New Addition???

Alright Allison, it's out there on Facebook, so now what should the blog name be???? Four Girls, a baby and a truck?  Congrats and can't wait to share some of our wonderful memories with new Baby Matthies!!!

Sunday

The four girls are hanging out on Sunday night, without their truck or their fifth girl!  We are going to Lake Calhoun. We will call you, Amanda!

Finally time!

This blog was created almost a month ago, when four of my amazing friends graced me with one of the best weekends I have had in a very long time! In that month, life has been crazy, hectic, emotional, and lived one day at a time. In that month I have also been able to read some amazing blog posts that take me away from the insane life I am living for the moment and realize how special I am to have such a great group of people surrounding me in my life. I have thought numerous times that I need to post, think of something amazing to write, but, like Libby, my creative writing skills are not nearly as up to par as others in the group.

So, now that it is almost a month later, and I have a moment to breath, I am attempting to post something....

Life as I know it is insane... I know sometimes drama is brought upon us by ourselves, while other times, it comes into our lives without knowing what hit us. I feel my life is a little of both. With each day that comes my way, I find myself facing a new challenge that, with time, will be conquered. I find that breathing (yes I know I can do it, since I am a freak of nature and can do it the right way apparently), check-in phone calls, blog posts, and all the random emails I've received from our state golf crew 2000 the last month are keeping me sane!

So, for any of you reading, you just need to know, since this trip, we have had the most random string of emails going between this wonderful group of girls. It goes anywhere from how to word thank you cards (HAHA... how many drafts and pictures?), when our next meeting may take place, small updates of life, where my dad's GPS ended up (which by the way he still was confident it would have gotten us there if the cell phones didn't work), and, of course, when blog posts go up. I do have to say, in this string of emails, I read each, smile, and maybe get a response sent out once a week... I'm struggling with this lately. Its a reminder to me that what I have in my life is something special, something that I need to continue responding and keeping up with. Things can get very difficult at times, but dwelling on the negative can only make it worse, so why not embrace the love and silliness that comes along in life?

After running into ORouke (our former golf coach) this weekend at the golf course, I am reminded just how wonderful our friendship and golf team is. ORourke told me his golf team this year took second at state and that he had one medalist! Way to go Pony golfers! And all the while he is telling me this, all I could think was our goofy, quirky team made it state in 2000 and did we place or have a medalist? i don't think so, but one thing we did have, that I'm pretty confident this young group of girls does not, is a bond and friendship that will truly last a lifetime. We had a pretty good team at the time, yes, ORourke did remind me of that, but somehow, I don't think the skill and talent was what made us such a great team. We were and are a team for being who we are and, with the sharing of Lime Chips and Twizzlers, offer love and support to each other. We grew together, spent HOURS on the course goofing around and learning about what makes each person special. There never is or was judgement passed, which I thank you all for greatly!

So, with this random post, I want to thank all of you for being a special part of my life. In my mind, our Pony Golf Team was the best... and not for skill or talent, but for being amazing, unique women. Though we may drift apart at times or be crazy distances apart, I know that I can rely on each one of you to help me through trying times and celebrate the great moments! Keep up the wonderful blog posts and emails, and I can't wait for our next meeting! Amanda, if you aren't around, we will find a way to include you in the evening or talk soon!

Love You All!

Emily

Deep Breathing

I've been told this helps. Even though I got to touch Justin Bieber, Jason Aldean, and Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland last night, I'm still struggling today. I got to the airport at 8am ready for my 920 flight, and it's now 6pm. That's right, over 10 hours at the Nashville airport. Trying to keep the carefree attitude, but makes me wish I was traveling with you girls instead!! The car handled storms much better than every flight east of the Mississippi today.

Can't wait to tell y'all more of my adventures when we see each other, but for now, know I'm wearing my Penn State sweatshirt and thinking of each of you. Xoxo

(ps that pic shows you every flight I've been re-routed on today.)

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Seize the Day

I hope the rest of my summer continues to follow this theme.  This morning, Jake mentioned he had talked to an old friend, a guy from high school he has forever been close to (he was in our wedding) but he moved to Nashville and we don't talk to him much anymore.  He also mentioned that this friend mentioned having floor tickets to the CMT Music Awards this Wednesday night, if we were interested.

As Jake was telling me this story this morning, I shot up out of bed and immediately checked my work calendar.  Oh my gosh, I was thinking, how do I make this work?!?  I looked up flights (I even have credit on Continental), got in touch with his friend, and now I'm headed to Nashville for a midweek excursion!  

