Sunday, January 1, 2012

My year in a nutshell

IN 2011 I;

-got accepted into Concert Choir
-stole a traffic cone
-drove a car
-injured my knee
-stopped dancing
-plucked my eyebrows for the first time
-had my heart broken, fixed, and re-broken
-sang and played the piano on stage by myself for the first time
-danced my first solo
-performed in Waynesboro High School's production of "Grease"
-watched 6 seasons of Grey's Anatomy
-saw Josh Groban in concert
-took a road trip, just my sister and I, for the first time
-got my first professional camera
-watched my high school basketball team at states
-had my first parkway dance party
-screamed "DO YOU SEE ME!!!" while driving down the road
-went to a 90th birthday party
-performed in my first Variety Show
-went to Busch Gardens for the first time
-joined a play a week before the show
-danced in the same room as Jakob Karr
-went through a phase of hardcore pudding obsession
-performed my first step routine on stage
-moved my sister in her first apartment at Tech
-missed my first day of Sophomore Year
-hung out with college kids way more than with people my age
-watched both of my best friends play their first Varsity Volleyball and Basketball games together
-did six people's hair for Homecoming, including my own
-wore my first real pair of heels
-got a Mac
-had the best weekend of my life at Rockbridge
-became brothers and sisters in Christ with some amazing people
-went on "The Swing"
-almost lost my dog
-went to my first Virginia Tech football game
-saw Third Day and 10th Avenue North in concert
-lost a sweet friend to cancer
-took pictures at the Target shopping center when no one else was there at midnight
-saw the last Harry Potter movie at midnight
-witnessed my family actually fall apart a little bit
-had my driveway "chalked" for the first time
-survived my first Hell Week
-had strep 4 times and got tested 5 times
-witnessed an 18-year-old get his first lottery ticked on his birthday
-fed many hungry people thanks to Tab and the Virginia Food Bank
-witnessed Virginia Tech beat UVA
-joined a yearbook staff
-got my first F's and D's on report cards
-participated in Black Friday for the first time (never again)
-tasted my first cigarette
-became an official theatre geek
-gained back my southern accent
-sang the National Anthem at the Homecoming game with Concert Choir
-spent the night in the hospital for a family member
-saw the ambulance take a family member away
-watched one of my best friends walk down the football field on Homecoming Court
-choreographed and organized Waynesboro High School's first Flash Mob
-made First Alto in the District and third chair overall
-failed my learner's test twice
-dyed someone's hair for the first time
-discovered I could lick my elbow
-got married in a shower at a hotel
-traded pants with a guy behind the stage
-discovered I had black girl dancing abilities
-learned how to rap the entire Lil Wayne part of 6 foot 7 foot
-met one of my biggest inspirations in life, Dianne Wade Truslow
-talked a kid out of suicide
-spent a semester trying to change a kids life, and got nowhere
-licked Mtn. Dew off of a guy's neck
-spent months on ooVoo
-had the time of my life with my dance team
-participated in the Lee vs. Waynesboro blackout at Wilson
-got my right split
-rolled through my straddle
-got flowers for my 15th birthday from my best friend
-"BEEYAYAYAYAYAYAY C+ F"
-BMH
-watched a kid tear his ACL
-had a song written for me
-watched my best friend work all the way up to wrestling at States
-learned how to play one of my all-time favorite songs on the piano
-touched a snail
-rode in the trunk of a van
-had the most amazing Freshtones Variety Show in the world with my best friends
-stopped wearing make-up
-bought my first pair of Jeggings
-took my first road trip with my best friend by ourselves
-drove all the way to Draft just to hold my best friend while she cried
-participated in my first Trunk-or-Treat
-went to Buffalo Wild Wings in our footie pajamas with my best friends
-had an album made on Facebook for just pictures that I took of myself on someone else's camera
-watched "Singing In the Rain" and "It's a Wonderful Life" for the first time
-made my first Pina Colada
-got to wear a hospital mask like they do on Grey's Anatomy
-had my second date-less Homecoming
-learned that there are some things you'll never get over
-became obsessed with tuwtles
-got criticized about interracial relationships, and stood up for myself
-experienced my first Magic Circle
-got to do the Hand Jive with a boy who I have obsessed over forever
-stood on a bar with a sparkly apron and sparkly hair and danced and sang
-cussed in front of my parents for the first time
-got totally screwed over
-had my feelings and my heart stomped all over
-lost some of the most important people in my life
-loved like I never have before
-learned who I want to be in 2012

Monday, August 15, 2011

It's never simple, never easy.

