Christmas!!!!

11 days 3 hours 22 minutes until CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful | 11-20

My health. Although I get sinus infections and have problems with joints from my hips down, I do not have any serious health condition that threatens my life. I can go day to day and not be overly concerned with whether or not I will be around tomorrow due to a medical condition.

Clothing. The fact that I own clothing and shoes mean that I am far more blessed than other people throughout the world, and I have way more than enough to get me by day to day without worrying about it keeping me warm or safe enough. I am also very thankful that not only do I have a lot of shoes and clothes, but I like the ones I own. Most of them were picked out and bought by me, so I wear what I choose, not just what I have been given. For lack of better words/thoughts: I am not a beggar, I am a chooser. Add on to that the cute purses, scarves, jewelry, makeup that are not needs, only wants, to make myself look and feel pretty.

Scenery. The mountains of Northern Georgia, Lake Gaston, beaches in Mexico, and the cliffs in Greece, Volcanos in Hawaii and Rainforests that I have only seen beautiful pictures of. The fact that we live in such a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing world.

Memories. The fact that even though they are no longer on this earth I can remember times spent with my Mimaw and GG, and listen to others share their memories of them. That I can look back on fun times with my family, friends, and Cody, and smile.

History. As a people we have a past and we have so many ways of studying it and learning about people who lived before us and learning about how they lived, what they believed, advances they made, and we are able to hopefully learn from their mistakes and reflect on and expand on their successes. Personally, that I can learn from my own past, and handle similar situations better than I had when I previously experienced them.

Learning. At work I am able to see a human learn new things each day and become smarter and more well-rounded as a person. It is phenomenal. As I grow older each year I learn more and more. I love it.

Generosity. In others and in myself. I am thankful that there are people who give so much and expect so little or nothing in comparison. Also, for the joy I am able to receive as a result of giving.

Tradition. There as set aside days of each year specifically to embrace tradition. The holidays, 4th of July, Memorial and Labor Day Weekend. I love that in our calendar we are given days to have fun and embrace our family and friends.

Texting. So I can conveniently communicate with people throughout the day as wanted or as needed.

Pampering and Relaxation. Times where I can take a long, hot shower and scrub all the scratchy nastiness off my feet so they are smooth. Painting nails, but especially toenails. Getting a back or head rub. Sometimes it is very good and healthy to take some time for yourself. I am thankful I have opportunities to do that.

Thankful | 1-10

Yesterday at church we were challenged to think of 10 things we are thankful for each day for a week, I immediately turned to Cody and asked if we could do it together. After doing our first ten tonight via Skype he told me I needed to blog it... so here are my first ten things:

I'm thankful for...

Seasons. Sweltering heat and afternoon rainstorms in the summer, crisp air and changing leaves in the fall, cold, snowy nights in the winter, and renewal and blooms in the spring.

My senses. That I can hear beautiful musical arrangments, children's laughter, whispered love in my ear from my wonderful boyfriend. That I can see the sunrises and sunsets, gorgeous mountain views, and smiles on warm faces. My taste, that I eat delicious foods and there are so many scrumptious flavors to be combined together - and coffee. That I can smell the scents of candles, that I can smell something foul and know that it's probably not a good idea to consume, and that I can be girly and pamper myself with good smelling things. Touch, that I can hug people, hold hands, kiss, cuddle, feel the softness of a baby's cheek when I kiss it, or the scruff of Cody's face against mine, and show my love and affection to people physically.

Cody. That I have the most wonderful boyfriend beyond what I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Who treates me like a princess, but still challenges me to be better. Who loves me enough to know when to push, and when to hold. Who makes sacrifices to make me happy and to make our relationship strong.

My family. Together we are a rock. There is no way to adequetly describe how much I love them and am thankful to have grown up being a part of the Furgerson's.

New Life. The "family members" I have gained throughout the years. The love, support and accountability. Also the knowledge I have gained, and relationship I've grown with God through the teachings and conversations at center around New Life.

