College Update:

Here is a quick college update.

I went to Lee on Friday to meet with the athletic trainer. It went really well. We got to campus at around 1:00. My dad had not been there yet, so we decided to walk around the campus. We went downtown to a little tea store and had the most amazing apple muffin ever. No joke. After our little snack, we went to the Admissions Office. I turned in my first college application!! It was pretty exciting. Then at around 3:00 we met with the athletic trainer. The program is really small. Only about 10 students per class. It is a pretty tough major. I enjoyed getting to talk and find out more information.

I turned in my UK application tonight. I am talking to someone in the UK athletic training  department on Tuesday to compare programs. I am excited to compare the two programs. I hope it will help me to decide where I am supposed to be.

If you are reading this, say a prayer for me. Pray that God leads me in the direction that I am supposed to go. Also, pray that He gives me comfort through this tough decision. I know He is sovereign and in total control. He will take care of me, whether it is at Lee University or UK. I love knowing that!

oh swimming, how i have missed you

tonight was my first swim practice in a while. i have been so busy with school and college stuff (which still is no excuse). so, practice tonight was a little rough. i started out doing pretty good and ended up DYIING. not much of a surprise though. i have truly missed everyone at swim, the coaches, and just swimming itself. swimming has been apart of my life for 10 years. i can't imagine my life without swimming. i love it so much. it is so hard to get myself to swim practice, but once i am there, i love it. it is a way for me to get all my frustration out, compete, and just have a good time. 

i am convinced that swimming is the hardest sport. over the years, i have had to deal with comments like, "swimming is not  a sport." or "swimming is nothing compared or football." so, tonight i thought about it. in order to be a good swimmer, you must be strong. your arms have to be strong, your legs have to be strong, your abs have to be strong, your lungs have strong, and your back has to be strong. YOUR WHOLE BODY HAS TO BE STRONG! swimmers ARE strong. also, in order to be a good swimmer, you have to be discipline.  you also  have to have major endurance. yes, there are sprint races in swimming, but then there are the distance races...which requires ENDURANCE! you have to be willing to wake up at the crack of dawn, literally, and swim FAST! you have to spend hours, upon hours, at swim meets. and then there is spending three, long, awful hours, everyday straight swimming over Christmas break. yes, Christmas break. so really, swimmers get no Christmas break. we spend so much time working hard. then just in general, swimming is hard. pushing and pulling through the water is tough. holding your breath is tough. kicking is tough. 

i am done "venting"....i think we should all understand now that swimming IS the hardest sport out there. 

i am looking forward to my last year of swimming. i will have several emotional times, fun times, and hard times. i am ready to start coming to practice (might need some help and motivation......*Cole and Sara*) and finish this year strong!

Some Senior Highlights...

Here are a few Senior Highlights this year.

Senior Lunches- We have had two senior lunches so far. The first time, I went to Tropical Smoothie Cafe with Wesley, Tori, Lindsey, and Brooklyn. It was so yummy! The second lunch, we went to SmashBurger. After we ate we went to the mall for a few minutes to look around. I can't wait until the next one! It is nice to go off campus for lunch sometimes. :)

LCA Football games- I have only been to a few LCA games this year. I will have to say our student section is....amazing!! We have a theme every game.

Homecoming Football Game- I was voted to be on Homecoming Court this year. Being on the Court was such an honor. I had so much fun. It was a memory that I will always remember. The Senior Homecoming Court: Kaelyn Hiler, Sawyer Fouts, Gina Jacobson, J.C. Stone, Emily Lavender, and Gal Tesler.

Leadership Forum- We have had two leadership forum meetings. I love the group. We have a lot of fun discussing and hanging out!

LCA Spirit Week- Spirit Week this year was so fun. We had some interesting outfits!

LCA Senior Retreat- All the seniors went to Bluegrass Baptist Camp for the senior retreat. It was nice to just hangout all together as a class.

