H is for....

the HOLLAND home

anyone who has spent time at my parents home knows how special of a place it is. My mom is THE BEST entertainer and cook in the world...seriously. I am not just saying that because she is my mother; that girl could throw a huge party with 5 minutes notice..and make it look GOOD. I have loved being so near to my parents while being at State, it is definitely the best part of growing up in a college town. From Sunday lunches, to dinners with my roommates out there (because of our lack of anything to eat at our house), and every occasion in between, my parents have taken mine and my brothers' friends in as family over the past 8 or so years that we have collectively been in college. My house is my favorite place in the world (besides the lake...if only there was a lake AT my house, life would be perfect) and I always know that when I go home, I will be coming home to two wonderful parents, a fridge full of diet cokes, some candy in the candy jar, and pretty much any other food I could want in less than an hour. My house has seen so many people in and out of its doors night after night after night for as long as I can remember. I grew up that way, which I am very certain is why me, Bo, and Jack could talk to a brick wall and it be an entertaining conversation.

JUST LAST NIGHT, my mom and dad threw me a SURPRISE graduation/going away party at their house. ALL of my college friends came and we ate (and ate...and ate) and just hung out with each other one last time before we all graduate and move off to all different places. The house was SO cute...maroon and white State stuff everywhere, law books, etc. all over the place. It was definitely a night I will never forget. I posted some pictures below of the night and the house, so you can see for yourself why the Holland Home is so special to me.

the front porch (pre-food)

one of the tablesand the other table after dinner

G-unit. ok, no...just G.

i just didn't feel right about blogging about this one until i could see the finish line....but i am one test away...so here it comes....

G is for GRADUATION!!!

finally! i know, i know...i still have three more years of law school ahead of me..but there is just something about having that degree finally under your belt...it feels wonderful. with only one more final to take (and a ridiculously easy one, at that) i can see the end...and it looks GLORIOUS. can you tell i am glad to be finished??

Looking back over the past four years at Mississippi State, I am truly amazed at what I have learned. Mark Twain once said, "I never let school interfere with my education," and I couldn't agree more. Sure, I have learned a thing or two about empirical research and democratic theories, campaign processes and public policy...but the lessons I have learned in my day-to-day life are far more important than any literature poem or spanish verb (that i couldn't even conjugate now...love that memory of mine)

some important lessons i have learned in college worth sharing:

1. you find out what TRUE FRIENDS are in college. you also learn along the way, often through experiencing those friendships, how to BE a true friend. The ones that build you up (and you build up) are the keepers. I also learned not even to waste my time on people who I would leave feeling worse about myself than I did before I was with them. stear clear.

2. Having a solid and REAL relationship with God makes ALL the difference in your everyday life. I would know..I lived on both sides of the fence during college- most of the time riding the fence between the two- and the past year has been the most joyful and rewarding year of my life, because I have let God have control of my heart, mind, friendships, and lifestyle. Trust me..it is better that way. Once again, I would know.

3. ROAD TRIPS are the best thing that ever happened to the college experience. Whether it was football games, a concert, retreat, visiting friends' hometowns, or random trips to the beach for the weekend...you name it, I did it. and very spontaneously most of the time..which is definitely the way to go, in my opinion. Not only are the conversations in the car usually really good, but I will probably be telling my kids stories of the "good ole' days" in college and reminiscing about each road trip in great detail. they were that good. So if you are still in college...GET ON THE ROAD!

4. You feel a thousand times better about yourself when you EXERCISE. I have gone through stages in college of working out 2 or 3 times a day (that obviously didn't last too long) and not working out at all (and let me tell you, once you stop...it's SO hard to get back into it!) I think I have, over the years, found a healthy medium somewhere in there. I have more energy when I go for a walk or run during the day, and I definitely have begun to use that time alone more wisely...i do ALOT of thinking when I work out.

