Brother Don's Top Ten

This Sunday was the baccalaureate service for the Seniors at FUMC in Kosciusko.  The preacher's sermon was titled "Doc's Top Ten" which gave the Seniors his last words of advice to them.  He made it clear that his top ten changes every now and again and at times it falls in a different order, but that this was his thoughts for them as they moved forward to the next phase in their lives.  As he cited them I thought, anyone can use these!  I began jotting them down, and now am glad that I did.  It was really good advice. 
The list went like this..

10.  Manage your time and money right now.
9.    Don't be afraid to move away from home.
8.    Obey the absolutes (start with the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20: 1-17)
7.    Enjoy family and friends before they are gone.
6.    Make a habit of learning (ask hard questions and don't be afraid of being misunderstood)
5.    Discover what you do best, then do it.
4.    Strive for excellence through preperation and integrity (Whether that be for an exam, job interview, etc.  Don't expect God to take up all the slack, when there is clearly something you can do to prepare for it)
3.    Understand and practice the true nature of success.
2.    Understand and practice the true nature of love. (Romance will not sustain you. True love comes in the practice of obedience to Christ.  Example of this is the day Jesus was placed on the cross.  Jesus said, "not my will, but yours," talking to his Heavenly Father.  Even though Jesus did not want to go to the cross, in the end he showed obedience to His Father.)
1.    Take your baptism seriously (When you are baptized, you take on a new name: Little Christ)

Going with number 3, Brother Don gave the Seniors a slip with a poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson titled "What is Success?" 

What is Success

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people

 and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by

a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed

easier because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded.

  

I hope everyone has a wonderful day : )

**My new favorite song**

One Unlucky Day

How unlucky can six people be in one day?  We found out for ourselves first hand this past Saturday. 

The day began around 10:00 a.m. when Jenny, Bryan, Caroline, and Davis showed up at the Fenwick home ready for the trip we had all been waiting on for a week!  The day was meant to be spent out in the hot sun at Geyser Falls water park.  (Little did we know, that this would be the beginning of our bad, bad luck!)  Instead, it was 62 degrees, windy, and nothing but clouds in the sky for miles.  However, with the boys super excited attitudes and confidence that the sun is "always shining over Geyser Falls," all six of us piled into Jenny's car and headed on our way.  After a few wrong turns and phone calls made to Chap's mom back in Kosciusko, we finally see the Geyser Falls billboard and know we must be getting close.  (Keep in mind, the sky is still cloudy and it feels like it is Winter outside.)  We decide Wendy's is the way to go for lunch, so stop and get nice and full before spending our day in the water.  Now, off to "the falls!"  We pull up to about 30 cars in the parking lot and think to ourselves, "at least we are not the only idiots here!"  With chillbumps covering our bodies, we make our way up to buy our tickets.  WHAT!!  $35 tickets?? Along with the best 3 rides shut down for the day!  What a bummer.  Suddenly, the boys faces look like they just lost the World Series in baseball.  We discuss what to do, stay or go, and after about 10 minutes decide the con's outweighed the pro's by a long shot.  We were going home, and our day was a complete fail. 

The only good news was, on the way back we spotted the Williams Brothers store in Philadelphia and Chap bought some new pants and Davis got some honey.  This put smiles on their faces, but not for too long. 

You would think, surely this day could not get any worse.  Wrong! 

We make it back to Kosciusko and Chap comes up with the grand idea of going fishing out at the Country Club.  It was such a perfect idea and we were all excited!  As soon as we got back, we packed up the fishing poles and bait and headed out for the rest of the day.  We were more than ready to redeem ourselves by catching a few fish!  After fishing for over an hour and catching nothing, we began to come to grips with the fact that this day was not going to get any better.  It was simply an unlucky day.  We packed up our things and were heading towards the truck, when one of the boys thought "I have to know what that float out in the water is made out of."  For the next twenty minutes, the boys constantly threw rocks in the water in attempts to hit the float and hear what it was made of.  The "rock throwing competition" lasted for about 20 minutes, when finally Davis hit the float square on!  The next two rocks Davis threw also hit the float.  He went crazy!!  That moment was better than any fish we could have caught.  The bad luck had finally been broken, and we headed home to a fine meal cooked by Chap's parents.  Ribs, baked beans, potato salad, and rolls awaited us and it was absolutely delicious!  Could not have ended a terrible, unlucky day any better.  : ) 

I will be looking forward to our next attempt at Geyser Falls, in hopes of better luck!

