National Champions--Lucky #13

There is not a better time to attend to the University of Alabama than in this moment right now! We cheered on the Crimson Tide from Topsail Island, NC...good thing we had a TV! And it was HD too! This is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. RTR :) Gotta love football in the South....

How great would life be if we lived a little EVERYDAY?

As I walked into Jason's condo on the beach that he is staying in until his deployment, I see this picture hanging on the wall. Just like the title it reads, "How great would life be if we lived a little everyday?" The picture reminds me of something that you would see in a hole-in-the wall restuarant that usually ends up being some of the best southern food you've ever tasted. It is a very striking picture but it got me thinking. How true is that quote? It seems self explanatory to me but I found it interesting so I thought I'd share.


Today Jason took Mom and I to the base on Camp Lejeune. Even though I have lived with Jason my entire life, there is a still a tiny piece of Jason I'll never be able to figure out. I'll have to thank the Marines for that. While our lives are completely different, I've never been a more prouder sister than I am at this point in my life. As we were walking around in the PX this afternoon, I observed the Marines all around me. So focused, yet so proper. While I don't have to worry about defending this country, those guys do. And for that, I'm thankful.


It never fails. Something is going to happen to me while on vacation. As I was enjoying my Baskin Robbins cookie dough ice cream cone today, the glue off my top retainer popped off. Great. Well, that's not exactly what I was thinking. I finally got it fixed, thanks to the nice orthodontist! Once I was heading back to Topsail Island, I pushed the scan button on the radio. I thought I heard a familiar song so I stopped. The song was "My Redeemer Lives" by Nicole C. Mullens. Oh my gosh. I really can't think of a more powerful song. I was driving over a huge bridge with water on my left & right, the sun was setting, and I became overwhelmed with emotions. God is good!

101 Things in 1001 Days

Start: January 1, 2010



End: September 28, 2012


*I recently saw this challenge on the internet and it sparked my interest. You make a list of things you have always wanted to do and you try to mark off as many things as possible in 1001 days. To my surprise, 1001 days is in 2012. I hope to finish this list (or most of it) by that time. The end date is actually on my Dad's birthday! I'm anxious to see where God leads me throughout this time. Happy New Year everyone!!






