Graduate.

May 8, 2015 I officially became an Alumni of Troy University. I joined the the family, now myself, mom, and dad are all Troy Alumnis together. This was a bittersweet day but was a day of rejoicing that I made it and finished college! The road next is a little unsure just by trying to figure out the path that God has laid out before me. Seeing what doors are opened and have seen doors closed in order to see that those were not in Gods plan for me.

Coaching the game I love

So I was asked to help Coach softball at Milton High school. I was an assistant coach for the JV team.  On the team we carried around 12-17 girls to games and a tournament. I remember my senior year playing for my coaches and thinking to myself if I ever was to coach then I want to be like them and not only teach the girls about the game of softball but about the game of life. That there is more to the world than softball, but the things that they will learn they can carry with them forever and apply them along the way. We started off the season slow, with injuries and setbacks but the girls showed some heart and fought each and every game. Being a coach you see the game and the players from a different perspective and I am thankful that I was able to see that and be apart of that opportunity. I was fortunate to grow close with 3 of the girls and took them under my wing as my daughters. I have been able to guide these girls in softball and in life everyday. It has been a true blessing to be able to give back to a place that once gave me so much and was home to me for more that just 4 years. I step out on that field and I can remember my days in uniform like it was just yesterday. I carry those lessons that I learned then still today and try to share them with others. I was also fortunate to help coach some with a former teammate and friend. Alyssa and I grew up playing travel ball and rec ball together and then on to high school also. now life has came full circle and we were able to coach together. 

Teaching Others

 In the month of February I was blessed with the opportunity to spend two weekends at two different churches with some 11th and 12th grade girls for Disciple Now. The first one I was a leader at was at Olive Baptist. The ironic thing about this one was it was the night of the rival Milton vs Pace softball game (where I coach at Milton) and half of the girls i would be leading were Pace softball players. It was a pure joy to spend the weekend with these girls I have never met before and that they were able to open up and respond to me as a stranger. I know that the Lord has His hands in the middle of the whole weekend, I mean he set me up with girls that half of them had the softball connection with me. I was blessed with wonderful house parents and it was a true blessing.
Then the second one I was fortunate to lead was a last minute call and was by a new youth minister. I would have the same age group at Pine Terrecst Baptist. The cool thing about this group is that I have been able to watch some of these girls grow up in Milton but never have been very close to them. But after this weekend I feel like I have known these girls forever and the group message we have now always makes me laugh and smile, you never know what these girls may say. These girls were very energetic and never had a dull moment, our house parents also have a farm so on a small break that we had we were able to go and visit some of the animals. The weekend did not stop here as I have been able to attend many different events for the girls and one was the annual Scholarship Pageant that Milton High School does every year. These girls are not only beautiful on the outside but on inside very much. These girls are truly rare jewels and are shining their light for Christ each and everyday.
Sometimes people may ask why would I go and spend two weekends with strangers or in someone else's home, get little sleep, eat junk food all weekend. But the answer for me is truly simple. I was once in their shoes and had someone once lead me and be able to strengthen my relationship with Christ. So now I am doing what I can and giving back and sharing Christ love with younger girls, and am opening my arms to them since I have been in their shoes before and know what there are going through. These are some of the highlights of the year when I am asked to lead girls. I am forever grateful for the opportunity given to me.

Rollercoaster

If i am being honest the past 5 months have been a roller coaster. Many different things have happened. Many first and many lasts. Many endings and beginnings. Much laughter, smiles, tears, and memories. Life has a way of doing things or telling you things. Two words that I have been trying to focus on and cling to is Patience and Positive. Sometimes God's plan is far greater than we can ever imagine, but the things is we have to have faith in it and in ourselves along the way. We have to trust God that He will do His will, but it will happen in HIS timing. That can be the hard part is His timing. I have closed one chapter in my life book and I am trying to start a new one, except right now I feel like their is writers block going on. But in all reality how can God have writers block? Its the part when my faith is not where is should be and where it has been before. There has been many pros and cons to being home the past 5 months and i can't believe that it has been that long. Figuring out the next step in life has been very difficult, with doors being shut and no more being opened this has caused strain on myself and on relationships. Positive and Patience, it will happen when it is meant to happen and to make sure I get there I have to remain positive and know that God has great things planned for me.

