A Near Disaster

Okay so I had just taken Lady and Maggie outside and Maggie's leash broke and she bolted away from me and down into the woods. I thought that I had lost her forever. I called her name over and over again and then began freaking out. She came out for a brief second to sniff at Lady. I tried to grab her again and she ran back into the woods. I was sinking down in the mud because it was definitely raining hard and had been for hours and hours. She wasn't coming out so I had to run and take Lady inside, change shoes, grab another leash, and bolt out the door to get Maggie. I called and called for her. I got thorns stuck in my pants, walked down the hill into the woods, and still couldn't find her. All of a sudden I turned around and she was behind me. I had a treat in my hand and to my surprise she came back to me. Thank goodness. I was so scared. I scolded her and told her to never do that again. She walked back inside with her tail between her legs and hasn't talked to me since the incident. I now know that we need a stronger leash and we also need to make sure that she never ever gets out or off her leash again.

Maggie and Lady together- Sisters and feeling it at last

These two are so sweet together. I think that they have finally warmed up to one another and feel that they are family.

A Compliment Can Mean SO Much

Tonight I was fast asleep when I received a phone call from my husband saying that they are playing a double header tonight in baseball at Appalachian against Elon. In mid conversation I said hang on I must answer a beep. It was my boss Mary from MerryLand Academy. She had just called to say that she was so happy with what I have been doing in my preschool classroom this week. She said that the transition between Cari to me has gone really smoothly and she has been watching me in action. She says that the kids are responding so well and are doing much better than she thought that they would switching teachers mid year. She said that it must just be that I just have that natural ability with the children and that she is going to use me as an example at the staff meeting on Monday. Now doesn't that just warm the heart? I have come from a situation that I didn't like in another county to something that I love right nearby our home. I think that I'm definitely meant to work with preschool age children. I feel that it's really blessed me and I couldn't be happier.

February 22, 2009

I woke up wanting to go to church but decided to not risk it. I don't like to drive in the snow and a day inside seems very appealing. I have laundry, dishes, more laundry, groceries to buy, and letters to mail today. It seems like a lot but a lot can get done in a short period of time around here. I'm also working on cleaning the bathrooms, etc. I know I lead such an exciting life. Appalachian has won 2 out of the 3 games that they have been playing this weekend. Their last game is going on right now. Josh has been keeping me up to date on the scores and things like that. Next weekend they play Elon at home. That will be a fun game to attend.

This week I work everyday and this may be fun because it'll be 8 hours each day instead of close to 10. I also don't have to open everyday which is also a relief. There is something about that one extra hour that really means a lot to the body. Yesterday in Asheville I got to keep my cousin's little baby Cole for about an hour and a half. He was born 3 months early and only weighed about 3 pounds or less when he was born. This was a big traumatic thing at the time and now he just has to have oxygen in his nose. This hopefully won't have to be in there for too long. Let's pray that soon he can breathe totally on his own. This will be a big blessing to the family for sure. My other cousin Kevin has a little boy and my other cousin Lori has a little boy as well. I think that boys are starting to be trends on that side of the family. I know that if we follow in that trend Josh will be very happy. Don't get too excited though there aren't any plans of a baby in the near future. I'll keep you posted.

February 21, 2009

The month of February is flying by. I was supposed to attend a Greek Legacy Dinner tonight in Greensboro but bad weather is expected here in the high country and I didn't want to have to drive in it alone. I say alone because Josh is away for the weekend working Appalachian baseball games in Forest City. Now let me tell you something interesting. Appalachian State is playing Jacksonville State (from Alabama) in Forest City, NC. Random isn't it? I was wondering why in the world this happened this way as well. Why wouldn't Jacksonville State just come play at Appalachian since they came all the way to North Carolina?

Anyway, I think that as this baseball season gets started I am going to miss Josh a lot throughout this Spring. I can't wait to be able to go to the games though because we all know that I love to watch baseball games. I am looking forward to this and so far Appalachian is undefeated! 2 games won and 1 game to go for the weekend.

