LEADERSHIP WEEK: Exhausted After 24 Hours

DAY ONE: EXHAUSTED!

Well, I’ve been at Cho for a day and I’m so exhausted! Yesterday afternoon I got to camp and moved in, then headed off to Kasey’s wedding. SO PRECIOUS! I had a hard time sleeping last night, so I didn’t fall asleep until nearly 2 this morning and was up at 6. This morning we spent three hours creating a new trail. Yes, this girl used a machete; I even have the blisters to prove it. Although I realized I am more coordinated with my left hand than my right hand with the machete – maybe all of those non-dominant practices for polo is finally paying off?

This afternoon we split into teams. The Activities team spent the afternoon delivering new equipment all over camp, reorganizing the pool toys, and restocking the lifejacket shed. Then we all met up and worked on Bible studies for a couple of hours before heading to dinner. After supper we all broke back into our teams. Activities team spent a while making sure we were all on the same plan as far as activities goes, and then processed logistics for different things and worked on the Master Grid Schedule. WOWZERS!

We got off around 9:30 tonight (that’s a long day!) and we all headed for Sonic for their ½ price milkshakes. SO GOOD! We then hung out there for a while, and got back to camp around 10:45.

It’s been a busy, yet incredibly blessed, day! Can’t believe we have 5 more days of busy-ness until the New Staff gets here on FRIDAY!

God is good y’all. 

In the Last Year

Yesterday I turned 20, and I was able to spend a lot of time reflecting on how I have spent my last year. Here's a recap:

• I was named to the 2011-2012 CWPA All-Conference Team
• I spent the summer at Cho-Yeh where I met some incredible people and learned a lot about myself and who Jesus is in my life
• I was able to getaway for a week in Florida with my family
• I was apart of Laura's wedding
• I moved back to College Station to start my sophomore year at Texas A&M
• I met the most amazing roommate ever: Rachel
• I went to a Kelly Clarkson concert with Laura
• I witnessed several of my friends receive and dunk their Aggie Rings
• I worked a couple retreats at camp
• Spent lots of time bonding with my polo team in the Fall
• I went out dancing at Harry's with Katie and Jen, and left with many crazy stories
• Went to the lake with the polo team for our Fall Retreat
• Survived several bomb threats to campus
• Went 4-0 in our fall tournament
• Many movie nights with Katie, Jen, and Myriam!
• Had a concussion (we think) and did several dumb things in the process
• Spent a weekend with Kasey in Livingston
• Emily G came into town from OU and we went to the A&M/Sam Houston football game together
• Finished my THIRD semester at A&M
• Spent Christmas in Iowa with my family
• New Years with the Krolczyks!
• Went to Honduras on a mission trip for the 2nd time with Cho-Yeh. So incredible!
• Moved back up to College Station and reunited with my best friends
• Signed a lease to live in an apartment in the fall!
• Was asked to be on leadership at Cho-Yeh in the summer as Activities Coordinator
• 3-1 after our College Station tournament
• Ran my first 5K benefiting a Honduran orphanage
• Aggie baseball games :)
• Leadership weekends at Cho-Yeh
• More movie nights
• Spring Break in IOWA! Surprise!
• Kasey's bridal shower
• Roadtrips to Livingston to see Laura
• Lunches with Cho-Yeh'ers
• Easter weekend with the Krolczyk family
• Read 11 novels for ONE class
• So. Many. Projects.
• 4-0 in the Austin tournament
• Elected as the 2012-2013 President for Water Polo
• Late nights with Jen, Katie, Myriam and a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice-cream
• Broke into Myriam's car after she locked her keys in the trunk.
• Team bonding night with a campfire!
• WON the conference tournament for water polo!
• Muster
• New Officer Meetings
• SO MANY Cho-Yeh camper postcards!
• Planned the nationals tournament
• Helped Katie and Jen get ready for RING DANCE
• BYX Island Party
• Went with water polo to Nationals where my family surprised me by coming to watch!
• Finished my sophomore year at A&M!
• Turned TWENTY!

Y'all, it's been a busy year! But once again the Lord has taught me how good He is and how He will always provide! Can't wait to see what this year will hold!

How Did I...?

Things I have found while cleaning/packing up my dorm room: 3 jars peanut butter, popcorn kernels, merits, old activity rosters from last summer at Cho, random letters from this year, several children's books, hundreds of pictures, tons of post-it-note "to-do lists", coins, more t-shirts than I knew I even owned, 4 bottles of shampoo, and cleaning supplies that I think I only used once... The reoccurring question is: how did I end up with so much stuff?!

Last Weekend in CS of Spring 2013

Well, it's official. The next time I spend a weekend in College Station will be the start of the fall semester!

I'm so glad that this last weekend in College Station has been just what I wanted it to be.

FRIDAY: After class on Friday, I curled up in bed and watched 4 episodes of Bones. I then ran through Laynes and went over to Katie's with Jen, Rhonda, and Myriam. We talked for hours, made a froyo run (where we were accused of being drunk since we were so loud and hyper; we were completely sober, I promise!), and then painted our nails while watching What Happens in Vegas.

