Florida Football, Carolina Basketball, Christmas, & Wedding

Here's a photo montage of what's been going on for the last month

1. here are the engagement pics I promised:

2. Michael & Me in Gainesville for the Florida v. Florida St. game (and my first trip to Gainesville)

3. UNC Baskeball hall of fame & Michael's first Carolina basketball game:

4. Kleber family Christmas (+ McMahons later on in the evening)

5. Making crafts for the wedding (paper pinwheels w/ button centers)

Gettin' Hitched

If anyone knows me even a little bit, they know how much I LOVE The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I bleed Carolina Blue. I love the campus, the memories, the friends & experiences I had while I lived there for 5 years; now I have one more memory to add to the list of reasons why I love UNC...

On Saturday, November 7 (exactly 9 month to the day that Michael & I started dating) I had the opportunity to take Michael up to Chapel Hill, hang out with some of my favorite friens & go to the homecoming football game vs. Dook. Here is how our day went:
1. I tell Michael in the car that Lindsay Hecht is going to the game with us (last minute change in plans)
2. I start to feel pain in my left side & know what it means - kidney stones. Michael & I pray in the car for relief from the pain.
3. We stop at a rest area - Michael frantically calls my mom to find out how to call Lindsay & let her know that he is planning on proposing to me today!
4. Michael calls Lindsay; Linds responds with ah "Oh Shit!" and runs and tells Kristen (who had just gotten out of the shower)
5. We make it up to Nantucket Cafe for lunch with Kristen & Linds (my kidney stone pain has gone away) - we enjoy a beautifl lunch outside - Lindsay eats dairy products & I predict it will cause future problems
6. Michael, Lindsay & I head to campus, randomly run into Warren Perry, then walk down Franklin St to show Michael all the glory of UNC.
7. Lindsay loudly announces that she has to use the batheroom, runs into McAllisters, tells us not to wait for her b/c she will get stage fright (I think nothing of this - typical Lindsay move).
8. I start to show Michael through the upper quad of campus - Silent Sam, Morehead Planitarium, Davie Poplar...
9. I tell him the story of the kissing bench under Davie Poplar - if you have your first kiss on the bench, that is the person you are going to marry... and then I'm ready to move on to the Old Well, Old East, Old West, South Building, etc...
10. Michael suggests we sit on the bench & have our first kiss - I dont object (and studdenly I have a feeling I know what is about to happen)
11. Before I know it, Michael is on one knee, ring in hand, I am having an out of body experience, we are engaged!
12. Campus was crowded, people were watching the whole thing! We get some cheers & a round of applause from the folks walking to the game.

In the words of my cousin Sam, "Your boy knows you well Shay. There is no better place for you to get engaged than Chapel Hill."

(I'll put up pics in the next post, this one is long enough as it is)

In Case You Forgot

In 2009 Ty Lawson lived up to Ed Coda's #5 jersey. In 2009 Wayne Ellington finally shot lights out like we always thought he could. In 2009 Danny Greene was everything the Tar Heels needed him to be, whenever they needed him. In 2009 Marcus Ginyard inspired his team mates from the bench. In 2009 Bobby Frasor finally got what was his. In 2009 Deon Thompson played his size. In 2009 Tyler Hansbrough became the most complete player in Carolina history. In 2009 we beat Dook twice, and havent lost in Cameron in 4 years. In 2009 we beat MSU twice. In 2009 we won the National Championship ...just in case you forgot.

100 Years & Counting

Carolina basketball celebrates its 100th year this year. Thank you Tyler, James, Michael, George, Eric, Atwan, Sean, Rashad, Ray, Ty, David, Kenny, Dean, Roy, Walter, Jerry, Sam, Woody, Marvin, Vince, etc. (and Chris Weber for calling that time out). I might have fist pumped a few times when I watched this video...