Perspective. That I know the facts when it comes to death and I can be confident in my Savior. That I can cherish the time I have on this earth, while still having hope that there is more.

Jesus. For dying a slow, torturous, painful death - all so I can not pay the price and accept the punishment for my own wrongdoings and evil actions and desires. Because his love for me that I will never quite understand. For loving a terribly flawed human race and creating and sacrificing everything in the name of love for people who spit in His face every single day.

My Job. That I get to help raise a child for a short while each day, and instill in her moral values, teach her basic knowledge of letters, numbers colors, and play things that little girls play while getting paid. I have the greatest responsibility, to take care of someone else's child while they are away. It's humongous. I have to prove that trust everyday and get to love on the sweetest little girl in the process.

My friends. The ones I know I will always have and love, who will always have my back, near and far. No matter if I talk to them every week or every couple of months. The ones that have taught me valuable lessons and what it truly means to be a true friend. I don't have many, but I wouldn't trade the ones I do have for anything in the world.

Modern Technology. Cars, indoor plumbing, electricity, phones, tv, humidifiers. Things I take for granted everyday, but have never known how to really live without.

***Disclaimer: these are absolutely in no particular order. Obviously I love Jesus more than the seasons... enough said.***

Love You

What will I say to Jesus?

What will He say to me?

When in heaven we meet

And His face at last I see?

Will we meet as strangers?

Will I feel quite out of place?

Will He say, "I never knew you."

While, in shame I hide my face?

Praise God the Father and Good Shepherd,

It won't be that way at all,

Because he knows me by my name,

And I have recognized His call.

Perhaps I will have been with Him

On earth, just a moment ago, in prayer,

Only the scene changes in a twinkling

And I'm no longer there.

Norma W. Furgerson 1999

We wouldn't be who we are without you. And your amazing faith and love. God gave you 95 years to be with us, it's no wonder He wanted you back. You are Great and you are Grand. Love you.

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

These days

If you are one who has not heard, please please please pray for MACU. This past Sunday there was a fatal shooting in an argument between two students, being that it is such a small school it has affected everyone personally. Sone students had never known someone who died. There is serious hurt and brokenness there. And they need prayer for strength, forgiveness, hope, and healing. Please please when you think about this pray for all the students, staff, communities where the two involved were from, the two families, and anyone else who has been hurt and affected through this act. There are several news reports if you google it.

In the midst of this I've been able to spend time with my grandparents in my mom's side who I have not seen since my freshman year of high school. It's been nice. I also got to spend some time with my other grandparents, who even though we only live a couple miles away from each other I rarely see.

And my love is coming up today :) we're going to go to Cox's Farm and do a corn maze tomorrow and carve our pumpkins on Sunday after church maybe while watching the colts game :) I'm in the process of making him one of those big fleece "no sew" blankets, but I am sewing on his name and a few stars. Since he goes to Newport News so early to get parking for work and then sleeps in his car until it's time for him to actually go in I thought I'd make him a blanket so he could be warm. And I'm really excited about what I'm sure will end up being only one of the things I'm getting him for Christmas.

Kisses,

S

Road Trip :)

Well this weekend was long, exhausting, wonderful, and full of love and happiness.

I was definitely stressed out on Friday, I was so excited to finally see Cody after our 12 days apart, I know... We're babies, but it's hard and it sucks to be away from each other for that long. Anyway, he got here right when I got off of work, so I looked and felt super tired, probably smelled like sweat, poop, and pee, and all I had eaten all day was a piece of string cheese... So that's what my breath smelled like, I know it's gross. I'm just bein real. So I went to the bank and deposited my awesomely fantastic paycheck for the week and then met my love at Starbucks. We were technically supposed to leave right when he got there but we both needed gas and I needed a shower... And I needed to pack... Me? Procrastinate? On packing?? No! :) well, to finish packing I had to finish my laundry too, luckily it was already in the dryer so it could finish while I was getting cleAn, and Cody got to nap.

