Wanna be on top, like me? All you gotta do is go KKG.

     This past Sunday was Bid Day on the Horseshoe. At the University of South Carolina this day consists of lots of screaming, whistles, cheering, and fraternity guys watching over 1000 girls run across the Horseshoe to the sorority that matches the shirt they received from their Pi Chi. 

Here's a little video for those of you who still don't get the picture.

     On this day 3 years ago I was one of those girls who was running across the Horseshoe with nothing but Kappa Kappa Gamma in my sight. I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing group of girls who are all unique but at the same time we have a bond that no one can rival. Joining Kappa was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was because of Kappa that I survived my first year of college and have had the most fun I think anyone could have in college. 
     The sisters of the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma will be a part of my life forever and I wouldn't have it any other way. 
     I only hope that the newest Kappa babies get out of Kappa all of they can and enjoy these next 4 years because before you know it will be time to graduate and you will simply be left with the memories and in my case pictures of your time in Kappa, a sisterhood that will last a lifetime. 

Big/Little

Roomies

Bigs and Littles

Kathryn and I with our fav alumni Kelsey Mac

Juniors!!!

Kappa Kappa Gamma 2011

Just hanging out with the #1 recruit in the nation Clowney at our Bid Day party

TSM

It's Friday night in a college town yet sorority girls aren't allowed to go out so what do you do instead...

Cook a delicious feast and have a movie night!

Our feast included:

Cesear salad which we consumed so fast I couldn't get a picture.

Shake and Bake Chicken Parmesan 

and for desert Gharadelli chocolate chip brownies

and

moose tracks ice cream

movies for the night

Arthur was hilarious and exactly what I needed after a long tiring week at school. The Romantics had an eclectic group of actors but it was surprisingly a good film with a happy ending. I suggest if you haven't already seen them to check them out. 

Let the Countdown Begin

Today is August 1st and time to officially start the countdown to what promises to be a busy month.

5 days until back in Cola

6 days until Lil' Wayne concert

15 days until recruitment

17 days until the First Day of Class

23 days until Britney Spears/Nicki Minaj concert

and...

33 days until Gamecock Football

I know the last one is technically in September but can you tell I might just be a little excited

Family

     My family is extremely close to one another. Both sets of grandparents literally live the next neighborhood over from me. I'm used to seeing my grandparents every day or at least a couple days a week whenever I'm home. Every time I come home it's a big deal that we have a huge family dinner and every summer before I go back to school both my dad's parents and my mom's parents always cook me a final meal. 
     This past Sunday my dad's parents (Grandmommie and Gramps) cooked up a delicious home cooked spread of summer veggies complete with fried okra and made from scratch cornbread. This has become sort of a tradition each summer that we have an all veggie dinner and all the fried okra you can eat. I am not kidding when I tell you that we had 6 lbs. of okra and my mother finished every last bit of it. She loves the stuff and even got mad at my dad when he tried to take the plate away from her. I love when we get together at my grandparents house because we just talk and laugh for hours! 

6 lbs. of okra

 Our delicious spread!

 Mom finishing off the last bite of okra. She couldn't let any go to waste.

 Home-made peach cobbler for dessert

     Tonight was supposed to be my second to last meal at my mom's parents (Gramps and Nana) house. I put in my request last week for what I wanted for my final meals so it was spaghetti and apple dumplings and more peach cobbler for dinner. My father might be in denial about this but at Gramps and Nana's house every decision revolves around me, even what we eat. Lets face it they spoil me but after all I am their only grandchild so they're allowed to. 

     This week I was supposed to me going over there for dinner again Thursday night when my mom is off but tonight was a night of good and bad news and as a result of some things that happened today the kitchen will be closed Thursday. I'm sorry for whoever's reading this if it gets a little heavy right about now but there's just some news I need to get off my chest. 

     To start off my great-uncle Uncle Reid died today. It was something that my grandmother knew was gonna happen soon. Her and my grandfather were actually planning to go to Statesville tomorrow to visit him. Instead they will be going on Wednesday to attend his visitation and then the funeral on Thursday. I wish that he could have held on one more day so she could see him one last time but we know he is in a better place now. At dinner my parents and I were informed of some more bad news. My grandfather, my buddy, my partner in crime so to speak has an aortic aneurysm that will require surgery in the next couple of weeks. My grandmother and grandfather are extremely optimistic and she said "We have faith". That was exactly what I needed to hear because inside I was freaking out thinking about the fact that my grandfather who I am closer to than anybody is going to have heart surgery and could die. As long as they think everything is going to be fine then I'm not going to think about the worst possible scenario. It's going to be hard going back to school and not being there for my grandfather but both my grandparents have assured me that they will keep me informed about any news whether its good or bad and won't sugar coat it, which is all I can really ask for. 

