A year in review!

Wow how so much has happened in the year 2013 for me! I graduated high school, moved away to college, got a job with the Florida Lottery, and mad some pretty great memories. As great as this past year has been I am overjoyed to see what this next year holds for me.

Preforming in my very last National Dance Competition:
I have danced for the last 15 years of my life and at the beginning of this year I took the floor as a national competitor for the very last time. It was crazy to think that after all the many years of blood, sweat, and tears it all came down to that last performance. I made so many memories with those girls that will never be forgotten. I am very excited that this spring I will be getting back into the dance groove by taking some classes at a local studio in Tallahassee and I am trying out to be a UDA instructor as well which excites me a lot!

Turning 18:
2013 brought new experiences for me when I turned 18 I was now legal to buy cigarettes, lotto tickets, and jump out of airplanes for fun. Of course being the daughter of an adventurer and adrenaline junkie for my 18th birthday he surprised me with jumping out of a plane. My dad put it best. "Once you jump out of a plane every fear you ever had and every doubt you ever thought will never be there again." Jumping that day made me realize first the amazing beauty of the earth and that if I can trust some stranger to strap up with me and jump out of a plane with me there was never any reason to fear or doubt anything else. 

Graduating high school:
We all counted down the days and talked about how much better life was gonna be when we moved away. Some days I think we can all agree we miss home. Like when you walk into the cafeteria and their is mush for lunch or when your laundry is to the ceiling. Graduating high school was the start to our futures and our time to make a stand! Attending the high school I did has lead me to some very amazing opportunities and I will forever be greatful for that. 

The start to our new beginnings:
Well college has been one amazing experience for me so far. I have found a job I love. I mean come on I give millions of dollars away to people everyday! I have made some amazing friends and had a blast attending college events. I even find time to miss my family every once and a while. I am excited for the next three years of college to see what's in store for me. 

2013 has brought so many experiences and memories I will never forget. As for 2014 though I hope to grow more with my faith, my intelligence, and my selflessness. This next year I hope to focus more on paying it forward and giving back to the community. This week I will be ordering my "The Giving Key.." The Giving Key is and awesome organization that helps employ the homeless. You order your refurbished key that has some sort of word on it like, Faith, courage, and inspire. You wear the key for as long you feel that you need the key than you pass the key on to someone else and this is suppose to continue on from that person and more.

Along with my giving key I will be starting the Love your body challenge via the lovely ladies of Tone it Up.. It is a series that will start at the beginning of the year on Jan 1st and run till Feb 14th. I recommend all ladies head over and check out their website. They have so many types of exercises and recipes that are super easy and delicious! 

As you ring in the new year I hope everyone stays safe. I personally am looking forward to starting off my night at one of my favorite restaurants Eaton's Beach and then finishing off the night and starting the new year with my closest friends! I wish everyone a happy New Year!!

12 days of Christmas devotionals❤️🎅🎄🎁

How blessed have I been this weekend to get to spend time with friends in family in North Carolina. The weather was beautiful and the company was great! 

We explored some if the state parks and tried out the geocaching! 

 

We explored the parks and found a very beautiful flowing river that was fun to explore around❤️

 While on my trip to North Carolina I started The 12 days of Christmas devotionals which I will share the first three days below! At Christmas time we get going and at time lose sight of what the Christmas season is all about. It's not just about te gifts and all the awesome gadgets and gizmos under the tree. It's about celebrating the life if the greatest gift ever given. A life that was sacrificed for all of us and never asked for anything in return. So here I share the first three days of the series:

Day 1: The greatest Christmas gift.. 

And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ."Romans 5:15-17 

At Christmas time we find ourselves being receivers and not givers more times than not especially as adolescent. Christmas though is a time for giving. Thousands of years ago Jesus Christ the greatest gift of all was given to us then for him to give his life for us as well. So find time to give this season and to pay it forward. 