This is what it's all about.  Less planning, more doing.  I'm not even very close to this friend, but Jake absolutely loves him and I'm excited to spend time with him one-on-one (and two-on-a million country stars).  So I'm heading out Tuesday night and home Thursday morning, and I'm beyond lucky that I have the means to do this last minute with my job and financially.  

I can't wait to tell you all about it (and I'm sure, post some pics) when I return home!!

Penn State, Specifically

Amanda moved 1,000 miles away when she was 18. I get that this is normal for some people, but for me, this would not have seemed normal! This weekend, we got to see her true pride and joy - the place where she feels most at home - the Penn State campus.

I totally get it, because when I returned to Gustavus a few weeks ago, I immediately felt my heart beat faster.  The energy, inspiration, and hope on a college campus is powerful - especially a campus that is not scattered throughout a city, but the kind that welcomes us into its distinct community with open arms. The kind that gives us that invincible, open-minded, warm-hearted, and hopeful feeling.  I was so happy that she got to share her place with us.

Above, we're laying on the campus lawn, chatting, taking in some sun. This needs to start happening FAR MORE OFTEN in my life. (This is also where Libby helped us align our ribs for better backs - this part can still happen less often. :) )

Below you can see Em's pride for her school - Iowa - followed by a bit of Gopher pride for all of us Minnesotans.

On the way to the library, we got to see Amanda's favorite place in the whole entire world. Here she is, standing in her favorite place.  To be able to share moments like this and think about the times she experienced here is one of those little things that makes life great.  Look how happy she is!

Above was taken inside the library, which I just thought was pretty and interesting.

That college experience - it's one that if you've had it, you know what I'm talking about.  It lives inside of us forever.  Whitney told us about the sweetest thing that happened her senior year of college, when in short, she was encouraged to wander campus and reflect on every moment over her four years there.  I'm SO glad that during college I realized how great life was, because now when I pay my monthly student loans, I am honestly grateful for every moment.  I also realize how much I gravitate to college life and plan to be back there someday.  

Since our visit this weekend (and many more to come in the future), I consider myself an honorary Nittany Lion. (Bonus: I now have a new team added to my top Divison 1 teams to cheer on during football, March Madness, etc! My past Tarheel love will now be shared with the Nittany Lions. :) )

Moving Forward by Looking Back

One thing I really like to do is think back to what was I doing one week/month/year/etc. ago. It helps me get a sense of how my thoughts have changed, how I've grown, what things I was looking forward and what obstacles I successfully navigated. So today I find myself thinking about last week at this time.

I remember eagerly waiting to get through the work day as the minutes, slowly, ticked away. I went from checking the daily weather forecast to being excited about pulling up the hourly one. I kept thinking I needed to put together a better plan for the weekend than just "winging it". Knowing Libby's tendency of waiting to the last minute on things, (i.e. flipping a coin in the back seat of a van after a golf tournament on which college to go to the night before the decision had to be made) I chuckled wondering if she had even started packing yet. I was filled with elation knowing I was going to be able to show an old friend all the great new things life has treated me to.

What makes me truly happy, reflecting on where I was a week ago, is that I had no idea what was in store for me. Without any planning (at least from me) my life changed for the better and looking back I realize how often this has been the case. Some of my best memories come from times when there wasn't an itinerary to map out each second of the day or when the original plan fell through and instead I stumbled into something even better. I think this is how life should be lived: plan for what you can but be willing to fully embrace what you never expected.

So even though I physically find myself in the same spot as a week ago, and I am once again waiting for the clock to reach 5:00, eager for the weekend to come (I officially move tomorrow!), I am enjoying an entirely refreshed mental outlook. I find a tremendous amount of hope knowing that tomorrow, or any moment for that matter, can bring infinite joy, fun and adventure. And while I know any moment can also result in hurt and pain I am comforted by the thought that I am surrounded by loved ones or in another sense that "the world is looking out for me" and I know those times shall soon pass. Regardless, I know I am ready for tomorrow, no matter what happens, and it is up to me to make the most of it.

The Roles We Play

Whitney's the dreamer, the fun-loving baby of the group. Emily's the sweet and compassionate one - the teacher, extremely patient and great with children. Libby's the All-American athlete with the big heart, who goes with the flow and smiles her way through life.  (She also brings a lot of smiles to every life around her.)  Amanda had to grow up way too fast. She's the strong one, mature beyond her years, the one who moved away to leave a past behind her, the English major who thinks deeply, protects her heart, but treats those who she lets into her life like gold.

I'm not sure what that makes me.  If I had to say, I'd call myself the sentimental one, the keeper of memories and nostalgia, who keeps us organized and also expects deep conversation about things that matter.