So finally when we do get on the road 2 hours late for our 7 hr drive I still had not eaten and I was driving first cause I didnt ant to drive in the dark. I got all the way to haymarket before Cody made me stop and get food in my belly Because I was CRANKY! And he doesn't like being in the car while I drive because I drive like a grandma... So my love took over and drove the rest o the way himself, I did help by navigating better than the gps and staying awake with him.

We had an interesting encounter with a stereotypical old black man at a gas station "hey yAll a real pretty couple. Y'all real pretty. You need to marry that girl. That girl is gunna make you real happy" it's so much funnier to hear Cody tell it. But it made us laugh and helped us wake up our brains a little.

When we finally got to Charlotte at like 1:30 am we were soooo tired, Cody had been awake since like 4 and I had been since 5. We were excited to get some sleep.

Seeing tories was fun and Kaitlyn is so precious and adorable and sweet and not evil at all. Cody and I got to babysit in the morning while Tories bought some last minute suff for the party. It was a fun, great experience to share with him. Kaitlyn seemed a little apprehensive with Cody at first but she warmed right up and he was wonderful with her. He even changed a diaper :) he's so cute. And I didn't sleep so great that night so he watched her while I got reAdy and played with her while I supervised from my nice, comfortable laying down position. He's great. Really, truly the best. I'm the luckiest.

The party was fun, I got to eat a hot dog which was exciting and made me really happy and excited, its really the little things that make me haply and excited... Usually little things dealing with food. What can I say? :) any way... It was great to see tories and kaitlyn and Tories mom.

when we got back to my house Cody did homework while I made food and when he was done we watched the first half of the Colts game. 2-1, baby. I hate watching him go though. It's the worst :( and I hate leaving him when it's my turn. But we had a great weekend and I was so happy with how everything was. We make a really good team.

Oh and for the record, I got Kaitlyn a microphone that records your voice and plays some little kids songs (think the itsy bitsy spider, old McDonald... That stuff) and a card with monkeys on it that sings "taking care of business " when you open it :) she loved both.

this weekend

I get to meet a baby girl who is turning one! One of my best friend's daughter is celebrating her first birthday so Cody and I are making a trip to the beautiful NC mountains :) I can;t wait to meet Kaitlyn and see Torie!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Oh and you know I got the best presents, you know... the loud ones that make parents hate you. It's my specialty :)

confession:

sometimes I hate football.

12 days

is too long to be away from my love. I hate hate hate hate hate it. It's sad. :(

In case you don't know, he's something pretty spectacular. His life, and who he has become as a man is inspiring. He is continually optimistic and trying to find the best in situations, and teaching me to do the same. He trusts, he trusts in God to take care of him, his family, me, and everyone else he loves. He trusts that things are going to all work out in the end for the best. And they do, but he knows that and trusts that ahead of time. I always think the worst is going to happen and everyone is going to end up dead or mangled. I might be exaggerating. Might. Probably not.

He's the strongest person I know. When life throws crap at him, he doesn't just take it and live with it... he learns from it, and he still smiles, he doesn't let it ruin or control his life... he just moves on with a smile and fixes it if he can, or he finds some sort of good in it. I can't do that. I'm glad he can or we would be one depressing, pessimistic couple and no one would want to spend any time with us... not that they do now :] He has goals, he identifies them and how he can reach them -- or the order of priority and when they need to be reached -- and he works toward them. For example, if he is saving money to buy a house. He saves a good chunk of his paycheck every week and will work overtime when he can and put all of that to his goal. He's driven and works hard for and earns everything he has. I like that in a man. And it's all paying off, he's in the market of looking to buy a house. At 20 years old. Crazy.

He treats me so well, he is so patient with me when I probably don't deserve it, he goes out of his way to do things because they will make me happy, he sacrifices his time and energy to serve me and love me.

Cody, you are the sweetest, nicest, most loving, patient, forgiving, wonderful, best, strong boyfriend in the whole world. You're my man.

This was taken almost a month after we met. I knew then that he was something special, but I wasn't aware of quite how special yet, though. And the BFFs that we love so much.

