Being continuously grateful is one of those things that I have to remind myself of constantly. Yes, sadly, I can be a big brat. If something doesn't go my way--I like to complain. If I don't do well on a test--it isn't my fault. But for the most part, those are the worst things that I have to worry about. I'm honestly scared to know how I would handle it if I had bigger problems. I know it will happen one day, and I pray that I will be ready when it does. My roommate's Dad is about to be deployed for his second tour in August. Dana and I lived together for two years and I never once heard her complain about it. I admire that so much, probably more than she ever knew. At this very moment, I'm packing to leave for two months. I'm fairly confident that I will come back home to everything exactly as I left it (Lord willing). My family is in good health, and although some friends will be missing, I will be able to move back to Starkville to finish my degree and start applying for graduate schools. It is easy to be grateful for everything I have when I sit down think about it, but I tend to forget when I am going through something "tough." But I think that's God's way of reminding me that he is there and he is going to take care of me. Don't forget to say thank you to someone who has helped you out this week.
"If the only prayer you pray is thank you, that will be enough."
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. It is not your doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
"If you learn to appreciate more of what you already have, you'll find yourself having more to appreciate." Michael Angier
Monday, May 31
Sunday, May 30
traveling
I'm already bad at this, but I promise I am about to get better.
I've been quite the world traveler lately (well, sort of). May 18th through the 22nd consisted of a fabulous trip to Baton Rouge for some baseball.
It was definitely the perfect ending to a 3 year career of dominating every SEC town that we have visited. (Diamond Girls: 2 Baton Rouge: 0) I'd say leaving the bar with a lava lamp qualifies as a successful trip, but to each his own. And this is where I have to elaborate on my previous mention of Mr. Berryhill. Good ole Darryl decided to "adopt" us in Hawaii last year, and ever since then has been the best supporter/grandfather/friend that any of us could have ever asked for. Just an MSU Alumni and baseball fan, he has treated us like his own family and I could never ever repay him for the things he has done. But in true Mr. Berryhill style, he and his wife cooked lunch for us during our weekend in Louisiana. Thanks Mr. B---we love you!
From Baton Rouge, I had a one day pit stop in Philipp and then headed out for a week of horseback training at Camp DeSoto. We stayed on horses from Monday afternoon until Thursday night, and I must admit that I haven't been this sore in a long long time. It did, however, get me even more excited about the summer to come. It is such a beautiful place and I fell in love with everyone that I met.
The view from Lookout Mountain won't be such a terrible thing to wake up to every morning. This is a short and sweet update on the past two weeks, and I will have some more insightful posts in the next few days. Have a great Memorial Day!
I've been quite the world traveler lately (well, sort of). May 18th through the 22nd consisted of a fabulous trip to Baton Rouge for some baseball.
It was definitely the perfect ending to a 3 year career of dominating every SEC town that we have visited. (Diamond Girls: 2 Baton Rouge: 0) I'd say leaving the bar with a lava lamp qualifies as a successful trip, but to each his own. And this is where I have to elaborate on my previous mention of Mr. Berryhill. Good ole Darryl decided to "adopt" us in Hawaii last year, and ever since then has been the best supporter/grandfather/friend that any of us could have ever asked for. Just an MSU Alumni and baseball fan, he has treated us like his own family and I could never ever repay him for the things he has done. But in true Mr. Berryhill style, he and his wife cooked lunch for us during our weekend in Louisiana. Thanks Mr. B---we love you!
From Baton Rouge, I had a one day pit stop in Philipp and then headed out for a week of horseback training at Camp DeSoto. We stayed on horses from Monday afternoon until Thursday night, and I must admit that I haven't been this sore in a long long time. It did, however, get me even more excited about the summer to come. It is such a beautiful place and I fell in love with everyone that I met.
The view from Lookout Mountain won't be such a terrible thing to wake up to every morning. This is a short and sweet update on the past two weeks, and I will have some more insightful posts in the next few days. Have a great Memorial Day!
Sunday, May 16
Last Day at the Dude
Well, Saturday was Senior Day at Dudy Noble. That means I'm done getting ten free cokes a day and watching every baseball game from the field/best seat in the stadium. I won't ever be quite as popular in Left Field Lounge, and won't have any reason to venture into the Baseball Office uninvited.
I probably would have been a lot more emotional if we had a decent season this year but it was still uncomfortably bittersweet. It's going to be a strange feeling next spring when every weekend isn't already planned out for me, when I can sleep in on Saturday morning, and go to church on Sundays. I'm slowly coming to the realization that all those nice free trips just ended... hmm. As much as I have probably complained about it over the past 3 years though, it has been such a wonderful experience. As goofy as it may sound, handing out programs before a game was probably my favorite part of the whole job. Seeing the same excitement in an 80 year old that has been to every home game for the past 50 years, as a 6 year old who is coming in to their first game is a pretty good feeling. I have gotten to travel to every SEC school except Kentucky and Florida, got an (almost) free trip to Hawaii, and have gotten to know so many great people that I would have never met otherwise. I got closer to my friends, made some new ones, and grew to love Mr. Berryhill like he was my own grandfather. The loyalty of those baseball fans blows my mind every time I step foot in that stadium. I can only hope that one day I will still be dragging my grandchildren around Dudy Noble to show them to all my friends from "back when I was at MSU." It is by far one of the best things I have been involved with at Mississippi State and I'm going to miss it like crazy. I wouldn't trade all of those hours of sitting around watching batting practice or stuffing programs for anything in the world. That's pretty hard for a lot of people to understand--and I get that-- but I definitely don't have the words to explain it.