Wow, I haven't blogged in forever!



Well now that I'm going back and reading my previous posts, I'm realizing how much I've changed. How much I've grown, and how much I've learned within a few short months.

I start school in two days. My Sophomore year in high school! Can I just say that I am SO excited!?!?!






I AM SO EXCITED!!!!



This year I am a member of Concert Choir, Choreography Team, Yearbook Staff, and a week from Wednesday I will be auditioning for this year's school musical, Grease! I will be auditioning for other Musicals/Plays around the area and attending as many choir rehearsals for my church choir as possible to keep me occupied at all times. (I'm sure I won't have any trouble with that) I will also be participating with Waynesboro High School's YoungLife program which I did last year as well. I won't be dancing this year on an official dance team, but I will have many opportunities to choreograph this year. Because I'm not dancing this year, I'll be able to attend as many sport events as I would like, which is a HUGE deal for me. It's going to be an extremely busy/AMAZING year!



But before I get too far ahead of myself, let me tell you about my summer.....









To be honest with you, this summer, I didn't do much of anything at all. I spent 1/4 of it sitting at home watching as much Grey's Anatomy as I could. I completed Seasons 1-5. I'm addicted. I played lots and lots of piano, and I sang all the time. But that's normal... I also got a "job" as some would call it. I cleaned my whole entire house and got paid $40.00 a week for it. So if you need anyone to clean your house, I'm your girl! I clean when I'm angry or upset, and I must say that I do a pretty good job of it.



I also spent a good amount of time with my friends. I got particularly close to my friends, A.J. Jackson, and a group of college students that would be leaving in the Fall. I spent most of my days with all of them. I love my friends that are my age, so much, and they know that. But it was so nice to spend time with some older people. I learned a lot about them, but even more about myself. They gave me some awesome advice, and a lot of lessons to learn.




My mother, sister, and I got to take a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to see the christening of my new baby cousin. We got to spend time with that side of the family and catch up with them. Not to mention we all got to sit through an hour of Catholic Mass, together. It was a great first experience.



Another thing that I did this summer was play this AWESOME game called Fugitives. Ever heard of it? I'm sure you have because it's been on the news......EVERYWHERE. See?

http://www.nbc29.com/story/15264924/fugitive-game-comes-to-waynesboro

http://www2.newsvirginian.com/news/2011/aug/13/local-police-warn-teens-playing-dangerous-game-ar-1235696/

What can I say? We're famous. :)



I had plenty of those summer nights when I just thought "Wow. That was awesome." and "Oh my gosh, I'm really blessed."





There is not an exact event that I can place my finger on that made my summer absolutely incredible. But I had a huge epiphany during my very last couple weeks of summer.





My family usually takes a trip to the beach every summer, and this year we got to go to Myrtle Beach, which is my favorite! My mom went down a week early for a reunion with some of her high school girlfriends and they all stayed in a really nice beach house. The day they all left is the day that my dad, my sister, and I drove down to stay at the beach house for a few days! First we stopped by and visited some family. The beach house was awesome! I got my own room and bathroom, as did my sister and my parents. We had originally planned to have at least four or five days at the beach, but those days got cut short.

The morning that the three of us were supposed to leave, my dad called my sister and I to give us the news that my great-aunt, Dot, had passed away the night before. We decided to still go to the beach but cut the trip a little short.

We had a blast at the beach. Well, except for the first day....I won't go into details, but let's just say that there was a giant raincloud over the McLean Family the entire day. And yes, that was the ENTIRE day. The next day we decided was going to be great. And it WAS! Except for the fact that it was our last day...but it was still so much fun.

The next morning we packed all of our things into the car and headed back towards North Carolina for the funeral.



Let me just say, that I had never been to an official funeral of someone that I knew, so I was extremely nervous on the way there. I'm not good with sad/depressing things so I wasn't exactly looking forward to it. The four of us walked into the Fellowship Hall of the church that the funeral has held, and let me tell you, it was FULL of McLean's and McCormick's. It was just so loud! I was overwhelmed by the noise and afraid to look around, but as soon as I listened to some of the conversation, I relaxed a little more. The room was full of Dot's family. An extremely large and loud family that loves Dot more than anything. After conversing with a few family members, everyone was asked to circle up and hold hands in prayer. It was one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced. After the prayer was over, we all lined up to proceed into the church.


