I'm Back

So, I finally realized how to sign back in to my blog account! I apologize to everyone (especially my sisters) for being a lazy girl.

This semester has been a whirlwind already!  This is my last semester of college, and it is a weird sensation to almost be finished.  I am reluctantly back at college after a sweet time with my family while visiting Elizabeth and Mary Claire at their college.  Elizabeth was in Sing for Chi Omega and she performed like an angel.  We loved being able to support her.

Sweet sisters at Sing

My favorite part of the weekend was the impromptu meet and greet with friends of Mary Claire and Elizabeth.  We all went to ice cream and met some of the most fun and kindest people in the whole town.  I loved being able to put faces and personalities with the stories I have heard.  I was so proud to see the friends that the girls had made!

I am plunging into the great unknown after this semester.  I am hoping to do a discipleship program for a year at Pine Cove Camps called The Forge.  This program will provide me with an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord in a unique and wonderful environment.  I am mid-interview process with this, so any prayers would be appreciated!

Any other plans are completely up in the air.  I am trying to remaining calm in the midst of the transition, but I am comforted by the knowledge that the Lord has helped me thus far and that He will continue to guide my steps.  Luckily, all of my friends are going through this transition at the same time, and we are able to comfort and provide advice to each other and still have the time of our lives in our last semester!

Enjoy today!

Blessings

Happy February, everyone! Time is passing quickly around here and spring is on its way! Guess what that means... MY BIRTHDAY!! It will be my last year as a teenager, but let's not talk about that yet! :)

The latest development in Elizabeth's and my lives is my decision to join a sorority called Chi Omega. I am in the pledging process and will be initiated in March! I feel so blessed to be a part of the most amazing group of girls. My pledge class has a total of 86 girls in it and I have felt so welcomed and loved by each one, including the older girls as well.

(I love how similar we look here! Love you, E!)

I never saw myself as a "sorority girl" but have come to realize it is so much more than wearing Greek letters and throwing parties, or whatever my perception held. Especially at my school, Chi Omega is about creating real friendships and learning to love each other well as Christ loves us.

(Here is my wonderful pledge class at our 80's themed party!)

Even as I write this it fills me with joy to think about the beautiful lives I have come to interact with these past few weeks. Each girl has something unique and valuable to bring to the sorority and I truly feel like every person is a celebration of God's masterful creation. His plan is perfect; thankfully His plan put me in Chi Omega! I am learning so much and cannot wait to spend the next three and a half years with these women!

As usual, I can't seem to keep my pictures limited... Here are some moments I couldn't pass up!

This is my "twin" who went to high school with me, Ashley!

So blessed to continue our friendship as sisters.

This is my friend, Anna! She is incredibly caring and inclusive.

Mommy came to see my get my bid for Chi Omega! 

I have the most beautiful and selfless mother. 

My bestie Madi got a little excited about all our presents...!

We are so blessed!

So happy Monday and may the Lord give you peace and strength for today! He is so good. 

-Mary Claire Hill

Psalm 116: 5-7

"The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."

tfm: total Freshman Move

*(Thanks to Elizabeth for inspiring me to write again!)*

Y'all, I feel like such a baby! I'm officially a college student-woot woot-and in the throws of my first college finals. I'm just counting the days until I can be home and sleep!

(R to L: Madi, Bliss, Elizabeth, and Me)

I knew a little of what I was getting into after seeing all the girls go through their first year of college; I honestly think I was more prepared than most freshmen. I have definitely tripped up the stairs, dropped my books, and gotten lost in true freshmen style, but I have been surprised by how normal it all feels. Also, it has been so great to have Elizabeth here with me! Love my sissy!

The Lord has blessed me greatly. I cannot say that enough. Some of my best friends live on my hall in the dorm and are always there to strengthen and encourage me. I just keep hearing this phrase over and over in my head: "Ponder anew what the Almighty can do." His strength is apparent every single day. I'm so thankful that He reminds me how precious life is when I so easily get distracted. 

(Friends at a football game!)

(WARNING: Soap box ahead...) 

I've just been thinking lately of how fast time goes. Every day is incredible. Every day is so very human that it hurts sometimes. Life is predictably spontaneous; it's irrationally logical. It's a paradox. Life is full of "ifs" and "maybes" and "hopes." I've learned that life is full of longings. I long for the future--my hopes of what might come. I long for the past--the warmth and security of home. I long for people, I long for places, I long for life. I live it every day yet some kind of vivacity always seems just around the corner or just passed by. The position that we are in right at this exact moment in time will never occur again. You will never get this second back. You are never the same person, never in the same state, never the same at all. Yet we spend these precious seconds as we are right now longing. How sad! Every moment we breathe is a paradox of mourning and rejoicing. It's a breath of heaven and hell- of life and death-all at once. And what we choose to do, and say, and think, and be in this very millisecond can change the course of history. There is power in every moment; there is life in every breath if we so choose. 

I feel like this time in my life is critical to who I'm going to be. As I enter into this determining time, which was always my future, I'm excited to breathe life in every moment. I can't wait to experience what's ahead of me! This first semester has already flown by. Here's to what's next!