Kappa Delta Rho

KDR has been a big part of mine and Josh's life. When I joined Phi Mu in 2002 I had some of the best of friends in KDR. This is actually how I met Josh originally. He is Mike Hannon's little brother in the fraternity and Mike is a very good friend of mine. One day Josh was moving into Longview and I was like heeyyyy look it's Mike little brother. From then on I didn't know that Josh wanted to ask me out until finally one day he did. The rest has been history obviously.

Josh has found many great friends within his fraternity. All of which were his groomsmen or ushers in our wedding. His real brother was the only groomsmen that wasn't a KDR. I believe that this has been a great asset to his life and he will always been in touch with his brothers.

Kappa Delta Rho was founded on May 17, 1905 at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. Since then they have grown to 25,000 + initiated members and over 35 active chapters across the country. The fraternity flower is the red rose which in turn they have a formal each year entitled "The Red Rose Formal."

All of these individuals that are members of Kappa Delta Rho have accepted the challenge to place Honor Above All Things in their daily lives by:

• Embracing the principles and spirit of the Kappa Delta Rho Gentleman, treating all those they encounter with dignity and respect;
• Working diligently in the pursuit of their education, understanding that they are students first and that the quest for knowledge is an endeavor which lasts a lifetime;
• Meeting all of their obligations to the Fraternity in a timely manner, as to ensure that they are doing their share and they are not a burden to their brothers;
• Engaging in the service of mankind, not for the praise or recognition that such service may bring, but because it is the right thing to do
• Serving as their brother’s keeper, holding one another accountable for their actions; and
• Supporting their Alma mater, that she may regard Kappa Delta Rho as a partner in the development of her students.

The purposes of this fraternity are to...

• Promote good fellowship among its members and the advancement of truth, justice, and virtue as exemplified by our Latin motto: Honor Super Omnia
• Promote scholarship, remembering our young members are students first and fraternity members second, and to continue its partnership with educational and administrative authorities of the institution where its chapters are located.
• Provide an environment as a means for students to learn how to apply the knowledge acquired from the classroom and their fraternity experience, and to encourage a cultural surrounding wherein its undergraduate members may enjoy a social life that will supplement their college activities, giving them the opportunity to think and act in a responsible and exemplary manner.
• Continue enriching our heritage, and to maintain this tradition we must ensure that we provide the means to uphold the values and standards on which we were founded.
• Provide the necessary tools and proper values in preparation for the future and to support and foster leadership capabilities in our young members, thus enabling them to excel in career development and social involvement through their lifetime.
• Promote the dignity of social involvement through service to the college, to the community, and to their fellow man during their college careers in lieu of "Hazing" activities which are both degrading to the human body and the human mind, and which are strictly prohibited.
• Develop proper programs to serve our alumni and to encourage their active and financial involvement in all ways possible since their vows of membership meant "KAPPA DELTA RHO IS FOR LIFE."

The Credo
Since the Beginning, wherever men have cometogether, there have I been.
My membership is legion. From the humblehome and from the stately mansion; from the rolling farms and from the noisy factories;from the East and West and North and Southhave my followers come.
They who understand my meaning have followedin the footsteps of the Man of Galilee. Inpeace, they have been their brother’s keeper,and in the agony of war, their blood hasenriched the Fields of Flanders and reddenedthe sands of the Pacific.
Their reward has been the Inspiration oftheir Youth; the Driving Power of theirManhood; the Memories of their Maturity. Theyhave fought the good Fight and of these, mysons, I am justly proud.
Who am I? My name is FRATERNITY. And becauseI have given Man that which he craves, I shallendure. My sons shall neither falter nor fail.They shall add new lustre to my name.