5. Summers should NOT be spent in school!! Unfortunately, this will be my last summer to not have to spend in the real world. The way I see college is, you have to study most of the year, and you for sure are going to have to work the rest of your post-graduation life, so why not take a few months a year in college and do something FUN? I pride myself in never having to take summer school. Did I have to take alot of classes during the semester? yep. Totally worth it. I have spent the last four summers: living/working at the beach in Florida (a brief stay...but a good one while it lasted), working a whole summer on the lake at a Christian sports camp, interning in Washington, DC (it sounds like a real job....but if you know anything about interns in DC, you know what its really all about), and this summer I will be going BACK to camp to head up the Lake Crew. makes me sad to even think about this being my last summer. so i wont.

6. I could probably go on for way longer with this post than anyone cares to read, so I think I will just end at 5. or maybe i will just give a short last one...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MISSISSIPPI STATE.

if State is not your alma mater....I am sorry for you. truly.
(i am aware that this is not a lesson, but a statement. don't judge me for that.)

F

F is for FACEBOOK

duh.




I seriously don't know what I spent all of my time and energy on before this beautiful invention. Discovered in the early spring of my freshman year, I have seen facebook grow in leaps and bounds in what if offers the mindless college student in entertainment and voyeurism. We have gone from the primitive grey walls where you had no idea who wrote what unless they signed their name to their post and anyone could go in and erase your whole wall at once...remember those crazy things we would post to each other, Harris? Messages from "Mr. Belding" and other has-been celebrities appearing on our walls. wow. Moving on over the years to photo albums, personalized walls complete with a mini picture on each post, the stalker-feed, and multiple opportunities to appear cool by listing the number of photos and friends one has posted below their not-so realistic looking profile pic. Man, that facebook team really knows how to lure 'em in. Despite the slight sarcasm in the sentence above, I really do love the fact that I can easily keep up with my friends that do not live near me and also maintain certain friendships with semi-friends...you know, the ones that a phone conversation would be SUPER awkward to have with, but a nice wall post or FB message is just the right amount of communication. Not only do I love FB for the virtual friendships, but how about the new bumper sticker application?! LOVE IT.

I wish I would have kept a log of the amount of time I have spent on "the book" over the years...actually, it would probably just depress me if I actually realized how much of my life has been pointlessly wasted by browsing my recently updated friend list in search of "relationship status" changes and newly posted photo albums. I am actually deliberating getting off facebook for a few weeks...at least until finals are over so that I can actually concentrate on schoolwork whenever my computer is turned on (it is my homepage, after all). But then I think of all the wall posts, messages, photo tags, and POKES I will possibly miss out on...and any notion of self-discipline immediately flies out the window. Maybe Law School will strike the final blow in defeating my facebook addiction...but until then....FACEBOOK ME (and stick me with a bumper sticker, virtual friend!)

E

E is for EASY SEMESTER!
until now.

yes, that is right...i have had the easiest semester of college this spring, and I feel fully justified in that. I spread out my core and political science classes over the years so that i wouldn't have to have ALL political science classes during a single semester...because that would just be torture with all those papers and research. This semester, I am only taking 12 hours (I also only had to take 12 hours last semester because of my summer internship counting during the fall..THANKS BOSS!) and I don't think I have even picked up a book in 2 of them. The other two have required a little bit more effort, but I have enjoyed the work so it makes it not nearly as bad. HOWEVER, because of the seemingly "easiness" of my semester, I have procrastinated WAY longer than usual to get my final projects and papers finished. I have a 15 page paper due on Thursday (have I even started? Of course not.), another 15 pager due next Thursday...once again, haven't started...and a final brief,2 final exams, and a take-home final due the week of finals. YIKES. Thank goodness its all just at the end though, because I sure loved all those days of NOTHING this semester that I used to just hang out.

D

i have several d's. that is what happens when i go for days without blogging and continuously thinking about what i should blog about. the STRANGE thing about all of the D's that i could think of is that they are all actually DC's. You will see what I mean at the end.

1. DIET COKE.

If you have been reading my blog for the past few months, you know that I LOVE diet coke and that I gave it up for Lent. Not gonna lie...it made me feel ALOT better not drinking it. In knowing that, WHHYYY do I still love and crave a diet coke every morning, noon, and night? I really think it is all pyschological. I must have had some really good memories with Diet Coke over the years and I just cant bring myself to say good-bye. Although I went on a DC rampage immediately following Lent, I have actually not been drinking as many as I was pre-lent era. I try to only drink one a day, and I make sure to savor every drop.

