Monday, August 31, 2009

School?

Today for A&M and Blinn students it is the First Day back to school, and for most this day is exciting. The one day out of the semester. New books, new clothes, and new teachers. But the "new" will be worn out by Friday. School is just a drag for most of us, I mean we've been going since we were 5 and we are now what, 20? 15 years of school...that's a lot of schooling.

Sometimes I get sick of school but the beginning of each semester is the best because everything is "new." I love it. I am praying that this semester goes extremely well. I'm not taking tons of hours, nor hard classes, so I should be okay. We shall see.

I can't believe how fast summer went by. It's gone, which is crazy. I feel like May was yesterday and then bam summer is over. Hopefully the semester will go by just as fast!!

I'm not fighting parking at Blinn or A&M so I've decided I'm just going to ride the bus! :)

Well I'm off to work a little, then go to an appointment, then class, then work, then Phi Lamb reunion dinner!! :)

Have an amazing first week back Ags!

Love you guys!

Kassie

Thursday, August 27, 2009

More Beautiful You

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl


There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you


I love this song so much. It's such an uplifting song about the fact that God thinks we are so beautiful and that no matter what the world says, YOU are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are. If you live in this world you probably struggle with self-confidence, and what you think of yourself. The words are so true, how often do we look at a magazine and say "I wanna look like that." Maybe not aloud but we think it. Whenever I'm having one of those "I feel and look like crap" kind of days I play this song and it makes me so happy because it reminds me that Christ loves us for who we are in Him. It's so great.
I just wanted to share this song with everyone :)

So school is fastly approaching and part of me is excited, but part of me isn't. It'll be nice to get back into the swing of things but I really want to do well this semester so I'm kind of nervous. 12 hours along with 23-25 hours of work Monday thru Friday...It's goin to be crazy. along with all my extracurriculars..... But I know I can do it! :)

Anyways, it's going to be a very interesting year in the scheme of politics at A&M...I'm kind of excited about it because this kind of stuff is so exciting!


That's all for now!

I GET PAID AT MIDNIGHT I'M SO STOKED!!

Love you!

Kass

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

:)

Beautiful things come out of horrible situations. I know for a fact. Out of sadness you get a new found wisdom on how the world can look with a haze of gray clouds, how people can be senseless, how you can see the whole universe in a whole new way. And that may be hard to handle, hard to cope, hard to accept, but it is so damn beautiful if you really take the chance to realize. Out of anger, you can feel your heart beat race, with every beat it is shaking your whole being and not only the heavy steps you take. It is when you, your whole self and some power is telling you that you are alive. And that is amazing in every angle. Out of anything there is something in there that makes it incredible. Something that makes it shine. Whatever you feel is potent and it is such a blessing to be able to feel what you feel. You just have to think about it.

God is so good.

Last night God really got to me again. I was completely broken last night and I just turned to him. He showed me so much last night. Caitlin and I are going through similar situations and I feel like the Lord is just using us for each other to keep us accountable to him. Like it's so great what the Lord is doing in both of our lives. I just wanna be used by him in the fall and change our school for his Glory. He's so faithful!

On a different note, I got attacked today in a wall post on facebook saying I basically couldn't impact Texas A&M. That really hurt me because that's my purpose being on campus, to impact Texas A&M for the greater good. And for someone who doesn't even know me to tell me I can't bothered me. I feel like I've already made a slight impact because I know everyone, and am so friendly and love on people hopefully showing people that there's something so much bigger I'm living for. :) I will impact Texas A&M in my next 3 err 4 years. :P

Lastly, I'm in complete love with life. God is showing me so much and blessing me, and I hope to continue living for him. :) He's so good and faithful to those who trust him!

Loving you!

Kassie

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Um hello?!

My fall 2009 schedule is absolutely CRAZY.

I'll post it when I have compiled it.

Sister starts sophomore year of HS tomorrow, and brother starts middle school...I FEEL OLD. Today being at wally world and Target with the class of 2013 walking around..I FELT OLD.

