Family Day in Ashville

FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, MOM AND DAD HAD BEEN PLANNING OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM THEM. SHE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD GO TO THE BUILTMORE HOUSE AND TO SEE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES AT THE GROVE PARK INN. FINALLY, OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT HAD BEEN DELIEVERED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH.



THE WEEK PRIOR TO GOING WAS CRAZY AS MICHAEL AND I FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A NEWER ENGINE FOR THE CAR. BUT BECAUSE I HAVE AN AMAZING FATHER-N-LAW, THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE HE IS A RETIRED MECHANIC. THEN ON WEDNESDAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT PAUL HAD MONO. HE STAYED IN THE BED ALL DAY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND PART OF FRIDAY. THEY ARRIVED SAFELY ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!



FINALLY, SATURDAY HAD ARRIVED AND WE WERE ALL VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER. THE FIRST EVENT OF THE DAY WAS THE BOILING SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE. I WAS KIND OF EXCITED BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS. WE WENT AND SAT IN MRS. HENDERSON'S YARD BECAUSE THE PARARDE STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT PAST HER HOUSE.


THE NEXT DESTINATION WAS TO THE PARENTS' HOUSE TO EAT LUNCH. MOM HAD MADE A POT OF VEGETABLE SOUP FOR THE FAMILY. THEN WE WERE READY TO LEAVE!!



WE ARRIVED AT THE BUILTMORE HOUSE AROUND 2:OO. MOM HAD TICKETS FOR THE CANDELIGHT TOUR AT THE BUILTMORE HOUSE SO WE WENT AROUND THE GROUNDS AND THE GREENHOUSE.

AFTER TOURING THE GROUNDS AND ADMIRING THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY BEHIND THE BUILTMORE HOUSE, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD GO AND EAT. WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL DINING EXPERIENCE AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE (ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS). BECAUSE WE HAD TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE, I KNEW THAT OUR TIME TO SEE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES WOULD BE LIMITED. WE HAD ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO LOOK AT ALL THE CONTEST WINNERS. THEY WERE AMAZING AND YOU COULD TELL THAT MUCH TIME WENT INTO THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES.

AFTER THE GROVE PARK INN, IT WAS TIME FOR US TO HEAD BACK TO THE BUILTMORE HOUSE FOR OUR CANDELIGHT TOUR. OUR TOUR WAS SET FOR 9:15 AND THE TOUR LASTED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. BECAUSE WE WENT ON THE CANDELIGHT TOUR, WE WERE ABLE TO GET GUIDED TOURS BY WAY OF HEAD SET. THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT AND COOL TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT EACH ROOM. THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WERE AMAZING AND EACH ROOM IS SO UNIQUE. I WILL POST MORE PICTURES SOON.

THIS TRIP INDEED WAS ONE OF THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS I HAVE RECEIVED. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR: FAMILY TIME AND A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY.

Grandma's surgery was a success. The doctor took part of her lymph nodes and had them read by a pathologist. They found nothing. Praise be to God!! They then removed the breast and she was quickly done with surgery. She was so awesome and had a great attitude the whole day after waiting until 4:30 (surgery scheduled for 12:30) throughout the whole process. I stayed with her Thursday night, and she was soon ready to be leaving the hospital before lunch. She has been doing great!! I am staying with her while she is at my parent's house during the day. I am not with her because she can not do much but because she wants to do too much. She has been such a huge encouragement to see because she has done so well and had a great attitude. Today, we will go to the doctor for a follow up. I am sure he will be impressed!!

Grandma's surgery

Tomorrow, My grandma will be having a masectomy. Please pray for a quick recovery in the hospital and a pleasant recovery as she stays with my parents for two weeks. God is so good and I have learned so much from her. I love you, Grandma!!

Grandma's next surgery

My grandma went to the doctor on Friday, December 1st to find out the results of her CT scan. Praise be to God that the cancer was nowhere else. After finding out the results, she decided the best thing for her was a masectomy. She is scheduled to have surgery December 14th. She will be in Spartanburg for two weeks following her surgery. Please pray for the surgery process and a quick recovery so grandma can get back to her daily activities at the Retirement center. She has been so blessed by wonderful people in Laurens and the friendships she has made there.
Hey! Soon I am going to try and put some pictures on the blog.....Watch out!!!