Phi Mu

As I look back over my college years I have realized just how important that Phi Mu has meant to me. I went to college only knowing my roommate and several other people from Belmont. It was a big scary world and a lot different from the comfort zone that I was used to. My roommate, Jessica Smith, really wanted to go through recruitment and I wanted to meet people so I decided to do it as well. Recruitment in 2002 was like the 3rd week of school, which all in all was very overwhelming with the amount of school work that I suddenly had. Recruitment for me was a big whirlwind. I felt like people were everywhere and I was meeting them very fast. I had to mark different sororities off of my list night by night and hope that the ones that I wanted also wanted me as well. I just decided that being myself was the only key. The last night my final two choices were Phi Mu and Alpha Delta Pi. I would have been happy with ADPi but I knew that Phi Mu was right for me. Bethany Sessoms read several of her favorite Bible verses to me and I knew that I could have not only a group of girls that I could be close to but also people that I could go to church with. Growing up and throughout my life church and religion have been very important to me. I wanted to maintain this throughout college as well.

I joined that September and then was initiated on November 22, 2002. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I have the greatest big sister who I still keep in touch with today. Her name is Kimme Hedrick Lehmann. She was married in Greensboro and I had the privilege of being able to go to the wedding. She then lived in Australia for several years and is now moving to the west coast to live. I am glad that we'll have her back in the US. She has touched my life in many ways and I know that she is out there in the mission field touching many other lives as well. Through Phi Mu I met several of my bridesmaids and if I could have everyone that I ever loved through my sorority in my wedding I would have had hundreds of bridesmaids and I'm sure that Josh never would have gone for that in a million years. I had many great roommates that were Phi Mu's. Lindsay Pegram and Tiffany Honeycutt to be exact. Both had spots in my wedding and I'm also going to be in Lindsay's wedding in May. Where has the time gone? Before I married Josh I found out that his mother is a Phi Mu as well. She went to Ole Miss in Mississippi but we are sisters and also mother-in-law/daughter-in-law. I think that this is a very special bond.

Phi Mu was founded in 1852 on January 4th by Mary Myrick Daniel, Mary Dupont Lines, and Martha Hardaway Redding. In 1852 the word sorority didn't exist yet which in turn makes us called Phi Mu Fraternity instead. The flower is a rose carnation. The mascot is a lion, Sir Fidel. Sir Fidel is named for our open motto, "Les Soeurs Fideles" which means the faithful sisters. It was founded in Macon, Georgia. The colors are rose and white. It's nice to keep these things in mind.

Sisterhood

You cannot see sisterhood, neither can you hear it nor taste it. But you can feel it a hundred times a day. It is the pat on the back when things look gloomy. It is the smile of encouragement when the day seems hard. It is the helping hand when the burden becomes unbearable. It is the sister who says 'I care."

A sorority is more than letters on a jersey, more than traditional songs, a golden badge, rituals, an obligation, or a way of life. A sorority is learning about people. A sorority is giving without expecting a return. A sorority is earning respect from others, as well as for yourself. A sorority will not solve your problems. But I have made good friends and found confidence there, to help me take life one step at a time.

Sisters always know the perfect thing to do. They can make your whole day just by saying something that no one else could have said. Sometimes you feel like the bunch of you share a secret language that others can't tune into. Your sisters can guide you, inspire you, comfort you, or light up your life with laughter. Your sisters understand your moods and nurture your needs. Your sisters lovingly know just what you're after. When your feelings come from deep inside and they need to be spoken to someone you don't have to hide them, you share them...with your sisters. When good news comes, your sisters are the first ones you turn to. When feelings overflow and tears need to fall, your sisters help you through it all. Your sisters bring sunlight into your life. They warm your life with their presence whether they are far away or close by your side. Your sisters are a gift that bring happiness and a treasure that money can't buy.

A sister is one to share dreams with and one to grow with. One to share both the sweet and the bittersweet moments with. And one to have and hold close to your heart forever. Each sister represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive and it is only by this meeting that a world is born.