Stay in the Word, not the World...

This month FLEW by! How is it January 31st already??? A couple of weekends ago Taylor and her entourage family came to Columbia for a tour of USC. Unfortunately, it poured rain the entire time, but we were armed with umbrellas, courtesy of the university. And in true Meagan and Katharine fashion we were cracking up at every little thing, but what else is new? Things are always funnier when you're supposed to be quiet- like in church or in school. This is common knowledge.

Taylor gave her USC tour a thumbs up!

We later enjoyed a most delicious lunch at Ale House before they headed back to Dillon!

I remember like yesterday when Taylor was a baby. I used to carry her around on my hip like she was my little sister. I loved/love her to pieces! I can hardly believe that she is old enough to go to college. I also can't believe that it has been NINE years since I was a senior in high school and was deciding on a college. Here's how my story turned out...


In 2002 I was accepted into the summer program at the Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities for piano performance. That same summer I also had cheerleading camp and was a Girls State delgate. That's the story of my life- no rest for the weary. During my time at the Governor's School they took us to Furman for the 4th of July. I instantly fell in love with the fountains and campus.

Here are some pictures of my summer at Governor's School:


I loved having Sara Ashley there. She made it feel like home!

Several of my hall mates join me in "acting a fool".

Before our piano and vocal performances. That bright yellow suit and those bangs...oh, wow.

My roommate Anna and I had lots of fun together! One time we wanted to get a message across to one of our suitemates and decided to do so in the form of a poem. We could barely pull it together and stop laughing to actually post it in the bathroom without being caught. Our little poem gave Shakespeare and the other greats a run for their money. Without further ado:

"If you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat."

Reedy River Falls park was literally in our back yard, and we went there often. The waterfall was beautiful, but every time it rained the water turned to mud. It was like the apocalypse.

When senior year of high school began I knew that I had to make a decision on which college to attend, and fast. Since birth I always thought I would go to Clemson. I guess it was the outfits, barbies, and other Clemson paraphernalia that did it.
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...but when I found out that Clemson didn't have a music major that university was quickly ruled out. I applied and got accepted to USC, but I did not like the campus back then. At all. Not as a student, anyway. It just seemed dark, dreary, business-y, bottom line just not me. But everyone is entitled to their opinions I suppose. I do however have some awesomely fond memories of visiting Jamie there...but more on that later!

Then Furman came back to mind, and I began the application process. In January of 2003 my parents took me to Greenville for my organ audition. I got accepted, was offered an organ scholarship, and quickly decided that Furman was where I wanted to go. It was unbelievably beautiful, and I was so excited about it. I made a massive list of dorm must-haves and boosted sales at Bed Bath and Beyond for the next several months.

Move-in day was a disaster with me losing my keys, not having the right computer, along with a host of other misfortunes. I actually cried the first time I saw my dorm room. It had painted cement walls and was about 8' x 10,' clearly not enough room for my clothes and other necessities. Most normal parents shed tears on the day they leave their first born at college; mine breathed a sigh of relief. I was Furman's problem from that point on! But I loved everything about Furman: the professors, the students (who were all phenomenal in their own ways), my roommate, Sims, the girls on my hall, my RA, my Tri-Delta sorority, chicken tender Tuesdays at the dining hall, the movies and dinners out with friends, the amazing gym and elliptical machines with which I became obsessed (no freshman 15 for me!), the surprise Birthday party my hall threw for me, the Spill the Beans ice cream shop, just everything. Were the classes hard? ABSOLUTELY, but I wouldn't trade my time there for anything.

When my roommate and I came back from Christmas break we both decided that we wanted to pursue Psychology- in addition to my music, of course. That semester I went to talk to my advisor about double majoring...after which my little bubble was burst. Furman didn't allow double majors. They stopped it years earlier because the extracurricular requirements for each major are so intense that it is physically impossible to do both. I finished my freshman year of college and was then faced with a very tough decision: to stay at Furman and only major in music or find a school that would allow me to do music and psychology. I already knew that USC was out, and that left only one in-state place: Winthrop.

