The Graduate

After 5 years and 4 different majors, the time finally came. 

The time to graduate.

On May 4th, 2012, 

I became an alumna of The University of Alabama 

and 

graduated with a 

Bachelor of Science  

in 

Human Development and Family Studies. 

It was a wonderful weekend and I was very thankful to have my mom, dad, sisters, and other family members and friends present to celebrate with me. It meant so much to me to have them there. 

The week before graduation, it didn't really seem like it was happening. I was still in the mode of taking finals and working at my job, so I didn't have much time to think about it. However, when it kept getting closer and my family started coming into town, I was like, "Wait! This is really happening. I'm graduating...from college!"

I told my friends that while we were waiting to walk in, I felt like someone was going to come up and be like, "Just kidding. You aren't really graduating today." 

But, there we were, surrounded by fellow students, most of whom I had never seen before, graduating.
Everyone in their cap and gown, holding our name cards.

As we walked into the Coliseum, I started looking for my family and surprisingly found them pretty quickly. I waved and smiled as they took pictures and looked around at everyone doing the same. 

Then, the ceremony began. 

The different colleges were announced and we turned our tassels, then waited for our time to cross the stage. 

Of course, my college was the last to be presented and I am a "U", so I had to wait anxiously until my row stood up to go to the stage. 

I walked around, looking in the crowd to see if I saw anyone I knew, still not really believing what I was doing. 

Then, I was a few steps from the stairs and before I knew it I was handing my card to the name reader. 

I smiled, one because he pronounced my name right and two, well I was walking across a stage to get a diploma...from college! And three, because I could hear my family section screaming.

I shook hands with the important people and then found my way in the tunnel to get my picture taken. 

Then, I went back to my seat, finding my family again so they could snap more pictures.

And then, the cheers began from the graduates. 

Our last classmate had stepped across the stage. 

It was over. 

We had done it. 

The Alma Mater was sang and we were dismissed.

I waited in the tunnel for my friend that was near me and we walked out together, arms linked and laughing because it was all so surreal that we just graduated college. 

Later that night, my family came to my apartment and we celebrated. 

The next night, we had a Graduation Dinner at my church and then I celebrated with friends after. 

It was the last time that many of us would be together for awhile. 

We ate, we laughed, we danced, we cried, we hugged, 

and 

we said goodbye. 

Underneath a sky lit by a Super Moon, I drove away from a house full of amazing friends, with more memories than I could have ever asked for. 

My sisters and I in our old spots in the back of Dad's truck. 

The Gang at Cracker Barrel for lunch! 

Fellow Graduates! 

:-) 

My Last Semester of College

Here are some highlights from my last semester of College!

:-) 

National Championship Celebration 

Winter Road Trip 2012

30 Hour Famine!

Trips to places around Tuscaloosa

Blue Angels Show

Thrift Store Formal 

FBC Hamilton D-Now 

Reuniting with my best friend and hammocking! :-) 

And of course, all of the amazing random times with amazing friends! 

Stay tuned for my next post about GRADUATION!!

:-) 

Let's face it, don't we all want this sometimes? 

A Little Now, Longer to Go

So, in my last post I talked about how I was on the road to changing things. My plan is to get healthier for the glory of God. To take care of my temple the way that He has intended. Well, here is a little more about what I am doing and an update. 

I've been starting with eating foods that help to burn fat and that are yummy. The yummy part is important because if it isn't good, there is no way I am going to eat it. I have been eating mostly turkey and chicken as my protein at lunch and dinner. I also am eating more vegetables and fruit, my favorite being blackberries and blueberries. Another thing that has made a difference is breakfast which is a variety of different things. Some of the things I eat for breakfast are: eggs, whole wheat bagels with cream cheese, oatmeal, frosted mini wheats, fruit, and my most favorite! whole wheat waffles with peanut butter (so good!). I also drink either orange juice or coffee in the morning. I have found that breakfast really does make a difference in helping me be more alert in the morning and able to eat better balanced meals throughout the day. For the busy mornings I grab a Kashi granola bar. This week I have Dark Almond Mocha, very delicious. Other foods and snacks that I eat are applesauce, almonds (my favorite go-to), pretzels, white-corn tortillas and low-fat yogurt. I also discovered delicious smoothie mix from Yoplait! Another key staple in my day is water! Water, water, water! I have pretty much cut out soft drinks and tea, mostly because of the sugar. I get my caffeine from the coffee that I drink. Another thing that I have that helps me is an app on my iTouch called My Fitness Pal. It is specified to my height and weight and tells me my calorie goal. I enter everything that I eat and drink and my exercise and it calculates it all to whether I stayed at or below my goal or if I went over. I really like this app because it tells me the breakdown of whether I'm eating mostly carbs or fats and what things I went over on. Most importantly, it has helped me to count calories and learn portion sizes. 

As far as exercise goes, I try and do mostly cardio three times a week, and then strength exercises the other days. On Saturdays, I alternate walking and running for up to an hour. I'm slowly trying to build my way up to complete running. The first Saturday I was able to run for 5 minutes (although not consecutively) and the next Saturday I was able to run for 6 minutes total, at 2 minute intervals. So mostly, the other 55 minutes is walking at a semi-fast pace. 

