Goin' to the chapel

Do you hear that? That's the sound of my own wedding bells ringing. It has been one busy summer let me tell you. Between completing my second internship and planning the wedding, it has FLOWN by!

 
 

My summer in a nutshell...ITS BEEN A GREAT ONE!


In the midst of it all I failed to keep my blog updated, but today as I sat next to my almost husband, and probably most faithful reader aside from my parents, I looked over his shoulder to see him checking my blog "just in case you had written anything new". So Casey, here you go you cutie!

Weddings are a beautiful thing. A wedding can make you really step aside from everyday tasks and examine some things. Throughout this process one thing I can with 100% confidence say is I have never felt so loved.

My family and my soon-to-be family are some of the most incredible people and I am blessed to get to call them that, family. My friends have amazed me as well with their generosity and willingness to do whatever they can to help.

Also, it could be because I am a hopeless romantic, but I am a huge fan of marriage. Marriage is a beautiful thing when done as the Lord intends. It is to mirror the love Christ has for us and symbolizes unity, selflessness, caring, and so much more but above all, love.

I cannot wait to start my own marriage with the most perfect man. When it comes to even dreaming up a husband, Casey far exceeds those expectations. He is patient, kind, hard working, level-headed, the most handsome guy there is, and before anything else he loves the Lord. To find a man like him is once in a lifetime, and one in a million.  I don't deserve him, but I am so glad I can call him mine.

It's a surreal feeling when something you've counted down the days until, for 10 months, is on the horizon. In 4 days I will be able to call myself Casey's wife, and that will be my favorite title. My parents have been rock stars throughout the whole process and without a doubt in my mind, my wedding will be everything I've ever dreamed because of them.

I told a close friend of mine the other day, it being my wedding week is a little like getting into an ice bath. At first you just put your toes in and try to mentally prepare for what is about to happen, but eventually you've gotta just jump in (or slide, but let's say jump).

So here I am jumping in! I can't wait until the numbness goes away (still going with the ice bath theme) and I am Mrs. Emily Howsden!

Summer Vocation; watcha gonna do?

Summertime is my favorite time of year. The reasons I love this season are endless! However over the years, those reasons have changed.

I do not love Summer because there is a complete lack of responsibility, I think responsibility is a good thing to have year-round. It's the change in the types of responsibilities that I love! One of those responsibilities being a summer job.

One of those responsibilities being...a summer job. 

Over the years I have been many things. Lifeguard, Sales Associate, Daycare worker, to name a few. All of these jobs taught me different things that I think were/are valuable to a young adult. 

1. Lifeguard 

Yes, I spent two summers at Big Splash in Tulsa/// Do the wave.

As a Lifeguard I was responsible for the lives of people who maybe I would have been doing the world a huge favor if I would have turned my head as they struggled in the water.

I say this completely joking of course, but if you had seen someone attempting to swim in the wave pool with two broken arms, it might have crossed your mind as well.

2. Sale Associate

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You might recognize this popular commercial, I worked at the place where things "speak to you"

Here I learned all about the world of retail. Being my first retail job, there were days when I was astonished at how much people will spend on over priced couch pillows, or other miscellaneous home decor items.

I learned about daily sales goals, if you treat a customer like you would your mother, 9 times out of 10 they will buy from you, and that if you prove to be a hard worker, you will be punished by being put on truck at ungodly hours of the morning. 

3. Daycare worker

These are my nephews, not at a daycare, but taking care of them helps me see first hand how nurturing, love and affection influence a child

This is my other nephew, Roman, enjoying an ice cream cone. 

As a daycare worker I learned a lot of things. I learned a lot about infant/baby care and how much of a time commitment having a child can be.

Infants cannot be left alone, neither can toddlers, or 7 year olds. Some days I found myself counting down the hours to when I could leave some days and then I realized, if I were to be mother, there's never a "qutting time".

This job taught me the most out of all of them. 

So there you have it, A glimpse into my past few summers. Whatever it is that you do over the summer, don't be dead weight, do you job to your best ability, and for goodness sake take pride in your work!

Growing up & moving on

Every year when May comes around there are graduation parties to be had, moving, job searching, etc. These things are always huge reality checks. I will not be graduating this May, instead i'll be graduating in December, and with my brother, fiance, twin, and brother-in-law all graduating this may, I have had to come to terms with it. 

Another thing seniors everywhere are coming to terms with? Our nasty little friend called change.

Last week my roommate of 4 years and I closed the door (literally) on being roommates forever as we moved out of our apartment. A flood of emotions came over me as we walked out of the door and closed a chapter of our lives. 

Here we are forcing some smiles before leaving our crappy apartment forever. 

