One thing I would change ..

When I was four years old , I joined my towns local swim team. It was the best thing I had ever done , it made me feel alive and so happy, but it was very expensive. Then , when I was 9 my parents got divorced, so I unfortunately had to quit swim because it was to hard to keep paying for it.  I would do anything to go back in time and change the way my life happened. If my parents did not get a divorce , I may never have had to stop swimming. I always think  I could have done something to keep them together. They say they split up because 'the spark just was not there anymore', but I can not help but feel like it was my fault. If they had stayed together , I never would have stopped swimming and we would be the perfect family. I would be able to see my dad everyday instead of just twice a week, I would see my whole family at holiday parties , instead of having two Christmas's. That is what I hate most, I do not have a complete family. If I could , I would go back and try to keep my mom and dad together. 

My dad 

My mom 

My best friend 🐶

There is only one thing in this world I cherish more then life itself - and as weird as it sounds - that would be my dog , Razor. I have had the privilege of being his best friend for 7 years now , and they have been the best years of my life. I do not know what I would do without Razor, he has been through everything with me. Including my parents divorce , sleeping, all the times I got grounded , eating , all my tears and even death. ( But our favorite thing to do is play fetch. (: ) Plus I can talk to him about anything , because miraculously he is a great listener ! He does not laugh at what I have to say or diss my dreams. He does not care what I wear or how I look, he just loves me for who I am, and I love him back 100 times more ! 

My Summer >>> Yours

This summer has been one of the best by far, because I got my dream job. Tanning all day, endless swimming, free food, and hot guys are just part of the gig. That is right, I am a life guard. At first I thought it would be just a 'summer job', but I never realised just how thrilling life guarding could be. Think of being one of the only thing standing in the way between someones life and someones death. That is what it felt like...everyday, it was fantastic. But, do not get me wrong-it is not all rainbows and butterflies-life guarding is not an easy job to do. I had to learn first aid, CPR, how to use an AED (which as a device used during CPR to give out shock waves), the proper way to back board a victum, and so much more. I also had to do many tests, proving I had the strength and endurance to swim a long time-while holding myself and another person above the water. So even though the pool was fun and fabulous, it alwasy kept me busy. But it is my life and I would not have asked for anything better. (:

My Fantastic Name.

Ivanna Lynette Esser-Whidden. My name is 25 letters long. It means 'a gift from god'. But everyone knows me by just the 3 simple letters that make up Ivy. I have been swimming a little over three quarters of my life. I also use to play softball , but I was terrible. I own four dogs , 2 cats , 2 guinea pigs , 8 fish and 2 birds. My favorite though is my dog , Razor. My mom and I share the same middle name - Lynette. Pink is also our favorite color. I am a lifeguard , and I have saved 14 people from drowning in the past four months. Quick fact : I love fall out boy. Yes , I have two last names,  Esser is my moms , while Whidden is my dads , thus we have Esser-Whidden. My little brother , Lex also took both last names. He is always telling people  "Ivy is incredibly insane. " he even taped a sign that read that to my door once before, Of course I ripped it down. So now that I told part of my story - go off and have an adventure , but do not step in poison ivy ! That stuff is crazy. 

~ Ivy_The_Mermaid