Now for the update. After the first week that I started and changed my diet and starting exercising, I lost 2 pounds. That isn't much, but it shows a change and is encouraging. I have noticed other changes though like more energy and just feeling better. I only weigh myself once a week, usually on Friday mornings. Any more than that I am only going to get obsessed with the number and those fluctuate so much. 

Now for the bad. I do normally allow myself one "cheat" day where I continue to watch portions and what I eat, however I do not document it in My Fitness Pal. Well, the past couple of days have all been cheat days. I have not done well in eating right and watching portions. I relate this to lack of time to plan and actually eat a meal and also that I am getting "bored." This week is also difficult for me to intentionally make meals, with having a long list of homework to do. However, really this is showing my lack of self-control and procrastination in doing what I know is the best thing. The past few days I have not watched portions, skipped meals, and gone through too many fast food lines. I was going to tell which ones, but I think I will refrain. Even if you think it's possible to make a "healthy" choice at a restaurant, it is very rare to actually do. It is way better to take the time to make and eat a meal at home. 

Here is to getting back on the road to better and healthy eating. 

For His glory! 

It's a Life Change, Worship to the Lord

If there is one thing you haven't learned from reading my blog and seeing pictures that I have taken, I love trees.  My all time favorite scene to capture is the sun shining through trees like the one above. Not to mention two of my favorite Bible verses speak of trees, vines and branches. 

This is a passage found in John chapter 15, verses 1-8:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Another of my favorites speaks about the Cross and how we are healed by Christ's wounds in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 24: 

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

I took the picture above at Camp Sumatanga in Alabama earlier this year when my college ministry went on our Winter Road Trip. This was the last chance I would have to go on a roadtrip with my college ministry. Of course it was bittersweet, but it was also a wonderful time! I hate that I didn't take more pictures, but I was too busy soaking up the Word and enjoying fellowship with my brother and sisters. 

We focused on the Gospel and how it impacts us as individuals and how it impacts the church, both body and building. 

One part of the teaching that sticks out to me is focused around Romans 12:1-8:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Here are some notes that I took from that session:

• The Gospel changes how we use our bodies, simply because Christ is our treasure. 
• Every "do not" in the Word is drenched in love. We are to not conform, but to be transformed. 
• The Gospel changes how we use our minds and how we think.
• The Gospel changes how we think of ourselves. 
• The Gospel changes how we view the local church and our assigned roles.

The bullet point in bold is the one that had the most impact on me and something that the Lord has really placed on my heart to truly think about and take to heart. I'm not saying that I have had a negative self-image, but I mean let's face it, I am a girl. What girl, or guy for that matter, has never thought about something that they would change about themselves? It hasn't been until recently that I have begun to see what it means to belong to the Lord as His daughter, to view my body "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." 

I have always had that "resolution" to lose weight, eat healthier, and fit into a smaller pair of jeans. As we all know, resolutions rarely ever last. Then, my view of losing weight turned to: getting healthier. It isn't about looking better, gaining attention from guys or competing against other women to "look good." It is about "true and proper worship." My body is not my own, but God's. I was created in His image to do His work. This is about being transformed by renewing my mind to the things of Christ. I want to be the daughter and servant that He has called me to be. 

The discipline is hard, physically and spiritually, but in the end the harvest is righteousness and peace. 

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 'Make level paths for your feet,' so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

Hebrews 12:11-13

So, here I am on this new journey. 

One that will be hard, but I know will be worth it in the end. 

A transformation and renewing of my mind, of how I think about myself. 

A journey to discover the way that the Lord sees me. 

Beautiful, holy and pleasing to Him. 

We Lost, But Then We Won

Last November, LSU came to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama in what was called the Game of the Century. 

It was a lot of pressure for these two teams in what is already a heated rivalry. 

Now, in Tuscaloosa, we had ESPN camping out, more people in the city than we had ever had before, and two teams that were hoping to pull out a win. For LSU, it was to remain undefeated and have a chance at the National Championship game. For Alabama, it was the same, but they were also playing for redemption and to revive a town that was torn. Alabama was playing for a greater cause. Just as LSU aimed, and succeeded, to win the National Championship game for their fans after their home state had been ripped and flooded by Hurricane Katrina, Alabama had the same notion. To play and win the National Championship game for their state and fans who had been torn and impacted by a wave of deadly storms and tornadoes that ripped apart their state, including Tuscaloosa, the home of the Crimson Tide, in April of 2011. 

The Game of the Century ended with LSU on top and what appeared to be a sure win in the National Championship game to take place in January. Alabama thought that their chances were gone. Then, a turn of events that could only happen in college football, gave the Tide a second chance. The teams that needed to win did, and the ones who needed to lose, lost. At the end of the day, LSU was number one and Alabama was right behind them in the number two seat. Controversy and anger came from many different ends, while excitement, nervousness and elated joy came from Bama supporters. It was a second chance that was unbelievable, but it was here. 

LSU and Alabama would have a rematch. 

In the National Championship game in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Alabama would win. 

Here are some other pictures of me and the group throughout the weekend.

The group the day before the game at the Riverwalk.

The group at the Pep Rally in Jackson Square. 

The morning on the game after we got our tickets!! 

Roll Tide!

Group shot after the game!

Champions again!

Roll Tide! 

:-)