last friday night was my last night playing in a lady cards uniform.
I said goodbye to number thirty two.
and I watched the last four years I spent in that uniform flash in my mind as I stood on the foul line with 15 seconds left in the game and I looked up in the stands at a very important fan of mine.
this is him.
and this is what was going through my mind.
my dad.
you see ever since I was like, well old enough to walk my dad has pushed me do five very important things...
1. be confident.
never let anyone tell you you are not good enough. never let them tell you that you cant do something. and always have pride in the fact that God blessed you with talent and although some people may be intimidated by your confidence you will show others the blessing of knowing who you are and being okay with that.
2. be committed.
never let something stand in the way of finishing something you have set out to do. even if its harder than you expected if its Gods will it will be worth it no matter what the obstacle.
3. be competitive.
have a drive inside of you like no other. always have a strong desire to succeed and do the best you can do.
4. be compassionate.
even when others are mean and nasty to you... love them. no matter how they treat you show them Gods love through your reactions.
and
5. dream big.
never limit the possibilities. because with God they are limitless.
always have faith that God will do great things through you.
and no matter what KNOW that whatever it is God has for you in this life... He will shape it into what you dream for.
and as strange as this may seem... I have used every one of these principals in this simple little game of throwing a round leather ball into a round metal hoop.
had I not known the things he and my mom have taught me.. I would not have been near as successful as a basketball player and of course not as successful in life.
basketball for me is over... well at least in this uniform.
but it has taught me more lessons than I ever expected it to.
and thats what I was thinking as I glanced at him in the third round playoff game, on the foul line, down by ten, fifteen seconds left, with tears in my eyes.
I looked at him because I needed to be reminded of all the good that basketball has done for me... and not just focus on the fact that it was coming to a close.
and as I saw the smallest of tears come to his eyes... I knew that he was proud to be my daddy..
not because I was a good basketball player but because I had learned these lessons and done my best to apply them to my life.
so I was looking through all my posts.
and well I have had individual posts about all my closest friends, except one.
so this is totally dedicated to sarah.
1. she is the best story teller I know.
like honestly she always has something to tell me, and its always very very interesting.
2. <----- thats her favorite number.
3. lately she has made some tough decisions.
and I am beyond proud of her for standing up for herself and what she believed in.
4. we are often banned from each other in yearbook because we dont accomplish much yearbook stuff when we are together.
6. she is one of the most honest people I know.
she will tell you what you need to hear, even if its not what you want to hear.
7. she is a control freak. a lot like me.
but she gets things done.
and I like that in people.
8. she has a slight obsession with the color yellow, superman, victorian print, cardigans, converses, scarfs, breakfast, and salt.
(:
9. she is absolutely beautiful.
like beyond beautiful.
even with her abnormal ear.
10. we are now baseball game, workout, and college visit buddies.
as of lately at least.
11. she loves God.
and she shows it in her everyday life.
she is a fabulous reminder of how His love shines through people.
I wish you all knew this girl like I do.
and I wish that you all find friends as true as she is.
I love you sarah(:
and when this stupid graduation things separates us...
I will miss you like crazy.
sunday night church services are my absolute favorite.
everyone there is there because they want to be there.. not because its sunday morning and everyone they know is going to be at church so they feel required to attend.
but sunday nights its your family. your church family.
sunday nights are all about fellowship, worship, and of course preaching.
I am going to be completely honest with you all and tell you that for a long time I wasnt excited about going to church at all.
I mean I didnt dread it or anything but I just wasnt excited about it.
well lately that has all changed...
I think its because I have completely given all my stress, worries, and successes over to God. and He has taken them and made me more like Him.
well tonight at church our assistant pastor preached due to the fact that our regular pastor is in iraq on a missions trip. yes you read correctly, iraq.
but anyways, he was preaching on witnessing.
and well this hit me hard.
I have to admit I have done a terrible job of telling people about Jesus.
and tonight pastor vernon encouraged everyone to witness more, although it felt like he was talking directly to me.
he also encouraged us to witness in unique ways.
to find ways to talk to people you might not be able to face to face.
so.
I am going to do a little witnessing right here on blogger.
1. I want everyone out there to know that you are a sinner.
everyone is... no one is perfect. everybody makes mistakes.
romans 3.23-
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
2. because we are all sinners we are going to a place called hell.
its real.
and the devil wants nothing more than for us to spend eternity there with him.
he doesnt want to be alone... and he knows that we all will be there with him.
romans 6.23-
For the wages of sin is death....
3. but... that same God that we sin against and dissapoint everyday loves you more than you can even imagine.
actually, He loves you so much that He sent his son Jesus to die for you.
that is a lot of love if you ask me.
john 3.16-
for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
His love isnt the shallow kind of love in so many of our worldly relationships.
let me tell you a little more about His death. just so you can see a little more clearly how much love He has.
it started when Jesus was praying in the garden. He prayed to the point of where he was sweating blood. which has been proven to be completely physically possible. when someone is at the point of sheer exhaustion.
He was praying that if there was any other way to save the world from burning in hell, that God would allow it. but He also said not my will but thine.
later He was arrested, mocked, beaten, and spat upon.
the next day He went on trial. the people found Him guilty even though he had commited no crime. He had never sinned. He had never even thought about sinning.
now comes the torture and the crucifixion.
this is an explanation from an actual doctor as to what happened that day..
listen to this while you read.
"Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.
After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" is nailed in place."
-dr. c. truman davis.
thats what Jesus went through for you and for me.
thats how much He loves you.
4. but just Him dying is not enough.
three days later He rose from the dead.
and stole the keys of death so that we could forever be with Him in heaven.
He loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him.
all you have to do is realize your need for a Saviour and ask Him to forgive you and save you.
He wont turn you down, no matter what you have done.
He will take away your sin and change your life completely.
eternity with someone who loves you more than anyone on earth is just a prayer away.
basketball.
pretty much my life for the past... ehhh... well since forever.
last tuesday though was probably the most emotional of all the basketball games I have ever played.
it was senior night.
my last game in that white 32 jersey.
my last game in that red and white gym that I have made so many memories in.
four years ago.
I was just a freshman.. watching brooke and dae on there senior night.
and now.. its me.
along with these girls.
kitten (the bestie). sarah. and llaaa julie(:
basketball has always been super important to me.
I love it. love love love love love it.
its like a high.
its something that for me I dont have to put pressure on myself.
I just do it.. now granted I used to put WAYYY to much pressure on myself.
but now, I do it because I love to.
I could go on and on about all the awesome experiences basketball has brought me.
but... I am sure I would bore you.
and since a picture is worth a thousand words...
here are a bunch of pictures.
at carolina. with the stealers.
goodbye and thank you coach smith.
the best friend.
bittersweet.
and some tears.
early morning shoot arounds.
cameron crazy(:
.
playing
countless camps.
sleepless nights.
regional finalists.
PUBLIC state champs(:
more tears.
the people who inspire me.
my seniors.
starters.
traditions.
I had just left with a torn acl.
but thats my team.
hall of famers(:
carlolina.
more stealers.
ohh happy day.
locker room.
kitten.
new coach.
junior year.
a little bit of team bonding.
and a whole lot of food(:
atlanta.
traveling around the country.
with some awesome girls.
a huge thanks to
my mom and dad.
you two inspire me to be great.
and to play harder than anyone else on the court.
you are also pretty good coaches.
i love you.
coach smith.
you yelled at me more times than I count.
but thanks for believing in the new little freshman.
coach gunter.
thanks for stepping in when we needed you.
you have done a fabulous job.
coach grant.
thanks for showing me what genuinely caring about your girls is like.
