Where Does the Time Go?

It's been two and a half years since I blogged last. Where does the time go? Like seriously, how are we already going into 2018...

So much has happened in the last few years, but not much has changed. I'm still just a big kid trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up, but let's be real...I'm not planning on growing up anytime soon. Since I posted last I have:

- graduated grad school.
- run multiple ultramarathons.
- become an instructor of Anatomy at MSU.
- broken my leg & blown out my knee.
- come back from a career injury, again...
- gone to Asia, TWICE.
- backpacked Spain alone.
- begun dating someone.
- witnessed my baby brother get married.
- started another degree.

So many things have happened, big life things, but yet I feel like my life is relatively still the same. I still go to school multiple times per week, to teach this time, not as a student (until next semester any way). I still am on the soccer field almost every night, and I am still exploring the world going on adventures and meeting new people.

2016 sucked. Like really sucked. I finished 2015 on a high note and rolling into 2016 it looked to continue that pattern, I went to Hawaii to visit some friends for my birthday and then headed on to China . I fell in LOVE with Asia. Had an amazing trip visiting some amazing friends, but then I broke my leg and blew out my knee. See ya life. I spent 4 months in bed. 2 surgeries. Countless appointments and I am still working back from that. But that's okay, I'm used to fighting my way back.

2017 though, now this year and been a year of many firsts. So far this has been an INCREDIBLE year. I started it off with a bang. I decided to backpack Spain, alone, which was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I met so many people from so many different countries. It was scary at first, but what an unbelievable experience. I worked on my Spanish and grew as a person. Couldn't ask for much more.

Then before I knew it we were at summer. In July my brother and my cousin both married their sweethearts. I have never had so much fun in my life or danced as much as I did at those weddings. I met my boyfriend at my cousin's wedding. I decided to take a leap of faith and ask one of my cousin's cute groomsman to dance...I really shouldn't use ask because I mostly just pulled him onto the dance floor. It was later into the reception, I had noticed him all night and I figured, what the heck! I ran up to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. As I pulled this Army guy onto the dance floor I giggled as I said, "put that drink down, I need someone to dance with me...oh by the way, I'm Jess. Kevin's cousin." We danced the night away and have been together ever since. I love our story and the kind, sweet man that I took a risk on that night. Since summer this year there has been a lot of back and forth traveling for both of us, but you will find no complaining here. I'm happy with any time I can get with him.

The last big thing of the year, so far. I backpacked Asia with my best friend. We did China, Thailand, & Vietnam. What an adventure. We did so many interesting things. Saigon was not impressive, in fact we tried to leave early. The city was a typical big city with trash and graffiti everywhere, rats (gross), and touristy nonsense. We did visit the War Remnants Museum and see their view of the war. I knew the Vietnam War was bad, but lordy...

Thailand was probably the best of the Asia part of the trip. Surfing, swimming with elephants, driving a motorbike on the left side of the road were just a few of things we experienced...and the food. Delicious. Then after Thailand I got to spend an entire week with the BF. It was so fun! Definitely a change from our normal quick weekend trips to visit each other. I loved being able to just be with him. Doing normal life. Cooking dinner together, watching tv, working out. An experience I will not take for granted.

That has been life for me up until now. Sheesh, two and a half years. Don't worry friends, I won't take that much time off of blogging again I hope.

Until next time.

- j