Time is flying.

I'll post later.

Until then....

Always dreaming,
Kass

Saturday, August 22, 2009

New beginnings!

Today I went school shopping with my siblings and it got me thinking. Monday starts a new beginning for them, and in a week I'll start a new beginning as well.

Most of my classes will be full of people who don't know me, and I don't know them. It's kind of exciting to think about. I mean you can be whoever you want. It's kind of exciting.

Fresh school supplies, new textbook, new professors, It's kind of exciting isn't it?

I can't believe the class of 2013 is coming to campus..that's so weird. My sister is going to be a sophomore, and my brother will be in 7th grade. THAT'S CRAZY.

I mean I'll be out of HS 2 years in December...WHERE IS TIME GOING?!?!?

I guess we need to enjoy the time and live right for now.

Those are my thoughts today.

Love you!

Kassie

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Irony is sweet, isn't it?

I didn't know how to feel after todays events...let me explain...

I'm walking out of my office at about 5:10 to go home and guess who's walking right next to me to exit the building?! One of Michael's fraternity brothers...I was kind of in shock. The conversation was as followed:

"I didn't know you worked here," He said in utterly shock.
"Yeah, since July. Where do you work?" I asked in reply, I of course was shocked.
..more small talk..
He is a gentleman and open the doors for me, my hands are full. And such. Well we start to leave and this is the conversation that I ended with:
"Hey Have a good night! Crazy you work here!" I said
"You too." He said
(this is in essence, not exact words but you catch my drift..)

We were both in shock still...It was ridiculous, because there's a back story but I don't feel like publishing it online...but nonetheless that was my shock of the day. But I was nice, and civil because no matter how hard of feelings I have to him or anyone else Christ calls us to love.

I called Caitlin and she thought it was hilarious, which it totally was. But the fact of the matter is, I was nice because I don't see a point in holding grudges. I don't know, the last week God has taught me so much.

Trust. I'm learning to trust in Him and give him situations that I know I can't handle. I've been praying to him more and just trying so hard to live right. It's a great thing.

Tonight was a fun night with Valorie and Ayla. I am pretty ridiculous, they would confirm. I tried to convince Valorie Russia is in Africa...long story. And I threw out ice cream because it was white...another long story. It was a good night. We semi-watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. Seems like a good movie. I love those girls, and am glad Phi Lamb brought us to be friends. Again, God is so great. :)

Anyways, I'm about to go to bed. FRIDAYYYY tomorrow. :)

Oh and for those who don't know..I'm apparently "Kassie the crazy, psycho one." Gotta love it. :)

5 Things to be Happy About today:

trespassing. ice. the presidential veto. twinkies. books.


Dreaming always,

Kassie :)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Oh life...

Life is constantly amusing. :)

I'm at work right now and so far today I've answered phones, and made a rush flier for Facebook, pretty productive day if you ask me. Also I have been talking to my old English teacher..He is hilarious. I am like crying from laughing so hard. I miss that class.

Just a warning, don't get on my bad side. Because my bitch side isn't pretty. And I don't like to bring it out. :)

Caitlin leaves tomorrow....It's hitting me like a ton of bricks. I just started crying as we left C&Js and we are meeting back up in a little. I kept this whole her leaving in the back of mind, and didn't ever think tomorrow would really get here. It's here, summer is over. I'm scared and worried. I just keep praying that I'll have strength and wisdom. I am just praying the Lord will give me peace and just calm me down. It's going to be tough...I can do this though.

Just praying so hard.

Love you!

Always dreaming,
Kass

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

He's Just Not That Into You

Today's post is going to go hand in hand with some quotes from the movie He's Just Not That Into You. Specifically from my favorite Character, Gigi. I relate really well with her and I love her in the movie.

The first quote is when she thinks Alex likes her and they get into a fight.

"I may dissect each little thing and put myself out there so much but at least that means that I still care. Oh! You've think you won because women are expendable to you. You may not get hurt or make an ass of yourself that way but you don't fall in love that way either. You have not won. You're alone. I may do a lot of stupid shit but I'm still a lot closer to love than you are."

