Last night my alma mater's alumni association honored me by
awarding the Outstanding Young Graduate of the Year award. I still cannot
believe they chose me. I still am not believing the words that were said about
me. It was just all surreal.
I left my hometown of McMinnville TN in 1997 and never
looked back. I wanted to just go away and try to be an adult all on my own in
not just a new town, but also a different state. My Mom didn't want me to
leave, but she knew I was doing the right thing. I did not know a single person
at Kentucky Wesleyan College when I arrived. It was amazing last night to have
a full circle event like that occur.
Some of my favorite people came to celebrate with us. It was
so wonderful to have them there. My Mom who has been there through it all of
course made me cry when I was speaking. But to add to the awesomeness of her
being there was our little family. Demetria and Ray, who have been our constant
cheerleaders and 2 person support crew were there. My best friend from college,
Jessica, who let me fall apart on the phone with her when I got the first phone
call that Chaz was hurt and then again multiple other times and her hubby,
Kyle, joined us. And I even had my own little Kappa Delta cheering section with
Katy, Mandy and Megan there. There were several staff and faculty who knew me
when also in attendance. It was wonderful for them all to take the time out to
be there with us.
I wasn't going to speak last night. I was told that I could
just come up and accept the award and go sit down. However, the people before
me spoke, so the pressure was on. All I planned to say was thank you. Then my
friend, Katy, had to start crying when she introduced me, so she kicked off the
tears. She had to pass her speech off to another KWC alum. It was wonderful to
hear what Katy had written about me. Then came the Obama call video, boy was
that a fun blast from the past.
I got up on stage and looked out to see some many beautiful
faces smiling back at me. And all I could think about was how Demetria and I
have remained friends even though I left our hometown we grew up in; what a
great friend I have in her. Then I saw my friend Jessica and thought, oh my
word, we have been through so much together; what a great friend I made while I
was at KWC. I saw my mom crying and got incredibly side tracked and then I
thought I seriously have the best Mom in the world. Then I saw my hubby and our
cuties and thought I am so blessed to have such a great little family who loves
me. Then to see my KD sisters out there smiling, I thought about all the fun we
had together in our 3 1/2 years together there. I realized my cup was
overflowing. I of course was choked up. I'll be honest, I could not tell you
right now what I said while I was up there. All I could think about was how
blessed I truly am.
So many great friends couldn't make it. That's the thing
about being a grown up.....we just can't be everywhere. I have received so many
great texts, emails and messages from friends and family telling me how proud
they are of me. I am just so very blessed!!! I just want to thank them all for
being so supportive of our journey and of our family. I know a few were upset
that they couldn't join us. Just knowing that they wanted to be there was more
than enough for me.
You definitely should have gotten that award! You turned the biggest nightmare in your life into diving into the deep end helping Chaz get to where he is today! But you didn't stop there! Every step of the way you've thought of all the others out there who are going through the same thing and have blazed so many trails for them! Thrilled that you had such a special night!
ReplyDeleteLifting up prayers right now!
Psalms 4:1, 7-8 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. (7-8) Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
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Isaiah is filled with such great comfort! praying!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
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Still smiling about this!
ReplyDeleteAlways here praying!
Psalms 28:1-2 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
Praying!
ReplyDeletePsalms 28:6-7 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
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Hi! Well deserved. (clap clap clap!) Sometimes more people are paying attention that you think! Thanks for the inspiration, and letting me read about your journey. I've added you onto the sidebar of WarRetreat.org so that I can keep track of your entries!
ReplyDeleteLifting up prayers right now!
ReplyDeletePsalms 28:8-9 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
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No matter what happens in life, the Lord is always there! Praying!
ReplyDeleteHabakkuk 3:17-19 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places...
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Know that you're always in my thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeletePsalms 88:1-2 O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
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Praying right now!
ReplyDeletePsalms 31:1-3 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
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Every day I stop by and see this it makes me smile!
ReplyDeleteContinuing to pray!!!!!
Psalms 31:5, 7-8 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth (7-8) I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Praying in Seattle!
ReplyDeletePsalms 31:14-16, 24 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. (24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers! Look to the Lord for all things!
ReplyDeleteHebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Always here praying!
ReplyDeleteHebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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