My G.G.'s House

Growing up, I would go to G.G.'s house. I loved this house - Westover as she liked to call it. It smelled like fresh bread, the floors creaked when you walked, and every room had something for me to explore. The library had so many books that I would eventually have my nose stuck in as I grew older. I also loved to climb the magnolia trees which I fell out of more than once.

I have been told that I was allowed to do more in her house than any of her grandchildren (please note that the grandchildren were boys -- 6 of them). No child was ever allowed to go in the living room.... until me. There in the living room was the tea set that I thought was once a queen's. The writing desk had old letters from her brother in WWII and photographs that I loved to read and imagine who the people were. On one table was a little music box that G.G. eventually gave to me. I loved to twist the crank and listen to the song over and over. The song is "Always" by Irving Berlin. My great-grandfather whom I never met bought it for her. It was their song and he would sing it to her. The piano was there in the far corner. I loved to "play" on that piano. I would make up all kinds of songs which I'm sure drove my parents crazy, but my great grandmother loved it. G.G. would play for me and I would sit on the bench and listen to her. The last time I heard her play the piano was at my13th birthday when she sang and played hymns at the piano in our house.

There is something about that house that I can't explain. Not too long ago I was in a store and I picked up a candle to smell it. The familiarity of the smell smacked me in the face and the emotions came pouring in (no I didn't cry). So, I stood in the check out line smelling this candle trying to figure out what was so familiar about it. I finally realized it just as I was about to check out. It smelled just like G.G.'s house. It smelled like the library, the pillows, the rooms I would hide in and explore for hours. I loved that smell. It made me realize just how much I missed her and that wonderful house.




G.G.'s 80th birthday


Today would have been her 96th birthday, but I know she is happy where she is :)

My Meredith Onyx

I have a beautiful black, shiny Meredith College Onyx on my finger. I have made it through classes I thought I would die in to be able to wear this ring. My G.G. and my mama attended Meredith, but neither of them had an Onyx. I keep staring at my ring amazed that I actually have one. It is a blessing to have one in more than one way just to have one.

To be honest, I didn’t want an Onyx when I came to Meredith, tradition or not. I know this may seem surprising! I didn’t understand the significance of the Meredith class ring. Over my freshman and sophomore years I watched my Big Sis’ and other friends work towards earning their class ring. I began to realize that I did want the Meredith Onyx on my finger.

I can't wait until that first time when I hear someone say, "You're a Meredith girl" -- just by seeing my ring. It will be nice for someone to see that I am a "MCG" without seeing a bumper sticker on my car or a sweatshirt.

My roommate from freshman year and I got ready together. It was fun hanging out since we don't see each other often. It's funny how far we have come in just the two years of knowing each other! The whole hall was decorated so nicely and I loved the centerpieces on the tables. All of the food was delicious and amazingly it was wheat free! It was so nice to walk out of an event NOT feeling sick!

It felt like it took forever, but after the new president Jo Allen and vice president Jean Jackson spoke we finally got to put on our rings! It was so exciting!!! There were squeals of excitement and laughter all around the room. Of course it was then time for pictures and everyone ran around to find friends to take pictures.

To my surprise I turned around an saw my Big Sis' who graduated last May standing there. I was already extremely happy to have my Onyx on my hand, but I was pleasantly shocked to see her. Many of you who know me know that I rarely cry... well I did. They were happy tears, though!

Meredith helps women improve their strengths and skills to become remarkable women in the world. To the network of people associated with this college, the Onyx shows the laughter, the tears, the late nights, the traditions, the projects, the relationships, and most of all the growth of a Meredith graduate. The onyx is a wonderful symbol of that journey. I am so happy to finally have my own Meredith Onyx on my hand!

My Kind of Fall

This past weekend I was packing up stuff in my room at home and found some old photographs. Some of them were fall photos from when I was little and they made me smile!

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.

~ Emily Bronte



Me and my Daddy



Me and my Mama

My Bobo



Me :)



I loved looking back at all of the photos and remembering little details I had forgotten about. Take the time to dig back through your old photos. It's a lot of fun. :)

Fall in Love With Fall

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love how the leaves crunch under my feet, the cool weather, the smell of the air, and the fact that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner!

October is always an especially busy month for me! My birthday is in October and I turned the big 2-0 this year. You're not old until you're 80 as far as I'm concerned, but talking to little kids sure can make me feel that way!

I went to Washington D.C. over fall break and stayed with my cousin, his wife, and their baby boy. I took the train up, which was a first. Now, I can say confidently that I will be using the train again in the future. It was so much fun and I was able to get a ton of work done while riding. While I was in D.C. my cousin introduced me to a lot of people who work with the government. I am interested in working for the government when I graduate, so that was very insightful.... and exciting! :) Praying I can get an internship next summer! The rest of the trip he and his wife showed me around D.C. and we got to catch up on life. I loved seeing them and getting to know D.C. a little more!




Union Station - Photography: KES

 

Union Station - Photography: KES

 

Back of White House - Photography: KES



Jefferson Memorial - Photography: KES



Jefferson Memorial - Photography: KES



Lincoln Memorial - Photography: KES



Atlantic side of the World War II Memorial - Photography: KES


 

Washington Monument - Photography: KES


Next week is going to be very eventful for me!!! I finally get the long awaited Meredith College Onyx ring. To get the Onyx you have to have a junior level class status which is at least 60 hours. I have been blessed to have help in getting mine! They are extremely expensive, but the Onyx is famous to alumnae and people who know about Meredith. I have heard of women getting jobs, because the interviewer not only liked her resume, but because she recognized her Onyx and knew that MereCo has excellent students! I have also heard of Meredith girls traveling around the world and people recognized the ring. How cool is that?! Even though I pick my ring up at the beginning of the week I'm not allowed to wear it until the ceremony at Ring Dinner next Friday! SO EXCITED!

The morning after Ring Dinner I am getting up to go with a very good friend to a Hot Air Balloon Festival! I love hot air balloons and am very excited to see them all! I would love to ride in one, but the tickets were just a little expensive for my college student budget! :) There will be concerts that day and a corn maze that night!



Hot air balloon I chased one afternoon :) - Photography: KES



Now I just need to remember that I am a student and have work to do... pictures to come soon!