The second quote is from the end of the movie.

"Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, Every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope."

I love Gigi in this movie. I relate to her so well...I put myself out there because I do care, because I have hope. I never give up in hope. I dissect things, I put myself out there, I make an ass out of myself, but like Gigi I'm a lot closer to finding love than someone. Today was awful, in a sense of dealing with a situation. All I can do is pray... I just hate when someone doesn't care, and doesn't care about my feelings. It breaks my heart. Gigi's character is awesome, and eventually becomes someone's exception...I hope that's me one day.

Until then..

Always dreaming,
Kass

Monday, August 17, 2009

Okay, okay

I reactivated Facebook but only because Facebook is like my other cell phone. It's how I talk to a lot of people and as everyone comes back into town Facebook is a good tool. I'm definitely not going to spend as much time on it as I have in the past.

So the events of these week are as follows: Work, hanging out with Valorie because she's back! YAY! work, work, and then Thursday Morning at 8AM Caitlin moves back to San Angelo. For one reason or another I'm scared to death...I don't know. I just don't want our relationship to fall apart like it kind of did last year. I know that if we both lean on the Lord and we both want our friendship to grow it will. So that's what I'm praying.

On another note, I'm so ready for Phi Lamb to start. I'm praying that this year I will find girls that I can be close to and have a true, good friendship with. I'm praying about being a small group leader for the pledges because I think that's something I could do well. I'm praying to see where God will use me, but I definitely think small groups is a good start. I'm also praying that in our cove groups this year we will be able to be vulnerable and open with each other and not be awkward because last year I felt a little bit of awkwardness...so I'm praying that'll change. I'm just praying that Phi Lamb will let God's light shine on our campus.

2 weeks from today school starts.....I'm actually ready. Ready to get back into a true routine and being busy all the time. :)

The boy thing got to me again last night, but I just prayed about it. I don't know what's going to happen, but I pray that I will be at peace with whatever happens. I know that God's hand is so mighty and I just need to trust him and lean on him and not my own understanding. Just trust. Something I do not do well...

I just helped someone on twitter make their way from Baltimore Int'l Airport to DC and it makes me miss the East Coast:((( I wanna go back!!

Anyways, Happy Monday!

Love you!

Kassie:)

Sunday, August 16, 2009

BAM!

Recently I was reading someone's blog and it talked about bam moments let me share.

A guy has been running to to stay in shape and has lost 27 lbs then..
BAM
he steps on glass and can't run for awhile.

A child excels in school and a teach said they should be in the gifted and talented program then..
BAM
Her scores aren't good enough for the GT program

A guy has never drank a lick of alcohol in his life then..
BAM
He fell into peer pressure and drank.

Something is going right in my life then..
BAM
Something bad happens and it's ruined

In these BAM moments we should seek God. God would never give us anything we couldn't handle. God is mighty to save and we forget this. So in those BAM moments, we need to not get angry, upset, or bitter but praise God because something good will come out of it. For instance, the drinking situation happened to one of my friends, and he realized he didn't need to be apart of a team, so he quit. We talked briefly about it, and it was in his best interest. I think that's a time where you say thanks God for showing me early that I didn't need to be apart of that. In my life Friday night I guess made me aware that Michael and I's relationship was not healthy and not something I needed. And it got taken away, but the more I pray about it, and look at it the more I realize it was for good. God is sneaky, but so great.

This morning in Church Chris presented 2 Timothy 4:1-2 and it really awakened my eyes. He was like if we knew Christ was coming back tomorrow at 3PM we'd be in our Sunday Best until then and do things right because we knew he was coming back. But why aren't we like this all the time? Christ could come at anytime so we should live each day like he's coming back that day. Last night I took it upon myself and deactivated Facebook. I spend entirely TOO MUCH time on there. On the way home from church/lunch today I just prayed to God asking him that every time I have the urge to get on there that I would seek him out and fellowship with him and grow the relationship that means the most to me, with my savior. Facebook is of this world and we are called in the bible to NOT be of this world. We are to be of Christ. Facebook caused some issues with my family, and my friendships and I learned that I'm sick of that. So until I get right with God, and my family, Facebook isn't something I need. If people need to get ahold of me, they can email me, call me, something. But Facebook isn't the answer. So this is going to be a test of how strong I am, but I know through Christ I can do it.

