in situations. 

He loves peanut butter. Anything. 

He can do an impressive Gollum imitation.  

Sonya Calhoun aka Momma
She is always there. When I need someone to talk to, when I need advice, when I need encouragement- I can count on my mom. I am so thankful for her guidance. We share a lot of the same weaknesses, fears, and temptations so she is a great accountability partner. We have learned to over come different life barriers together. She taught me how to give my anxiety over to the Lord. Which is a huge life changer, by the way {in case you were wondering}.

She talks really loud on the phone. 

Not only is she an admirable mother figure but she's also a great friend. Now that I am older she really is a best friend. When I was a teenager, not so much- but thats because she was actually being a mother and not trying to be a "bestie" to a 15 year old {I won't get on that subject...}. I would not be the person I am today without her helping me, molding me, and loving me through it all. Even when I needed a little tough love. Thank you.

Her sneezes are basically a scream. 

She will get a ticket if she ever speeds. no exceptions. 

She loves granola. 

Randy Calhoun aka Daddy
Basically, I am Randy Calhoun in a woman form. We are so much alike it's scary. From our routines, mannerisms, personality, eating habits, busy-bodyness {if that's a term}, and temper tantrums. With this likeness Dad has always understood me. He has always been the one that just simply got it {if you know what I mean}. He shows he cares in ways that most people would not understand {changing my oil, fussing at me for running low on gas, discing my horse arena, and so forth} and I can appreciate it all. He has always provided for me and made sure I was headed for success in all my endeavors. He is the reason I am an occupational therapist instead of a dolphin trainer, if you catch my drift. Although a dolphin trainer would be the best job EVER. 

His eyes water when he laughs really hard. 

He has really great stories. 

He's pretty good at this whole child rearing thing and Im grateful to be his. 

He is the one I call for financial advice, job advice, life advice in general, and even marriage advice. 

Thank you. 

He watches dancing with the stars. he says mom makes him

Plus he took dancing lessons for my wedding. 

He's loves pop tarts and will yell at you for eating from his stash.

Dylan Calhoun
My itty-bitty baby brudder {as I used to call him as a squeezed the life out of him and mom had to pry him out of my arms}. Not sure if I was secretly trying to murder him or if I really just loved him that much. Either way, Im thankful he survived.
Dylan is a blessing. He has taught me to laugh at myself, embrace my imperfections {through years of making fun of me}, and learn to actually love life. Dylan has brought so much laughter and entertainment into my life. Seriously, if I had not grown up with him I would be a stick in the mud. 

just kidding.. not his typical look

He loves to whistle. all.the.time.

He loves movies. 

Thank you for everything. 

Dylan's birthday is coming soon so stay tuned...

Macie Partridge
She's my role model. This girl is amazing to me. She was basically born 30 years old and taught me pretty much everything I need to know about life. I call her for anything and everything {from "what do I do if I bought the wrong ingredient" questions to "what is a NPI number for my job application" to "help! I set my oven to Spanish" questions}.

Her shoes come untied while running. frequently. 

She is the one to blame for my running addiction. She encouraged me to run 10 miles for the first time and I'll never forget how great and horrible it was all at the same time. Macie stood right beside me during my lost high school years and was always there for me- every time I fell on my face. every time. She taught me through example how to be diligent and self-disciplined. She also has been my inspiration to cook- and be organized about it. And it's actually going well, the planning our meals thing. All that to say, I couldn't make it without her and I'm so blessed to have her in my life. 

When we were younger we put horse manure in people's dirt-bike helmets if we were mad at them. 

We were Mary Kate and Ashley for most of our childhood. 

She hates carrots. but tries to force herself to like them. 

She is about to start 4th year medical school. and is surviving. 

Thank you, Mae.

Patsy Burks aka Mammy and Jim Burks aka Grandaddy
I have been blessed with the best grandparents in the whole entire world. Mammy is like a second mom. I can't imagine my life without her. She has taught {and is still teaching} me to laugh at situations instead of get mad. She has also taught me the power and importance of forgiveness. She has been a wonderful Christ like mentor for me growing up, and continues to mentor me through my marriage. She has taught me not to get frustrated when someone doesn't do something exactly like I do it, but to be thankful for the help.

If you ever go shopping with her {or just spend a day with her in general} you will be more exhausted than if you just ran a marathon. 

