Blog 10 - Why blogging?

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog. Writing blogs are a very "in" thing to do nowadays, and I now understand why.

Having a blog requires you to sit down and think of a topic to write about. It can seem like a task at some points, but in the end, it really can help you gather your thoughts and see what is really important to you.

Sometimes it is hard to put what you're thinking into words. I'm not great at it, but I do think I would get much better if I continued writing my blog after this assignment is all said and done.

Blog writing is great because months or even years later, you can come back and look at some of your older blogs and read through them. Some of them you won't remember writing, and some of them will stick out in your mind. It's easy to see how blogging could help a person establish what is really important in their lives.

Blog 9 - Opposites

My best friend's name is Jayme. Jayme and I have been best friends since middle school, and we're still close to this day. People ask me all the time how we remain friends since we are each other's POLAR OPPOSITE.

Jayme is a total liberal.... She's about as left as they come. I am VERY much a republican. We both love to watch the news, and we don't form our opinions about politics and really everything else from videos/graphics on social media. It's safe to say that we are informed...And still opposite.

For example, Jayme LOVES Hillary Clinton, while my opinion is that she belongs in prison right now.

And people ask, "How can y'all possibly be best friends?"

Because we respect each other.

We respect each other's opinions, even though they are so totally different. Unlike most "friends" on Facebook, we don't spend hours arguing over subjects like this, determined to change the other person's mind. Because we both know it's pointless.

What if everyone acted that way? What if people could spend time really getting to know a person without being obnoxious and attempting to change their whole belief system? I believe the world would be a better place.

Life is too short to spend our time duking it out and hating each other at the end of the argument, and we know that. That's why we choose to love each other, and focus on our similarities rather than our differences.

Blog 8 - Weekend Recovery

This past Saturday was finally wedding day for my friend, Blaklie! I was her maid of honor as she married her best friend, Landon. I knew that a lot of work goes into planning such a day, but one cannot truly understand the extent of that work until you're actually in a wedding.

The wedding took place at a beautiful bed and breakfast in Heflin, Alabama. The actual ceremony wasn't until 5 p.m., but Blaklie had the bridal party arrive to the venue at 9 a.m.

She gave the bridal party our gifts as a thank you for all that we did for her, and we started our makeup around 10 a.m. She wanted everyone to be able to take their time getting ready so that we would look our best. Around 1 p.m., her aunt brought in lunch for the entire wedding party (the boys arrived around noon). We ate and did our finishing touches. Pictures were at 3 p.m.

In the middle of the hecticness, I decided to take a stroll out to where the ceremony would be held. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the wind was blowing. The "wedding barn" looked so beautiful, with flowy white sheets of fabric, and the ceremony setup in the field was perfect. I couldn't help but get the chills!

Overall, I had a great experience participating in my first wedding. They can be tiring and stressful at times, but it was definitely worth it in the end for everyone, The look on Landon and Blaklie's faces were priceless!

Blog 7 - Happy Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday. He really is one of the coolest people you'll ever meet. 

My dad is like an encyclopedia... There isn't a topic you can throw at him that he won't know something about (trust me, I've tried). We have always had a cool relationship, and we like to talk about similar subjects.

His birthday is sweeter now more than ever to me because in the summer of 2014, we almost lost him from this Earth.

My dad had a massive heart attack. He went almost straight into open heart surgery, and made it through. A few days later, after he was out of ICU and into a normal room, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell over onto the bed and his heart stopped. The nurses and doctor literally had to bring him back to life. 

Ever since that summer, I have viewed life and relationships differently. It is great that I see his birthday as so much more important now, but why did it take a near death experience for me to really, truly appreciate the people in my life? To never take them for granted? I'm really not sure, but I'm glad I learned that lesson then, and that he was given more time on our planet so that I could truly appreciate him while he's here.


So today, call your mom or dad. Call your grandparents. Check on them....see how they're doing. Tell them about your day. Tell them you love them now, so you don't have any regrets later.

Blog 6 - Wedding Weekend

Well friends, this is it. It is Thursday night, and we are about to embark on wedding weekend. My friend Blaklie's wedding is in two days, and I'm her Maid of Honor. Tomorrow is the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding is Saturday night. 

I have never gotten married, but I think that if I were going to be getting married in 48 hours, my mind would be filled with all different kinds of emotions. I imagine it is a very surreal feeling. 

I am at the age where a lot of things are going on in my life, and in the lives of my friends. It is a fun and busy time, but it's a little sad when I sit back and think about all the decisions that are being made, and the world is starting to look like a different place. Some are getting engaged, some are getting married, some are having babies, some are in college, and some are graduating college and transitioning into the "real world". 

Lately, I've been getting caught up in the stress and business of life. It feels like I'm just going through the motions of each day....Going to class early in the morning, getting to work on time, writing papers, studying for tests...the list could go on and on. 

Days like that do tend to get me down. Some people love having busy schedules and getting a lot done in one day. They thrive on it, but I am the complete opposite. I love days where things get accomplished, but when I can also take a deep breath and relax. Not be on a timed schedule. That is where I am the happiest...when I can look around and just soak up life. 

That is part of why I think the experience of having a wedding - the planning, the events, the anxiousness of the bride and groom - is such a monumental time for people. I know that the marriage is the actual point, but for that period of time, the couple gets to look around and soak it all up....all the love, the friendship, the happiness. 

Maybe if we could find time in our normal, not so fun weeks to look around and appreciate all that we have, more times in our lives could stand out as unforgettable moments. 