Pray for me as I struggle with this, but I know that by Christ anything is possible!

I love you guys!

Kassie :)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Lowest Point?

Do you ever feel like you've hit rock bottom? But then, bam something happens and you feel like you just went below the sand and down further? Story of my life right now.

It's my best friends birthday and I'm at home right now, how frustrating is that. Also, things are just piling up.

I'm a mess.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Lost with no directions anyone?

Most of the time when you get into your car you are on a mission to go to a specific place. At some point you had to get directions to the place you are going. Whether they are on the seat next to you, some lady is telling you to turn right on your GPS, or someone is giving you directions someone has to know how to get there. I guess this is true in life. You have to have a road and a direction before you can go anywhere.

Tonight my parents and I talked and at first it was kind of bitter but it got better. I think we're getting better, I hope so anyways. I love my family so much more than I show and I'm realizing that. They mean the world to me because they will always be behind me no matter what.

Caitlin is leaving sooner than I'm realizing I think. It's crazy how fast this summer has gone by. I've talked about it before but if you stop and think about it, does it not feel like we just got out of school? I mean I took summer one and that seems like yesterday, but other times like a million years ago (okay maybe not a million, you catch my drift). Life is going by SO FAST. We're growing up, it's so scary. I'm learning how to do things I thought I would never learn how to do.. It's weird but kind of cool. Seems like 3 years ago was so long ago but it really wasn't....it's going to be hard this next month. I can do it though.

Back to the Caitlin thing. Most of me is scared. I feel like our friendship has gone through a lot this summer but overall it's really become something great. I love that girl so much, and she's helped me through so much, I don't know who or where I'd be with out her. I am praying to find a girl here, hopefully Katie B, that I can hang out with and have that accountability with. This is where Phi Lamb comes into play. I'm so excited about this year. I know that Phi Lamb will be a place where I can be honest and open and it'll be great. Speaking of, Alli Dyerrrr comes to town soooo soon. I'm so pumped!! I know that everything will be alright... :)

I'm kind of nervous about the fall because I have to do well in school, but I know I can do it. I'm capable of so much if I just set my mind to it.

Anyways, I'm gonna go to bed my head is pounding from crying. blargh!

Love you guys!!

Kassie :)

5 things to be happy about today:
-the movie the sandlot
-snow in south texas
-gumball machines
-spelling your own name wrong
-an ending being a beginning in disguise

I like these 5 today....good movie, experienced it, love them, done it, and this is a tricky but awesome one.

Blogs

Recently, I was surfing the internet (who says that these days..hmm guess I do..) and came across a few interesting blogs. They make you think. I hope you take the time to read them.
*NOTE* I didn't write these.... :)

1. The Effects of Texting and You

Personally, I think the acting of "texting" comes most into play when one is involved in a relationship. Most of us have heard of the joking phrase "textually active," but this statement probably rings true more than we give it credit for. Sure, there are those couples who can expect as little as a "have a good day!" text & be perfectly fine, but then there are those (and probably the majority) couples who expect to talk via text messaging for literally the entire day...when does this become too much?
My mom has always said "you kids are too in touch. Back in my day we didnt talk to each other for days!" What she's trying to say here is that "back in her day" relationships were based upon trust. These days, if we aren't talking to our significant other we're wondering what they're hiding...in a sense, texting is making us come across as exactly how we DONT want to come across - ding! ding! - CLINGY. You guessed it.
So here's my question for you - do you think your texting with your significant other strengthens your relationship with them or actually hurts it? &, in your experience, have you ever had a relationship helped by texting...or, you know, hurt?


