My favorite time of the year: Football season

Oh the joy of football season!! My friends (except for betsy who loves football just as much) usually get mad at me for how much I like football and how often I watch it. I absolutely love everything about it and enjoy watching intense games more than anything! I have had some really fun football weekends with my family and friends and truly enjoyed the spirit of Tuscaloosa! And I can definitely say I have turned both my parents into huge Alabama fans and I love it. For the first time ever, my mom texts me making sure I am watching any close game, and she loves to remind me how lucky half of auburn's wins are.  Gamedays have been my one day that I give myself off for the week and do not look at school work (except for one saturday and it was AWFUL....i watched some of the games on mute so I could peek every once and awhile)

Here are some pictures from throughout the whole season that I thought I would share!

 Got to experience my first UGA game with my bestest friend!!

 North Texas game with my fellow football fanatic!

 I have the Best Big Sis in the world!!

 Thank you to the Dennis Family for letting us sit with them!

 The team about to come out!

Vanderbilt Homecoming game

Julia came to town/ Marist reunion

 Love you to the moon and back!...ps lets time lets not lose to the dads!

 I literally have the BEST parents in the world. No questions asked

 Some of the biggest blessings in my life!

 Love you two more than you know (Care it is also SO special to have you in ttown)

 Could not ask for a better support system here in ttown... thank you for all that you guys  put up with!

 Most caring, fun, spontaneous, love mom a girl could ask for!

At the Cannon's fabulous tailgate for the Arkansas game!

 Look at those Tide fans!! Could not be happier!

 Love each and every one of you! Cant wait to be roomies!!

 Trying to teach this man how to dance. Could not ask for a better friend, support system or Dad!

 Words will never be able to describe what you mean to me... thank you for all you do

Best roommates I could ever ask for!! Love you all! 1001 love!

Taking A Spare Minute to Breath

Clearly, I have not done a very good job of blogging more this semester, but I can honestly say this is the first time all semester I cannot find something to do (even though I should be studying). To say this semester has been exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually is an understatement, but on the positive side the Lord has taught me so so much!

I have really learned to trust the lord more than ever and trust in his plan! When I feel like I have no more energy to study but know I need to study for at least a couple more hours, I usually take a break to do my quiet time and by the grace of God he gives me the energy to fight on a little harder. It has been incredible to see him answer so many prayers this semester.

Recently, I had a very big wake up call from the Lord, but I think he wanted me to be humbled and learn to trust him even more and most importantly realize how incredibly powerful he is. I learned that while I am a perfectionist I am not actually perfect and the ONLY person that is perfect is Jesus. I am quite selfish to think that I can be perfect, but I have always struggled with being a perfectionist and I think it is one of the worst "diseases" someone can have. On the positive side, I realized I needed to fail what I did for a spiritual aspect and also for an academic aspect so I could truly learn and understand what I obviously didn't the first time.

This semester has been a loooong journey, but the light at the end of the tunnel is slowly appearing and my calling to be a nurse is becoming more clear because I have questioned it multiple multiple times this semester! I get to spend the night at home for the first time since July 22, so to say I am excited to go home just not even come close to explaining my excitement!! Oh how I have missed the business and many options of restaurants along with many other things of Atlanta!!

Caroline Joan Young

Today 21 years ago one of my bestest friends in the entire world graced

 us with her presence on this earth! WOW what a good day that is!

If you do not know Caroline, I am going to go ahead and say I am sorry because

your missing out on one of the best friendships of your life and just missing out

on knowing one of the best people on this earth. 

Sitting here going down memory lane with so many different times with caroline

literally brings me tears of joy. I remember the very first time I met her at Meghan Duffy's

birthday party and then we went to camp 3 weeks later together and thats when my life changed forever.

They always say you build unique relationships at camp...well we definitely did.

To say the least, Caroline and I re-met that sunday and by friday night we were sharing a bunk bed

in the watersports cabin. 

The next summer we had the awesome experience of sharing our LIT year together 

and the friendship only grew stronger. The next 4 summers we worked together for a month 

at camp and by far every time they were the best 4 months of my summer. 

