Snowball fight

So I was taking pictures of the snow when all of the sudden Jason attacks me with snowballs! Somehow I managed to record it, even though I slipped and busted it!

Campout with the Boys--(Bear Grylls style)

2007 Mini-Class Reunion :) Some of the girls!
Christmas Cookies

Beauty & the Beast Musical in Birmingham :)

RADICAL

I first heard about this book at Camp Ozark this past summer. I noticed one of the counselors reading it, and I asked her what it was about. The book is Radical. The author, David Platt is the pastor of the Church of Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. I've heard him speak before and his love for the Lord is so evident. I picked up the book last night at Books a Million and started reading immediately when I got home. I'm on Ch. 4, but so far, my eyes are wide open to the approach Platt talks about in Radical. Here are some things to think about:

Book Overview:

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to BELIEVE and OBEY what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel of JESUS."

-You and I desperately need to consider whether we have ever truly, authentically trusted in Christ for our salvation.

-The dangerous assumption we unknowingly accept in the American dream is that our greatest asset is our own ability.

-This is how God works. He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.

-The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Helper, the Guide, the very presence of God living in you.

So today, I PRAY that we can all learn to put our trust and faith in Jesus.

White Christmas

SNOW

Snow in Oneonta, Alabama :) About a week or two ago!

Keith Fitzhugh

I enjoy keeping up with the news but sometimes it becomes so boring, so pointless to me. However, the other day I saw this story about a guy named Keith Fitzhugh who turned down money from the NFL. I didn't pay that much attention to it until last night when I was watching Jay Leno. Jay Leno keeps me laughing, throughout the week, his sense of humor just makes me laugh! So anyways, Keith Fitzhugh was on the show last night. Considering Jay Leno usually only interviews "famous" people, I was anxious to see how he would respond.

Incredible.

He told Jay the whole process of how he turned down the money, and ended up keeping his job working at the train. A train. What struck me the most, is what he said in the end.

"You only have 1 mother, and 1 father." He knew by choosing money/football/etc over his family that he would be taking a risk. He considered his options and I applause him for that. He represented MSU very well last night, and I'm sure their team is thrilled.

That's what I call a classy person.

98 % Finished

According to Degree Works, or the graduation tracker for UA, I am 98 % finished with school!! I only have 1 more class to take, including my internship in the Spring :) It feels SO good to almost have 4 years of college out of the way!!!!

I believe with my whole heart that the Lord has the perfect job picked out for me. My parents keep telling me to hold my head up high during these hard economic times. I really believe it's all about FAITH!!!

I finished The Last Song last night and OH.MY.GOODNESS. Such an amazing book that is full of insightful, meaningful, and a loving storyline. Here is a quote from the book as I finish my post.

"Never forget that God is your friend. And like all friends, He longs to hear what's been happening in your life. Good or bad, whether it's been full of sorrow or anger, and even when you're questioning why terrible things have to happen. So talk with Him."

20 Degrees

I just checked the weather on the Weather Channel online and yes, it's 20 degrees in Oneonta, Alabama!! But with the wind, it feels like 7 Degrees. I need to go run, but I think I may just have to wait and see!

If you know me, you know I thrive for adventure. There are SO many things I want to do in life and when I ever find the time and money, nothing is going to stop me. As for now, Dad and I have a new goal.

I graduate May 7, 2011 and shortly after I'll be in Hannah's wedding May 28, 2011! Our journey will begin a few days later. My Dad is going to take off 2 weeks of work and we are going to hike 120 miles. We will end up in Damascus, Virginia. If we backpack 10 miles a day, it will take us about 11-12 days. We will carry everything, food, sleeping bag, hammock, etc. I'm really excited because I've never been on a long back packing trip. A few days is the longest I've gone. I know it will push me physically and mentally but I'm ready to tackle the challenge. 2011 is going to be a fantastic year for me and I'm excited to share this hike with my Dad.

Well, back to reading. This book has me hooked. Have a great Monday!

Love,
Catherine

Concert Pictures

Julianne Hough!

Joe Nicholas :)

Waiting for Joe and Julianne to come out!

After eating at JClyde! Yummy! This is what you do when you have no heat in your car. Layer up! 3 shirts, 1 jacket, 3 pairs of pants, and my boots....I'm set! Haha!

Lady Antebellum - Hello World (Music Video)

Just take a moment to watch this video......

Joe Nichols & Julianne Hough

Another great concert to add to my list in 2010. Last night, I drove to Birmingham and met Meagan at her house in Homewood. We went to this amazing restaurant called JClyde. We found a coupon for 2 bucks--for a 25 dollar gift certificate. We had to spend 50 dollars so we ended up only paying 18 bucks total each. It was a great deal! We went all out... Fried Green tomatoes for appetizer, salad, and I had bow-tie pasta with chicken. Can you say stuffed?

Afterwards, we went to the concert at Workplay on the corner of 5th and 23rd in downtown Birmingham. After my alarming incident this past summer in downtown, I've always been a nervous wreck going down there. Especially at night. Birmingham ranks the 8th most dangerous city in the U.S. Needless to say, I had my eye over my shoulder as we were walking from our car.

