tacky clothes. silly girls. basketball games.

My top five favorite things about sixth grade girls:

-they are so full of life. always laughing, always smiling...which in turn is such a rewarding friendship to me; because I can't help but laugh and smile with them.
-they teach me new handshakes. awesome.
-it is impossible to do anything without spilling water or some sort of food product. (especially when making giant pizzas.)
-i learn so much from them. even the smallest things...like enjoying friendships and finding joy in little things.

-quiet and calm? i don't understand what those words mean. this, i love.



I'm on an intramural basketball team with some girls on my hall and soccer team. Don't you worry, we are AWFUL. I can't shoot a basketball for the life of me and when I do, I rarely make it. And I'm not much better at defense either. All in all, I'm a REALLY bad basketball player. Nonetheless, I make up for it with my hair-do, Jesus still loves me, and I've enjoyed the sweet sweet fellowship with these ladies!





OH AND ALSO! I thought that with it being a new year and all, I would post a few goals, if you must, for the next year:

-play more than four minutes of a varsity Soccer game.
-pray alone, outloud, everyday.
-learn road names on the mountain. (so that when j high students give me directions to their house, I can get there in less than hour FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE.)
-call home once a week.
-learn to drive in the snow.
-rejoice in the lord ALWAYS.
-own a pair of chacos. (i know, don't hate...)
-encourage my roomates, hallmates, and teamates.
-spend more time, outside church activities, with Junior high students.
-SURVIVE chow. (ha, NOT happening!)
-run the river run!
-get a summer internship job.
-learn to be a gentle person.
-read a children's book once a week...with no children present.

craft. play. eat. sleep. REPEAT.

It happened. For the first time in my whole life, I had school canceled...BECAUSE OF SNOW. I left home a day early to beat a snow storm that was supposed to hit Lookout Mountain...little did I know that school would be completely canceled that whole week...which meant that I was trapped on top of a snowy mountain with all my friends. Yes, (in case you were wondering) it was extremely exciting to me. Everyday, after playing in the snow, when school was canceled for the next day I ran up and down the hall screaming...typical Florida girl, obviously. Anyways, it was such a blessing and times of firsts for me...sledding, snow angels, stopping through the snow. You get the picture! What a fun start to the semester and fellowship with my friends!

It is well with my soul.

Hello, Happy New year! ok, I know, I've been slacking on writing, but maybe that's just because I've been having too much fun...I'll never tell. Anyways, the past few months have been packed! Packed with papers, friends, tears, and fun! Soccer finished up right before Thanksgiving Break, which opened up my schedule a lot, but I'm excited for it to start back up in the Spring. I officially survived and passed my first semester of college. God continues to teach me through so many people and continues to bless me beyond what I could ask or ever deserve. I posted some pictures to give you an idea of what's gone down the past few months...hope you enjoy these little tid bits and that it makes you smile!


Alright. I have it. I finally have it. A picture with my roomates, Anne Marie, Eliza, and Catherine. We had to take a picture for the year book, so this is, of course, how we decided to dress...we hope America is proud.

Fact: eliza loves me. This is what my desk looks like when I come back from class all day. She is quite the creative bunny.

I LOVED being home for Thanksgiving Break. Such a wonderful time with my friends and family. One day, some of my close friends and I decided to climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Eighty-something steps later, and we reached the top! Here are some pictures from our adventures at the lighthouse and nearby trails in the woods...



While at home over Thanksgiving break, we decided to put up the tree. You've been warned: never leave my dad and I unattended for more than five minutes. Double Trouble. But hey, at least we had fun and got the job done!

In case you were wondering, it is possible to start at Lookout Mountain, arrive at Lake City, head back to Atlanta and make it to Lookout Mountain and back to Atlanta between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

because i did it.

On my way home for Christmas break, my brother called me and told me that his youth group had an extra spot on their ski trip. (which ben, wife beth, and karen were already going on.) sooooo an hr from home, i jumped in the car and headed back to atlanta with my mom and karen. I barrowed ski clothes and had a BLAST. What a fun time with my siblings, students, and snow! We got back dec. 22nd...what a fun surprise!

Alas, I do not have a picture of my whole family together, but you will just have to believe me that we were. I'm so thankful for my family and the time that I've gotten to spend with them while on break. We had a wonderful Christmas together and a few days after, we went to a park an hour away. We went on a boat, played football, relaxed, and went to a restaurent where you cook your own pankakes. I love my family!

also: when asking my dad what he liked about my mom while they were in college, he replied, "well, she was a Christian gal, was fun to be around, and was cute!" Which of course, sent us all in fits of laughter...how could I not love being home?

