It's Sinking In

Currently I'm speechless.  When I admit that I'm speechless, I really am speechless.  Why am I so speechless you might ask, well it's all sinking in.

In November I was shocked when I opened our mailbox to find a large envelope from SC's Green Team.  Jason, the GT sponsor, was offering me a scholarship.  That day, my parents and I were so tickled with that envelope we couldn't stop talking about it.

Since then the talk has died down a little bit. But everyone once in a while when we run into someone that we haven't seen in a few months, my mom is the first to share the news and smile like a grinning fool.  She is also the one that talks most about SC and how excited we are about the school.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally got everything the admissions committee needed, including a few extra letters explaining why I'm one semester short on my transcript and why my grades aren't the best of things in this world.  I've been milling around since then, just waiting and waiting.  I tried my hardest not to think about it, but my anxiety over things reflecting a lot on my near future kind of got in the way.

I was wondering what I would do if SC didn't accept me.  I hadn't planned on anything other than SC since fall of 2010 when I first met with Rodney, one of the SC representatives who has been ever so helpful over the last couple of years.  I was getting pretty worked up over this too.  I had started looking into some community colleges and started filling out a couple of applications.  I was just worried that one of my fears was going to come true and that I would be stuck there suspended in mid air only to fall flat on my face and not be able to have a second option to turn to.

I hadn't sent any of my other applications out yet though, and what do you know, the stars aligned and God did what He does and I got a pretty e-mail in my inbox yesterday from Rodney.

What I'm getting at ladies and gentlemen is this: I'm officially a Southwestern College Moundbuilder!

I should clarify, I actually read my acceptance e-mail via Facebook. I don't know if that's a thing that SC does, or if Rodney does it, or if he did it because he's gotten to know me over the last few months and decided to let me know once he found out or not.  Regardless, when I first read: "Congratulations on your acceptance to Southwestern College!" I felt mixed emotions. I felt a jolt of excitement, a rush of adrenaline and a little shock.  It happened so fast that I actually started crying on the spot.

I of course, yelled too. After managing to calm the dogs down I called my mom, though I was still crying.  She was confused at first because I had stayed home yesterday and went to the doctor because of a horrible ear ache.  Later she told me that she thought something bad had happened at the doctor's office.  I told her the news though, over the phone, even though I'm not supposed to call her at work, I just couldn't contain the excitement and I had to share it with her; she had worked so hard with me to get here, I couldn't wait until she got home.

Rodney had told me to watch in the mail for a purple envelope in the mail with the official letter and the typical "you've been accepted" type things.  I was expecting Tuesday to see my purple evelope in the rusted out and bullet hole covered mailbox.  Low and behold, today when we got home from the Sport Boat and Travel Show, mom checked the mailbox and found a PURPLE envelope. We both screamed in excitement.

We didn't realize that
A) It was a big envelope
or
B) it was going to be that purple.

Of course, we all rushed inside so I could open it. It was probably a good thing I waited to open it in the house because it was packed with lots of SC goodies.

More sticky notes, another pen with sticky notes inside,
a jinx bracelet, a key holder, and another lanyard (the third
one to be exact).

Now, as I'm sitting here with a pounding headache and my ears aching so badly I want to scratch the entire ear canal out of my body, I realize that this is really happening.  I'm growing up.  Before I know it graduation will be here and then gone.  New Orleans trip will have passed and I'll be starting a brand new chapter in a massive series of books called My Life as I begin college.  As much as I want to say "This can't be true, pinch me and I'll wake up", I know it isn't.

I just now realized how much enthusiasm
I'm lacking from being ill.
But it's true, I'm accepted!

The last few months I think my parents have slowly started realizing these things too.  That in a few short months they'll be following me down to Winfield and helping me move into my first living space outside of their house and then leaving me behind when they go home.  My dad though, I kind of worry what he'll be like when that time comes. I know that both of my parents are going to try to be the big macho parents on campus and try sucking it up and not crying in front of me, but I know they will.

Especially my dad.  We've been through a lot this past year, and in 2012, though we're only two months in, we've spent a lot of time together and have had some great laughs (so many in fact there were a few instances where I'm sure we almost pooped ourselves...).  I guess in some ways I'm kind of a daddy's girl.  He'll be the first to break, I just know it.  But this isn't what I'm worried about.  I know it's normal for parents to get emotional about their children moving out and things, especially their youngest, I get it.  I'm worried about how my dad will handle it two or three months after they leave me at school.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be one of those kids who comes home only on holidays, I live too close to do that kind of thing, plus, I love my family and my mom's cooking.  I think it's just going to be hard for him because we've begun to patch our relationship up and then I'm moving out.

