HOTlanta.

As I write this I'm sitting in my Atlanta apartment, listening to the Marta train zoom by. WEIRD. Who would have ever thought I would be living it up with three girls I didn't know in Atlanta. Not me! One of my life goals: AVOID Atlanta at any cost. HAHA, that didn't happen. So here I am.

Mom, Dad, Matthew, Blake and Katherine drove over with me to help get me all settled in! We came and unloaded my stuff and then headed to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. We also went on an adventurous trip to find Wal-Mart. I feel like we may have gone in a billion circles!

Three of the four roommates are here, and the last one will be here tomorrow! I couldn't be more thrilled about how its going! I've met two of the guys and we may all eat dinner tomorrow night to get to know each other!

What a strange and exciting summer this will be. It is SO different than being dropped off in Auburn freshman year (Although I did have that same sinking feeling today as I did freshman year when I walked across Samford Avenue to Dunn Hall for the first night). There, in Auburn, I was at home. I knew where I was and how to get anywhere- I knew tons of people that were simply a phone call away! Here they left me, and I felt almost completely alone. I sat down on my bed, with all my luggage on the floor beside me (YES, on the floor!! They forgot to put any furniture in my room but a bed! haha) and thought, What next? Of course a few minutes later I was over it, no big deal. I'll see familiar faces on Thursday. This ISN'T a big deal!

So off I go on my next big adventure. Be prepared for many updates, and hopefully a lot of pictures :)

Alum.

Can you believe it? I'm an Auburn University Alumni!

I got a card from Matthew's grandparents that said "The tassel was worth the hassle" Wow, that statement couldn't be any more accurate with all that I had to deal with just in this last month. Whew, but it's done- it's over with! Time to CELEBRATE!

We had such a good weekend! Everyone headed to Auburn on Thursday for pictures with Aubie, and a graduation party for me and Katherine and then later desserts at Mammaws for Robyn and the two of us! Friday we went to the College of Ag breakfast and then to Samford lawn to take pictures! Next came graduation and then straight to Bham for the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw concert! Saturday was all of Elizabeth's graduation festivities! And Sunday off to Bham with Matthew for a graduation celebration lunch! It was a great weekend :)

(More pictures!)

What a blessing everyone has been. The encouragement I was given through all the recent struggles and then just all the support through the weekend! Everyone saying how proud they are! Mostly thanks to Mom and Dad- they've survived through everything with me! They gave me the best present ever: Ele, and so much more through the years! I SO appreciate all the help from everyone for our party (Thanks Gmother, Gdaddy, Mammaw, Diane, Blake, Mrs. Shore, and Mom!!) And also everyone who sat through all of those graduations (If you were lucky enough to sit through two, or even three over the whole weekend!) And also thank you to all the Watfords and Palmers for being so sweet and letting me join in on yall's celebration!! So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! It all means the world to me and I'm not too sure I was able to express it to you all!

AMT.

Meet my mom :)

(She hates this picture, but I love it! Sorry mom!)

She is the most special, wonderful, and precious lady in the whole wide world. I can't even imagine trying to convey to you how much she means to me, how much she's been there for me (everytime!), and how close we are to each other.

We can have fun and laugh and be silly together:

And I know, without a doubt, that I can come to her with anything. She's the first one I call with exciting news and bad news too. She's full of advise.

I was lucky enough to get to learn from her for for an extended time because she homeschooled us. That was 24-7 momma time. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. All in all I've had almost 21 years to soak up all that she is! I pray for many, many more. Come August all of her children will have "left the nest"... don't worry she won't be bored! She'll get to take on a new role as grandMOTHER- which I know she will perform amazingly well!

She knows me inside and outside. She's seen my good and my bads.

...And she still loves me.

I love you mom(: Happy Mother's Day!

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck." Proverbs 1:8-9

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.