Spring Break #3

Another passion of mine is the outdoors. Growing up, I've always gone up to the family cabin during the summer and experienced the lakes around where I live.  My family and I have a jet ski, so I've become quite accustomed to using it.  Being out on the lake makes me instantly happy.  There is nothing more refreshing than forgetting the world and just having some fun in the sun.  My cabin is my favorite place in the world.  Watching the sunrise/sunset from my hammock overlooking the lake really draws out peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and the tranquility that separates you from the chaos of life for a little while.  Being together with family is always a plus and everyone seems to be in a happy mood.  Another thing I love about lake life is water sports.  Pulling my friend on tubes and having all the control driving the jet ski is a wonderful feeling.  It's been fun learning how to do barrel rolls on the tubes with my brothers and figuring out how to jump over them or on top of them in the process.  Everyone comes together in mutual love for the freedom that being up north brings.  My grandparents certainly love spending time with all the grandkids, and my mom is able to bake and cook for large groups of people, one of her passions. When night comes, I always look forward to the bonfires out by the lake and roasting s'mores.  Then, I go out on the dock and just lay down looking at the expanse of stars above me that never ends.  It's always fun to see a shooting star or two.  Schoolwork is far from my mind, along with pretty much all other responsibility while I'm at the lake.  It really has helped shaped who I am.  I love being the girl that can back up the trailer to launch the boat and jet skis in a minute flat, while the boys struggle with even backing it up straight.  That will never stop being funny.  I remember when I was of age to drive the jet ski alone, I spent 4 hours at a little coffee shop on main street of a little town up north that had wifi so I could pass my license test online. I wanted to drive so bad, even though my dad had let me drive since I was about 8 with him on the back (oops).   I am so passionate about being out on the lake in the sun and I wish I could live there all year round.

Spring Break #2

Having a good community of people to surround yourself with is important.  I am passionate about centering yourself around friends that will support you, love you, and keep you accountable.  For me, it was extremely important to find good friends that will help me decipher God's will for my life and keep me strong in my relationship with him.  A good community of friends that can do this is one of the ways Gods speaks into your life.  One way is through his word, the other through his church (this community of people-not the actual building), and through his holy spirit.  These friends will help me navigate different seasons of life and depict if certain things are really God's calling for me or tell if it's just my overactive imagination.  So far, I've found the most genuine human beings I've ever known in Chi Alpha, the christian ministry on campus, and I couldn't be happier.  These people will be my friends for life, and they always are critical in helping me see things from God's perspective.  Strengthening these bonds now is important for long-lasting friendships. I've been so blessed in finding these great friends right off the bat my freshman year of college.  God connected me to these people and even provided me a stress-free "finding a place to live" situation.  I knew my housing plans for next year already by October; I will be living with my Chi Alpha friends that God put in my life so quickly.  I don't have to worry about apartment applications, roommates I wont like, etc. That was all taken care of.  I already have a good start on a community of believers around me that walk through life with me that share the same worldview.  That is so important to me and I'm so glad that I have them with me; we can help grow each other's faith and strengthen each other when it gets hard. These friends are constant reminders that I am loved unconditionally by our Father and it's through these relationships that he can communicate with me and bless me in ways I couldn't have ever imagined. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else in my life right now, even though I came so incredibly close to playing softball in college down in South Carolina- completely across the country.  Fortunately my parents and I were lead to choose the place where I belong and I wouldn't have it any other way; I've found my people and the fact that they bring me closer to God and his plan for me each and every day is completely priceless and totally sacred.

Spring break post #1

One thing I am passionate about is softball.  Growing up with this sport, it has become very important to me and has played a part in shaping who I am today.  I've dealt with many different obstacles throughout my time playing the game, and it has grown my patience, competitiveness, athleticism, toughness, and personality just to name a few aspects of my life it's changed.  I've had a lot of bad and plain terrible coaches throughout my experience and this has taught me how to deal with adults who are more immature than I am.  It has also taught me how to show grace in situations that take a lot of strength and willpower to be the bigger person in. I have made tons of friends through this sport as well.  This has grown my personality, being as there are lots of time spent with teammates joking around and having a fun time as well as serious moments that bring everyone closer together.  I have learned so much from being on a team throughout my life, and I'm so glad I was able to learn how to work towards a common goal where I have to rely on others to accomplish it.  I've also learned how to approach difficult situations and trust God with them.  Without experiencing unfairness and challenging decisions, I would never have understood how important it is to trust Him with the direction he is taking my life.  I know I played softball for a reason.  I have the experience I need to mentor younger kids and I am also prepared to handle people such as a bad boss in the real world and in my future workplace.
There are so many skills needed to play this game.  The general public views softball as less important when viewed with baseball.  Yes, baseball is viewed on a much bigger scale professionally, but softball is just as important and young girls everywhere benefit from playing this sport.  Softball is equally as hard as baseball, if not harder.  Softball players hitting against a 60 mph pitcher is about the same as a 110 mph major league baseball player.   Sports Science came out with a video describing how softball is in fact a challenging game involving lots of practice and talent to master.  Introducing an upward-moving pitch that crosses that vertical plane in addition to a curve ball or a screw ball is something that baseball players could never hit.  Jenny Finch recently pitched against Tori Hunter and Albert Pujols, both very good hitters in the major leagues, and they couldn't even come close to touching Finch's pitching.  This just proves that people need to respect the game of fastpitch softball a lot more because it takes the same amount of skill and talent to play as baseball. That is one thing that has always bothered me.