Memorial Day Weekend

It is just a little over a week since I graduated, and I am a little frazzled that I don't have a million things lined up for me to dive into. God is really teaching me patience right now, and I am not liking the lesson! So after a week full of worry and a severe sinus infection, Andrew and I flew down to Corpus Christi where our entire family met us for the weekend. It was just what I needed. I needed to not think about life after college for about three days to get my mind clear and rejuvenated. Christi, Andrew's sister, had a baby on Mothers day, so we got to spend some time with our sweet little Addison, she is such a doll! We not only spent time with Andrews family, we also spent time with my family and also all of our family friends that live in Corpus. It was so wonderful.

I am now back in Nashville with a minor sinus infection, bad sunburn, and a renewed heart and mind. I feel rested even though we spent the entire weekend going and going and going. Now I am back to apply for jobs and get things done. Waking up in the morning right now consists of lots of prayer. Sometimes I am so afraid I'll miss something, that my worrying gets the best of me. I am a busy body and I like a challenge. God is challenging me... And I have a feeling this is the beginning of many different and hard sorts of challenges. Things are changing in my heart and in my mind, not in a bad way, just in a different way. I am growing and maturing and finding that my dreams are changing in a way as I grow, it's good yet hard when the potters hands begin to break you down before they build you back up.

Here are some pictures from our trip!

Graduation Weekend!

This past weekend flew by and I woke up this Monday morning and it hit me.. I am really a college graduate! I sure feels good to say that but at the same time a little scary since I everything kind of came to a screeching halt! Andrew and I had such a great time with my parents and Toby this weekend. So I guess that was the end of one chapter in my life... off to start the beginning of the next chapter!

Alot can happen in four years...

In about a week, I will graduate from college. Can you believe it? It felt like it was just yesterday that I was graduating Belton High School and wondering what the next four years of my life would hold... now I am wondering the same thing about the next four years. I never dreamed that I would end up married, living in Nashville, and experiencing some of the things that happened in these past few years. I want you to go back with me see the doors that the Lord has opened and which ones I have chosen to walk through... sometimes those weren't the same doors. When I look back, all I can say is, "HOLY COW, how did I fit all of that in four years?"

Follow me...

First I graduated Belton High School in May 2005

Then it was time to pack up and move into Burt Hall at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor

I was a Music Education Major at UMHB and loved every minute of it. I met amazing people and made so many wonderful memories with these people. We hiked up Enchanted rock, stayed out until midnight enjoying the Daily Grind's Iced Coffee (it was torn down a few years ago), and most of all shared our lives with each other. I love them all very much!

My freshman year I worked several jobs, taught a four year old choir, was a full-time student and enjoyed getting to know everyone on campus. I even made plans to become a camp counselor at Carolina Creek Christian Camp in Hunstville Texas for the summer after my freshman year.

During the spring semester, some things began to change. I felt this calling on my heart that I was to go somewhere else. This was hard to even think about because my family and friends were all in this 5 mile radius. "Go where?" Then God gave me the answer, "Belmont University."

That spring break my mom and I drove 13 hours to Nashville, TN so that I could audition for the school of music at Belmont University. I was so scared... I had never done anything so bold in all my life. But in the midst of my utter nervousness I had a peace. Mom did too. We knew that this is what God wanted for me.

The summer after my freshman year at UMHB I was a camp counselor at CCCC

Camp ended a little early for me because I got a staff infection and had to go home... two weeks later I was headed for Nashvegas to start school at Belmont University! Here are some of the highlights during my sophmore year at Belmont.

By the end of my sophomore year at Belmont University I had accomplished several things: I had auditioned for The Nashville Choir and made it in, participated in the 1st annual Hymn Sing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, along with that TNC asked me to go on a trip to sing in the President' Church in Washington D.C. with 18 other members of the choir. From that trip I met Julie Branham who then asked me to be the intern and a member of The Soul Choir. I also became a member of sou'ld out, a 5 voice a capella group. I also had taken a job in Corpus Christi Texas for the summer as the youth intern at Brighton Park Baptist Church. That summer changed my life forever... I met Andrew.

After that summer I came back to Nashville with a BIG year in front of me... I had no idea what was coming! I moved off campus, got engaged, met Bill Gaither, ran a 5k, performed three times in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, was hired as the Administrative Assistant for The Nashville Choir, toured around town with The Soul Choir and Soul'd Out, auditioned and became a member of "Session", and was a full time student!

The summer after my junior year at Belmont I was hired on as the interm Children's minister at Brighton Park Baptist Church. While working in Corpus that summer I was able to spend some time with family and my husband-to-be! It flew by so fast!

Now it was finally time to start my senior year! I was planning a wedding and trying to pass all my classes while working as the Administrative Assistant to TNC. I was singing in the groups TNC, The Soul Choir, and Session. The first part of the semester I lived in bellevue and the second part I lived with Andrew here in our apartment in Hermitage. Andrew and I got married on January the 3rd, 2009. The happiest day of my life. Also I helped produce the 25th Tribute concert to Michael W. Smith in the fall, and sang with Allison Krauss at the Governors Prayer Breakfast in the spring. I also finished my senior recital!! Now it is time to graduate!

5 days till graduation