Ele the Escape.

Meet Ele. (pronounced like Ellie)

I got to meet Ele on Friday night after Meaghan and Brandon's wedding. I think me and Ele will be best friends super quick. I've shown her around Birmingham, Huntsville, and Auburn.

She was such a surprise, it was pretty much love at first sight :)

Here's the story: After the wedding mom and dad got me to believe that dad really wanted to pick us up from the front of the reception place and drive me and Matthew to our car before heading back to Madison. Easy enough for them- I had no trouble with letting him do that. So we went and waited for dad to pull up. (Mom told me later she watched Matthew as he watched every car passing by checking to see if it was mine! He knew I was getting a car, but didn't know which kind!) So dad pulled in and I immediately say, "Whose car is this?!" Mom says in an excited voice, "Whose do you think it is?!" I replied, "No, whose car is this?!" as I started crying! It so isn't typical for me to cry like that, but it was just such a shock and surprise! Matthew told me he didn't know if those were happy tears or what since he had never experienced them before! haha!

I am just so excited and thankful for my new car! I still don't think its quite sunk in but I have been enjoying it! Mom and dad used the excuse that they couldn't let me drive around Atlanta this summer with a go-kart (you know... with the possibility of going under 18-wheelers and everything- thats what my mom ALWAYS says!)

Just a quick side note- Meaghan and Brandon's wedding weekend went off without a hitch! She looked absolutely beautiful and everyone had so much fun! I had a blast getting to spend time with all of the Watfords and the extended family! Everything from the rehearsal dinner and bridesmaid brunch to the wedding ceremony was flawless! I'm so excited for them and their married life together. Can't wait to see what God has in store :) ALSO, can't wait for a trip to Jacksonville to visit them!

The Last Week.

Oh my goodness... It's my last week of school, EVER.

I've made it through Freshman year- adjusting to college life and living with someone I'd never met.

I've made it through sophomore year- being in charge of paying bills and learning how to live even more on my own, oh and meeting someone amazing and falling in love.

I've made it through my junior/senior year- It's had its ups and downs and so many good memories. I've enjoyed getting to know my Horties so well.

I've just about made it through and I've almost enjoyed every minute of it!! (This last bit may has left a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth! Oh and an update: I should find out a for sure answer by the end of this week. But everyone assumes that I should be able to graduate.) I love Auburn and I am so glad I had the opportunity and privilege to go here and "hopefully" graduate! I am so thankful to the Lord for letting me finish with a "ready" heart. I have no desire to not be done, or have more time here. He is so good, and so faithful!

Through school I learned too many things and lessons to count. Auburn gave me a home away from home, an extended family too many to count, and a love that can't be duplicated. I wouldn't trade these years for anything.

So as I have one more day of class, Monday, I will go and soak in every minute of my last time to learn at Auburn University as a student. War Eagle.

Flipped upside down.

I can't believe its been so long since I last blogged! I'm having withdraws!! But I felt like it was time for me to catch you up on my life! Since I last wrote I feel like my life has been turned upside down!

On Good Friday, the Friday before Easter I headed home for the weekend to Huntsville with Matthew. Just past half way there I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize, which I ignored because I was in the middle of Birmingham traffic and just couldn't deal with that at the moment. They left a voicemail so I listened to it. It was Brian from Hort, he said call him back asap and it was urgent. At this point I had no idea of what to expect- Surprisingly me and my negative self didn't jump right to it being negative. I thought maybe he had heard something about a job or something of that sort. I was WRONG.

I called him back just past Birmingham and listened to him on the phone. The truth is as I drove streams of tears were falling down my face- lots of them! He said, "Summer, you only have 119 hours." After that comment my mind went racing... 119 hours? How can that be... I'm currently enrolled in 17 hours which puts me at 121 hours, and ready to graduate. He explained that only 4 credit hours of PE classes went towards your degree, and I had 5. I was filled with disappointment. Something I had been counting on for quite a while now.... changed.

I exited soon after to let Matthew take over driving, poor guy having to deal with me for the next 2 hours and how ever long I decided it would take me to get over this. To say the least it ruined my Friday. I cried a while on the way home, but eventually got a little better. But now I had to tell my family. Right when we got to my house I told mom, I cried. We went to pick dad up at work 30 minutes later, I cried. I figured with telling people it had to get a little better every time. After dinner we went to watch Bob Jones softball with Wade and Amy. I told them and didn't cry, sweet success. I told Elizabeth that night and didn't cry, I thought I was on the verge of being over it.

To say the least I survived the weekend. It hit home again when someone at church on Sunday asked me, "So you're graduating this May, right?" Later we headed back to Auburn with a stop at the Watford house in Birmingham.

It's been hard. It's hard when people are telling you to be mad, and that Auburn shouldn't get away with this. And all I'm trying to do is work through it, and deal with it. I love my University, I really do- I hate to leave it on a bad note! I feel like in a way they abandoned me, I turned into another number at Auburn. I feel like they're saying, "Well you'll just graduate in August, no big deal, deal with it!"

When I got back on Sunday I knew I had one day to try and sort things out. To try and get some answers... to see if it was at all possible for a chance at May graduation. We were leaving at 2 for North Carolina. So Monday I went to class and packed and then ran around campus trying to work on my situation.

It was pretty nice to have a get away though. Off to the Biltmore in North Carolina and then Student Career Days in Atlanta.

Then I came back to the real world and the pressure of figuring out what I'm doing with my life. As of right now it looks like I will be living in Atlanta this summer interning with Chatham Landscaping (this will count as 4 credit hours) and graduating in August and then finding a job in Auburn. Don't get me wrong, I am excited... Excited to see what's in store for me because I know it will be great! Please keep me in your prayer as I continue to seek the Lords will for my life. It's been a stressful time but I know He is taking care of me and guiding me. (I will get final word today or tomorrow about graduation, and I have to accept then internship by Friday.)