We got inside, made our way to the stage, and ended up on about the 3rd or 4th row! Joe Nichols and Julianne Hough (from Dancing with the Stars & dating Ryan Seacrest) put on a great, acoustic performance to benefit St. Jude's. I was really impressed considering it was a real, informal show. Maybe that's what I should do with my life, critique country music shows. haha. Well, anyways, the best song of the night was "Gimme that Girl." #2 most played country music song in 2010. We waited around afterwards to try and get our picture made with them but the meet and greet was before the show. Awesome night though!! In 2 weeks, I'm going to see GARTH BROOKS :)

Here are the country concerts I've been to in 2010:

1. Justin Moore (front row)

2. Jamey Johnson (about 10th row) -terrible concert by the way, unless you're into that music.

3. Eric Church (2nd row)

4. Jason Aldean

5. Luke Bryan

6. Joe Nichols

7. Julianne Hough

8. Garth Brooks (Dec. 19)

There are still a lot of artists I haven't seen that I will see one day.

1. Alan Jackson

2. Brad Paisley

3. Taylor Swift

4. Carrie Underwood

It felt good sleeping until 9:30 this morning. Kelly Peacock is coming to Oneonta today, yeah!!! Hope everyone has a great Thursday!!

Lots of LOVE,

Cat

50 States

My lifetime goal has always been to travel to all 50 states. Tonight, my dad and I made a list of all the states we've been too. Dad's been to 27, Mom's been to 25, and I've been to 22. Here's my list:

1. Alabama

2. Georgia

3. Florida

4. South Carolina

5. North Carolina

6. Tennessee

7. Mississippi

8. Louisiana

9. Arkansas

10. Virginia

11. West Virginia

12. Ohio

13. Pennsylvania

14. Maryland

15. New York

16. New Jersey

17. Massachusetts

18. Maine

19. New Hampshire

20. Nevada

21. California

22. Hawaii

Plus, the Bahamas and Canada.

I'm so close to being half way finished! We also planned a train trip tonight that we plan on taking soon. Here's the route.

From Memphis, Tennessee to Essex, Montana.

These are the states we would cover. I AM PUMPED!

1. Tennessee

2. Kentucky

3. Missouri

4. Illinois

5. Wisconsin

6. Iowa

7. Minnesota

8. North Dakota

9. Montana

Cookie cake from my 4th graders and Mrs. Browder :)

Cookie Cake and Christmas Lights

How I love Christmas-time :) :) :)

My last day at Moundville was yesterday and and everyone made it so special for me! My teacher bought me a cookie cake,(My absolute Favorite) and my kids were sad to see me go! I couldn't help but cry as I was leaving. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I couldn't help but smile and thank God for such an amazing experience!

Now...I have to finish all my assignments and I'll be on my way home for 40 days!

Well, I'm sitting here watching the SEC championship game with my Christmas tree all lit up. So pretty.

Oh and one more thought...I have the best guy friends anyone could possibly ask for. Last night we went and watched Whiskey River Band play and I just couldn't help to be thankful for every single one of them. I know they always have my back no matter what.

God is good............ all the time.

Overwhelmed

Tomorrow is my last day of 4th grade! I feel so lucky to have had a great semester like I did! My teacher Mrs. Browder is probably the kindest woman I have ever met. She helped me so much this semester and I have her to thank for everything! My kiddos, oh boy. Where do I began?

So today, I decided to make Reading a little more interesting. I jumped up in a chair and started singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. My kids LOVED it. I'm sure they thought I was crazy. Talk about priceless facial expressions. We all sang along, and one kid even went to the extreme to put red marker all over his nose. Hilarious. My last week at Moundville has been nothing less than amazing. I truly love what I do. It's comforting to know that I will be completely content to teach for the rest of my life. My sweet kids complete me. I mean, who doesn't like seeing 21 sweet faces greet you in the morning. Or tell you how wonderful you are? Or laugh at your stupid jokes? Or even share their candy with you? If that's not pretty close to perfect, I don't know what is.

My heart is one hundred percent in Education and helping students. A piece of my heart aches tonight for many of these kids. I would take every one of them home if I could. I just hope they realize how much they have shaped my life over the past few months. It's been a pleasure. Well, I'm heading to bed....Going to eat at the Waysider for breakfast with my bestie KP!

Isaiah 30:18

Tonight was our last Beth Moore Bible Study. I have really enjoyed listening to Beth Moore speak. She is such an amazing woman of God, it gives me chills. Our study of the book of Esther was unique because the book never mentions God. Not one time. Each week we were given a scenario about how it's tough being a woman!

It's tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience!

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him."

Isaiah 30:18

Happy Monday & Lots of Love,

Cat

P.S. Only 4 more days in fourth grade :( gonna miss everything about it!

IRON BOWL 2010

What a game, What a game!!! Even though Alabama gave Auburn the win, I'm still pretty dang proud to say I attend the University of Alabama! I got a text message about half way through the game from my precious friend Ben that said "War Eagle." You have to understand that he is huge Arkansas fan though haha! Well, I guess Auburn gets bragging rights for the next year. They deserve it though after the game our guys played yesterday.

Now on to more important things: Thanksgiving!! I hope and pray that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving Day! I ate wayyyy too much, but what else is new? I'm really addicted to sweet potatoes right now so I've had my share of those these past few days. I brought back all of my Christmas decorations :)

My brother Jason and our friend Jessie came down for the Iron Bowl! Such a rainy, nasty day. We had a good time, along with tons of laughs! I just got back from shopping in Tuscaloosa and it was probably the worst idea I've had in my entire life. JAM PACKED. I always enjoy shopping by myself, for some reason! I can finally see the END in sight! I have 5 more days, and 3 more lessons to teach. It has been a fantastic semester, just busy!

Peanut Butter Pie

I've been on this kick of cooking lately and I've enjoyed it. Not only does it help me relieve some stress, but it allows me to eat it afterwards! I sound like such a fatty. Blogging about food, who would have known? Well, when I got home on Saturday morning, Mom had the ingredients for us to make a Peanut Butter Pie. Delicious!! Drizzled with chocolate.... Ok, I'll stop!