Grandma's Report

I thought that when volleyball was over, I would have time to sit down and chill out. However, that is not how things turned out. Last Monday, I knew that my grandma was going to get her report from the doctor and from what we thought, nothing serious was going to come of it. However, that was not the case. Grandma went to the doctor to soon find out that it was cancer and that the cancer she had was like mom's but larger. This devistated her, and she was emotionally distraught. I was kicked out of the training room for the rest of the week by my dear friend and fellow coworker, Elizabeth. She said I needed to be there. Grandma came back on Tuesday and stayed with Michael and I through Thanksgiving. She was able to get away from the retirement center and be with family to encourage her through this situation. I have been through this twice with mom. God has given me the strength for these two battles. I know that with God's guidance, I will be able to help her deal with this. The doctor said that she had two options: take more tissue out and then radiation or a total masectomy. We will see on Friday as she goes to get the report of her CT scan.
During her stay, she went where ever I went. She went with Michael and I to the Thanksgiving service at First Baptist Campobello on Tuesday night and then to Thanksgiving Dinner at Fairfield Inn on Wednesday. We cooked, laughed, and Michael gave her a hard time. Grandma's are so special, and I have learned to cherish the time I have with my only grandparent. Trust me! You learn a lot!!!!
We serve such an awesome God!!! My grandma has served in the greatest capacities, and she is an example of Christ's servant heart. I love you, Grandma!!!

Grandma

Tomorrow, my almost 81 year old grandma will be having a breast biopsy. Please pray for God's guidance and healing during this time. We do not know what is to come. We hope for the best that it is a cyst and nothing more, but nothing has really been said. We have been through this with my mom my freshman year in college. She was diagnosed with insitu carcinoma (not sure about the spelling) and had to go through 8 weeks of radiation. I know that God has a perfect plan and leads us every step of the way if we follow him daily. God is good, all the time!!!!

Good Times with Old Friends

Last night, Michael and I went to the house of my dear friend Kristel to have a Fabulous Four reunion. In high school, Kristel, ny dear friend Erin, my dear friend Lindsay, and I all call ourselves the Fabulous Four. I was number 4 because my birthday was last out of all of us and so I was the baby of the bunch. However, we shared many memories growing through our late junior high and high school years. Linda, Lindsay's mom, was not married at the time so we lived at Lindsay's house. We took many trips together, went various places, and shared in all the high school events that every high school student gets to experience. Well, anyways, Lindsay and her husband David live in Charleston so the times of getting together are very limited. Last night was one of the few opportunities. We were together for about three hours. We laughed and talked. Arpit, Kristel's husband, cooked wonderful hamburgers and we had some wonderful Apple pie. Friends are so special and I am so glad to have had three wonderful friends growing up. Paul always felt like they were his sisters. Believe you me, he learned a lot from them!!!

TWO MORE WEEKS OF VOLLEYBALL

YES, THAT IS RIGHT. TWO MORE WEEKS OF VOLLEYBALL. UNFORTUNATELY, MY GIRLS HAVE STRUGGLED THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE BENEFITS IN WINS RECORDED THIS SEASON. IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW GOOD THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS WEEKEND WRAPS UP THE HOME GAMES FOR THEM AS THEY HAVE APPALACHIN STATE AND DAVIDSON. WE HAVE TWO GAMES AFTER THIS WEEKEND AND THEN THE TOURNAMENT THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I HAVE THROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS SEASON. THE GIRLS ARE GREAT GIRLS AND I HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THEM. GO WOFFORD TERRIERS!!!
TO THE MOMS THAT READ MY BLOG, CHECK OUT THE KRAFT FOOD AND FAMILY WEBSITE....IT IS SO AWESOME. THE WEBSITE IS www.kraftfoodandfamily.com/kf.