Mad Props

I don't really like USC - there's no reason for it, I just don't. However, I can dig this, even if it did come from USC & even if it's not the Clef Hangers...

Family Vacation

I love my family & the older I get the more I realize how blessed I am. My parents love me & my brother so much, they raised us in the ways of the Lord & taught us how to be God fearing women & men. We have so much fun together, there is never a dull moment, from laughing at Jared's crazy shenanigans, my crazy students or just making fun of mom...to freestyle rappin in the kitchen about our favorite Arabic foods. There's not much I love more than being with my family. I cherish the time even more now that I am grown, Jared lives in California, and we all have busy lives. That is why family vacation is my favorite week out of every year. I wait for it in anticipation. To make it even better, I also get to spend time with my cousins, aunt & uncle on my dad's side. These people are more than extended family - they are brothers & sisters in Christ, some of my best friends, and my favorite people in the whole world. God only knows where I would be without them. Here's a video of our vacation, it doensn't even come close to doing it justice, but it does capture some of its awesomeness....

End of Summer

I love the summer. I really shouldn't need to say more than that, but let me explain. I have more time in the summer; I can enjoy my friends more; I can enjoy my boyfriend more; the sunshiny days & evening thunderstorms are my perfect weather; I like being in shorts, tank tops, sun dresses, rainbows & bathing suits; I get to focus on just coaching instead of teaching & coaching - and we always swim so fast during long course season; I love having time to workout in the summer, lay at the pool, read a book, spend more time in the word. I know that the Lord always gives me the summer months to refresh, restore & prepare me for the coming school year. I am so thankful for His kindness to me - the Lord knows exactly what I need to be sustained. Psalm 73 "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My heart & my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart & my portion forever."

Here are a few ways I have been spending the last few moments of that sweet summer time:

Cookouts with my DFLers

Coldplay!!!

Sophia's Bat Mitzvah and family vacation....but that will have to be a whole seperate post!

I've Got A Fever...

....and the only prescription is more cowbell. I had a most excellent time on the NC Swimming Zone trip in Orlando, Florida. In the four years I have gone, this has been by far the best trip. The kids were awesome, never complained, got behind each other & stayed out of trouble. The coaches were incredible as well, worked well together, were on the trip for the kids & didn't let egos or personal preference get in the way of our goal. Team North Carolina finished third at the meet - much better than our fifth place finish last year. MORE COWBELL!!

and in case you have no idea what the cowbell is in reference to...

http://www.funnyhub.com/videos/pages/snl-more-cowbell.html
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BOOM! BOOM! POW!

Well, I haven't blogged in almost a month. Who would have thought I would be worse at blogging in the summer than during the school year. Let's see.....

I had one of the best birthday's ever this year. I literally celebrated for a week: dinner w/ my parents, lunch & shopping w/ grandma, dinner & a romantic evening with Michael, my best friends from college spending the day with me, a road trip to Charleston w/Michael & a 4th of July/bday party with my closest friends. One of my favorite things about birthdays is not celebrating me, but spending time with friends and family. The Lord really reminded me this year how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends & family! I love them so much! Here are a few pics from all the festivities...

Dinner at Pewter Rose w/ my Carolina Girls :)

Michael & I in Charleston - he packed a picknick lunch for us.Setting off fireworks on the 4th over the lake.

Kendra made me the most delicious rasberry chocolate cake ever for my bday

Watching the fireworks...

Since the 4th of July & my bday the rest of my life has been consumed by swimming. My swimmers just had their state championship meet last weekend. We swam so well!! It was such an answer to prayer. We were somewhere around 90% best times for the meet, had numerous top 8 & 16 finishes, and finished 14th as a team overall at the meet. 14th may not sound that great, but I couldn't be happier. We are a very small team, about 35 swimmers age 14 & under (15 qualified for the meet, 11 swam at the meet), and there were over 35 teams represented at the meet, many of whom are double or triple our size (or more). However, the most important thing to me was the attitude of our swimmers. They were positive all week long, worked hard, stayed motivated & motivated one another. To me, that is way more important than just swimming fast, and the Lord was so kind to answer my prayers in this area in particular. GO ATOM! WE GOT THAT BOOM! BOOM! POW!

