Senior year thus far has undoubtedly been the best of my high school years, but I have literally never been so busy. Between school, Cougarette, Auburn trips, and time with my wonderful family and friends, I don't really have time to sit down, much less to blog. So, my apologies. However, Clay-Chalkville's football season has come to an end, which frees up a tremendous amount of my time. Ergo, a bloggie!
Cougarette has been a whirlwind. We had a wonderful football season, and the girls worked so hard for months to make it happen. At competition, we received perfect scores, and scored a Best in Class Band and a Best in Class Danceline. I'm so blessed to be able to be part of such a great group, and I'm proud of all we have accomplished.
The 2009-2010 Cougarettes
SENIOOOORS
Homecoming Pep Rally
Halftime show at the Florence game
Coneheads
Love these girls
LONG drive to Florence
(Thanks to big bro Shane for the t-shirt designs!)
The last home game of the season (minus Olivia)
With my parentals on Senior Night
Dancing with the band at the Pinson Pep Rally
Love my BFF
I LOVE my coach. She consistently goes above & beyond, and I'm so blessed to have worked under her this year.
GREENIE!
Savannah came back to visit and remind me of how much I miss her
Katie, Jordan, and I at the Hewitt game
Yes, that IS a Best in Class trophy I'm holding!
Every chance I've gotten, I've been in Auburn. I'm not one to brag, but they haven't lost a single game that I have attended this year, so I like to think that I am their good luck charm. Just sayin.
The Trinity at the first game of the season versus LA Tech
Sweet surprise, we found Liz!
Camp girls at the LA Tech game
One of my "second families"
Camp girls at the West Virginia game
Sweet Bailey joined in the tailgating fun!
My other half and I at the Ole Miss game
(Big thank you to the Kreamers for letting us use their tickets!)
***THANK YOU to Janie and Claire for letting us stay with them in Auburn, and to everyone that gave us free ticket connections!***
In other fun...
We went to the Lake Martin amphitheatre to see Sister Hazel, and had SUCH a fun time!
Juuuust dancin'...pretty typical.
One of my lovely best friends, Katie, had a birthday!
The city of Clay had a bonfire/pep rally before the first playoff game, and everyone had a fantastic time. I thought it would be appropriate to wear my indian shirt...
My precious friend David
I wonder if Katie gets tired of me jumping on her back in pictures...oh well
Here's the thing...Caroline and I have a serious addiction to Momma Goldberg's. We're ok with it.
That about does it. As always, God is doing incredible things in my life, and I while I still and always will fall short, He is loving me and guiding me as I strive to become better. I'm so blessed, and I love my life.
Ketchup
I believe in Auburn, and love it.
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, I am now officially an Auburn University student! The president thought it would be kind to send me a letter letting me know that Auburn would be "delighted" to offer me admission in the Fall of 2010. He also jotted me a little note (ok, a big 11 X 14 certificate) telling me that I don't have to worry about paying them any money to go to school there, he's got my tuition and fees covered for four years. Wasn't that nice of him?
I'm in love...
I've always loved God. I've always gone to church. I've done all the things that "good Christians" supposedly do. I accepted Christ when I was just 8 years old. But it wasn't until years after that I fell completely, head-over-heels, passionately in love with my Saviour. I can not live without Him. I don't see how anyone does.
He's my comforter, my best friend, my Father, my happiness, my first true love, the only thing I can always fall back on, my confidant, an incredible listener, my cheerleader, my hero, the driving force behind my life, the source of any talent I have, my passion, my gentle disciplinarian, my saving grace, my protector, my teacher, and the best thing that has ever happened to me.
He's such a big God. He rules over the earth that He created, and He can be everywhere at once, but He still manages to love me like no one else can and maintain a personal, intimate relationship with little old me. I hurt him daily as I sin and conform to the ways of the world, but He picks me up, forgives me, and loves me regardless. I haven't done anything to earn or deserve His love. I didn't have to audition or pass a test to be His child. He loves me "just because." His love is endless and unconditional...no matter how much resentment, hatred, jealousy or malice I cling to, He loves me anyway. Why would He do that? I'll never be able to comprehend the love that He has for me, for everyone.
It's not easy being His follower. But then again, He never told me it would be. Being a Christian comes with responsibility. I mess up...a lot. All too often, my focus is on what I want and not what He wants, and it's hard for me to keep my priorities straight. But the benefits of a personal relationship with Jesus FAR outweigh the costs. Keep whatever you want to offer me, World, I've already been promised eternal life. HA, I win.
He's blessed me far beyond what I need or deserve. I have the most incredible family and friends that anyone could ever imagine...I know you think that your family and friends are the best ones, but I'm sorry, you're just wrong. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, a good education, and so much more that I take for granted. Not to mention the wonderful future that lies ahead of me. And if you can't think of anything that God has given you, remember that you woke up this morning.
