The Life That I Love

This little light of mine...

2011-08-13T00:45:00.008-05:00

A very sweet friend of ours took pictures of Barclay and his beautiful bald head a few weeks ago and when she posted his picture gallery she put this song with it. I don't think there could possibly be a better song to describe Barclay and the way he has handled the cards he has been dealt. In so many ways he seems like the same person he was before...but there is something different. He has a faith like no other and he just shines. He has the brightest light and I hope that it continues even after he overcomes this illness and moves on with his life. Enjoy the song and the pictures!

There's a little flame inside us all
Some shine bright
Some shine small
The rains will come
And the waters rise
But don't you ever lose your light

In this life you will know
Love and pain
Joy and sorrow
So when it hurts
When times get hard
Don't forget who's child you are

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm Gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

May you live each day
With no regret
Make the most of every chance you get
And your eyes get wide
When you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child's heart

With the ones you love
Treasure the time
And for those who are gone
Keep the memories alive

Hold on to your dreams
Don't ever let go
There's a fire inside you
Burning with hope

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

There will be days when you wanna give up
When clouds settle in
But after the rain comes the sun
Don't you ever forget
Don't forget
Don't, don't forget

One day there will be no more pain
And we will finally see Jesus' face
So until then I'm gonna try
To brave the dark
And let my little light shine

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine
Oh, shine
Gonna let it shine
There's a little light inside us all

These are the things I've learned...

2011-08-02T01:28:00.003-05:00

Since my family has been introduced first hand to the C-word I have said that it has taught me a lot about what really matters....when I really sit down and think about it there are 3 main things it has taught me:

1. God has a greater plan for my life than I could ever imagine. He always knows what he is doing. He never second guesses the things he does and he never gives up on His people. Who would have ever thought that Barclay would touch literally THOUSANDS of people's lives through his illness? Through this terrible time he has been able to share his unwavering faith in the Lord with multitudes of people. He has been given the opportunity to glorify God through a time when most people would start questioning and asking God why. Instead...we have learned to say, "Why not us? Why not Barclay?"

2. I have learned who is really important in my life. My family will be stronger than ever after we cross the finish line and Barclay is completely healthy again. We have had our share of tough times over the last few months but we have stuck together. We have not taken this illness as being Barclay's alone...it's like the cancer has taken a hold in all of us. We will not be well until Barclay is well. Also, I've learned who we can truly rely on. Many of our friends have stuck by us and have taken care of us like we were their own family. I can not think of greater people to have in my life and I am so thankful that God placed them in our lives for just a time as this.

3. You can not take things for granted. I realized on April 26th how many things I took for granted and how many things really just didn't matter. As I sat outside my class that morning crying (because that is all I could do for a few days) I realized that the final I was about to go in and take really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. One day my GPA, the clothes I wear, my dress size, the makeup I wear, whether I dated anyone in college, the money in my bank account, the positions I hold, etc. will NOT matter...I learned that I have to live my life for TODAY...because we are not promised tomorrow. Things happen. Life happens. But we can not forget who we are and who we live for. We can't forget what our purpose on this Earth is...to glorify God in every thing we do. We are here to serve. We are here to help others and give of ourselves.

Everything happens for a reason...I truly believe that God has put our faith to the test and for it we will be better people, a better family, and better believers. I was living my life for me and for what I could work for and get to some day. Now, I remember to live for today. I remember how precious and short life is and how incredibly blessed I am. I remember to put on a smile and be happy even when I don't feel like being happy. I remember to hug my Dad in the morning...I remember to send encouraging text messages....I remember to tell people how much I appreciate them...I tell my friends and family that I love them.

Please remember to live your life for today. And always remember to tell your loved ones how much you love and appreciate them. Tomorrow is never promised.

The New "Normal"

2011-07-13T13:34:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that life can take on some type of normality when a loved one (especially an 18 year old) is fighting cancer. We have settled into a new "normal" at our house. Other than chemo every 3 weeks and a shiny bald head it is hard to believe Barclay is sick. He has his days, especially the ones during the week after chemo, but other than some fatigue and a little bit of nausea he seems like a normal teenager. I know he doesn't feel "normal" but he sure puts on a good show.
This last chemo treatment was probably the toughest one yet not only on Barclay's physical health but on his emotions. He was exhausted all week and just really didn't feel good at all. His nurses at JACC certainly feel for him and are so good to take care of him.
Round #4 will be on Monday, July 25th. After that treatment he will go for another PET scan and the doctor will be able to determine if 2 more chemo treatments will be necessary. Until then we will continue living in our new "normal". Barclay and Bryce are ushers in a wedding for a very good friend of our family this weekend. We are crossing our fingers and hoping that we can get away sometime between now and the end of summer for a quick little vacation also.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are still fighting this terrible illness with help from above. I don't know where we would be without our faith. How can anyone do it without knowing that our Father in heaven is pulling for us and helping us along the way? As the saying goes, "He never said it would be easy, just that He would be there every step of the way".

Mountains.

2011-06-22T00:42:00.003-05:00

"Champions know there are no shortcuts to the top. They climb the mountain one step at a time."

-- Judi Adler

In my last post (6 months ago...oops!) I listed out all of the things to come in my future and the future of my family...B&B's high school graduation, Disney World, my graduation, etc. Little did I know that we would come face to face with a mountain so big that we would all have to climb together...

On Friday, April 22nd my 18 year old brother, Barclay, went to the doctor's office for a persistent cough he had for about a month. The doctor did a routine visit and then, by the grace of God, decided to do a chest x-ray just to rule out any and everything that could be causing the cough. He didn't expect to find anything at all...he figured it was allergies, a cold, etc. but said something told him he needed to do a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed a mass peeking out from behind his sternum. Dr. Robertson immediately scheduled Barclay for a CT scan for the following Monday. I knew my mom and dad were worried but I really didn't think much of it. Nothing bad is ever going to happen to you, right? The CT showed a huge mass behind the breast bone that was pressing on the superior vena cava and the bronchials. It was resting right over Barclay's heart and above his lungs. The early diagnosis looked like some sort of Lymphoma. Cancer. Cancer? Really? He's not old enough to have cancer.

The next step was to identify if he had hodgkin's or non-hodgkin's lymphoma. So, two days after the CT scan he had a needle biopsy through the chest wall. After a very long 36 hours we found that the tissue samples from the biopsy were mostly necrotic tissue and worthless for making a diagnosis. It was determined Barclay would have to have a cardiothoracic surgeon gon in through his chest and get a larger piece of the tumor for pathology. After deciding which doctor to go with everything fell into place and exactly one week after the initial CT scan Barclay was admitted to the hospital for a Monday afternoon surgery. By the middle of the lunch hour they had removed a small piece of rib and removed a chunk of the tumor and Barclay was awake in the Surgical ICU unit and talking to us about his experience. We honestly didn't realize how intensive the surgery was until afterwards. He essentially had open heart surgery without them actually messing with his heart. We spent 24 hours in the ICU, in which time we met and were cared for by many very special individuals that are truly appreciated.

Late Tuesday, we finally got a definitive diagnosis of Large B Cell (Non-Hodgkins) Lymphoma. The pathology was sent off to Mayo Clinic for a 2nd opinion. Barclay got to go home that Wednesday afternoon after a bone marrow aspiration. Despite the odds, he was able to attend prom that Saturday and had a great time with all of his friends. Everyone told him there was no way he would feel good enough to take on the starring role of Frenship's production of Phantom of the Opera that he had worked so hard for...he defied them as well. He performed both nights and had all of us in tears. Two days after the producation he had his first round of chemo...6 days after that he walked the stage at graduation and received a standing ovation. He was able to attend Red Raider Orientation at Tech last week. He has overcome so much already. At this point he has had two chemotherapy treatments and has been a good sport about it all. He has a CT on July 1st to see if the tumor in his chest is shrinking. After 4 rounds of chemo he will have a PET scan to see if the cancer cells are disappearing. If nothing at all shows up on the scan then they will not do the last 2 of the proposed 6 treatments. If cells still light up then they will finish out with 2 last treatments and then hit him with 20 days of radiation.

I have learned so much about myself and my family through all of this. It has certainly been a trying time for us but I know that in the end we will all come out as stronger people and an even stronger family. We are caught in the middle of a storm but God is with us! We ask that you continue pray for Barclay's healing. Specifically for the results of the CT scan on July 1st. God has placed so many individuals in our lives and we are so very thankful. Please also continue to lift up in prayer the doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals that are caring for Barclay. I try to keep a caringbridge website up to date (www.caringbridge.org/visit/barclaywhite) I will try to remember to post my updates on here as well. Thank you for your continued prayers...we will continue to scale this mountain one step at a time!

Year in Review

2011-01-04T23:16:00.006-06:00

Well...2010 didn't seem to last long. I guess that's what happens when you are busy all the time! So, here is my year in review...mostly in pictures.

January - We had some pretty ridiculous weather in Lubbock. We had multiple days of school canceled and tons of snow. I can't complain...I loved it :-) I was also blessed with an awesome job. Through some connections I made in my time in President's Select I was told about a position in the President's Office. I interviewed and got the job shortly after ringing in the new year. I truly could not ask for a better job.

February - My incredibly talented brothers both made the Texas All-State Choir. We all went to San Antonio for the TMEA conference, some shopping, and some great concerts. We were so proud of them! Sadly, the day after the concerts we had to load up and head to Lawton, Oklahoma for our great-grandmothers funeral. Our sweet Mamoo passed away after 92 years on this Earth. She was so ready to meet our precious Lord. We miss her spunky spirit, but we know she is so much happier now!

