Strawberry Fields Forever

I admit that I can be out there sometimes, but there are moments that move me in a way I cannot put into words...and I think there is meaning behind those times.  Last weekend, when I was in Nashville, my mom had told me about feeling a certain buyer's remorse when she moved...and how in looking for a sign she was in the right place, she found wild strawberries growing in her backyard...It was like a message she was home. My grandpa had strawberry patches growing in his garden for as far back as I can remember.  One of my fondest memories of him is going into his backyard and picking strawberries or blueberries to eat.  So when my mom told me that, I thought it was cool...But it wasn't until I made my own discovery while mowing (or weedeating) my backyard yesterday that it became real...  Yep, you guessed it!  They weren't there last year...or the last time I mowed even.  To say I got chills would be an understatement.  I guess Grandpa is watching over us, too...

Back to Norfolk...

She's a TN girl, what can I say?

And here we have my mom's neighbors "pet"

(not pictured, the bow and arrow)

I'm so happy I'm on my way to the water park!

Woohoo!

Pouty butt Portas (post-water park, pre-nap!)

"Grammy, can we plant flowers in your yard?"

Cousinly Love

I tried to post while I was at my mom's, and I was not very successful!  Now we are home and I've uploaded some of my many photos...I thought I would share a few of my favorites.  We had an amazing time, as always.  Alana has shed many tears since boarding the plane yesterday.  She loves her Grammy more than anything!  (And the feeling is very much reciprocated I am told!)  We also got to hang with Uncle Jonny and Aunt Lindsay and Alana's favorite (and only) cousin.  My mom's new house is "rad" and I am already trying to figure out when we can go back!   Today it's back to the swing of things with school.   I start my "Math for Health Professionals" class tonight.  More deets to come on that, when I have them!  I hope everyone's Memorial Day weekend was as memorable as mine!

Petty Officer Portas!!!

This is an amazing week in the Portas household...Full of GREAT news!  Yesterday, I finished my first class at MCI and today, Justin found out he made petty officer!!!  I am in Nashville, so when he called to tell me I literally said "shut up" about 10 times before I believed it...Not that I don't believe in Justin, just that I can't take all this good news at once :)  I am so incredibly proud of Justin.  He might shrug it off like it's no big deal, but IT IS!  

I love you, Petty Office Portas!

Priceless!

    480 Hot Tamales...$5.28

     600 Index Cards...$4.79                      

    Making a 97 in my Chemistry Class...

                       PRICELESS!!!

I have now officially completed my first pre-nursing class!  And not only did I FINISH it, but I did well!  I got a 97 on my final exam tonight, as well as a 97 for my final average!  One down, a bunch more to go!  But at least now I know I'm on the right track and I can do anything I put my mind to...Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement...I'm actually home in time to watch the American Idol finale tonight (go Cookie)...and I will be up bright and early, or as I like to refer to it at the butt crack of dawn, to go to Nashville to visit my momma.  I'm SO excited I can hardly contain myself...about all of it!!!

I can't believe it!

It's almost here...the end of my chemistry class, that is!  I can't believe it!  We have exam #4 today and then have to do our presentations.  I am doing mine on Lupus, a disease that my Grandpa had.  I am quite possibly the worst public speaker ever.  The good thing is that there are only 7 other people in my class...The bad thing is, it doesn't make a difference.  So my dad is a pastor, who gets up and preaches every Sunday with such ease.  My mom is a nurse, but one who teaches...and she has no problem standing up in front of complete strangers and gracefully getting the point across.  (If she does, she is really good at faking it!)  And don't forget my brother, who can get up on stage in front of a bajillion people and rock out on his many instruments...What in the world happened to me?  Did I get skipped over in this gene department?  It's ok...At least it will be over after tonight.  Then all I will have to stress about is the final on Wednesday!!!  Just kidding, I'm not stressing...I'm looking forward to it...because then it WILL be over!  And then Alana and I are hopping on a plane to Nashville for a few days!

Wish me luck.  Tell me to break a leg.  Something!

Zoo days are here!

I woke up yesterday to the sun shining, no blinding me, through my window...My first thought was what can we do OUTside today?  The second thought to cross my mind was the zoo.  And of course, the next logical step was to text Angie at 8 a.m. to see if she wanted to join in the fun!  And she did!  It was a fun day...We went to the zoo and then to the mall...It just doesn't get much better than that, does it?  I was on a hunt for some shorts or some sort of summer wear, but came home with stuff for Justin and Alana instead :)  Funny how that works!  Alana said her favorite parts of the day were feeding the goat, seeing the piglets and the porcupine!  I thought I'd share some of our highlights with you as I venture off to start my busy week!

Daily cuteness, Part 1,325,498

Ok, I admit...My car is cute!  But nothing is cuter than these two!  My friend, Angie, (the amazing cook) watched Alana for me on Tuesday while I spent the day running around the world to get the car.  I can't say enough thank yous!  She emailed me these pictures that she took of Alana and her son (Jalen) playing that day.  Just wanted to share them :)