Country Club Lake

Davis saving the fishing line..

Davis and Caroline.. No luck

Jenny and Bryan.. Got Nothing

The rock throwing begins..

Sick form, Chap

Seconds after Davis hit the float! 

Thanks for putting an end to our bad luck day : )





Newlyweds!

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Davis
May 7, 2011

Dianna and Joe are married!  The wedding took place at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Brandon, MS.  It was such a beautiful ceremony and of course, Dianna looked gorgeous.  After the ceremony, we headed to Florence for the reception held at a family friends home. 
Everything was perfect and so "Dianna."  I am excited for their marriage and can't wait to see what those two will do in the days ahead. 

Lakeside Presbyterian Church

Reception

Bride's Cake

Groom's Cake

Beautiful Bride : )

*One of my favorite hymns that was played and sung by the MSU Alma Mater Choir at the wedding.  It was beautiful!



Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!  I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.

Twas' grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we first begun.

We Did It!

Graduation was a success!  It was a pretty amazing feeling : )  I have two of the most amazing friends, Erin and Chris, who made the trip up for it.  My grandmother and aunt came as well.  It was a very special weekend and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  The day following graduation we had a "celebration" at The Nook for all the roommates.  Everyone's family and friends were welcome and it was a great way to end our year together.  I am going to miss these times.  However, I know there are so many great seasons ahead of me. 

She's Amazing : )

Best parents in the world!

Grandmama and Aunt Camille

Wonderful!

The Nook



Queen Madeline

This weekend I had the priviledge of going to the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball in Columbus, MS.  My roomate, Madeline, was chosen to be Queen and she asked all of the roommates, along with some other friends, to come be a part of the ceremony with her.  We had a blast.  I had never experienced anything like it!  Madeline was gorgeous : ) 
The night began with lots of music, make-up, and pretty dresses.  I felt like I was in high school again getting ready for prom!  We headed to the building where the ceremony was going to take place, and took pictures with the Queen.  Then, we were taken to our seats where we would watch Madeline's entrance!  The twist of it all is that no one at the ceremony knew that Madeline was chosen Queen.  We only knew because we were her roommates!  So, it was all a big surprise! 
After the ceremony, there was a great band playing music and lots of dancing : )
We thought the night ended there, but we were very wrong.  We were then taken to the "royal breakfast" where fruit, biscuits with gravy, grits, sausage, homemade cinnamin rolls, and breakfast casserole awaited us.  It was delicious!  After stuffing our faces, we headed back down for more dancing.  Around midnight, it was time for bed.  We were exhausted, but all had such a great night. 
We went back to the guest house and crashed.  This morning, we all got up and headed to Harvey's for a brunch.  I thought the food couldn't get any better from the night before.  Oh, was I wrong! 
I had a plate full of shrimp grits, steak, potatoes, bacon, sausage, chocolate chip muffin, and banana nut bread.  Absolutely amazing. 
I am so thankful that Madeline invited us to be a part of such a big night for her.  She looked absolutely stunning and I am so proud to say I am her roomate. 
Here are a few pictures from the night. Enjoy : )

A few of us before taking pictures with Madeline

At the ceremony

Queen Madeline : )

Beautiful

Brunch at Harvey's

Check out the food : ) yum.

The Queen's dance with the King

Memorizing Scripture

Psalm 119: 11
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

God in Nature

I am absolutely LOVING this weather : )  If it was only going to stay this way.  I know it is only a matter of time before it cools down again.  Summer will be here before we know it though. 
I went and visited the winery the other day.  It is probably my favorite spot on MSU's Campus.  I am not really sure why, because honestly there is nothing too special about it.  It is just gravel roads, trees, and a lot of landscape where cotton, corn, and other things grow.  For some reason though, I meet God there every single time.  Ever since I discovered it my Freshman year, it has been that place where I go to relax and be with Him.  I would encourage you, if you don't already do this, to try and find a place in nature where you can be with God.  I always was told that nature was a great place to be in His presence, but never really understood until I found the winery. 

I just started doing a bible study with a group of girls from the Wesley Foundation not too long ago.  We are reading a book called, The Mind of Christ, by T.W. Hunt and Claude King.  I have enjoyed it so much so far and can't wait to see how the rest of the semester will go. 
Here is one of our memory bible verses from week one that has really been on my heart:
Romans 12:2
" Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."