March - I was blessed to be asked to attend Texas Tech Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. with the President and Chancellor of the University as well as some good friends. We were able to meet with Congressmen, tour the Capitol building, tour the White House, as well as have an amazing time just walking around the city. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. Shortly after my trip to D.C. our family went to Colorado for Spring Break. We skied and had a GREAT time!

April - I was able to fly to Dallas for a weekend with one of my best friends. We celebrated her engagement and did some fun wedding stuff :-)

May - Misty got married at the end of May. It was BEAUTIFUL and so perfect :-)

June - July - I got to spend my summer with lots of friends and family. We celebrated the 4th of July with The Haynes crew as well as lots of other family. We also, unfortunatly, mourned the loss of our Nanny and Great Uncle. I can't begin to tell you what an amazing woman my Nanny was. She was the sweetest lady. The Lord was ready for her and she was ready to meet her Maker. We still miss her immensely. We all have our memories that we will cherish forever. We took my grandparents up to Colorado for a week right before school started. We relaxed and just enjoyed spending time together.

August - I turned 20. AH!

September - October - School took over. I worked Texas Tech football events almost every weekend! I also got my own little filly to raise. Her name is Bellah and she is handfull.

November - My family spent Thanksgiving here in Lubbock with 45 of our closest relatives...literally. It was so much fun! Shortly after Thanksgiving I ran for an office in President's Select. I am now the Treasurer and am so excited to serve the organization that has provided so many great opportunities for me. In the picture above you see me, my mom and dad and Cheryl. Cheryl is the newest member of our family. We met about a year ago and have become like sisters. She spends lots of time with the family and we all love her :-) So, from now on if you hear me talking about my sister...it's her!

December - Christmas was spent at home, as it is every year. This was our first Christmas with Cheryl and it was a ton of fun!

OK...that was 2010. Now, 2011 is going to be a pretty busy year.

January - May - will be spent completing my last "traditional" semester of college and studying for teacher's certification exams.
May - July - the boys will graduate from high school in May and I'm sure the rest of the summer will be spent celebrating and getting them ready for college life. It looks like we will be going back to the happiest place on earth (aka Disney World) for their Senior trip! YAY!
August - December - The boys FIRST semester of college, My LAST semester of college. I will Student Teach this semester and GRADUATE December 17th. I hope to get a job right after graduation and start teaching January 2012. At this point I think I can officially say, "I'm a big girl now!"

So...as you can see...this last year has been AMAZING and the next year will be even better. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me and my family.

Happy New Year everyone!

Catching up...

2010-09-02T23:34:00.007-05:00

A very good friend of mine asked me to update....so I think I will. To start off my summer I was honored to be in her BEAUTIFUL wedding.

I took one class in summer school which may not sound like a lot, but believe me it was PLENTY. My family and I also dealt with 3 deaths this summer. We lost a friend, an uncle, and a great-grandmother. After my Nanny passed away I never thought I would stop crying. Somehow the Lord healed my broken heart and left me with a peace that let me know everything was as it should be.

I have so many good memories with my Nanny...she was an awesome lady. At 93 years old she was the wisest person I have ever known. Her faith in the Lord was like no other. During the last 6 months of her life she continued to tell us how ready she was to go "HOME", and she wasn't talking about leaving the nursing home for her house on 39th Street. I wish I could have one last day with her to talk about her faith and what God taught her throughout her life. But, I can rest knowing that I will be able to talk to her again someday. She is waiting for us up in heaven just wishing we could see what she sees. Right now I miss her. I can still hear her voice saying "There's my girl..." every time I walked in the door :) And every time I hear the songs "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace" I will always think about her.

My family and I went to Colorado at the end of the summer for a little getaway. We rented a cabin in Pagosa Springs and spent a lot of time resting and relaxing. The boys went fly fishing and I read....a lot. We did some hiking and we rode the train from Durango to Silverton (something we had not done in 8 years). It was so great. Living in Lubbock, TX makes it a little hard to believe that there is really a place so beautiful. It's amazing to wake up, look out the window, and see trees and giant mountains stretching to the sky. It's also amazing to think that God formed it all....with His hands....all in 7 days. We all had a great time and [unwillingly] came back to the real world to go back to work and start school.

Speaking of school....my [big] little brothers started their senior year last Monday....talk about a weird feeling. Even weirder is to know that one of them has already been accepted to Texas Tech and will start there a year from now. I also started school last week. I am 3 hours shy of being a senior. I will student teach a year from now and then I will graduate next December. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Most definitely.

Oh, I also turned 20 on Monday. Too bad I don't feel any wiser....

That is all for now :)

2010-05-28T23:48:00.001-05:00

One of my very best friends is getting married tomorrow and I am so blessed to be one of her bridesmaids.
Another one just got engaged a week ago tomorrow.
LET THE WEDDINGS BEGIN!

2010-04-20T23:20:00.005-05:00

I really am bad at blogging....

So, my 2nd year in college is almost over...weird. I have to file my intent to graduate in the fall...even weirder. Good thing I plan to go to grad school and get my Master's in Educational Leadership...I don't think I'm ready for the real world anytime soon :]
Since my last post I have been pretty busy. Texas Tech holds me hostage every day of the week...but I don't mind ;) I love everything about that place. I have some great teachers and I work with some of the greatest people. I have been blessed with so many opportunities!

The first week in March I was able to go to Washington, D.C. with a group from Tech. We had such a great time. D.C. is certainly a much different place than where I am used to, but it was so much fun!
This semester I have also gotten back into playing tennis a little...I never realized I would miss it so much! I realized today that it has been 2 years since the last time I played on a team. SAD!

Goodness I miss those days! I kinda miss those muscles in my arms too....wonder where those went?

Well that's all for now because I am incredibly boring!

I'll leave you with the "7 UPs"....I'm working on being more of a morning person...so far it's helped to read these every morning when I wake up!

The 7 Ups!

Wake Up!

Decide to have a good day.
"This is the day that the Lord hath made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

Dress Up!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"God does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance,
but God looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

Shut Up!

Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
so He must have meant for us to do twice as much
listening as talking.

"He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

Stand Up!

For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good." Galatians 6:9-10

Look Up!

To God.
"I can do all things through the Lord
Who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Reach Up!

For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

Lift Up!

Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

My blessings are in front of me.

2010-02-25T23:45:00.004-06:00

God has taught me so much about His timing in the last month. He has made me truly realize that it doesn't matter what I want or when I want it, He will provide and take away on HIS schedule...not mine.

My Mamoo in Lawton, Oklahoma had been homeward bound for over a year and a half before she decided that at the age of 92 she didn't want to live at home alone anymore. My parents went up and moved her into an assisted living facility right after the new year. After that she went downhill very fast. She was a very faithful woman...and very stubborn as well (I guess it runs in the family). She had been ready to go home to be with the Lord for years. On February 8th she did just that after struggling through a few miserable days. My dad made countless trips up there throughout her last couple of weeks. Our entire family traveled up there about two weeks before her death and it was a tough trip. I think we all knew that it would be the last time to love on her, so I gave her a few extra hugs and told her I loved her. It has all been very bittersweet, but I know that she is now in a better place.

On February 10-14 my little brothers were to be in San Antonio for the Texas All-State Choir Performance. They worked SO hard for this and the entire family was traveling to watch them perform. So, to make a long story short, my parents and I drove to San Antonio (in the snow, sleet and rain) on the 11th. Watched the performance on the 13th. And then we all piled in the Suburban and drove 7 hours to Lawton on Valentine's Day to say goodbye to Mamoo the following morning. But of course, as we get in the Suburban that fine Valentine's Day morning....THE CAR WON'T START! So there we are stuck in the parking garage of our hotel with a dead battery. Luckily, a nice man and his wife happened to be out and jumped us off.

So basically the point of this blog is to say....I have learned something. I have learned to listen when the Lord tries to tell me that everything is on HIS schedule. HE will plan everything and I just need to be prepared. I go throughout my life worrying and planning, when in all reality I shouldn't! He has had my life planned for a long, long time. He also taught me that there is a time for everything. "...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." -Ecclesiastes 3.

I am truly blessed beyond measure. I have a wonderful family that I love so much. We help carry each other through the hard times and we rejoice with each other in the good times. I have friends that care so much and that are there for me all of the time. And I am able to attend a wonderful University where I am able to learn and serve all at the same time.
Next week I am traveling to Washington D.C. with a group from Tech to help lobby for higher education. I could not be more excited!

So, if you have made it this far...thanks for reading. That is my life in a nutshell :)

And....here is a song by Jeff Johnson that I love:

Woe to me I am unclean
A sinner found in Your presence
I see you seated on Your throne
Exalted, Your Glory surrounds You

Now the plans that I have made
Fail to compare when I see your glory

Ruin my life the plans I have made
Ruin desires for my own selfish gain
Destroy the idols that have taken Your place
'Till its You alone I live for,
You alone I live for.

Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty
Holy is the Lord!

Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty
Holy is the Lord!

Hello 2010.

2010-01-01T01:00:00.007-06:00

Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010.

When I think back to what I was doing 10 years ago...it's almost crystal clear:
I was in 4th grade...4th GRADE! Struggling through Mrs. Carlton's Math Class where the new Sharon Wells method was being practiced. That was before September 11th. Before my move to Frenship. Before my days in jr. high and high school that helped define who I am today.

But even better...I can remember who I was with and what I was doing at this very moment 10 years ago. That was back when we lived on 89th and my aunt and uncle had just had Brianna that August. Me, my brothers and Bri were laying on a blanket in the middle of our small living room while our parents sat on the couch watching October Sky. My granddad was holding out for the big Y2K scare. He collected canned food and bottled water for WEEKS....but here I am. Alive and well 10 years later.