Sophia had an incredible meet, starting with a 14 second drop in the 400 IM & a 5th place finish!

Finally, Michael & I went to Florida for 3.5 days to see his family. We had a great time eating, shopping, seeing his friends from home & going to the beach. I was able to meet his dad & younger brother for the first time. So I have officially survived meeting the parents :) I leave for Orlando on Monday for my last swim meet of the season! It should be a blast, but I will be glad to be able to spend some quality time at home when all this traveling is done!

Three Little Birdies On My Doorstep...

Summer is in full swing, and I am determined to take advantage of every minute of it. Here are some pics chronicling what I have been up to so far.

#1. My aunt & cousin came to visit for a few days. It was great to see them. I haven't seen my cousin Zach in over 10 years....that just seems ridiculous to me. We didn't do a ton, but honestly, one of my favorite things is hanging out w/ family. I appreciate it now more than ever. Speaking of family - we got great news on mom's results from the lumpectomy. She is completely cancer free & will not need any radiation or additional treatment. Praise God!

#2. My parents took me do dinner @ Red Rocks in Birkdale for my bday dinner. It was delish!

#3. Pops in the park is awesome!

#4. I swam in my first long course meet ever since my senior year in high school (9 years ago). I won 3 medals. My swimmers won many more.#5. My swimmers are also extra awesome b/c they surprised me after practice today w/ a bday cake & when I walked out to my car, they had decorated the whole thing. I love those kids!

#6. I went down to SC w/ K Star to get fireworks for my 4th of July/Bday Party. They are awesome! And I found some ridiculously large sparklers....my fav! I promise Kristy, I will save 2 and we will light them together. Wish you could be there Saturday!

"Let Me Check My Schedule..."

School is out for summer, as proven by my very sad looking classroom on the last teacher workday.Last Saturday & Sunday I watched Lyric Freas while her parents were in Charleston with my parents. I had bought sparklers for us to play with but poor Lyric was exhausted and put herself to bed at 7:30. So instead, Kendra, Renae & I played like we were little girls & kicked off the summer in perfect form - sparklers, beer, brats, & roasted marshmallows! yes & please!

I was chillin' at Michael's place today (aka The Mannex - thanks Zachy) and Tyler said "Let me check my schedule... just as I thought, nothing on the agenda today!" That quote from Mr. Levan pretty much sums up my life right now. Although I have enough to do over the coming months, it is nice to be able to schedule things when I want to do them & not feel stressed out about the things that I have to get done, knowing that I have plenty of time to get it done! I do however, want to make sure my time this summer is spent wisely & not wasted. I plan on doing lots of reading - "Respectable Sin" with mom, an undetermined book with Michael, finish "Nicholas Nickleby," some other classics, & of course spend lots of time in the word. I also plan on collecting starfish......
I also got my hairs did. I got bangs cut for the first time in about 3 years - I'm having to get used to hairs on my forehead, but I likc the cut. Mad props to my hairstylist Becky. She never does a girl wrong :)

It's Official

Kim-e's wedding was this past Saturday! It was so much fun to see her get married; she is the 2nd of the 6 Ashley Forest roommates to get married (2 down, 4 to go as Marcy said) and her wedding came 5 years after the first. It was a beautiful wedding & reception at Carmel Country Club. So it is official, Kim-e is married & I'm thrilled for her. ....here is the proof (in case you didn't believe)I also have one more thing to prove to everyone. I've been saying that I have a boyfriend named Michael, but have yet to produce any hard evidence of such things since I managed to erase all the pics of the two of us off my camera. However, I now have evidence in the form of pictures. So for all of you who thought I made him up......