Blog Post Ten: I Think I Left My Elbow Grease at Spring Break (Dealing with the Last Few Weeks)

I drag myself out of bed for my eight a.m. class and trip, yet again, over my spring break suitcase (still yet to be taken home) with a bathing suit hanging out. I feel literal tears coming on as reminisce on that heavenly week as an islander, now trapped in a rain jacket, slaving to the master of higher education. I chuckle to myself as I look in the mirror at my bed head and my racoon eyes from last night's 'scara, which I was too lazy to remove. I also laugh to myself at the thought I had before Spring Break which was that after that week of sweet freedom I would have so much more energy, and elbow grease, since I could see the finish line ahead of me. Well, I'm back from Spring Break, and from Easter, and the only thing I can see on this race to summer is the millions of winds in front of me consisting of due dates and projects galore. My only motivation recently has been: "Holy mess, this is due tomorrow." Do you feel me?  The glamor of new everything (new dorm room, new city, new teachers, new friends, new places) has been distorted, leaving me camped out in my bed, eating a box of Samoas, watching a Netflix show I swore to myself I would turn off an hour ago.

Now, what's a girl to do?? I didn't work this hard to give up now?! I didn't fight for those grades to half-heartedly finish and end with an average letter at the top of my final grade sheet. No! It's time to get ourselves in gear and finish strong. Thank heavens my mother drilled into me: "You are what you read," because I have recently been finishing: How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World (an amazing read, really and truly) and came across some motivational people to inspire and whip me into the girl I need to be. I hope it does the same for you (male or female).

Enjoy: 

1. Venus and Serena Williams:

These two dynamic sisters have taken the tennis world by storm. What you may not know about them is that they started, literally, from the bottom. Raised in one of the most violent neighborhoods in the country, Compton, these two girls have shown the world that hard work and determination can turn anyone successful. At an early age, their sister was killed by a gang member in South LA. Although, fighting all odds these two sisters decided to change their stories by making their goals, realities. Practicing day and night to achieve their dreams.

2. Audrey Hepburn

My obsession continues, readers. I know you've heard me mention this one's name multiple times. Although, what intrigues me so much about Audrey is her motivational story. Before this beauty was dropping jaws and winning Grammys, she was surviving World War II in her small Dutch village, overrun by Nazis. Not only did she hide out for weeks under her kitchen table, but was also only accompanied by her mother during this time since her father chose to support Hitler, taking all of their family savings and leaving Audrey and her mother behind. Instead of getting bitter about her situation, Audrey decided to use her hardships for ammunition in her life. After her and her mother escaped and moved to London, Audrey pushed herself hard to grace the London ballet stage where she ended up being picked up by a Hollywood manager. My favorite quote by Audrey for when I feel like I can not take another step is: "I worked my ass off."

3. Ivanka Trump

I know what you're thinking. And, yes, I do know Ivanka Trump is. Although, what you might not know about this hotel heiress is her incredible work ethic despite the money her family has. She had this to say when a TV hostess joked about her father's money: "I work 13-hour days for my money...I have a mortgage you know. I think we are totally different individuals..If I were to go off the rails and become this party kid, I would not be able to afford my lifestyle. I've never had a sense of entitlement. I saw how hard my father worked for his money and it was always made very clear to me that things wouldn't just be given to me."

So, here's the deal. Whether you started with nothing, or started with it all, isn't it time to finish strong? I once heard a quote that said "Whatever gardens you invest time and work into, can always be harvested at some time down the road--always." So as this school year comes to a close, let's give it all we've got. Then, look back, completely satisfied with the way we finished another chapter of our lives.

XX,
Claire

Blog Post 9: Easter, The Ultimate Comeback

      Well it's that time of year, again. There is pollen covering things you swear you didn't even take outside. The wind blows cold and the sun shines hot. You don't know to put on shorts or jeans, and neither does anyone else. Tornado drills are well under practice, and you loose more umbrellas than you bought.  It is also time for Peter Cottontail himself. So out come the pastel dresses, the Easter eggs stuffed with melted chocolate, and the Easter Sunday Church Service where they will tell us this day is so much more than the Egg Hunts (even though we're having one right after services on the playground).

     Easter is actually my favorite holiday and always has been. When I was little, I liked it, because I always knew I got to pick out a new dress, stuff my face with candy, and get excited that my birthday was creeping up quickly. As I have grown older, Easter has stayed my favorite holiday for a different reason. I had heard the story of Jesus' death so many times I could probably repeat it back to you very similar to the bible verses themselves, but my junior year of high school I heard the Easter story in a different way. I had never realized a key part of Jesus' death that made the story so much better.

      First, I must prepare you. I'm a real stickler for a comeback. Who isn't? Whether it's a football game or...(okay who am I kidding just a comeback SEC football game). It is amazing. To feel so defeated, hurt, and let-down, to feeling like you coached the winning team yourself, there's nothing like it. God likes comebacks, too. He planned Jesus' story to be the ultimate comeback of all time.