During the last 10 years I have:
changed schools, cried more than I thought possible, made real friends that accepted me for who I am/was, started playing tennis, made the varsity tennis team, sang in choir, overcome my nervousness to sing in front of what seemed like a million people, lost people I loved, made friends...then lost them, met people that changed my life forever, met people I will never forget, and graduated high school. I am now a Junior at Texas Tech University and I am getting my degree in Elementary Education. I am a certified Pharmacy Technician...though I don't use it right now. I still live at home, but I don't mind! I love my family...and after all I am only 19 and not nearly ready to grow up completely yet.I love my life.

I was hoping to put the last 10 years into pictures for everyone to see...considering I think I have changed a lot just in the last 4 years...I was 9 years old on January 1, 2000. But, I guess we didn't even own a digital camera back then because all of my pictures go back only as far as 2004...so until I can scan some pics here are a few from '04 forward.

Happy New Year to everyone! I can't wait to see what the next decade brings....

Wake up, Grow up, & Move on

2009-12-30T00:43:00.003-06:00

Before I get into the deep stuff...I hope that you all had a GREAT Christmas filled with family and friends and more joy than one house can hold! We had a great Christmas at the White house....it was a semi-white Christmas and it was wonderful! We had a few difficulties with the roads out where I live and my dad ended up burying his truck in about 3 feet of snow just hours before my mom's side of the family was supposed to be out here for our annual Satterfield family Christmas Eve! It was a little bit crazy, but WONDERFUL just getting to have everyone together. We always have Christmas lunch with my mom's side of the family....which is HUGE. We all pack into a tiny little house off of University where people end up sitting on the floor to eat and the kids are pushed outside to play after they finish in order to free up some space. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way :) Lots of food, love and laughter and I LOVE it.

Now, I have a confession to make...as much as I love Christmas break and all the time I have to do whatever I want I really miss school. Certainly not the "school" aspect of it all, but my friends...and my life. I am blessed beyond measure with some of the most sincere and caring friends, but when we all go home communication gets lost and it is NO FUN! I guess you could say I am in a little bit of a funk.
I've realized in the recent weeks that the best friends that you thought would be racing down the nursing home halls in wheelchairs with you one day might not be there. The people you never thought you could run out of things to talk about with....you do. It's so difficult to realize you have lost something you thought was special because of distance and growing up to be different people.

Now, this blog is not at all to be a downer. I have just decided that tonight was the night to let it all out and move on. I do believe in the philosophy that God closes one door so that He can open another...so this must be the start to another door opening! Friendship and Family are two of the most important things in my life....and when I let a friend into my family it becomes even more difficult to realize that they have changed...and so have I. I pray that the doors God is slowly shutting behind me is just His way of telling me there are better things to come.

Merry CHRISTmas!

2009-12-24T00:18:00.002-06:00

It is snowing in Lubbock, TX right now....we may actually have some sort of white Christmas. Or at least a white Christmas Eve! God is good :)

May God Bless all of you this Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2009-12-21T21:12:00.002-06:00

I've just decided that I am really really bad at this whole blogging thing. It's only been hmmm nearly 5 months since I last posted anything. To catch up I guess I will start with this semester in school. I took 15 hours this semester which ended up being plenty. Art was easy. Health and Physical Education was a piece of cake. Atmospheric Science was so-so. Geography was harder, but I managed to make A's on all of the tests. I ended up with a 4.0 GPA this semester which puts me on the President's List for all 3 semesters so far! I am a semester ahead because of all the Dual Credit and summer school I took so I am now considered a Junior...WEIRD.

I was incredibly busy this semester with President's Select and Phi Lamb. In November I was selected to travel with PS to Arlington for the Tech vs. Baylor game. We were able to stay at the Gaylord Texan Hotel with all the other 12,000 Red Raider fans which was AWESOME! I think that is probably the coolest hotel I have ever been in. It was all decorated for Christmas and all of the people that worked there wore Tech shirts the whole weekend! We had time to go to the ICE exhibit in the hotel....it was COOL....literally! The day of the game I was at the Cowboys stadium for about 12 hours--10AM to 10PM. My "crew" volunteered to help Baylor (who was the home team) put out all of these WRECK 'EM TECH signs. They were supposed to go in EVERY SEAT IN THE STADIUM. We just got to the first 2 of 4 levels in about 5 hours. Needless to say after that and an only mediocre game I was ready to get the heck out of that stadium! We had to go back the next day for a recruiting event (hence the reason Tech flew us down there in the first place). It went great! Despite all of the work and long hours I am so grateful for the opportunity to go! I had a great time and would love to do it again.

My family is doing great. My brothers are ornery as ever and always seem to be fighting....but I know they love each other! My mom is superwoman I swear! She does EVERYTHING. My dad is always working, of course. If he's not at the office he's at the ranch. If he's at neither of those locations he is out in his barn working on some new project. Speaking of! We have 3 new "residents" in our barn! In October Dad surprised us all when he came back from a bull sale in Throckmorton with 3 colts! So, we now have 6 horses basically living in our backyard. They are so fun! It will be interesting to see how we do in breaking our own horses....AH!

Well....that is all I can remember for now. I'm sure I have left out plenty. I will try to remember to blog more often....but honestly my life is not that interesting. BUSY but not interesting.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! My family is just staying here to be with all of our family...it's my favorite way of doing things!

I think...

2009-08-05T23:18:00.006-05:00

It's time for another post. It really does not seem like that last post was so long ago, yet this summer has seemed refreshingly LONG! I miss my friends terribly and I am SO ready for them to come back. I am SUPER ready for football season...I hope we are decent this year. WRECK 'EM!

My summer has consisted of working, 12 hours of summer school, and having fun just relaxing! Summer school was a good experience. I took 2 classes both summer sessions, all online. I finished up my last government class (EVER!) this afternoon. No more history or polisci for me! WOOT!
Now for some pictures:

I spent some time at the new Tech leisure pool. It is EXTREMELY nice. Lazy river, slide, water volleyball, poolside Sam's place for food...I was VERY impressed.

My little brothers turned 16 back in April and they finally got a truck the end of May! I think they were very excited. I was very excited for them. (I don't mind driving it either!)

We went on a quick trip to Lawton, OK to see my great-grandma and then went on to Dallas for the weekend to shop. It was a good little getaway.

I hung out with some great friends...

We had our annual 4th of July party with all of our friends. It was a fun night with LOTS of fireworks and food!

A few weeks ago I went to Aledo to stay with some lifelong friends. On the way I stopped and stayed the night with Casey, one of my best friends, in Abilene. She just got a cute little house and I had so much fun catching up with her.

Bailey ^^ has been in my life since birth. Her dad is my dad's best friend from high school. Our families are very close and I just love them to death! I was able to go stay a week with them in Aledo and I had a BLAST with their crazy clan. In this picture we were performing an indian "fire-dance"...or attempting. We were very unsuccessful and ended up eating microwave smores instead or fire-roasted smores :( Oh well, it was SO fun!

Well...that is it for now. We leave in a week for Colorado and I am SUPER excited. Colorado is probably my most favorite place on this earth. It will be nice to get a break from everything here right before school starts! Tonight is the first night since June that I have not had to read for my summer classes. SO, I am going to go lay in bed and watch Will and Grace!

I hope you all have had a BLESSED summer!

I'm just a summer girl...

2009-05-03T22:31:00.002-05:00

That's right...it's finally summer time for me! I am done with finals. I am not sure what my GPA will be this semester....how well I did on my Geometry final will determine an A or a B in that class (I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS...but NOT getting my hopes up on this one!)

Mrs. Wilson--I just wanted you to know that all those days in AP freshman year did help me this semester! We went over all the adjacent, vertical, complementary, etc. angles and I was a PRO! haha. There were other things that were HARD, but all those days I worked on those angles sure did pay off....THANK YOU!

So now that it is summer [at least for a month--I start some summer courses the 1st of June] I am going to have a little fun and work some too. The thing that stinks about summer is a lot of your friends either go home or they don't COME home. That is a little difficult. Hopefully I will be able to go stay with some friends in Dallas for a while and maybe....just maybe Mom and Dad will surprise me and take us somewhere. HAHA. Who knows?!

Anyways, life is so good. I hope everyone out there enjoys the end of the year (and don't stress too much!)

2009-04-18T21:30:00.003-05:00

I think it is so funny how songs play such a major role in our memories, or at least in mine. Songs will come on the radio, or on my iPod or whatever and an event, a person, or a time in my life pops into mind!

When You Think of Me by Mark Wills: The closest I have ever come to having my heart broken in a billion little pieces
What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flatts: The song that came on the radio while I was bawling my eyes out when one of my best friends moved far far away (it was very fitting, actually) Needless to say I love/hate this song. When it comes on the radio I wanna cry.
No Sleep Tonight by The Faders: Riding around in Casey's car with the windows down and the music up loud talking about how boys are just stupid
Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie: This song just takes me back to my Junior year in high school, period.
Everywhere by Michelle Branch: We used to belt this out on the tennis bus my junior year
Low by Kelly Clarkson: Casey and I used to sing this thing on my karaoke machine ALL the time and especially when we had tennis parties at my house

These are just a few of them, but there are many more songs that pop up and I immediately think of something, someone, somewhere, etc. I just think it's funny, and so cool! Anyways, just thought I would share :]

2009-04-17T10:56:00.003-05:00

We had some pretty crazy weather in Lubbock yesterday. Threats of tornadoes and lots of hail and rain. The rain was greatly appreciated...the hail and tornado warnings, not so much.

Anyways, life is good :) At this time in two weeks I will be completely done with all my finals and school will be OVER until August 27th of next fall :) I could not be happier about that one!