1. Drink nothing but water for a whole week.


2. Take a trip to Savannah, Georgia.


3. No internet for a week.


4. Skydive.


5. Buy 5 meals for 5 different homeless people.


6. Run a half-marathon in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee


7. Tailgate (home & away games)


8. Read the entire Bible.


9. Make all A's.


10. Cook for someone.


11. Take ballroom dance lessons.


12. Get up early for a whole week & workout.


13. Pray for someone all day who I don't like.


14. Surprise my parents/family one weekend at home.


15. Take a hiking trip with my Dad.


16. Learn how to re-do a piece of furniture.


17. Swim with dolphins.


18. Go on a cruise.


19. Watch the sunrise at the beach.


20. Volunteer for a charity.


21. Send a "message in a bottle" and throw it out in the ocean.


22. Fast for twenty four hours.


23. Have a sleepover with the girls.


24. Prank call someone.


25. Send a care package to troops overseas.


26. Truly get to know someone.


27. Get a 6 pack(of abs haha)


28. Learn how to use a can opener.


29. Sleep in the boat on the lake under the stars.


30. Learn how to make my grandmothers Apple Cake.


31. See a musical.


32. Ice Skate.


33. Eat lunch at 5 of Alabama's best places to eat.


34. Stop biting my fingernails.


35. Learn how to play Rook.


36. Take a self defense class.


37. Be in 2 states at once.


38. Spend a whole day at yard sales and thrift stores.


39. Plant something in the yard.


40. Send a card to someone for no reason.


41. Make homemade ice cream.


42. Go all out for a Halloween costume.


43. Spend a whole weekend with my grandparents.


44. Let someone know that I'm praying for them.


45. Whiten my teeth & actually finish the pack.


46. Drink one glass of milk each day for a week.


47. Hand out a Bible verse to a complete stranger.


48. Go to a MLB game and get good seats.


49. Ride in a hot air balloon.


50. Write a letter to both of my parents.


51. Make a scrapbook.


52. Learn how to braid my own hair.


53. Go to a place where it snows & build a snowman.


54. Read 3 Nicholas Sparks books.


55. Graduate from college.


56. Help out a family in need.


57. Go rock climbing with my brother & anything he wants to do.


58. Get a massage.


59. Go white water rafting.


60. Turn off the phone for twenty-four hours, maybe longer.


61. Make homemade ornaments.


62. Go to the U.S. Open(tennis)


63. Work at a camp.


64. Visit Texas and get something that says "Don't mess with Texas."


65. Scuba dive in the gulf.


66. Snow-skiing


67. Don't skip class for a whole semester.


68. Go to a church I've never been to before.


69. Get my picture made with Big Al.


70. Save some money.


71. Send my brothers a surprise in the mail.


72. Complete a small dualthon or triathalon.


73. Go to a festival.


74. Take a trip on a train.




75. Make a snow angel.




76. Backpack the Pinhoti trail.




77. Have a picnic.




78. Learn sign language.




79. Have a water balloon fight.




80. Go to the flea market and buy something funny for someone.




81. Make a recipe book.




82. Buy a book for someone.




83. Visit a town in Alabama I've never been to.




84. Try a new type of food.




85. Try yoga for a week.




86. Take my parents out to eat for their birthday.




87. No fast food for two weeks.




88. Take a random road trip.




89. Get my picture made with someone famous.



90. Talk someone into doing 101 things in 1001 days.


91. Play Black Jack. (And Win!)


92. Watch a whole series of movies I've never seen.


93. Play a prank on someone.--Like Scare Tactics!


94. Buy myself flowers.


95. Go on a long bike ride.


96. Play in the rain.


97. Make a good breakfast.


98. Re-connect with an old friend.


99. Paint.


100. Go to an I-Max movie.


101. Buy a cute pair of high-heels

Give thanks

As the holiday season is approaching, it makes me very thankful for many things. To many people, Thanksgiving may just mean a good meal with friends and family. While that is very much true, it has such a deeper meaning. We should be fortunate to even have this opportunity ever year. Lately, everything has been in full swing and so many times I forget to say "thanks." Whether I am saying thanks to my best friend or saying thanks to a complete stranger, I truly think it makes a difference.

This past semester I have had a classroom full of 1st graders and the other day I read them a story about giving thanks around Thanksgiving. Before I read the story, I had children raise their hands and tell me what they are thankful for. Things such as family, friends, Jesus, food, pets, and video games were some of the most popular answers. Even at six and seven years old, children know what they are thankful for.

Changing the subject, I started running again so I'll be ready for my next half marathon. Now I just have to stay motivated! I'll try to squeeze in some miles since Holiday is in full swing at Bath & Body Works. Black Friday = the busiest day of the shopping season! Hopefully I'll be ready for the grouchy customers who are going to drive me crazy. And for some reason I still love it! The malls open at 5 a.m and I'll be there at 4 a.m. so if anyone is up, come visit!

Also, the Iron Bowl is that day! War Eagle or Roll Tide? :) I'll be cheering on the Tide!

Get Organized!

I've never been the type of person who has had the desire to have everything put in the right spot. I would never call myself an organized person and I think all my friends can vouch for that since I ask them, "What time do I have to be there?" "Where is it at?".......Oh, the questions go on and on. An un-made bed, a messy room, or clutter has never bothered me. I use to think it made things easier if everything was just thrown everywhere. Bad thinking on my part. Recently I've realized that getting organized makes my life a whole heck of a lot easier. Since taking all of these Education classes, I'm practicing "teacher" mode for sure. I never thought a hole puncher, a stapler, and a printer could be my best friend. So while this is a skill I may never master, getting slightly ahead makes me feel pretty good. And who knows, maybe that will bring my stress level down. You should try it :)

*Sweet Sayings*

Some of the time you can't control what happens or doesn't happen in your life. The hard part is being thankful for what you have and grateful for unanswered prayers. Sometimes things aren't granted to you because you're not ready, or the timing is wrong, or HE has something better in mind for you. He has the wisdom to realize that when you don't. I am left in awe. All in know is that I'm glad I'm not in charge.

Wait for the boy who will make an ordinary moment seem magical. The kind of boy who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person. Wait for the boy who will be your best friend, the person who will drop everything to be with you at anytime of the day no matter what the circumstances. Wait for the boy who makes you smile like no other, and when he smile you know he needs you. Wait for the boy who brings you closer to Christ and not the other way around. Wait for the boy who wants to show you off to the world. Most of all, wait for the boy who will put you at the center of his universe because he would be at the center of yours.

RUSH

Never would I have imagined that so much work can go into 1 week. It's none other than Sorority Rush here at the University of Alabama 2009! About 1,700 freshmen or sophomore girls come through this process that is one of a kind. Lots of sundresses, high-heels, complaining girls, door songs, and conversations. That is what my week included. I'm not here to complain about the process but I definitely wouldn't rank it on my top 5 favorite things to do. I had a blast spending time with my best friends for these past 2 weeks and I am so glad we are back in Tuscaloosa. With the biggest rush in the nation, it's crazy to think I was apart of something so huge. Whether it's ice water teas, philanthropy day, skit day, or serious night....or BID day; it's a week packed full of energy as each girl is trying to find a house they want to be apart of. Alpha Chi Omega has become that house for me and it's been a good thing for my college experience. I know the stereotype is out there but it really can be a beneficial thing if that's what you make of it. Good friends = great times.