Something I realized that day was that we weren't the only ones experiencing what I like to call the "Peter Pan syndrome" 

If you look this definition on the internet, you'll find something about a man not wanting to grow up. But being a child of the 90's and being raised on all good Disney movies including Peter Pan, to me it means a group of people who don't want things to change because change isn't fun, a lot of times it hurts, and most times it means saying goodbye. 

Everywhere 20 somethings are looking for the "second star to the right and straight on till morning" (neverland that is...) but we are faced with reality of being grown ups, apartment hunting, moving out, and for some of us officially being on our own for the first time.  

I'm getting married this summer so along with my school changes, my whole life is about to change, for the better!

There are a couple verses that I cling to in times like these: 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9

Furthermore...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." 

Hebrews 13:8

How comforting is that? No matter where I am, in 10 years or 20 years the Lord is steadfast and will not be moved. So as we go on with our lives, say goodbye to some people, and even meet new ones, the Lord will go before us and we can take comfort in that, ALWAYS. 

Finals week (dun dun duuunn)

The drama surrounding finals week is too much for me anymore. Try and find a more dramatic group of people than college students and you will have accomplished something huge.

While it has been a stressful time for me in the past, there are some things that don't make any sense at all to me about finals week anymore. Maybe it's because i'm a senior and older and wiser? (that's a joke...ha ha)

1. If we would care as much about our grades all semester than we do during finals week, it would just be another test to take, not one determining our grade forever and ever.

This has come back to bite me a couple of times. The realization that the end is near also helps us realize that the end of our futures as we know it might be looming if we don't pull something out of our hats at the last second.

2. How does getting no sleep all of dead week and pulling consecutive all-nighters prepare you to take a test in which you need to be at your best mental capacity?

I am also guilty of this one. Only a couple times has it actually proved valuable and worth my time. I got a 98% on the final in that class, and while I was a middle of the road B student, because I got a 98% on a comprehensive final he gave me an A in the class. Cheers.

3. Procrastination is the root of all evil. I still haven't kicked this nasty habit. 

Also something I still really struggle with. There is only one anecdote to this disease and that is when professors demand progress reports on large projects, they are the real MVP's.

4. Please don't be that classmate that does NOTHING all semester, skips class continuously, and then asks me for my notes during finals week. 

Don't be that girl. Come on. The amount of anger I have inside of me because of free loaders is constantly testing my patience. Please do your own work. PLEASE. 

5. When all tests are taken and scantrons are turned in, the important thing is we are done. It is finished, and now we can move on to a summertime full of memories, sun burns, and if you are entering your last semester, most likely a summer-time internship. 

You wanna talk about equality?

Do you know what today is? It's a big day in my book, and it should be in yours no matter if you are a man, woman, black, white, short, fat, gay, straight, etc.

Today is equal pay day.

Some of you may scoff at this idea. Those of you who do, might be making 78% more than I ever will, not because you are more qualified, better at your job, have more experience, but because you got the Y chromosome while I got the X.

Had you even heard of this day before I told you though? Every major paper or website has posted about it including The Washington Post, CNN Money, TIME Magazine, to name just a few. Buzzfeed posted a video in response to this day:

Google, who celebrates and pays tribute to the smallest things by changing their homepage to whatever they are celebrating, today is celebrating the 155th anniversary of the Pony Express....not that 51% of the population is not receiving proper payment for their work.

What is it that you see when you look at this picture?

I see a group of my friends enjoying themselves, but the sad part about this is among us there are future educators, nurses, members of the media, and business professionals, and one thing that we all have in common is more than likely a man doing the same job we do will get paid more than we do someday. 

One quote in particular comes to mind on this subject, and it's from one of my favorite books growing up. The beautiful Daisy, says about her daughter growing up:

This quote was during the great depression when women had limited rights and didn't have much more of an option.

But it's 2015 so let's stand up, because we are every bit as good at what we are doing than anyone else in the office, down the hall, across the street, wherever!

What goes on behind the camera at your local news channel?

Since starting my internship at a news station here in Oklahoma City there are so many things I've learned. Simply watching the news as a viewer is something i'll never be able to do again!

My view from the prompter, news desk on the right!

I grew up watching the nightly news with my parents and it is something I've continued to do in my "adulthood". It was watching the nightly news that inspired me to pursue a degree in Professional Media.

The anchors and reporters you see on television are only the tip of the iceberg in what goes into a show running smoothly.

The anchors

Here at my station are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and always take time out of their busy schedules to stop and ask the intern (that's me) how my day is going and tell me what an excellent job I've done running prompter (a lot harder and more stressful than it sounds) or whatever other job I've done. They also always remember my name and one even has a nickname for me! (M&M reporting for duty).

