In honor of another year of my life passing, I wanted to document some experiences that I have encountered–one experience for the number of years I have lived. Please do not take this as a time for me to boast about the things I have done or accomplished. This is my formal acknowledgment of the blessings that God has provided me and the fulfillment thus far of His promise to me that He gives life and life to the fullest.
1. In the fourth grade I won the school spelling bee on the word “entangled.” I got to skip a day of school to go compete at the county level and I lost after the third or fourth round. I don’t even remember the word; I just remember the kid before me was given the word “anaconda” and missed it and I thought he had some issues because he had missed an easy word.
2. I was homeschooled for fourth and fifth grade. I quickly became one of those kids who thought I was better than everyone else because I didn’t have to go to a traditional school. This made me socially awkward (like I needed help with that during that stage of life!) and I am thankful that I was placed back in school for the rest of my education.
3. I landed my first job when I was 16 as a cashier at SuperTarget. It was a fairly new store and I was so excited to be making a whole twenty-five cents per hour more than minimum wage! There were days when I didn’t like that job, but it helped pay for my first car which was a nice tradeoff.
4. I have been on a safari in Africa. Scariest day of my life! We rode on benches that were bolted to the top edge of the bed of a small pickup truck and we drove at speeds that were a little too fast for comfort. The whole time we were getting whacked in the face by bushes that were everywhere that had thorns on them and they kept digging into our arms as we passed them. Then the monkeys would not leave us alone while we were eating lunch and that really freaked me out. I learned that day that I do not really mesh with wild animals.
5. When Leann Rimes first started out I joined her fan club (every girl from Texas has to have one country singer that they can join their fan club, right?!) and I got to meet her at the Texas State Fair. We thought the show was going to be cancelled because of the rain, but she was a trooper and still performed and my sister and I got to meet her and get her autograph.
6. I was the maid of honor in my sister’s wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and she made an even more beautiful bride. I am so thankful for her and her husband, Garrett, and the joy they both bring to our family. (Maybe one day she will get to be the matron of honor for my wedding!)
7. December 20, 2010 I sat in a hospital room in Florida and witnessed my grandpa take his last breath. After battling cancer for a few years, God finally called him home. It is a tough thing to experience the loss of a loved one, but it is a hopeful reminder that God welcomed him to eternal fellowship with Him. There are just some images in life that you will never forget.
8. I competed in an accounting competition during my junior year of high school. (I also competed in an algebra competition in middle school, but we won’t go down that road again.) I had to sit in a classroom on a Saturday afternoon in my professional business attire and take an accounting test. Sad thing is I loved every second of it! I placed third that day and was able to advance to the state competition. My love for accounting was pretty much solidified that day.
9. I once sang “Stand By Your Man” in a talent show. I was in kindergarten and did not understand why the fourth graders laughed at me when I was singing this song. I loved this song and wanted everyone to know it! I was not able to get my mind around the fact that this song was about a woman sticking up for her man (not that the song title gave that away or anything), I just really liked the song and wanted to do something for the talent show. I haven’t listened to that song since the day they all laughed at me; guess I was scarred for life.
10. I was in Athens, Greece during a “snow storm.” Athenians had not seen snow in four years and it just so happened that the week we were there it snowed for two days. None of the snow stuck on the roads, but the people were so impressed with the snow, they closed all public transportation, buildings, schools, and businesses for two days. On the plus side, we got to ride in taxis with people who spoke no English!
11. I was able to attend the opening day of Elevation University campus. I was so impressed that they had changed a YMCA to look so cool. Little did I know that the University campus would make such a huge impact on my life!
12. I once did backup dancing for Britt Nicole. (At the time she was Brittany Waddell.) She used to dance at the same studio I attended and the owner of the studio had her come perform for our church. Since I was a part of the dance team, I got to perform with her. Apparently the song choice was a little too “Britney Spears Pepsi commercial” for some in the church, so we weren’t allowed to perform on Sunday mornings after that. It was still one of my favorite times to perform.
13. I led an Impact Team through the BSU at North Greenville. We traveled all over the state of South Carolina and went to a few places in North Carolina spending weekends with students. I have played Underground Church more times than I can count. Every time I see a tan colored Chevy Astro I get car sick. And I have yet to catch up on the sleep I never got on those weekends. But those were some of the best times of my college career and I loved meeting new people all the time and teaching students about God.
14. Living in Chinquapin 12 was one of the best years of my life! God knew what He was doing when He placed all of us in there. We all had such different personalities and different passions, but we made it work and loved every minute of it. (And somehow we even managed to never fight over the bathroom! A miracle when there were seven girls sharing one shower!)
15. I have been to Corinth and walked on the part of the marble road that remains in the city. It was incredible to see parts of the area where Paul and probably the majority of the disciples had been before and to think of all that happened in this ancient city. That day was one of my favorites so far. And on the bus ride over, our tour guide told us the Greek origin of almost every English word. It was like our own personal My Big Fat Greek Wedding!
16. I danced for a number of years. I started when I was in first grade and moved to a competitive team when I was in second grade. I took a few years off, but then joined the dance team at church in sixth or seventh grade. I also started at a studio again in eighth grade and joined the competitive team my freshman year of high school. I danced on the team at church all through middle and high school and even joined the adult team my senior year of high school. Dance was a big part of my life and I miss it a lot.
17. I graduated college in May with an Honors Scholar Diploma of a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration. There were a few times during those four years that I informed my mom I was going to drop out and move back home, but thankfully she always told me that it wouldn’t be a good idea.
18. I have lost some of my best friends to the Midwest. One of my best friends lives in Indiana and the other lives in Wisconsin. I have learned that goodbyes are not my forte and that I am a cry baby when they have to leave me. (I despise crying and don’t know how goodbyes make me cry instantly!) I would be completely fine if they both decided that they liked the Carolinas better than the snow they are buried under all winter!
19. I am slowly but surely working towards my Masters of Accountancy. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to learn and thankful for the professors in my department who worked hard to make recruiting season a success. I will be starting with CliftonLarsonAllen in October and cannot wait to begin my career in public accounting!
20. I have found some of the best people through my time spent with the ladies at the Center for Community Transitions. The women at the facility have taught me that no matter who you are, you are worth more than the bad choices you have made in the past and you are able to change. They have taught me how to not judge someone by their decisions, but to encourage them in their choices to make a new future and life.
21. In second grade I went to the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day and I had to wear a dress because we ate lunch in the Players’ Club thing. I was frustrated that I had to wear a dress to a football game and that I had no intention to watch the game because I thought football was boring. The only thing I knew about the Cowboys at the time was that Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith played. Who knew that football would be my favorite sport and that the Cowboys would be one of my least favorite teams?
22. I was named to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges for my junior and senior years at North Greenville. I am not sure what the list really represents or who even looks at it, but it meant that I got to stand up during awards chapel. And they sent me a certificate that I hung on the fridge for a whole year. My guess is that it is a made up award but it sounds kind of cool.
23. I gave my life fully to Christ when I was twelve years old. He saved me from a life void of His presence. He is my guide, He is my rock, He is my father, He is my provider, He is my peace, He is my passion, He is my Lord. My life has been all that it has been because of His enduring love for me and His ability to never give up on me. He is still changing me and shaping me in to the woman that He has designed me to be, but I cannot imagine life without Him. I know that I have not experienced much in my short life, but I have found the One who paid my debt and made a way for me to live in complete fellowship with my creator all the days of my life. Oh what a wonderful journey this life is!
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