2. DC (literally)

I lived in Washington, DC, all last summer, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I lived with two amazing girls at Georgetown Law (in the dorms on the Hill) along with the rest of the 30 or so Mississippi State and Ole Miss interns. GOOD times. I spent my weekdays in Dirksen Senate Office building from 9-6, with extended lunch breaks almost every day on the Hill. The weekends consisted of lots of sleeping, sight-seeing (with friends that came to visit throughout the summer), and eating HUGE brunches and dinners before going out in Georgetown or Adams Morgan (my personal favorite...PEYOTE kareoke, what what) I don't have the time or energy to even begin to talk about the number and quality of restaurants in DC, both on the Hill and off, but I am certain that I would have gained about 20 pounds that summer had I not had to walk to work and all around the Capitol everyday. I am the most obsessed with the fast-paced atmosphere around the Hill (where the Capitol is and all of the Senate and House offices are located) and I would LOVE to move back to DC after I finish Law School to work. If you plan on taking a trip to the nation's capitol city anytime soon, let me make your itinerary. I want you to love it as much as I do.

3. DC Talk!I know, this is random...but this weekend on our way home from Arkansas, me and the girls I rode there with broke out some old DC Talk songs...What if I stumble, In the Light, Jesus Freak...you know the songs...classics. I had forgotten all about the boys until last fall, when one of the members of the band (Kevin, I think?) came to State for a gospel service with Johnny Cash's sister during the Johnny Cash "Flower Pickin' Festival" in Starkville. He sang "In the Light" by himself, which was good, but it made me miss the rest of the band. Man, I LOVED them. I acutally saw them two years in a row when I was in junior high. Those were the good ole' days. (no, not really). I plan to rummage through my closet at home next time I go there and dig out some of my old CD's. Get ready for a Jam Session.

Delayed...

no, my D is NOT for "delayed"...I have a much better D than that. BUT...due to the fact that I was supposed to be on the road OVER an hour ago headed to Camp for Top Staff Orientation this weekend, I cannot give my D what it deserves today....I will be back Sunday...with plenty of stories and a fabulous D word. In the words of Lee Thorne, a once faithful blog reader..."Y'all be good."

The 3 C's

this game is taking over my life...i spent the whole day yesterday trying to decide what my C's would be. I have three, and I love them all equally. So I'm putting all three. deal with it.

C is for...CAMP OZARK

I think everyone is well aware of my LOVE for this place. I have worked as a counselor at Camp Ozark for the past two summers, and I will be going back in May for one last summer before I move to VA. Not only do I get paid to hang out with some amazing kids everyday, but I also have THE BEST possible job at camp....LAKE CREW. That's right...me and 12 other RIDICULOUSLY awesome counselors are in charge of the Lake Program at Camp Ozark, which is on Lake Ouachita (about a 20 min. drive from the actual camp). I spend most of my summer days driving boats and teaching skiing and wakeboarding, and occasionally we will all switch up duties and I will take kids out on the lake sailing. Ahhh...life is SO good there!! I can honestly say that my FAVORITE memories in the entire world come from camp and being on the Lake. The best part of Lake Crew is definitely the Lake Crew...we are all super close because we spend so much time together away from camp, and we spend almost as many nights at the Lake with each other that we do at camp with our cabins. I am going back this summer as Top Staff, so I will basically be responsible for the Lake Program and for all of the new Lake Crew members. Some of my BEST LC friends are coming back this summer, and it is taking everything in me to not think about it all the time and actually focus on school and trying to graduate!

C is also for CRUSADE

I have become really involved in Campus Crusade this year...I was pretty active my freshman year, but everyone I went with either graduated or just stopped going, and of course I don't normally do things by myself...so I faded out too. Then last semester, I started going again with Peyton Hill and Rachael Kirk (both BALLERS) and found out about a conference over New Years in Atlanta that Crusade sponsors. I was looking for something a little less rowdy to do for New Years this year, so I ended up going with some friends. I talked about it in one of my first blog posts, actually...It was amazing. But that is not the point. The point is, because I went to Atlanta and met Kevin and Missy (the Directors) and some other people involved in Crusade at State, I began to get really involved too. Me, my friends Peyton, Matthew Kimbrough, and Lindsay Bean all started a Crusade co-ed Bible Study called "The Way" this semester, and I LOVE our big group!! Crusade has meant and done more for me spiritually in this one year than anything else in my life to this day. and THAT is why Cru is worthy of recognition in the Alphabet game.

the last C....CHIPOTLE!!

