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.