The Fair

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MICHAEL AND I WERE ABLE TO GO MEET MOM, DAD, PAUL, AND KELLIE AT THE SC STATE FAIR. THE SIX OF US HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER REALLY SINCE WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN MARRIED, SO WE WERE SUPER EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM. DAD DECIDED THIS YEAR THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF TO GO WORK AT THE FAIR WITH HIS FRIENDS. SUPRISINGLY, WHEN WE SAW DAD, WE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE TIRED AND WORN DOWN. HOWEVER, HE WAS HAPPY AS A LARK, AND LOOKED YOUNG EVEN THOUGH HE HAD WORKED FOURTEEN HOUR DAYS. MICHAEL AND I GOT THERE AROUND LUNCH TIME AND WE ATE SOME LUNCH. THEN WE WALKED AROUND WITH MOM LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT EXHIBITS. KELLIE AND PAUL GOT THERE ABOUT THREE AND WE TACKLED THEM WHEN WE SAW THEM. OH, HOW I HAVE MISSED MY BROTHER AND NOW HIS BEAUTIFUL, KELLIE. THEY ARE SO CUTE AND GOD HAS GOT SOME AMAZING THINGS IN STORE FOR THEM. WE ATE SOME MORE AND FINISHED OFF THE NIGHT WITH A RIDE ON THE FERRIS WHEEL. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! AT THE FERRIS WHEEL, MICHAEL AND I SAW FRIENDS FROM GREENWOOD WHO I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH (CHARLOTTE, SANDY, AND SHERI). THEY WERE SO AWESOME! IT WAS LIKE WE PICKED UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF WHEN WE SAW THEM. AFTER A WONDERFUL EVENING OF SEEING EXIBITS, CATCHING EVERY LITTLE SHOW, AND WATCHING THE COW SHOWMANSHIP, IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. THE NEXT TIME WE WILL SEE THEM IS WHEN WE GO TO THE BUILTMORE HOUSE AND GROVE PARK INN FOR CHRISTMAS. HOW EXCITED AM I!!!

Volleyball, Volleyball, More Volleyball

since the beginning of september, my schedule has increasingly gotten busier. i have been working, sleeping, working, sleeping. well, that is my life right now. a little time with michael....not nearly enough but the time together is valuable because he works so hard at the fairfield inn daily and sometimes more than five days a week. my girls are so great and i have a good time! i do spend lots of hours with them. our first trip was to maryland where we came out 2-1. the girls played hard. so, if you would like to know where i am and what i am doing just look at www.wofford.edu/athletics. there you will find where i am and what i am doing. i also work with tennis. so, my days are running from 7am to 7pm. i know one day it will pay off. well, my girls are coming in a minute. got to go!!! hello to all and God is so good!!!

Athletic Training Certified

That is right. I have finally passed the hardest test I have ever taken in my life. As of 8/16/06, I am now Athletic Training Certified. I knew that I was going to get through this. I have learned what perseverance is and my verse through this whole time has been from the first book of James "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Jame 1:2-4 God is so good!!!!!! Thank you for all your love, support, and encouragement you have shown.

WHAT A SUMMER

WELL, I KNOW THAT I TOLD YOU THAT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WEDDING BUT THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN HERENDOUS IF THAT IS HOW YOU SPELL THE WORD. THROUGH EVERY ROAD, PLACE, AND DESTINATION, GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD AND ALLOWED US TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE IN A WHILE. SO, HERE IS THE WEEK TO WEEK DIARY OF OUR WONDERFUL, FUN FILLED SUMMER ON THE ROAD AND WORKING.....

JUNE 3RD: WE GOT MARRIED. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS? WOW! WE CELEBRATED WITH MY MOM AT FIREHOUSE SUBS (WE JUST HAPPEN TO GO EAT THERE THAT DAY!!) HAHA!!!

JUNE 3-10TH: WE WENT ON OUR HONEYMOON!! WHAT AN AWESOME TIME TO BE WITH YOUR SPOUSE WHO YOU WILL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH.

JUNE 5TH- MOM GOT A 2005 FORD TAURUS. IF YOU KNOW MY DAD WELL, YOU KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR MOM!!!
JUNE 15TH: I BEGAN WORKING TENNIS CAMP

JUNE 17TH: WE TRAVELED TO ATLANTA TO BE A PART OF ALEX AND KATIE'S WEDDING. OH! HOW THERE WERE TEARS AS THEY SAID THEIR OWN VOWS!!

JUNE 18TH- 29TH- I HAD TENNIS CAMP ALL DAY!! IT WAS SO HOT! I PAINTED MYSELF BLACK AS I PAINTED THE BENCHES FOR THE TENNIS COURTS.

JUNE 30TH- WE WENT TO THE FAMILY REUNION AND THEN TO A WEDDING IN ABBEVILLE.

JULY 2ND- PAUL AND KELLIE HAD A LOVELY WEDDING SHOWER. THEY WERE SO EXCITED....