Today I went to church, took my Sunday nap, and went on a walk with my dad. I've been stuck in the house ever since writing lesson plans and papers. I just have to keep telling myself 2 more weeks :)

Update on the Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan concert: Incredible!!!! Right when we got there, Luke Byran was walking out of his tour bus and he waved to a group of us and thanked us for coming. It was really neat and of course I was star struck by Luke Byran's presence. Just kidding, well sorta.

Jason called tonight and he'll be home on Tuesday night, yeah! Tomorrow, Mom, Dad, and I are going hiking for the day. I'm sure it will be an eventful day so I'll have to update later on. Other than that.....I saw the Backstreet Boys performance on the AMA's tonight and it brought me back to the 5th grade. In lOVE with them! It's okay, make fun of me....but I know everyone either loved Brittany Spears, 98 Degrees, NYNSC, and the Spice Girls! So many childhood memories. Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus have nothing on them! Have a great Thanksgiving Break :)

Little Miss

Great new song by Sugarland.... I love when I can relate to songs. Heading home tomorrow for 1 week!

Little Miss down on Love

Little Miss I give up

Little Miss I'll get tough

Don't you worry about me anymore

Little Miss Checkered Dress

Little Miss one Big Mess

Little Miss I'll take Less

When I always give so much More

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Sometimes you gotta win till you lose

It's alright, alright, alright

It's alright again

Little Miss Do your Best

Little Miss never Rest

Little Miss be my Guest

I'll make more anytime than it runs out

Little Miss you'll go far

Little Miss hide your scars

Little Miss Who you are

It's so much more than you like to talk about

Little Miss brand new Start

Little Miss Do Your Part

Little Miss Big Ol' Hearts beat wide open

She's ready now for love

It'll be alright again

10:52p.m.

Well, I decided to title this post 10:52p.m. because that's what time it is. I SHOULD be in the bed but I cannot sleep. I just got back from running/riding the bike and I feel refreshed! Now, I'm listening to the NEW and INCREDIBLE CD'S from Keith Urban & Rascal Flatts :)

We had Bible Study tonight and I came across a quote worth sharing. I think all Christians can relate to it!

"When, because of your FAITH, your life becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite OPPOSITE to what the situati

on seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your PERSONALITY; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our RESEMBLANCE TO HIM."

Today was a rainy ole day. I was in 4th grade all day. They always seem to crack me up. For example:

- "Ms. Page, you listen to country music right? Well, you know Carrie Underwood? You look so much like her."

* Yea, I wish! Haha

-"Here Ms. Page, you take a cracker...We all know you want one."

*I guess my kids have picked up on my eating habits because they are always offering me food!

-"Ms. Page, did you know that you can have a food baby?"

*This means when you eat too much, your stomach pokes out and it looks like you have a baby hahaha.

Well, I'm off to bed. Or at least try to. Gotta be up bright and early for another eventful day in 4th grade. I'm going to miss everything about 4th grade when I leave! So thankful for Mrs. Browder and everything she has taught me! Oh, and I'm going to JASON ALDEAN and LUKE BRYAN on Friday with my sweet brother. Life is good, and Thanksgiving is so close! Lots of lOVE, Cat

BLESSED

This weekend was great. It reminded me of how I've grown up with some of the most amazing people ever. The majority of my friends I have known since I was about 5. It's neat to see how we are all growing up, yet we can still all connect over the years! A bunch of us went to see Eric Church this weekend!! How about 2nd ROW! It was amazing, such a good concert. I'm a sucker for live, country music. Make my day & take me to a concert. The Alabama game was this weekend and Meagan & Nicole came into town from Oneonta. We walked to the game & met up with Kerry. We went into the game with the whole Oneonta crew! The game was actually really boring. Only 1 more game in Bryant Denny Stadium. Kinda sad! Meagan and I ended the night by sitting around a campfire with our friends.

Well....only 2 more weeks of school. Praise the Lord, it's been a good one! Here are some pictures from the weekend :) Enjoy! Anyone else ready for Thanksgiving???

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day! I cannot begin to express how much this day means to me. I woke up this morning & turned on the TV to see military tributes on many stations. I constantly thank God for keeping my older brother, Jason safe during his 4 years in the United States Marine Corps. His first deployment was hard, but his second deployment was even harder for our family. I was thinking this morning how over the past 4 years, the longest I have seen Jason has been 1 week. 7 days. In less than a month, Jason will be out of the Marines. I'll get to be at home with him for about 6 weeks!!! So today, if you run into someone in the military, say thank you. It's the least we can do. My thoughts and prayers are out for the men and women who are serving overseas today.

Eric Church ROAD TRIP

Can this week get any better?! I found out yesterday that I am going to see Garth Brooks in December and tonight I found out I'm making a road trip on Friday to see Eric Church :) I was talking to my best friend Brody and he told me the concert is this Friday at Mississippi State!! So, I picked up the phone and called my friend Meagan who is coming to stay the weekend with me! Of course she was up for it! I've never seen Eric Church and he is one of my favorites!! And who doesn't love random road trips? Mississippi State, here we come!

Garth Brooks!!!!!!!!

