What a year!

2012 is officially over after tonight.

It's been a crazy year,

with good and bad.

But to get in the spirit of the New Year, 

I'll recap the best moment of each month.

January:

In January, my brother Marshall got married!

He married Ashley down in small town Georgia.

I got to be a bridesmaid and spend a lot of time getting to know my new sister-in-law. 

It was such a great weekend, and small town Georgia will never be the same again!

Me and the happy couple!

February:

In February, I was extremely excited because my Big, Jessica got to come see Blanchard!

We drove down to Blanchard on a Friday, and spent the weekend.

I showed her Burrito Grill, the high school, and Norman. 

It was a really fun weekend and was great to show my Big where I came from.

March: 

March was a pretty big moment in my life,

I was away in Colorado on a ski trip with some sorority sisters,

And while it was fun, it still wasn't the highlight of March...

One night while I was sitting in our condo in Durango,

I happened to check my email,

I had an email from Our Chalet in Switzerland,

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts center located in Switzerland.

They wanted me to be a volunteer in the summer of 2012.

I might have cried... don't judge.

April:

Since I was going to be in Europe over my 19th birthday,

I organized a birthday dinner for myself... In April.

My friends where really good sports about it, 

and so one night in April a large group of my friends all went out to dinner.

After dinner tons of pictures were taken.

It was just a really good way to step back from school, and say goodbye before I headed off for 3 months.

All the Delta ladies at the dinner.

May:

May was probably the biggest month of my year.

in mid-May, I picked up and moved to Switzerland.

Landing in a foreign country alone was absolutely terrifying,

but I quickly got over it and began to explore the country before I had to report for work.

Once at the Chalet, I was living my dream of being at the Chalet.

I met fabulous girls, that I hope I am friends with for the rest of my life.

Our Chalet

June: 

In June, I got a crazy idea.

I went to Poland.

I'd always wanted to see Auschwitz Concentration Camp,

So I did.

Looking back, going to Poland 100% alone, not knowing how to get around or any of the language may not have been the wisest choice I've made.

But man, it was an experience.

I was extremely happy when I landed back in Switzerland,

But I'll never regret doing it. 

Auschwitz-Birkneu

July:

Hiking has never been my favorite activity,

Yes, I know I worked in Switzerland, let it go.

But in July, I decided to hike to Kandersteg International Scout Center in the valley next to ours.

Libby, Jess, Cameron and Heather Tennessee and I embarked on our 9 hour journey.

And it wasn't the easiest hike by any means, but it was amazing.

Cheesemaker's

hanging out in Bunderchrinde

August: 

On my last day at Our Chalet, I went on a sunrise hike up Bunderspitz (8535 ft)

Katie Scales, Jess and I left the Chalet around 9:30 pm (yeah, late start)

Once at the hut we sat around and talked a bit,

then went to bed.

At 3 am, Katie Scales woke me up, and I wasn't too thrilled.

But once we got going it was all right, it was dark, and I couldn't see where I was going, so I didn't care.

As we began to reach the top I began to doubt if I could make it.

With the encouragement of Katie and Jess I made it, and saw one of the most spectacular views of my life.

the sunrise from 8535 feet

September:

In September, all my sorority dreams came true,

I GOT A LITTLE!

The most perfect Little ever.

I found Christine in August, and she became mine officially in September.

It was beyond amazing.

Big/Little 2012!

October: 

I'd seen a poster in my sorority house about a special leadership program our nationals was leading.

It was to take place in Costa Rica in March 2013.

So I applied on a whim, never actuually thinking I would get it. 

But in mid-October, I got an email, and I was officially going to Costa Rica!

November:

In November, I got another sorority blessing,

I was given the officer position of Collegiate Alumnae Relations.

And while it isn't the biggest, hardest, or most important position,

it was so refreshing to see that my sisters saw something in me,

and believed in me to be able to serve our chapter in a way we needed.

I cannot wait to see where my office takes me once I officially begin in January.

December:

The funnest night of December was Big/Little Christmas!

I got a decorative paddle from my amazing Little,

and a handcrafted stool from my awesome Big.

I made my Little her perfect study board,

and gave my Big her traditional paddle.

It was so great to see everyone's crafts,

receive my paddle and my stool, since I'd been so excited about them.

I was overjoyed to see my Little's face light up when I gave her her study board. 

Christine's study board and my paddle! 

All in all, 2012 was a great year! 

I cannot wait to see what 2013 will bring. 

And I'm thankful for everyone I met in 2012 and all the experiences I had.

The end of an era...

August 2011 was a big month for me-- I moved to college, started college, and pledged my loyalty to the best sorority.
But there was another big moment that month.

August 7th, I believe, I moved into this little dorm apartment called Booker 116.
I wasn't the only one moving into 116 that day...
I was joined by Kristin Leyba.

We'd found each other on OSU's roommate match-thing.
We met on Greek Discovery Day,
and then hung out once more in a mall in Dallas.

But here was the big day, Kristin was officially my roommate.
We both ended up pledging our loyalty to the Delta DD.
So we were now roommates and sisters.

Our freshmen year was craziness, in all the good ways, and sometimes the bad.
There were tears, sometimes of sadness, but mostly of laughter.

Random dance parties at 1 am.
Yelling about Bananas In Pajamas.
Movie nights.
and many more memories.