Formal

2009-04-05T22:56:00.002-05:00

Formal was so much fun last night! A few of my friends came over to my house to get ready and take pictures together. The picture above is of me and Julia with Baron Batch (one of the best Texas Tech football players ever), but better yet he is one of the NICEST guys you could ever meet. He was at formal with one of our friends.
Here are the girls that came over. We had a blast getting ready together and taking silly pictures :)
Julia is such a sweet friend. I am SO glad that we met last semester at our pledge sleepover. She is so thoughtful and just such a nice person (and gorgeous too I might add).

Anyways, we had dinner and a slideshow and stuff and then we danced for a while. It was a nice closing to everything we have done this year. I'm trying to get better at taking more pictures! I used to take my camera EVERYWHERE in high school...I'm getting better though! And plus I have a pretty good camera on my iPhone now!

Anyways, this is short and sweet. I hope you all have a WONDERFUL week :]

2009-04-04T11:50:00.002-05:00

I am so glad that it is April. Lots happens in April: Easter, Formal, My brothers turn 16, finals, and finally SUMMER starts for me :]

Of course, with all these things comes a little bit of stress and a LOT of work. Formal is tonight at 7pm. I am wearing my prom dress from my junior year because I still am in love with it :] I hope that it is a fun night! I went yesterday and got an airbrush tan so that I could avoid the tanning beds and melanoma. It turned out pretty good! The only complaint I have is that my feet look kinda dirty....there is like a line where the side of my foot didn't get sprayed and it looks a little strange, but other than that I look like I have been laying out by the pool :)

So...my little brothers turn 16 on Monday...in 2 DAYS! That is so crazy. I feel like I just turned 16! The boys don't have a car yet, but I think my dad is working on that one. The boys have been busy with all their Ag and Choir stuff recently. They both competed in Dairy Products (where they have to smell and taste the milk and cheese and tell what kind it is) and Barclay competed in Farm Business (& he came home from that yesterday saying that he felt like he was running in the forest blindfolded in the dark it was so hard). The boys will also both be in South Pacific, a musical at the end of the year for choir. They just found out their parts yesterday...and it's kind of a sore subject around the house so I'm not going to say anything else about it.

Like I've said before I only have one written final this semester, which is in MATH. I am a little scared for that one to tell you the truth. I'm not doing so hot in geometry. Luckily, it is my last math class EVER....unless I suddenly decide to change my major. HA!

I hope everyone that is reading this is doing well! I hope that you all enjoy the Spring time weather (and if you live in Lubbock you can bear the spring time tornado sized WINDS!)

2009-03-26T21:41:00.003-05:00

I think it's time for an update :]

Life is so good.

My family is wonderful. My brothers are supposed to compete on Dairy Judging and Farm Business teams this weekend for Ag...but since Lubbock is the capital of strange weather it looks like their first competition is going to be cancelled. Hopefully they will reschedule it. My mom and dad are busy working, like always. My dad actually bought a new horse last week!

His name is Hank and we LOVE him :] Now if only we could get rid of the mean one....we are still working on that.

School is great. Of course, all the projects and stress build up right about this time since we have about 4 weeks of classes before finals start. Luckily, I only have one written final this semester! All of my other ones are either presentations or projects...which sometimes are no better than tests. I still love Phi Lamb. Our formal is next Saturday...and I'm still not sure what dress I am going to wear. I should probably get on that....quickly. President's Select is great. I am now very comfortable giving tours of the campus and I actually enjoy it!

There isn't much that's new here....just school, work, and fun :] As my mom likes to say...I'm finally getting a life and going out more. Haha :]

Pay It Forward.

2009-03-13T22:59:00.003-05:00

This morning my mom called me and was so excited to tell me about her great morning.

I had no idea what could EVER make a morning that great...you see I'm not much of a morning person. Mom decided to go to Starbucks this morning, which she never usually does. It took her a while to get through the drive through, but when she finally got to the window the girl told her that she did not owe anything, the woman in front of her had paid for it. So, in the spirit of paying it forward my mom picked up the tab for the woman in the car behind her. Now, I don't know if this continued after my mom, but how wonderful is it that there are still people in the world that still care. My mom knew nothing about the woman that paid for her drink other than that she drove a black Lexus. I'm sure she will probably never see this woman again, but she made an impact on my mom's day and gave her a great story to share.

Sometimes it is so hard to believe that there are still good deeds being done in America. If you watch the news you know that there are horrible crimes committed everyday. Each generation seems to become more selfish and more greedy. One little deed of paying for someone's drink or smiling or even just saying "Good morning" can make a HUGE difference. So...if you read this, TRY IT! Make someone's day :] I plan to!

future?

2009-02-18T00:44:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time. Everything is coming so fast and I wish I could just live in the moment for a while. The future comes a lot faster than expected.

It does not seem like that long ago I was still in high school (keep in mind I just graduated June08), but all of a sudden I am a sophomore in college and I am already having to make all these decisions.

I do not have many of my basics left to take before I start my blocks. Most of my friends are applying for their blocks right now and I should be applying in 1-2 semesters depending on how much summer school I take. Then, once I start my blocks I have 4 semesters and I am thrown out into the real world. THE REAL WORLD.

Okay so honestly I have to tell whoever is reading this what brought this on...I just watched High School Musical 3. I have to admit that I went to Target tonight and bought the movie and came home and watched it. I'm not gonna lie I LOVE that movie. But it made me think about how fast things have come and gone! I can still remember what I wore and how nervous I was my first day of Freshman year in high school. I felt so grown up, but at the same time I was still so sheltered. It's funny to think now that I can remember where I parked, what I wore, who I first spoke to on campus, and how NERVOUS I was on my first day of college in August. It was terrifying.

I can't say that there is much I would change about high school or anything in my past. I made my mistakes, but I was also so successful. So, high school came and went and now college is flying by. So now what? Now what do I start planning? I knew where I wanted to go to college my whole life. Texas Tech was the place for me. But not I have all these new thoughts and worries coming to mind. What am I going to do after college? Am I going to go straight into teaching? Will I be ready to start teaching? What school will I teach at? Will I have met someone by then?

AHHHHHHHHH. I do NOT need anything else to think about! It is just so weird for me to not know what is coming. I want to just freeze time so that I won't have to think about anything coming up in the future. I want to experience EVERYTHING. I want to live in the moment EVERY moment so that I don't miss a thing. It's just easier said than done. I am a planning person. I have to have plans. I have to have structure. Therefore, I stress when I don't have a plan. I worry when I do not already know EXACTLY where I want to go.

So what next? You tell me.

2009-01-21T23:29:00.002-06:00

I have a million things to do right now, but I will write first :)

This semester has started out with a bang! My classes are alright. The only one that is challenging is Geometry. I struggled with it in high school and it does not look like anything has changed! I have to read a lot of the book since the teacher an be a little unclear sometimes. I guess that is why we have to buy the expensive things!

President's Select is going well...at least until tomorrow! I give my first campus tour tomorrow at 2pm and I am SO nervous! I just pray that God will give me the right words and help me along the way. I also pray that he will protect me from tripping and falling on my backside considering we have to walk backwards the ENTIRE tour!

I am working 3 days a week....which is getting a little old at times when I just want to come home and sleep! But it is a good job and I really do enjoy it most of the time.

Anyway, there is a quick update. I am off to read from some textbooks and finish my defensive driving that I REALLY need to hurry and get done!

Comfortable.

2009-01-08T20:35:00.003-06:00

School started back yesterday.

So far this semester I like every single one of my professors. They are all pretty laid back and seem like they actually WANT me to succeed...AMAZING. haha.

This semester should be even less difficult that last semester, which is awesome (knock on wood).

Almost everyone in my family was sick over the break. I knew that I would not get sick until school started...and guess what? I went to the doctor yesterday and was put on antibiotics because they believe I have strep throat. They did not test me for the fact that they figured that is what it is. Anyways, I am feeling a lot better today. The doctor told me to stay home from school today...but it was my first day of Tuesday Thursday classes so I could not miss it.

Life has been pretty busy lately with lots of family stuff going on (which I am SO ready for that to be OVER). Now that school has started more stuff will pile on, but I am praying that this will be a good semester!

One of my goals this semester is to break out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I feel like I have this box that surrounds me that will not let people in and I will not let myself out. I get invited places a lot...and for some reason I turn them down. I am a home-body and I know that...but I really want to get out and go places with my friends so that I can get to know them better, and meet new people. I really really have to work on that...

I hope you are all having a blessed week!

Happy 2009!

2009-01-04T00:08:00.002-06:00

Time for an update!

Christmas was great! I had so much fun being around all of my family. Not to mention I received some great gifts :] I posted a slideshow of pictures! Hope you all had a GREAT holiday season and that you all have a BLESSED New Year :]

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Christmas!

2008-12-20T20:55:00.003-06:00

Christmas is in 5 days! That is amazing! This school year so far has FLOWN.

This is my favorite time of year. I love being with all of my family during this time! I can't wait to see everyone again since we were not able to be with them at Thanksgiving.

So our house has been pretty calm considering all the stress of the holidays. I finished my shopping this last week and already have all but 1 gift wrapped and under the tree :]

Our house is all decorated (and has been for a couple of weeks now!) I just dread having to take all of it down :[

Not much has been going on recently. Now that I am on break from school there is not too much that I have to be doing. I love that things have slowed down for a little while! I am working 3 days a week and the rest of the time I am just enjoying the break.

I hope that everyone has a great Christmas and that Santa brings you all everything that you want :] :]

2008-12-10T10:51:00.002-06:00

It's Christmas time! I am so excited :)

I took my last final today. I am so relieved to have all of that over with.

