charlotte :: clarity & courage

i've written about my board of directors (affectionately known as my BODs) on here before, but i can't express enough just how important they are to me. they're some of the first ones to know my life details ranging from the mildly important to the life changing. they're my sounding board and my voices of reason and wisdom. they know how to question my motives and then encourage and build me up by speaking my love languages loud and clear. they stand with me to celebrate and challenge me when i need it.

needless to say, i absolutely love sharing my life with them. but for the sake of your time and my desire to delay the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, i'll just suffice it to say that, individually and collectively, they are one of the biggest blessings in my life.

so what's my point?

well, once again my BODs have pulled through in their beyond awesome ways. my life is about to get even more crazy awesome than usual and these men and women are standing by my side (not literally...don't go thinking that i'm about to announce an engagement. i'd need a man first.). however, my heart is bursting with anticipation and excitement over what the Lord is doing. God is proving Himself faithful once again and proving that my plans are mediocre at best, while His are abounding in grace.

i've been praying for both clarity and courage over the last 5 months. clarity to know what the Lord wants for me and courage to act in faith once i know. that being said, i'm moving to back to the tar heel state in the spring when my lease runs out down here. charlotte to be exact.

[i made that sound neat and tidy, but, honestly, there's more uncertainty than certainty. it's pretty much how the Lord works in my life, so i shouldn't be surprised at this point.]

i don't have a job lined up and i don't know where i'll live...but this territory is all too familiar for me as i step out in faith trusting the Lord to provide. i know He's faithful to provide and He's going before me. the Lord is doing something big. i'm not entirely sure what yet, but He's working. and i'm hopeful.

i'm patiently waiting and seeking. and i'm faithfully calling & texting my BODs for moral support on the days when i question the sanity of this whole shindig. thanks to each of you (and also mom, pops, & the sis) for your support and encouragement during yet another crazy phase of life for me. i am one grateful girl.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

gone to carolina

part of my weekend adventure in north carolina consisted of time in chapel hill, another one of my many homes. it has been a year since i was there and quite frankly, that's too long. after church on sunday, the sis drove me over to the hill and we snagged her boyfriend (jamale) for a trip out to maple view farm.

i realize i'm letting the cat out of the bag on this one, but it is seriously one of the best kept secrets in the chapel hill area. you need to go. awesome ice cream. rocking chairs on the front porch. open fields with cows for miles. glass bottled milk. it's almost like you step back in time...or at least forget that you're in college and have work to do.

i loved sneaking away for a few hours when i was at carolina and i try to go back each time i visit. naturally, sis and the boyfriend didn't put up much of a fight despite the fact that it was a warm 53 degrees and drizzling. ha! enjoy the picture recap.

because everything is better in carolina blue...even trash can liners

carolina crunch...my obvious flavor of choice

the boyfriend double fisting while the sis put her jacket on

i love the sis

well, aren't they cute?

after we warmed back up in the car, we dropped jamale off at his apt to head to work and the sis dropped me off at the davis' to spend the rest of the weekend with them. sadly, i was so excited to see them again (it's been 3? years), that i didn't take a single picture. major fail. thus, no more pics from the trip. but, i will tell you that the oldest is now a solid 12" taller if not more than the last time i saw him. sheesh! and the other two really couldn't be any sassier and cuter if they tried. i love that family and am grateful that they continue to welcome me into their home and their lives.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

genius status

after 20+ years of trying (and failing), i'm officially a genius. at least according to cracker barrel. and i have a witness to prove it. while i was visiting the sis this past weekend, mom and pops treated us to breakfast (courtesy of the plastic) and we went straight to cracker barrel. no hesitation. thus, my chance to become a genius once again stared me in the face.

i couldn't tell you how i did it and i'm sure i couldn't do it again, but i did it once and that's all that matters. genius status officially achieved. my celebration? a good southern style breakfast complete with grits (butter and sugar), bacon and other yummy goodness.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a novel type day

yesterday felt like a day in the life of a nicholas sparks novel character. seriously. i'm in his neck of the woods (eastern nc) for the weekend. ironically, this is the same weekend he's hosting a benefit in nearby new bern, nc. too bad i wasn't invited.

yesterday, the sis and i drove over to washington, nc. it's the type of small town (complete with a town square) that plays host to almost all, if not all, of nicky's books.  the sis and i took a nice little walk along the pamlico sound and found a swinging bench by the water to enjoy for a bit. unfortunately, i didn't think to snap a pic of this awesome little bench, but let me assure you that it's straight out of one of his books. or at least good material for one.

i did, however, snap a few pics of the boardwalk and one of our winged friends. there were gaggles of seagulls flying overhead, but thankfully no "gifts" if you know what i mean.

i'm pretty sure if i lived here, i'd make the trip over to washington and the sound at least once or twice a month. it's a different world over there, and it's calming. i think i fell in love, which only means i'll have to come back.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

an object in motion

i'm an object in motion. and i'll be staying in motion for a while. my life is once again defined by boxes, labels, tape guns, and suitcases. besides working and coaching (and the occasional workout), my life is consumed by packing. whether it's packing up my house to move across the bridge to st. petersburg or packing a suitcase for one of the crazy adventures waiting around the corner...i pack. between now and may 26th, here's what i have ahead of me:

kansas city, mo :: volleyball

greenville, nc :: see the sis

chapel hill, nc :: visiting the Davis fam again

moving to st. pete :: mom's coming to help!

new orleans, la :: Kat's wedding

st. augustine, fl :: beach time with Ginny and fam

orlando, fl :: volleyball

yeah, i may just not unpack until June. boxes...yes. suitcases...we shall see. i'm about to be on a whirlwind of a rollercoaster, but i'm so excited for each thing on that list that i can hardly contain myself.

back to the boxes...