The reporters 

Some of the hardest working people I've seen! They are constantly out on assignment, putting excellent packages together from the live trucks, and getting back to the studio on time to turn in their material, The job of a reporter is not for the faint of heart.

The producers

They've got the whole show riding on their shoulders. I call myself lucky to get to work with the 10 o' clock producer here at work who is AMAZING at what she does. She even lets me write for her show and coaches me on everything in this crazy business.

The directors

The voice in our head...errr I mean ears/headset. Without them cueing the different aspects of the show, making sure we aren't heavy or light on time, I don't know how a show would run properly! TAKE GRAPHICS, TAKE THE TWO SHOT, TAKE LIVE SHOT, WRAP, they are amazing people!

The assignment desk editor 

 The one who sees all, hears all, knows all in the news room. I don't know how he does it but ours here at the station listens to 10 different police scanners simultaneously and can filter what's news worthy and what isn't. He is also in constant communication with people from all over the state and country, when he is gone, it takes two people to do his job!

Only half of the police scanners he listens to!

This is only scratching the surface of the jobs that go into making a show run smoothly. Others include the station engineers who are the fix all know alls, the editors who put packages together, the writers who write what you hear nightly, camera operators who keep the world running round, not to be confused with photogs who go on scene with reporters, storm chasers, chopper pilots, sports guys....

I could go on forever. The inner workings of a news station are fascinating, but if I told you everything, i'd have to kill ya ;)

Oh...and if there is breaking news or severe weather...everything I just told you is out the window!

Being a Bride

I have been a lot of things in my life, but Being a Bride has been one of my favorite things to date.

Why you ask? There are so many reasons I love where I am at this point in my life but my favorite is the fact that in 108 days I will be saying I do to the love of my life. 

This past weekend I had my first shower of my wedding season and it was like somebody pinched me and all of the sudden this is real! My teammates, friends, and family gathered and threw me a lovely shower that I am so thankful for, and it was super fun girl time let me tell ya!

In between finding my dress, picking the girls to stand beside me that day, getting save the dates out, registering at different stores, and all that comes with planning weddings these days, sometimes its easy to lose focus and see the meaning behind all of the hullabaloo.

One of my favorite verses in the bible about Marriage is Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Knowing i've found the one who will love me when i'm having horrible days and pick me up on those same days is the most surreal feeling. 

Together we get to spread the love of Jesus to the ends of the Earth, and our cord of three strands, him, me, and the Lord will not be broken.

I cannot wait for that day when I get to call myself Mrs. Howsden. Through all the wedding planning and chaos that is what I hold on to, and impatiently count down the days until July 19, 2015.

Hallelujah we are free at last!

It appears Spring has finally decided to make it's appearance, and not a moment too soon! I am not much of a Winter type of person so every March or April I wait for the consecutive weeks of weather in the 70's, and IT HAS ARRIVED.

I love the spring for many reasons. Birds chirping, the sun shining, outdoor activities, school coming to an end, I don't know how someone could not love the months of march april and may.

This picture most accurately describes spring to me, sno cones, red buds, sun burns, and days at the park

It's not all rainbows and butterflies though, let me tell you. Coming out of winter months leaves me in desperation for a tan, because I am a firm believer of the notion that everyone looks better tan (but no need to overdo it, wrinkles and leathery skin aren't cute either). Which also means the first sun burn of the season, which you can see in the above picture... yikes.


I also always need a pedicure ASAP because my feet have been hiding in my socks all winter. It's worth the judgmental discussions going on between the nail person and her colleague because a good pedicure can make a woman feel like a million bucks, can i get an amen?

You didn't get a pedicure if you didn't take a picture right?

Then there's that winter weight...you started with a New Years resolution to lose the extra weight and when the season for shorts and tank tops comes, it's the moment of truth. This year for me hasn't been as traumatic as the years in the past, because I have been losing weight, still...it might take a lot of effort to get me into a swim suit just yet.

I think i'll have some veggies with those veggies....

Speaking of swim suits, thank goodness for Spring Break. Spring Break is what keeps us sane as we anticipate the end of school. I've got a countdown until May 9th, 41 days, that's including weekends so we're almost there, we've got this!

Over Spring Break my mom, sister, fiance, and nephew took a trip to Arkansas and stopped by our favorite celebrities house on the way #fangirling #duggars

And my favorite part of spring? Easter!Because it marks the resurrection of our risen savior, and there has never been such a celebration of life greater than Easter in the history of the world. After the ultimate sacrifice, and the remarkable rising from the dead.

Matthew 28:5-7 

…5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.7"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."…

Love one another

My heart is heavy today because of the large amounts of hate by the fraternity members of OU SAE. In the book of John we are told to love one another...