Grandaddy supports everything I do. He taught me the importance of hard work. He taught me how to drive a tractor and bush hog {which are very important skills!}. He gave me my Arabian, Issy, and helped me learn how to train her from nothing into a great little jumper pony. And we both learned a lot through that experience. He always makes sure I'm taken care of and on the right track. I can't imagine where I would be without him. I am so thankful for each of them in my life and the influence they have had on me.
Thank you.

Tootsie Scott aka Mama T. and Percy Scott aka Paw Paw
I have been blessed to grow up with both sets of grandparents. Mama T. taught me the importance of serving others. She is she definition of a care giver. She never thinks of herself, but of others. She demonstrates through her life the serving heart God desires for us to possess. I aspire to be more like her.

she loves snoopy. and called me Lucy most of my childhood. 

Paw Paw has always shown me how to work hard for everything. He worked hard for everything he has. He is very creative and demonstrates his creativity through the things he does for me. He built my horse jumps, our barn, and can fix just about anything. Unfortunately, I don't think I will ever be like that, even if I tried. I am so grateful for both of them and the influence they have had on my life. Thank you.


Jessica Brown
She has been my best friend since before I can remember. She taught me to show confidence, even when you're unsure. I've never had an issue with expressing my thoughts {sometimes a little more than I should} but I don't always present with confidence. Jessica doesn't hold back and she is confident with herself. I have watched her over the years and have literally learned confidence through her.

She loves to aggravate. especially animals.  

She is the type of friend in which we may not speak for months but when we get together we pick up where we left off. She is a forever friend. 

She makes horrible noises with her throat and sticks her finger in her ear to scratch the inside of her ears. she says they itch really bad. 

    Jessica is mischievous. She taught me that it's sometimes okay to break the rules. And for that we did get into a lot of trouble together but I think a little bit of trouble is a good thing. Maybe we took things a bit far at times {we were grounded from each other for a whole summer one time}. But a child that never gets into any trouble is truly missing out. And so I am thankful for the mischief she brought into my life.
She is a truly great friend. I would not have made it this far without her and I'm not looking forward to living so far away.

She may be confident but she can turn a social situation into the most awkward experience of your life. 

She is terrified of spiders and roaches. and they find her. always. 

Thank you, J. 

My Uncles: Jody Scott, Derek Scott, Billy Calhoun
Each of them have made an impact in my life in different ways. Uncle Jody is there to answer any horse question I may have. He has helped me work with multiple horses and taught me not to be scared, and just do it. I've learn horsemanship skills and confidence with horses through him. Uncle Derek has always been there for anything. He tried to teach me computer skills but I think I'm incapable of learning them. Uncle Billy has always been there to help with whatever. He has found me wandering horseless {after a spill} in the woods, and caught my riderless horse multiple times.  I couldn't ask for a better group of uncles and I am so thankful for each one! Thank you.

Along with a great group of uncles I have a great group of cousins. I learned many life lessons with them. Like never get in a tree house that Cody built at age 7 {It has a high likelihood of crashing to the ground}. I know they will always be there for me for anything. What a great feeling to have. Thank you all. 

Sydney Smith, Allyson Lavigne, Erika Rodriquez , Whitney Bass 
My Troy {kappa delta} friends. We learned so many life lessons together. I know I met each of them intentionally. And each of them had a different impact on my life.
Sydney is great. She helped me survive high school {it was rough} and forced me to rush for a sorority. She was my roommate {mother} through college. She taught me many social skills and provided me with grammar lessons. I will carry these with me for the rest of my life. Like you never say "anyways", it's "anyway". no "s". Thanks.

Sydney is very creative. She can paint almost anything. 

Allyson was my other roommate in college. And the only reason I passed Chemistry. She helped me improve my abilities to take up for myself. She never lets anyone walk over her {or anyone she loves}. Which is an important skill to learn. We learned how to live in a very small space with three girls and one bathroom. Life lessons. 

Allyson and I were in a fight {like roommates do} and she told me to drown in the shower. {what kind of come back is that?}...

 Erika is a wonderful friend who taught me how to be a girl, let me explain- how to apply make up, how to dress...and match, how to fix my hair, and that boots are not always an acceptable shoe choice. Thanks.

I just thought this was funny. 

One time we picked up a dead beaver off the side of the road to use as a prank. But we forgot about it. In the kappa delta cooler. And another poor soul found it days later. {anna and sydney were in on this one}. 