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

my favorite

after spending almost two weeks with my sister (12 days), i'm further convinced that she's my favorite person on the planet. she just gets me and it's effortless to be around her. no stress. no pressure. no expectations. we can just be. and enjoy. and laugh. and live. and love.


i'm going to start persuading now, but i think she should move to Tampa once she graduates from ECU and come do life with me down here. she's always loved the beach more than me anyway. it's only right for her to come down here for more than a visit. (ahem...)


that being said, her visit was fabulous. she came down a few days before the cruise and stayed an extra night afterwards and it was much needed sister time. again, she's my favorite person on the planet. here are just a few reasons why. (mom, please don't cry.)

1. when i left her a fun list of organizational projects to keep her occupied while i was at work, she was excited.
2. she organized my earring tree just like i would have. exactly. as in, our brains think identically.
3. she always makes me laugh....generally after testing my patience, but she always gets me to laugh about it
4. she organized my DVDs in alphabetical order. SHE. IS. THE. BOMB.
5. she loves havarti and crackers as much (if not more) than i do
6. homegirl loves a good movie night on the couch with comfy pillows
7. she lets me steal the covers in the middle of the night and remembers to tell me what i said in my sleep the next morning
8. she will serve your socks off. no questions asked. every single time. i used to abuse this quality in her. now i try to emulate it.
9. she appreciates the simple pleasures in life. no need for expensive things. with her, the simpler the better. i couldn't agree more.

i love you sis and i wish you never had to leave Tampa again. come visit soon. hint hint.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a thousand words

well, since pictures are worth a thousand words and i'm low on time these days, i figured a photo blog to recap my easter weekend in chapel hill would be a fabulous option. the wedding was beautiful. dave owens knows how to throw a party. time with teammates was priceless and hysterically awesome. nothing less than expected honestly. time with sis was a double bonus (and the boyfriend of course). hers, not mine. don't go starting rumors. gallavanting around chapel hill and hitting all my old faves was triple bonus. enjoy the pics to recap!

fun pic with Dayna before heading on to the airport.

Carolina Volleyball past and present with Coach.

Alan was waaaay too nice on this.

gorgeous bride and teammates.

typical.

 

another shot with Coach before leaving.

sis and the boyfriend.

 had to swing by FSPP for lunch. yum!!!!

walking down Stadium to the game.

game time vs. Miami

baseball at Bosh. please note Christie in the background.

YoPo after the game. delish!!

look who flew back from Finland....VON!!!

it's true, i love LP.

4 years with these two was not enough. ram it!!

Easter Sunday sis pic.

they're quite the pair.

chapel hill: you are too good to me. i'll be back to visit soon. i just can't say no.


bekah


live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

twenty one

today is an important day. twenty-one years ago, someone very special rocked my world by making her grand entrance. she's my best friend. she's a laugher. a lover. a dreamer. an inspirer. an athlete. an encourager. a talker. a listener. a playmate. a confidant. a motivator. a jokester. a leader. a crier. and arguably the world's best sis.


Anna.


quite honestly, i don't deserve a sister like her. i was mean growing up. still am. manipulative, controlling, and just plain mean. i always promised her candy if she would do my chores, let me have her favorite toy, etc. and i have yet to deliver on that promise. i probably owe her a lifetime supply of jelly bellies or ferrero rocher chocolates. i excluded her and purposely antagonized her. yet she still loved and adored me like any little sister would. and i abused that love and adoration like any big sister would. thankfully, i've matured since then and seen the error in my ways.


my sis has so much to offer. not just to me and our friendship, but to everyone she encounters. i've never met anyone with a bigger heart than her. compassion oozes from her pores. homegirl has the gift of mercy. i do not. she'll cry with you. i'll tell you to man up and deal with it.


i've learned a few things from her over the years, like how valued you can make someone feel by sending a simple note or unexpected gift just to remind them how much you care. she's way more thoughtful than me, but i'm taking notes and learning from one of the best.


she always believes the best in people. she trusts them. i don't naturally trust people. especially not strangers. but she does. she sees their inner beauty and believes the best. every time. i'm learning to be a little more like her in that department without being stupid and getting myself into trouble.


my sis is someone i know will always be in my corner. she'll always be my #1 fan and my biggest supporter. she always has been. she looks up to me (i still have her by an inch or so) and follows my lead. it's great accountability. i'm proud of the decisions she makes and the way she passionately pursues her dreams. i'm inspired by her humility and the tender way she treats everyone she encounters. i'm honored to be part of her life each day.


so sis, here's to you and your fabulous self. i love you more than you know!!


beks

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.