I have not updated in a while because between school, work and all of my organizations I have been busy, busy, BUSY! Now it is time to take a break and just breathe for a while. Thank goodness!

I am definitely getting into the Christmas spirit....I made a gingerbread house a few days ago and yesterday Brooke, Brianna and I made cute little Christmas cookies (pictures to come soon!)

Saturday Frenship played at Jones Stadium at Tech so I went with my dad and brothers to watch the Tigers play Denton Guyer. It was such a great game the whole way through. We lost in the last 2 seconds of the game by a field goal. Talk about a heartbreaker :[

I sat with Becca at the game....we acted like High School kids again :] haha.

Friday night was Carol of the Lights up at Tech. My family went and we took Brianna with us. It was so fun....and so cold! The lights were beautiful and it was really fun to see how many people come together for this every year! This was the 50th annual Carol of Lights so it was even bigger than ever.

I hope that all of you are having a great time getting ready for the Holidays! Only 13 days until Christmas (at least that's what my count down says). Don't stress too much about the shopping!

2008-11-24T23:22:00.002-06:00

It's been a while since my last post...things have been pretty crazy (what's new, right?)

I am SO glad that the semester is winding down. I need a break...BAD.

The family and I are going to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving (I really don't like that state after this weekend....hmm wonder why?) We will probably be gone until Friday afternoon....then when I get home I am gonna go see my Frenship Tigers play in Lubbock :] I miss high school football....

I will probably end up going to the Baylor game on Saturday as well.

Okay, now for the deeper "what's on my heart" stuff...

Everything in my life has become routine.

School, work, chapter, President's Select meetings, studying, weekend.

There is nothing new.

I think the problem is I am restless...but it is not just me, it is my heart.

I don't know what it is but lately my heart has really been crying out for company.

Don't get me wrong. I love my family and my friends. It's just that there is this one little corner of my heart that is not quite filled. One part of my life that I wish could be different.

The problem is: I know that I don't control this. I can't control this. God is in control and He will decide when the time is right to change things up.

But, what do I do in the mean time? Do I sit back and wait for something that I wish for, or do I work to change things up and just hope that God is taking control through my actions?

This is where I run into a road block. I don't know what to do. So I go on through my day to day life and wonder if I am supposed to be doing something different....

My heart is so restless, and I really don't know what to do about it!

2008-11-10T23:50:00.003-06:00

Alright this post is going to be so much more optimistic :)

First of all, some of my stress is now gone!

Registration is now all taken care of! My advisor helped me get into all the classes I needed!
My Child Interview Project is done and turned in.
My bug collection is done and I turn it in tomorrow.
I made a 98 on my last Entomology test before finals!
My community service hours are done for Phi Lamb! WOOHOO!

Now the only thing left in my hands is the ticket I got last Tuesday. I am going to municipal court tomorrow, I think. I am just ready to get it all over with. My insurance is going to shoot up...but I am just ready to see the numbers and get the waiting over with.

2 weeks until Thanksgiving and 3 weeks until finals!!!! WOO HOO!

This is not my week...

2008-11-06T22:42:00.002-06:00

This has been an extremely frustrating, long, and draining week.

Let's start with Monday. I gave my presentation over bullying and that went really well, pretty much the only good thing about my week. I have not gotten my grade back yet, but hopefully I will soon. The only bad thing about Monday really was that the cute heels I wore for my presentation gave me 6 blisters.

Tuesday was not nearly as wonderful. First off it was my long day so I was there until after 3pm. I just don't like Tuesday's to begin with. Then after I leave my lab on Tuesday and am heading to Sonic to get me and my mom something I have a wreck. Yes, it was just great and something I totally could not have prevented. An older man and his wife came across like 4 lanes and I thought that he was coming into my lane in this huge suburban. So I was looking to my left and all of a sudden I look ahead of me and the car in front of me slammed on their brakes and I could not stop in time. So basically I had a wreck while thinking I was going to be hit. My car is totally fine, and the other guy was really nice and his car was not too bad just some dents and the trunk is a little messed up. The officer wrote me a ticket for "following too closely" even after the man I hit even told him that the shouldn't write me a ticket because it was pretty much unavoidable. The officer said that he had to because he wrote a report (which I found out later from a former AND current police officer that that was a bunch of bull). So now I get to go to municipal court and contest it and get a court date. Just what I need on top of school and everything else coming up.

Last night I stayed up until nearly 2am studying for yet ANOTHER entomology test and trying to register for classes for next semester. Well I thought it was all going great until it will not let me into 2 of the classes I need to bogus reasons. So I try to e-mail my advisor since he is kinda there to HELP ME! Well I never get an e-mail back. So I finally just went to his office today thinking he could squeeze me in for a 5 minute appt. OH NO! It can't be that easy. His secretary told me that he was just booked until Monday at 11:30. So I get to worry about this all weekend. YES JUST WHAT I WANTED! MORE STRESS!

Anyways, I'm sorry that all of this sounded quite negative but I had to get it all out somewhere! I really do apologize to anyone who reads this. I am usually not such a negative and whiney person, but tonight it is all hitting me and I am a little freaked out.

I have been praying all week that God would make himself evident to me and make me think of him throughout the day. And He really has which is amazing in the midst of all of this mess. When I have laid in bed the last few nights I have gone over my day and realized He has shown me so many things. I am so thankful, I just wish that all of this stress would hurry up and go away. I just have to remember that it all will not matter one glorious day!

Red Raider Pride :)

2008-11-02T16:22:00.003-06:00

Just so you all know....

It is a good day to be a RED RAIDER!

#2 in the nation :) I am oh so proud!

WRECK 'EM!

2008-10-29T23:42:00.003-05:00

I am telling you I keep looking at the dates on my previous posts and they feel like just a couple days ago and they always are over a week ago! (I don't know if that sentence made sense at all but it did to me) Life is FLYING by right now. I have projects and papers and presentations all due within the next 2 weeks. I am a busy little bee! Up until Christmas break I am SWAMPED. On top of Finals and all that junk I will be forced to take tests for both Phi Lamb and President's Select....ARGH!

It is okay though! God is so good for placing me in those organizations so I am going to keep the whining down to a minimum :)

I really do like being busy, but I have hit that place in the semester where I kinda just don't want to do ANYTHING. For the past 3 days I have been putting off reading for History. It is always "Oh I can do that tomorrow when I get out of class early." Well guess what it has still yet to happen!

Therefore, this weekend is going to be extremely busy. Since I was out of town for retreat last weekend (which went very well btw) I am a little behind. I have decided that I do not think I am going to fight the crowd and stand in line for 5 billion hours to get into the Tech-Texas game. My dad bought a new TV for the basement yesterday, so I will probably just sit down there on the comfy couch and work on projects while yelling at the TV :) I wish I could go to the game but I just don't think it is going to happen.

I hope everyone is doing great! I enjoy reading all of your blogs. Have a blessed week.

-Whitney

2008-10-21T23:10:00.002-05:00

Oh goodness. I am so ready for Christmas break I can hardly stand it. I feel like everyday it is just something else put on my plate that I am FORCED to do! AH! Scary. I feel so overwhelmed right now, but something inside of me is keeping me calm and I am so grateful for it. I freak out way too easily and way too quickly when it comes to school, so I am just praying that God continues to keep this calm inside of me. I can not believe that the semester is over half done! WOW. It is amazing. I register for next semester on November 6th...that is in 2 weeks. CRAZY!

Well so far this week has been great. Just busy, as always. We have our retreat this weekend for Phi Lamb. I am excited, but it is in Merkel, TX and we have to drive ourselves. This may sounds strange being that I am 18 years old, but I have never driven myself anywhere outside of Lubbock, not even Shallowater. HAHA! My mom and dad were a little freaked out that I would be driving a total of 5 hours in less than 24, but I guess I have to grow up sometime! We leave Saturday morning early. Please keep me and the girls that are riding with me in your prayers. Pray that God is with me on the highway :)

I have projects and presentations out the WHAZOO right now, so I should probably go. I hope you all have a great week!

God speaking through children

2008-10-19T15:44:00.005-05:00

I just have to post this video on here for you all to see. My mom sent it to me in an e-mail and it is so amazing how something so perfectly true came out a little boys mouth.

2008-10-16T22:20:00.005-05:00

This week went better than I could have ever planned. Really, it did. I had 2 tests this week on top of keeping the girls and I still did well on both of them (well I know I did well on one but Ithink I did well on another one).

Anyways, yesterday was my last full day with the girls. It was a fun and interesting week :) I definitely have some respect for the kids that are in college and already have kids. That would be tough. Thank goodness for all the wonderful people that helped me with the girls this week!

Well...quick update on everything:

Tomorrow is Frenship Homecoming and a few of my friends are going to be in town! I am so excited :) GO TIGERS!
President's Select is going really well. I had my 2nd meeting tonight and I found out that I may get to start helping with the football recruiting this semester if they can not get enough volunteers for the next 2 home games. So that should be interesting/fun/nerve-racking!
School is going really well. I really do love college. I didn't think I would, but I love it.
Phi Lamb is great. I missed chapter this week but I was told that our fall retreat is next weekend which is REALLY exciting.

I think that is about it for now...Nothing else really interesting going on here. I am ready for some R&R this weekend...well at least some before more studying and homework hit :)

I never take the time to put pictures up on here so since I have a little time right now I will put a few up from this semester so far. Enjoy!!

This was our Phi Lamb 90's party last Friday. It was not as fun as anticipated but Julia and I had a blast dressing up :)

Homecoming bonfire 2008

Relay For Life 2008 with little cousin Brooke

Homecoming SoSing with Julia!

