LTNP!!

Long Time No Post!!!
It is because...I have been busy busy with the kitchen cabinets...which are taking me FOREVER!! But it is so worth the time...I love how they are looking...I will give yall a sneak peek...

In other news...here are some pics from the Bama vs. Florida game--



And then last week, John and I headed to Charlotte for the Bama vs. USC game...what a game!! I got to stay the rest of the week and hang with my fam and friends and I had so much fun!!




More to come soon!!

Proud of this Sucker!!

My diploma came in the mail from USC!!! I was so excited to put it in this beautiful frame and it fit PERFECTLY!! Yea!!

Graduation!!

I can't believe I have already finished my Master's Degree! These past two years have absolutely flown by! I am so thankful that the Lord led me to Columbia. He gave me so many opportunities there for ministry and learning and getting to do things I never dreamed of doing. One of the highlights of my time in Columbia was being able to lead worship at Shandon Baptist Church. To be surrounded by awesome musicians and being able to glean from them and grow as a leader and musician was incredible. I can not say enough wonderful things about the School of Music at USC. The teachers there were untouchable in their field of study. They pushed me to learn and grow as a musician. I learned more about music than I knew existed, which in turn led me to realize how much more there is to learn! You can never stop learning. There is always more to understand and to study. In order to graduate, I had to pass oral comprehensive exams. It is an hour-long exam where I am asked questions about music, and I must express to the committee the things I have learned in graduate school. It was so intimidating to be sitting in front of five teachers who are so smart, and knew the answer to every question that was asked. During that forever long hour, I was thankful to have been under the direction of these teachers who have found their calling to teach young musicians like me. It was humbling, but also a proud moment to reflect on all of the things I have learned in graduate school. It honestly took me to a whole new level in music. What was once just a song is now a particular song in a particular language with specific trends of that time in history, with a particular poet and composer. I am able now to understand more clearly the history of music, the way music has developed throughout the centuries, and where music is today. I have grown as a singer, and I have a very clear understanding of vocal pedagogy, singing techniques, and language pronunciation. I am so thankful to have been encouraged to go to graduate school, and to have gotten the opportunity to attend. I feel much closure and accomplishment on something I started when I was five years old. It was life-changing, something I will always recommend to any one, and an experience I will never forget!

Recital and Shower Weekend

2 Weekends ago, I had my Graduate Voice Recital, and a wedding shower given by Mrs. Brighton, Mrs. Renstrom and Mrs. Hicks. John and his family got to come up, and my grandmother and Aunt Laurie and we had a great time!!!



Relief it is over!!


Best place ever to eat!





John's Drill!

My amazing mom and grandmother and soon to be mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law :)

My wonderful friends from Liberty!!


Mrs. Brighton decorated in the theme of the wedding- so here is a little preview of how the wedding decorations are going to be!

Columbia Shower

Some of my sweet sweet friends threw me a bridal shower in Columbia a few weeks back. It was so much fun and such a blessing!!


I got so many awesome gifts!!



My friend Mandy had gotten a list of questions from John to ask me, and for every one I got wrong, I had to put a marshmellow in my mouth! I think I only missed three- one of them being how many alabama games John has been to- I guessed 105....the correct answer- 99! I was so close!!








It was such a wonderful time! I am so blessed to havd gotten to know these ladies the past two years I have lived in Columbia!

USC-FLORIDA GAME

I was so excited John could come up this past weekend for the USC-Florida game!! We had such a fun weekend! We drove up to Charlotte on Thursday, and went to Dan's (John's Cousin) CD release concert at UNCC. We went to dinner with Jon and Jenna Rouleau before and to the concert with them...it was so good to see them!! The next morning we did some wedding stuff in town, and then headed back to Columbia, because I had to go to a Pippa concert for one of my theory classes--this was the weekend highligh for John...ha JK.

I took John to a fun place after the concert called Cupcake. It is so good. They have every kind of cupcake imaginable!! We got oreo and turtle. You can check out the rest of their flavors HERE


Saturday we headed to the tailgate my church does, and then to the game! I was so proud of South Carolina--they played really well! The atmosphere was so great...this was probably my favorite USC game EVER and I'm so glad John was there with me! We honored the military at this game and had an awesome half-time show with a fly-over!
The students get a stamp to be able to get in to the student section...so right after I got mine stamped, I pressed it on John's--it came out pretty well :)


This is my friend Mandy--she loves football as much as I do and I have really enjoyed going to the games with her

Tim Tebow warming up




In other news--we are so thankful for the Lord's provision in John's job. He started Thursday!