2. Happiness vs. Contentment

When I was small, happiness came in the form of a swing. I loved swinging! Mostly because of the way it makes you feel, like you were untouchable, for a few minutes you could taste the sky. I guess in a way, swings were the first form of legal highs a child could experience and the queues were just as long and brutal as the kinds you would normally find outside a local crack house; filled with both excitement and fear. Anyway, the point is, the swings were magical, we laughed and laughed the higher and higher we got and when you finally reached the highest point there was nothing more to do but jump; this is of course if you weren’t chicken. ;)
That was happiness... Today, a girl like me has handed in her swinging blisters for contentment. Why? Because it lasts longer. For many, being happy is scary because we’ve always been taught that whatever goes up must come down and while it’s okay and wonderful to enjoy the ‘ups’ we are also always; just like when we swing, aware of the fact that at some point we’ll be heading down and that’s okay, isn’t it? That’s why I think that when Benjamin Franklin wrote ‘pursuit of happiness’ he was onto something. (Haha actually Thomas Jefferson wrote that, but to all of you who didn't notice, shame on you!) Anywho, the word pursue is the same as seek, haunt, and chase and maybe he didn’t use capture and keep for a reason. For a lot of people, happiness is like an ice cream on a hot summer day, we pursue it, then enjoy it for as long as it lasts, well aware of the fact that soon it will be no more, and when that time comes all we’ll have left is the coolness it leaves in our bodies. In other words; the contentment.
So never be afraid of the happiness you might find in for example; a new relationship, a baby or any positive change but instead, embrace it and enjoy it and when that rushing feeling of adrenaline finishes rushing through your body, sit back, relax and look upon it like the setting sun and know that though it sets, it will rise again soon, and in the meantime, be content.

3. Actions Speak Louder than Words

A simple phrase can live with someone for years with an action behind it. Promises to me are sacred. They're something I won't do to get myself out of a tight spot. I try my absolute hardest to make sure that when i do give a promise, I can actually fulfill it. I'm often referred to as: blunt or truthful. I'd rather be called a female dog than a liar.
However, for there are many who do not have the same set of morals as I do, it doesn't mean as much or hardly anything at all. Words are meaningless without action. With action, words come to life and imprint themselves in your very being. If you're in a relationship that the word "love" is constantly flung around, what does it mean anymore? Saying it so often takes away the meaning, strips it of it's important ties to our emotions, so why do it?
We think that it assures the other person or perhaps yourself that you believe in what you say, but who knows unless we see action? They say they love you, but do they remind you without words? They say they'll meet up with you someday, but do you actually meet up with them? What's the point? Or maybe you say things because they sound pretty, will make them happy. Here's the blunt truth made specially from uniquely me: I don't love you, I don't hate you, and I'll never meet up with you.
So the truth hurts, how about the embarrassment and hurt from finding out you've been lied to all along? Fast and quick like a band aid makes the pain less, makes it over quicker. Get something off your chest, go at it. If you know you don't love someone, please don't hurt them more and lie to them.
"Talk the talk, walk the walk." It's all too irritating to hear someone talk about punching someone else in the face 24/7 when you know they won't. If you're not going to do it, please just shut your mouth.
I hope that people will actually make their promises come true, keep people from disappointment, follow their words with action. If you're not brave enough to do the action, then you're not worth the words.
Don't try on words and see how they fit in the long run. If they're too big, work out and fit into them. Work hard to make promises come true. How can you judge a man entirely? If you're thinking of appearance, of their look on the outside... Consider the following: Beauty fades, truth is forever. You judge a man by how well he holds his words, how well he holds you with sincerity.
If you throw around words like: love and hate, what does that say about you? Don't trash the language that makes beautiful literature, don't trash trust for the future generation. Words are meant for communication, why would you waste time, words, on someone you don't even love or hate?
I hope to help bring back the meaning of words. Instead of separating them from actions, they'd coincide in perfect harmony. Both working to change the world together. In this time however, it seems impossible to even conceive the idea of a world leader that's sincere in his words. Words isn't what changed the world... actions changed the world. Actions change every single one of us everyday.
Embrace your words. Make your dreams come true. Tell yourself you'll make your future bright and then do it. Try your hardest, don't run away from your problems, you promised.

