Friday, February 24, 2012

19 Years of ME!!! ~ God has Been TOO GOOD

That's right, this world has been blessed with my presence here for 19 years!!!!!!!! haha jk. But yes, Yesterday, February 23, I turned 19 years old! Crazy to think about!



I had a WONDERFUL birthday!!!!!!! My parents surprised me last weekend for my birthday and it was fantastic!!!! Friday night we had a "birthday party" at the hotel complete with a home-made cake and presents!!! Sadly, I forgot to take any pictures that whole weekend : ( oh well, we still have awesome memories that will NEVER be forgotten!!! I have been blessed to have the absolute greatest parents a girl could ask for.  They have been diligent in making sure that I'm dong what's right and being a servant of the LORD!

These are a few of the presents that my parents and sister brought for me :)

           A dress that I got to pick out for my birthday!!!!! I love it and can't wait to wear it!!!!!

                             My AMAZING Cookie's 'n' Cream Cake they brought from home!!!!

This is my totally awesome motion censored candy machine that Tyler Got me!!!! Yeah, I got the greatest Brother in law ever!!!!!

Yesterday for my actual birthday I was spoiled by my friends ;)  I don't like much attention on myself on my birthdays but Tricia did her best ;) and I love her for that!  On Friday Evening we had dinner on campus at the snack shop and had some of the greatest chicken quesadillas (sp?) that I Have ever tasted! :) we then waited for Tricia's sister Flossie to get off of work and then we went to Yogurt Mountain!!!!!!! This was my first time there and absolutely loved it!!! They also got a book that I can not wait to start using today!!!!!!!






Later Thursday night my roommate Rachel surprised mt with a giant cookie for our prayer group for my birthday!! ;) It was sooooo nice of her!!! and it was soooooooo yummy!!!


Rachel also surprised me that morning with the sweetest Birthday Poem!!!!! It almost made me cry!!!



My other roommate Ashley made some awesome signs for our hallway and also surprised me with an adorable bracelet!!!





This morning (Friday) I was surprised with a birthday card int he mail from family friends and also a package from one of my besties at home, Michaela!!!!!!! It was so sweet of her!!!!!




I've been blessed beyond words here at school and con not thank my GOD enough!!!! All Glory to HIM!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

"Fall Apart"

This past week has been quite a struggle for me.  Trying to keep a focus on my classes, studying and just not get too down an depressed about losing Gram.  As I was talking to a girl on my soccer team about it on Tuesday at soccer practice.  I broke down in tears.  Her words were such a comfort to me though.  She reminded me that it really is okay to cry ;)  Things will be worse if I try holding it all in.  She asked to tell her about Gram.  It really helped me just thinking about her and remembering all of the good things about her and the time that I was able to spend with her.  This July, Gram would have been turning 92 years old!  She was blessed with having a life that long!!! I'm so glad I had her in my first 19 years of my life.  She was the last grandparent I have living.  It is taking some getting used to that this is all real and that I won't see her again until Heaven! Oh what a Glorious Day that will be!!!!!! I'm sure Grandma is enjoying her time in Heaven right now with Pap, 3 of her children, all of her siblings, parents and grandparents that she has lived without for so long.  She was such a blessing in my life!!!!!

This past week I have heard a new song that really has become my comfort.  Music seems to speak to me in ways that not many others can.  I can read things, people can tell me things, but when it is in a song it just speaks in a whole new way.  The song is "Fall Apart" by Josh Wilson. Here are the lyrics to it.  It describes EXACTLY my thoughts right now!!!! Sometimes we feel like the whole world is against, but we forget that God is in control and is the storms, sometimes God is all we need... not only when things are good :)

Why in the world did I think I could
Only get to know you when my life was good
When everything just falls in place
The easiest thing is to give You praise

Now it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

Blessed are the ones who understand
We’ve got nothing to bring but empty hands
Nothing to hide and nothing to prove
Our heartbreak brings us back to You

And it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

I don’t know how long this will last
I’m praying for the pain to pass
But maybe this is the best thing that
Has ever happened to me

My whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when
You will find me when I fall apart


I'll be seeing you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

I'll See You Soon...