Next is a rather lengthy look at what my first semester has looked like! 

Sorry I went a little picture crazy...Enjoy!

(Mary Catherine, my roommate, with power tools in the dorm...)

 (One of my best friends who's in high school visited!)

(Freshman Formal with Grantham)

(Some of my blessings!)

(Game day bows from Madi's mom!)

 (Dressed to impress with my friend Luke)

 (The wonderful fans for my intramural flag football team. They were half the fun!)

(Road tripping...)

Can't wait to be on the road to home in less than a week! I am thankful for every moment of my college experience and am excited for Christmas! 

Merry Christmas!

~Mary Claire

Psalm 103:2

"With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been."

Updates

Well time sure flies when you're in the middle of college!  We four would know, because ALL OF US ARE IN COLLEGE NOW.  That's right, even our youngest sister has made it to the big leagues.  On that note, a HUGE thank you goes to our parents for supporting us thus far in a million different ways!  We are four lucky girls to have parents like ours.
This year I changed schools and am with MC, while Sarah and Anna are holding down the forts at their schools.  Goodness we miss each other!  Thanks to technology we have been able to keep up pretty well; here is a picture from the most ridiculous of skype/oovoo/chat sessions...

I would say that our semesters have been going well.  God has been providing for us and teaching us so much as we grow up!  Mom and Dad have been adjusting to the life of empty nesters which has turned out to be a life of road trips this fall...they are such troopers!  They have visited us all more than once and have logged I don't know how many hours in the car driving.  Also, Anna has visited Mary Claire and I, which has almost won her the title of Best Twin.  (I'm still in the running, so don't get too comfortable, Anna.)

Here is a picture of Anna, Mom, and Dad's visit!

I have had a wonderful semester full of sorority things and my new choir!  I have loved being able to SING again!  I am so thankful for this semester and how God has provided me with amazing roommates, friends, and classes.  

Roommates!

Choir friends!

Old and new friends two-stepping...it's a huge deal in Texas, y'all.

Sorority sisters!

I am seriously so blessed.  Throughout all of the changes in my life my family has been supportive and loving.   One of the highlights of my semester was Thanksgiving break when the whole family was together for the first time since August!  There really is nothing better than spending time together.  We were in in heaven, or at least Tucker was...  

Sorry this post was a little picture-heavy, it is finals week and this girl is a little weary of writing.  But thinking about my family has been a great study break!  The Christmas countdown has begun, people of the world...get ready for a fantastic Christmas vacation!  Pictures to come...! :)

Elizabeth

Gatherings

Well hello friends!  Let's pick up where we left off, shall we?  Somehow in the whirlwind that has been my second semester of college we four sisters found ourselves back at home.  All of us, at the same time.  I will never take that for granted again!  It was such a relief just to be with all of my family members.  I come to learn more and more how priceless the encouragement of family is.

We were home for Easter weekend and I know I enjoyed every minute of it!  We had lunch with our extended family and had our traditional Easter egg hunt, which the younger three sisters still participate in.  After a rousing game of Dirty Easter Bunny (we've just recently started playing the gift-stealing game at our holiday gatherings) we waved our extended family goodbye and dyed eggs with just us 6.

I love the smell of vinegar, I think it's because I love dying Easter eggs so much! 

We combined efforts this year and had a joint carton, which worked a lot better for those of us who are a little more meticulous about our egg art. (yours truly)

We went to our Easter Sunday service and then returned home to open our Easter baskets, which were especially well-stocked this year!  I even got a Starburst jelly bean dispenser, which is the best Easter present I have ever received!!  We looked through our baskets on our stairs, which, other than the front porch, is our traditional spot for some reason.  Don't ask me why. 

We had lunch with my dad's side of the family and then had a photo shoot, 

because it seems like I can never find a good picture of us four.  Here you go, with a special thanks to M and D, our faithful photographers!

Of course we had to get Tucker in one, which is easier said than done.  She was camera-shy that day.  

The time at home for Easter was short and sweet, and was the perfect interruption for a busy semester.

Sarah and I were extra busy this semester because we spent most of it preparing for Variety Show, our school's dancing/acting/singing competition.  We practiced almost every day from February to April and I loved it.  It felt great to get back into the swing of learning choreography and figuring out costumes and characters.  Our sorority's theme was The Lion King and Sarah and I got to be lions.  We had so much fun dancing together, and our hard work paid off when our sorority won!   Dad even came up to watch us which was so wonderful.  Here are some pictures of our crazy costumes, hair, and makeup!

 We did each others' makeup, which looked especially scary mid-application!

 Finished!

Here's a close-up of our lion group during the show!

The morning after the show Sarah, Daddy, Karl, and I drove back home to see Mary Claire perform in Hello, Dolly at our high school.  Anna came, too!  Even now I still have songs stuck in my head from it; it was incredible!  I was SO proud of Mary Claire, she was a beautiful Ms. Irene Malloy.  She acted and sang her part perfectly.  

