I'm a proud sister!

My baby brother graduates high school this weekend. Tomorrow is his last day of high school. This makes me feel so old. Sidebar..I had a freak out because I'm turning 22 in 3 months the other day.. I've watched my little brother grow and become a great young man. He really is my best friend. We've always been close for a brother and sister. I can probably count on 1 hand how many real fights we've had over the past 18 years. Actually I only remember 1. Anyway, he's a great friend, a great little brother and we share a lot of interests. I only wish him the best in everything he does.

Babies!

our favorite place :)

Easter this year.

Region golf champions :) this is his passion

Up Next.... Graduation picture

I also wrote about little brother here

See ya later!

Recently I said a lot of goodbyes. I hate the term goodbye because for some of those people its not a goodbye. Sure, some of the people who graduated and my paths will never cross again but they had an impact in my life and I will never forget them. Some of these people I met freshman year and we managed to stay friends throughout 4 years of college. Some I was with non-stop that first year when I thought I would be so lonely. I needed them now and who knows, one day I may need them again.

Other friends I said goodbye to for the summer. A lot of friendships aren't cut out for summer friendships. You know, those 3 months between the end of school and the start of school. Summers bring about adventures and catching up for most people and sometimes friendships just aren't cut out for distance. The good thing about most of these friendships is that you are able to pick right back up where you left off when you return back to school. I'm glad to say that thanks to modern technology it makes summer friendships a lot easier!

Then there are those friends who I said goodbye to who I know where they are headed on this next stage of their lives. Its not going to be easy to be in Athens without them but I know that our friendships will remain intact (at least I like to think they will).

It doesn't take me long to start missing people. Really, 1 week and it starts. There are those people I see daily and talk to on a regular basis that missing them is something that can't be controlled. So, when I say "I miss you" I really do mean it. When someone responds with "miss you too" I often wonder if they really mean it or if they are just saying it because its what you are supposed to do. I don't know. Anyway, that was a slight digression from my point.

Ah, yes my point ( a few paragraphs later). While looking on Pinterest which I am addicted to now I came across two quotes from Winnie the Pooh and I always  knew he had the best advice. These pictures made me curious so when I googled some of the quote I found a youtube video of Winnie the Pooh talking to Christopher Robin about a day when they are no longer together. It gave me some peace because it is true.... "As long as we are apart together we shall certainly be fine".

True friends remain friends no matter what distance. I can say a million goodbyes and if all 1 million of those people and I remain friends it was meant to be. At the same time if 5 of them and I stay close that would be okay too.

If ever there's a tomorrow we're not together...

To those of you who graduated and are moving
 on to bigger and better things... CONGRATULATIONS and good luck! To the others See ya later (in August to be exact)

I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart...

 

Today at church we talked about JOY. We were reading from Philippians. I have never really spent much time on Philippians but today I learned I really enjoy it. Joy is something we should have everyday. Joy is not the same thing as happiness and no one can take joy away from us as long as we have God. 

 The 3 things that were said to be "joy killers" were 1. Worry 2. Stress and 3. Fear. I needed to hear this today because for the past few weeks all three of these things have been a part of my life. Worrying and stressing about school, life, future plans and all that fun stuff. Fear hasn't been as evident and as often but it does come into my life sometimes. I don't know whats going to happen tonight, tomorrow or even 10 years down the road but I can't control it. If I try I am losing some of my joy. 


So, do you have JOY? Do you show it everyday? Just think about it. It was nice for me to sit and listen to the things that were said.

Katie

 

Sunshine & Summertime: My summer bucket list and such

I think Kenny Cheney's music describes summer best... 
 For example:

Perfect song on the radio
Sing along 'cause it's one we know
It's a smile, it's a kiss
It's a sip of wine, it's summertime

 

To me summer means flip flops, tank tops, swim suits, barefoot, sun, sand, shorts. Summer is my favorite. There is nothing better than a summer rain on a hot day or eating strawberries on the back porch watching the sun set. Summer is my time that I read, relax and spend time with my family. my love for summer rates very closely with my love for coffee, which is A LOT. Summer can be magical. Some of the happiest memories I have take place in the summer months.


What do I have in store for me this summer? My family is going on vacation in a few weeks and I am so excited! I love the beach (if you have read any of my previous blog posts you of course already know my obsession with the beach). God is incredible and just sitting in the sand with a book looking at the sea which never seems to end reminds me of this, every day. I also will be working this summer and will be back and forth between Athens and Rome. It's the first summer in 3 years I haven't had a job for the entire summer. My work plans for this summer (babysitting at home for a family and my normal job here) allows me to bum around this summer without doing absolutely nothing. 


So what's on my bucket list for this summer?
__ Read. I want to finish My Name is Memory, work on my Jane Austen books and read the rest of Lori Wick's books because they are my favorite. There is also a random series my mom is reading that I would like to finish (maybe). My summer reading books are for the most part books that I don't have to think about. You know.... romance, happily ever afters, and lots of summery themes. 
__ GRE. I need to study & take the GRE. Not looking forward to this one. 
__ Grad School. Where do I wanna go? What do I wanna do? I'm gonna have to have a heart to heart with my self on this one. 
__ Become more confident. Find out more who I am (this kind of goes with the above)
__ Completely clean/re-organize my room. 
__ get back in the habit of running
__ reconnect with some old friends
__ fall in love. haha. this one was a joke. I'm just about to start reading about all these summer romances so I figured I'd throw this out there. 


Well, thats all for now! Happy summer :)

Katie

I'm on a boat... don't you ever forget

FORMAL 2011 

Formal was last night and I had such an amazing time! Everyone looked beautiful and we danced the night away under the stars. I think formal on a boat turned out to be a wonderful idea. It was different and fun. Here are some pictures to recap such a wonderful night :)

 The Location: 

Stone Mountain- On a Boat!

The date: 

I'm so glad Jake was my date. I really had a blast!

The roommate: 

Ans Boo Bear 

The best friend: 

Danny

My other halves: 

April & Sara

And the winner is... 

My senior superlative... "Most Likely to Have 35 Kids"