What's been up- the 411

So, what's been happening since I blogged last?

Well, the first, and most important thing, is the National Championship that my Gamecock baseball team brought home to Columbia. We certainly weren't the most talented team in Omaha, but we probably had the most heart. And one really special angel on our side. I've blogged about Bayler before- a special little guy who was fighting neuroblastoma. Bayler succumbed to cancer on the night of our win over Oklahoma in Game 3 of the College World Series. In fact, it was during the game when he took his last breath. Bayler was so special to our baseball team, and many of them visited him on a regular basis. How fitting that we would come from behind in that game and win. From that night on, we played like there was a higher being on our side. We again beat Clemson twice (shades of 2002) and went on to face UCLA in the finals. In dramatic fashion, we beat them in two games and sent Rosenblatt stadium out with a bang. Bayler's family was able to witness the two championship games from seats inside the Blatt thanks to the generosity of Carolina (and other) fans throughout the state of South Carolina. How very special.

When the team returned home, there was a ceremony at our basketball arena and a few days later, a parade down Main Street. Our flag flew atop the Statehouse for a day. It was a Carolina baseball fan's dream come true- I know this because I lived it, and I still haven't come down from the cloud.

So, what else have we been up to?

Well, let's see. We went to Fripp Island for a week's vacation. I went to Washington, DC for a work trip, and also Seoul, South Korea.
We've been to Fripp a second time, Edisto, Charleston, and Clemson. We attended a benefit concert for Chase, another special little boy with neuroblastoma (who is kicking its ass, I must say!)

And I had my 10 year high school reunion.

We've watched the Gamecocks and Tigers win some good games and lose some miserably (most notably the USC-Arkansas game this past weekend- yikes). We've celebrated birthdays, walked in the Alzheimer's Walk, enjoyed days at the lake, and worked our butts off through a busy few weeks.

And now, it's getting close to holiday time- the house is decorated with pumpkins and fall motif, and pretty soon, we'll be pulling out the Christmas ornaments and nativity scene. Wow, how fast 5 months flies by!

It's good to be back :-)

Who says you can't go home?

I'm back, y'all! And, oh, how I've missed you. This is like coming home! Sure, I've been reading along with your blogs, occasionally commenting, but I have certainly missed having all of you as the greatest sounding board imaginable. It's a wonder my wardrobe is decent and my recipes are turning out okay- seriously.

I can't believe I stepped away from blogging five months ago. And while I don't know if the reasons that prompted me to quit will go away this time around, I've decided I don't care. If someone finds something I say stupid or comical or outrageous, it's my blog and my outlet. It took five months for me to realize that and how much I missed having this place to come each day and type out what's going on.

I don't know if anybody is still out there, but if you are, I'd love to hear from you! I'll be back later today with a recap of what's been going on in my life since the first of June (psst- one big thing may have something to do with a National Championship!)

Stay tuned!

Taking a break....

I need to take a break from blogging for a bit. I have acquired too many readers that I know on a personal level, and some issues have arisen from that fact. I feel that a blog is all about being able to be transparent and tell your feelings and other things of the sort, and if I can't do that, then what is the point?

I will still be reading your posts and commenting, and I may be back from time to time to ask for advice on a particular subject. After all, the blogging community has provided me with a wealth of knowledge. Your advice on clothing, beauty products, recipes, etc. has been invaluable, and I will continue to seek that sort of information.

Thanks to all of you who read and comment on my posts. I'll miss your comments and advice!

Book winners!

I only had 4 entries for the On Folly Beach book, so my "scientific method" for drawing a winner was to write your names down on pieces of paper and draw them from a hat.
Because I am at work, I have no camera to show you what I did, so you'll just have to trust me on this one.

And the two winners of the book are:

Belle from Life of a Southern Belle
and
ewatson

Ladies, email me your contact information so that I can send it on to the publisher to send you your free book! My email address is usc_emily@hotmail.com

I am moved by the spirit....

I am here to testify. I found an amen kind of love. The kind that makes you fall down on your knees and reach for the sky above. The kind that your soul can never get enough. I found an a-men, an a-a-a-men, an a-men kind of love.

Y'all, I'm not usually the romantic type. I prefer private shows of affection and love over public displays. You won't find sappy statuses on my Facebook. I'd rather get a practical gift than flowers (especially roses- I don't like roses!) But, just for a minute, I've got to break from my norm and tell you about something wonderful- three years with WEG.

I've told you before I don't do well keeping track of dates. I can't tell you a specific date when WEG and I went from friends to something more, but I can tell you it was Memorial Day weekend 3 years ago. And since that day, my life is forever changed. I never realized that I could love someone with the depth and passion with which I love WEG. Never realized there was someone out there that was so perfect for me. Someone who would challenge me and make me a better person. Someone that would love me like he does.

