The little things in life that can always make me smile :)

My Beautiful Niece Natalie :)  

My Horses :) 

Being home at the farm :) 

My Best Friend Jenna :)  

My dog Baine :) 

My Cat Peaches

Mount Mercy and My Teammates :) 

My Best Friend Bess:)

LIVE IT UP!!!

    21 years....gosh just thinking about it makes me feel old! Everyone looks forward to turning 21; and don't get me wrong I can't wait, but where have all these years gone? I guess the saying "Time flies when you are having fun" really holds true!
    Looking back I wouldn't change a thing, and I can honestly say I don't regret the things I experienced. Sure there were times that I would stop and ask myself "What the hell are you doing Nikki?" But who doesn't question most of the stuff they do, and still partake in it anyways? I guess what I am trying to say is LIVE IT UP!!! I am not saying go out and commit felonies or live recklessly but do things you normally wouldn't do, and go places you have never been. Live life for you and not anyone else!
  
  

65 Days and Counting !!! :)

January 15th marks the day of our first opening Track and Field meet!!! It also marks the day I will return to competing coming off of two knee surgeries, a torn quad, and a bad car accident all in one year :/ The last 3 months I have been focusing on getting back into competition shape...it has been a long 12 weeks! I went from only being able to run for 5-8 minutes twice a week, to doing speed and endurance workouts five times a week. I am very thankful for the people that have helped me get back to a sport I couldn't live without! Dr. Pape my knee surgeon. Lydia and Alecia the college's athletic trainers who have been my go to people for rehab, Dr. CJ my chiropractor who has been a tremendous help in getting my body back to normal from a car accident, and making it possible to run again with no pain! It's also been great having the support of my friends; they know how hard it is to sit out and watch everyone else compete, they have been my shoulder to lean on and my motivation to get back to running with them at every practice and every meet! I'm looking forward to an amazing season and setting goal times that I can keep breaking at each meet! :) Let's go MUSTANGS!!!!!

XC Championships!!!

Mount Mercy's Men's Cross Country team won the MCC Championships today which means they are on their way to Vancouver Washington to run at Nationals!!!! Congratulations!

 Congratulations to Kara for making it to Nationals!!!

 Coach received Coach of the Year!!! Congrats on the award and an amazing cross country season Coach :)

Cross Country Seniors!!! Matt, Kori, Erin, Jayson, and Coach. Awesome season guys :)

Mustang Track and Field gets underway the 15th of January at the University of Dubuque!!! :)

Election Day!!!

Today is an exciting day...well for those who are old enough to vote, and those willing to vote. I love the excuses people give when election day comes- "Why should I vote? My vote doesn't count." or "I am too busy." Are you too busy to let others make decisions for you? Everyone has their own opinions; election day is the day to express your opinion by selecting a candidate that will be able to represent you on a State, and Nationwide level. Don't let someone else make such an important decision for you! Your vote does count, so get out there and make a difference!!!  :) 

Life

Accomplishment- To finish successfully; To complete, as time or distance; To bring to an issue of full success; to effect; to perform; to execute fully; to fulfill. 


Every person has a path set out for themselves that is full of dreams and goals they have set. The journey to reach your dreams may not always be an easy one, and will be filled with many road blocks, but with every road block comes a new challenge for you to face and one more thing in life you have accomplished. As children we heard the phrase "you can be anything you want to be" preached to us by our parents and teachers. It is true, but what they never told us was how hard it was going to be. Knowing that in less then two years I will be out in the "real" world, I had been dead set on figuring out what I wanted to do in life, but that rapidly changed. And so my story begins...

Last November I was hired with the 6th Judicial Department of Correctional Services as a Reserve High Risk Unit Officer. Going through the Academy,not being able to run track (injury after injury), dealing with school, and everything else life had to throw at me always had me in a terrible mood. I have never been the type of person to have bad days everyday, so I needed a way to re-find myself. I wanted to get away from everything, and from Iowa. I ended up in Estes Park, Colorado in a small cabin with six other girls, and beautiful mountains all around us. I had responsibility out there, but nothing like what I did back home. I rode horses Monday-Saturday giving tours on Giant Track Mountain (I still miss my baby Veda, greatest guide horse:) I had plenty of time to think about things, and came to the conclusion that I just needed to live and not worry about anything else; so that's what I did with the help of the people I worked with. We traveled the longest, highest paved road to the top of the Continental Divide (above picture). We witnessed the World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo in Cheyenne Wy. 

We even climbed Flattop Mountain (9 mile hike to reach 12,324 ft.). We pushed through a thunderstorm where a park ranger came running down from the top and told us it would be best to turn around and head home. But that was the last thing we wanted to do, we had our hearts set on climbing all the way up. Just like life, we had a road block to overcome, and it was well worth it in the end. I spent the most amazing 7 hours on top of the world with two of my good friends (Ashley(r) and Meg(L)).

 Throughout the summer I knew what I had been missing in my life, and that was taking chances and doing things out of the norm. My life had always been ran by structure; I always knew what was around the corner, so nothing surprised me. Out there I had nothing close to structure, and I LOVED it! I learned a lot about myself and others. It was hard living with six other girls; you could only imagine some of things that were said, but I don't like to remember the bad, only the good times we all shared with each other (the bear breaking into our cabin, the early mornings, late nights, and interesting conversations). We all had our differences, and clashed at times, but I truly miss everyone of them...well almost everyone of them. 


This summer has taught me to live life to the fullest, still follow my set path but add risks. Fail at times but keep picking myself up and to never step back. I know it may be a long journey ahead of me, but I also know it will be well worth it. If there is one thing I want readers to take from this it has to be -"Never give up on your dreams, accomplishments will happen to those how keep trudging through the game we call life. Always keep your head held high, and know that great things will shortly come your way." <3 

Live, Laugh, Run

Live each day as if it was the FIRST day of your life. Do not let the child inside you disappear or die. Keep your curiosity alive by being inquisitive and open-minded. Experience life and all it has to offer. 

Laugh often! Keep the people in your life that truly make you happy. Never let the bad things get to you, always remember that there is a brighter side that will soon follow. Make others laugh, even if you are terrible at telling jokes, and if you lose your smile find it again by thinking of the things that make you happy.

Run! Running is something that I have always loved. There are many of you that hate running, but have something in life that you feel passionate about. Make time in your day to do the things you enjoy. 

It took me an hour and three friends later to finally figure out what to name my blog. They all had great ideas: "My life in a nutshell", "struggling runner", and "C.I.L.P (Current Issues, Life, and Politics)"; but non of them really fit who I really am.

I find it hard talking about myself in this, but here it goes! I am a junior at Mt. Mercy University, by the time I finish in 2012 I will have a B.A in both Criminal Justice and Political Science and a Minor in Legal Studies. A lot of people ask me what I want to do after college- I always respond "I am still trying to figure that out myself." I have always been interested in law enforcement, but lately I have been more interested in running for public office and trying to fix everything that's wrong. I believe that a "A honest politician is a terrible politician." Therefore I would be a terrible politician. I run track, well right now I am in the rehab process so I can continue to run track after two left knee surgeries from a torn ACL. I am overly involved in activities but find I am bored if I am not involved. I work as a High Risk Unit Peace Officer, I deal with people considered high risk that are on probation or parole. It is a dangerous job, but I live for risk and to help others. I needed words to describe me so I enlisted my best friend to help. This is what she said "ummm...competitive, entertaining, dapper...ummm...the bestest friend a person could ask for." I made her explain dapper- "neat,smart,lively, and brisk." I knew there was a reason she was my best friend :) 

I also have the problem of writing too much. So until we meet again, everyone have a wonderful night!