This was taken on Labor Day, it's hard to imagine all we've been through in the past 8 months. I love you, boo.

well...

Maybe it's about time I wrote on this.

The overview of the past 3 months are:

-I loved being in Georgia with my family there. They rock. I love them.

-I went to Cody's cousin's gorgeous wedding and everyone asked when we were going to get married, because he's the next oldest... so clearly we're getting married like, next week.

-I was a counselor for a 5-7 year old mini week of camp at Roanoke Christian Service Camp in Washington, NC with the Averys.

-Straight from there I got to go to Elizabeth City and spend a couple days with the gorgeous Chelsea Overton and relax and just be chill and friend-like. I love hanging out with her. And I saw Kaya, too :)

-After Chelsea's, I went to Suffolk and got to love my boo and go to a college retreat weekend at his home camp, Camp Rudolph. I really enjoyed having that experience with him, I love him. And it was also good to have a weekend for me and God before...

-I went right to Indian Lake to staff a Sr High Week. So fun, so good. Love love love.

-After spending 2 weeks away traveling North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland I was excited to get home, but unfortunately an 18-wheeler didn't want that as much. It was made pretty evident when one drove right into my driver side mirror. Thankfully I wasn't hurt and only my mirror was damaged. Which Cody fixed (I actually did a lot myself with his supervision) with JB Weld. Again, I love him and I'm so thankful for him.

-That was a Friday, On Monday I started my month long nanny job with a little boy, Nathan, who is turning 3 tomorrow. It went really well minus the one toilet overflowing incident... and the fact that they didn't own a mop. Fun times.

-Labor Day weekend was all over the place with Cody, we stayed Friday night at his house, looked for houses for him on Saturday and then drove to the lake to spend less that 24 hours with my family before going to MACU to visit there

This past week I started my new permanent position as a nanny for a PRECIOUS, SWEET, ADORABLE 19 month old girl named Alexandria, or Alex. Which is better hours and better pay than my last job (score)! I love her name, I think it's beautiful, and I also think it's cool that it's a name of a city we live so close to that is also beautiful and magical. She has Reactive Airway Disease, which I was semi-nervous about because I have to administer a Nebulizer treatment every morning, but after doing it once it's really easy and she takes it really well and gets to watch Dora during it :)

5 Weeks For Freedom.

Learn.

Spread awareness.

Support the cause.

Give a voice to the 27 MILLION people who are in slavery throughout the world. Slavery isn't a thing of the past.

prayer.

Please pray for Bryan Kelly and all his family and friends. He was such a loving and giving individual. As many on his facebook page are saying, he was always the first to make someone smile and laugh if they were sad or upset. He brought so much joy into people's lives.

home, sweet, home.

I got home yesterday. After waking up at 4 am... awesome. Cody is a crazy individual for doing it every day.

I have a kidney infection. It's bad. It hurts. It's been bad for probably a little over a month now. I should probably be dead. The doctor yelled at me. I'm glad I didn't go to the hospital or get IVs. Oh dear. . .

be careful what you wish for...

I knooooooow I wanted to come to Georgia.

I was flying standby, which is a loooooot cheaper - you just have less certainty of when you'll be getting to your destination, and right now my destination is supposed to be somewhere between 32000 to 40000 feet. About halfway home. And I'm still in Jasper. I love it here. But I'm nervous I won't make it home in time.

In time for this:

That, my dear friends, is the view from the top of the boat house at our family's home at Lake Gaston. THAT is were I'm planning on spending Memorial Day with people I love.

And after this long weekend, I plan to go home with my family where I can cook new recipes like:

Farfalle with Zucchini

Fettuccini Alfredo

Monkey Bread

Mozzarella Sticks

Restaurant Style Salsa

Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale

Tiramisu

Zucchini Cakes

...mmmm... Can't wait! I love feeding people I love.

sweet, sweet Georgia.

Hello.

I'm alive.

I'm in Georgia.

I love it.