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'"Matthew 1:22-23 Day 2: laugh with Immanuel 

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence." Psalm 21:6

God went through hard times and good times as we do in our lives. We seem to only lean in God in those times of sorrow and anger. We look to Him when we find fear or concern more times than we do to rejoice in all the good he has provided us. Challenge yourself this Christmas season and through out the year to turn to him in those times of achievement as well to show thanks and gratitude❤️

Day 3: Wonderful impossibilities 

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 

This comes with the story of Mary. Mary was a virgin that God made the impossible with by giving her His son. Mary gave birth to the impossible. This relating to that He can accomplish through you, those things that seem impossible in your life. 

I love each day when I sit down with my bible and my Gods girl to learn more of Gods word. I find myself more inspired each day to grow my faith and to spread the word. It's amazing the one man would give His whole life just so we could stand here today to live our lives. That's why I praise often to remind myself of His amazing works. This week I decided to share one of my favorite worship songs that I live to sing and it's called "Made Alive," by the Citizens 

You have to go listen if you have not heard it before and even if you have you should just go to jam to it anyways. This is a song that when I am feeling like I have had a rough day or things just aren't going right I will turn on and sing at the top of my lungs and appreciate everything I have and that I am doing! Well I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their wonderful Sunday and enjoy the 12 days of Christmas devotionals and share with others❤️ 

Missing a little piece of home today..

When I write this it might hurt my gma and my moms feelings when they read this but they know I love them and miss them all the time hence the random phone calls and text all through the day! Today though I miss one person a little more than normal! My dad❤️ My dad is a one of a kind guy! 

   My dad has loved me through it all❤️ I can remember my preteen days and God bless him for putting up with me causing looking back on it now I never would have done and dread the day karma comes around to me for it!

   I can't thank my dad enough for raising me to be the young women I am! Because of him I am a young lady with a voice, the fire of a competitor, and the desire for adventour. I mean for crying out loud as a surprise for my 18th birthday I went skydiving with the man! 

  Christmas has always been my dad and I's thing we make everyone watch every Christmas movie about 27 billion times and I am pretty sure most of them we can recite! I hate missing those things while being away at college but it's only a few days away and I will be home for almost a month! 

   My dad is one of the coolest. I mean who do you know with hair like that and a beard as wicked besides duck dynasty?! Besides all those other great things my dad does though the one that inspires me the most is how in the last year he has gotten serious with his faith in God. Every Sunday my dad is going to church unless there be some circumstance. He will drag you out and shame you if he has to but he gets us out the door and in the car on time. He has inspired me though to be more serious with my faith❤️ I love my dad more than a any words will describe and though pictures may be awesome they will never show just how amazing he is! 

Finals week..

I

The oh so awful finals weeks are upon us college students and I have found my self stressed and annoyed with the many assignments and studying objects I have created this past week. Then I took a moment to think about it and a large majority of the world's children population will never receive even a fraction og the education I have and more will not have the opportunity to continue their education. I am so blessed to even be stressed about anything. I am in a city getting to pursue my love and passion for politics with the love and support of my family and so many friends. 

College Finals does and don'ts

DO: utilize time management. Sit down for a few moments and write down the goals you wish to achieve that week and copy them down into your planner. Writing and seeing the goals make the end result a lot easier to attain. After pulling a don't and being up for more than 42 hours I am finding myself less stressed looking at my planned schedule and keeping to it.
DON'T: cram multiple study sessions into all nighters. I am seeing how awful it looks and feels. The body functions best with proper rest and nutrition.
DO: talk to classmates and try and plan time to get together and go over class study material. Take advantage of being able to bounce answers off each other and it is a great way to meet people in your class.
DON'T: Depend on energy drinks and caffeine filled drinks and medicines. I personally felt the affects of 6 iced coffees and 4 espresso shots this morning after an all night study session.
DO: resist the urge to go out and party. This is one week that you can handle staying home to make sure you are well prepared for your exams. This is your future on the line and you don't want to ruin that for one goodnight.
DON'T: STRESS yourself out. Stressing is only going to differ you from getting closer to solving the given problem.

Words can't describe how tired do I am right now but only a few more days and then I am home bound for a month! Hope everyone has a great evening❤️ 

My motto for the week is "let go and let GOD."