JULY 5TH-12TH- I WORKED VOLLEYBALL CAMP

JULY 14TH- 16TH- WE PACKED UP THE CAR, PICKED GRANDMA UP, AND WENT TO CAMDEN/BETHUNE TO CELEBRATE WITH PAUL AND KELLIE FOR THEIR LOVELY WEDDING. THERE WERE MANY TEARS SHED AS I WATCHED MY BROTHER COMMIT TO THE WIFE HE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A LONG TIME. GOD IS SO GOOD AND I HOPE THEY WILL NOT GET EMBARRASED BUT I AM GOING TO TELL IT ANYWAYS. THEY KISSED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THEIR WEDDING. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ESTABLISHED FROM THE GET GO AND THEY COMMITED TO EACH OTHER. WHAT A TESTIMONY!!! PAUL ALSO WROTE KELLIE A BEAUTIFUL POEM. HE HAD IT RECORDED BY ONE OF HIS FRIENDS. OH! HOW SWEET. THE RECEPTION WAS ONE OF THE MOST FUN WEDDINGS I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. MY DAD WAS EVEN OUT THERE DOING THE TWIST. IT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.

JULY 22- WE TOOK A BIG DEEP BREATH!! WE WERE SO EXAUSTED!!!!

JULY 29TH- MICHAEL WAS IN HIS FRIEND, FRED'S WEDDING. IT WAS VERY SWEET AND ELEGANT. WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND THE WHOLE WEEKEND WITH TRAVIS AND AMANDA WHO MARRIED US. THEY ARE SO AWESOME!!!!!

AUGUST 1ST- MY CONTRACT BEGIN FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR AT WOFFORD.

AUGUST-6TH- I TOOK MY ATHLETIC TRAINING EXAM FOR THE FOURTH TIME. I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS SO WE WILL SEE. I HAD SO MANY WARRIORS IN PRAYER FOR ME THAT DAY! I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE WONDERFUL FAMILY, CHURCH FRIENDS, AND PEOPLE WHO DID NOT KNOW ME WHO WERE PRAYING THAT DAY!!! GOD HAS A PERFECT PLAN AND I KNOW THAT HE IS GOING TO USE ME. AS I HAVE QUOTED OFTEN...GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME....BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL KNOW WHEN I PASS THIS TEST!!!! MICHAEL SAID HE WILL TAKE ME FOR A STEAK DINNER.!!!!!!'

SO , LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND. I AM SO UNDESERVING OF HIM. HE TREATS ME LIKE GOLD WHEN I FEEL I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO HIM. HE MAKES ME LAUGH AND WE HAVE THE BEST TIME TOGETHER. EVERYONE TELLS US THAT THIS WILL FADE AWAY, BUT I AM DETERMINED IF GOD CONTINUES TO BE THE ROCK IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, HE WILL KEEP THAT ALIVE EVEN IN THE HARD TIMES. !!! GOD IS SO GOOD...

SO, HERE IS THE RUNDOWN OF THE SUMMER. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT, WE HAVE ENJOYED THE WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SPARTANBURG, HANGING OUT WITH NEW AND OLD FRIENDS, GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE IN OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, AND OUR WONDERFUL GOD GIVEN HOUSE THAT HE HAS PROVIDED US WITH.

MICHAEL AND I WILL BE STARTING SCHOOL IN THE NEXT WEEK AND WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TO EVERYONE, WE DO NOT SEE (JONATHAN, LORI, HANNAH, AND BABY BROOKS...........) WE MISS YOU GUYS DEARLY BUT UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS YOU IN OTHER PLACES!!!!!!

TIL NEXT TIME........

WHAT A SUMMER

BEFORE JUNE 3RD

SO, WHAT WAS I DOING AND NOT BLOGGING? WELL, LET ME JUST TELL YOU I REALLY DO NOT KNOW AFTER I LOOK AT EVERYTHING. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING FOR A WEDDING, I WAS TAKING NINE GRADUATE HOURS, WORKING MY TAIL OFF WITH THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAM, MOVING MICHAEL TO SPARTANBURG TO LIVE WITH HIS PARENTS TEMPORAILY, TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, CLOSING ON A HOUSE, WORKING ON THE HOUSE, AND OH! BY THE WAY PAUL GRADUATED AND IS GETTING MARRIED IN TWO WEEKS!!! SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DID BEFORE JUNE 3RD ......... PULLING MY HAIR OUT DAY BY DAY.. HOWEVER, GOD IS SO GOOD AND HE HAS BROUGHT ME A LONG WAY. MICHAEL AND I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, HE IS THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT FAIRFIELD INN IN SPARTANBURG, AND I AM CONTINUING TO WORK AT WOFFORD COLLEGE AS A GRADUATE ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER...AND BY THE WAY, I AM NOT GIVING UP...I WILL BE TAKING MY TEST AGAIN IN AUGUST. SO PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AS I AM WORKING TO PREPARE TO TAKE THE WONDERFUL TEST AGAIN....WELL, I AM WORKING TENNIS CAMP SO I MUST GO BUT MORE TO COME BECAUSE MARRIAGE HAS ROCKED MY SOCKS OFF!!!!!