This past weekend was one like I've never experienced before, one I never expected and one I will never forget.  This coming Thursday will be my Birthday and the first that I will spend away from home.  My parents and older sister decided to surprise me this past weekend by coming down here to South Carolina!!!!! It was the greatest surprise I could have ever expected!!!!! They came Friday afternoon while I was at work and almost gave me a heart attack when they walked int he door! ;)  After that they got to come to my soccer game, which we won!!!! We then got Tyler and we all went out to eat.
Saturday was great! We slept in and then once we got going we picked up my friend Tricia from school and took her out to eat with us! My parents just loved her and I was so glad they got to meet each other!  After that we went to Wal-Mart and did a little shopping, then relaxed at the hotel and then I got ready for my soccer game for that evening.  It was really great to have my parents at a few of my games!!!!  After that we went to Tyler's Basketball game (he is the coach) and then went to the hotel and got pizza.  We got to bed late that night expecting to wake up the next morning for church....
Sunday morning came and we were awake and getting ready for church.  As I was getting out of the shower I heard my dad's cell phone ring.  That was the call that changed our day.  I couldn't hear what he was saying, but when I heard my mom's cry I knew exactly what it was... Grandma is with Jesus.  Within that instant I felt as if some one had punched me in the stomach.  I couldn't hardly breathe.  Why did this happen????  As I lay on the bed crying every tear I had I just couldn't believe what was happening.  This had been the most enjoyable weekend ever and now this.... WHY?????????  My parents and I didn't go to church that morning, we stayed at the hotel, tried to calm down and eat some breakfast. I felt so sick.
I still couldn't believe what was going on.  My mom was on the phone a lot that morning.  She wanted to spend the most time she could with me :) When Ashley and Tyler got back from church we went out to lunch.  I couldn't stop thinking about that morning... seeing my mom cry, hearing how upset she was..... it's been continuously playing over and over in my mind.  After lunch I began to feel much better.  We went to the mall, I got to pick out a dress for my birthday!! After that I went to work with my science group on a project and then the family and i went back to the hotel and just kinda relaxed for the evening.  We didn't go to church that evening either.  Ashley and Tyler went out to eat and me, mom and dad watched a movie and got some dinner at the hotel.  It was really nice, but the hours slipped away way too quickly.  9:00p.m. and I broke down in tears yet again.  I didn't want my parents to leave.
I had the option of going home and coming back to SC with some cousins that live here, but I decided not to. I was afraid of missing too much school work and was afraid I wouldn't want to come back to school.
So, the time came and Mom and Dad took me back to school.  I told dad goodbye with many tears and hugs. Mom walked me to my room and then the hardest goodbye came.
I cried myself to sleep last night and woke up terribly exhausted.  I was in a ball of tears getting ready for classes today and shed some tears during my morning classes.  I have been pretty good though the rest of the day.  I think I'm all out of tears ;)
As me and mom were talking and spending lots of time together yesterday we decided that this couldn't have happened at any other time.  God knew exactly what He was doing because if mom and dad weren't here with me and I got that call that grandma was gone, there is no possible way that I could've gotten through it alone.  God's way is truely perfect and He knew what He was doing ;) and I am so glad He did!!!!!!
As I think of gram today I remember all the memories I have with her.  As long as I can remember up until these past few years, She and I would go to the mall every Saturday morning.  We got our Auntie Anne's Cinnamon and Sugar pretzel sticks and Lemonade each and every week without fail! :-)  I had many sleepovers on the weekends which always included baking muffins (Blueberry and chocolate) and playing games on end of Phase 10 and Chinese Checkers.  During my junior high years at times I felt she was the only friend I had sometimes.  I would tell her everything that was going on in my life.
Gram always enjoyed seeing us kids playing sports or playing Piano.  She was simply amazing.  I'll never forget her as long as I live.
Her favorite Hymn was Face to Face and wanted us to make sure it was the song played at her funeral... She will be getting her wish on Wednesday ;)


  • Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
    Face to face—what will it be?
    When with rapture I behold Him,
    Jesus Christ who died for me.

    • Face to face I shall behold Him,
      Far beyond the starry sky;
      Face to face in all His glory,
        I shall see Him by and by!
  • Only faintly now, I see Him,
    With the darkling veil between,
    But a blessed day is coming,
    When His glory shall be seen.

  • What rejoicing in His presence,
    When are banished grief and pain;
    When the crooked ways are straightened,
    And the dark things shall be plain.

  • Face to face! O blissful moment!
    Face to face—to see and know;
    Face to face with my Redeemer,
    Jesus Christ who loves me so.





  • I LOVE YOU GRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING OVER ME!!!!!!!!  AS I SEE THE SUN SHINING DOWN ON ME I KNOW IT'S YOUR SMILE SHINING DOWN ON ME!!!!!!!!!

     Made this 3 days before she died...

     Gram's Last Christmas 

     One of my favorites of us!

     Gram with her last Christmas present..... She is absolutely beautiful!!!

     Whiskers loved paying with her!

     My graduation May 2011

     Best Friends!!!!

    Fourth of July 2011


    I love you Gram!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3