2008-10-13T08:35:00.002-05:00

Okay quick update while I am waiting on a class to start!

So far things have gone pretty smoothly with the girls. I only have the youngest and the oldest because Taylor is staying with my aunt. Alex pretty much can take care of herself and she is really helpful with telling me the things that I don't know about Lauren and what she does and does not like...let me tell ya there are more things that she does NOT like than she DOES like.

Saturday night Lolo was pretty wound up after being with my cousins playing all day. She was definitely tired though because she went to sleep in less than 15 minutes after I put her to bed.

Sunday morning the girls woke up early and I made breakfast. Lolo approved of the way I made her oatmeal. HALLELUJAH! Then she did NOT want to get ready for church. So I had to pretty much drag her to her room and put her dress on her. That was really the only problem yesterday. She made me a really sweet card at church telling me "Thank you for babysitting me for 5 or 6 days" haha.

This morning breakfast was not to her satisfaction...so I will have to figure that one out later. HAHA. She is definitely not a morning child. She was grumpy all the way through breakfast until I finally got her to laughing. She is the funniest little girl I have ever met. She was a little mad at me when she left for school this morning because she asked me to sign her reading log as she was walking out the door because she was ready for her test. We did not have time so I told her I would sign it tonight after we read it together one last time, but she was still really mad. Hopefully she will forget about it by this afternoon!

Well it is nearly time for class. Maybe I will have time for another update soon :)

2008-10-08T23:34:00.002-05:00

Okay so seriously time flies SO fast.

I have been so busy the last few weeks and the next 2 will be even busier.

First off, I made President's Select!

Out of nearly 300 applicants they only took 30 and I was one of them! I am so thankful.

This week is Texas Tech homecoming so I have been EXTREMELY busy with all of that stuff. It is all worth it, but just keeps me on my toes.

I have a bunch of midterms and projects coming up the next few weeks and on top of that I will be playing "mommy" from Saturday until next Thursday.

A family that I have known for a couple of years now is hoping to adopt a little boy from Russia. They were finally matched up with a child about a month ago and found out last week that they are going to meet him this next week. So, they asked me to keep their three little girls while they are away. One is in 6th grade, one in 4th, and one in 1st. They are the sweetest little girls and I really should have no problem with them, but they kinda live out in the boonies and I have school along with getting the girls to school and ready for school and all of that. So I am going to be challenged this week. Please, Please, PLEASE keep me in your prayers. This will be a rough, but I feel rewarding week. Once it is all said and done I think I will just be proud of myself for surviving! ha ha.

Other than that I am just a busy little bee. I feel like I have to fill my car up every other day with all the driving I do back and forth to campus. Thankfully, my parents have not made me get a job this first semester while I am taking 16 hours and just getting used to college. I hope to start with Pharmacy Technician work next semester.

Alright, that is all for tonight. I will let you all know how everything goes this next week once I have recovered!!!

Grateful.

2008-09-23T23:04:00.002-05:00

WHEW!

I looked at my blog and realized it has been a whole week since the last time I wrote on here...it seems like it was 2 days ago. This week has been crazy. I had a test or a presentation nearly everyday (including Sunday!) since last Thursday. Everything went FANTASTIC. I studied like crazy and it totally paid off. I made A's on my math and history exams. I took my entomology exam today and it was a piece of cake I am confident in an A in that one as well. My speech presentation was great. I was shaking like a naked polar bear in Antarctica, but I was even more professional than I ever dreamed I could be! God is good :)

The problem is I have gotten behind on my daily tasks. So this week I need to catch up on all the days I have missed.

Life is good. Phi Lamb is still amazing :) I love it so much. OH! And I started interviewing for President's Select on Sunday. It was the most horrible interview thing EVER, but I made it to the next cut. They took 62 out of 250 back for a second interview...so they must have looked past my absolutely RETARDED answers and seen that I was just nervous. haha. I am praying that my interviews this Sunday are good. I am nervous again...but I am praying about it & whatever is supposed to happen will happen!

I am exhausted from all of the studying & late nights I have been pulling lately, so I am going to bed. I hope you all have a blessed week!

"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" -Psalms 139:14

2008-09-16T20:45:00.003-05:00

Tonight I will give you this quick post.

Today I was told to go outside and find something beautiful that God created.

Well...today I killed two birds with one stone (not such a good thing to say when I'm talking about beauty...but it's all I could think of)

I am having to do a bug collection for Entomology and my brother went outside and found me the most beautiful butterfly I have EVER seen in my life. It is a HUGE monarch and all different colors. I tried taking a picture (I was supposed to post one) but I could not get a good one. The flash messed up and when I turned it off it was too dark.

So just imagine a huge butterfly almost the size of your fist that is beautiful orange, red and yellow.

Today has been hecktic and I have a long night ahead of me so that is all I can post tonight, but I hope that you enjoy hearing about my wonderful "To do's" as much as I love writing about them =]

Love you all,

Whitney

Listen...

2008-09-15T13:32:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I received one of the most awesome gifts for my birthday.

Misty Christine gave me a cute little gift box FULL of things to do...one each day for the next 365 days....yesterday I wrote what I learned in a journal, but today I was told to blog. So here goes:

LISTENING--

"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." -Psalm 141:3

Tonight I had chapter and it was so nice to just sit and listen. We had a small group Bible study before chapter and although I did put in my input I enjoyed sitting back and listening to what the other girls had to say about mercy, grace, faith, hope, and love. It is amazing how apparent things are but how hard they are to put into words, but when you do it all totally makes sense. I heard many things that made me take a step back and say "Wow...I have NEVER though of it that way before" I feel like I have a better understanding of the way things work because of really intently listening to the other girls and how they see different things.

Anyways, if I had more time on my hands I would write so much more and update you all on all the many things that have happened and that will happen soon. But, unfortunately, math and entomology homework calls and it is already after 10. UGGGGH! I love being busy...but I need just a little down time every so often!

Goodnight all!

2008-09-08T21:59:00.003-05:00

I should not even be on here right now! I have so much studying I feel like I should be doing, but I just had to share how everything was going...(and this is a good way to put off my homework!)

First of all...classes are not that bad. I really like all of them, but now we are getting into the first projects and tests. I am nervous about the tests because it is A TON of material all at one time...so if any of you college graduates that read this (Carla and Mrs. Wilson!) have any advice on some good methods of studying (especially for science classes) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE enlighten me!

Second...I already LOVE my Phi Lamb sisters. I was not so sure about the sorority last week but tonight the Lord just showed me that I was placed there for a reason. I am SO glad to finally feel at home somewhere on campus.

Third...I PASSED MY PHARMACY TECHNICIAN EXAM! I found out today =] It was pretty exciting since the test was SO hard and I really did not think I passed.

So there is my life in a nutshell. Pledge retreat is this weekend and I am so excited! Once that is over it's FOOTBALL TIME!

Hope you are all having a WONDERFUL week as well =]

-Whitney

2008-09-02T21:40:00.003-05:00

Whew! This past week was CRAZY! Between school, trip to Dallas, and my birthday I am wiped out! Last week got a WHOLE lot better once I got used to school and the campus and everything. It was just all a little overwhelming and still kinda is.

My birthday was great! Me, mom, and dad went to Dallas for a quick trip. We shopped, saw some good friends, had ColdStone ice cream cake and Cheesecake Factory (mhmmm Dulce de Leche cheesecake!)

Okay so there is a story behind this picture...

We stayed at the Embassy Suites right next to the Galleria. And in this hotel live 2 beautiful swans. So in every room of course you have two wicker swans.

Well...when I was little my grandpa went to a garage sale or something and bought this UGLY and SCARY wicker duck. I was so scared of it that i BAWLED my eyes out when I saw it. So for Christmas a few years later I opened up a package from my grandpa and guess what was in it? THE WICKER DUCK! So when we went to this hotel and saw those swans my mom INSISTED that I take a picture with them to send to my grandpa.
Tonight I went to my first night of Sigma Phi Lambda rush. It is a christian woman's organization that I think will be really great...it is just so weird not knowing anyone! Hopefully that will change soon. Well I need to go do some homework...WHOOPDEEDOO!

COLLEGE.

2008-08-25T21:42:00.002-05:00

Okay...college is going to be fun.

But I am a little overwhelmed at the moment. All these new things, new places, new people, and all these dang BOOKS! I never thought that it was possible to have 3 yes 3 books for ONE CLASS!

I went to my speech class and Gender Roles class today. I really like all of my teachers. They all seem pretty nice...I was expecting all college professors to be like monsters. I was pleasantly surprised (let's just hope I'm not jinxing myself for tomorrow!). Anyways, I met some people in my classes today and I think that will help everything a lot!

I did eventually come home and have a mini breakdown. I signed up for an additional 3 hours that are to be taken online through South Plains. It is Texas History. Well...it's going to be a lot of reading. I got online to check my e-mail and discovered this teacher was not late getting everything online. I am starting the class NOW. So I eventually cried a little. It all just hit me at once. But now I think it is all going to be okay!

Anyways, I go to my other 2 classes and a lab tomorrow...I will let you know how those go!!

Sore feet.

2008-08-20T23:07:00.002-05:00

So I learned the hard way today to NEVER EVER EVER walk across Texas Tech's campus in flip flops. I have blisters on the bottoms of my feet. It's killing me. Anyways, me and my mom went out to Tech today to find where I could park and find all the buildings I have classes in.

The last 2 weeks I have been getting SO nervous about starting college...but today made me a little more excited :-] I just hope that I start meeting new friends soon. I love new friends :-]

I am going to have a HIKE from my car. That is really the only bad thing right now. Parking is going to be HORRIBLE the first few days or weeks...but hopefully people will start skipping after that. HAHA! I am parking on the other side of the Spirit Arena (off of TX Tech Pkwy.) and most of my classes are right in the middle of campus which is closer to University. So I will definitely get my cardio everyday.