"The older I become, the more I find myself drawn back to Dudy Noble. There are many reasons. It's great baseball played by very talented kids. The game is pure and uncorrupted by money. The place is filled with memories, both of my college days and of the great games and moments since then. It's a wonderful place to unwind. The mood is festive. Time is meaningless. The game is played without a clock. There are no telephones in Left Field. Deadlines are more distant. Appointments seem insignificant. Regardless of wins or losses, I always feel better when I leave Dudy Noble than when I arrive. There are few places of which this can be said." John Grisham
Saturday, May 15
I'm giving it a try...
Sooooo... I got a blog?
I've spent the past semester falling in love with several different blogs and have gotten kind of addicted to say the least. I definitely didn't think it was something I would ever do, but after watching my sister graduate from high school tonight--I started thinking about all of the people I have lost touch with over the past four years. I love you all very much whether I have been faithful in keeping up with you or not. You know how bad I am with phone calls; I wouldn't have a phone if it wasn't completely necessary. I've creepily kept up with several of you (you know who you are) through your blogs lately, and maybe this will do the same for someone else as we graduate college and go our seperate ways.
Obviously there have been a lot of "endings" for me lately: my undergrad (sort of), being able to spend every waking moment at the Chi Omega house, being a Diamond Girl, and having my friends literally walking distance away. I didn't let it sink in until last week which is really unfortunate... but it did help me to realize that even though things are changing--it isn't anything to be sad about. I'm proud; proud of myself and of my friends, we made it this far and this is what we have been working for since we started kindergarten all those years ago. It's scary, but a good feeling. I've been so blessed these past few years with relationships and memories that have become irreplaceable. I DREADED leaving high school because I never ever thought I would make friends like I had back then. I spent wayyy too much of my freshman year feeling sorry for myself and driving back to Greenwood. I don't regret one moment of it and wouldn't change anything, but I had no idea what wonderful people I would meet if I would only give them the chance. Then I blinked and the next four years are over and we are moving away to Atlanta for a big girl job, Clinton for law school, and Oxford for grad school. Starkville will not be the same in the fall without the people I have grown so close to and dependent on over the past three years.
But the exciting part is that my baby SISTER will be with me in the fall, hopefully she can pick up the slack. She was only in the 8th grade when I graduated high school, so we still didn't have a super close relationship when I left for Mississippi State. I am so excited about being in the same town and helping her survive her freshman year.... I'll keep you updated on how well that goes :)
On top of all this change, I am going off to Camp DeSoto in Mentone, AL for the summer. I'll be teaching horseback and ministering to lots of little girls. I couldn't be more excited about it, but your prayers and letters will be much needed and appreciated. I was a counselor at Kanakuk in Branson, MO after my freshman year and had the most incredible summer of my life. It was a such a growing experience for me, and I didn't think it could ever get any better. I'm in such a different place in life now though that I think this summer is going to be on a whole new level. I can't wait to share everything that goes on this summer with you.
That's enough excitement for one night. Thanks for reading, precious friends.
God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power. Job 37:5
I've spent the past semester falling in love with several different blogs and have gotten kind of addicted to say the least. I definitely didn't think it was something I would ever do, but after watching my sister graduate from high school tonight--I started thinking about all of the people I have lost touch with over the past four years. I love you all very much whether I have been faithful in keeping up with you or not. You know how bad I am with phone calls; I wouldn't have a phone if it wasn't completely necessary. I've creepily kept up with several of you (you know who you are) through your blogs lately, and maybe this will do the same for someone else as we graduate college and go our seperate ways.
Obviously there have been a lot of "endings" for me lately: my undergrad (sort of), being able to spend every waking moment at the Chi Omega house, being a Diamond Girl, and having my friends literally walking distance away. I didn't let it sink in until last week which is really unfortunate... but it did help me to realize that even though things are changing--it isn't anything to be sad about. I'm proud; proud of myself and of my friends, we made it this far and this is what we have been working for since we started kindergarten all those years ago. It's scary, but a good feeling. I've been so blessed these past few years with relationships and memories that have become irreplaceable. I DREADED leaving high school because I never ever thought I would make friends like I had back then. I spent wayyy too much of my freshman year feeling sorry for myself and driving back to Greenwood. I don't regret one moment of it and wouldn't change anything, but I had no idea what wonderful people I would meet if I would only give them the chance. Then I blinked and the next four years are over and we are moving away to Atlanta for a big girl job, Clinton for law school, and Oxford for grad school. Starkville will not be the same in the fall without the people I have grown so close to and dependent on over the past three years.
But the exciting part is that my baby SISTER will be with me in the fall, hopefully she can pick up the slack. She was only in the 8th grade when I graduated high school, so we still didn't have a super close relationship when I left for Mississippi State. I am so excited about being in the same town and helping her survive her freshman year.... I'll keep you updated on how well that goes :)
On top of all this change, I am going off to Camp DeSoto in Mentone, AL for the summer. I'll be teaching horseback and ministering to lots of little girls. I couldn't be more excited about it, but your prayers and letters will be much needed and appreciated. I was a counselor at Kanakuk in Branson, MO after my freshman year and had the most incredible summer of my life. It was a such a growing experience for me, and I didn't think it could ever get any better. I'm in such a different place in life now though that I think this summer is going to be on a whole new level. I can't wait to share everything that goes on this summer with you.
That's enough excitement for one night. Thanks for reading, precious friends.
God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power. Job 37:5