What Next?

Has anyone ever seen a sign like this? I thought it was rather odd. But beneficial, I guess. Before we know it, the "normal" spaces are going to be so far away from the store, might as well walk from home.

Life Lessons From Wisconsin

After spending two days in Wisconsin in the cold rain and wind, I felt it was time to write another blog. I have thought up some lessons in reflection on the last two days that might come in handy at later moments in my life (or your life), so I wanted to share them.

-The world seems a whole lot bigger from 30,000 feet in the air.
-Rain is awesome, but some people don't think so.
-Cheeseheads are too expensive.
-Irish people are cool and so are their pubs.
-Time flies when you are playing golf for twelve hours.
-A school I.D. won't get you on a flight home in Madison, WI.
-Hot tubs can save your life.
-People who only compliment their own kid, suck.
-Seeing an old friend is a good reminder of how far you have come in life.
-Turbulance is my worst nightmare.
-Ironman competitors are amazing.
-Fluffy clouds can keep you occupied for hours.
-If your arms get numb, just flex them over and over.
-New Zealand natives shouldn't try to be gangstas.
-Taking an unplayable lie is sometimes the right decision.
-Teamwork will get you anywhere you want to go.
-A day off can be a good thing.
-Always be proud of who you are and who you play for.
-Make sure you get it to the hole; playing it safe never got anyone anywhere.
-A best friend makes you feel like you mean something to somebody.
-Everyone needs a tutor at something.
-Studying on a plane is hard.
-Singing to yourself after a bad shot is the best medicine.
-To take a bike on a plane to your desired location is only $8.

That is golf tournament number one. Who knows what I'll learn next trip!

To Sum Up

As the school year comes to a close and I get ready to go home, I have a lot of time on my hands becuase of finals. My finals are easy so there's little studying going on but studying nontheless. I have been thinking about how I got throught the past year or so alive. First of all, I did it with God. By taking a leap of faith I moved out here, knowing only the unknown and God was faithful, like He always is. Secondly, my family and friends. Many nights on the phone late, helping me with papers, all of these things helped immensly. Even people in Memphis, like my new friends and Rachel, a lady who is such an amazing example of grace. I have amazing roll models here and in Colorado and to look up to them kept me falling forward. Lastly, believing in myself. Putting all of these elements together along with my own encouragement and perserverance and thats what you call Freshman year. I feel like I've grown up about 10 years. Coming out here I didnt think I needed to grow up anymore, at least not this quickly. Once I let my pride down, thats when the seas crashed and I learned more about my life in 6 monhts than all 19 years. I'm not saying I have it all figured now, but I have accquired so many more tools to weather the storms I am given. Yesterday in church I got choked up worshipping this amazing God that sent me here. I knew I was where I was meant to be. It was encouraging for me to get that feeling that God and I were celebrating together. The part in the song goes like this:

I was defeated but now here I stand claiming the day.

We're Taking This Lying Down

I just got back from my first protest. I feel like I should put this in a baby book or something. "My first protest." I commuted for the Invisible Children in the Sudan. People all over the world joined me in a stand to end the war there. I have never experienced anything like that. There were about 200 people with sleeping bags and pillows; snacks and drinks; cards and books. All to gather to support a common cause. Most of the kids I found out were under 18 years old. We wrote letters to Congressmen and President Bush. We also made an art project about what we think we were doing. "What does the Global Night Commute mean to you" was my question.

I don't know why I have such a strong heart for this cause but it gets me to my core. Maybe its becuase these children are being forced to murder other people. One child said, "I get a headache if I don't see blood." That makes me cringe. Possibly, becuase I have been interested in education lately; the betterment of children in society, that I am such an activist for this issue. Whatever it is, it surprises me and it humbles me every time I think about those kids. Sleeping outside on pavement (in the pouring rain mind you) was just a taste of what those kids do. They do it every night. They do it to live. Here in America, I have a bed, a comfy bed at that, to sleep in every night. I dont worry about people coming to abduct me in the middle of the night, shove an AK-47 in my hands and tell me to shoot the kid next to me till he's nothing but a puddle of blood. It seems so surreal to me. Never being overseas kind of limits my knowledge about the world to a television and books. I dont see how such violence goes on in the world, but it does. In America, we have it pretty nice.