When the time came for Kristin and I to choose roommates to live inside Tri Delta,
the choice was obvious.
The first two semesters had been so great, why wouldn't we go again?

So there you have it, we roomed together AGAIN.
We moved on into the Delta Shelta 220
This time the space was smaller, yet the time together was less often.
Busy schedules led to less "roomie moments",
but never fear, they still happened.

"Cut and dry."
"Clean and simple"
It was just a little joke between us.

She dealt with my Swiss flag,
and I dealt with her Dallas Cowboys hat,
and we both dealt with each other being extremely messy.

But when room pick for the upcoming semester though,
we knew eventually we'd need to part ways.
So we branched out, and got new "roomies"

The fact that I wouldn't be rooming with Kristin anymore didn't hit me until we had completely packed up our room, and walked out...
We stood there staring at the empty room,
not quite knowing what to say.

Kristin and I had roomed together since DAY ONE of college,
and suddenly when we get back in January, we won't be.
An era had ended...

I was lucky to win the "roommate lottery" and get Kristin,
a lot of people hate their freshmen roommate, and I liked mine so much I roomed with her again.

No matter who we room with, or where we live, I think I'll probably always refer to Kristin as "Rooms",
Some habits die hard.

Kristin and I, at Greek Discovery Day, the day we met.

They don't call it the nation's greatest for nothing.

This pas weekend was Homecoming.

The word homecoming will evoke different reactions from different people.
when I think of homecoming I still fondly remember dressing up in silly outfits and going to school for a week straight, just to watch the Lions bring home a victory on Friday.
So what, I still love my small town, hondo moment, handle it.

Here at Oklahoma State though, homecoming is much MUCH bigger.
In fact, it's the Nation's Greatest Homecoming.

On the Friday night before the Homecoming game here in Stillwater,
just about the ENTIRE world floods the streets of the Greek community to look at the "House decks"
Starting in the second week of school, a sorority and fraternity begin on their house deck.
this involves, pomping, every Greek's favorite past time, right? No? OK...

Pomping is the act of putting a lot of wallpaper glue on chicken wire and then sticking tissue paper in the holes...
I am not even joking.
We do ten hours of that every week from the second week of school to homecoming in mid to late October.

Then come Thursday night, and it's.... ALL NIGHT POMP... but really, we stay up ALL NIGHT pomping.
During this time the finishing touches are put on the decks, and they are huge on to large welded structures in the fraternities front yards.

You would really have to see it to fully understand it...

This year I was lucky enough to have my parents come and enjoy walkaround with me.
My mom was very impressed with the decks, just like last year,
and my dad loved the welding, he thinks next year we should just skip the pomp and stuff.

My dad being an OU alumnus, was extremely confused and began racking his brain to try and remember OU doing this, and he couldn't remember it... because they don't.
No one does it as big as us, and that makes us special.

So no matter what classes are bogging you down, or what other things life is throwing at you,
sit back and remember...
You go to Oklahoma State University; a place like no other.
and home of America's Brightest Orange.

The women of Delta Delta Delta and the men of Phi Kappa Tau present... 

From the Swiss Alps to the Costa Rican jungles...

So big BIG news in my life...
I found out yesterday that I will be going to Costa Rica in March!
It is a trip called 'Evergreen' through my sorority, Tri Delta.
It's a week long leadership trip in the Costa Rican jungles.
I'll be there from March 3 to March 10.

It's actually a huge honor, like HUGE.
Only 10 collegiate women, out of all the Tri Delta's, get selected.
and as Elaine (PC 09) told me last night, it's really competitive.
So like I said, HUGE HONOR.

Which kind of makes me giggle,
thinking that by the time I get back from Costa Rica it'll be a few days from the day I found out I was heading to Our Chalet, in Switzerland.
Which is a HUGE HONOR in Girl Scout world,
and now I'm about to embark on a HUGE HONOR in sorority world.

It makes me sit back and think, how can I get this lucky?
Within a year I found out I was going to Our Chalet,
I then moved to Switzerland,
THEN DID A MILLION AMAZING THINGS,
and then I came home, and in my jet-lagged state, I apply for this Costa Rica thing, and then...
I GET THAT TOO!

How does this happen?
Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful,
but it just makes me realize how TRULY BLESSED I am.
Like really...

It's kind of funny...
I can't even get a date for something as simple as a date party,
but I can be selected for two MAJOR honors in less than a year.
Ya know... I'm not going to complain...
I'd much rather scale a mountain in the Swiss alps or white water raft in a Costa Rican jungle than have a date for one night...

But I mean, if I could have both... I wouldn't necessarily mind. ;)

In case of extreme Jet Lag: SLEEP!

It's been a little over a week since I was living it up,
high up, on the mountain, in Switzerland.
Now I am back in flat Oklahoma.

Jet Lag is an understatement.
All I want is sleep.
Thankfully, I can tell I am nearly adjusted back to Okie time,
the rest of the little quirks... well, I'll get there eventually.

It's good being back,
weird, but good.
I've missed Stillwater.
It's just a perfect place.
Getting my first Barn Coke after being back...
Was like Christmas.
Ok, exaggeration, but whatever.

Classes, make me want to die.
Classically.
Walking to class is way easier than ever before though...
Someone said the other day: "I hate having to go to the 3rd story of Classroom Building"
Excuse me sir, I've been on WALKS harder than that...

Well someday I'll be socially acceptable again...