Blog 5 - Distractions

Lately, you can't turn on the news without hearing about the new "gender neutral" restrooms that are being placed around the country. Even on Facebook, many people my age are sharing articles that glorify this new restroom idea. In my opinion, this idea is truly a disgrace. Sure, there are trans-gendered people out there who have great hearts. I will not argue with that. But there are crazy people in this world, and it seems like there's more and more of them every day. Those people will use the excuse of being gay/trans-gendered in order to go into a bathroom where they don't belong with the goal of sexually assaulting a person or a child. This move is just not a smart one. 

But the question I have is this.... Is this really what we as Americans should be focusing on right now? Is this a top priority? And the answer is simple....NO. 

I wholeheartedly believe that issues such as this one are created in order to distract the American people from the real issues facing our country today. Isis has made it clear that they have infiltrated almost every state, and are ready to attack at a moment's notice. Isis members are posing as refugees in order to come in to America to take us on.....The FBI even admitted that there's no way to prove these refugees aren't terrorists. 

And yet here we all sit.... Arguing over whether a man wearing a dress should be able to use the ladies room. 

People, we need to wake up and stop letting the media decide what issues are most important to us. Research the actual issues going on today... Not the issues that CNN and FOX choose for you to see. Then and only then will this country deal with the relevant issues that could make or break each of our lives. 

Blog 4 - Wedding Season

I am in a wedding this weekend. The wedding is for my sorority little sister, and I'm the Maid of Honor. 

Last weekend, we had her bachelorette night. This night was a lot more low key than most brides I hear about these days, mainly because the bride (and most of the bridesmaids) are all under the age of 21. We had a relaxing dinner and stayed in a hotel in Birmingham. I decorated the room before she got there, we had cupcakes and played your typical bachelorette games, and that was about it. Just innocent fun and laughter.

Why should there be more?

I have heard full blown HORROR STORIES lately from some girlfriends of mine regarding upcoming weddings that they are in. The tales I hear are both shocking and disappointing to me. 

Apparently, my generation now feels entitled to have extravagant, blowout weddings, bachelorette parties, etc. You name it, they think they deserve it. NEWS FLASH: YOU ARE NOT A KARDASHIAN. Sorry if that shocks you, but someone had to tell ya. It is NOT necessary to have a huge bachelorette weekend in New Orleans that will break the banks of all your bridesmaids. These women are in your wedding to support you, not to be your slave.

Honestly, I believe that 99% of these women want these things just so they can post the events on social media and make people jealous. That is a very sad truth that I hate to even bring up. What happened to being content with what you have? What happened to letting your best friends plan your bachelorette with their ideas? Selfishness. Arrogance. Entitlement. That's what happened. 

I have learned a lot from wedding season, and it really hasn't even started yet. If I get married one day, I don't want my wedding to be a burden to anyone. I want it to be a fun time of celebration, but not to the point where my bridesmaids have to choose whether to pay their rent, or buy a $400 bridesmaids dress they will wear for 4 hours. It's time to get back to the heart of a wedding, and remember what it's really about.  

Blog 3 - An Unsure Path

I am graduating from college in 17 days. A variety of emotions come with the thoughts of this event. Happiness, nervousness, excitement, and apprehension. 

My friends and I are all graduating together, and we're all going down different paths after April 29th. We will no longer live roads apart from each other, and we won't be able to meet and have dinner together whenever we please.

Most of my friends have a plan for after graduation. I have an internship this summer, and will also start applying for jobs. One friend is moving to Birmingham to start law school, and another is starting in a Physical Therapy program. 

But what does one do who doesn't have such a set plan?

A person very close to me woke up one day last semester and decided he didn't want to pursue a job in his major after graduation. He planned on teaching school and coaching football, but suddenly changed his mind. Graduation was so close that he didn't want to change his major. 

As the days approach, he seems to become more and more unhappy. We all know that he is panicking on the inside, and don't know how to help him. I talk to him a lot about different options, and I try to reassure him, saying that I don't know what my set path is after my internship ends. 

The best advice I have given him, and would give anyone else who is searching for answers is to lean on the Lord for help. When you don't have words to speak, when it all just seems like too much, or when you don't see a bright future ahead of you, just give all your worries to him. He has gone before you, and will provide for you. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 

Blog 2 - Car Hoppin'

This past Sunday night, it was raining. I got out of my car with my hands full and thought, "I'll come back out and lock my car" (I have to manually lock my car doors). Well, of course I completely forgot to do that. 

So Monday morning, I headed out the door to leave for class. I opened my driver's door to see that the middle console and glove compartment had both been opened and emptied out onto my floorboard. It is a scary sight to see, and I was thankful that I had nothing valuable in it while it was unlocked. 

Early Tuesday morning, around 3 a.m., my friend Caroline texted me saying someone was banging on her front door and was scared. Turns out, it was the police telling her someone had broken in to her car and stolen her purse out of the passenger seat. The doors on her car were locked, but the thief had busted her window with a truck jack. They got away with her nice purse, wallet with ID, debit card, and cash, a ring from her family member, and a Kate Spade watch from her boyfriend. 

We would all like to think that maybe her money and belongings are now being used to help that thief's hungry children or sickly parent, but we know that it probably isn't. Those items are probably being pawned as we speak so that thief can go and buy more drugs to feed his addiction. 

I try to be a light in the very dark world that we are living in today. It's had to believe that someone would have such meanness in their hearts, but we were reminded of that darkness today. I pray that person feels heavy guilt on his heart, and turns from those ways very soon. 

What to write about?

In this Internet Production course, our class will be writing 10 blogs per person. I have chosen to write each blog on a different topic, but they will all come together because they'll all revolve around current events and subjects that young people deal with on a daily basis. I do love talking about hot topics in the news or social media, so those will probably play a big part in this blog. I'm excited to get started, so stay tuned!