2011 recap.

via

Ohhh Dearest 2011,

You've been good to me, and I'll be sad to see you go. But I'm not gonna lie--2012 is looking pretty good. 

You want a recap of how fabulous 2011 was? Of course you do.

Went to Destin with the fam for the Holidays/New Years 2011. 

Cheered on the Bulldogs in the Gator Bowl. 

Played in the snow at Camp DeSoto. 

Celebrated the roomie's engagement.

Spent some quality time at Dudy Noble. 

Went to Nashville for Sigma Chi Formal.

Went on a cruise with my friends...

To Belize..

To Cozumel..

And to Honduras..

On the Carnival Triumph.

Got into grad school. 

Saw the Zac Brown Band. 

Rode a mechanical bull while dressed as a redneck.

Got some chicks.

Watched Martin graduate.

Spent another summer on the mountain..

Playing..

Teaching.. 

Laughing.. 

And celebrating.. 

Went to Auburn..

And the University of Georgia.

Got a kitten.

Celebrated the wedding of these two.

And reunited with sweet friends. 

All in all, it's been a good year. I wouldn't have ever guessed I would end up where I am right now when I rang in the 2011 in the "Boom Boom Room" in Jacksonville, FL. But ya know, I don't think I would change a thing.

i'm a nine.

No, I'm not cocky enough to give myself a 9 out of 10 scale as one of my precious friends so lovingly pointed out. 
I am a nine. {It's really necessary that you click that. Ready, go.}


The Enneagram: something you must read at least a little bit about. Because it will turn your world upside down. The Enneagram groups "personality types" into nine different groups. We talk about the Enneagram during Staff Training at Camp, because not only does it lay out the great qualities and strengths about each number but it also helps you understand your weaknesses. It helps you understand why you react the way you do in certain situations, and teaches you the ways that you can be your best self. You are probably thinking--There's no way I could be put into a group like that. Trust me. Just read a little. It's kind of scary. 

If you know me or have been reading for long, you'll be able to recognize how spot on "being a nine" is of my personality. Enjoy. 

From The Enneagram Institute: 


Nine: The Peacemaker


Nines are accepting, trusting and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness. 


At their Best: indomitable and all-embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.
Basic fear: of loss or separation. 


Nines demonstrate the universal temptation to ignore the disturbing aspects of life and to seek some degree of peace and comfort by “numbing out.” They respond to pain and suffering by attempting to live in a state of false peacefulness, or in denial. More than any other type, Nines demonstrate the tendency to run away from the paradoxes and tensions of life by attempting to find simple and painless solutions to their problems.



How to Get Along with Me

• If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure.
• I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this.
• Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit.
• Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally.
• Ask me questions to help me get clear.
• Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery.
• Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings.
• I like a good discussion but not a confrontation.
• Let me know you like what I've done or said.
• Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life.

What I Like About Being a Nine

• being nonjudgmental and accepting
• caring for and being concerned about others
• being able to relax and have a good time
• knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
• my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
• my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
• being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being a Nine

• being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
• being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
• being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
• being confused about what I really want
• caring too much about what others will think of me
• not being listened to or taken seriously

Andddd yeah. That's me. Go check it out. 

Meet Lilly

This is my Lilly.

After a day and a half--this is her favorite place to sit. D.I.V.A.

She told me she wants to be a speech-pathologist, too. 

I warned her. 

And I think she changed her mind. 


She's a sweet little thing. Many adventures to come. Stay tuned, we are going home this weekend to meet the fam. And I'm wondering what this ole' girl is gonna think. 

Dear Kelsie

Dear 35-year-old Kelsie, 


I don't have a clue where you are living, what you are doing, and how things are rolling--but let's keep our fingers crossed that it's good and wholesome and that you're enjoying it. I think you'll be loving your job, whether you are working in a hospital with little premie babies or in a nursing home with stroke patients. I hope you're laughing about all the nights that you thought the world was ending. And laughing about the day that you cried after your client bit you... then wiped boogers on you--yeah, don't ever forget about that day. I hope that you are as passionate about kids as you were at 23, and I hope you are still seeking out ways to help the ones who seem un-helpable. I hope you're loving whatever it is that you do. 


I sincerely hope that you have learned to be domestic. It all started when you discovered this website called Pinterest in 2011. You probably don't remember, but you didn't know how to even cook noodles before then. I'm serious. And as for ironing clothes, I'm praying that you've stopping ironing your shirts with your hair straightener by now. I know it's easy--but at 23 you didn't even own an ironing board. That might be a little extreme. I also hope you aren't still lounging on the couch at night in your Pillow Academy baseball sweatpants that you stole from Mart freshman year. If you are, I applaud you for not letting Mom throw them away by now. Speaking of Mom, you're probably just like her. Except for the fact that she doesn't ever wear t-shirts, because even your 23 year old self knows that you'll never grow out of this I love large t-shirts of any color phase. That's okay. Because these college shirts will still fit you. Oh and college? Don't let Edey, Mary Jo or Dixon tell your kids those stories in the Junction when they get older. 


Most importantly, I hope you're loving who you're with to the best of your abilities. I hope you aren't bogged down with the world and with schedules and with carpool, and that you're taking the time out of your day to continually love those who have loved you for all these years. Don't take them for granted. Your twenty-three year old self says this now when some of that love is fresh, some of it hasn't even started, and some of it has been rediscovered. Enjoy life. Don't live by your schedule for the day. Take spontaneous trips to the park and to the ice cream shop (hopefully you live somewhere that has an ice cream shop). Make jokes, you're pretty dang funny. Spend time with people--even if that means the dishes don't all get washed today. 