During the service, many stories of Dot's adventures were told. Everyone laughed hysterically. For those of you that don't know Dot, let me tell you, there was never a dull moment with her. She never met a stranger and could always, ALWAYS, brighten a mood. The service was not to mourn or grieve about Aunt Dot's death, it was a celebration of her life.

After the service, we all gathered back where we met and ate some yummy southern food. It was such an honor to catch up with this side of the family that we rarely ever get to see.

I wished so much that my dad's parents, Grandma and Paw-Paw, could have been there with us. But I know they were having an awesome time with Dot in Heaven.




On the Sunday of my second-to-last full week of summer, my sister and I drove down to North Carolina, on our own, to visit my great-grandmother, Nita, and my grandmother, Myrna. They are both on my mom's side of the family.



While we were there, we didn't do much of anything. The four of us sat around, talked, and ate, which is what we do best.

My great-grandmother, we call her Tita, will be turning 90 this September. We'll be having a huge celebration for her, so we talked a lot about that. It's gonna be amazing!



As I'm getting older, I'm beginning to cherish every moment with Tita. She is an amazing woman.





Now, I spent my very last weekend of summer in the hospital with my big sister. She had a bad spot on her leg and had to be put on 24 hour IVs overnight. She remained in that hospital for over 24 hours, and I didn't leave her once. It was actually kind of a good experience knowing that would be the last time our family would all be doing something together for a while.

She was admitted to Augusta Health on Saturday morning, and we returned home on Sunday evening. Today is Monday and the four of us are all back home now. Today, we packed up her things for college. Tomorrow, we are moving her in to her own apartment! WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! She is living with two close friends that Graduated from Waynesboro. It's gonna be awesome! She will be a sophomore as well, but at Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!!!





It is so ironic to me that nothing exciting at all happened to me until the very last moments of summer. I guess that just makes going back to school more exciting, right?







If I learned anything at all this summer, I learned that family is the most important thing to me. In the whole wide world. I got to see all three members of my family, and yes that is three as in 1+1+1. That never happens, ever. The many members of my family that I got to spend even a small amount of time with are such a blessing to me. They teach me so much in every conversation. I am extremely blessed with the family that I was given. I'd like to thank these people for being so amazing and constantly loving and teaching me: Momma, Daddy, Suzi, Uncle Bill, Kit, Jane, Alan, Grand-Myrna, Tita, Kimberly, Fleet, Tony, Lauren, Booker, Scotty, Big Daddy, Grammy, Tara, Scott, Christopher, Thomas, Taylor, Tanner, Jonathan, Heather, Addison, Tim, Cherith, Helga, Dell, Mary and John Johnson, Stuart, Sara-Peyton, Wait, Neil, Morgan, Kendall, The McCormick's, The McLean's, The Harrell's, The Edwards', The Truscott's, and Grandma, Paw-Paw, and Aunt Dot in heaven.







I spent most of my nights with a group of college kids. And in doing this, I knew that I would have to pay the consequence of letting all of them leave me behind at the end of the summer. Most of them probably didn't realize or even begin to think of the impact that they made on my summer, but I have such a special place in my heart. To my sister, Ben, KJ, Lauren, Travis, Patrick, Seth, McDevitt, and anyone else who played Fifa in our living room, walked to Sheetz with us, or sat in folding chairs under our carport until three in the morning, thanks for making my summer amazing. I had so much fun and I definitely won't forget this summer! Don't forget about little old me in Waynesboro when you all take off at the end of this summer.







Shout out to my boy A.J. Jackson for being my brother and partner-in-crime! I LOVE YOU!!! BMH



I would also like to thank two of my best friends since we were too young to remember, Abigale and Julia, Scout and Hannah for scooping me away from the annoying drama and making me laugh till I cried, and the other three pieces to my heart; Kari Elizabeth, Hallie Dawn, and Paige Alizabeth. You all constantly reminded me of what love is. Thank you is not enough.










Some people might put a label on my summer as "boring" or "cheesy" but it was one of the best summers I have ever had. Thanks to anyone and everyone who was a part of my life this summer! Love you guys so much.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Easy like Sunday morning

You're probably never ever gonna see this, but it's worth a shot.







'From the day that I met you, I knew we belonged together.'

^^Cute, right? Yeah, but that's not us at all.