I am getting more and more anxious...more and more nervous...but also more and more EXCITED! I just hope everything starts off with a bang. I will update after the first day and let all you loyal readers...well the 3 of you (haha.) know how it all goes!

Love ya'll,

Whitney

I hafta get this out...

2008-08-18T23:19:00.002-05:00

Are there some people that are meant to come in to your life, break your heart, and get out?

I've decided that apparently there are. I totally thought things would be different and a friendship really could last anything, but apparently not.

I just hate knowing that I put A LOT into something that came out to be nothing in the end. All it did was break my heart....I don't even know why I care so much because I know that I should just let this go but every time I want to I just can't!

I think it's funny that this is all occurring to me. I mean this has been a LONG time coming...I just didn't realize it. It was right in front of my face 2 years ago. Then 3 months ago. And still I had hope.

Well that is all out the window now. I'm done. I'm done missing you. I'm done hoping that I will hear from you. I'm done hoping that you will call to talk the way we used to.

I'm done with it.

But, the only reason I am done with it is because it only hurts me more to NOT be done with it.

I only hurt myself when I text you or try to talk to you.

So please...just forget about me if you haven't already.

2008-08-13T10:37:00.002-05:00

I can not believe that school starts in less than two weeks.

It is INSANE how fast the summer went!

I bought my backpack the other day because I realized that I really needed to get that done....

I am definitely not ready for 8AM classes. I am a little ready to be done with this whole babysitting everyday. It just gets old. I know I DO want to be a teacher and I will be spending all day with kids, but at least I will be TEACHING them something. All we do is sit around the house or I tote her wherever I need to go run errands. It is pretty stinkin' boring.

I take my Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam a week from today...AH! I am trying to study but it is SO hard to get back in the "school" mindset. I just hope that I get a good enough score to pass so that I can get this over with and have a good job during my college days!

One more thing before I go. I have to rag on the whole financial aid thing...it really makes me mad when the people who already have full rides to college get more and more money when all they will do is use it for things OTHER than school. Then there are people like me who have applied for every scholarship possible and applied for financial aid and can get absolutely NOTHING. Honestly, it really hacks me off. I have no money for college...therefore my parents who have always said that they will pay for me to go to college have to pay for MORE...plus I still have two brothers in high school that will start driving this year. I will work and help as much as I can but if I am full time student (which I will be) then I won't have just a TON of time to go to school, work, study, AND sleep....sheesh.

Well there is my little blurb for now.

-Whitney

Not good news...

2008-08-07T17:37:00.002-05:00

I finally know something about my tests from Monday....not really good news.

I am hypoglycemic, but also on the verge of being diabetic...definitely not good news :-(

The tests showed that my blood sugar jumped to 149 in half an hour and then within the next hour sunk to 72. My pancreas is not doing its job.

This is why I have gained some weight without trying and I am always tired and shaky.

I am going to a dietician hopefully next week...I have to cut sugar out of my diet completely. It is going to be a lifestyle change.

I don't eat bad to begin with because I have always been conscious of my weight and my appearance, but I do have to completely change the way I eat. If I don't then I will be diabetic in a very short period of time. Of course, my mom is scared & so am I. I am about to start college, which on it's own is hard enough, and now I have to deal with just one more thing.

I just hope I can work this out and stay AWAY from diabetes....

2008-08-06T19:18:00.002-05:00

Today I went to the tennis practice to pick up my little brother and I realized how much I missed some of those people! It was going to be weird meeting new friends. Of course no one can EVER replace any of my friends from my past. They all have a special place in my heart :)

I still have no idea what is going on. I do not know any more than I knew two days ago. My arms are finally working through the soreness and the bruises aren't quite as bad.

I am starting to think that I am ready for school to just hurry up and start! Although I am so nervous about starting college I am ready for something new. Every day is always the same. I babysit and sit around either on the computer or watching TV all day. It just gets old really really fast. I had been going to the gym at night, which was basically the highlight of my day until I started getting too tired to even want to go!

Anyways I guess I will write more later.

-Whit

Longest Day of my life...

2008-08-04T18:40:00.003-05:00

After spending more than 6 hours at the doctor feeling miserable today and being stuck 11 times we still have no clue what is going on with me. My blood sugar never went below 70 (which signals hypoglycemia) but it got awfully close at 72.

I am hoping that some of the other test results will come back telling us something because I know that something is not right. And I felt like crud all day long...so if this test proves nothing I am going to be one angry girl.

Anyways that is the Dr. report for today. Hopefully I will know more in the next few days after the next few lab tests are sent off.

-Whitney

Doctor Visit

2008-08-02T22:08:00.002-05:00

Well I went to the doctor yesterday. I told him all the things I have been experiencing and his answer was "reactive hypoglycemia". Which means my body is producing too much insulin. Anyways I get to go sit in the doctors office for 6 hours on Monday and have them take my blood every hour for 6 hours. Apparently they measure my reaction to the stuff I have to drink and when I completely bottom out it proves that I have hypoglycemia. Basically all they can do for it (as far as I have been told) is send me to a dietician and I will basically have to cut out carbs COMPLETELY from my diet because they are what triggers my little episodes of shakes and being exhausted. I have to get it under control before it gets any worse.

So that is the doctor's report. Hopefully I will find out either Monday or Tuesday what I will have to do to get this under control so I don't crash and burn all the time. Please keep me in your prayers over the next few days....I really really don't like having needles poked in me!

I'll update you more when I know more =]

-Whitney

2008-07-30T00:58:00.002-05:00

It is nearly one o'clock in the morning and I am up writing a blog. Not so smart. But I just wanted to write about something that just kinda hit me.

I was messing around with iTunes and trying to make ringtones to send to my phone and I found that there were many songs that I love that would make great ringtones....but then I realize that I don't know who I would use them for. Like "Some people wait for a lifetime to feel like this baby, they keep waiting. So let's take a chance while it's here. We can make it." Who do you use those for if you don't have anyone like that yet? Someday!

Hmm...anyways I wanted to write about something random so there it is.

This week is pretty simple. Babysit everyday. Not anything new.

I go to the doctor on Friday. I have been having trouble with feeling good and having any energy. I've gotten to where I start shaking really bad, which leads us to believe that my blood sugar may be doing some weird things. I am going to go get it checked out because I really freaked out the little girl I babysit last week when I started shaking pretty bad right before lunch. Anyways, so keep that in your prayers. I just hope there is nothing really wrong and that if there is it is just a simple fix.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!

-Whitney

Little girls...

2008-07-24T23:49:00.002-05:00

This week has been a tough one.

After my great week off last week I was a little bummed to go back to the routine of babysitting everyday from 8-5:30.

So this week my aunt asked me to babysit my 8 year old cousin along with the other little 8 year old girl I keep everyday. Of course, I said yes because I have a hard time saying the word "NO".

The situation was not good because jealousy got a hold of the girls and they just could not get along. So now I have one little 8 year old mad at me because I won't keep her and I'm pretty sure her mom is mad as well.

I hate being stuck in the middle of situations and especially when it involves my family that I love.

I feel bad but the whole situation upset me and frustrated me to the point of tears. So I had to do what was best for me...I just hope 8 year olds get over things fast!

I hope everyone else's week has gone a little smoother than mine has. I am definitely ready to just rest this weekend.

So now for some GOOD NEWS!

My mom and I were talking on Monday night and I was talking about how boring my room is. She told me that since I was not moving out and saving them LOADS of money in dorm costs that I can decorate my room how I want! So I am making my room into my own personal BIG dorm =] I am so excited! If I can ever just get anything done it would be awesome.

I really want to convince my dad to let me paint 2 of my walls light pink. I am sticking with the zebra and pink theme to the room. And I am going to add to my black and white picture wall. So hopefully this weekend I can convince him to let me and I will get this project rolling! If you have any ideas....let me know!

2008-07-14T00:32:00.002-05:00

Some people come in and out of your life faster than you can blink.

& then there are the people that linger in your heart for a long time and you really don't know why. It's so hard when you finally realize that someone has almost completely drifted out of your life right in front of your eyes. I don't like for people to just drift in and out. I like for them to stay forever. I know that it is not possible, and I know that some promises are always going to be broken but I still can't help but think that it is wrong. I still think that something is missing because that one person is missing. The phone calls get fewer and far between and then they just end completely....this will make no sense to anyone but me but for tonight that is okay. I have just realized something over the last week and I thought I would blog it :) It really does feel good to get everything out on here!

This is my week off...thank goodness! I was in need of a break. My brothers go out of town on Wednesday and I start house and dog sitting on Friday so I am kind of excited to have some down and alone time. I have been staying up way too late with so many things running through my head. I know that I always sound like a hormonal, dramatic teenager on here. I promise I'm not :) & I am an EXTREMELY lucky and happy girl. Sometimes I just can't keep things locked up inside me anymore and it is just so easy to type them up and put 'em on here!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and have a great beginning of the week!

2008-07-09T11:11:00.005-05:00

Well this week is yet another uneventful one, so far.

Babysitting ALL day everyday. It's not so bad.

I'm still working on my self esteem, but it's getting better day by day.

Partly because of this person:

I needed her visit so bad. She is my sister. It's so funny how you can still be so close to someone even when they live far away. We can still pretty much read each others minds and finish each others sentences :-)

Next week I am off! No babysitting or anything. Thank goodness. I've needed a week off to just get some things done for a while. I get to house and dog-sit next weekend.