The end.

i love you more than all the o's

...in a box of cheerios.

I wish I could type the whole poem... and come Memorial Day Weekend I will, if I remember... but I couldn't find any of the poetry books written by Norma Furgerson.

I am, in fact, eating Cheerios for breakfast this morning. Actually, I just finished the last bite. My grandma ate Cheerios for breakfast every morning. The poem mentioned is one of a few that my great-grandma wrote and dedicated to her.

On Monday, May 3rd, John Clark passed away. He had been diagnosed with some form of cancer a month ago and then had a heart attack and died. It was very sudden for all of his loved ones, they were surprised and not ready to say goodbye quite yet. I don't think I knew Mr. Clark, I'm sure I met him a bunch as a child when my grandparents still lived in Springfield, but I have only one distinct memory in that house, and it was eating Cheerios for breakfast. My grandma was good friends with Linda, John's wife. They had a group of ladies who were all best friends and did a bunch of things together. I only remember two of them from those days. Linda was not one. But, our families have been friends for decades, since the 70s! So we all went to show our love and support.

While we were at the funeral I got the chance to see one of the two women I actually remembered, Bobbie. I remember twice going to the Ritz Carlton for tea. I don't know how many times some of those women reminded me that the one year I got to dress myself I wore a red velvet dress. We went to the tea for my birthday. My birthday is in August. However, I remember those times with my grandma and Bobbie at the Ritz fondly.

You can all blame her for my always demanding the best. Apparently I came home after the first year and told my dad I was having my wedding reception there. I'm still getting told to dream on. I was also told that at one of my dad's company Christmas parties I went to someone asked me if the place was nice [it was] and I said, "I guess, but it's not as nice as the Ritz." I was such a wonderful child.

My grandma passed away the day after her favorite holiday, Easter, when I was in first grade. She had lived with I think 17 years of MS and then during the last few she had brain cancer. It was rough on the family, I was young... I didn't really know. But I'm so thankful to have the memories I do, because it's more than my brother. I got to go fishing with her, paint my fingernails shades of pink and pearly colors, eat Cheerios, go to the Ritz, and more than he ever got to do.

Even things I don't necessarily remember and I just hear from other people make me love her more and wish I could've grown up knowing her through adulthood. The way she continued living her life for the Lord, joyous and thankful to be alive and have her family around her. To live a life of such faith that she prayed the prayer with my grandpa, "God, if it's your will, take our son, we trust you even though it's hard." That was when my dad had been in a coma for 2 weeks and the doctor said there was nothing else they could do, shortly after they prayed my dad started coming to. Crazy. But, that's another story.

She was such a wonderful, inspirational, and influential women. And she was sick. She was dying. What in the world? That makes me mad that I'm perfectly healthy, I don't have anything major going against me, but I'm not always joyful, I'm not always first to pray and trust God 100% right off, I'm not the glue that holds family and friends together like she was. Remember the Clarks? The funeral wasn't a reunion just for us, most of the women in that group had drifted when my grandma died. I'm young and healthy, I have every reason to be generous with my life and love, thankful, joyous and yet I worry about things that are nothing. Funerals help put in perspective your mortality and how you're living, what you're living for. I want to start living like I am Marj Furgerson's granddaughter.

Next week I'm going to Georgia ( :] !!!!), where I get to be with two women who are equally as great as my grandma, two women that I also have the privileged of calling family, two women that I have mentioned before. Norma and Darla Furgerson, my greats. Norma is my Great Grandmother, she is equally as great as she is grand. Darla is my GREAT aunt. I love them. They inspire my soul and I love spending time with them and in the beautiful area of Jasper. I can't wait.

I don't have any pictures of my grandma and me on my computer, but I do have this one of GG, Darla, and Me from 2007. PS: It was my GG's 92nd birthday. She'll be 95 this July.

changes.

I haven't written in quite some time... probably because of the stresses of starting this new chapter in my life... of which I'm not quite sure yet.

