Appreciate the Art

I have fallen in love with photography. My interest grows the more I use my camera and study photographs in National Geographic. I hope to start publishing some of my pictures. Here's one that struck my fancy on nationalgeographic.com.

Beautiful St. George

Where's Golf?

NCAA Regional Selection Day

St. George, Utah here we come. Only 9 hours away from beautiful Longmont, Colorado we will be teeing off on the 10th-12th of May. We are SO excited! The conference call was great, it's just like March Madness but not on tv. Anyway, the golf course, Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, looks pretty amazing. Look for the results on golfstat.com on the 10th. It's live scoring.

Creative

Click here to see something creative.

It's Not Over Yet

We did it. We won. With a 3 shot lead over UTEP going into the final day, we ended up winning by 2 strokes over East Carolina University. My team is the greatest team in the world. Everyone contributed, Kathryn's amazing playing the first two days, DMC's steady playing the whole tournament, Meghan's big final round, and Stace's red numbers the last two days. Incredible team effort! Meghan, Stacey and I all had a birdie on the last hole. Way to make it interesting right? The ECU team watched it all. It was incredible and I'm grateful and honored to be a part of it. Onto regionals...

An Unwanted Countdown

I don't want it to happen. The realization of growing up has hit me as four of my teammates are about to graduate. This is our last tournament together and I am beyond sad. Our relationships have grown immensely since the day I came to Memphis and I consider them great friends. I don't want this chapter in my life, or theirs, to be over. I know this team with them on it and it is hard to stomach the thought of them not being here next year. It is a time all of us go through and I got a taste of it in high school when Kelly and Brianne graduated leaving Steph and I to fend for a state championship by ourselves. I have hope, why wouldn't I, because our fourth state championship was soon to follow. I must admit it is a bit different in college seeing as we aren't going for our second straight NCAA title. I wish. But it is something we all must endure. The pain of growing up. Needless to say, I am excited for them as they enter life after college. They are amazing people with potential unlimited and I know whatever they set out to do, they will do it if they truly want it. My last entry, the Tiger Woods quote fits in right about here. As my other teammates, three to be exact, who will be returning and I have to bring up some freshman next year. It will be different for all of us but who said change isn't a good thing?

“I think it's an honor to be a role model to one person or maybe more than that. If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.”
-Tiger Woods

Update

So a little update.

Travis came into town this weekend. I'm sure everyone knew that so it is really only news to me. Let me entertain you with the story. We were playing at Chickasaw CC and I was on the 4th hole walking over to my ball by the cart path. I hear the cart coming behind me and thinking it is just my coach I just kept walking. Then the cart pulls up next to me and HOLY MOTHER Trav is sitting in the cart too. I've never felt so surprised in my lifetime. I couldn't believe he was sitting there. I thought I was dreaming. It was very surreal. I was speechless. It was very cool.

We spent Easter weekend watching the Masters which was great. My family from Louisiana came up and we had a crawfish boil in our front yard. There was about a million pounds of crawfish and people ate for hours. It was a good time. Church on Easter followed by a sweet brunch made by me wrapped up the weekend. Not much happening but quality time for sure.

My car was in the shop for the past two weeks so I've been maneuvering myself through town on my friend's bike and various rides from friends. It sucked but when does car trouble not suck? It's fixed now so that's great.

Our last tournament before conference was held just outside of Atlanta. My teammate Stacey won which was awesome because she won there last year as well. So props to you Ms. Tate! Conference is on the 21st-25th which is very exciting.

School is over May 3rd for me. Hannah and Cady (my sisters) are flying out on the 1st to hang in Memphis and then drive back with me. Very stoked for that. Neither of them have been here yet and I'm anxious to see them.

10 Year Anniversary

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of Tiger Woods' legendary win at Augusta National. This next weekend he will try to earn another green jacket this weekend. Phil Mickelson won last year and Tiger missed out on winning his last Masters for his dad, Earl who died last May. I predict a dominating performance by Mr. Woods even though he shot +1 yesterday.

Fun fact: 10 years ago, before he set the record of -18, he shot a front 9 score of 40 (+4).

Let the magic begin.

Yummy Gummies

This chandelier is made out of gummy bears. Incredible.

A Memphis Sunset

One of the Greatest...

Payne Stewart.

Winner of the 99th United States Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Died October 29, 1999.

One of the most charismatic players on the tour typically seen wearing knickerbockers and tam o'shanter caps. One of my favorite players to watch and certainly after he won the US Open in 1999. Recently I was lucky enough to visit the statue in memory of him just off the 18th green at Pinehurst No. 2. I did not play No. 2 (I played No. 8) but to be in that presence of where something so spectacular happened left me speechless.

Want A Sneak Peak?

Trailer

February 20th

The big day is in 3 days. Anberlin is coming out with their new album "Cities". I have downloaded three of their songs already and so far, its typical, amazing Anberlin. If any of you didn't know already, they are my all-time favorite. I could listen to anything they sing all day everyday. Their unique yet indie rock style is so appealing to me. Their lyrics are well written, and from what I've read, they are all genuine stories about the artists themselves. Needless to say, I'm excited. I already pre-ordered a copy and it is on its way to my house right this second. WOW.

Beautiful Mexico

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.