Anyways, I hope all the readers are doing well and having a great week!

When I have something new to talk about I will write again :-)

4th

2008-07-06T11:25:00.004-05:00

So yesterday was a little bit of a downer day (thus the post from yesterday).

I never got the chance to tell everyone about 4th of July =]

We had a blast. My mom's friend from high school and her husband (who is from London, England) have been staying with us the last few days. Terry had never shot off fireworks before so he had tons of fun.

We invited some of our closest friends over for lots of food and fireworks. It was a blast.

We are so silly. We had so much fun with the sparklers!

The struggle

2008-07-05T11:04:00.002-05:00

My biggest struggle in life is my weight. It is something that I think about every hour of every day. Every time I walk into a store, every time I sit down to eat, and every time I am around my friends that weigh about 110 pounds. I do not know how to overcome this struggle. I have done everything but try to starve myself. I love food. Everyone in my family loves food. I can not help that. I workout at the gym every chance possible and I try to eat healthy.

This morning I stepped on the scale and when I saw the number I started crying. I hate it. I hate that stupid scale that tells me what I don't really want to know. I hate mirrors. I hate looking in the mirror every morning and not being happy with the shape my body is. I hate trying to put on my favorite pair of shorts and realize that they are a little too tight. I don't know what to do with myself. I know that this issue is solely my responsibility. I am the one that controls my weight. It is no one's fault but my own.

I want to overcome this stronghold that has set me back in every aspect of my life. I miss out on too many things because I am worried about my body. I can't do this anymore!

Please forgive me for this post. I had something that was really bothering me so I decided to post it. Now you all know what my biggest struggle is in life. It is not drugs or alcohol or ANYTHING of that sort. It is my body image.

2008-06-30T09:48:00.002-05:00

You can learn so much from young children.

I stayed with my 8 & 3 year old cousins this weekend while their parents went out of town. It was probably the most fun I have had in a while :)

The three year old little girl is the CUTEST thing. She is so full of joy! She is so loving and care-free. Nothing in the world bothers her.

Yesterday as we walked out the door of the house she turned to me and said

"WHITNEY!" (as she put her hand on her hip)

...I thought maybe I was in trouble for something

Then out of her mouth came "I love you!"

Just the most simple things, like that, make my heart melt!

There are times like those that make me know that I am meant to be a teacher and spend my life loving children.

This week I am keeping kids Monday-Thursday and then I am off on Friday for the 4th!

Misty is in town and Amanda is coming home so I have lots of friends to see as well.

I wish I had something more interesting to write about, but that is all.

Family.

2008-06-26T23:35:00.003-05:00

So I thought I would update you all on my family. I have nothing better to do and I am in the mood to blog...but I just didn't know what I wanted to blog about!

I am, of course, babysitting everyday from 8-5 and it is a little harder than I thought. I think this experience will be good for me though. I want to be a teacher so I think I need to get a little dose of what I will be around for the rest of my life! I am housesitting a lot and keeping a lot of dogs and little kids! HAHA. I am keeping my cousins this weekend and I am really excited. Little Brooke makes me laugh so hard. Life is slow right now but I feel like the summer is just slipping away. I really need to get back in contact with a few of my friends I have not seen since graduation. If I don't do it soon I know I will regret it once August rolls around and everyone starts moving. I am so ready for something new. I hate change but in the pit of my stomach I know this one is going to be good.

My parents are the same as always. They work like crazy. Dad especially. When they are not at the office they are working out in the yard or in the kitchen. I am so lucky to have a good relationship with my parents. I don't mind sharing my life with them and I am glad that I can rely on them so much.

My brothers...well they are my brothers. Bryce is as goofy as ever and wrapped up in this little girlfriend of his. Barclay is the jealous one, at least I think so. He kinda mopes around sometimes. Things have been good though. Like I said in my last post we do fight, but nothing big lately.

I hope everyone out there is doing good as well.

Happy Thursday!

Let them know...

2008-06-24T13:34:00.002-05:00

I happened to be flipping through the channels a couple nights ago and I came across the show on Lifetime called Army Wives. I had seen a few episodes but I was not an avid fan. Well Sunday night was completely sucked into the newest episode. One of the lead women and her daughter were caught in the middle of a bombing and the daughter ended up dying. I know that this is just a TV show, but I know that things like this do happen all the time. This girl was my age. She was about to start at Harvard and she just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I started thinking about the things that happen daily that could just as easily take someone away from all of us. A bombing is not nearly as common as car accidents. Hundreds of them happen daily just in our town alone. I don't know how many times I have left the house being upset or mad at someone. Or not telling everyone that I love them before I leave. This show completely made me think about it. I bawled that night. I don't know why it hit so close to home all of a sudden. I got out my phone, it was 1am, and immediately started typing out a text message to my little brothers. We fight all the time...anymore I feel like that is all we do. I told them how much I loved them despite all the fights and arguments. I felt like they really needed to know that no matter what we fight over that I always love them.

Like I said I don't know why this hit so hard, but it did. And I felt inclined to share it with the few of you that read this. I really just needed to write it out for myself. Anyone who is reading this please just remember to tell your family and friends how much you love them. I think with all the craziness we have in our lives sometimes we forget what is really important.

-Whitney

Schedule

2008-06-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

I am finally done with all of my scheduling! PRAISE GOD :)
I am taking some kinda cool, pretty strange classes....

#1. I am taking Etomology (which is bug science) I will probably walk out of that class everyday and feel like I have something crawling all over me. I HATE bugs, but my advisor told me that is the easiest Science class for my major....and since I really don't like science I decided that would be a good idea.

#2. Speech class. EW. I am taking one that sounds like it might not be that bad though. It's called Communication, Civility, and Ethics. Who knows....

#3. Gender Roles. I have to take some sort of child development class and this one seemed cool and it fit perfectly into my schedule that was extremely hard to make.

#4. Elementary Analysis I. It is some sort of math I have to have for my major...but I really don't know what that entails.

So anyways that is my schedule. I have a few labs and discussions in there too.
Now I'm off to babysit all day long....yay.
It's really not all that bad, but I've decided that kids tend to ask too many questions....about EVERYTHING. I guess I better get used to it if I am going to be teaching elementary school!

I'm about to be a RED RAIDER!

2008-06-14T18:45:00.000-05:00

Summer is so fun. I am so thankful for the break.

The sad thing is I have had a lot of time to think about what will happen with me and all of my friends as we all go our separate ways....some are going to Abilene, a few to Waco, and some just different schools in Lubbock. What will I do without my best friends right here with me. Walking down the halls talking about everything that is going on around school and what we will do that weekend. It is so sad to think that the people that I have been closest with for the past 6 years will be scattered everywhere. I am thankful that I am staying here...where I am comfortable. I just hope going to a big school (which is what I have always wanted) is everything I hoped it would be.

I start my orientation at Tech tomorrow and I am SO excited for the new people and new place...but at the same time I am SO nervous! I hope that I meet a bunch of new friends easily and I really hope that I get the classes that I need at times that will work well!

Anyways...I will post ALL about Orientation sometime within the next few days!!!!

"OU girls are pretty, Northwestern girls are smart, But it takes a Texas Tech girl to win a fella's heart. Miami girls are tan, SMU girls got the dough, But when you want the hottest girls, Tech is where to go. Arizona girls are wild, UT girls are fun, But when a girl's a Techsan Girl, You know she's #1. Search each and every college, North, East, South, or West, You'll find that those Tech girls will ALWAYS be the best! So, for any guy who reads this and truly wants to know: Get yourself a Raider girl, and never let her go!"

Vacation Hang-over

2008-06-12T16:02:00.000-05:00

Let me tell ya being away to the "Happiest Place on Earth" for 8 days is pretty draining. We had a BLAST at DisneyWorld and I really wish we could go back like...NOW, but I know that I can't and soon I have to start taking care of things around the house and with all the new college stuff that is starting to come up. But for right now I am enjoying what my good friend Alisha calls a "Post-Disney Vacation hang-over". I slept until 1:25 this afternoon...I have never slept that late in my ENTIRE LIFE. It was nice...but my day was pretty much wasted.

So now (for anyone that really cares) I am going to tell you a little bit about our wonderful vacation! We left on the 3rd and flew from Lubbock to Birmingham, Alabama and had a 3 hour layover...that was just tons of fun. We finally got to Orlando about 8pm Texas time. Since we were staying on Disney property our luggage was supposed to "follow" us to the hotel so we didn't have to get it at the airport. Well....I went to sleep with all my make-up on and in the clothes I traveled in. Our luggage FINALLY made it to the hotel about 1:30am. I'm just glad it actually made it! We went to all the parks: Magic Kingdom (my favorite), Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Typhoon Lagoon. This year is "The Year of a Million Dreams" at Disney so they are always giving away stuff and making people feel special. Well at the Luau we went to I was chosen to lead the "dessert parade". I had to wear this hat with my name on it and wave and smile and it was pretty embarrasing but HEY I was on vacation :) If any of you know my brothers then you know that they will NEVER let me live that down. Then on our second trip to the Magic Kingdom we were awarded all day "Dream FastPasses" to any of the major rides. It was pretty cool because they only gave away a handfull of them. Anyways that is just a small overview of our stay. The hotel was beautiful, the people were EXTREMELY nice, and the plane ride home was HORRIBLE.

We got home about 8pm last night. My horse had to be put down earlier yesterday evening, so our welcome home was not the best. He was completely fine before we left. I guess it was just his time to go. :( I'll miss him. I have had him since I was a little girl.

Anyways I am still trying to get thank you notes sent out from graduation gifts. I was NEARLY caught up and then yesterday I came home to about 15 new gifts. Graduation is really fun :)