I am soooooo excited that my sweet brother got us tickets to see Garth Brooks in Nashville in December! I have grown up listening to Garth Brooks and I can only imagine what is concert will be like. He is playing 9 shows. His first three concerts sold out in 45 SECONDS! December 19 can't come fast enough. I am pumped! The video I posted "More than a Memory" is one of my favorites. Enjoy and have a happy Monday :)

Lots of LOVE~ Cat

Mistletoe Market

I have become a huge fan of Jackson, Mississippi. I drove down yesterday after teaching 4th grade to spend the weekend with my best friend & bride to be Hannah! The Kripsy Kreme donuts made it safe and sound (without me eating all of them) We ordered pizza & drank wine. It took us about thirty minutes to get the cork out of the bottle. We both could not stop laughing. Hilarious. We watched Toy Story 3 too! Well, I actually slept through most of it. I'm telling you, school is wearing me out! This morning we woke up and got ready and headed to downtown to the Mistletoe Market. I can now say I am in the CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! It's a huge warehouse with tons of booths set up. We got some awesome ideas. Chicken salad is my favorite so we ate at the Beagle Bagle. So, here is how it works. It's a bagel with chicken salad, lettuce, and tomato. Brilliant idea. Topped off with a pickle spear, chips, and diet coke! After shopping, we went to the mall and looked around. It's a beutiful day here in Mississippi. Now, we're sitting here watching the Alabama game! Roll Tide. So thankful for a nice, relaxing weekend with a best friend! Well, gotta go cheer for the Tide. Hope everyone is having a fantastic Saturday!

Craving Chocolate & Covered Bridges

Swann Bridge

So I decided to make my headline "craving chocolate" because that's just how I feel!! These past 2 days, I have eaten wayyyyy too much Halloween candy. My grandmother sent me back a tin of Snickers, Twix, Milky Ways, & 3 Musketeers! I need to stop stuffing my face!

I have been way too behind on my blog! Thank you Ben for reminding me :) Miss you! These past few weeks have been insane. I've been running, but not as much as I should. With a crazy schedule like mine, sometimes my bed sounds SO much better than lacing up my shoes! I went home this past weekend to see my family. It was much needed. My mom and I made Scarecrow cupcakes (pictures coming later). They were precious! I tried to sleep late, but that didn't work out too well. I caught up on some homework and went to church. On Sunday afternoon, my Dad, Mom, and me went hiking. We hiked about 4 miles to Powell falls, then on the way back, I ran. Trail running is actually challenging. I enjoyed it though. Besides the fact that my ankles were getting scraped by briars.

For those of you who don't know, I'm from a small town that has 3 covered bridges. That's what Blount County is known for: Covered bridges. Well, they currently closed down all three bridges due to the old age & repairs. We decided to take a trip to all three bridges: Horton Mill, Swann, and Easley. Quick Fact: Horton Mill Bridge is the highest covered bridge above water in the United States. I ended my Sunday afternoon with a Ice Cream cone from McDonalds (my favorite).

Horton Mill- over 70 feet above water. Completed in 1934

I spent the night with my Granny in Birmingham and drove back to Tuscaloosa at 4:30 a.m. This week has been stressful, but my fourth graders have been so good this week. They are always putting a smile on my face :)

I just got back from eating dinner with my best friend Kelly Peacock. We talked for 2+ hours! It's amazing how fast time flies by! So grateful for wonderful friendships. Tomorrow, I'll be in 4th grade, then I'm hitting the road to Jackson, Mississippi to visit the Bride-to-Be, Hannah!!! First stop, Krispy Kreme...Then I'll be set. Have a fantastic weekend. Love you all!

Sunny Day

Why does the weekend go by sooo fast?! It's a tad bit aggravating to me. This weekend was good. On Friday night, my friend Becky and I walked/ran 5 miles. Starting to get back into top notch shape and it's motivating me to keep going. I woke up Saturday morning at 5:45 a.m. and got ready to leave for Mountain Brook at 7. I picked up Lance, my wonderful hairdresser and friend and we headed to the salon! He highlighted and cut my hair and I love it! Lots of layers, so it's a new and refreshing look for me. Afterwards, I went to my favorite place in the world TJ MAXX! I bought me a new pair of Columbia sweat pants and a Climax running jacket when it starts to get cold. I drove back to Tuscaloosa, took a nap and got ready for Kerry's big 21!! Hillary, Kerry, and I ate at Mugshots (best hamburgers ever, literally). We went back to her apartment, ate cake and watched the rest of the Alabama game! Our friends Hannah and Chanler came and we all went out on the town. It was the first time I had been out in a really long time so it was fun. Everytime I go out it always seems like I come home with very interesting stories. So I was standing there talking to Becky and this random guy caught my attention. Here is the conversation:

He pointed to me and said, "You are beautiful."
I said, "Well, thank you." (actually I was laughing at this point because he was coming off as a total creep.)
He then asked me my name, shook his hand, and tried to go back to talking to Becky.
Next, he said, "Well, what about me?"
Confused, I said, "What about you?"
At this point I caught on that he wanted me to compliment him. So I said....
"You have nice teeth."

It was so funny because I know that was the last thing he was expecting me to say to him. He loved that I told him that though! Hahaha shortly after, I decided it was time to walk away. Ten minutes later, I saw him dancing by himself having the time of his life. All I could do is laugh.

So anyways, it was a fun weekend. Now, I'm about to go run. By tonight, I've ran/walked 20 miles this week. Gotta stay motivated. February will be here before I know it. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

Love like crazy

Today was a long day of school, school, and more school! I got up this morning at 5:45, laced up my running shoes and was out the door in no time! Becky and I walked/ran about 4 miles this morning. It was high 40's when we started so it was chilly! I felt really good as I ran. Still a little sore from yesterday! Hopefully I can get out of bed tomorrow morning, at 5, whew!! I just have to keep telling myself....It's all mental!

I found some of my favorite verses today and posted them in my bathroom.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer!

