Finally, a new post!

     So I have obviously been neglecting my blog, and I hate it. I am hoping that I can give a quick update on what I have been doing this past month so I don't have to play catch up anymore!
    What took up a majority of my time this summer was my 2 online graduate school classes. I took a Theories of Counseling class and a Lifespan Development class. I really enjoyed my Lifespan class, but the amount of work and reading each week was pretty overwhelming. Taking classes online requires a lot of self discipline and time management, and lets just say I had a whole lot of late nights. It was nice to be able to work while I took classes but I am also really looking forward to being in the classroom in the fall for my next classes. 
    Speaking of work, I was so blessed to have a job this summer. I have worked at the same camp for 4 summers now and I love it. I work with 4 year old's at a summer camp at Schiff Preschool. Yes, it is at a syangouge; No, I am not Jewish. We don't teach anything religious during the summer, although most of the kids and teachers are Jewish. My mom and I got the job through one of her friends and I really can not complain about a Monday thru Friday job that goes from 9-2. I had so many questions about Judaism and the Jewish Culture and I was not afraid to ask them. I can't imagine my life without Jesus and it really broke my heart to be around so many people who don't know him. What is so crazy is that although they don't know him, he loves them so much he gave his life for them. How great is our God?  
    What I found difficult was being around the young kids who were just born into their beliefs. I genuinely cared for so many of the kids and teachers I worked with and I pray that one day they come to know Jesus and fall in love with him and that he transforms their life like he did mine. Compared to all the other summers I have worked at Schiff, this was by far my favorite. The teachers I worked with, the counselors, and the kids stole my heart. I am going to introduce you to a few of them. 

On the left is Henry. Henry stole the show this summer. He is a high voiced, loveable, out going little boy from "new jewsseyy" who loves to have his hands in his pants. On the right is Emily. She just moved here from Korea and barely spoke any English when she first got to camp. It was really cool to watch her interact with the other kids and how she would follow whatever her peers did in order to blend in. The cutest thing she did this summer: the first time I asked to take a picture of her, she held up a peace sign. You can see her holding it by her side in this picture. I think she started to notice that not everyone does that for every picture taken. 

 Like I said, Henry loves his hands in his pants. Gotta love him. 

   Some of the girls with their cat face paint!

My love, Henry!

These are a few of the people I worked with this summer that made it such an enjoyable, awesome summer! 

    So school and work consumed a large part of my summer, but stay tuned for more highlights!

4th of July Weekend!

    We got to spend our 4th of July weekend at my grandparents Lake House in Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee. My grandparents were there, my Aunt Cathy and cousin Ali and my aunt Kim, uncle Kevin and cousin Lauren were visiting from Baltimore. I made a "4th of July dinner" on Saturday night full of hamburgers and corn on the cob on the grill, macaroni and cheese and of course banana pudding. We spent all day on the boat Sunday and Monday-and I loved it. During the day we had such good weather, with some thunderstorms at night that were fitting for our favorite card game Queen of Spades. Unfortunately, no fire works this year because of the storms, but we managed. 

This is how they bring our boat "Okie" out and it scares me every time.

 The Captain and I cruising. 

Lauren, Ali and I at the Lake Club!

My Grandparents, how cute are they? 

Dad getting a little water skiing in. Although the water was so rough. 

My favorite picture, so much emotion!

 Pops and I. Everyone calls us twins-I don't see it. 

 Dad and his brother Kevin, and sister Cathy. 

We got locked out of the house for a bit. Whoops. 

Cameron's friend Erick came and brought his remote control. It is gas powered and goes 50 mph. Even I liked it!

We spend a lot of time on walks and bike rides around the neighborhood. So peaceful!

Happy Birthday America!

Bravos!

    I finally went to my first Braves game of the year! They played the Orioles and won 4-2. I can honestly say, this was the least amount of attention I have ever paid at a Braves Game. We had great seats, 3rd row in center-right field. This meant that every pop up ball that wasn't even close I screamed and made everyone else panic. My parents, brother and his friend, and Alicia all came along. 

Headed to Turner Field on MARTA

Cameron really loves taking pictures with me.

 Cameron is also really good at taking pictures.. gotta love him. 

 We were so close! 

 Beautiful sunset over Turner Field. 

Having too much fun with the Tomahawk. 

 

The game proceeded with Alicia and I making an emergency trip to Burger King. I was pretty sure I was not going to make it. All in all, great Summer-Braves night!