BUT, the friendship went far far beyond camp. It turned into a once or twice a month 

hang out, which eventually turned into an every weekend hangout and I wouldn't 

want it any other way! I was fortunate enough to have Caroline as my roommate freshmen 

year of college, and who knows what I would have done without her. It 

was by far one of the biggest blessings of my life. 

Enough about us. Today is her day and I want to share with everyone how amazing

this girl is and how lucky I am to call her a BEST FRIEND, sister, twin, soulmate, and 

camp friend. When I hear the name Caroline Young, I immediately think of a stunningly

beautiful blonde both inside and out. Caroline literally has a heart of GOLD.

Caroline has NEVER failed to be there for me. We have spent so many nights laughing

so hards our abs hurt, telling stories, boy drama, shedding tears dealing with different loses, sharing our faiths,and so many more special times together. She is by far one of THE MOST genuine people I know. Caroline never ever fails to know what to say to me to put a smile on my face,

or just to realize everything is going to be ok and God has a better plan for me. 

She will always stand up for me and be there to defend me whenever I need. I with out a doubt

can always call on Caroline and know everything will be ok!

Caroline, I know I say it all the time but you truly will never ever know how much you mean to me.

I could not love a person more and I think everyone knows that. To this day, I am honored

and privileged to be called your twin and for people to get us confused. I hope you know

and never forget how much you truly mean to me.

I LOVE YOU PAST HEAVEN AND BACK FOREVER AND EVER

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY CAROLINE!!!

Here are just some pictures to capture our friendship over the years!

(Our LIT summer)

(Fall retreat...were always bus buddies)

 (CIT summer...so intimidating)

 (Your the best.)

(Never fails to make me laugh)

 (Loves to have fun)

 (The beginning of the core 4)

 (We're still together)

 (Happy 18th Bday)

 (So glad we shared this night together)

 (So much love, happieness, and joy)

(Would not have made it through this year without you)

(Soulmates.)

(Always have your arms wide open for me)

 (Twins.)

(Your finally 21..yayay)

Thank you for being you!

Wrapping Up The Summer!

Well first and fore most I apologize for not writing in forever, but that does mean there is a lot to update you on! My goal for this semester is to get a lot better about writing on here more often!

HILTON HEAD!
What seems like yesterday...Natalie and I headed to Hilton Head to spend a few days at the beach over the fourth of July just so we could say we went to the beach at least once this summer!! It was an amazing trip!  We left Atlanta early thursday morning and got there in time to spend some time on the beach! It was the most peaceful thing I had experienced in a long long time! The first night we were there I went to bed at 8:30 and woke up the next day at 10:30, so to say the least school had been wearing me out A LOT. The next couple days were amazing. We had a pretty great routine to get up and eat breakfast (or lunch depending on the hour we woke up :)) then would head to the beach for a couple hours and then lounge around before we decided dinner plans. 


Some of the highlights of this trip were the 7am bike ride with Natalie and Mrs. Johnston to eat the best chocolate croissant I have ever eaten. Naturally, I was not too excited about waking up that early esp on vacation to go on a bike ride. The bike ride was nice and long so that we could burn off the calories of what we were about to eat. It was early and I got a good workout and it was definitely worth everything!!
Another awesome thing we did was go on a roller blade adventure every night. It was so nice because the golf course sidewalks were sooo smooth, so it made roller blading that much easier! It was an awesome time for natalie and I to enjoy the awesome weather and just have genuine heartfelt conversations about how blessed we were and all the ups and downs to the summer. Wow. I would love to go back to one of those blading experiences.
Lastly, the Beach, what a special place. Everyday when Natalie and I were laying out we seemed to always say..."Ahhh...the beach is the best place ever" or "Wow. relaxing like this makes me realize how stressed we are at school" It was the perfect break that we both needed....unfortunately it was way too short! But I am so thankful and appreciative that I got to go to the beach at least once this summer.