Only a few more weeks are left of school and I can't believe it.  I'm focusing on finishing strong and then speeding home to spend some summer days with my family!  Here's to more memories and blog posts! :)

-E

Carpe Diem

Hey, y'all!

Sorry for the lack of posts; these little ladies have been busy! We had sorority initiations, weekend roadtrips, Homecomings, formals, and a Valentine's Day!

I'll let the others tell about their events, I just want to give a little update on things back at the ranch! Deb Deb and Tom Tom have been parenting this little lonely one by herself again. We miss those girls. :) But we have been going going going here too!

Homecoming: I had my last Homecoming as a student! Ah!! I can't really believe it myself. It was bittersweet; it's just another "last" for my Senior year.

Our theme was "Holly Jolly Homecoming" and our senior hall was 4th of July!

We were proud:

^^There's my friend Anna! :)

My favorite part of the week was when my Senior class set off sparklers in our cafeteria. Yes. INSIDE. It was neither allowed nor prohibited by the administration... The smoke alarms did not go off! Which was good but also kind of scary. It was pretty smoky!

Next is Formal! My high school has a Winter Semi-formal dance the week after Homecoming...yet another "last"! It was a good time:

That's me on the left with my friends Katie and TA!

THEN I HAD A SNOW DAY!!!!

I shouldn't be so excited; there wasn't actually any snow. Yet, the threat was enough for our FAVORITE head of school to cancel school! The early Valentine's Day present was much needed. Daddy woke me up with the news. I was so happy that I hugged him! Then my mommy woke me up with Chik-fil-A! IT WAS A GREAT DAY. :)

Also on this best day ever, I baked. Cupcakes and cookies to be specific. The cupcakes were nothing special, but the cookie recipe I must share.

This is an old stand-by for our family. We call them "Drop Cookies" because you drop them onto wax paper to cool. Apparently, most people know them as "No-Bake" cookies. Daddy doesn't like them, so that always means more for the rest of us! ;) You can tell this recipe is well-loved:

RECIPE:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 stick butter

2 1/2 TBSP. cocoa

Mix together on the stove top in a sauce pan and let it boil for 4min. on medium high heat. Take off the heat and add these ingredients quickly:

2 1/2 cups Quick Minute Oats

2 tsp. vanilla

(and an optional 1/2 to 1/3 cups peanut butter that I usually leave out)

Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. They will harden with time.

Then eat them!! They are especially yummy warm. Do not be deterred by the copious amounts of sugar and butter. You only live once. ;)

I hope you are enjoying your February. Happy belated Valentine's Day!

~Mary Claire

Traditionnn...Tradition!

   Welcome to 2012, everyone!  Even though Christmas is over, I thought it would be nice to share a few of our Christmas traditions.   Two of our favorites are decorating the tree and making pretzels for our neighbors.
   First of all, we get a REAL tree.  This is very important to us... we pick it out together and it always makes the house instantly turn Christmasy when we haul it into the house and the pine-needle smell fills the living room.  We use a homemade felt tree skirt and our collection of ornaments.  Atop the tree is perched an angel that Mama and Daddy bought in Maine before any of us were born!  We put on Christmas music and decorate the tree.
   Every girl goes into her own decorating zone.  Sarah puts her favorites and the prettiest ones on the tree, and gets done pretty quickly.  Anna wants to get as many ornaments hung as possible and be done with it as quickly as possible.  I take my time and am in my own little world of remembering.  I put mine all over the tree, making sure each part is decorated.  Mary Claire is systematic and puts on her favorites but doesn't waste time.  She knows when to stop and is usually finished first, or second to Anna.  Mama and Daddy love to watch and give suggestions or join in on the reminiscing.  What I love about our tree is that every ornament has a story.

Dancing with Tucker!

Never too old to dance on Daddy's feet.

Daddy playing the Hershey kisses bells.

Already finished and relaxing, of course. 

Anna and my first Christmas!  And Sarah's is the Precious Moments one to the left.

    Now that the tree's all decorated, on to our next tradition...white-chocolate-pretzel-making!  Every year we make white-chocolate-covered pretzels for our neighbors and deliver them to everyone on our street.  We have been told that our neighbors enjoy them and we enjoy the time spent making them!  By now we are a well-oiled pretzel-making machine.

Every girl takes a corner of the wax paper and we work until there is no room or pretzels left!

Mama supervises and Daddy eats.

The finished product!  These go into bags that we hand-decorate.

   Usually Mama drives us down the street and we all ride in the trunk and hop out at each house.  This year Anna manned the wheel and we brought Tucker to escort us.  We persevered through the cold (it was Christmas Eve) and left surprises on our nieghbors' porches.  A few days later we ran into one of our neighbors.  She thanked us for the pretzels and said that her husband had been afraid that we had outgrown the tradition.  We answered, "Of course not!"  It takes effort and planning to get these traditions done (especially now that 3/4 of the sisters are at college), but they are important and we enjoy them year after year!  Here's to another year of old and new traditions!