He hasn't promised me tomorrow. But He's promised to come back for me. No one, no matter how scholarly they are or how much expertise they have, knows when this world will cease to exist. We just better be ready. My heart aches for the people that aren't- my friends, family, peers, and acquaintences that don't know Christ like I do. I pray that their hearts will be captured before it's too late. On days like today, when I just want to crawl up in His lap and never face the world again, I almost want to beg Him to come back now. But, He reminds me that He knows what He's doing and that His timing is perfect. Until then, I will cling to the cross and praise Him for the life I've been given.
I'm so in love.
Hello, Awesome.
Football season=Awesome
Awesome=Football Season
Understand?
I love, love, love, love, LOVE football season. The atmosphere around here changes when football games start- I dance for my high school on Friday nights, which is the most fun I can ever imagine having. My dad and I, if we're not attending the games, are glued to the TV to watch them. People at my school are overcome with school spirit. And the little league games on Saturday make this little town worth living in. It's just the most wonderful time of the year.
This Friday, we have are biggest game of the season with our rival, Hewitt-Trussville. Everyone at school is so excited, and I can't wait for the pep rally and game. Saturday, I head to Auburn with best friends Caroline and Abby to tailgate and see my Tigers play. Sunday is the Sister Hazel concert at Lake Martin, and Monday is Labor Day, which means NO SCHOOL! What a weekend!!!
I have always love Forever 21, but lately I just adore it. If anyone is dying to buy me something, I'll be glad to send you some suggestions.
I love Jesus more and more every day. He is the best thing in my life.
I love life right now. Everything is just happy. Good good good.
Blogstuh
I'm not good at blogging. Sorry. I forget to blog, and then when I do, it's all very scatter-brained. Whatever.
I went to camp, and it was just out of this world. I had the most amazing campers I could ever imagine. We all got really close, and I hope that I can maintain ties with them throughout the year. Gosh, I can't even describe how awesome this summer was. I miss camp already, but I am thankful for the wonderful camp friends that I have- they give me a little piece of camp every time we talk, and they are some of the greatest people I've ever met.
Two weeks ago today, my dad's mother was killed in a car accident. Grandmother was just plain odd. I think that I get a lot of my weird quirks from her. She was as stubborn as a mule, strong-willed, and wouldn't have things any way but her own. On the other hand, she was incredibly generous, compassionate, loving, and had a passion for the Lord like I've never seen. I have been even more proud than usual to be part of my family the past couple weeks. We all came together to support one another and get through this difficult time, laughing every step of the way...I think my family can get through just about anything, as long as we are making each other laugh. Things are not going to be the same without my sweet grandmother, but I cherish the time that I got to spend with her, and hope that I can become as wonderful as she was.
School has, unfortunately, begun. I'm just pushing myself through this senior year.
Thank you to everyone who showed their support, offered their sympathies, and said prayers for my family.
Oh, how I love camp...
Yesterday marked the end of another incredible week at camp. I didn't think I was going to be able to go last week, but after a lot of praying, I felt like God really wanted me to be there and that He would work everything out. As always, He got me there and really spoke to me throughout the week.
One thing that I think God wants me to do is have more faith in Him. I tend to think too much, and instead I should be trusting Him, knowing that He will carry out His perfect plan for my life in the perfect time.
He is still telling me to have a servant's heart. He has spoken that to me several times recently. Also, I found this verse that I am really trying to live by now: "Whomever wants to be the greatest among you musts first be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-35)
This kind of goes along with the Faith thing, but God really helped me conquer a fear this week. I often tend to play it safe because I don't like to fail, but I was given a challenge this week that I had to rise to. For my non-Winnataska readers, each week at the end of camp, the leaders and staff put on the pageant of the Holy Grail. It represents our individual quests or Christ and the good character that comes with being His disciple. It is a very big honor to be asked to be in the play, and this week I was asked to be the Vision. The Vision is a dream that comes to the knights and motivates them to seek the Holy Grail, and in the play, the Vision sings a song called "Follow the Gleam." I DO NOT SING. At all. Ever. I told them no when they asked me to do it, but they kind of forced me. Thank God for the best friends and family in the world, because they gave me encouragement and listened to me sing that stupid song all week long. I could not have done it without them. I was so scared to sing in front of people that I cried, but God helped me through it, and I think it turned out as best as I could have hoped for it to. I feel so blessed to have played that part, and I'm glad God challenged me with it.
It's back to the real world today. The next two weeks will be filled with dance practice, dance camp, my birthday, and wishing I were at camp. I hope the summertime is finding everyone well.
***Father, thank you for speaking to me while I was at camp last week. Help me to have faith in you, serve, and have no fear. I really am dreading dance practice, but please give me a positive attitude. Bless the people that are at camp while I am not, and make the time pass quickly until I am back to that wonderful place again. I love you and praise you for the many things you do for me. Help me to give back to you in any way I can.***
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