Whirlwind Tour Down 20/59

People. I think I spent more time in my car in the past 48 hours than I did on land. It was all for great things though. Promise.

Sunday, I woke up 45 minutes later than I had planned and booked it to Jackson for my sweet Julie's wedding. And yes, I still got there with 22 minutes to spare, in one piece and without a speeding ticket. Folks, I've learned my lesson about the speeding. Seven tickets later. At least, I think that's the count.
Anyhoo.

Yes. You heard me right. Julie got married on a Sunday. And it was fantastic. It was at the Fairview Inn in Jackson and it was the most glorious outside wedding I've ever been to or had the privilege to be a part of. It was out on the patio where the gazebo was and the area was shaded just enough and the wind blew every so lightly that it was not hellaciously (I think I just made that word up) hot like we thought we would all be in our own little black dresses. Yes, you heard me again. No expensive bridesmaid dress to buy. Just told up all to go buy a black dress, gave us a few parameters, and sent us on our way.
I love low-maintenance friends!

Julie's dress was perfectly classic and fit her style and personality so well. Tall and slender with the classic birdcage veil to match.

It was a great ceremony and the Lord was definitely glorified through it. There's no doubt about that.

The best thing about it though, was that I got to see my friends! 

From left to right: Casey, Me, Jules and Hollye

Great food, great friends, great fun.

Although I somewhat got the day off, I still had to work on Sunday as well. My softball team was back in Birmingham playing their final conference game and my track team was at the conference championships so I had some major writing looming in the distance for me for the night.

FBC Jackson's choir, of which my mom is in, was recording a CD and DVD Sunday night so I decided to head on over and enjoy some great music all the while praising the Lord. And let me tell you, I did not regret that decision one bit. It was AMAZING! 

However, after I left the Julie and Marshall's reception, I stopped by the Walgreen's to change clothes because I didn't think about changing clothes at the reception. It just didn't cross my mind.

After I changed, I headed down the street to church and with computer in tow, I snuck up to the rafters and set up my own little personal work station. I wrote my softball story as it couldn't be put off any longer. Those folks needed to know about the big win. So I'd write a paragraph, stand and sing, and then write another paragraph and the stand and sing. 

And y'all, that was the most PERFECT place to watch that service. Because our sanctuary is so enormously massive, it's kind of fun to go sit at the very top and watch instead of sitting in our front section eighth row seats like usual. 

I saw people praising the Lord in ways I didn't know FBCJ knew how to praise the Lord. It was so neat. Plus, up there, you really do feel closer than the Lord. And you know what, I had no inhibitions about standing up and raising my hands and clapping like I do in my church here in Birmingham. It's a such a great worship experience. 

And I got finished with my work just in time to fully enjoy Derek singing "I'm Amazed." Y'all, that man just makes my want to cry every time he opens his mouth. 

So after leaving church, I went home and got back to business as usual, only saddened to find out that my track team didn't do as well as I had hoped. 

I got up Monday morning and headed back to Birmingham to get to work by noon only to turn around and leave at 2 p.m., just in time to start getting ready for the SAMSPY's. It's Samford's version of the ESPY's and it was the first edition. And it was fabulous. We handed out 23 awards and I couldn't have been more proud of all of our award winners. They were completely deserving. 

I wish there had been more though.

If I could've handed out my own awards, I would've. But nevertheless, there is next year. 

It was so exciting to see how much the student-athletes enjoyed it and how excited they are about next year even now. 

Here are few pics from the night.

Here are my precious, beautiful volleyball captains on the red carpet (or the step and repeat, as the professionals call it) after accepting their award for Most Outstanding Team (and y'all? They for real deserved it. 28-5. Regular-season division champs!)

This is what the awards looked like. They are really cool.

And then me and my girls - Jessica, Lauren and Hollie (Yay! Hollie is feeling better! She doesn't have the Swine Flu, only Walking Pneumonia!)

To see more photos from the inaugural SAMSPY's go here and here.

So, needless to say, I did not want to go back to work today for a WHOLE day. I have serious Spring Fever. And it's not just because the weather is rockin' my socks off right now and all I want to do is be outside. I'm am totally just...over...work right now. I really just don't care.

I know that sounds bad. But ya know what? It totally gets me through the day. Instead of stressing, I just say, "The heck with it," and do what I can do at the moment. 

I am so ready for May 12th. That is when softball is over with. For good. Hopefully. 

Now that my marathon post is done, I think I will go sleep now.