Excited

I get to go home for the first time in forever today!! Or tomorrow...sometime. I wish I had a vehicular mode of transportation, but that is beside the point. I get to go home! And see my puppies! And my parents! AND....(drum roll, please...) MY BROTHER!!!! YEA! Today is a super long day, school-wise, but if I can find a ride out of this joint, I'm leavin' tonight. It's just that I haven't been home at all...the thought of good food, my own bed, and my dogs makes me soooo happy. This week has felt long...I've wanted it to be Friday since Monday, which is a bad way to start out the week. And I think this picture is hilarious and I didn't know chocolate bunnies had ears until I was 13. Thanks, Mom. I hope everyone's weekend is amazing and have a glorious Easter!

Oh, and by the way, Aggie Relay for life raised over 150K! Thanks and Gig'em!

Aggie Relay for Life

Last night was the final night of raising money for Aggie Relay for Life, which is an organization that is nation-wide that helps raise money for cancer research. It was a blast! Live music, buddies, running, food, cards, volleyball...it was amazing to see that many aggies in one spot doing something for others. We raised over $126,000! Exact number pending, but I'll let y'all know. I was a member of our team because my buddy Steve's mom has cancer. What is important to him is important to me. During the course of the night, I began thinking about how lucky I am. Blessed. Not lucky. God has deemed it necessary that I have two healthy parents, and a wonderful family and I have suffered very little loss in the course of my (albeit short) life. And I have some things to say to those I have lost to cancer:

Rhoda: I wish I could have known you! My mother is one of the most incredible women I have ever met and I know you had an enormous impact on her life. She misses you, but you would be so proud of the Christan mother she has become.

Grandmother: I still miss you sometimes. When something doesn't go my way, or I see a beautiful rose bush, or even when I brush my hair, remembering how much you loved my brother and me is almost to much to bear. You were everything a Grandmother should have been and more. I remember in the bathtub, you used to ooo and ahhh over the shamu shows I put on with my rag, in exchange for allowing you to brush out my hair afterwards, which I rarely sat still for. I wish you could be here now to see my boots, my brother in his fish uniform, my daddy and what an amazing man of the Lord's army he is. You would be so proud! I'd like to think that you know, but if nothing else I hope you know how much you are missed and loved by us all.

Grandaddy: I don't know if you remember this, but I used to follow behind you, trying to match my stride length with yours, usually falling in the process. You would set me back up, and let me follow along behind you again. I know now that you were not the giant of a man I thought you were then, but you understood my brother and me better than almost anyone I can think of. I remember thinking there wasn't anything you couldn't do as I watched you make bunny cakes, ride a tractor, kill snakes, and love your sometimes unruly family. The older I get, the more I realize what an amazing man you were. And you had one hell of a son, a man that I love so much and is a great daddy. I guess I know where he got it.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows."
James 1:17

Frustrated

Is there any particular reason my brother is incapable of talking to me-ever? I mean, really. It is not that hard to pick up the freakin' phone and talk for a couple minutes. Everyone is telling me that he's a fish, he has no time, cut him some slack, blah, blah, blah.....the next person that says something like that to me, I am going to burst into tears, after I jack them in the face. I was a fish, remember?? Been there, done that, don't talk to me like I don't know what is going on. He talks to his girlfriend plenty, (not that it's her fault, it's just that I think I should at least have a place on the priority list, somewhere). I try my best to be a good sister, I avoid his stupid upperclassmen, I never go into his dorm (he hates that), I try not to ask to much, I'm nice to his buddies....I just want a phone call every now and then. At least pretend I matter. Fake it. He told me he would be at devo last week (because we didn't have lunch on that Thursday like we were supposed to, Thursday lunch has happened a grand total of twice), and then didn't show up. But I went to a campaign meeting 10 minutes afterwards, and there he was...I was so mad. I couldn't even speak to him. I see what's important now. If you are reading this, pray for me to be patient and kind-hearted towards my little brother.....I feel neither of those things right now.

A Night of Surprises

It had been a looong day yesterday. All I wanted was a nap. I had been hounded by Replant people, bogged down with homework and Parent's Weekend Banquet crap, and I got a huge run in my last pair of hose. Oh yeah, and it poured rain all day. Yeah. One of THOSE days that people like to complain about every day for a month after they've happened. So I finally saw a golden glow at around five o' clock, and I snatched the opportunity for a 45 minute nap before formation. I set my alarm and conked (sp?) out. Lights on, my roomie watching gray's anatomy, the whole bit. Before my alsrm went off one of my buddies bashed into my room, "BRITTANY!! It's time to get up now!" and slammed the door behind his sorry nap-wrecking butt. While I choked on the smoke coming out of my ears, I grabbed my phone to turn my alarm off and saw that I had a text message. I rolled my eyes, and with a "what now?" feeling in the pit of my stomach, opened it. It was from my crush. He said that he was making chicken fried steak and needed help eating it. Smiling, I figured that the rest of the posse was over at his place, knowing that was how it always was. I quickly texted back that I had formation and a Replant meeting at 7, but one of them could pick me up after that. I dragged myself through the next hour and a half, trying to gather my energy for the dinner with the guys. Got back to the dorm and changed into a star wars t-shirt that I bought at Goodwill and some jeans and called my crush for a ride. He pulled up in his white pick-up, and I was surprised to see him as it's only occupant (usually, they all show up to come get me....why that is necessary, I will never know). I hopped in and smiled at him and asked where the guys were. "Well...I just figured it should just be you and me tonight...is that ok?" Uh...yeah. It was a great night...he is great. So I guess he has broken free of the "crush" title...his name is John(-:

Oh, the glory of all that is random and wonderful!