Don't worry about it. Be joyful. Love God and love others and smile. It'll all be okay. Whatever it happens to be that day. Pray. Show mercy. Be grateful. 

thoughts.

a few entertaining journal entries from the summer: 

June 13. my top five list from the first 48 hours: 

1. riding placements

2. Sunday picnic

3. brownie fingers

4. staff fellowship

5. petit fours

June 15. Please give Raven the patience to not kill me. 

June 17. "The only place you can experience God is right now." -Phil

June 18. "There's a whale in the Atlantic." "Can we brush that?" "What's 17 plus 4?" 

June 20. Lord, please help me to not feel responsible for the horses actions. I know you're with me through the panic and peace I feel about the barn at all times of the day. 

June 22. Dear C-Cabin, Thank you for giving me a great place to come home to. Thank you for picking up my slack when I can't do it anymore. Thanks for stretching me to love those that aren't easy to love. Thank you for your encouragement and constant love. Thank you for your fellowship and for your quiet. Thank you for your joyous love and praise. 

June 24. One thing I've learned from a child this summer is... Fear is okay. Fear is good. It amazes me the kids that come down to the barn obviously terrified, but push through it anyway. All it takes is a pat on the leg and a "you can do this," and they simply respond with "I know..." and continue on their merry way. How many times do we even get on the horse? Not normally.. 

June 27. At camp I've seen the kingdom of God through... onward Christian soldiers. dining hall worship. starry nights on the tennis courts. senior retreat. encouragement. morning watch silence. twinkle lights. sweatshirts and jeans in June. 

July 5. It's packing day first term and... the horses are gone. the horse show is over. we've made it through one term. I've been home and come back. I'm praying hard for the Tribble's. 

July 10. Oh sisters let's go down, let's go down, come on down. Oh sisters let's go down, down to the river to pray. -Alison Krauss

July 14. All we HAVE to do today is teach a child to ride a horse. 

July 17. Dear Lord, we come before you with grateful hearts this morning for the opportunity to gather in this gym full of people that we love and sing praises to you. 

July 20. God today I need.. encouragement and strength to get through five class periods. I need perspective to remember when I am here and why I am standing out in the heat with 28 horses. 

July 24. Copy machine faces can make anything better. 

July 26. I marvel at God's... abundant strength that He refills me with every, single morning. I marvel at His strength and provision and His plans for me that are so much better than my own. 

July 28. A Christmas Day thank you list.. Thank you for Christmas fun. Thank you for what this summer has taught me. Thank you for keeping Katty Cox here for the whole summer, and thank you for bringing AC back again. Thank you for surprise friendships. Thank you for the very first day and the first fall. Thank you for the last day. Thank you for protecting us every single day in between. 

July 30. I do not want this to be over, and it is. I don't want to leave the barn this afternoon and I'm going to have to. I don't want to be done because this is the best thing that's ever happened to me. 

July 31. "I want to build a house up on this mountain, way up high where the peaceful waters flow, to quench my thirsty soul.. up on the mountain. I can see for miles up on the mountain, and troubles seem so small they almost disappear. Lord, I love it here, up on the mountain." 

August 3. One thing I will take away from this summer is... the confidence that God has gone before me and is walking with me. That He is proud of me and takes joy in my life. 

I love to sing and I love to pray

Worship the Lord most every day

I go to the temple and I just want to stay

To hide from the hustle of the world and its ways

And I'd love to live on a mountain top

Fellowshipping with the Lord

I'd love to stand on a mountain top

'Cause I love to feel my spirit soar

But I've got to come down from that mountain top

To the people in the valley below

Or they'll never know that they can go

To the mountain of the Lord

Now praising the Father is a good thing to do

To worship the trinity in spirit and truth

But if we worshiped all of the time

There would be no one to lead the blind

But I'd love to live on a mountain top

Fellowshipping with the Lord

I'd love to stand on a mountain top

'Cause I love to feel my spirit soar

But I've got to come down from that mountain top

To the people in the valley below

Or they'll never know that they can go

To the mountain of the Lord

Now I am not saying that worship is wrong

But worship is more than just singin' a song

It's all that you say and everything that you do

It's letting his spirit live through you

Still I'd love to live on a mountain top

Fellowshipping with the Lord

I'd love to stand on a mountain top

'Cause I love to feel my spirit soar

But I've got to come down from that mountain top

To the people in the valley below

Or they'll never know that they can go

To the mountain of the Lord

Christmas in July

Christmas comes but TWICE a year, when it comes it brings good cheer. 


Wednesday night was Camp DeSoto's Christmas {Eve} in July. It's an experience like none other complete with a 20ish foot tall Christmas tree, Nsync and Mariah dance party, presents, and a live nativity scene. It rivals "real" Christmas, and if my mom wouldn't get so upset I would tell you that I almost like it better than Christmas in December. 


Of course, I would love to dress up as Mrs. Claus and drive a buggie. 

Yes, these are twin horses. I hope someone will appreciate how awesome that is.

And guess who just discovered Photobucket... this girl. 


By the time I post again, campers will have left the gates and I probably will be home in my own bed. I taught my last horseback class today and I'm not gonna lie--I cried some tears alone in the tack room. 

Be praying for hearts that still haven't heard what God brought them to the mountain to hear this summer. For relationships that might carry these girls through the next year. For conversations yet to come. For counselors and staff members that think they can't finish. 


Y'all are the best. And so many best wishes to friends who have gotten ENGAGED and gotten MARRIED this summer. I am so happy for all of you. 

Much love peeps, 

kels 

a little {big} artwork