How do you see your glass?

Today was the last week of my churches Thankfull series! Today's message was that no matter what the circumstance is weuat trust and love God. We referenced to the book of job: 

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Meaning that no matter what God gives us whether it be good or bad if he takes it we must still love and praise in his name! My church as am I are still challenging everyone to fast from complaint for the rest of the year! I have found myself many a times this week start to complain here or there whether it have been about the Christmas tree or the outfit I was trying on, when I would stop myself and say wow how amazing it is that I even have a tree especially one that will hold presents underneath it or that I have so many clothes to choose from! Sometimes I feel like we loose sight of all the things we have because we have so many of those things! 

After church though I was able to spend the day decorating and preparing for the Christmas season between our home and our boat for the boat parade we had a very productive day! 

This evening though is what I find myself most thankful for! I rode with my dad and some family friends to watch my pops shred it up on the slalom course. As we went to leave the lake we were left with this beautiful sight

How lucky am I that I call this home?! Spending time with my family especially during the holiday season is something very important to me! Hence the reason I am getting up at 4:30 to drive back tomorrow so I could enjoy the classic White Christmas with my family! As I end my amazing week and this blessed Sunday evening I turn to my Bible and Gods girl for some awesome devotionals to start my week! Have a blessed night everyone❤️

Christmas season has begun🎁🎅🎄

Friday marked the start of the Christmas season❤️ I spent most of my Friday afternoon setting up my families 12ft Christmas tree!! 

There is still tons of work to be done for the decorating process and more lights to be strung! While in the process of setting up today my dad and I found ourselves being frustrated with the lights not all working and the tree not fluffing properly when we stopped and realized... Some people will work to save every penny they have to provide some sort of a Christmas for their family of they provide any Christmas at all and we were sitting here frustrated with our tree and it's imperfections. 

Christmas in my family is usually on a whole other level! White Christmas will be watched about 50 times and national lampoon will be played on repeat most days! Frank Sinatra or Kenny Chesney will be our Christmas music of choice and you won't walk in with out smelling a Christmas tree scented candles!! It's honestly the most wonderful time of the year! Not just for the presents but for the tradition and the memories! Along with my awesome start to the Christmas season I was able to eat dinner with three  of my most favorite people at my most favorite place! 

Like I mentioned earlier this week if you are in the lake weir area you must stop by Eaton's beach sandbar and grill and get the Cajun sweet fried chicken! It's amazing😍 I finished my awesome day by coming home to my sisters awesome redecorating skills! 

Still some finishing touches to be made but looking super adorable and in the Christmas season! 

Tomorrow is the big college game Florida vs. Florida State and unfortunately I think we all know the victor of that battle😔 I'm excited to share some of my gameday goodies tomorrow which include some bacon wrapped smokies and guten free 7 layer dip!

  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with all your family and friends.. I look forward to sharing all of my gameday goodie❤️

Turkey day and family fun❤️

I feel so blessed to have had the week that I have. I have enjoyed spending so much time with family and friends catching up and creating amazing memories❤️ 

I also had time to go and check out my family friends awesome deer farm and spend time with previous baby sweet tea and see an albino deer! Make sure to check out Galaxy White tail solutions!! 

It's weeks like this that truly just make me appreciate were I came from and the people I am surrounded by!

  My family spent our Thanksgiving out on my aunt and uncles farm enjoying the redneck things in life like mason jar cups and trash can turkeys! Before you judge on the thought of a trash can turkey it's this process of pretty much smoking the turkey! It was deliscious😍 And as always we held our annual Thanksgiving kickball game and unfortunately my team was the losing team. You win some you lose some though the best part was just to have everyone in good health to play and participate! 

It's all the little things that matter!! 

Now that Thanksgiving is over we stRt the Christmas season which is my favorite time of year from the food, mood, and movies there isn't anything I could say is much better! I can't wait to share my favorite movies and Christmas goodies with you for the next month! Well again I hope you enjoyed your holidays and the your cup overflows with love and joy and may your holiday season and rest of this year bring you good health and prosperity!!