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Busy as a bee.

Hi, welcome to the busiest week of my life.

For real though, it has been so intense. I'm one of those people who just likes to sit back and RELAX at home. I feel like this week I have been home for like .2 seconds! No time for relaxation or "Summer time!"

It did start out great! I went to the Will Graham Celebration at the coliseum and Skillet, Matthew West, and Toby Mac were there! Toby Mac was awesome, and he makes me want to go and get all of his old cd's out and JAM :) Got to spend some quality time with Blake and Katherine, since Matthew was studying for a hard week of tests!

Here's the rundown for the rest of the week:

Interview with a landscaping company from Montgomery

Intermural softball game

Judging Aubie tryouts... on Monday.

Aubie tryouts practically took my whole Tuesday.

Wednesday I feel like I was going, going, going! Classes had me going from here to there and everywhere. Had a little time for something fun... AU softball game. War Eagle.

Sailing lab

Lunch with my boy

talk with Chette

SNOW BIZ trip

Tiger town run

Claire and Wills Wedding Shower... on Thursday.

I'm serious, it never ends! This is not to say I don't enjoy it... it has just been a super LONG week.

I need a weekend at home and a week off of school: Wish GRANTED.

Worry.

So the stress continues, and the worry builds. How silly am I to worry? I know I have a Great God who is in control and loves me so much. He's my Provider, He will provide.

So I may have gone into spring break hoping to come back to school with easy sailing till graduation. I now laugh at the thought! I have no doubt that I will love and enjoy every day till May 14th, but those days will include some stress. Some stress I kind of enjoy- I like knowing that I have a design due tomorrow with the urgency of having to get it done. I do not, however, enjoy being told or thought of as being a slacker because I'm not. I promise that if I tell you I will get something done, I will! I don't like those stresses.

I did have some fun last night. I played coed intermural softball with my team, The Horties. Considering I have hardly picked up a bat or glove since 3rd grade slow pitch- I was pleasantly surprised with two hits, and one score! Woohoo! It was so fun just playing a stress free game. We like to win, but our team will have fun even if we don't. We're there to have FUN.

So catch up time (real quick!) The end of spring break was a blast! Dad took his favorite girls out to The Melting Pot. Mmm, it was delicious! We went for a celebration. I would go into more detail about the specifics of the celebration but that wouldn't be nice. Ask me in person if you would like to know :) haha

I also got to spend some time with my sweet friends from high school! I love to catch up with these girls! Me and Taylor get to see each other at college but Megan accidentally decided to go to that other school so any time we are at home we try hard to get together! We had a lunch date to Rosies and then went walking at Indian Creek! It was a beautiful day! Mmm, so much fun- I love them both!

Just a request: Pray for me. I need to not worry.

"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives" -Francis Chan

"And Then There Was Sight"

Whew, so many things to catch up on.

First: Pre-spring break, my one new meal for last week was Chicken Katherine, homemade mashed potatoes, and broccoli. All went pretty well, but it hasn't been one of my favorite creations. I wasn't feeling all that great that night so maybe my taste buds were a little off. Robyn ate with me and Matthew and she said the mashed potatoes were delicious. Woohoo, progress :)

Now on to Spring break! Me and Matthew headed to the beach Friday afternoon to meet Mammaw in Destin and later to be joined by Robyn and Greg! The beach was fun, a little chilly, and a lot windy. I didn't even put my swim suit on! Sunday mom, dad, Liz, and Tori came to join us. We all had a good time of shopping, eating, games, and lots of laughing! No doubt to say Mammaw kept us entertained the WHOLE time!

Me and Matthew had a fun time leaving the beach nice and early on Tuesday morning. 7 oclock to be exact! Eck! That's too early on spring break! We were off on our LONG journey to Atlanta. But to say the least, it was worth it! Stayed the night after that at Matthew's in Birmingham. We filled out our "Big Dance" brackets and I'm already quite into it, and routing for my teams!

Finally made it home last night- first time this whole semester! Wow, it's been too long! Trying my best to enjoy every second of this break. It's my last one! I know I have a little school to get done and stuff, but besides that RELAXATION!

Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

Tonight was the last basketball game to be played at Beard-Eaves. We actually won, so it was super great to end on a good note! After the game they had a "closing ceremony" that was all sentimental. I just think its funny because I'll be in there again for gymnastics on Friday (the official last sporting event) and graduation in May. So basically there are many more memories to come!!

Yay, another meal under my belt. Instead of doing the chicken and dumplings like I said (I didn't have enough time for that) I made a pot roast with veggies tonight! It was another success! We had our engaged friends Lauren and Kyle over so I was a little nervous to serve something I had never cooked before but it turned out just fine! I realize the pictures don't look too appetizing... just take my word for it! I'm not sure what next weeks meal will be yet. I guess I'll let Matthew go through the cookbook and pick one :)

So, Im not sure why but lately I've been in meltdown mode. I don't really know where this silly girl came from because I used to know how to keep it all together! Anyways, the most recent meltdown was due to the pressures of figuring out everything after graduation and my job and such. Going through that is such a good reminder that I'm not in control, thankfully, and to put my total trust in God. He holds my future and I'm so happy to know that. Lately I've been reading through 1st Samuel about David- and Saul's pursuit of him. David trusted in God so much. So many times (I've read about two so far) he had the opportunity to kill Saul and get out of the danger he was in. But he knew that Saul was anointed and wasn't to be messed with. He let God hold his future and everything that was to come for him- when he could have so easily taken it into his own hands. So often I need to be reminded to be more like David and let God be in complete control and take comfort in knowing He is in control!