I know though, that this is just something we're all going to have to adjust to.  Life is constantly changing and we're all having to constantly adapt.  I'm sure the first few months will be difficult on all of us, but I know we're going to make it through, we have no other choice, eh?  If there's anything else I know, it's that God will be with both of my parents and make them feel secure about everything.

Bit of a long winded post, eh? I just had to share the news and feelings, it's a massive thing happening.  I mean, actually, legitimately, happening now.  It's all real.

Also, while we were out and about today, that is before we came home to my purple envelope, we some how ended up in a kitchen store some where between Park City and Newton (I fell asleep after we hit Park City, so I really don't know where it's at) and I found a jinx cookie cutter! The jinx cat is affiliated with SC, it's kind of the unofficial mascot for the school, I'll have to explain soon.  I'll have to make sure to post photos of my test cookies for graduation using the jinx cookie cutter. (:

I wasn't even planning on having cookies at my graduation
party. I couldn't pass up a jinx cookie cutter though!

Link of the day: Awesomeness that is my good friend Jess, who I met via the internet a couple years ago.  She lives across that MASSIVE pond and makes cakes that make me drool. She's pretty awesome.

Days until graduation: 91
Days until moving day: 177

One Year Later

One year ago I experienced for the first time ever walking with both legs at the same length. Not only were both legs finally the same length but I had two normal hips, though one was made of titanium and porcelain, either way February 14th, 2011 was a joyous day.

I've talked a fair amount about the things leading up to surgery, and even recounting everything from that day.

A year ago I wouldn't have thought that with my new hip I would have done as much as I have.  I wouldn't have even began to think that I would have done a two mile walk less than  eight weeks after surgery. Or that I could walk all over SC campus for the first time without missing a beat, less than eight weeks after surgery.  I wouldn't even believe you if you told me that my best friend's would take me River Fest for the first time just because I wanted to walk around.

This past year has been a roller coaster ride.  There were many times when I thought I couldn't do it and had lots of break downs, but I pulled through.  If there's anything that this last year has taught me, it's been this: I can do anything. With the help of God holding me up when I needed it most, and letting me figure things out, I've managed to overcome so many obstacles.

How am I celebrating my one year anniversary? Walking on ice through the parking lot to get to school after nearly falling at least five times and now staying in to study for my four exams this week.  I am however very appreciative of my awesome friends, family and God; without them I'm not sure what I would do.

Link of the day: Valentine's Day History, it's kind of interesting to see where it orginated from, that it's not just something that Hallmark thought up one day and decided it would be a thing from then on.

Days until Valentine's Day: 0
Days until graduation: 94
Days until moving day: 180

10DYC: three movies

This was quite possibly the easiest one to do, just for the fact that I have three favorite movies, and I just can not chose a favorite of the three.  My reasons behind why I love them so much, well, they're a bit difficult to explain.

1. The Great Debaters

Besides the fact that I love debate, I love this movie because of the historical references that they included.  The acting is just fantastic and I can simply watch this movie over and over again. Plus, it's a Harpo film, if that counts for anything.  Another one of my favorite quotes comes from this movie, and it's also currently at the top of this blog.

"We do what we have to do,

so we can do what we want to do."

2. Soul Surfer

I first saw this movie with my youth leader and one of my friends from church when it first came out in theatres.  I didn't really know what to expect going into the movie, but I had an open mind about it.  I remember at one point, crying during the movie and I still do at the same part.  I love this movie because I feel a connection to the story line, it has also explained things to me that no one has been able to do.

Sidenote: we're actually doing a bible study group over this movie in our church youth group.

The outline for the group is supposed to last until the end of December if I remember correctly.

Once we finish the study over this movie, I'll write a full review over it and explain exactly 

what I thought about it.

2. The Ultimate Gift

I can't even begin to explain this one.  I can say that I cry, without doubt, every single time I watch it.  I also have a form of a connection to this story line as well, though in a slightly different sense.  I seriously can't even explain my reasons why I love this movie because they're so complex that my brain hasn't even completely comprehended them.