Ahh...Chipotle. I can't even find words to describe my OBSESSION with this restaurant. I first found Chipotle in DC when I lived there last summer, and me and my friend Anne would eat there every week, sometimes more than once a week. If you live near a Chipotle and don't eat there on a regular basis...well, shame on you. I cannot stand it when people try to compare it to Moe's either. WAY BETTER. I mean, I guess it is the same concept of Moe's, but the free-range meat, fresh toppings and various flavors of salsa make Chipotle everything that Moe's wishes it was. To try to describe my love for this place, I will tell you that I drive at least once a month to Tuscaloosa just to eat at the nearest restaurant...I am actually planning a trip for next week. Mesquite grilled chicken, spicy corn, lettuce, sour cream, steamed rice, mozerella cheese all wrapped in a warm steamed wrap...mmmmmm. (i won't mention how many calories are in each burritto..it hurts too much to think about it)

B

**just to clarify how serious i was about taking advantage of my balcony in the previous post, i would like you to know that i am writing this post while sitting out here (and skipping class to do so...it's Spring and beautiful outside, I couldn't help it)**

i have two B's today. is that ok?

B is for BESTIES!

(Besties=Best Friends). I have more BEST friends than anyone in the world, I am pretty sure. My "besties" always joke with me that they don't think the title means very much since I say it about so many people, but I honestly REALLY do feel like everyone I say it about has attained BFF status. I can't help it- I bond with people VERY easily. Sometimes that can be a flaw, because I am also way too trusting of people too soon, but my theory is...life is to short to NOT get close to people you like. I have to give a shout out to my NEWEST bestie, BALEIGH, because a) she asked me to and b) her name starts with a B! I love this girl ALOT...she can see God in absolutely EVERYTHING...what an encouragement. I would love to give shout-outs to everyone of my BFFs individually, but I don't want to leave anyone out on accident, so I will shout-out by states...my two besties in TEXAS, one in ALABAMA, and five in MISSISSIPPI. you know who you are. (well, you better.)

the other B is for BOPS!

that's right. The best ice-cream...excuse me, FROZEN CUSTARD store in all the land. I remember my senior year in high school when my parents told me and my brothers that they would be opening their very own Bops in Starkville that fall. I freaked out....I was, and still am, OBSESSED with Bops. Whenever I hear the words "comfort food", I immediately get a craving for a Bops favorite with cookie dough. or maybe some warm apple crisp with custard. Or do I want chocolate with sprinkles?? SO MANY CHOICES. Imagine getting it for FREE too...let's just say I need to work out ALOT more than I do to burn that stuff off. But there is good news...We have SPLENDA custard now, and I just happen to LOVE splenda! It's really not bad at all...when I remember it, I always get it. I love taking my friends to Bops because it is a way that I can do something nice for them without having to spend money (that I obviously don't have as a college student) and I don't think they mind too much either.

Some of my favorite Bops combinations:

Custard with Strawberry and Cheesecake (called a "Sorority Girl")
Chocolate Flakes and Coconut (my CURRENT favorite..thanks Harris!)
Vanilla with Oreo and Sour Gummi Worms (Dirt and Worms)
Peanut Butter and M&M Concrete
SNO CREME sno cone with condensed milk on top
APPLE CRISP or Blackberry Cobbler (esp. on a cold night)

I could go on and on, but then I might break down and have to leave my balcony to go get some..and I just don't feel like getting up right now.

The Alphabet Game

I have been considering doing this game for a while but wasn't sure if I was a committed enough blogger to do this 26 days in a row...so we may only make it to B or C. But I have a good A, so I guess you gotta start somewhere. (Not like I don't talk about things I love on a daily basis on my blog, but I guess this is just a more formalized way to do it and to give me stuff to blog about)

A is for A1 University Drive!

