Northwest Swim/Dive ~Senior Night~

    So today I got to go to a few of my friends swim/dive team Senior night. Triston, Lane, and Matt, plus all of the NorthWest team. Had a little trouble getting out of my drive way due to being boxed in, yet luckily I made it in time. They started with the Diving first this time which was a little different, but from my perspective Triston did really well. Then the swimming started Northwest was great. I was also able to test out and play with my new camera lens, and I can honestly say that it helped me take some great pictures. In the middle of the swimming events they celebrated all the seniors, which I think is a good tradition, they deserved to be celebrated. 

    After I was invited to go with them to eat (FYI this thing lasted from 4:30pm-9:00pm, so I knew they had to be exhausted), so we all went to Chick Fil A.   It was honestly enjoyable how inviting they all were, it was nice to get out of the house and be around people ha. I am very thankful for the friends I have, and how they always try to let me be apart of their lives. GO BRUINS !!!!

Triston Smith

Lane Bramblett

Matt Pipkin

Scapegoat

    Sometimes something bad happens, and we blame that situation for the cause of an even greater problem approaching. We spend all our time trying not to obsess over it, while at the same time hurting because of it. We think if we can fix this, find this, or even end this that everything will be ok. Sometimes things work out in our favor, and the minor problem gets resolved, and for a brief moment were ecstatic.

    But then reality comes crashing down on us. We're still left with the larger problem, fixing the smaller one we learn had no real effect, it was just a way we tried to cope. Something to take our minds off the thing we desperately want to avoid. Nothing more than a scapegoat we created. Now we're back to where we started, but hope has been diminished greatly, because for awhile we believed that if we could do a minor task, it would somehow fix the impossible. 

     We hold on tightly to what we have won, as we brace ourselves for what we are about to lose. 

Negative emotions

    I think we all have moments where we want to give in to our negative emotions, jealousy, envy, greed, hate. Usually it's when we are hurting, when we are most vulnerable, when were being attacked. We want to retaliate, and lash out. We know what's right but we simply wanna choose the easy way, revenge, have the last word.

    Alas if we fast forward and see what plays out if we choose to do so, what do we end up with? Usually we have a brief satisfaction, but ultimately we end up with regret (at least if there is even the smallest flicker of light in your heart).

    It's easy to give in, but it's also addictive and gets easier each time. People think that if they choose it once they can return to their picture perfect facade. But like any addiction one time is all it takes. And i'd wager getting addicted to these emotions can destroy you in so many worse ways.  

Like a switch

    Do you ever get so worked up sometimes, but have something that can come waltzing by and instantly calm you, or help you tone down almost like someone turns off a switch? Maybe it is a memory, and it flashes in front of your eyes when your worked up, and maybe you want to prevent something similar from happening. It could also be a person, where when they say something or appear, you lose all your resolve. Just their presence influences you (in a good way).

    I think we all have something, or someone like that. Depending on how strong the influence is, determines just how things turn out. Yet I think it's a good thing to have, something that helps keep you grounded. Just something that pulls you back, and makes you ask "is this really what you wanna do"? I know personally I have someone like that however, I doubt they know it lol (and that's ok too).

Sometimes we just wonder...

    I think the question we all get on our minds at one point or another is "what about me?". Now I don't mean in a selfish way I mean like when we are left alone, and we feel abandoned, scared, or even just plain lonely. Were we not good enough, could we have tried harder, did they ever truly care? It can seem like it was so easy for people to move on with their lives at times, and even though the question is burning in the back of our brains "what about me?" we don't voice it, for not wanting to have any chances of deferring anyone from their dreams, and doing something with their lives, and if we're left in the cracks, well that's a price that must be paid at times I assume.

    No one wants to be alone, so I think these, and probably other questions are fair, and don't make us selfish. They are just the result of us being human I believe.

WinterJam2014

    Ok so last night I got to go to WinterJam2014 in Chattanooga it was awesome! Got to hear some great worship music live, and it was all around a good night. There were so many artist and i actually enjoyed them all. Got to see Colton Dixon live! (that was epic!) I also got turned on to some new artist such as Plumb, and Love and The Outcome (got my picture with the last group too!).
    Also hope you like the video of Colton Dixon live that I managed to take, from front row! lol Also posting some pictures.

The video of Colton Dixon singing In and out of Time

 

                   Front row!                       

 

                Colton Dixon

         Love and the Outcome

Let it go

    Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is let go. We have to remember time is always going forward and the things we hold on to are really holding us back.  Even though it's scary and we want to hold on as tight as we can, we need to let it go, and see where everything falls.

    I know it's like a storm is swirling inside you, and we don't want to let anyone in, don't want to let them see past everything we try to appear to be. Some of us have been hurt before, and some never want to experience that type of pain. So here we stand frozen in place not wanting to lose anything. We've grown so used to the cold it dosent bother us anymore.

     We can't hold on forever, and the real pain is never knowing the truth. Sometimes it won't be what we want, but there will be times when things are real, and can help take the frost away.

    So don't take too long to let it go, and see if what is holding you back is as strong as you have worked it up in your mind.

Time to say goodbye 2013

    Well Happy new years everyone! While it is exciting its also sad, due to having to say goodbye to 2013. I know personally this year was so full of memories that I don't ever want to forget. So many things have happened, and now here we are in 2014. A new year ready for so many new possibilities.
    I think it's safe to say we sometimes take moments for granted, and don't truly appreciate them for what they are. I have a few new years resolutions of my own, one being to make even more memories this year than last.
    So farewell 2013 you were a ride, but now its time to move on to the next one.