I met you the last week of my seventh grade year, last week of your eighth. I saw you everyday before third block, and you waved at me, and I rolled my eyes. I 'pretended' like I couldn't stand you. Truth is, I really didn't like any guy at this point at all. In all honesty, I think you waved at me everyday just to piss me off.




Some things never change.



I thought I couldn't stand you until the night of your eighth grade graduation. I was about to leave the high school and I was talking to one of my best friends, who had also graduated that night, you walked up to us and you looked at me. You just looked at me, that's it. I rolled my eyes again, only because that's what I was trained to do. I walked out the doors wondering what was wrong with me. I got in my sister's car and we went on a drive.


Yep, I realized I had feelings for you the day you graduated from middle school. Cute, right?





Nope, not at all.






I went the entire summer having feelings for you, and the whole first month of school. Without seeing you at all, of course. I saw you for the first time since the last day of school at the Homecoming football game. You sat behind me with your brother and one of my best friends, and I sat in front of you with one of my girls. I introduced your brother and my other friend to her, I looked at you and said 'And this is that loser in your grade.' You hit me on the shoulder. Surprise, surprise......

I got home from the game and I couldn't stop thinking about you. So I got your number and I texted you with the casual 'I saw you. :)'


LAAAAAAAME.




I did everything I could to hold a conversation with you, but it was almost impossible with all of your annoying short responses that I absolutely cannot stand;

"K." "Lol." "Haha." "Ok." "Yeah." "Okay." "Ha." "Yea."

Some things never change.




I eventually gave up, but of course I texted you when I woke up the very next morning. I was one determined girl!



Some things never change.






From then on, I pretty much texted you all day every day. It got to the point where we would talk on the phone for hours about absolutely nothing. Remember that huge snow storm we had? Yep, every night.






We eventually stopped talking cause we never saw each other. It wasn't really a huge deal. We probably tried two more times that year, and it just never worked out for us.




Some things never change.


















It's the end of my first day of high school, I'm exhausted, and I'm talking to a few of my girls. Guess who I see? Yup, the one and only. You smile at me, that smile, and I'm undone.



You texted me that night, of course, and we grew from there.






You kissed me for the first time one day in September. Remember how it happened? I do. :)




You hugged me, right before I left school, and I said 'Gimme a kiss.' And you did. Yep, it happened just like that. Who wears the pants in this relationship?




Some things never change.




Things were going so well, I hadn't been so happy since December of my seventh grade year. So congratulations on that. Another girl got in the way, and we fell apart.




Some things never change.





I was so broken, and I gave up on you. I ran. I couldn't look at you for months.






You eased your way back in December, I let you in very willingly. You decided we weren't going to work. I got angry, so I ran.



















You finally came back into my life on the day before my fifteenth birthday, March 2nd, 2011. Happy Birthday, Kat! Good birthday present, right?




I was so taken back that you were trying again, so guess who let you back in?











Some things never change.







We took it slow. Really, extremely, slow. You were different in so many ways. I was watching you grow up. It was the weirdest thing, but I loved it.












When we officially started 'talking', another girl got in the way. We got through it, worked it out, and blew right passed it.







I'm not gonna lie, the relationship we shared for the next month was incredible. You became my best friend. What happened? Another girl got in the way.













Some things never change.
















We just went in a circle, now, didn't we? I don't think we'll ever be the same again. But for now, I want you to know this.








Thank you for everything you gave me. You taught me more than I thought I'd ever learn about life, and about the world we live in. You are and always will be my best friend, my rock, my light in the dark, and my Bubby. You made my laugh when I thought I would never smile again, you comforted me on some of my hardest days, you made me feel alive again. You brought me back to life, and I am forever grateful for you. I'm so proud of everything you've become already, and everything you have the potential to be. No matter where we are in this world, I will always be here for you. Always always always. You are beautiful, inside and out. You are one of the greatest companions anyone could ever ask for, and I wouldn't trade you for anything in this world. The experience you gave me is something I will never forget. Everyone makes mistakes, and nobody is ever gonna be perfect, no matter how hard they try. The only person you need to worry about being happy is you. You are my world and everything more.



















Bubby,
I love you to the moon and back again, I love you a whole world full, and I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

All that I know is I'm breathing



Just listen.
























John 20:19-23

19
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”




Jesus appeared to his disciples only a few short days after Jesus had been crucified. Now, you have to remember, Jesus was 33 years old, and he had been brutally beaten to the point where he didn't even look close to being a human anymore. He appeared to them, and what was the first thing he said?