I've moved home, and I won't be continuing my schooling at MACU this fall. Which is just sad. I will miss some people more than others, but I will especially miss Mrs. Avery. I've learned more than music form her this past academic year, she is a genuine, wonderful person and I already miss seeing her on Monday/Wednesday/Friday. I know she doesn't believe me when I say that I'l visit, but... I'm coming to see Chorale perform! I wouldn't miss it.

I'm not going back to MACU for a couple reasons, but none of which are that it is a bad school, it is a great school academically and socially. For me though, it felt like like I was the square peg trying to fit into the too small round hole. I just didn't fit. It's not a bad thing, it's just I tried too hard to make myself fit that I stopped being me for too long, it wasn't a good situation.

So I'm home, for the summer, for awhile. My PLAN is [and we all know how God likes to change my plans...] to go to Georgia next week with my family and think more about life and everything, and talk it over with some wise people who are pretty removed from the situation... but hopefully I'm going to be getting a nanny job or a daycare job by next fall and start working that. Also, I'm going to be taking over the jobs of our cleaning ladies for some extra cash as well. I think a nanny/daycare job would be great for me because of the nature of the work, I've missed being with kids this past year! Also, the hours are perfect for what I want for my life right now. They'd hopefully leave me with time to volunteer at church, with worship and with the youth group, and my weekends would generally be free so I'd be able to pick up some extra babysitting OR go visit Cody. Both are always nice :]

Speaking of Cody... we had a photo shoot with my mom last Saturday at Manassas Battlefield. Since we are going to be away form each other a lot coming up, all of the pictures we have now are kind of crappy, and my mom loves photography and is good at it, we... I... decided that we should take some together. They turned out great. My mom put some on her facebook, and I put some on mine. Some of them are probably repeats, but there are different ones on both pages I think. We like each other. And for the record, they are NOT engagement pictures. Note the disclaimer on my album. Refer back to my rant for my opinion on such matters.

Well, my laundry is screaming at me, so I guess I'll go flip it into the dryer and put another load in... who knew I had so many clothes?! That is a rhetorical question, just by the way...

lessons learned.

As I'm looking at the end of the school year here at MACU I am looking back on the things I've learned in this environment that is so unlike any I've ever experienced.

I've learned:

• There are more hypocrites than you think. People that live their whole lives as a lie.
• That even at a Christian school people aren't as open to talk about their faith. People are afraid to question things and admit their struggles. Because when they do they are faced with judgement.
• College is like bigger high school. People gossip, people judge, people say hurtful things to make themselves look better, people lie, cheat, and do "bad" things.
• People grow up at very different rates. And rush into big life commitments without thinking them all the way through and making responsible decisions just because they want to feel like grown ups.
• That even though people screw up and have faults there are a lot of them that genuinely love God and want to honor Him with their lives and their ministry positions. These people make me happy and proud of my generation.
• That when you find someone who cares about you, embrace it. Loving people comes with the risk of being hurt, but it's worth it.
• What true beauty in a person looks like.
• How to love a person's heart. Their raw, broken, ugly heart.
• I've learned how to voice my opinions. To stick up for myself and others.

I've been tested on my patience, my loving nature, my integrity, my communication skills, my friendships, and so much more. Some of these things I've failed at, but as I've failed i have grown, so I don't look at it as failure. I am thankful for the lessons I learn, but I'm not done learning them yet. I want to continue to learn. I am thankful for all the friendships I've made this year, and the relationships I've cultivated.

I want to be an amazing woman of God.

I want to be a woman like:

Norma Furgerson

Marjorie Furgerson

Darla Givan.

It is an honor to know and have known these women, it is a privilege to call them family. I hope to leave a legacy of at least a fraction of the ones these women have.

nova

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to be home.

invisible.

There are Invisible Children.

TOUR!!!

I promise I was happy.

Me on the Chopper in Downtown Disney.

The awesome girls from the last night, Tori and Madison!

Our wonderful group.