Romans 12:12

Roll with it

This past weekend Hannah and Tyler came and stayed with me! I was so glad they were able to come down! We had a wonderful time. I saw her beautiful wedding dress and her awesome wedding photographer! May 28th can't get here fast enough. Can't wait to be a bridesmaid!

I went to the Ole Miss/Bama game with my sweet, funny, and amazing guy friends! My friend Elizabeth also came with me! It was fun but an 8 o clock game is just a tad bit late for me.

Soooo today I started DAY 1 of a new workout program. It's mainly a running program but it also involves strength training. I walked/ran 4 miles tonight so hopefully I can stay motivated. My best friend Jesse was the one who gave me the plan. He also gave me some great tips about eating and how to stay focused. His 2 sayings that stuck with me all day:

1. GO RUNNING LAZY!

2. NO REST FOR THE WICKED!

I have decided to keep my new running shoes out at all time for a reminder! On a different note, I have finally closed a door on a part of my life that should have been done a long time ago. It's amazing how it takes just one thing for you to realize the truth. My mom sent me a message, and it's my new favorite saying!

"Once you let the past go, your heart will be open to love in the future. Don't settle, be patient, and move on!"

I'm tired of school taking over my life. I'm ready to hang out with my friends who I miss SO much!! Hope everyone had a nice Monday. I watched the live Sugarland concert and it made my Monday so much better. Well, I'm heading to bed. Getting up and running 4 more miles at 6a.m.

Lots of LOVE,

CAT

DAY 30: Ways believe you have grown in the past thirty days

Today is the last day of my 30 day challenge! I've really enjoyed writing each day because it gives me something to do besides writing lesson plans! This past month has been very insightful because I've been able to remember old memories, write about my family and friends, and post my favorite pictures. I've been in Bible Study for over a month and it's really kept me focused on the important things in life. Overall, I've grown to appreciate the small things in life like a good laugh and quiet moments. I'll continue to write when I get the chance but school work is really consuming my life. Life is good and I couldn't be more thankful for everyone in my life. Love you all!! Until next time.....

DAY 29: What you LIVE for

I live for a lot of things. I'm in mood to make a list instead of writing a paragraph so that's what I'll do.

*I live for a good laugh.

*I live to love.

*I live to experience new things.

*I live for my family and friends.

*I live for the quiet moments in life, where it's just me reading a good book, listening to music, praying, or watching a funny movie.

*I live for the simple things in life: Fall weather, football season, conversations with my best friends, a long run, and candy.

*I live for spontaneity.

*I live for a refreshing nap that makes any day so much better.

DAY 28: A moment you can remember being completely happy and why you believe you were. What is your defintion of happiness?

Can't believe it's already Day 28! How time is flying in 2010. This past week was really rough for me. I was not motivated to do anything and I don't really know why. However, this week is going to be great. I had a good weekend, and Alabama beat Florida. I didn't end up going to the game because I thought my brother was coming down but it didn't work out. Instead I baked while I watched the game. I made the cutest hippo cupcakes from the new cupcake cookbook I got this week. I'll have to post a picture once I get around to it.

I believe now is a time I am completely happy with life. I'm getting closer to graduation, I have AMAZING friends, and I'm fully confident God will lead me to the exact place I need to be. Some days it's easy to get discouraged with all of the chaos of school in my life, but why should I complain? The Beth Moore Bible Study I am in right now has opened my eyes to so many things. What else is there to say except GOD is GOOD. Coming back from Camp Ozark made me appreciate my family and friends so much more. I have often taken for granted the ones I love the most. Life is way to short. We need to enjoy it now! Well, I hope you all had a great weekend!!

DAY 27: Your defintion of the meaning of life

As I sit here thinking about my life and the last 21 years, I have experienced many laughs, heartaches, adventures, joy, and love. All of these things are so very closely related to the person I am today. Without knowing how to laugh at myself, I don't think life would be as enjoyable. Without joy, we would be lonely. I find it quite hysterical when I think of memories made in high school and how different of a person I am now. I've always heard that we constantly change throughout life but as I approach graduation, I realize it more and more. My life is nothing short of amazing. I could not have asked God to bless me with better parents, friends, and family. They are all at the core of who I am. I have some friends I talk to almost every single day, some a few times every other week, and some on a monthly basis. I wish life wasn't so hectic so I could call everyone every day! To me, life is a journey. I am constantly learning the do's and don'ts of life so I can strive to be the type of woman I want to become in the near future. My life is simple, but my life is full of meaningful relationships. I am beyond estatic to see what road God leads me on in the next phase of my life. It's all about trusting in HIM. Love you all :)

DAY 26: Your definition of love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13

DAY 25: Something you would do if no one stopped you or if you knew you wouldn't fail

My heart is so heavy tonight. I just got home from Bible Study and the message was absolutely incredible. Tonight's message and Day 25 kind of go hand in hand. Before I blog about Day 25, I want to share with you all some notes I took from tonight. It's worth reading.

~We can be one decision away from making a very important choice in our life.

~God has plans for us in a way we cannot imagine.

~The enemy is on to you. He is a constant threat. But, we need to TRUST GOD, TRUST GOD, TRUST GOD! Face the fear! You have to get up, God is good, God is faithful!!

~There is no denial in courage.

~The #1 command in the bible is "Don't be afraid."

~Who are you going to be before God?

~Can you imagine living without fear?

~Courage comes from the Latin word 'cor' meaning "HEART."

~God will always pick you up!

~We can be so scared that we never really live.

~A life worth giving is a life worth living.

~Death is not our destination.

~Take courage!!

~God will offer the prescence of his courage.

~Live, live, live until we die.

~You get to decide how good your story gets to be.

~Believe GOD when the road is rocky.

~Are you brave?