A few weeks into the summer of 2004 I took a tour of Winthrop. One of my good friends from high school, Ashley, was already a student there, and she needed a roommate. Things were falling in place. One thing led to another, and before I knew it I was transferring. Winthrop is a great school, too. Sure, it's different from Furman in many, many ways, but I am most grateful for the education I received there. I have to say- two of my Psychology professors were absolutely incredible. And my music teachers were so wonderful. If I was confused about something I could always make an appointment after class. That I appreciated. And I loved my organ teacher (as I had at Furman)!

A few months before my junior year I found out that Megan was going to be transferring to Winthrop from the College of Charleston, and I was ecstatic. We immediately hopped to it and got an apartment together. We had some great times in that apartment. It seemed like only yesterday when Megan, Kate, and I were in kindergarten together at Avalon, and now here we were great friends in college.
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. Well, look what I found! It's my 1990 Avalon kindergarten class. Isn't this just the sweetest thing? I also had to point out Bryan and Matthew, two more of my good friends to this day!

I drew names on the computer to make it easier to identify us, but I don't think we've changed that much! I remember taking this picture home to my mother which elicited frustration on her part..."Katharine, why didn't you tell me it was picture day???" Clearly, my mother was disappointed that I hadn't been as fashion forward as Kate or Megan...but my 6 year old self thought that the Mickey shirt and bright pink pants were just fine.

I loved being in the grade that I was in, because each school year coincided with the calendar: I began first grade in 1991, second grade in 1992, etc. This is why my class was awesome.

A few random college flashbacks:

Going to New York with Joy, Sims, and Nicole on my first college Spring Break!!!

I still can't believe our parents actually let us go on that trip freshman year. Joy and I both later confessed that if we were our own parents, we would have said no. I mean we're talking about two girls who landed in "Newark, New Jersey" and freaked out because we thought we had flown to the wrong state. To further explain: we thought "Newark" was slang for New York and were panic stricken when we heard the captain proudly announce our New Jersey landing.

Among our New York excursions was a trip to Tiffany's, the Rockefellar Center, seeing Rent on Broadway, taking a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty, seeing Ground Zero, visiting Dylan's Candy Bar (right up there with the rest of the monuments), having dinner at Serendipity's, and taking a 2:00 am walk in Times Square so that I could get my name written in framed art. Oh, Katharine...

I attended many a Clemson game with Joy. One time I got hit with a shoe on the hill and fell flat on my rear- on a decline, no less. It was humiliating.

A few of my musical Furman buddies

My roommate, Sims, is on the right. Her nick name was "Sey-ums," because apparently that's the way she thought I said her name.

Transitioning to Winthrop sophomore year! These two sweethearts made it so special.

Celebrating my 21st Birthday

One time I went to Columbia to watch the super bowl with Jamie. That turned into an all-night marathon of eating Cheetos and playing Nintendo- clearly more entertaining than football. Another fun fact: my uncle, Larry Stephens, was a professor at USC for many years. Jamie actually had his class once!

Dressing up for the Carolina Cup

Main Street Celebration in Dillon during fall break 2005

Visiting Dorothy at "Waw-ford" : )

Christmases at home with my beloved friends and family

I loved coming home to see my brother and parents. This picture is from Easter Sunday during my senior year.

Spring Break 2007 in Hilton Head

Hanging around at University Place!

I graduated in 2007. College was an awesome time for me. Although I was in a totally new place, I still didn't change. I had many new friends, but I never. ever. forgot any of the "old ones." (Hello, did you see my bridal party?) I also enjoyed going somewhere every.single.weekend. What I have contributed to the gas industry I would never want to know. On any given weekend I would go one of several places: Clemson, Wofford, USC, Coastal Carolina, or home. I would say I probably went home about 75% of the time. Some people would give me grief about it, and I never understood why. I never questioned them about their whereabouts. The bottom line is that I didn't want to stay at school on the weekend. I worked hard in class all week and the last thing I wanted to do was stay there for the weekend and waste an opportunity to go somewhere else. Plus, I loved going home and still do.

