Reason #7

The countdown is for real folks...9 days and I will be a graduate. I'm far too young for this.

This weekend was incredible in case you were wondering, and I am sure I will find time to disrupt my finals studying to give you the full recap. Lets just say that Mel and Cace could not be more happy and their wedding was documented by every girl I know for "future reference". It was beautiful, fun, meaningful, and the beginning of the end as I like to say. More on that later.

I think it is important not to move away from the top 10 countdown that has been going on for about a month now. You are probably going to think this reason is dumb, but in my mind it is totally legitimate, so there. I love to read. I mean if I have a new book and some free time, there is nothing I would rather do.

Reason #7 that I love college is that I love reading. I promise this will make sense.

You know those dorky kids in school who get like way too many Accelerated Reader points? Don't worry, not me, but only because I was too cool and somewhat of a rebel.

This love of reading has always been associated with fun for me, which is why it has been one of the most relaxing things to do in college. A little background, Deanna (my mother), who by the way is a great mother, told me and Mallory (my bratty little sister) that for every chapter book that we read during the summer, we could have one friend spend the night. Being the most competitive person in the world (only about dumb things) I was driven to read as much as I could from the public library to ensure 100% summer fun.

Now, I look back and think "Wow, Deanna was smart! She knew how to make a rebellious 10 year old spend her summer reading!" This didn't quite work with Mallory, but she doesn't know the real value of learning like I do (as I procrastinate from my finals). Anyways, to bring this full circle I love to read and I especially love to read books that are cheesy. Example, I read two Nicholas Sparks books in like 2 days over my last college spring break. Nerd, yep.

I am going to miss having a Christmas break where there is no responsibility and I can be anti-social and read 500000 books. But I have a feeling this job of mine will lead to a new love of children's books. Can't wait.

Here are a few of my favorite reads to inspire you to read more than my blog. What are some of your favorite books?

Wait, not a book. I really read, I promise.

Cheesy, told ya. I love this book and I don't care who knows it.


One of my favorites.


All-time favorite. If you haven't read this book, do something about it.

Have a great Cinco de Mayo my friends. I will be busting out my Mexican dress, probably driving through Taco Cabana, and hopefully watching Selena. Love you mean it.

Reason #6

As the countdown continues, let me just tell you that the end of college rocks! Yep rocks! Tomorrow is Dia del Oso, a holiday which is near and dear to my heart. I mean what is better than a random day off at the end of the school year, dedicated to having a good time with all of your friends. I plan to take full advantage this year, look forward to a post on Friday detailing the week's events.

In honor of this love for school holidays, I thought you should know about how much I love Spring Break! I love it even more now because I know it will stay with me forever, as long as I am a teacher! Therefore, as I drink my diet coke and think about the beach a few things come to mind.

• Lots of attempts at getting a tan
• Sunburns as a result
• Seafood by the actual ocean
• Cute boys
• Fun friends who leave notes on said cute boys cars
• Breaking out the spring clothes even if its 50 degrees
• Reading a book (multiple in my case)
• Not having to go to school

When I was growing up, my family used to go to this thing called the Family Get Away. It was a great opportunity with our church to get away for a few days, spend time in nature, and more importantly with each other. I went through many get away phases. A. elementary--ride my bike as much as I possibly could B. middle school-- wondering what cute boys were coming, then obsessing over them the entire trip (shocker huh?) C. high school-- referring to this trip as the Family "Gay" Away because I finally realized I was in a cabin in Oklahoma while my friends were in the Bahamas. College has, however, brought many more beach trips and is why Spring Break is Reason #6 on my countdown!

Senior Year: Destin, FL
(Wish I had some FGA pics but I don't think you are ready for that incredible style)

The past few weekends have been a blast! Here is just a little bit of the fun we have had!

Bachelorette #1 Melissa: on the way to Gruene for the weekend
River floating, junk food eating, and dirty game playing....good time had by all

(Hunter and I at the Ranch party being goofy)
Wedding Showers in Longview: lake time, dancing the night away, and fun friends

Happy Dia to all of my loyal readers!

Reason #4

Driving back to Waco was such a weird feeling. The next time I come home I will have a COLLEGE DEGREE! How did this happen? This point is exactly what I have been trying to avoid for the past 4 years! Although, I am more than ready for the next adventure in my life, it is such a bittersweet feeling to be moving on.