So, for Day 25....if no one stopped me or I knew I wouldn't fail, I would go out onto the Mission field and serve. I've been on mission trips but I've never been on a trip to a third world country. I've known people who have and their testimony is sooo touching. On the lighter side, I would also like to write a book of some sort. Whether it was notes from my journals over the last four years, a how to book, or a children's book, I think it would be really cool to be an author of a published piece of work.

Well, I'm about to get in the bed. This week hasn't been my favorite and I can't exactly explain why. Sometimes we all get discouraged and this week has been just that for me. Love you guys! Sweet dreams!

DAY 24: Something you did as a child that other people remember you for

This makes me feel old! I still wish I was a kid sometimes. No worries at all. Only thing we had to worry about was getting our ten Math homework problems finished and studying for our Spelling Tests. Oh, what a life! As a child, I was constantly trying to play pranks on people just so I could get a good laugh. I tied people's shoes together, tripped people, pulled out their chairs so they would fall, etc. I never did it to be mean and I hope people realized that. But growing up, I always had an annual sleepover at my house. There were always about fifteen girls at my house! We would go to McDonalds in our pajamas and go wake up two of our good friends, Brody and Justin. We always had a blast and I hope someday soon we can all re-unite! Have a great day!

Senior Prom

Dying my hair brown with Kelly & Whitney our senior year!

DAY 23: Most awkward first impression you felt you've ever given

Hahaha wow, what a funny topic for Day 23. I can definitely be an awkward person every now and then. Believe it or not, I can sometimes can shy around complete strangers. I have a few stories to tell that never seize to make me giggle.
This one time I had to use the bathroom really really bad. I was on my way back from the state tennis tournament in Montgomery when all of a sudden we were stuck in a HUGE traffic jam. I'm not talking about a few car pile up, I'm talking about a "let's get out of our cars and walk around and stretch our legs" kind of traffic jam. Well, I was getting to the point of either A. Crying my eyes out or B. Using the bathroom all over myself. I had drank gatorade all day so you all know that it goes straight through you. (ha, just saying) I noticed a camper/motor home stopped a good ways up from us. I had to pick: either walk over to the side of the road and pee in the woods or ask this family if I could use their bathroom. Ya, I did it. I walked over to thier camper and a black woman answers the door. I said, "Mam, I know this is really random and probably kinda weird but I have to go to the bathroom sooooooo bad." You know what she did? She stared at me for a good ten seconds before speaking. Her husband came over to the door, and being the kind man he was, let me use their bathroom. It was really awkward but I felt wonderful afterwards. So yeah, I've given quite a few awkward first impressions but that one is at the top of my list!!! I was so thankful for that nice family!

DAY 22: Someone you would give up your life for without question

Whew, deep question. I'd have to say my two brothers, Jason and Zach on this one because I know they would give up their life for me.

I grew up being the middle child of two brothers and of course the only girl. Typically, I was always ganged up on because they thought it was soooo funny. Thanks guys haha. I learned how to be tough and to this day I think it's because I had a Dad and two brothers who were constantly challenging me. As highschool approached, Jason and I use to scrap all the time. I know deep down he thought I was stupid and the child who got everything. I remember when he turned 16 how cool we both thought we were. He would always crank the heat up in the car to 85 degrees just to tick me off because he knew how hot-natured I am. Just little stuff like that. He soon left home at 18 to join the Marine Corps so the last four and a half years I've gotten to know my big brother through text messaging and emailing. He is now about to start the journey I am about to finish: college. I would give up my life for him because he has sacrficed his life way more many times in the Marines.

And Zach, my sweet baby brother who is all grown up now. My bubba (as I like to call him) and Zach as my mom likes to call him. My mom constantly reminds me his name is "Zach" and that if she wanted to name him Bubba, she would have hahaha. I grew up closer to Zach because he always did everything with or for me. He'd play barbies, dress up and dollhouse with me, and I'd play trucks and ride bicycles with him. I get a lot of my motivation from him, considering he was born with a clef palate when he was born. It seemed like every year he would have yet another surgery and I went back to taking care of him as a big sister. He's all grown up now at the age of 19. I can honestly say that Zach is my best friend. He still does anything for me, even if I don't ask. Because of his strong faith and hard work ethic, Zach is going to make a wonderful husband one day.

So overall, my two brothers are the most amazing guys I've ever met. I feel so blessed to be their sister. Hard to believe we all grown up. Well, I don't like to think I'm grown up quite yet. Well, I'm off to take another cat nap. (AU wore me out this weekend!)

Love you guys,

-Cat

DAY 21: Your favorite medium of art

I don't exactly know what this statement means, but to me, my favorite medium of art are sunsets. Every sunset has a different description and over the years I have seen quite a few I want to always remember.

1. Casting Crowns Concert: February 2010. I was on my way home from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to meet my family at my grandmothers house. It had been SNOWING all day long and it was just a amazing day all around. Beautiful sunset!

2. This summer I worked at Camp Ozark and met some amazing friends. One off weekend, my friend Ben took CC and I to his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. He showed us around, then took us to Big Dam Bridge ( I think that's right) We were all worn out from camp, but I remember tha sunset being so relaxing in the midst of being exhausted. I really wish I had a picture of that sunset. That was a great weekend!

DAY 20: A song from a band you immediately liked

Well, as you all know country music is my favorite. I heard this song this past week and I realized just how much I, and so many girls can relate to this song. It's simple, yet sweet. It's slow, yet sexy. And the fact Brad Paisley is singing it makes it that much better. Enjoy!