Close friends are not all alike. I see this play out time and time again in my life, as often the people we click with most are able to bring something new and different from what we already know.  They challenge us, bring perspective, and help shape who we are.

This weekend completely reinforced all of this.  Spending time with Emily, Whitney, Libby and Amanda has always been awesome - but what I realized this weekend was how cool it is that we all come from different worlds - different ages, friend groups, personalities, and even general lifestyles, yet the great game of golf brought us together 13 years ago and since then, things have never been the same.

And here's the best realization from this weekend.  When I hang out with these girls, I find myself wanting to be more like each one of them.  I want to incorporate their best traits into who I am.  This happens with friends - as we can see Whitney growing up and successfully projecting into her career, Emily borrowing a chapter from Amanda's book of strength, and me trying to mellow out a bit and be more carefree like Libby.  I truly believe the roles we play are shaped by those around us, and if you're able to surround yourself with amazing people, I'm 99% confident life is going to be okay.

30 hours in the car plus another 52 hours in State College gave me this amazing outlook on the upcoming summer.  As my friend Crystal pointed out, yes, I am generally optimistic, but right now I feel so much positive energy and excitement about what's to come.  I'm sure subsequent entries will cover more of these thoughts in detail, but when I think about this weekend and what it meant to me, this is what I take away:

• Close friends are not all alike. Appreciate the differences; they are beyond valuable.
• As James Taylor says, "Shower the people you love with love; show them the way that you feel." We're pretty good at this, but it's great to ask yourself if you could be doing this any better.
• Be present in the moment. It's easy to get distracted by technology, obligations, buzz, gossip, swirling energy of all kinds, but TRY to be present in the situation. (Yes, with my short attention span I will be working on this one for awhile).
• Find balance in life. Don't try to cram in too much - take each day as it comes. Because of the surprise, we literally had nothing planned for the weekend, but once we arrived at Amanda's, it all fell into perfect place.
• Be the best YOU you can be. There's no better way to be.

As Whit said on the car ride home, "I think we rock."  That's because we each play our role, but borrow from one another when necessary.  We teach each other, bring out the best in each other, and as corny as it sounds, love each other for exactly WHO WE ARE.

Somewhere In Ohio

Right now four incredible girls are driving a truck somewhere in Ohio. With each exit they pass, and each state line they cross, they get one mile farther away from a fifth girl in Pennsylvania who is still making sense of two unforgettable days. Sometimes life is monotonous; sometime life is hard; and then sometimes life is absolutely glorious. My life, the last couple of days, has been absolutely glorious. This entry is a thank you to those four girls, somewhere in Ohio, who brought more happiness, from a thousand miles away, than they can ever imagine.

I will forever remember how I felt when I saw you ladies standing in the driveway as I was overcome by joy, surprise and the thought of is this really happening. And, while I will cherish that moment, it is the little things from the past two days that will firmly etch themselves into my memory.

From now on I won’t be able to walk through the grass by the alumni center without thinking that is where Libby gave us a breathing lesson. I will be reminded when I walk past the shops on College Ave. that store is where Whitney bought that adorable dress which is also right next door to the store where she got a bra stuck around her waist. I know that every time I walk up the Mall, towards the library, that on one special day in May I stood in that exact spot, looked at Allison, and got to share one of my favorite places in the entire world. Finally, each time I pass that awning outside Café 210 I will never forget I sat there and was witness to the strength and courage that lives inside of Emily.

I often say that I feel as though I live two different lives and now I actually no longer believe that to be true. In reality I have one life, one incredible life, and it is because of people like the four of you who are in it. If someone asked me, “If you were to identify the thing you are most grateful for what would be your answer,” it would take me less than a second to emphatically say: Friendship. When I say thank you for driving half way across the country, and making a surprise visit, I feel confident my appreciation resonates with each of you. Yet, one thing I am incapable of fully expressing is the whole-hearted gratitude I feel for the role you have in my life.

Your friendship provided me with comfort during my most trying times and now that I have had the opportunity to share my brightest of days with all of you a thank you doesn’t even come close to conveying my true thoughts. Yet, those two words are the only thing that I can say and please know I mean them with everything I have. So to those four girls in a truck you are a vital part of my past, but please know that your love and friendship are very much a part of my life today and most importantly a big part of my future.

(And for the record it took me so long to write this that I believe those four girls have both Ohio and Indiana in their rearview mirror. So hello Illinois and safe travels the rest of the way.)

Back home we go...