Allyson, Sydney, Sara, Caitlin, Erika, Rachel

Whiney is super independent. She is also a really strong person. She taught me to remain strong during situations when you don't feel in control. She made my time at Troy so much fun and I will always cherish the memories.

she is really tiny, but she is dangerous. she broke someones arm in flag football. 

    Whitney is a wonderful mentor to me and gives great advice. She is very chill, and I am not, I need to learn this from her. Maybe one day.

she is the only person who has my shoe size. and it's great. 

She is very dependable and has always gone out of her way to attend everything for me. She is good at showing up. Through her presence I've learned how much just showing up can mean to someone.

Anna Kent
She taught me how to release my inner weirdness- and embrace it. She has been there for me through so many different things. She helped me find a part of me I didn't even know was there. I can't really explain it, but I am thankful for it.

I caught her playing world of war craft on her computer one time. 

Anna taught me perseverance. She has been through more than I can ever imagine and she never gives up. She just keeps going. 

She wants to be an elf. {not the christmas kind, the lord of the rings kind}. 

She has taught me the importance of friendship. Anna will do anything she can for any of her friends, no questions asked. 

She loves brownie mix.

Sometimes when she laughs really hard her arms go into spasms. 

Thank you, Anna.  

Katie Hilyer
It's rare that someone is blessed with a cousin AND a best friend all in one. Katie is the most gracious, kind hearted person. She will do anything for anyone she loves, without complaining. She has taught me contentment. She always seems content with where she is. This is such an amazing mind set, because if you're never content, then you're never happy. I have a tendency to always want the next thing, always want to do something more, better. Of course she aspires to do more, but she's also content with where she is {there's a difference}. And it's refreshing.

She's obsessed with her dog, Stella. 

She showed me how it feels when someone puts your needs before her own. It's a really sweet feelings. I have learned to try and put others first from her example. Because she showed me what it feels like, I want others to get that same feeling from me. {I haven't mastered this yet. It's a working progress.}

She loves photography. {Dei Imago Photography}

Thank you.

Haley Mckinley 
I would not have made it through occupational therapy school without this girl. We formed a bond two people can only form through OT school. Haley taught me so many things. The one that stands out the most is how to occupy my time in the city. This sounds silly but I didn't know how. Whenever I had down time, I would go to the barn. But if I wanted to stay in the city... I had no idea what to do. She taught me the pleasantries of walking to get coffee or yogurt or steel city pops, how to casually go to The Summit {and enjoy myself}, actually take the time to go get my hair cut {instead of having "insert roommate at the time name here" cut it}, and so many other little city things I would have never done.

She has a very interesting sense of style. 

She always has snacks. 

She always takes the time to do little things for people that I never would have thought of before I met her. Just little nice things that make people realize you love them. I learned this from her. And I enjoy doing it. Just casually giving someone a card and a small gift to tell them you're thinking about them. It's nice. And it's Haley. And I love it.

She loves Rosa Parks. 

I'm also super pumped because Haley is moving to Las Vegas after her wedding, which is only a FOUR hour drive from me!

Kelly Buck, Billy Buck, Riley & Blake Phillips {Davy, Sadie, Holland} 
I have the best in-law family I could ever ask for. I know they were all praying for me even before Andy and I started dating and I couldn't be more grateful. I can call them for anything and I know they will always be there for me.
Mrs. Kelly and Riley have taught me to be patient and wait on the Lord's timing. Everything with Andy's school can become so overwhelming. The unknown is such a scary thing- but they have helped me understand that WE may not know the future, but we know THE ONE who does know. And He knows everything. And has a plan for us. I am so thankful that I can call Mrs. Kelly or Riley at any time and they can help me refocus my thinking. The Buck's are such a blessing in my life. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

Riley is tough. and she loves harry potter {so we're soul mates}. 

And I love my nieces like I've never love any child, ever. They are perfect. And have taught me many, many things. One being that there is nothing better than to be truly loved by a child. It's amazing. 

Holland is notorious for crying in Andy's arms. 

I wish I could go on and include every single person who has influenced my life but the blog has to end at some point. I am thankful for all of my teachers, my church family at Havenfield Community Church, my UAB OT family, and my El Gezira Riding Academy family. 

Every person who has touched my life has left a little part of them with me. This is the sum of who I have become, imperfectly perfect.
Not only would I not have survived without my people but I would not be the person I am today without their guidance and influence.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, plans to give you a future and a hope".
Jeremiah 29:11
And He has. 

it takes a village. thank you for being my village. my people.