DAY 19: A passage from a book that has touched you

Sorry guys! I've been in Auburn since Friday and I didn't get on the computer. It was a great trip. Kateland and I left from Birmingham on Friday and arrived in AU two hours later. Whit, Rachel, MB, James, Kateland, and I went to dinner then to Skybar to see Fly By Radio!!! They were amazing and we had several funny stories. For example:

1. As I was dancing with my amazing friends, this guy comes up to me and starts a conversation. He told me he played 2nd base for AU. First thought he was lying....he looked old, and was starting to get gray hair. I just ignored him because I knew he was full of it. The next thing I knew, he grabbed my hair, and started blowing on my neck. Talk about creepy! I guess he thought he was helping me out since it was so hot inside. Bad idea!! I quickly stepped foward with the rest of my friends and laughed the rest of the night about it.

2. My friend Kateland was dancing with some guy when all of a sudden, out of nowhere: Some random guy comes up and punches the guy in the face. It happened all so fast but don't worry, we were just fine. It was funny because the guy who started the fight: punched him in the face, then turned around and walked out. Guess who got kicked out? Yes, you're right, the victim.

3. Yesterday in the ballgame, I was walking down one of the rows when I saw a sudden swarm of blue and orange shakers in my face. I thought they were cheering. Oh no, they saw my houndstooth watch & red purse and knew I was an Alabama fan. They kept saying, "Just accept it, just accept it!" Accept what? That was my thought process. I nicely gave the guy a high-five and as I was walking away thought to myself. "Ok, I'll accept the fact Alabama is ranked number 1 with a National Championship. See you in November."

4. Then what about last night, when these two guys came up to us and started speaking in an English accent. That's a nice way to get noticed. Too bad I talked to one the night before and knew he was from the South. Hahaha, don't worry they all created "fake" names for themselves and said they were from Manchester, England. Riiiiigghhhhhttt.. It didn't work too well when they came up to me and started feeding me this bunch of nonsense. I just looked at the guy and said, "Man, you didn't have that accent last night when I ran into you." How strange! BUSTED!!!! We quickly learned that Rafael from England soon became Michael from Huntsville. Boo-ya!!!

5. What about the time when we were on our way to AU and this ridiculous person was speeding up and slowing down the whole way there. Don't worry, I shot him many mean looks hahaha but he never got the picture.


So it was a very FUN weekend, thanks to Rachel and Whitney for letting us stay with them. LOVE my friends :) Well, enough of story time but I could keep going for sure.

Sweet friends Kateland, Rachel and Whitney :)

NOW to Day 19: Passage from a book that has touched you.

I'm just going to go with John 3:16 today. I am constantly reminded of the love of Jesus when I hear it.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life."

I think we can all go to sleep tonight knowing the comfort of this verse. Have a nice night :)

DAY 18: A picture that makes you feel

Almost a year and a half ago, my older brother came home from Afghanistan. This picture brings back SO many memories. As you can see it is dark outside..that's because it was 3:30 a.m. About five minutes after taking this picture, Jason and his platoon pulled up on the bus. I'll never forget seeing the different types of emotions from all of the family and friends. It was such an adrenaline rush to see my brother for the first time in 7 months. GOD IS GOOD, guys, God is good!!

DAY 17: Something you want to be remembered for

Plain and simple, I want to be remembered for being nice. There is nothing better than meeting a genuine, nice person. My parents have always taught me that being nice will take you far in life. So, that's what I strive to do. I love everyone and it takes A LOT for me not to like someone. Everyone is different, and everyone has grown up dealing with different circumstances. Yeah, that's pretty much if for today. Hope you all are having a fantastic Tuesday :)

~Cat

Day 16: Something you want to do within the next 5 years

SKYDIVE. My plan is to go before I graduate so that gives me eight months!! My plans have changed a lot because I can never find someone to go with me but I'm going to do it!! Sooner or later, mark my word. I am soooo excited. I have dreams all the time about jumping out of the plane so I'm thinking it's about my time.

Happy Birthday Kelly Peacock!!! She's one of my best friends who turns 22 tomorrow!! Man, we are getting old!

DAY 15-A moment, phrase, or song that has changed your life the most.

Whew, I could write allllll night long on this one! I have so many favorite bible verses, sayings from books, and quotes. But tonight, I'm going to be simple. Here is a verse I say almost every single day.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

-Jeremiah 29:11

Also, my mom wrote down this saying for me this weekend.

"You can't change the PAST, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future."

Well, off to writing lesson plans. Great weekend at home, heading to Auburn this weekend!

Day 14: Best Movie

I'll be the first to admit to anyone that I lOVE chick flicks, but especially chick-flicks with Reese Witherspoon or Kate Hudson. I couldn't decide whether to post a clip from Sweet Home Alabama or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I ended up going with Sweet Home Alabama tonight. For those of you who have never seen this movie, go rent it!! It makes me smile every single time. There is something about this movie I admire. Melanie and Jake end up working their marriage out instead of getting a divorce. So many people get out of thier marriages these days. They simply give up. I hope and pray the good Lord leads me to someone who truly believes the same way I do about marriage. But anyways, great movie so go see it :) Now, back to writing lesson plans on this Saturday night. ROLL TIDE!