Heres some pictures from our wonderful New Years Eve...silly, silly, what did you expect? ( may I add, that yes we were completely sober when this picture was taken!!)

Nicki: "I will PAY you not to go back to school."

Beth: "really, how much?"

Nicki: "$20, plus a pack of hemp, 2 painting canvas, and a pack of tigger stickers."

looks like I'm staying home.

CONFETTI!!!

I was also so blessed and thankful to spend time with my sweet friends Sylvia, Paige, and Melissa. As well as Sara Dixon and Linsday Berrang.

I hope you have the most wonderful start to your new year and I look forward to posting more throughout the semester!

LMPC Junior High Fall Retreat.

Meg, Margaret, Hally, Maria, Becca, and Mimi :)

This past weekend, I had the priviledge of going on Lookout Mountain Presbyterian's Junior High Fall Retreat. It was such a great opportunity to get to know the sixth grade girls in my small group...they are so sweet and fun and literally kept me laughing constantly. This weekend, it was really exciting to see friendships really begin to grow within our small group, and I was able to start building stronger relationships with these girls as well. I love each of them so much and I want them to know Jesus. Meg. she is hilarious. I don't know any other way to describe her, but she is most deff the jokster of the group. Hally. She is smart and we have the same birthday! Margaret. She plays soccer and reminds me exactly of what I was like in Junior high. Maria. She just moved to the area but surprisingly is very outgoing, fun, and has made a lot of friends. Becca. She is home schooled but VERY excited about going to GPS (girls prepatary school) next year. When I saw her on Friday I said "Hey Becca!" and she goes "omygoodness, you remember my name?!" Mimi. Oh Girl. She knows EVERY word to EVERY song on the radio. What a fun group of girls. They are so lively and have such fun personalities. I'm so thankful for each of them. I'm praying for them...praying that they will grow to love Jesus on their own. and praying that somehow, by God's grace, they will see Jesus through the things we do together. I'm so thankful for this time away to be with these girls...they are awesome.

1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Here comes fall...

waoh, life as a college student is crazy! I can't believe two months have gone by since I have been here! Everything is going well...My classes are keeping me busy, and I feel like I am constantly reading, but I am learning a lot and enjoying it along the way. I haven't been homesick in a while...it comes and goes but for the most part, this is starting to feel like home! I of course miss my friends and family, but I'm thankful for the people here. I've started going to Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, and loving it. I'm co-leading a sixth grade girls small group on Sunday nights with Catherine and Anne Marie, and sixth grade girls make me laugh constantly, to say the least...they are so silly and I already love them all. The weather here is BEAUTIFUL. Not only am I suurounded by mountains, but it's getting coolish and the LEAVES ARE CHANGING!!!! I just can't get over how pretty everything is. The newest and most exciting news I have, is that this week I got pulled up to varsity soccer! The varsity coaches approached me in the great hall early this week and asked if I would be interested in moving up and finishing the season on varsity. I of course attempted to remain and calm and act like it was no big deal to me...whelp, that failed and I ended up standing there hugging the coaches and jumping and screaming with Catherine. Give God the glory...He is blessing me beyond what I could ask or imagine. Well, I pretty much spend my days laughing with new friends, missing old ones, and running around in soccer cleats...that's all for now! Happy Fall!


We had on last JV soccer game a few weeks ago...I love all these girls so much. They are such a blessing!

Scots, scots, scots, scots, scots, scots, scots, EVERYBODY!

This is my new friend Aften! She has been such a sweet friend to me. She encourages and loves me everyday and constantly makes me laugh. One rainy Sunday, we went down the mountain together to Michaels and spent the day painting. She is so much like me, we love to laugh at the same things, and when we are together it's really fun and crazy. Oh and we decided we are going to be in each other's J-crew (Dad, start saving!) weddings. yeah, she's pretty great and I'm thankful she's around.

soccer, soccer, soccer!

Today, I am THANKING and PRAISING God for giving me the opportunity to play soccer again...I play my first game in three years tonight and I. AM. SO. EXCITED. Thanking Him for His faithfulness, loving parents who took me to a million doctors appointments and friends who encouraged me the whole way! whooooooooooooooo I CAN'T WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!