Hope your week is ending well! :)

Kassie

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Never Alone

This song just reminds me of Ed. I feel like it could be what he says to me now. This next month is going to be an emotional rollercoaster. 3 years in a month. Crazy isn't it? Anyways, love you all.

Love you Ed. Watch over me and see you soon.

Never Alone
Jim Brickman

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when its time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
And know in your belly
You're never alone

May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
With every year passing
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone

Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone

Well I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when its time to go home
And when hard times have found you
And your fear surrounds you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone

My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone

Monday, August 10, 2009

HAPPYYYY

Three weeks from today my 4th semester of college is going to begin. I don't know how I feel about this. I'm excited yet scared because time is going by so fast. I'm only taking 12 hours but I hope to make a 4.0. what what. :)

San Angelo this weekend was just what I needed. A break from the ordinary and a break from CS. Being in CS all summer can get old, real fast. So going to Angelo with the bestie and seeing the SA crew was awesome.


Caitlin's birthday is Sunday, crazy to think she'll be 20 and I'm only a few months away...CRAZY. Where is time going?! I'm ready to be 21 to go to VEGAS/TAHOE!!

My random rant of the day: My iPhone is being straight up gay. Like it's freakin' out and will reboot itself..so frustrating. oh well...time to get a new oneeeeeee! :D:D I get paid Friday luckily! :)

I saw one of my best guy friends yesterday! I hadn't seen him in foreverr! So good to catch up!

Life is fabulous! :)

Pray for me for Friday, I will be dealing with something pretty major. But hopefully it'll all be over soon!

God is so good :)

Love you so much~!

Kassie

--edit--

I look at you and I see my best friend. Your energy and your passion inspire me in ways I never thought possible. Your inner beauty is so strong and I no longer fear being myself. I no longer fear at all. I never thought I could find someone to love that would love me back unconditionally. And then I realized that although we're often apart you were always with me. That you were my soul mate. You give me purpose when I feel I have none. Without you my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete. I thank God everyday that you were brought into my life and I thank you for loving me.

Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself-no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are- completey. The good and the bad and make changes as you see fit, not because someone else wants you to be different

Saturday, August 8, 2009

I am so lucky!!

I'm currently in San Angelo with my bestie! We went to Katie's wedding shower today and had fun. I'm so excited about her wedding!!

Life is good otherwise...going back to CS tomorrow...:)

Anyways hope everything is going well in your life.

Love you!

Kassie

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

WHY!

I'm a wreck. I'm an emotional wreck.

I can't believe it's almost been 2 years and 11 months. This next month and a half is going to be an emotional rollercoaster for me. But with my friends and the Lord I'll be strong!

Ed was an amazing friend, son, and football player. Overall great guy, and it was awful that he was taken so soon from us but I know that he's in a much better place watching over us.

I miss him so much...I drive by the house he grew up in and it just makes me stop and think about how many times I saw him in the driveway playing basketball with his little brother or my sister and Abbey. He was great.

Just pray for his family as this next month and a half is going to be hard, because it's almost been 3 years.

Last night me and Caitlin were looking at yearbooks and I passed the page that they made for him after he died and I started tearing up. So hard. :/

So pray for his family and everyone who will be dealing with this anniversary.

I love you guys!

I love you and Miss you so much Ed!!!!

