Whatcha Want Wednesdays: Home Edition

Home is where my Family is.  

I am learning a lot about my family these days.  A lot of it has to do with how close my natural family is and how involved we are in each others lives.  However, I am growing up which means I won't always live in my mother's house or be able to go to pancake breakfast at Grandmary's and Papa's - which looked so fun by the way.  

I am learning that my "family" is wherever I am.  It doesn't necessarily mean that my "family" is my crazy Gosser family - it means that it might consist of all different ages and types of people.  And I am learning to accept that.  

This is my family: We are huge and we love each other.  They are a bunch of crazy people and we have soo much fun together! I could probably do an entire blog (like everyday and all the time post) about them!   I love them so much!!!!!! 

And this is my Waco family.  

They are crazy and from all parts of the United States, but I miss them!  I love them so much and I think that my last semesters at Baylor, I took them for granted.  But that doesn't mean I can't go back.  That is what family does - they accept your faults and love you anyways.  These are some of my best friends in Waco and I can't wait to get back!!!

They sent me this during my week at Miss Arkansas.  They all have my buttons and are supporting me all of the way from Baylor.  [I am crying as I am writing this right now] Not only because I miss them - but because I want desperately to be back with them living life and loving every minute of it.  These are some of the greatest people I know!!

So now that I have already cried this morning... I want to tell you about my home.  My home where one day I will have my own family - and what I want in it!! haha

How great is this Laundry room.  I love that it has everything in it.  A desk, pictures, hooks, table tops, shelves, and the best a bench!  I know that benches are usually used to put things on - but in this case it would be a great way to divide up laundry so everyone could pick up there own and not dig through all of the laundry.  

Please tell me these pictures are not the cutest things ever!! In the foyer or greeting hall by the front door - I think that these canvas prints are a great idea!!!  I can't wait to do it.  

I also love this front door monogram.  Of course I am getting one of these ASAP - when I get married.  I think it would be fun to have a monogram bridal shower.  That would be beneficial in my opinion , especially if the bride loves monograms!!!

Can we say yes please.  To the walls.  The the bedding.  To the light.  To the picture above the bed. To the windows.  To the simplicity.  I love it!  I do not however like the computer in the room, the waste of space bed side table or the orange chair.  I would add a bench at the end and maybe bed posts on the bottom and top of the bed!  But this room definitely makes me happy :)   And then above - I love this ironing board.. it will fit nicely into my bright fun simply laundry room!  I love it!!

WHAT DO YOU WANT???

For Love of the....Game

Guys - I am terrible at this blog thing.  But here I am.  I am officially doing it now!

Most people know that I am currently at Baylor University getting my master's in Sports Management - and for some reason people are always surprised by that interesting fact.  It could be because when I attempted to play sports in high school... I sat the bench.  Or it could be that when I run this is how I feel ::

When people think about Sports Management - they think athletic, coaching, in shape, or even professional athlete.  I, however, I am none of the above.  So why am I Sports Management?  Because I love sports.  My favorite of the sports:  Baseball.  That sport, more than any other, raises more questions because it is often associated with being the longest, most boring sport - yet, it is and has been my favorite.  

I decided to answer the most popular question - how did you start to love sports... namely baseball..

So here is my TOP 10!

10.  Spirit

There is nothing better then a school or a team with a lot of spirit.  Not only does spirit provide a sense of connection with the team and the players - but it is the soul of the sport.  It also provides an outlet for my credit card and shopping habits.  I experienced this first with my first love:  St. Louis Cardinals and then my growing up with the Arkansas Razorbacks everything is Red and White and Woo Pig and so connected to the university.  I love seeing someone in another state with a razorback shirt on - you immediately know that you will have one thing in common... spirit.    

9.  My Dad

When my parents got divorced I made a decision to start involving myself with things that my dad liked so that I could do something with him that he enjoyed and would enjoy doing with me.  That included going to Cardinals and Razorback games.  I started teaching myself about the sports and wanted to be able to carry a conversation with him - so I learned, and overtime sports became apart of my life and something I loved!  

8. Dedication

It amazes me how much time and effort and dedication athletes put into things.  Watch this video. 

When I first watched this video I cried.  I know it's crazy - but the drama, the emotion, and the willpower behind training for an event for 4 years is something to admire.  And I admire the dedication of athletes, and it makes me want to get involved and be involved.  

7. SportsCenter

There is no other tv show or station on television that provides as much drama and as much entertainment than ESPN.  I love it.  At first, SportsCenter overwhelmed me because I had no idea about most of the things they talked about.  But then I figured it out.  The lightbulb went off!  If you follow the scroll on the Left on the tv - it shows you what they are talking about and in the order they talk about it!  Every show should have that.  It keeps you intrigued.  If I see something baseball in 4 minutes - I am going to continue to watch it.  It also doesn't drag out - they talk and move on!  The best of both worlds.