Here are some pics from our trip...unfortunately Mrs. Johnston has the others:

 (First day on the Beach)

 (Typical Natalie doing something she shouldnt be)

 (The AMAZING house :)))

 (precious sisters)

(would be so lost without...thanks for all you to do to encourage me daily)

HEADING TO MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME!

While I wasnt able to spend my whole summer at camp, I was fortunately blessed to head up there for a long weekend. It was honestly the perfect timing and visit for me. I got there thursday around lunch time and was overwhelmed with hugs and the love of so many people that I missed so much (it was supposed to be a surprise but that got ruined the day before). Immediately, I fell back into place and acted like nothing had changed! I went out with my watersports family that afternoon and loved being on the most beautiful lake in Georgia. As well as being surrounded by campers who look up to you so much no matter what.

 (Love you more than you will EVER know)

 (Never been more happy than to spend the afternoon with yall)

 (trying to be cute...)

(So much Love and Happiness in this picture)

That night was Sav and Care's night off and Kate met us up at camp for the night. We went out to a yummy dinner at Zepplins and naturally topped off the night like every night out with a Walmart and Dairy Queen trip. The next day was Friday, my favorite day at camp. For the first time in a while, I was at camp all day friday because usually watersports is gone all day so that was a new experience for me! I woke up early and went to watch Caroline and Ethan shine as LIT pds during their morning devotion. Then I just went with the flow and hung out with different people all day long. I went to morning assembly and loved jumping up and down singing worship and praising God. Then I loved just hanging out at the water front with everyone all day. This trip was truly a blessing and much needed. It was also a time that I realized God's plan for me that I followed this summer was the right one. As hard as it was all summer not being at camp and constantly thinking about what they were doing every time I looked at my watch, this trip confirmed that I had done the right thing and God's plan truly was perfect. 

Friday night's are my favorite. I got to go get my groove on at the dance and then go to night program and watch everyone's hilarious Camper of the Week songs. And then sing my favorite songs that I will always hold in my heart with my best friends around me. It truly was such a blessing and I felt like I had never left camp. Yes, it was hard to be there knowing I had to come back to school and study, but I had to be positive and be thankful I could visit for so long and and truly always feel welcomed and at home!

 (Best friends...)

 (Your one of the biggest blessings in my life...thank you for everything you do)

(...and then there were 4)

 (Closest we had come to remaking this picture)

 The AMAZING girls PDs!

 (So thankful to have you in my life as a best friend and role model)

 My favorite place on earth. 

 (some of my favorite people in the world)

The BEST boss in the world!

DAD MAKES 50 LOOK GOOD!!

The next major adventure in my summer was that that my biggest role model and best father in the world finally caught up to his friends (and wife) and turned the big 5-0!! Unfortunately, I came home for this celebration very sick, but luckily by celebration time I was much much better!! Jay was home as well for the 4 days I was here and it was so awesome to be able to just hang out with him and run errands together. It felt so nice to finally be reunited with Jay since our trip! He is truly the best big brother I could ask for and can confidently say he will always have my back.

We got the special treat of Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tony coming in from VA. As well as many of the camp girls coming from camp, athens, statesboro, and roswell. It was so special to see how appreciative my dad was for these girls making the effort to celebrate with him. My dad considers these girls like his own daughters so it made his birthday that much better! I am thankful that my friends made the effort to celebrate such a special day! One of my favorite parts of the party was seeing family friends that I had not seen since I was in middle school. It was so much fun to catch up right where we had all left off!

I will post some pictures because for this event the pictures definitely say it all! But overall this was an awesome weekend and I am beyond blessed to have the dad I do. You would never know by his adventurous and living-life-to-the-fullest attitude that he is 50! My dad brings so much joy and happiness in my life and I am so thankful for the humble and selfless person he is!

 (The BIG day!)

 (Koozies for party favors)

 (The extended fam)

 (I would not be half the person I am today without you ladies)

 (The BEST family in the entire world)

 (Mama and her boy)

 (Mailbox decorations)

 (Soulmate/Roomie...enough said.)

(Words cannot describe my love and thankfulness for yall)