This is the address of my house in the Cotton District of Starkville. Known for short as A1. Anyone who has spent time at our cute little 3-story house knows the greatness that comes with the huge balcony, cozy living room, great location, and fun neighbors. We are in walking distance to campus, the tanning bed, my two favorite restaurants (Bulldog Deli and the Grill!), and we live smack in the middle of a big area of nightlife in Starkville (not that there are THAT many areas of nightlife in this town at all...but still, the Cotton District is one of the best). One of my favorite things to do is sit on my balcony on a pretty day (see picture to left...that is NOT an example of a pretty day, but it's all i could find) and read or hang out there at night and watch all of the drunk people *attempting* to walk home from the bar...I wish I could remember all of the hilarious conversations/fights we have heard on those nights of watching all of this to re-tell. I will only be living there for a few more weeks, which definitely depresses me...but I plan on fully utilizing that balcony as much as possible until May 1st. Two other great things about A1 are my roommates, Jennifer and Mary Annette. We are all three completely different in pretty much every way, but they are both REALLY good at listening/giving advice and putting up with me throwing my stuff ALL over the house. God has blessed me EVERY year of college with amazing roommates, and these girls are no exception!

A1, during campaign season

our COZY living room

solid

i have alot of catching up to do..so get ready. seriously, this one may be the size of a small novel.

my entire week last week was spent getting my scholarship application filled out (7 essays for one scholarship...seriously?!) , writing a take-home essay test for my political theory class, and....oh yeah. that's all. I did absolutely NOTHING the rest of the week except hang-out with some old (and new) friends, do lunch and dinner every night with different people, took ALOT of naps, and caught up on The Hills. (THANK GOODNESS IT'S BACK!) I realized, last week, that THIS was what a good majority of students in college do EVERY DAY. Just hang out. Not me...I have had a part-time job, numerous obligations to organizations, and taken at least 15 hours of school every semester. Until now. No more organizations, no more work (until I get bored of doing nothing all day, which is why I got a job in the first place), and WHO CARES about school...this is the worst case of senioritis I have ever even heard of. I couldn't tell you when my next test was in any class because I can't find my planner. Lost it today. THIS IS SO NOT LIKE ME. But you know, I am trying to embracing it and mellow me out a little before Law School starts back up hard core in the fall. I don't even want to think about it right now. Moving on. Let me fill you in on the weekend...it was a GOOD one.

Friday night: Carley and Cole's Engagement Party/Shower. We hosted the party at my parents house...it was supposed to be a "Patio Party" outside on our patio with big tents set up, but Friday brought some HARD rain all day long and the party had to be moved inside last minute. I wish I had taken pictures of our house...mom and Mrs. Hazel made it look SO cute. We still had the food on the front porch but moved all of the tables to eat on back inside. The party was so fun...we played the Newlywed game (Me and Harris were each other's dates...enough said) and I loved being back together with some of my old friends from high school/college.

Saturday: Slept in...went for a good run...spent most of the day packing some clothes/books/etc. up in my apartment to begin taking back to my parents house. We just found out that we can move out May 1st so I am trying to get as much as I can done before exams. Bo and Emily were in town for the weekend, so the fam went to eat at Doe's for dinner. (I was the fifth wheel...as usual. I REALLY miss Jack on nights like those) After dinner I met up with Carley and Harris at the Veranda to hang out...we stayed a long time and got caught up on everything that is going on in each other's lives...made me realize how much I MISS being around them and having them to talk to 24/7 about stuff. I don't know that I am a big fan of this whole "growing up" thing. After dinner, I went and met up with Jake downtown and we went to Whiskey Blues to see Bo and Em. Bo and Jake recently "bonded" one night at the bar and they have had a strange obsession with each other ever since. Can't say I didn't see that one coming. They are exactly alike.