Sorry for the super long post but thanks for sticking with me:)

Please just pray for my grandfather and that everything goes well and pray for my parents and grandmother and me that we stay encouraged and stay positive through this whole process. 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1

His timing is always Perfect!

     Isn't it just funny how certain things happen when you least expect it. This year has been filled with a lot of moments I never thought would happen, one of which just happened last night...
     Never in a million years did I expect to get a friend request from my suitemate from freshman year after everything that had happened between us and all the hurt feelings on both of our parts. After getting defriended I was crushed that that person was no longer in my life and that I wouldn't be able to keep up with what was going on in her life. I chalked it up to she no longer wanted me in her life and therefore I said I no longer wanted her in mine. At the time I was feeling all these hurt emotions because I didn't know what I had done to deserve them so when I got that friend request I was shocked. Thirty minutes later I got the facebook message that would leave me speechless. 
     We both handled certain situations in the wrong way and it ended up hurting our friendship, which I have truly missed this past year. Tonight the first step was taken on her part to try and reconnect and work back to being friends. A simple facebook chat has brought us back to talking. Funny how one little pop up message can make your heart jump. 
     Basically what I am trying to get at is the Lord has some interesting timing. He chose tonight after all this time to have us start talking again. I don't know if it's because we're both in the right place to be able to look at what we've been through and be mature about the situation and move on or what. We will never know why He chooses to do the things he does. It's a scary thing but you just have to have trust in Him. This has been a difficult thing for me to grasp this past year what with applying to pharmacy school and trying to figure out what my next step in college will be if pharmacy isn't meant to be.
     There is a reason He chose to put me on the waiting list for pharmacy school my first time applying, a reason He chose for me to go to Greek Summit summer after my sophomore year, and there is a reason He placed it on my suitemate's heart to facebook chat me tonight.
     I believe 100% that everything happens for a reason! Now it just comes down to me understanding that everything that happens is all about God's plan for my life. HE is the reason all things happen when they do. His timing of certain things may be difficult to understand but I just need to remember He has a plan for my life and no matter what I do I cannot control it or change its outcome.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

"There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might" Jeremiah 10:6

Power of Prayer

     It's pretty surreal that at the beginning of this summer I set off for Destin to attend a mission project that would teach me how to grow in my relationship with the Lord and how to better disciple to my sorority chapter and friends back at school. Going into Greek Summit I had no idea what I would end up getting out of it and if I would ever truly see any results. This weekend all of that seemed to change and my prayers were answered.
     This summer I'm back at home so I try and get down to Cola as much as possible to see my roommates and friends and catch up with everyone. It was this trip back that I was able to share with my best friend and roommates what I learned on Greek Summit and why I am choosing to change some of my actions. I'm not the same person that I was this past school year and by being a role model for my friends I am hoping that I can slowly plant a seed in their hearts and be a light for the Lord.
     This weekend my guy friends were getting a big group together to float the river and then have a cookout/party afterward. I've realized that I don't need to drink to have fun. A lot of my actions that I'm not proud of have come as a result of me drinking. So this weekend I politely said no when offered a drink and my decisions were respected by my friends which is truly a prayer answered. Peer pressure is something that is so easy to fall under and something I have struggled with this past year. By me saying no to these things I was able to raise a few questions out of one of my friends. 
     Tuesday night I randomly got a text from her asking "Do you think God forgives everyone for everything?" Honestly this text took my breathe away because I have been praying for her and asking others to pray for her to come to me with these kinds of questions so we could talk about how so much better life is when you are following Christ and not turning to boys and alcohol. Like me she has done things in her life that she is not proud of and that she is not proud of being known for. I assured her God forgives all. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to bear the burden of our sins on the cross. In order to be forgiven we simply must pray for forgiveness. 
     I encourage anyone reading this who may be struggling through some of the same things to simply pray to God to forgive you of your sins and to take away the shame and guilt that those actions have brought on you. 
Prayer is a powerful thing however your actions must reflect this new change in you. You cannot simply pray for repentance every time you sin. You must change your actions and live according to the Lord. 


     To anyone who attended Greek Summit I just want to encourage you that whether you think it or not those seeds are being planted. We are lights for the Lord on our campuses that are so very dark. I just pray for each and every one of you that your prayers are answered and you are able to disciple to those around you no matter how close minded they may be. I never expected this friend to come to me. Prayer is a very powerful thing! PTL!

"The LORD is good to ALL, and his mercy is over ALL that he has made." Psalm 145:9.