THREE MONTHS LATER.........

I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT I MUST UPDATE MY BLOG. THEY WERE TIRED OF SEEING NOTHING POSTED SO HERE IT IS.....................

"Failure is success turned inside out"

MOST OF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD STRUGGLES WITH TAKING TEST. THAT HAS BEEN THE STORY OF MY LIFE SINCE LAST JUNE. I AM AN ATHLETIC TRAINING MAJOR AND IN ORDER TO WORK IN THIS PROFESSION, I MUST TAKE A CERTIFICATION TEST. AFTER TAKING IT THREE TIME, I HAVE ONLY PASSED ONE PART OF THE THREE SECTIONS ON THE TEST. MOST OF THE SCORES I HAVE GOTTEN WERE NOT FAR FROM THE PASSING SCORE. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING. MOST PEOPLE WOULD QUIT, BUT I AM NOT. I LOVE THIS PROFESSION AND WANT TO PURSUE THIS FOR AT LEAST A LITTLE WHILE ( WHILE MICHAEL AND I ARE IN THE UNITED STATES). THE NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE THE TEST IS AUGUST 6TH. THAT LEAVES ME SEVERAL MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THIS TEST HAS BEEN RATED AS THE HARDEST TEST ANY PROFESSIONAL HAS TO TAKE AND I AM AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT AFTER FINDING OUT THIS I AM NOT A DIFFERENT PERSON BECAUSE OF IT. I AM STILL THE SAME OLE MOLLIE JUANITA CAMP (SOON JACKSON) AND THAT GOD LOVES ME VERY MUCH.
OTHER THAN NOT PASSING THIS CRAZY TEST, I AM DOING VERY WELL. I WILL BE GETTING MARRIED IN A MATTER OF THREE MONTHS AND THAT IS SO SPECIAL TO ME RIGHT NOW. I CAN NOT WAIT TO BE WITH THE MAN GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR ME AS LONG AS GOD ALLOWS US TO BE ON THIS EARTH. PAUL WILL BE GETTING MARRIED AS WELL AND IS LOOKING FOR A CHURCH TO SERVE AS A YOUTH MINISTER.
SCHOOL IS CRAZY BUT I JUST TAKE IT DAY BY DAY AND DO NOT LET IT GET THE BEST OF ME. I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU READ THIS THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Prayer Request

FOR MY FRIENDS THAT READ THIS, PLEASE PRAY FOR TWO THINGS. KIM, MY COUSIN MATTHEW'S MOM, HAS A MOM THAT IS IN THE HOSPITAL RECOVERING FROM COLON SURGERY TO REMOVE A TUMOR. SHE HAS HAD TWO SEPERATE SET BACKS FROM THE SURGERY AND IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME. SO PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL HEAL HER BODY IN A MIGHTY WAY. ALSO, MY AUNT RUTH ANN'S MOM HAD A STROKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. I DO NOT KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ON HER, BUT AUNT RUTH ANN IS IN SPARTANBURG AND HER MOM IS IN KENTUCKY. SHE HAS SISTERS UP THERE WHO ARE CARING FOR HER. JUST PRAY FOR AUNT RUTH ANN'S FAMILY IN KENTUCKY AND FOR AUNT RUTH ANN AS SHE IS IN SPARTANBURG. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I LOVE THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS VERY MUCH AND THEY ARE LIKE MY SISTER AND FOR AUNT RUTH ANN, MY MOM. HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU GUYS AND THAT GOD IS BLESSING YOU IN EVERY WAY.

