The Beginning

Hi Everyone! So, this is a new endeavor for me. I have never kept a journal or blogged, but over the past few weeks have felt a need to expend some of this pent up energy I have. I figured the best way to start is from the beginning, so here goes nothing!

As most of you reading this post already know, I grew up in a very small "town" in western Kentucky. Town is in quotation marks because Pellville really has no qualities of a town (ie. Gas station, grocery, restaurants, etc.). However, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in heart. The people who live where I grew up are such genuine, loving, caring people. I am not just saying this because I am related to everyone in some strange eastern Kentucky way, but because they would truly give you anything they had if you needed it. I love going back there and will forever refer to this magical place as home.

When I was six years old, I failed my vision screening test at school. I remember my mom taking me to see the optometrist who told me that I needed glasses. They both let me pick out any pair that I wanted, which ended up being a huge purple frame that covered the majority of my face. I loved those glasses. At that moment, I knew I wanted to become an eye doctor.

After high school, I went to a small college in Columbia, Kentucky named Lindsey Wilson College. There I joined in with the student government association and eventually became President of the student body. I made one good friend there, one that I still keep in touch with today, Justin. He is off practicing dentistry in Texas now. A very dear friend.

Between high school and college is when I met the man that my heart could not live without, JB. He was fresh out of the Marine Corps and someone that I knew my parents would initially question my judgement about. You see, he was older, had a tattoo, and believe it or not, a tongue ring. He has since lost the last one. While he was, what I tell him, supposed to be a summer fling, he stuck around for a whole lot more and I am so happy he did. We have been married over 6 years now. Some people say that marriage is tough, but living my life without him by my side would be much more difficult.

After I graduated from Lindsey Wilson, I was accepted into Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. School was difficult at times, and the thought of quitting was thrown around a few times, but I am so happy I stuck it out. Being an optometrist is my dream job. I love working with my patients and building relationships with them. While I was in school here I also made another very dear friend, Melissa. She and I share a lot of the same values and I am so thankful to have a friend like her! (Miss you M!)

During my last year in optometry school, JB and I got pregnant. We weren't necessarily "trying" to get pregnant, we just stopped not trying. We were pregnant within 2 weeks. Our son, James Keegan, was born in January of 2010 and he is the most precious child I have ever known. I never knew that this type of unconditional love existed. He is my pride and joy.

We are now living back in Kentucky in another small town. Keegan is almost 2 and I am so amazed how fast he is growing up.

Thanks for reading and I will blog again soon!