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:17

"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name;give to him glorious praise." Psalm 66:1-2

Just Got to Roll With What Life Gives You

     As I'm sitting here watching my team work their way back to Omaha (Go Cocks) I can't help but think that this time last year I was watching my Gamecocks work their way to winning the first National Championship in school history, while at the same time dreading going back to the school I had grown to love. On the outside I was so proud of my school and the baseball team and so excited for sophomore year and moving into my own apartment but on the inside I was torn up about having to leave my family after such a horrible freshman year.
     Going to an out-of-state school was hard enough for me because I am so close to my family. Luckily I picked a great school not to far away from home so my parents could come visit often and I could go home whenever I wanted. This closeness to home would come in handy spring semester of freshman year. To begin with I am very close to my family. I went from seeing my grandparents everyday to seeing them only when I came home on certain breaks that we got from school. A second factor that made it difficult for me to be away from home is my mom's health. 
     When I was 9 months old she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This has effected my entire family tremendously and has made me the strong independent woman I am today. Leaving home I was fearful that my mom would get sick again after she had been doing so well because the stress of work and taking care of the house would be too much for her. I was the one who took care of my mom when she was sick and paralyzed. I was the one who took care of the laundry and cleaning and shopping. My mom doesn't like to ask for help so I was scared that without me to be there to help she would try and do everything on her own. Luckily I have an awesome Nana who knows when my mom just needs a break and can tell when she's getting sick so she is able to come over and help. My grandmother is also my eyes and ears back home. She will be completely open with me and tell me how my mom is doing no matter how hard the news may be to hear. This was extremely comforting to know when I was leaving home because my mom isn't one to go to the doctor when she's getting sick and she also isn't one to tell me whats going on. My mom likes to sugar coat her disease and not worry me. I have never heard her complain about the pain she's in when I know that it is a constant thing every day. She's a fighter!
     I was so excited to start college at a great school like the University of South Carolina. I went to USC knowing no one, which is what led me to joining a sorority. Not knowing anyone going to USC forced me to turn to Facebook to find a roommate. I thought I had found someone I would get along great with in Camden girl and that we would have so much in common. Little did I know that I would be left roommate less for spring semester because she would turn out to have far too many problems than she could deal with. I lived in a suite style dorm freshman year. I didn't know either of my suite mates but I ended up becoming best friends with one of them who I'll name Cayce girl. We became inseparable and were in fact practically the same person. I convinced her to pledge my sorority which made us even closer. However we were so comfortable with each other that I kinda closed myself off to other girls in my sorority something I immediately regretted with Cayce girl had to drop and I was left knowing no one. She dropped close to the end of fall semester so it didn't effect me that bad because I wasn't yet eating at the Kappa house. Right before Christmas break my roommate had an incident the night of her semi-formal that ended her up in the hospital. As a result of this and other mental issues she was battling she decided to take spring semester off (something she decided to tell me when I was driving back to school to start spring semester). I though ok this will be fine, I'll just have my own room but I'll still have my suite mates. Well one week into spring semester one of my suite mates decided to get out of her housing contract because she was staying at home more than she was in the dorm. So now it was just me and Cayce girl left. Well a few weeks later Cayce girl got pregnant...
     I started out freshman year with three roommates and not even a month into spring semester I was left with none. Cayce girl started staying with her boyfriend and just stopped talking to me. She was expecting me to be happy for her but how could I be when all I had heard from her was how she didn't want to be a teen mom like her mother. She moved out and the last time I talked to her was at her wedding which I only got invited to by default. I was miserable after this. I had really no friends in the sorority who I could hang out with on the weekends so I ended up going home every weekend. When Sunday came around and it was time for me to go back to school I would cry every time I was pulling out of the driveway. Freshman year was rough but I managed to make it through and to do well in school.
After Cayce girl got pregnant it left me with no one to live with sophomore year because she literally found out the night before we were going to look at an apartment that she was pregnant. I was left having to reach out to my sorority in order to find someone to live with. At the time I didn't understand this but the whole situation with my roommates was a blessing because without it I never would have ended up living with Lyndsey and Lindsay. And as a result I never would have met Kathryn, Rachel, and Megan. These are my friends now and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. 
     Sophomore year I have more than made up for how miserable I was freshman year! From the first football game of the season to the last baseball game I would not trade any of my experiences freshman year because without them I would never have met all the amazing friends I have in my life.
So I would just like to thank everyone in my life for making Sophomore year by far the best year of my life and I can honestly say that as I watch my baseball team head back to Omaha I am not dreading going back to school but instead I am looking forward to it and can say that August can't get here soon enough.

Thank you:

Lyndsey, Lindsay, Kathryn, Rachel "Scratch", Megan, Lindsay (Biggie), Lauren (Grandbiggie), Sallie (Little), McGhee, Kevin, Zach, Kyle, Natalie, Kitty, Shelley, Kelsey Mac