JUST AN UPDATE ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO

AS ALWAYS, I STAY PRETTY BUSY SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME. SO LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO. I FINISHED THE FALL SEMESTER WITH A 3.76 TOTAL GPA AFTER TAKING 19 TOTAL HOURS AT CONVERSE COLLEGE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING AND PULLED THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD AFTER LOOKING AT MY GRADES IN THE FALL. DURING EXAMS, MY PARENTS AND I DID NOT HAVE POWER FROM THURSDAY TIL MONDAY NIGHT. I TOOK OFF TO GWOOD TO SEE MY FRIENDS CRYSTAL P., NICOLE, AND CRYSTAL B. GRADUATE FROM LANDER. THEN I HAD A WONDERFUL LUNCH WITH CRYSTAL P.'S FAMILY, KATIE T., AUDREY, AND THE SMITH FAMILY. AUDREY TREATED CRYSTAL TO HER CUTE LITTLE GRADUATION CAPS THAT SHE MADE FOR ME IN MAY AND FOR SOME OTHERS IN HER FAMILY. IT WAS A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.
I ALSO HAD A WONDERFUL SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE HOME OF MAX AND RITA, TWO MY SS TEACHERS. WE HAD THE CHINESE GIFT EXCHANGE, AND I WOUND UP GETTING A FREE WEEKEND AT THE FAIRFIELD INN. IT IS A LONG STORY, BUT I GOT ONE.
THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I DECIDED THAT I MIGHT NEED TO GET SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE. I DRAGGED MY POOR BROTHER OUT FOR THE WHOLE DAY. I DID HAVE SOME SUCCESS, BUT NOT ALL THAT I WANTED TO GET DONE. HOWEVER, EVERYONE HAD SOMETHING FROM ME BY THE TIME THAT I SAW THEM AROUND CHRISTMAS.
FROM CHRISTMAS EVE UNTIL MONDAY, I HAD BEEN TO FIVE DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS WITH MICHAEL'S FAMILY AND MY FAMILY. I GUESS THAT IS THE WAY IT GOES WHEN YOU GET MARRIED EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL ENGAGED. HOWEVER, I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WITH EACH FAMILY MEMBER THAT I SAW.
MY FAVORITE PART OF CHRISTMAS WAS GETTING TO SEE ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PEOPLES IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, MY COUSIN JONATHAN. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, MATTHEW AND JONATHAN HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITEST PEOLE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. JONATHAN, HIS WIFE LORI, AND THEIR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER, HANNAH, CAME TO STAY FOR TWO WEEKS (LORI AND HANNAH DID). JONATHAN GOT TO STAY FOR A WEEK AND THEN CAME BACK TO TOWN TO GO TO A WEDDING IN JOHNSON CITY, TN. MY FAMILY AND I GOT TO HAVE LUNCH WITH MATTHEW, KIM, PHILIP, JONATHAN, LORI, HANNAH, GRANDMA, AND AUNT RUTH ANN THE MONDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. IT WAS SO GOOD TO BE TOGETHER AS ONE EXTENDED FAMILY. I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL GROWING UP AND IT IS HARD FOR US TO BE TOGETHER, BUT WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER, I LOVE IT!!!!
I ALSO GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH ONE OF MY OTHER CLOSEST COUSINS, MARIE. IT WORKED OUT PERFECT THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO COME STAY WITH ME. WE HAD A FAMILY GATHERING THE NEXT DAY (NEW YEARS DAY) AT MY AUNT AMY'S (AUDREY, DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS? HAHA!!). ANYWAYS, WE WENT TO PICKENS TO HAVE LUNCH AND HANG OUT WITH GRANDMA'S FAMILY. IT WAS WONDERFUL BEING AT THE HOME PLACE AS I LIKE TO CALL IT. MOST ALL OF GRANDMA'S FAMILY WAS THERE. THEY ARE SO GREAT. MICHAEL WILL GET TO MEET THEM ONE DAY.
THE NEXT WEEK IT WAS TIME TO REPORT BACK TO WORK. I HAVE STARTED THE TENNIS SEASON. TENNIS COULD BE THE MOST BORING THING IN THE WORLD, BUT THE COACHES MAKE IT SO FUN FOR ME AS THEY CUT UP AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AT PRACTICE.
I HAVE ALSO REGISTERED FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER. I WILL BE TAKING TWO CLASSES AND A CLINICAL!!!
MICHAEL WILL ALSO BE MOVING BACK TO TOWN THIS FRIDAY, 1/20. HE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A JOB, BUT GOD WILL PROVIDE THAT IN HIS TIMING. THINGS WILL WORK OUT FOR US TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT WE HAVE GOT TIME. IT WILL COME!!!
WELL, I HOPE THAT THIS BLOG FINDS YOU DOING WELL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MICHAEL AND I AND FOR OUR FAMILIES. I THINK THAT THE STRESS IS COMING BUT I AM TRYING TO THINK THAT WE CAN AVOID IT. WE WILL SEE!
MUCH LOVE!!!
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!!