      Okay, you're ready to hear it now. The part of Jesus' death that no one emphasizes much is the fact that Satan had no idea (NONE) what was going on. I don't know why, but I always pictured that Satan knew Jesus would rise again from the moment Jesus died, but he didn't. I think that this way of the Lord writing Jesus' story shows the creativity and wisdom of the Lord, because he knew what a comeback does to his children's emotions. So let's imagine this. The moment Jesus takes his last breath on the cross, Satan thought he had won. He thought that the battle was over, and that he had the victory. I picture him throwing a huge party, laughing, and carrying on the moment Jesus hung his head. This party went on and on until the third day Jesus was in the tomb. I imagine Satan sitting at the end of a large banquet table having a ball, and, then, turning his head at the sound of one of Jesus' feet hit the floor. (Side Note- I also imagine Satan like Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter if that helps you.) I picture him standing up from his chair and yelling, "SILENCEEEEEEE!!!" Then, I imagine him closing his eyes, and grabbing his head as he hears the other of Jesus' feet hit the foot of the tomb. In rage, I see Satan wipe his arms across the table, throwing everything to the floor. I picture him weeping out of anger in his chair as all his acquaintances quietly and quickly leave the table. Satan had lost, but not before the Lord made sure that he felt the most high so that God could crush him to the most low. I love this comeback, and it makes me so happy for Easter. Easter to me means celebrating the Lord hating my sin so much, yet loving me so much that he let his own son, feel all the pain of the world so that he could see me pure as snow. His daughter, his princess, his girl. I hope this comeback story settles your heart for Easter, knowing that your heavenly father carefully planned a story to save you from whatever mess your sin has created and give you an amazing, everlasting life.

Happy Easter + Infinite X's and O's,
Claire

"I am Hers, She is Mine"- a poem every girl needs to hear.

I've read most of the verses about Christ and the way He loves us, but I needed a constant reminder in one reading of the way God feels about me as His child. I look at it often, through good times and bad as a reminder of my heavenly father's love. I pray you hear His voice through my words.

Infinite X's and O's,
Claire

"I am Hers, She is Mine."

I shaped her before she was born.
I made her unique.
I chose her hair and then matched it to her eyes.
I designed her likes and dislikes,
So that she may be her own person,
Different from the rest.
I picked her gifts and talents wisely,
And gladly gave them to her for her to show the world.

I have seen her try hard to be perfect.
But I made her pretty, not beautiful.
Smart, not genius.
So that she would lean on me,
When she is missing the final piece to be happy with herself.

I love her laugh.
I hate her tears.
I adore her voice.
When she laughs and is silly,
So am I.
When she cries and is upset,
So am I.
When she comes to Me and talks,
I listen.

I've watched her grow.
I've seen her make decisions,
Both good and bad.
Many times she has run from Me,
Then returned, 
Sorry and Broken.
I have picked up the pieces of her crushed heart,
And sewn them back together.
Shaping her,
day after day,
Into the woman I want her to be.


It has not been easy for her or Me,
But I have made her strong and brave,
And I am no where near giving up on her.
I love her.
I am hers, She is Mine.

The Lesson Inside of the Graduation Card

Graduation. A time that most teenagers can not wait to get to because of the loads and loads of cards, cash, checks, and gifts dumped upon them. I, like these millions of other teenagers seeing graduation on the horizon, could not wait for this. I suddenly developed a new look-out for the mailman and full sprint to the mailbox upon his arrival. I would shuffle through the pointless-to-me bills and coupons to the cards addressed “Miss Claire McKee.” I quickly would tear them open to find gift cards, cash, and checks. As I began to deposit these in the bank, I realized that I had never had this many digits in my checking account in my life. I felt powerful, independent, and definitely a lot older than eighteen. 

One day a few days after graduation I did my daily trot to the mailbox, and I found two cards. I opened up the first card and found fifty dollars inside. The next card I tore open and found nothing. I looked all around on the floor, thinking maybe my reward fell out when I was happily tearing the card open. But it was not on the floor. Then I inspected the envelope thinking that maybe someone opened it feeling greedy and took my reward. I remembered with complete confidence though that the envelope was sealed shut when I opened it. So then I decided that this person just must not have put any kind of treat in with the card. “How rude,” I thought to myself. Then I decided to pick up the card and read it to see what kind of person gave me this and decide why they hated me so much to do such a thing. To my surprise, the card contained a long paragraph, one of the sweetest notes I have ever received. All at once it hit me. Why did I expect a wad of cash in every card? Why did I think that I deserved a gift? It occurred to me how obsessed our world is with money and how obsessed I had become with it. I had a new pep in my step since these new digits began to appear in my checking account. Why? Obsession. At the end of the day, that card will be treasured more than any gift I have received, any wad of dough, or any check made out to yours truly. The money will fade away, the cards with a simple “congrats” will be thrown away, but the cards with love, meaning, and wise words, will be treasured forever. 

So today, I urge you to not worry about the money in your bank account, the cash in your wallet, and the thing you think you “can’t live without.” Instead, notice the beauty in others, the world, yourself. 

Infinite X's and O's, 

Claire