Today is awesome because tomorrow is Friday!

days until ACT: 29
days until the fall musical: 53
days until I become an adult: 107
days until graduation: 238

BEDA 2: of car dancing, airports and ice cream

This evening I hadn't really planned on anything but just cleaning my room and having dinner with my mom, a typical evening. But me being me, I went and found something spontaneous to do with my friends that just happened to be going to Wichita to the airport to pick up one of our friends that has been in Florida for the entire summer.  My mom wasn't pleased about this plan when I only gave her less than a hour's notice that I was going to Wichita with my friends. I don't think she would have been irritated with it if I hadn't been randomly roped into going to Wichita yesterday with my best friend to the mall and then proceeded to hang out with him all evening until ten.  She got it over it though and let me go, it seems like she understands that summer is coming to an end, and that I've spent most of it at home, doing nothing relatively productive.

Anyway, so my friends came and picked me up and we headed to Wichita. The scariest part about this little adventure we went on was the fact that nearly EVERYONE knows that I'm horrible with directions...and I managed to get us to the airport with absolutely no problems. Let me tell you, I feel extremely accomplished and probably a little too proud of myself.  I mean, considering I was sitting in the backseat dancing the entire time, I'm surprised we ended up in the right place.

The last time I was at the airport, was I want to say about six years ago when we went to pick my brother up when he first got to come after he got back from Iraq.  So I wasn't sure what to expect out of the airport, especially considering there were so many freaking orange construction cones and signs that kept getting in our way.  But really, once we got inside it didn't look like a single thing changed. Except maybe they have better carpet then I remember, but that's not the point.

The most uncertain thing of the evening was we had absolutely no idea what flight our friend Kayla was on, so we didn't really know how long we were going to be waiting for.  But it was alright, between people watching and joking around with my three other friends it was a good wait for Kayla's plane to land.  I kept talking about how much I wanted to go through airport security just to see what my hip implant does to the metal detectors.  I mean, it's not completely metal, but I bet at least 3/4 of it is and it's bound to set of the metal detectors.  But we all decided I wouldn't try it today because even though I had all the appriate cards to hand over they were busier than normal and I didn't want to get in trouble for not having a ticket and trying to get through.

Eventually though, we figured out Kayla's plane was the one coming from Houston and it was a joyous event when we saw her coming down the hall past security.  I'm most positive that EVERYONE who was waiting for people off of the Houston plane was staring at us because, let's be honest, my friends and I are nerds and don't mind being crazy in public.

Kayla was hungry so we decided to go to McDonalds down the road from the airport so she could eat and the rest of us could have ice cream, though I opted out of actually getting ice cream because I had too much of it last night.  We get to McDonalds and it was busy and of course, there was even more construction going on there, so we just ended up at Wendy's across the street instead where we just sat around and hung out talking about our summers and listening to Kayla's adventures in Florida.

Eventually though, as fun it was, we had to head home and we piled back into the car and then the pressure was on me again to get us back to town and not get lost.  I successfully did my job once again, though with less dancing.

Sitting at the airport with my friends really made me think about that itch I have about traveling when I get into college.  I told my friend Rachel while we were people watching that I wanted to go to the desk and tell me to put me on the cheapest flight out of Kansas just to go some where and have an adventure.  But considering I had only a pair of sunglasses, no money and my wallet full of my identification cards for my hip, I decided I wouldn't do it...plus I don't think they would have allowed it considering I'm still seventeen.  But it was a good thought, I can't wait for the day when I can take an adventure some where without any plans what so ever and just see where God takes me.

who is...

Top 10 Google searches for "Who is..." and my responses.

Who is Rebecca Black? Search her on Youtube and you'll figure it out.

Who is A in Pretty Little Liars? I have no idea, although it could stand for apple, art, aardvark, alpaca, arrow or apple pie among other things.

Who is A? Since this is a pretty popular question, I'm gonna take a safe bet and say that A is trying to keep their identity secret.

Who is God? God. Is there need to explain?

Who is Cupid? The baby that shoots arrows at people on Valentine's day.

Who is on the dime? If you're talking about presidents, that would be Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Who is the editor of the national review? Some editor who isn't famous enough for their work because people are Googling it to find out.

Who is ip? Do you mean, "What is my ip?" ? Either way, I have no freaking idea.

Who is the Governor of Kansas? According to Google, and yes, I'm from Kansas and I had to Google this, it's Sam Brownback. I was going to tell you Kathleen Sebelius.

Who is Justin Bieber dating? No idea, but it could be A the aardvark from Pretty Little Liars...

I'd like to point out, that I find it interesting that I knew who was on the dime, but not even the governor of my home state.