This morning in the moving on mindset, I spent a few hours deleting all the junk on my computer that I don’t need anymore. This included a long awaited organizing of my picture folders. Yep, I’m a folder freak. Get over it. Anyways, this made me really sentimental to look back on all of the wonderful memories of college and of course some outfits where I am unsure what in the world I was thinking. This may be a little deviant from my previous countdown blog plan, but I am overwhelmed with thankfulness today for the avenues God has used to shape me throughout my college experience. I will only mention the big life changers so that you won’t leave this session hating me.

Sidenote: Please take note that I am not in any way trying to brag on myself or make the rest of you aware of how spiritual I am. Trust me, all of my friends and family would testify that I am a big work in progress!

Reason #4: Summers where God has grown me in so many ways that I will forever be changed.

Pine Cove (Summer #1 & #2)

After my freshman and sophomore years I worked as a counselor at the Bluffs Family Camp which is a part of Pine Cove Christian Camps. I absolutely loved it because of the great staff and leadership I got to spend time with, the wide range of campers I was responsible for (infants one week high school seniors the next), and the fact that I responded to the name Fake-A-Date ONLY for 2 whole summers (a story for another day). At camp I learned that sometimes God calls us to be burnt out and tired so that we will seek his face. More Jesus more sweat right? I learned that investing in the framework for a godly family makes all the difference. I also learned that God has called me to serve-- whether it was cleaning my cabin, carrying 10 bibles all day, or cleaning up after every meal, I fully grasped the concept that it is not about me! Pine Cove taught me so much and I would do a million dishes, make a trillion beds, and sing all the silly songs I could think of to do it again!

Second Half Staff 2008

Favorite Family Ever: The Hornoks

Williams Trace Baptist Church (Summer #3)

This past summer I worked at Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land, TX as a student ministry intern. Talk about a learning experience! I absolutely loved the students I worked with and for the most part my co-workers (just kidding me and Cole are friends again). This time was so much more about me learning to be myself apart from any of the things that made me comfortable. I lived with the most loving family, the Turners, and got to love on sweet baby Blake while getting away from it all with Griff and Abby. God taught me that I'm not that great. I needed to be humbled in my walk and face trials head on. I also learned that there is something so sweet in loneliness. I became so comfortable in my own skin. Most importantly God gave me great direction in what ministry will look like in my life. This summer was hard, hot, ridiculously fun, challenging, and exactly what I needed.

One of my besties for the summer: Natalie

Brenna, Kristin, and me at Camp


The sweet Turner Family

Precious Baby Blake

Hope you survived this post! See ya Friday!

Reason #3

I am so sorry to have kept you in such suspense over the weekend! I know Caroline Hughes, who this blog is dedicated to (more on that later) will appreciate this.

This past weekend was truly one of the best. I love love love going home! Who would have ever thought that this independent spirit would crave home so badly. I love the home cooked meals, shopping trips, late nights talking with mom, learning about high school from Mallory, watching Baylor sports with my dad, reminding ourselves that it wouldn't be us if it wasn't a little bit ghetto, and most importantly soaking it all in.

Reason #3: I love Baylor because I love my family!

When you were growing up did you learn to do the sic em before you learned to say it? Did your mother break out in "that good ole Baylor line"? What about attending every Homecoming for the past 21 years? Was your Homecoming parade dress often a bigger deal to your mother than what you wore to church?

Welcome to the Sims family! My parents have loved Baylor since they fell in love here and taught us that it is the best place to grow, learn, make friends, and have the best times of our lives! Can't wait for Mallory to join us in our obsession!

They taught me school spirit


They brought me to Homecoming through all hairstyle phases of life


They supported me in everything I have loved here

Mom, Dad, Mal...Thanks and SIC EM!

Sidenote: My best friend from home, Caroline, started a blog(www.sweetcarolinebumbumbum.blogspot.com) this weekend which you should all read. She is quite the DIY girl! I will be posting tid-bits of our life together this week. Not just because I lost a bet, but also because I love seeing her every time I come home.


Until next time...