"Peace be with you."



Some say he said this to make sure that the disciples didn't 'freak out', others say he said it so that they would automatically know that it was Jesus. I personally believe that Jesus took this statement as a permanent command. Jesus wanted peace throughout the world.



Why do I think this? Before he leaves his disciples, he says;


"If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”



"If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"







That's the last thing he says as he is leaving his disciples. He comes back to them later, of course, but they have just seen Jesus for the first time, days after they had seen him, their best friend, be murdered, and that is what he says to him.




What's one of the hardest things for anyone to do?









Forgive.






There, I said it.




Getting hurt is one of the easiest things to do. We live in a world where you have no choice but to be vulnerable.







We don't choose to get hurt, but we do and we can make the choice to forgive.






Why are we wasting so much time holding grudges against each other? Why?





Because we don't wanna get hurt again, that's why.










From December of my seventh grade year, up until October of this year, my Freshman year, I held a grudge against someone. Why did I do it? Because I thought it would help me get over it. Well, obviously, holding the grudge just made my anger and hurt grow even more. The situation was confronted this year, I forgave, and guess what? Doesn't hurt anymore.







WOW! That was easy......







I wasted so much time being angry, being upset, being bitter, when I could've forgiven and moved on already. I thought that holding that grudge would make me stronger, but I was only becoming weaker and weaker everyday. The day I made the decision to forgive, I grew so much stronger.









I was put in the same situation again, this week. Only a few months after learning my lesson about forgiveness.





It may not seem like a big deal to you while you're reading this, but when you're put in a position like I was, it's absolutely terrifying.








Do you wanna hear something funny?



Running from your mistakes doesn't do much for you. But running from those who make mistakes around you, gets you absolutely no where.



You're gonna start to wonder, "Why do you keep making the same mistakes over and over and over again? Shouldn't you have learned your lesson by now?"





We need to be taught that what we're doing is wrong. The mistakes we make can only be learned from if we are aware that they're mistakes.







I chose to forgive. Not because I am weak, not because I had sympathy, but because I knew that running would get me no where.













I learned my lesson, time for you to learn yours.














1 Kings 8:30

30 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

What do the waves have to say?

Well, hey everybody. Did you forget about me? Cause honestly, I forgot about this for a while. It's my freshman year, and I've never ever been more busy. I've been running constantly the entire year. It's exhausting, but it's my life, and I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now if I didn't love it.


Remember the girl who I was in my earlier posts? Yeah, she's gone.








So much has changed this year. So many things I can't even begin to name them all. But it's all been so incredible. I'm sure at the very end of the year I'll write a post about the entire year, but for now, I'm just gonna stick with this;




Thanks to everyone who was supported me so far this year. A special thanks to my parents, John & Karen, my sister, Suzi, my dance team & teachers, and especially my best friend, Abbey.



I'm a different woman, and that's going to continue to change. As time goes on, people evolve. Things are happening in my world that I never thought were going to happen. And do you know what that's called? Well if you don't, I encourage you to start learning now.
















Reality.



Sunday, November 28, 2010

Who cares baby? I think I wanna marry you

Okay, so I haven't written a blog in forever. But I just wanted to write this one to contradict one of my recent posts.

Being single is amazing. Well, at least it is for me right now.

Sometimes we just don't have the time to worry about whether your opposite likes you, or really cares. I'm so sick of giving the extra effort, and getting none in return.

I mean, if I'm gonna be happier this way, then why not? It's better to know that you have those people who will always care about you and be there.

I've recently been helping a friend with a boy problem, and I gave her the advice of 'letting things falling into place.' If you rush into something, then things will definitely not turn out the way you'll want them to. Don't try to control your own life, it's too hard to handle. If you just let things happen on their own, and follow them as you go, life will be so much easier.





I didn't realize it until a few days ago, that I needed to take my own advice. The right person will come to me. I might have already met them, or I might meet them way later on in life, but it'll happen.




So, while we're waiting, why not enjoy life? Roll with the punches, and take an opportunity when you see one.


But if you're gonna make a commitment to someone, keep it. Don't make someone be your rebound from your previous relationship, and then let them down as soon as you get over them. Don't make them think that you like them one night, and the next not even care. Follow up on your actions.

In conclusion, just live. Take a step back, and live. Things will happen for you, that's one promise I can make.