His,
Kassie


Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savouring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

:)

This is my big research paper I wrote for my Summer English class. It's over whether Division one college football should have a playoff system put in place or keep the BCS alive. In this essay I am pro-playoff system. But in the assignment before this essay I was pro-bcs, I'll post that essay later. I have a works cited page, and I used credible sources, just ask my teacher. Also, I think this is a badass essay. Not gonna lie. :)

Just like Everyone Else

Football is king in Texas, right? Every Texan would agree but many Americans would also contend that the sport is king in our nation from August until February. Whether it is high school, college, or professional; football is on the minds of many Americans in the fall. Currently in Football Bowl Subdivision (formally Division IA) College Football a National Champion is determined through polls culminating with a game pitting the top two seeds. Only 62 out of 117 schools go to a bowl game. This leaves out 55 schools and their programs (Dunnavant). Many fans believe that there needs to be a playoff, and their view is supported by some members of Congress. Representative Edolphus Towns from New York said a playoff system is ideal because, “you have to look at the small schools who go undefeated.” These school are forgotten about; but with a playoff system they would not be (Perez). The BCS needs to be ousted in the Football Bowl Championship Division and replaced with a playoff system.
With the current BCS system the conference games and even pre-season games matter a great deal to the teams rankings. An eight-team playoff system is a common proposal. Some ideas of this proposal include the following: Give the champions of each of the six major conferences that currently get automatic bids to the BCS—the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Big East, Pac-10, and SEC— each an automatic bid to the playoff. Let the conferences pick their champions any way they choose. If the Big 12 and SEC want to schedule conference-championship games, fine. If the Big Ten doesn't, that's fine too. Then add two at-large teams to the mix. The twist: These two teams cannot come from any of the six major conferences (Sullentrop). This sounds great because you get the major conferences involved but also two at-large teams come into play so schools like Notre Dome or someone from smaller conferences like the Mountain West could play. If a team can not win its conference why should they be National Champions? National Champions should be the best and if they can not win their conference they obviously are not the best. With an eight-team playoff every conference has a shot at the National Championship along with two other independent or teams without ties to a bigger conference. It would be a really simple formula to finding a National Champion.
The rankings used for the BCS are computer generated, based on four polls and as one study said “the BCS places restrictions on the inputs that can be used to develop team ratings” (West 1). Computers do not see how hard teams play and how much effort is put forth because a loss by one point is the same in some cases as a loss that is a difference of 20 or 30 points. How can a computer say that a team which is undefeated, such as Utah in the 2008 season, can not have a chance at contending for the National Championship? After its undefeated 2008 season the head coach for Utah, Kyle Whittingham said that when it came time to vote for the BCS rankings he was “voting [Utah] number one. End of story. I don’t know why we wouldn't deserve consideration. Somebody explain to me why we wouldn’t?” (Taylor). Utah ended up beating Alabama, a school which was constantly in the top 10 in the BCS for the 2008 season. How does a coach tell a team which is undefeated that it was not even close to a National Championship? The team which ended up winning the National Championship, the Florida Gators, even had one loss. Utah had ZERO. If there was a playoff system in place Utah could have had the chance to prove itself and maybe won a National Championship! We will ever know, because there is not a playoff system in place.
Money rules our world in almost every way imaginable. Creating a playoff system would generate many more dollars for schools and conferences involved than most think. The University of Texas has spent $150 million to remodel its football stadium. People say football is just a sport? Clearly it also is a business. Bill Byrne has been quoted numerous times saying that Texas A&M University makes on average $3 million dollars for each home game (Cessna). When a football team does well so does the school and its academics. In a study by the Journal of Economics and Sociology the researchers found that, “Donations, applications, and the academic quality of the student body are some of the mission outcomes thought to rise with the fortunes of the football team” (Smith 553). With a playoff system in place some studies estimate that as much as $400 million dollars could be generated for the schools involved in the playoff system (Dunnavant, “PigSkin”). Each conference would get a cut of the revenue from the playoffs which means every school would benefit from the monetary gain of a playoff system. This would create a better atmosphere for all involved because every sport would benefit. We see a playoff system in many other NCAA Collegiate Sports. Baseball, Softball, and Soccer all have playoffs. Most people would agree that a football team brings in more revenue than most other sports, and in the end creating a playoff system would help out the other sports as well. If the football team is doing well a fan could be more inclined to go to another sporting event because they feel good about the school. The whole well-being of a college could be improved if a football team does well in football season. When a school does well alumni are more likely to give back, which in turn helps the whole school, not just the athletic department. Right now the economy is in the slumps but in the last football season bowl attendance and TV ratings were up or steady from previous years (Brady). If attendance is not down, that means that revenue is not down, meaning everyone is still making some money. Adding a playoff system to the mix would, in some cases, create more money because the teams would be involved for longer than just one extra game. Some schools in some scenarios would play an extra seven games, meaning there would be seven more opportunities to make money, in turn helping everyone. A playoff system is economically beneficial as well as just plain smart.
The Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division IIA) football has a playoff but the Football Bowl Subdivision does not? That does not seem right. Smaller schools can prove themselves by playing in a playoff system to win a National Championship but a school like Utah can not? An undefeated team did not even get to prove that they were National Championship material because there was not a playoff system in place. It does not seem fair. The top 16 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision, which are figured out by a coach’s poll, are put in a playoff system. The tournament would feature four rounds with teams seeded one through 16. Just like the wildly popular and profitable NCAA men's basketball tournament, champions of all the conferences (all 11 of them) earn an automatic bid to the field. This would mean that every one has a shot at contending because if you can win your conference than you should be good enough to be in the playoffs to compete (Wetzel). There would then be five at-large bids for schools who deserve to compete but may not have won their conference therefore help level the playing field. Then just like in the NCAA Division 1A Basketball playoff, a one seed would probably play a team seeded as a 16. The playoff would continue like that. Ultimately in the end the team which could survive if the Football Championship Subdivision (Division II) can do a playoff, the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division 1) should be able to too.
Replacing the BCS and implementing a playoff system like the majority of the other collegiate sports have is much more beneficial. More money is generated, as well as more interest overall because a team could be playing longer than just one extra game at the end of the season. Also, it would provide a true National Championship because a team would have to play extra games to really prove themselves as well as win their conference to even be considered to play for the National Championship. More money would be involved, helping to create a better economy. Football has major impacts in the country in many aspects. Creating a playoff system would be a great benefit for athletes, fans, coaches, and America. All in all, inaugurating a playoff system for the Football Bowl Subdivision College Football would be much more beneficial to everyone involved than the BCS is now.
:)