DAY 13: A Memory that never fails to make you laugh

I could name so many memories that have made me laugh over the years! But one of my favorites involves my dad, a fake deer, and a bright flashlight. A few years ago when I was in high school, my dad got really interested in feeding the deer in our backyard. He built a feeder and bought corn and filled it up to the top. Every night our family would look out our big window to see if we could spot a deer with the flashlight. Well, one day my mom and brother got a great idea to trick my dad. Our neighbor had a fake deer that was always propped up against a tree in his yard. So, Jason and my mom went and got the deer and set it up against the feeder before my dad got home from work. When it got really dark, our family was sitting in the living room and we asked my dad to go get his flashlight to see if there were any deer at the feeder!! My dad quickly ran to his room, grabbed the flashlight, and turned it on! Right when he light hit the deer, my dad went crazy!! He was sooo excited! He kept saying "Look, look, look, he is moving!!" After about a minute, we couldn't hold it any longer and we started busting out laughing! That's when my dad finally realized that it was a set up! It was so funny because my dad really thought it was a real deer! So ya, that's my memory that never fails to make me laugh :) Have a fantastic night. I just got home for the weekend. It's 8:56 p.m. and I'm about to head to bed. Since I've been up since 4:30 this morning, I can barely hold my eyes open. Have a amazing weekend!

DAY 12: Your favorite musical artist's life story

What a random posting! I have many favorite artists and bands but tonight I'll go with Shania Twain. She is one of the most beautiful women on the face of the Earth and everytime I hear "Man, I feel like a women" or "Whose boots have your bed been under?", I am instantly in a better mood. She was my role model growing up. SO, for those of you Shania Twain fans, here is her life story! Shania Twain is from Canada and her parents were both killed in a car accident when she was 21. Shortly after raising her younger three siblings, she moved to Nashville and changed her name to SHANIA (which means, "I'm on my way.") She's been famous every since 1993!

I can't copy and paste but if you go to CMT.com you can read all about her :)

The first video is of Billy Currington when I saw him & Sugarland at the Wharf in Gulf Shores. Then, the very next day (Saturday) I drove 5 hours home to see the EXACT same concert with my mom in Huntsville. The Sugarland video, I was front row because it was first come, first serve. It poured down rained the entire time but it was a great weekend I'll never forget :) Oh and listen to the words of "It Happens." SO TRUE!

DAY 11: Favorite picture of yourself

Man, this posting sounds a little selfish if you ask me. I usually just don't sit around and find my favorite pictures of myself! Well, let me look through my photos for a second. haha. I like this picture of Kerry and me. This was from Mule Day in Winfield, AL. We came across some Alabama signs. How fitting for football season! The second picture is funny because we were riding down the slides in the Bahamas! The third picture is from Bid Day 2009! I love & miss these girls so much! The fourth picture is of a camping/hiking trip. Jesse Burton will always be my best friend and this was one of the first times I saw him in a year since he was in Iraq. Miss him! The last picture was from Sophomore year and it was one of our first swaps! I was Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune if you haven't figured that out yet! Such good memories. Pictures are a great way to remember fun memories and there are so many friends I wish I had pictures with!! Cough, cough.....Ben Sheard! Had to give a shout out to him since I know he reads what I write. Love & miss you :)

DAY 10: A dream you had this past week described in detail.

Remembering my dreams is something I never have a problem with. Right when I usually wake up, I can instantly remember everything. This past week I have had a relapse from being sick, so I haven't remembered many of my dreams, which is weird. I guess I have been so worn out that I have slept extra hard at night and during my naps.

However, last night I do remember my dream. I went to bed about midnight last night because I was finishing "The Backup Plan" with Jennifer Lopez. So cute by the way. Right before I went to bed I registered for the Half-Marathon in New Orleans (in February). I dreamed about running allllllll night long! This afternoon, I took a nap and I dreamed about laying in a very comfy chair in Hobby Lobby while helping my friend Rachel pick out a light pink comforter for her bedroom. Weird, I know haha. It's so funny to me that you can actually dream about something you were thinking right before you went to bed. Running has been on my mind a lot lately so I ended up waking up at 5:20 a.m. and going to the gym. There is a ton if information about dreams so I thought I'd share!

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Dreams

1. Blind people dream

2. You forget about 90 % of your dreams

3. Everybody dreams

4. Dreams prevent psychosis

5. We only dream of what we know

6. Not everyone dreams in color

7. Dreams are not about what they are about

8. Quitters (smokers) have more vivid dreams

9. External Stimuli invade our dreams

10. You are paralyzed when you sleep.

DAY 9: Five things you want to see change

First off...I just registered for the Mardi Gras Half-Marathon in New Orleans 4 days before I turn 22! I'm sooo excited. No backing out now. It's official.

5 Things I want to see change:

1. I wish ALL people would be just a little nicer to everyone.

2. I wish people appreciated the military more. After hearing my brother tell me the story about how the day he walked off the airplane from Afghanistan into the U.S., not one young person was there to welcome them to the USA. Only veterans and older people. That statement broke my heart.

3. I wish people would find something they really enjoy and go out there and do it! Life is too short to sit on the couch and watch tv all the time!

4. I wish I could approach people who get the best of me and say nicely, "Get a life, and grow up." (I promise I'm not that mean guys.

5. I wish I could open up to certain people more and tell them how I really feel. I guess sometimes fear gets the best of us.

Have a great night!
~Cat

DAY 8: Someone you think would make a good president

Well, I'm not too involved with politics but I think Nick Saban would be a good president hahaha. With 2 National Championships under his belt, I'd say that's pretty goood! And plus, I love the University of Alabama!! Yesterday, campus was insane!!!! It rained for a short amount of time but it was HUMID! My friend Cody & Meagan came down last night...We went out for a little while and met some nice Penn State fans. Everyone Penn State fan I met was extremely friendly. I ended up seeing my freshman roommate from Troy, Robin! It was sooo good seeing her :) My brother ended up coming down for the weekend so it was great seeing him. We went to church this morning at Highlands and the message was so moving. Once they post it online, I'll post the link. It's definitely worth watching. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
~Cat