This fourth of July was one for the books. It was the first time Jason and I were able to celebrate it together, so that made it so special for me! Last year, we were doing the whole long distance thing. This year, we had planned to go to the beach, but since there was a hurricane headed straight for us, we decided to spend our fourth somewhere else. We decided to go to Ashville. It is about 3 hours away from Charlotte, and we both have been wanting to go there since we moved here. Why Ashville, you ask? Well, it is the home of the Vanderbilt Mansion, or otherwise known as the Biltmore Estate. Anyone who loves art, history, nature, architecture, culture, etc. would absolutely love visiting the Biltmore! I highly recommend it to anyone.
We spent all day looking around, and we were even mischievous and slinked into parts of the house that weren't for public viewing.... oops! Really, I don't feel bad about it at all though... I'm the most curious little thing there ever was. One time I was visiting Nauvoo and we were in Lucy Mack Smith's house, and I opened a drawer in her bedroom and I found a falling apart, hand written journal! I was so excited! I showed my Dad and he told me not to touch it, then he told the ladies who worked in the house and they sounded alarmed and they took care of it... ahhhh I just wanted to read it so badly! I'm too curious for my own good. Anyway, they didn't let us take pictures of the inside of the house, but the furniture and the art is absolutely gorgeous. There was still clothing in the closets, and I was in heaven. The library? Don't even get me started on the library! It is filled with thousands of first edition books that are hundreds of years old, and they were like... the prettiest books that I've ever seen! Picture the library on Beauty and the Beast, only better. And did I mention it is the largest home in the U.S? If ever you get the chance to go to the Biltmore, GO! Jason and I had such a great time!
After we were done with the inside of the house, we explored the gardens and the grounds, and then we went to the winery and they had free wine tasting! Cool right? Except we don't drink.... Luckily for us, they had fresh squeezed grape juice, so we took advantage of that. We sat in the park and people watched, and everytime I saw a dog, I ran over to pet it. It was just such a good day. Then we went to dinner at Cedric's and we were able to sit out on the patio of the restaurant and watch the fireworks that the Biltmore puts on every year. It was so magical. I love America so much, and I am so incredibly blessed to live here! On Sunday at church when we sang the National Anthem, it brought tears to my eyes as I thought of our history and those who came before us. So many people have sacrificed for our freedom, and there aren't words to describe my gratitude for them! If I know anything, I know that this is truly a blessed land, and that we are in fact, "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all." I love my country. God Bless the U.S.A.
As all of you know, I moved from Utah to North Carolina last week. I haven't even been here for a full week yet, but my loneliness is apparent to me. I am not an introvert, so being alone isn't my most favorite thing in the world. I gain my energy from people, friends, family, conversation. These are the things that I live for, the things that keep me going. I had a complete breakdown the other day, and I could tell Jason's thoughts were.... 'uh.... what do I do?' haha it was like a cry fest, guys. The waterworks were on, and they weren't stopping, no matter how hard I tried! You know how when you're really emotional, but you're composed, and someone asks you "what's wrong?" or shows the slightest amount of sympathy for you, and you just lose it? That's exactly how it was. Even though I'm sure Jason felt a little helpless and confused by my sudden sob attack, he was sweet and comforted me and helped me feel better. I'm so grateful for a supportive and loving husband! I'm also especially grateful for some of my close friends that have helped me immensely, and they don't even know it. My dear friends Sarah and Kirsten have helped me a lot as I've been out here, whether it be a phone call or a quick text checking up on me, their support has been so appreciated, and it's little things like that, that make a world of difference. They are so sweet and caring, and they are so helpful because they've both been here before. They have both felt this loneliness, and they have been genuinely concerned about me. Personal connection and authenticity is something that we are beginning to lose as a society, but I'm glad to say that I have friends and family that haven't lost that.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how truly flat social media is when it comes to the deep relationships that I have gained over the years. I never noticed how much my phone has been hindering my relationships until I came out here. Between Jason being gone all day and me not having a job yet, and not knowing a soul out here in North Carolina, I have spent a lot of time on my phone (and at Target.) Me being on my phone is nothing new to North Carolina, it's been in the works since I even got a cell phone. I've become so reliant on social media to keep me entertained, that I have missed opportunities to get to know someone, to get outside myself, and see the beauty around me, all because I'm too focused on my cell phone. It's a serious problem that I have failed to recognize, but it's real, and I'm guessing that most of you can relate.