Sleeping next to 187 strangers was a new experience as well. If you have seen the film, Invisible Children, there is a camera shot of the kids sleeping in a hospital. They are the commuters. Well this morning when I got up thats exactly what everyone looked like. It kind of gave me the chills to think, "wow these kids do this everynigth and its not even this glamorous." They might not have a blanket or a pillow, and people brought every kind of pleasure from home. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, iPods. I didn't bring any of that. I chose to experierence is as real as possible. Waking up every hour wasn't much fun. Sleeping next to Mr. Snoring-so-loud-I-could-barely-sleep wasn't much fun. Being in the humidity, and almost in the rain wasn't much fun. Being close to so many people who shared my concern for the kids in Uganda, that was fun. Waking up at dawn and having quiet time with God, admist all of this, now that was fun. Looking back and saying that I was a part of something that could change someone's life; priceless.

<30+15

A champion gets up even when they can’t.

When I am on my game, I am unstoppable. I spend so much of my time reaching for perfection, when perfection can never be reached. I choose to work hard. I exert a considerable amount of energy in weights and run so many miles to build a dominating force. My focus is intense and abundant. I wait patiently for my time to come when all the variables will be in place to crush the field. I have already won. The countless hours poured into my game have gotten me where I am and that in itself is a victory. I want to be able to come off the course knowing I put it all out there; I used my tools in the best way I know how. I am not looking for acceptance from other people but only from myself. I am playing for me and only me. I am trying to prove that all the sweat, hours, sacrifices, aches and pains were worth it. I aim to please my God in Heaven with the gift he has instilled in me for eternity. Everything I have been through, has prepared me for this moment. The obstacles and victories I have been through possessing the appropriate characteristics to allow me to execute this next shot with everything I have. I loose myself in the moment. Everything goes quiet; I know I am in the zone. I have one opportunity. I will not let it go, no matter how hard the conditions. I only see where I will hit my shot, how far, how hard; I have extremely good touch. I own the qualities to become the best this world has ever seen. I have a dream. I have determination. I have the will power to overcome anything. I have a support system people would dream to have. I have it all. Most of all, I know how to win.

Less than thirty; by fifteen.

OMG

Im pretty upset with the result of our game tonight. I might be wounded for a bit but give me time. We had a National Championship team and we let it slip right through our fingers. Pretty dissapointed boys. I would be okay if we played well and the other team ya know, beat us legit, but WHAT THE HECK!?! We shoot 28% in the first half from the floor. Im pretty embarassed. But whatev. They are pretty much all freshman anyway...except the BEST PLAYER! UGH!!!!!!!! Anyway, have a great night all!

ELITE EIGHT

HERE WE COME!!!

March Madness

I'm not just talkin about basketball!

Wow, it has definitely been awhile since I have posted anything! PHEW! School has been pretty busy. We got back from Las Vegas last week after taking a red eye home. That was so much fun let me tell you! :/ 24 hours of no sleep. Pleasant. The weekend has been relaxing and I'm trying to catch up on school work but there's this basketball tournament goin on....haha yeah a little addicting. I love march madness!!! PLUS Memphis is rockin' on through to the Final Four baby!!! Trav is comin on Thursday and that makes me the happiest girl in the whole world!!! I can't wait! Also the fam and I went house shopping yesterday. We found some candidates but I'm not the one runnin the checkbook so I don't know what kind of casa we (my cousin and I) will get. It was good to see my family from Louisiana and my Grandma and Grandpa from L-Town. Haven't been to school in about 2 weeks so that's kind of exciting too! Trav is here for a week then we leave for Atlanta. YIPEE!!! The next week we drive down to Hattisburg, MS and then the next week its off to East Carolina for Conf USA Championship. Before I know it finals are here that next weekend then its BACK TO COLORADO!!!! :) CANT EVEN WAIT! Until next time....

Same Old

So its only like the what, 3rd week of school and I'm already beat down with the same routine!!??! This is not good. Today I had to declare my room single or not single (I didnt have a roommate last semester) and I have to declare it a double so there is the chance I could get a roomy this semester. I was really mad at first but then we had qualifying so that kind of gets rid of my anger I guess. I came to the conclusion that, #1 If i did get a roomy they would be put in my life for a specific purpose and to teach me something, I guess thats not all bad; #2 I will be gone for like the whole semester so it wouldnt matter anyway and #3 I might meet someone I like.

Oh by the way qualifying didnt go so hot but at least I did some hardcore thinking. Meh, whatev.

I just hate how they dont tell you if you are going to get one, they just show up. And my crap is ALL over the room so they would probably be mad. Well its my room. haha just deal.

Well thats all I have on this lovely Tuesday in Memphis. Have a great one.