Due to either lack of internet access and sometimes energy, I did not get to post everyday of tour. Our director, Amanda Avery, wrote an extensive post at the end of the trip which has a bunch of the highlights.

I just looked over my prayer request post and it confirmed EVERY one of them were answered.

Tour was amazing. I will admit that I had my doubts. I was nervous, mostly about drama that tends to happen with events like this, and there was none. Praise Jesus.

Our host families were awesome! They were all so friendly and welcoming. All of them had stories and some even had little words of "wisdom" for us. All of them were simply great, which I am so thankful for.

Universal was awesome! The lines were super short for every ride and it wasn't crowded and the weather was fantastic. Glory.

I spent way too much money on the Orlando days, between my $80 ticket to expensive park food, nice dinner [HardRock... wished my Daddy was there] , downtown Disney gifts for the boyfriend and Mayonnaise, and Rainforest Cafe lunch... whew. I thought was going to be in trouble. But after all was said and done it wasn't terrible. And I am not bankrupt. Daddy will be proud [ps: I almost bought you a meduim guitar pick at the Orlando Downtown Disney Harley Shop, which only had 2 bikes... what in the world, but figured you wouldn't have wanted me to spend that money for a guitar pick. The thought was there].

Holy Amazing. South Carolina. Russelville. Isn't even on the map. God is there. Oh man. We got there and I was really nervous because it was the middle of nowhere and I was scared I wasn't going to have cell phone signal and be able to talk to my man. Worse, the sound set up was not prepared for us at all. They didn't have things we needed, it was bad. God made it work. He is GOOD. Avery gave us a motvational speech beforehand and oh dear, I teared up. Which everyone knows is a big deal. She's the best. I have never had a director like her. Love her. We didn't use mics at ALL, you could hear us, we worshipped. I also teared up during Revelation Song, we sounded good. We worshipped. Our voices were pure and powerful. Avery and Mike were in the sound booth looking proud and excited, and it felt good. I teared up. Whew. And then during my All I Can Do solo I sang the wrong verse. Whoops. I sang the 2nd verse again instead if the 3rd. Oh well...

Our family that night was precious, I enjoyed all of the families but this one had two drecious daughters. One of them was 4 and one was 18 mo. They were adorable.

It was good to end tour on that note.

Praise Jesus.

I love music. Music is my passion. I need to worship.

tired.

Day 1 (Saturday):

We traveled all the way to Jacksonville and got to the first church around 5:30 or 6. We had a cookout at a family's home with the pastor, youth pastor, and that family. It was good to be out of the van. After dinner we went back to the church for a soundcheck for Sunday morning, and then went home with our designated host families Our host woman was insane. There are stories. Crazy. Ask me. Oh dear...

Day 2 (Sunday):

Long, long, long. We did the whole church service at the first church, had lunch, and then an hour of free time. Then round 2. We went to our 2nd church in Jacksonville and had sound check and did the program. It went really well. Especially since we were all exceptionally tired already since we had already done a service.

Day 3 (TODAY!):

We woke up and went back to the church form last night, today was supposed to be an easy day. We did 2-5 year old chapel at the same church form last night. We told them a story about the yuck-bugs from the Island of Gak and taught them to use kind words. Afterward, we showered them with bubbles, because bubbles are happy and make you smile, just like kind words. Precious. After that we went to the Christian High School in town and talked to 4 math classes about the school and whatnot. Recruitment. Sweet.

I am suuuuuuper tired still, traveling is kicking my butt.

ORLANDO TOMORROW! Hooray for a day off and universal to pick up our spirits and refresh us a little :]

Prayers are still greatly appreciated!

TOMORROW IS TOUR!!

Tomorrow I will be waking up around 6:15 am [gag], spending approximately 15 minutes getting ready for the day and doing last minute packing or whatever needs to be done. Then I get to spend my last 30 minutes of freedom with my wonderful boyfriend who is going to wake up early on his day off just for me. I'm a VERY lucky girl.