I just wanna free fall for awhile...

Summer 2009 is coming to an end. Where did it go?! It seems like just the other day I was sitting in my Summer 1 class. Now it's almost the fall semester! HOLY CRAP!

I'm so excited about this weekend, it'll be my first weekend truly out of CS this whole summer. Crazy, isn't it? I can't believe Katie Bloom is getting married in a month, geeze we're growing up. I've known her for like half of my life, weird!

Caitlin and I's friendship is growing every day and it's so great! :) My parents relationship with me isn't fabulous but I'm praying about it.

Work is fabulous! I love my job so much, and the people I work with! I'm so blessed! :)

I'm realllllllllllly excited about the fall. I'm gonna be so busy, it's going to be great! :) First Breakaway is Sept 1 and I'm SO PUMPED!

It's Tuesday, and this week needs to speed up so I can leave towwwwwwwwwwwn! AHHH I'm so excited!! Roadtrips=pure <3

Things I'm super Pumped about:
SAN ANGELO. :)
Hannah Montana Movie coming out on DVD
Gig 'Em Week.
Selling First Yell Shirts :)
School.
Phi Lamb starting.
Breakaway.
Everyone coming back into town :)

AHHH This next month is going to be nothing shy of AMAZING! :)

Have a good day guys!

Love ya!

Kassie :)

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Lifeeeee!

Heya strangers!

Life is good for the most part. I am going to Angelo this next weekend! I'm super pumped!! Katie's wedding shower and just spending time with my best friend! :)

My mom is like mad at me, and whatever. Oh well! Life goes on, just gonna pray about it.

School starts so soon! I'm so pumped! :)

Bombers baseball is winding down.. :(

I've got to talk to a lot of the guy, and they are legit!

Well bed time! working all week before I go!

Love you!