Reason #2

Before I begin today's countdown, I thought I would share my obsessive compulsive nature with you, my faithful readers. I am very organized but also a little bit of a freak. For example, I can't go to school without my bed made, can't go into our kitchen if it looks like a tornado (most of the time...my roommates are somewhat "free-spirited" and yes I know its my fault sometimes too), or can't start the day or homework without a list. This being said, I have created a blog schedule (feel free to stop reading now if you think I'm nuts) which means I post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday which are conveniently the days I spend four hours at work doing things like blog stalking. Well, this week I have not fulfilled all of my blogging goals, therefore I am writing this before I go to bed on a Wednesday in order to pretend that I am not late. Makes me tired just thinking about this.

On to Reason #2 (in no particular order, in case you were wondering)


Hint: it includes these weirdos!

I love, love, love the best friends I have made in Chi Omega. Yes, I am feeling particularly inspired by the national consultants visit to Waco this week, but this is not for the cheesy reasons you are thinking. I love these girls because almost every memory in college could be linked to them. College has been different for me than for most of my friends, because I live with girls who are all in a different sorority. Of course there have been big disadvantages on both sides, but I wouldn't change it for a minute. This is because I know I am friends with these people because I 100% want to be. It has been such a blessing to have to be proactive in pursuing friendships with these girls.

Let me just share a little bit about them. They are funny (Larkin Branstetter especially), loyal, creative, an excellent time, fashionable, loving, goofy, popular (haha jk), and most importantly women of character that I look up to. I could not describe them without telling you about my favorite memories.

1. Senior Tacky Prom

(Yep, that's a limo)

2. Spring Breaks we will never tell our children about

South Padre Island: 2007

3. Spring Break theme days

Mumu Miercoles clearly

3. Spain, Spain, Spain

Sevilla

Barcelona: one of the best weekends ever!

Madrid

4. Functions

Casual: 2009

5. E team every sport

Thanks (to some of you) for actually being good at sports

6. Pigskin/ SING

Pigskin: 2009

7. 21st Birthdays

Hailey's 21st

8. Bashing boys/George's

Professional Eugoogalizers

9. Loving Chi O

Bid Day 2008

Pledge Dance: 2009

10. Senior Trip: Ft. Worth

Joe T Garcia's

Hailey, Larkin, Kim, Cassie, Courtney, Heather, Christine (I mean Judy), Abbey, Molly, Amber, Jordan, Smith...I love you! I will miss the fun we have together more than anything, but I look forward to many trips, weddings, Homecomings, and long weekends with all of you! Stay cool girl scouts!

Love always,
Whi Whi the cookie theif
Shark Farts
Whit

Reason #1

If you know me, you know one thing! I love my roomies and 1409 S. 10th street! Although, we are moving to four different states and five different cities, two are getting married, and our job and school experiences are all over the place...these people in this place, is what I will miss the most about college!

I love this place because...

A. The women I have lived with in college have shaped me into the woman I am today!

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

B. We have more fun than anyone I know!

Mel's Lakehouse

C. We make up functions just so we can go together!

1409 Formal....Good Time

D. We support each other in everything we do!

Mel and Cace's Engagement Party

Jip and Meg's Engagement Party

I will miss everything about this house and these people that I love. Thank you sweet friends for becoming my favorite thing about Baylor by being a part of so many fun memories. Late night Gossip Girl episodes, chocolate chip cookies galore, cooking together, obsessing over new shows together, falling in love together (well not me), learning more about ourselves and God, neighborhood and bear trail walks with each of you, roommate dinner, nights out on the town, and fashion shows for any social event are just some of the things that will not be the same all the way in Nashville!

I hope that my growing audience has found the kind of encouragement and love that I have found through my college roommates. May this be a month to take advantage of our obsession with and love for eachother! 1409.... good time!

Waited all my life for this day to come

Graduation Countdown.... 48 days left!

Over the next few months I will be chronicling my transition into adulthood (womp womp). In almost 7 weeks, I will be a graduate! Yes I am in major denial of this ridiculous transition, but as one of the biggest blog-stalkers I know I figure that there is no time like the present to join the world of bloggers!

Over the next few weeks, I will fascinate both of my readers (my mom and probably one loyal roomie) with all of the things I love about the place I have called home for the past four years. I love you Waco, TX and I'm not ashamed to admit it!