At 7:00 am tour officially starts. We will be meeting at the vans and loading them with our one suitcase each and whatever equipment we personally need. I still need to finish packing, oh dear. We are actually departing at 7:30, where we will spend at LEAST 9 hours driving down to Jacksonville, FL. The church there is having a cook out for us upon arrival, which is nice. Hooray for southern hospitality :]

Specific prayer requests:

- That the group gets along. No major drama. That we can all deal with our annoyances maturely and not make something dumb and little into a whole huge fiasco.

- That all of our traveling goes smoothly. There will be a lot of driving in this next week so that's a big deal. Pray that we remain safe.

- PLEASE PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY and PRAY some more that we keep the outlook of leading worship instead of performing, it's hard since we've been rehearsing the program since August and we know the ins and outs of hopefully every pitch in the every single second of the approximately 1 hr long program. We know the music. But pray that we focus on what we're singing, what we're leading other people in singing, that it impacts and refreshes us as much as it does for them. Even if we've all heard the songs 2,374,398,245 times. Pray we aren't just singing words and phrases and notes, that we are singing about life, and salvation, and a God who loves us and died for us. Those are big messages. We need to remember to treat them as such.

- Pray for the people who are going to show up to see us. Pray that they are the right people, with open hearts, ready to worship our Creator with us. Pray that they come and aren't distracted, but are ready to receive God's love, grace and mercy through us and the speakers.

- Pray for the churches that are welcoming us into their church families for even a short while. That we may bring a good representation of Christ, Christians, and MACU.

- Please also pray for Mrs. Avery. This is a new experience for her, too. She has had to deal with putting it all together, and now it's time to go. Please pray she doesn't get stressed out [about us, the churches, traveling, or grad work], that she doesn't miss her family too much, that she can actually relax and enjoy the tour with us.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING! It's finally here!!

Until Florida...

long sigh.

I know I've already written today, and I typically don't even write every day... but it's just one of those days.

Satan must be trying to KNOCK ME OUT today and really discourage me. And it was kind of working. I woke up and my neck, back, head, legs all hurt. Bad. I went to chapel, it was good today. I went to class and lunch. I got up to my room after lunch and my lungs hurt and my head was POUNDING. In addition to everything from this morning. Awesome.

And then it got worse. I had 2 conversations with 2 different people that just left me feeling horrible, like a failure, and just bad. There were tears. Luckily I was in my room where no one saw. After I gained composure I put on some waterproof mascara, which looking back was a good idea, and then started packing some more.

Then Stephanie walked in my door looking for Veronica, my scrubbing dishes thing that looks like a head... we named her yesterday. Steph is kind of one of those friends talked about in the last post. We were SUPER close and then had a bunch of ups and downs. We go to the same tiny school, live 5 doors down from each other, but still grew apart. We're still good, just not super close like we were. People here don't refer to us as a pair, or even associate us with each other, and are constantly surprised when they find out we knew each other before school and were best friends. But we still care. Thank God.

When she came in my room she could tell something wasn't right, and I was doing a pretty good job of hiding it [Cody says I'm terrible at hiding it, but this time I think I was doing pretty good] and she sat down on my bed and told me to spill.

So I did.

That waterproof mascara came in handy, because more tears escaped my bloodshot eyeballs. She told me that she could tell I was going to cry as soon as I started talking. I'm not even a crier. At all.

Right now I have a lot to be thankful for. But I'm especially thankful for Stephanie. And that her and Steve had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, that she had to do the dishes right then [and then decided after talking to me she really wasn't going to do them yet], that she could tell I was having a rough day, that she gave me a much needed hug. And I don't think it was all her... I'm thankful for a God that knows when I need some love, and He provides.

Sigh.

Leaving on tour Saturday at 7:30. Hopefully blogging throughout to keep people in the loop of where I am and what I'm doing. Please, please, please pray for the group, the churches, the traveling, the people that who could possibly hear about Jesus for the first time and the people that might need to reconnect, pray for focus, and patience. A lot of patience. At least for me, I'll probably need it. Thank you. LOVELOVELOVE.