I'm not saying we haven't had our share of trials. But, to quote Gary Allan, "the struggles make you stronger and the changes make you wise." And if there's one person I want to face the hard times with, it's WEG. He's my rock, and I can't imagine facing tomorrow without him, having had him by my side for three years. I hope we have many more happy years together. And while we have no big plans for a celebration of the three years, I'll celebrate them in my heart and pray that God has more in store for the two of us.

Stream of consciousness

Ahh, Wednesday....halfway through another work week. It seems like I am ALWAYS counting down to the weekend. What about y'all? Unfortunately, I do not have Monday off for Memorial Day. It's quite annoying when it seems like EVERYONE around you is off, but you have to come into work. Every year I am annoyed by this fact. Yes, the university does take the day from us to put it at Christmas. So, at Christmas, I get almost 2 weeks off. However, I'd probably take that time as annual leave anyway. I WANT MY MEMORIAL DAY! Wah, wah, wah.

Moving on. I need a new vacuum cleaner. Ours has taken to spitting out dust in large clumps while I am vacuuming. Gross. I changed the bag, but no dice. Same thing happens. However, I am not looking to spend an astronomical amount on a vacuum cleaner, although I would like something that is pretty decent. Any suggestions of a great vacuum cleaner for a reasonable price? I would love to hear them!

In other news, we are FINALLY finished with wedding season! 5 weddings down, none to go (for a while, that is). We love all of our friends who got married, but, sheesh, it is exhausting and expensive to go to so many weddings. By the time you throw parties for people, buy gifts, pay for accommodations if the wedding is out of town, and outfit yourself, you've spent a pretty penny. I can only imagine the costs that go into your own wedding- yikes!

Also, don't forget to read my review of On Folly Beach in my previous post, and enter for a chance to win the book. So far only one person has entered, and I'm giving away two copies. That's good odds to win a really great book!

Finally, my Gamecocks need to get it together in the SEC tournament. We're currently losing to Ole Miss. We are rarely very good in the tournament. Perhaps we are saving ourselves for the regionals of the NCAA tournament. Here's hoping that's the case! We didn't throw our ace this game, but Ole Miss did.....and their ace was SEC Pitcher of the Year. Yeah, not looking good for us.

Anyway, enough rambling. Only 46 more days until vacation..... Maybe after that I will be able to put together a cohesive post.

The big W....

I'm a worrier. Always have been, but hopefully won't always be one. I try to let go of some things that cause me worry, but in the end, it eats at me. A few months ago I went to a women's retreat and the speaker told us the parable of the soils. She told us that women are often like the seeds choked out by vines. Those vines, including worry, are what keep us from being in the good soil and growing and relishing in God's word. She told us that worry is a sin. And if that's the case, which I know it is, then I sin a lot because I tend to worry a lot.

If WEG goes out with friends, I worry about him. Not about what he's doing because I trust him, but about his safety. I worry that he'll make it home okay. I can't fall asleep until he's home. It's a worry that's totally out of my control, but one I obsess about, nevertheless.

I worry about money...all the time. I was not very smart with credit cards in college, and I am paying off debt. Sometimes when it gets to the end of the month, I worry that I won't have enough. I am constantly budgeting...adding up what I have left to pay for in the month minus what I currently have. I hate to go under a certain amount in my checking account because I feel like I need that for emergencies. I've got a little money in a savings account, but not a lot, so I worry. (As a side note- in December, I will have the credit card debt paid off, so hopefully this will be less of a worry)

I worry about my job security and the future of my job. I'm pretty sure I'm safe, but the reality is the cost of living keeps going up, and there is just no money for raises. So, I don't know if or when I'll get a raise. And that worries me. Because if prices of gas, groceries, and clothing continue to rise, yet my pay does not, what will I do? Yet another worry.

I worry about something happening to my parents. I'm an only child so the sole responsibility for dealing with it would fall on me. It's a nagging thought in the back of my mind all the time. Certainly not something I can control, but still something that worries me.

See, I told you I was a worrier. I also worry about small day-to-day things. It may be why I always take the reins when something is being planned because I worry that they won't be done right if I don't. Okay, so maybe you could also call me a control-freak, but that sounds too harsh.

So, what should I do about this constant worrying? I know the answer. It's as clear as day, and it was reiterated to me upon reading the Proverbs 31 devotion of the day today. I should give all my worries over to God. In fact, it says in Matthew 6:27: "And who of you, by being worried, can add a single hour to his life?" So true. My worrying doesn't get me anywhere. It just puts my stomach in knots and stresses me out. It doesn't matter how much I worry about a situation, God has it in his hands and will have it turn out just as he has planned. Wow, what a revelation. But not so much a revelation as something I have known all my life. So, why do I continue to worry?

I need to work on it, no doubt, and show Satan who is boss because, clearly, that's who is sneaking into my life when I worry. If it were January 1st, I'd make this my New Year's Resolution, but it's not, so how about I just make it a life change? It's going to take a lot of prayers to let go and let God have control of my worry, but I think I'm up to the challenge.

What about you? Do you worry? Have you let go of worry? Was it easy or hard? How did you do it and succeed?