Sunday: (spent the night Sat. night at the parents) I got woken up to the smell of bacon and coffee...I LOVE BEING HOME. Had a huge breakfast, went to church, mom cooked lunch at the house afterwards. Got to spend some QT with the parents all afternoon. Last but not least, I went to see JOEL OLSTEEN in Memphis last night! Completely random last-minute trip..but SO worth it. Now, I have had my Joel-doubts in the past, just like every other analytical Christian out there, but there has always been something about him that have like that I couldn't really put my finger on....so I wanted to go and find out for myself just what I thought about him. He did not disappoint. His message was full of hope and joy, biblically based, and complete with the message of salvation at the end. At times, I felt like I was at a spiritual pep-rally, but hey...who doesn't need a shot of JESUS every now and then? Joel's messages focus more on God's LOVE and redemption of His people than it is about turning from sin and remaining in a lifestyle of holiness. Don't get me wrong, I believe that BOTH of these principles should be preached, but often the message of God's unconditional LOVE and acceptance gets trumped along the way by the rules and doctrines of religion. That's why I have such a great respect for Joel's messages. Loved Victoria too..she loves her man, that's for sure. One thing he said last night was that he wakes up every morning and says, "Something GREAT is going to happen to me today." If you have ever seen this man on TV or in person, you can attest that he is SUPER happy all the time...I mean I guess I would be too if I said and whole-heartedly believed that promise every morning of my life!! He put alot of things that have been going on in my life in perspective last night, and whether he is the end-t0-all in preaching or not, God definitely used him to speak truth and hope into my situation. So that is that.

Tats.

well. i must not be very political-conscious of run-off voters in mississippi, because i def picked two unsuccessful candidates. i am very dissapointed in the turn-out of the election, but i can rest in the fact that the two candidates i was supporting are both very strong in their faith and have expressed that they know there is a reason for the way things turned out. I am now supporting Gregg Harper for district 3 in the general election that I will be voting...absentee, of course...in November. I was very impressed with Harper during the congressional debates, but I had no personal ties to him or his campaign staff which is why I went with Charlie Ross instead, but I do fully support Gregg Harper at this point...after all, the people have spoken, and he is the Republican candidate. Red or dead, that's what I say.

On a completely different subject, I have been contemplating getting a tattoo for a few years now. I have ended up talking myself out of it everytime because its just so....permenant. I thought about waiting until I was married or something until I got one, because I mean my hubby is going to have live with seeing it everyday...now dont get any bad thoughts about me in your head...i want it on my FOOT. but still. but then, i thought...do i even WANT to marry someone that wouldn't be open to me having a tiny tatoo on my foot?? i know all you married girls are probably rolling your eyes at me, but these are thoughts that float through my head on a daily..no, hourly...basis as a single girl. So I am back to square one. I want one, but am I going to regret it? But if I dont get one, am I always going to wish I had one?

What I want is a small cross or something very small that is meaningful about my relationship with God on my foot. I read this verse to one of my friends (who already has one on her foot) last night, which is I guess why it has sparked my interest so strongly again.

"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -Romans 10:15

What is ridiculously cool about this verse is that last night in class, I was bored, as usual, and I drew (with a sharpie) on my wrist the numbers of a verse that has become really special to me, 1 Corinthians 15:10, and I accidentally wrote the numbers..."10:15" instead. Later that night, I was telling my friend about it, and that conversation led to another one about her tattoo on her foot and as I looked up the verse I was trying to remember about having beautiful feet (which the one I was originally thinking about was Isaiah 52:7 and I had never even read this other one) I saw that it was in Romans 10:15!!!! Coincidence?? I dont think so! So...I am still considering getting the tat, but I want to be SURE it is what I want since the thing is going to be with me for a LONG time...

Any thoughts? Opinions? Regrets?

mississippi run-off

If you live in the 1st or 3rd district in Mississippi, don't forget to VOTE today in the run-off election!! Voting is liberty and a duty that we have as citizens in America, and it really ticks me off when people don't vote because they actually think that their vote won't matter. Seriously? That is a main component of Democracy...one person, one vote! Ok, I'm getting off my soap box and putting my campaign hat on...I am actively supporting Charlie Ross for the 3rd district (my district) and Glenn McCullough for the 1st district. I have done alot of personal research on all of the candidates and have met with most of them personally during various debates I have organized, and these two men are by far the most qualified to represent our State in Congress.