I just picked up my boots. They are so wonderful....I have waited for so long. They fit perfectly and have a beautiful deep reddish-brown color...and they are mine! (FINALLY!) I just want to take this opportunity to thank those who have helped me on this trek...my family, friends...thank you! I'll figure out a more sufficient phrase in the future to fully express my gratitude and love for all of you. In other news, I'm job hunting. I've picked up applications at both the A&M small and large animal clinics and I'm turning my resume into the animal science department to see what they can do for me. Reason for the prowl for income? A truck. Yeah. If my brother gets an Army contract and I get a job, I can get a truck. There is a beauty parked in front of Scoates, it's pretty beat up on the outside (by COWS!! Isn't that awesome??), but it runs great, and I drool all over myself every time I see it, (which is extraordinarily unattractive in uniform, by the way.) $8,000 though. So if anyone has eight grand floating around, I wouldn't mind it(-; Also a recent development, I have applied for Female Corps Chaplain. It's a corps staff position (my buddies are NOT happy...), but I have a lot of ideas for improving the chaplain chain, female retention, and the all-female Bible study. I want to see what I can change, I want to leave the Corps better than I found it. Oh, and lately I've spending a lot of time with a really great group of people from church, and it has pretty much been amazing. And no new news on my crush...it's about the same...He's still handsome, funny, and a Christian cowboy...I was beginning to doubt their existence! Pray for this week coming up, I have three exams, so it's going to be a tough one. Have a great weekend!

These are the days...

Well, I woke up this morning and my eye wouldn't open. Yep. I have pinkeye. I look like someone stabbed me in the eye with a fire poker. Oh, well. Looks like the coke-bottle glasses for a while. But that's not what this post is about. I interned this past week at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) as a techie. It was so incredible! I met so many facinating people, laughed a lot, worked more, and slept in the Hilton. I worked expensive TV cameras (cutting horses and cattle shows, I looooove Brahmans!), worked in the studio in the control room, and met some "big-wigs" that make the livestock show run. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself, and I can't wait to go back (Thursday night!!!!). All of Spring Break, baby! It's going to be such a learning experience, as it has been already. Lessons learned: When in doubt, just ask, you look less dumb that way; If you know what you are doing, do it well, and teach others to do it just as well; smile, it might not be as bad as you think it might be; enjoy your co-workers, you know they're funny! Saying something kind to someone doesn't have to be limited to your counterparts or subordinates, it can impress some pretty high-end folks. I knew most of this already, but it was really applied! The stuff the Corps and college teaches you isn't complete BS! (I really was surprised). What you learn in a book might be imperative, but so are people skills, networking, and common sense. Aside from all this stuff, God has been working on me to keep Him as the focus in my life. Things have just been so wonderful lately, I need reminders that God is responsible for it all, not me. If anyone has any suggestions on keeping my focus where it should be, let me know. On another note, why can't you just walk up to somebody and say, "Hey, you're awesome, we should date?" Hmmmm... perhaps that is a tad awkward...but hey, having a crush is fun(-:

Are two posts allowed in one day?

I'm not sure if this is against blogger etiquette, but oh well. Here it goes: I am in the Corps of Cadets. I am a woman in uniform. You don't like it? Fine, shut up and get out of my way. It doesn't mean that I am a man, or that I can beat the mug out of every guy I run into. To say, "Oh, I don't date girls in uniform" is stupid, and if you can't see past a girl's uniform, you don't deserve her anyway. Your loss. Get over yourself, grow a pair, and be a man. Beware: She might have feelings under that nasty uniform.

Grades!!!!

I AM MAKING GOOD GRADES IN SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A MILLION YEARS!!!!! I beat the curve on my first two exams, kicked the crap outta the one I just took, and am getting extra credit in a few of my classes as well! Get excited! WOOHOO!! School is so awesome right now, I don't have to force myself to study, nor do I have to be miserable in class because I actually want to go. I am thinking about writing a few magazine articles and sending them in....free-lance write a little and see how I like it. There's this huge book that is renewed every year called the Writer's Market, and it has every magazine that is published in North America. It has information on what type of articles they like, the editor's address and things like that. I doubt anything I write will get published, but it's worth a shot....it'd be pretty cool! Anyway, it is a lovely day outside, I'm going to take a nap after my breeds lab (Oh glorious sleep! How I love thee...), and I'm going swing dancing tonight! Ahhhhh....