Remember when you were a little kid, and the first thing you did when you got home from school was rush outside to play with your friends? When sitting at home was the most boring thing in the world and the question your mom heard about 100 times in the hour that you had nothing to do but watch T.V. was, "I'm bored mom!" When you and your friends would go on adventures, get into trouble, and the neighbors always called your parents and told them how rotten you were being? When the only games you could play were Uno, go-fish, and the ones that you made up with your friends? This is the childhood that I remember.
Remember these guys? Was your childhood something similar to theirs? I know that mine was. These kids are much different from the kids today. Where did it all change? It all started with Nintendo, and it has only declined from there. Technology has over-run everyone, including children. As I walk through the grocery store, instead of siblings annoying the heck out of their mom and running around the grocery store pretending to shoot guns, I see children sitting on their individual ipads, or even worse, their very own cell phones. Sure, their mom can get her grocery shopping done much easier with quiet, well behaved children, but where is their childhood? They are losing it. They are losing it to games, social media, fake friends. And what do they do when they get home? They sit and watch T.V. and play more games. Year after year I notice the decline in children playing outside, and it breaks my heart! I remember being a kid and being able to run outside if I had nothing to do, and BAM! Instant friends and instant fun. We used our imaginations, we played games, we had social skills.
Now we are seeing more of this:
And less of this.
Adults aren't much better either.
Instead of talking with one another, we exclude ourselves from people and conversation, and we converse online. We're constantly looking at our phones, and we fail to see the endless opportunities surrounding us. We fail to see the beauty in the world. We fail to make those most important to us, feel important. Lets turn it around, because in reality, we are both the problem and the solution.
Lets make our lives look more like this:
"We're becoming a generation of idiots: smart phones, and dumb people." I watched this incredible video this week that describes my feelings perfectly, I honestly couldn't have said it better myself. After watching this video, Jason and I made a pact that we were going to put our phones away, and live in the moment. I hope that you all take the advice in this video like I have. Our phones are meant to be our servants, not our masters. When you watch this video, I'm sure it will make you want to "look up."
So sorry I've been away for so long! You wouldn't believe the craziness that has been my life the past month. It all started with Finals. Yes, that nasty little word that sends a shiver up my spine every time I hear it. Sound familiar? Well, this past semester, among other classes, I took the last Math class that I will EVER have to take!
Here's the thing... Math and I? We have a relationship where no matter what I do, I can't seem to understand him, and he wont let me go. Finals were coming, and I knew that in order for Math to let me go, I was going to have to hit the books hard. When I say that I spent every free moment I had in the math lab the month before finals, I'm not even exaggerating. I was once there from 9 am to 8 pm. They had to kick me out! To say that I fried my brain would be an understatement.
Good news everyone, my professor entered the grades last night and.... I'm free! I got 104% on my final! Guys... hard work really does pay off! And who knew that I was capable of such a high grade on a math test? That was definitely a shock to me!
The second most time consuming thing in the world? Moving. For those of you who haven't heard, Jason and I moved from Utah to North Carolina.
Big move, right?! Guess what's even cooler? We drove to North Carolina! Guys... that's not cool... Driving for 30 hours straight is NOT COOL. Okay, Enough with my complaining. It really wasn't that bad. But, I was MIA for 4 days, and Kansas? Can I just say, why does anyone want to live there? The most boring thing I've ever done is drive through Kansas.
Life in North Carolina so far has been excellent! Last night was Jason and I's first night out together since we moved here, and we went to Jason's favorite Mexican Restaurant, Azteca. I miss Jason while he is at work, because I don't have a job yet, but I applied for jobs all day today, so hopefully I'll have some good news to share by the end of the week! Check out this Video I made of us on our Cinco de Mayo Date night.
Because I've been neglecting my blog, and because I'm celebrating passing math with flying colors, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!
What am I giving away? I'm giving away 3 products that I literally can't live without.
1. The Beauty Blender
2. La Licious Body Butter
3. Baby Lips
Here's what you've gotta do to be entered into the drawing! Word to the wise? The more things you do, the more times your name gets put into the drawing.
1. Share this post on Facebook or twitter and comment below telling me where you posted it
2. Share this picture on Instagram and tag @sher_pear with the hashtag #shereegives
3. Like my post on Instagram
5. Tag 3 friends in a comment on my instagram post
4. Follow my blog
If you do all 5 of those things, you'll get 5 entries into the giveaway! The winner will be announced this Sunday, May 11. Thanks for reading, and good luck!