UK Football games- I have been to all the UK home football games. I have taken different friends to each game. This last game was especially fun because I got to see Marshall Seelye!! It was good to see him and meet his girlfriend.

Interning @ Porter- I love interning for Kenneth and Kristy!! Even though sometimes it can be a hard job, I love helping out, cleaning, and getting things organized. I have done it for two years, and would not have it any different. I will have to say I do miss Dylan sometimes this year! We had such a fun year last year.

BABY NATHAN AND KAYDEN- Jennifer and Nick Cooper are new parents!! Kayden Cooper was born in September. He is so precious. I am so happy I am his "Aunt". Nathan Bruce was born in October. He was an early surprise! He is such a sweet baby. I got to see him today, and he is just so perfect! I love the Bruce Boys!

College Visits- Lauren Fowler and I went to visit Lee together. It was a fun trips We made some great memories! :)

Smoothie Movie Night- The IGNITE girls at church were nice enough to invite me to their smoothie movie night. We made smoothies, hung out, and watched "Princess and the Frog." It was so fun!

BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT- Last, but certainly NOT least. In August, my mom, Jenny Kate and myself went to the BSB concert. It was AWESOME!!!!!!!! Best Concert Ever.

GOD is good

God is good. NO, God is not just good, He is great, awesome, mighty, loving, incredible, caring, merciful, gracious, and comforting. He has been so good to me. 

I am so blessed. He has blessed me with an incredible family. I have the most amazing parents ever. My dad is so funny. Although, he can be quite embarrassing sometimes! He is such a hard-worker. I am thankful for his loyalty. My mom is the best! She is so great. What would I do without her? She is always there to talk. I love discussing our days, talking about the latest fashion trends, going out to eat with her, and watching a good TV show or movie together! She is so amazing. And then the big brother, Jordan. I think I have the best big brother out there. He is so smart. Even though he is rather messy and unorganized sometimes, I still love him to death. He has the biggest heart. He is always willing to help me whenever I need it. 

God has also blessed me with an amazing church family. I love my youth group. Kenneth and Kristy are so so so awesome. They spend so much time investing in each and every one of the student's lives. It is so awesome to see God working in their family. I have loved interning for them the past two years. It has been so much fun!! I have loved getting to know my senior class this year. I enjoy discipleship training and LIFE groups with them. I love the middle school girls! They are so awesome. I love to see God working in their lives. The college department has been a blessing to me as well. There are some pretty awesome people in the college department. They have shown leadership and maturity. They have been great role models for me. I am excited to see what God does in the college ministry. 

LCA has been a blessing for me as well. It is so great to know that everyday when I go to school, I am in a safe place. I love being able to pray and worship God at school! How awesome is that? Chapels have blessed me throughout the years. They are so challenging and encouraging. I am thankful for the many, many Godly teachers that have been placed in my life. They are great examples for me. 

Thank you God for blessing me! :) YOU ARE SO GOOD. 

Senior Year so far!

First off, whoever said senior year was easy....you were wrong! So far, it has been rather challenging. I am not taking too many hard classes. My schedule is Government, Humanities, Bible, Anatomy, and English. After English, I intern at Porter Memorial Baptist Church. I really enjoy all of my classes and internship.

I have really enjoyed spending time with my senior class. We have been to many LCA sporting events, senior lunches, tailgating, and UK games together. I will have to say, our LCA athletics have been amazing this year. The golf team won state, which was very exciting. The seniors on the golf team are outstanding. The volleyball team had an amazing season too. Our women's soccer team is continuing to do well. I am excited for the rest of the seasons to come. :)

Right now, I am in the process of deciding my plans for college. I have narrowed my choices down to UK and LEE University. I am meeting with my college counselor tomorrow. I am praying that God continues to lead and guide me through this decision. It has been a very stressful few months for me. There is so much to think about when considering colleges. I am visiting Lee on Friday again. I am looking forward to it.