Every year it seems like I know someone personally who is getting ready to graduate high school. My prayer is that they will continue to walk with the Lord after they leave home. You won't have your parents there every Sunday to get you up and go to church or a Bible study. It is a decision and commitment you must make on your own. Going off to college and leaving Jesus at home is a recipe for disaster. Sure, it may appear that things are going well, but it will catch up with you, even if it takes years. I have also seen beliefs change as a result of attending a certain class or seminar that talks about various views of the world and religion. It really bothers me when people harp on having an "open mind." I like the saying: "Don't be so open minded that your brains fall out." My point of this little soap box is this: stay in the Word, not the world. There may come a time when you are the only Christian in your class or work place, which will come with the responsibility of being a witness. If you are going to college soon, I will be praying that you keep the Lord close. If your college years have passed, pray for those that are getting ready to go off to school.

So that in a nutshell is my little college story.

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Fast forward to last Monday. Mama and Daddy were in Columbia again for a doctor's appointment. Ryan and I went straight to Nanny and Papa's after work, and we stayed there until late in the evening talking, laughing up a storm, eating dinner, and playing Would You Rather.

Clearly Daddy is ready to play.

As are Nanny & Papa!

Would You Rather is such a thought provoking and interesting game. On each card are two scenarios. You have to read the card to yourself and pick an answer without anyone else knowing, then read the question aloud and ask the rest of the group to come to a consensus. If your answer matches the group's pick, then you score. The rules are simple, but the questions are crazy!!!

Of course Mama announces that she "can't see" the cards, so each and every turn she rotates between getting next to the lamp and using a magnifying glass.

Some sample questions...
Would you rather be thrown off of the Sears tower with a parachute, or walk up its staircase in rollerblades?

Would you rather (for the rest of your life) be completely alone on a desert island, or live with a convicted murderer?


That night was a blast.

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This past weekend was awesome. Saturday morning I met with Ali and her mother to discuss wedding music. Those two are a riot. I could talk with them for hours!!!

And how adorable are Ali and Austin??? I am SO thrilled to be a part of their wedding day.

Time for a fun little fact! During teacher cadet in high school I taught Mrs. Paulette (Ali's mom's) kindergarten class. Shall we flash back for a moment:

I still remember this little boy, Brandon. He was so adorable!

This little guy, Basheem, was one of my favorites. It would bum me out if he was absent for a day. I loved seeing his sweet smile.

And then there was Kevin. What a personality!

During my first day of student teaching none of the kids believed that I was the teacher. They thought I was an unusually tall kindergartner.

I love this lady!!! Her smile would light up any room.

On Saturday afternoon I met Meagan at King's for a delicious lunch. I was so, so happy to see and spend time with her : ) Here we are on my wedding day.

Later that afternoon the parents and I went to see War Horse in Dillon. It was a GREAT movie!!! I can totally see the oscar nomination. As soon as we walked in the theater I spotted one of our dear friends, Virginia Bowman. This, my friends, is why I love Dillon. You will, without fail, see someone you know and love while out in public. We all had a great time watching the movie together.

Saturday was also Ryan's Dad's Birthday. Ryan's family, his grandparents, and I had a delicious dinner at Shuler's. Afterwards we had cake!

Ryan and the Birthday Boy

And Ryan just being Ryan : )

Some other things to look forward to in the coming weeks: Joy will be in town for a conference for a few days. Yay!!! This coming weekend is the Super Bowl (I'll probably be eating junk food and reading celebrity magazines except during the commercials. I will actually watch those.) Then the following week is Valentine's Day!!! This will be a special one, of course. What sweet things can I do for Ryan? Wash all the clothes, perhaps, or vacuum? Nah, too boring. We'll see what I have up my sleeve. And you, my friend, will find out about it next time.

So long for now!!! May God bless you this week as you walk with Him.