National College Conference

     This is a long over due blog, but I guess I have been putting it off until now to write it. I really just want to write about/share my time at a camp that changed my life! I guess you can say it's the Spark Notes version of my testimony. Here it is: 

    Last May, for some reason I am not even sure of, I decided to go to an FCA camp in Missouri called National College Conference. It was over Memorial Day weekend, and about 25 Georgia Southern Athletes attended. I guess when I look back, I went in with a pretty open minded, just really wanted to see why every one said it was so awesome. Everything that was talked about at this camp was completely new to me. At the first couple meetings, I questioned everything.  I questioned everything to the point that there was nothing left to question. I knew that what I was reading and learning about was the truth. And that weekend ( May 29,2010) I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! I love to look back on that weekend and see how God was working and how much I have grown in this past year. 

We got broken up in to Families when we arrived, and this our family :The Lions. Such fun people with a heart for the Lord.  I love how God put these people in my life on purpose. 

Within our families was a huddle. These were all the girls in my huddle group before a tacky-night. Such women of god!

Moriah, Morgan and I. This is where Morgan and I first ever hung out really, and now we are going to be roommates! Definitely not a God thing. 

Some fellow Georgia Southern Athletes. 

     Hands down, one of the highlights of the trip was the worship leader Coffey Anderson. He is now one of my favorite all time artists ( check him out). He was an amazing performer, hilarious, and so down to Earth. I really don't think the weekend would had been the same without him. 

All of us with Coffey. 

Here are 2 of his video I took off my camera so they aren't the best quality, but you get a feel for it!

Needless to say, I was not the same person when I came back after that trip. All I have to do is praise the lord for that. 

" He has rescued us from the domination of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

     So fast forward a year, and College Conference came around again the same weekend.Instead of the Nation College Conference, we went to the South Eastern one at St.Simons Island in Georgia. It was absolutely beautiful there. I was so excited to go again because last year had such an impact on my life. This years experience was a lot lot different. Not any worse or better, just different. I did know the Lord going into it this time around, but he still showed me so much. I learned a lot of different things that I did not know before and my favorite part is getting to meet new people. I love meeting other athletes that love the Lord. This was probably my last year going because I am old now but I am blessed I had the opportunity to go there and learn and grow fellowship with other believers. God truly blows me away daily. I am so glad he is now my best friend, my father, my King- my everything!

" And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of god, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

 Our family, after a long day of activities. 

Love them!

" I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous. I have conquered the world." John 16:33

Six Flags Fun

    So this weekend Alicia and I took her younger cousin and her friends to Six Flags. I used to go all the time when I was younger with my grandma and cousins, but it's been a little while since I went last. We totally felt like mom and dad. It's funny how certain rides I can't handle as well as I used to ( the swings) but we still had a blast. 

This is the new ride, Dare Devil Dive

    We packed our lunch, and right when we got to the car it started pouring. Alicia and I killed a bag of Sour Cream and Onion chips, and her cousin couldn't believe it. Comments like "this was full when we got it!" and "how hungry were yall?!" were expressed, but I think they were just being dramatic. Alicia gets anything and everything in her eye, and what was so funny was she a got a sour cream and onion flake in her eye. Poor girl. It was still raining, so we decided to drive to the next exit to McDonalds to get some ice cream. It was a stop well worth it. We saw a "couple" that was highly intoxicated dressed so inappropriately, and she yelling proudly " this is my daddy, not yours." When we walked in, there was a woman wearing a completely see through shirt, with nothing underneath. It was so awkward, and of course Alicia and I were being so immature about it.

This is why I love her: 1) looking at her reflection in a puddle 2) doing the Bernie or what she likes to call the "Birdie" to walk up a hill. 

Spider Man glasses, no big deal. 

We are so cool. 

Of course I had to capture Gods artwork as we were leaving. 

I will leave you with dorky video I took while riding the Mindbender. And please excuse my obnoxious gum chomping-I was nervous. 

Weekend Fun!

    Friday was my bestest friend Alicia's birthday! I was so glad that I got to be in town to celebrate with her, as well as my other best friend from high school Stephanie. We ate at a place called Shout in Midtown. It was pretty good food, fun atmosphere. We rented a hotel really close by, which worked out so perfect. After dinner, we went to place called Flip Flops which was right down the street. It turned about to be a super fun night!

Yenny, Alicia, Stephanie and I at Shout for dinner

The gang at Flip Flops!

We all love each other so much :) 

Sums us up. 

My Best Friends!

We had to walk barefoot, our feet were killing us. But we made sure to complain to each other the entire walk home.

    It was such a fun night with the girls! The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel which I killed and then we went to Stephanie's sister house, who lives in Virginia Highlands, and we went to the Virginia Highland Festival. 

Erin has the cutest little apartment, I love it!

Erins dog, Javier, may be the biggest dog ever! 

The festival was scorching hot, but these handmade local King Pops cooled us off!

    This morning my dad, brother and I went to a local car show in Alpharetta that they have the first Sunday of every month. There were hundreds of cars, and even though I know nothing about the, it was still so cool to see!

 This is the craziest motorcycle I have ever seen!

This is my friends Travis car. My brother was in all his glory.