From 334 to the 850

Well its official that I have moved from Troy back to Milton now. December was a busy month of moving and trying to get ready for Christmas. Today Troy University students are starting their first day of classes and I am not there, it is a strange feeling for sure. I just completed my online modules for my internship and should be starting on Friday or Monday. I am anxious and nervous some. I ask that you would be in prayer for my time there at Andrews. I am using this internship to figure out 100% what the next step will be in my life. To either pursue a career in the Physical Therapy industry or to go back and get my masters. It will not be an easy decision but I know that God will guide me along the way. After finishing up finals, I went to graduation to watch some friends graduate, then to Auburn to watch a dear friend have her dream wedding and to spend time with some old friends while there. Then would  come home only to leave a few days later to work the Camiella Bowl in Montgomery, my last thing before moving out of Troy. It was such a bittersweet day for sure, that apartment was filled with so many memories and is a very special place in my heart. I was blessed with 2 amazing roommates and don't think I could have had anyone better than the two of them! I miss many of my Troy friends and I know that I will be there to visit, but it still is a hard transition, mentally and then also with trying to move all my stuff back also. lol, mom says everytime we move that it seems like I have more and more stuff! haha i mean i am my fathers daughter and I just never like to throw things away, I like to hold on to things for awhile! I hope that everyone is doing well and if anyone wants to catch up with me just text or call me! I am excited to see what God has instore for my life in 2015!

Final days...

Well today has been bittersweet as I start to pack up my apartment. I cannot believe that this crazy semester is over and I am moving back home to do my internship and then graduate in May! This semester has been very challenging with group projects, interviews, resumes, and time management. I laughed when I only had 12 hours to take since I am so used to taking around 16 at least, and then that all proved to be wrong. This was my most stressful semester with 10 group projects and papers, 7 presentations, 4 papers and 2 interviews. But the most rewarding. New friendships were created and old friendships were made stronger. I am very thankful for my time at Troy and the many blessings and opportunities I have had. I will be in Troy for graduation and then head to Auburn to see friends and watch a special friend of mine get married! Only to return to Milton for a few days and return to Troy and prepare to volunteer at the Camiella Bowl game in Montgomery! Im very excited for it, as South Alabama is playing in it so I will be able to see one of my best friends Matt Floyd! Next semester will be a big one for me, my internship is at Andrew's Institute and I am praying that this will guide me to the next step i will take for my future. I will miss many of my friends and just being in Troy, this place is home to me. I will always hold it in a special place in my heart. I have gotten used to seeing the same people at church, school, the community, and even Walmart. Troy is such a small town, after spending a short time in it, it is home to you. I am going to miss the sunsets in Troy also, they are just something else here for sure!  It will be a hard transition this next month and everything, but im trusting God with everything He is doing in my life.

So blessed to have done life this semester with these two ladies!

An answered prayer to be in this woman's Dgroup this semester. She is an amazing role model and going to be a great mom!

So blessed by this girl and her friendship. I couldn't have done this semester without her!

Final Pages......

This semester is starting to come to a close and reality is starting to sink in a little more each day. 16 days is all that I have remaining in Troy. I cannot believe that my time here is coming to a close. I remember when I first arrived her two years ago and thought that I may have made a mistake and would have never imagined I would be where I am today. The friendships that I have made in many different areas on campus, the relationships that I have created with my professors and the memories that have been made and that I would not change at all. I have been blessed in so many ways while in Troy, to start off my thanks to my parents. Who pushed me to get where I am, to watch me struggle to make friends and offer to bring me back, but deep down they knew I would be better off here. They made sacrifices for me along the way, put up with many crying from stress phone calls, many projects that I would need help on, but thankful for the relationship that I have with them and have grown closer to them while I have been away. Excited to be home for my internship so I can hunt with dad again and to help him whenever he needs me. To be back with mom and to workout together and to spend softball season together. Its all about the little things in life that we sometimes tend to forget. I am very thankful for all the friends that God has put in my life, some that may have only been in it for a certain season or have been placed in my life for a lifetime. I always was told you will meet some of your greatest friends in college and I laughed and never imagined that happening. But today I can say that i cannot imagine life without them. They have helped me get through group projects, made me laugh when I was stressed, let me watch movies upon movies for girls nights. I have been blessed beyond measure. I cannot imagine if 2 years ago I would have moved back home and never gave Troy a chance. Today I cant imagine Troy, Alabama not being in my life. It is my home away from home. My heart will always be in Troy and Milton. Because they say home is where your heart is, and now my heart is in Troy. I know in a little over a week I will have to start taking down pictures and boxing things up, and Im not ready for that part yet. So I am making the most of my final 16 days left here and live them with no regrets! God has been so good to me and I am so grateful. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me while I have been away, who supported me on SBP this summer. It all is in with God's blessings! Here are some recent pictures that just make me smile when I think of Troy