Drama, Drama, Drama

I had another post up here. I read it and laughed. Out loud. It was so melodramatic...I'm in a bit of a predicament with boys, they are difficult, but that's not new. I have saved you from reading a horrendously teeny-bopperesque post that would've probably made you puke. That's ok, you can thank me later. I wonder if God ever laughs at our prayers. I like to imagine him smiling (and in some cases throwing his head back and guffawing), shaking His head and trying His best to get us to see the big picture. I have a message for Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life). Our purpose in this life is to serve God first and others next, and ourselves last. There's you a driving purpose. Ok, stepping off soapbox now. Oh, and just for the record, I am crazy about A&M and I think it's the absolute best place on earth. Whoop!

You'll never guess what I'm wearing....

Tonight we had the first part of the Aggie for Christ Sadie Hawkins party. It was called "Once Upon a Time..." It was childhood dress-up time! There was Mario and Princess Peach, Cruella deVille and a dalmation, Bob Barker and a contestant, Ariel and Eric, and Tinker Bell and Peter Pan. My date, Wes, and I dressed up as Aladdin and Jasmine. Yup. I am dressed in a sea foam top and poofy pants. We packed a lunch (ok, ok, he packed a lunch) of sausage rolls, grapes, and chips, and I found ten minutes earlier today to pop some chocolate chip cookies in Sarah's oven (what would I do without her??) Everyone was supposed to pack a dinner "like mom used to" (I don't know....my daddy always packed my lunch...but hey, that's the Hock family, bustin' stereotypes since 1984). The get-together was fun, pictures in front of a golden-papered castle stuck to the wall, a life-sized game of trouble, remote control cars, and Disney's Robin Hood playing on the wall. Everyone's costumes were awesome, and we had fun, laughing and playing with each other's accessories (toy guns, bows and arrows, plastic swords, and the real machete that my crazy date brought!) After it was all said and done (Wes and I won 2nd place in the costume contest) we were sitting out in Wes's truck, waiting for it to warm up (it was freezing), when we got to checkin' out the tower over the church. It's pretty ornate, (compared to most every other church of Christ I've ever seen) with glass walls all around, and in the very top, a cross surrounded with bright lights. Quite a sight, especially at night. (hehe, read the end of the last sentence and the next one...they all rhyme!) Anyway, Wes told me that he heard that you could get to the very top of the tower through a door in the church. We smiled at each other, and decided to go adventuring. We found the door, climbed up five really narrow ladders, busted one of my sleeves, and finally made it to the top. The view was incredible. We talked about how God has a perspective that is so different from ours, how he doesn't wonder where all those taillights are retreating to, nor does he let his mind dwell on what people might be doing, he knows! We chatted and stared at the great expanse that spread below us, and then climbed all the way down and headed home. What a night, Disney princesses, sausage rolls, a game of trouble, and forbidden activities (tower-climbing). Pictures on the way of our Disney-inspired splendor. Oh, and the second night of Sadie Hawkins festivities is tomorrow...007 themed...any ideas on making myself a Bond lady?

Incredible

I have the blessing/curse of going to school with my brother. The little goofball followed me here....not that I blame him, this is an amazing place! I hardly ever see him, he's usually busy with his "fishy" stuff, i.e. homework, being yelled at, cleaning. But we we're going to church last Sunday and he says, "Hey, do you want to know what I did this weekend?" I rolled my eyes, because usually what follows this question is an account of all the dumb stuff freshmen do, things they probably shouldn't do, and then I have to bite my tongue and let him ramble. Expecting this, I said, "Sure..." What followed was amazing. There is a little girl in Bryan named Tacey and she has cancer. Her family has become unable to pay for her medical expenses, so the A&M soccer coach is raising money for her and her family, proceeds from games and other things of the sort. My brother and his buddies spent the weekend in front of Lowe's asking for money for this little girl, then went to several local Old Ags and asked for money for their cause. All in all, they ended up raising $943 and some odd cents for Tacey and her family. I just stared at him. Don't get me wrong, this isn't out of character for my brother at all, this kind of thing is very typical of him. But him and his buddies? On a weekend? In college? Holy cow. I never want to hear another word about what is "wrong" with kids today. My brother and his buddies weren't prompted by anyone, they hadn't asked for awards or recognition. They saw someone in need and they took action. A better sermon I have never heard. You want to please God? Find someone in need and help them. It doesn't have to be $900 in cash, it can be helping a burdened mom carry her groceries out to the car or smiling at the lady who cleans the building where you work. I know that I'll never look at a free weekend the same again.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." ~Hebrews 13:2

Little brother, I am proud of the man you are becoming. It is a privilege to be your sister. I love you. Way to entertain angels, buddy!

Hittin' the highlights

So, in the past month I have:
Turned 21 (and with that had some girly liquor and tequila)
Tried on my boots (FINALLY! ZIP '08! Whoop!)
Added Agricultural Journalism as a minor
Been to Mexico for the first time (For an hour and a half)
Enjoyed school for the first time in YEARS
Become a member of the Replant tree committee
Read until I lost track of time
Ran a Bloody Cross
Laughed until I hurt
Cried because I was hurt (not about the laughing...these are separate occasions!)
Used the Ab Lounge
Fell in love with my God all over again (and maybe realizing that this might have to be a daily thing...)
Made friends
Danced
Sang
Loved
...and been tired. I'm going to take a nap.