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you , so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another". John 13:34-35

The Lord doesn't tell us if you are white only love other white people, or if you are Native American only love other Native Americans. NO. He simply said love one another. 

The thing I am frustrated about most of the time is the fact that racism is still a thing. It is a barbaric, uneducated tool straight from the devil. And it frustrates me that people don't educate themselves on things like this OU SAE incident so they can form their own opinion and be able to contribute an EDUCATED opinion on the matter. 

People have said the whole state of Oklahoma is a racist backwoods state. Nothing could offend me more than to be lumped in with the members of this fraternity because we live in the same state. 

Our state is a beautiful one full of wonderful people who love anyone and everyone, and will give you the shirt off of their own back rather than see anyone go without. Of course there are the few that make us all look bad, but those people are everywhere. 

What we have to do is make sure that above anything else we are loving our neighbors. No matter what, at all costs, because the Lord didn't choose who to love, but how to love. 

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

Senioritis

sen·ior·i·tis

ˌsēnyəˈrītis/

noun

humorous

1. a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.

An age old problem effecting students everywhere. Really it's all I can do to type out this blog. All of our hard work and late nights studying, all nighters pulled, and cramming for tests. By the end of our four years we are past done. The only known remedy?

Graduation.

Senior year is the beginning of the end, especially in college and it is marked by a lot of "lasts".

With two of my best friends and teammates before our last first game of the season, EVER!

Last times to go get donuts after morning weights...

And then there's Senior day. Nothing in the world will make you realize you're graduating sooner than playing in your last home game...

Yes, all of these are related to soccer...

Let me tell ya, it's real. My only problem is i'm not officially in my last semester, I still have to come back for one more in the fall. I remember getting senioritis in high school but pulling through just in time. However when you are staring down the barrel of your last years in any type of formal education, it's hard to not be overwhelmed. 

I would like to now go into a list of things you can do to avoid the symptoms and things that will help you get through these last few months of school.... But i've got nothing for you. 

All I have for you is, be strong. We've got this....maybe. 

Rest in peace

What does it mean it rest in peace? Something I thought about in depth this past week as my Papa passed away. He was 84, a Korean War Vet, father to 4 grandfather to 12, and a great grandfather.

My brothers and cousins as pall bearers.

Something most people, if not everyone wonders when a loved one dies is where have they gone? I take comfort in knowing that my Papa gave his heart to the Lord months before it was his time. 

So something to take away from experiencing death is something the Lord tells us in Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

So in my Papa's death, I take comfort knowing that he is rejoicing in the streets of gold with his Creator. He is no longer experiencing pain, or discomfort, but will forever be in peace. 

And someday, we will all join him in his praise, and be together in Heaven forever. 

Oh the places you will go...

As each kid in my family graduated high school, my mom gave us a copy of the great Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go" because she is a brilliant woman and knows the value of a great author!

Recently I was thinking about this book and where I have been since it has been four years (my goodness i'm about to graduate college) since I was given my own copy, and the places that fill my passport and heart amaze me.

Until this summer, I had not been abroad, then I went to 7 countries! At the beginning of summer I had the honor of visiting Nicaragua for a mission trip. This experience changed me and to see the Lord move through language barriers, health obstacles, and traveling obstacles, amazed me.

The village we visited took a 7 hour bus ride into the mountains, but Santo Domingo was well worth the trip.

Upon my return to the states, I took a road trip with my mom and sister to up state New York to visit family. It was here that I visited Canada for the first time. 

Here my twin and I stand on the bridge from New York to Canada, eh?

Next I took my travels to Europe, and what an incredible experience this was! In Europe we visited 5 different countries including Germany, Belgium,  the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg. Being hugely interested in WWII history, this grand tour blew my mind in so many ways. If you are trying to decide on where to go in Europe, I suggest visiting Deutschland!

My best friend and I upon our arrival in Berlin.

In front of the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall. 

In the French channel.

And I have been all over the United States, from sea to shining sea. 

 I hold The Windy City near and dear to my heart, go cubs?

The National Mall on the Fourth of July was insane, and truly a remarkable experience!

I am a zoo going LOVER, and I can proudly say the San Diego Zoo was my favorite, then the Washington D.C. one and then the Tulsa Zoo!

 Viva Las Vegas, y'all.

Another place our soccer travels took us, The Grand Canyon!

But after all of this traveling and knowing what I know now about the incredible world around me, my favorite place in the whole wide world to go, is home. 

The view from the front porch of my home in Verdigris, Oklahoma

The one place that will always be closest to my heart, as well as the people in it. I hope you have a place to call home, and it means as much to you as mine does to me. Happy traveling!