SATURDAY: Slept till noon, and then met Katie and Myriam for lunch. Then Myriam and I went and studied for a couple hours at Evans. We then went back over to Katie's to help Katie and Jen get ready for Ring Dance. They looked GORGEOUS!

(Myriam, Jen, Katie, Me)

Then, Myriam and I went to Island Party (The Christian fraternity's concert/party and hung out and listened to the music. We also went "exploring" back in the park behind Wolf Pen Creek, and enjoyed the hour of walking the trails and sharing stories. We then went back to campus and enjoyed ice-cream before heading to our own rooms for the night. 

SUNDAY: I woke up this morning and ran through the shower before heading to church with Myriam and Dani. Then I came back and Rachel was still asleep (she was in charge of running a formal last night for all the graduating seniors), and so I crawled back into bed and watched an episode of Bones before dragging myself to the library to work on a math review. I wasn't motivated, so ended up going and hammocking with Rachel. We spent over an hour remembering funny times and memories that have happened since we moved in together. I loved that time to just relax with her and laugh about silly memories. Then tonight I began packing up my dorm and getting ready to move out! My parents are coming up on Wednesday to take all my stuff home (and put it away for me?!?! Hint hint?!)

It was a wonderful last weekend in College Station!

The plan for this week: 

Monday: math class, get polo stuff finalized for next semester, polo practice, Fazoli's with polo girls

Tuesday: math class, study for math, polo practice, Breakaway

Wednesday: Amazing Race with water polo, study for math, parents move me out of the dorm

Thursday: study for math and FLY TO MINNESOTA FOR NATIONALS!

Friday: NATIONALS

Saturday: NATIONALS

Sunday: NATIONALS

Monday: fly home from Nationals and study for math

Tuesday: math final and move home!!

The end is just around the corner. Can't believe I'm already (almost) half done with college!

Feelin' Like a Grown Up

In the past twenty four hours I feel like I have done a lot of things that most 19-year-olds haven't done! I feel super grown up!

• I have spent over 12 hours planning our nationals trip
• I have 14 round trip plane tickets bought
• I have 3 hotel rooms for 4 nights each in my name
• I have 2 rental cars reserved, even though technically I'm not even old enough to drive them

Planning nationals has been insane! But I'm glad that I have been able to see everything that goes into these travel trips so that I know what to expect next year!

What Did We Get Ourselves Into?

Today has been insane. As soon as I got done with class today, I met Lauren and Maggie ('12-'13 president and treasurer) and Myriam ('13-'14 treasurer) to work on planning nationals.

Our first game is Friday at 2:50, and our last game is potentially Sunday at 3:30, so we were working around that time frame.

There is a little rule with sports clubs: no driving between midnight and 6 AM.

This rule turned out to be the biggest hassle of the entire planning (well, for a while). If our first game is at 2:50 on Friday, we would need to land by atleast 12:45 to give us time to deboard, get our bags, rent cars, and make it to the pool. And if we can't drive before 6, that means we can't get to the airport till 7, which means we couldn't fly out till 8:30 at the earliest. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Minneapolis, and therefore there is no way we could make that work. . . Therefore, we are flying out on Thursday.

For the return flight, it was a hassle too. There is a chance that our last game is at 3:30 on Sunday. The earliest that we would be done is 4:30 if we play in that game. Unfortunately, airline tickets jump about $200 after 5:00 on Sunday night. A 7:00 flight is over 700$, our budget is approximately $550/ticket. So, we have to fly back on Monday morning. BUT, this creates a problem too -- if we don't fly back till Monday, then anybody who has finals on Monday has to move them to another day. So, we then had to contact the entire team and ask them to get a hold of their professors and then get back to us.

Needless to say, we were in the sports club offices from 3-6, at which point Myriam and I had a new officer meeting from 6:15-7:45.

We were completely overwhelmed. Obviously.

What did we get ourselves into?

Now, Myriam and I are posted up in Evans studying and working on homework. Katie just surprised us with a delivery of cookies and drinks to provide a bit of a study break. Even in the craziness, I am so blessed to be surrounded by such sweet friends!

NATIONALS!

Well, it's official.

After a 7-1 season we went into the conference tournament with a first place seed. We beat Rice this morning 13-3, and then we played Texas in the championship game. We BTHO Texas 10-8!

So, yes -- WE ARE HEADED TO NATIONALS!!! I hope Minnesota is ready for us!

Here are all of the 2012-2013 officers with whoever is replacing their spot for 2013-2014! From left to right -- VPs, Social Chairs, Presidents, and Treasurers!

And here is this year's president, Lauren, and myself. I am so thankful for her encouraging attitude this year and her genuine leadership. My only hope is that I will lead this team as effectively and positively as she did this year!

And of course, my parents who didn't miss a game all year! I am proud to say their understanding of water polo knowledge has come a long way over the last 6 years!!