Wow, those are hard posts to follow. There are some good writers in this group. What an awesome weekend we had. Allison is the seasoned blogger and says that blogging is therapeutic. So I am not much of a writer but here goes my attempt at reflecting on the amazing weekend.

We talked on the way home that the whole weekend was very refreshing. We laughed a lot and it was so nice to spend time with people you feel so comfortable around. I know we have all changed over the past 10-13 years since we were teammates, but our personalities and funny quirks that we have gotten to know so well are still present :) I like to think of myself as someone who takes the time to appreciate things in life, but in actuality I often say I run around like a crazy person from one thing to the next. Well we had 30 hours to sit in the comfy truck to catch our breath, relax, dance, sing, and reflect. How could you not be entertained when you have Whit as the DJ doing tae-bo/dance moves through-out the ride?!?

And once we got to State College we were so excited we could barely stop talking..that is except for a few naps here and there. It seems like deeper conversations are an integral part of this group, which has brought us all a lot closer. These girls push me to think about answers to questions I don't think about very often (the good old "If" game). It was so nice to get a glimpse of Amanda's life out in PA. Below is one of Amanda's favorite spots on campus. We are looking pretty studious...

As we get older and life gets hectic it is harder to keep in touch with old friends. After a weekend like we had it is so worth making the effort to get together--old friends are definitely worth holding onto, especially these girls :) And you never know when getting together for dinner may lead to planning a crazy road trip out to PA.

Thank you so much ladies for pushing me to think outside the box and for showing me a weekend of such love and support.

And for the record coriander is my new favorite plant :)

Yesterday we were subpar... today we were rockstars.

Except for on the golf course. THAT was a bit painful. Yesterday we had pitchers of various flavors of long islands - from pomegranate to blueberry.  Out of the six of us, I finished mine third (pretty proud of that one).

After that, we hobbled around for a bit before needing to nap (well at least some of us).  It had been a 15 hour drive, plus the adrenaline from the surprise, and it was just time to crash!!

TODAY, however, we managed to rally the troops, and after an amazing strawberry / banana pancakes (made by our chef/host Chris), we hiked up Mount Nittany.  This 0.5 mile hike should have been easy.  Well for some of us (marathon runners) it went fine, but apparently my lung capacity is struggling. 

Here is a shot of me asking, "Are we only halfway?!"

These girls were totally fit and it was awesome to get to the top of the overlook, seeing all of State College below us!

Here is the truck - the namesake of our blog.  The secret is that it's really five girls, five absolutely amazing girls, but since Amanda didn't know of our plans until we showed up on her doorstep, the story begins with the four of us.

This one here is from the drive out, basically how Libby and I slept through the night.  Emily was the true rockstar on the drive, handling the first 10 hours of the trip!  What?! WAY TO GO, Em!! (Lib and I were pretty cozy in the backseat - aside from her concerning leg cramps, it was quite comfy.)

I have seriously not felt so much warmth, love and happiness around the nostalgia that is Stillwater High School until this weekend.  This has truly brought me back to so many important, monumental moments in my life, but even more importantly, the little ones.  Laying on the grass while my friend tees off.  Eating ice cream together.  Trying not to throw clubs.  The camaraderie and jokes that these girls provide in my life.  While it's been over 10 years since we spent every spring weekday together after school, this weekend has showed me that we can go months, even years, and jump right back into it.  I think I already knew that, but the reinforcement has been beyond words. !!!

Time for a fancy grilled out meal, some good drinks (including the ever popular Windmiller) and then another night of games.  Competitive? This group? It'd be hard not to imagine. 

Libby and the Ribs

Libby is teaching us physical therapy techniques!! Apparently we all have higher left ribs except Emily, who is super human and breathes perfectly. I need to remember these key things- keep the ribs down! Take pressure off your back. Focus on engaging the oblique muscles! Less back work. :) Libby, this time on the Penn State lawn is perfect, and we so value your expertise!!

Penn State!

We are having an amazing start to our trip!! Penn State is beautiful. Check it out!!
Then we went to the store to get our gear, including this HOT sweatshirt. AND had lunch at Cafe 210 which servers pitchers of long island teas- we each ordered one! (mine was blueberry). :)

The Fifteenth Hour...

Well people, we've made it. Here's a pic I took as we hit the fifteenth hour in the bright red Ford truck (complete with topper), just 24 miles outside State College! During the last hour, we could hardly contain ourselves.  We were giddy, listening to pump up music, including one of my favorites, Ghetto Cowboy.

The golf girls are together again - complete with Amanda in her favorite location on Earth.  STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA!  We're here!

More to come,
Allison (and Whitney, Libby, Emily, and guest of honor Amanda)