6.  History

The history of sport has been my favorite class in grad school.  Learning about how Aristotle, Plato, Socrates all believed that sport was crucial to the development of a person - excites me.  I am already a history nerd.  I love learning about what people did to survive and how they fought for their lives and livelihood.  I would like to think that we are still a generation who does that - but sometimes I doubt that.  But even with the turmoil in the world - sport remains the same.  Dirt, jerseys, and sweat all combine to give the 

5. The Athlete Persona

This is a lot like Dedication.  However, athlete's act differently.  It is something that I want so badly. And is #2 on my list - so keep reading.  But one of my good friends played soccer in college.  She is so funny but so dedicated and I love that (#8).  But the thing that makes the athlete persona different - is they live and breathe their sport.  They live and breathe to be on the field playing, to eat healthy, work out in off season, and to strive to be the best at what they do.  They have this drive and this determination to win and to compete and push themselves beyond what typical people do.  That encourages me.  That is why I love sports.  That persona makes me want to be an athlete however, I am not.  But thats why I am involved.  

4. My Family

Every boy in my family, plays a sport - my cousin Alex recently got signed to play baseball for the Razorbacks next year.  I grew up around the game.  I love the game.  And I love my family - so I was always around. 

3. For Love of the Game

It's a perfect display of both handwork, dedication, love of the game, and love of the girl.  It's my perfect movie - and in 1999 when it made its debut - I loved it.  I love sports and I love romance.  Even though the scenes with Kelly Preston are kind of cheesy and definitely prolong the perfect baseball scenes and Kevin Costner's date with destiny on the mound on Yankee field - it is still a great movie - if you allow yourself to look past the terrible acting and love the game that is depicted.  (I also love that Kevin cries at the end - it is a perfect portrayal of the heart of an athlete - which I admire so much!)  This movie only made those two stronger - and is probably why the only guys I have ever dated - have been baseball players.       I decided to broaden horizons after my prince charming became to famous to even consider me.... haha - I know I know, David Freese, is probably so caught up in himself to date right now - I am not holding my breath.  If you haven't seen this movie - GO SEE IT.  It will open your eyes to my LOVE OF THE GAME.

2. My Desire

I have tried every thing when it comes to playing sports.  I tried Golf, I tried basketball and even Powderpuff football.  I was terrible.  All of them.  I want so badly to be athletic.  Yet, that is not the gift God gave me.  So - I decided to get involved in creating an atmosphere that people learn to love sports and love the game.  If I can help the sport become entertaining and attractive to all people - I have done my job.  Don't ask about these pictures - I am so dumb.  

1. The Language

There is something that I love about knowing that K's stand for strikeouts and that in a small box you can depict every single action that happens in a play.  I love the language of sports.  The way that sportscasters talk about the athletes, the competition, the plays... I love it!  I live for their dissection of every play.  I also think it is incredible how so many athletes come together during the Olympics every 4 years and are able to compete beyond their language barriers.  To see 8 different flags in the pool or 4 different countries represented on the bars and beams in gymnastics, or even the different languages represented in basketball or wrestling.  Sport.  Something that will continue to bring the world together beyond political and governmental controversy.  

Sport Transcends language, countries, cultures, and people.  Its about competition, it's about the love of the game and dedication that you as an athlete put into succeeding and reaching goals you never thought were possible.  

That is why i love sport.  

This is the Day that the LORD HAS MADE!

I am happy it is Friday.  Not only happy that it is Friday, but happy that it is NOT Thursday anymore.  Why you might ask?  Let me tell you about my Thursday...

I woke up around 5 am super nautious and soon after the stomach bug came and greeted me.  So needless to say, I missed 2 classes and 4 athletes tutor sessions.  I was out of it.  About noon I started feeling soo much better!  I mean not only was I up moving around, I actually wanted to go to work!  So I went to go get chicken noodle soup at Chik-Fil-A before heading up to work from 5-10.  Well guess what happened on myw ay to Chik-Fil-A!  I RAN OUT OF GAS!!!!  No lie.  Straight up out of gas.  God was looking out for me and I was only 2 parking lots away from a gas station.  So I bought a gas can and filled it up with gas.  The gas can was a lemon.  Which means that it did not work, so now I have gasoline all over my hands and the smell is still lingering in my car.  I filled my car up with gas and as I was backing out of the Gas Station, I backed into someone.  Yes - backed into, as in had a wreck, as in my light on the back of my car is busted!  Seriously how can this day get any worse....... 

OH GUESS WHAT> 10 minutes later I arrived at work and LOCKED my keys in my car!  Guys, I am NOT lying.  THis was my day.  So yes,

TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE!!!! 

(yesterday I am not so sure about)

actually, this is probably a good time to insert some encouragement.  God

allows us to go through hard times so that we realize how awesome our

God is in times when things are wonderful!!!  Becuase I am definitely

rejoicing because it is a great day...

AND THIS IS WHY!

BAYLOR BASEBALL STARTS TODAY AT 4  AND  MY COUSIN DEAN OTIS COOLEY WAS BORN AT 10 THIS MORNING!!

Because Baylor Baseball starts today it makes me miss my time in St Louis in October and my wonderful third baseman... David Freese!!!  Oh it will be good to watch spring training and see him behind the plate again!

I have adopted a Compassion child!!  His name is George and he is 3 years old and lives in Ghana!  My littel sister has had a compassion child for years now, and it was on my list of things to do this year!  I love this little guy, and I didn't know that honestly I would feel like this towards him.  I didn't know how personal it would be!  But God calls us to help people all over the world.  And I am doing that one little guy at a time!  His birthday is coming up... of course I am coloring him a Mickey Mouse Birthday picture!!

Last weekend I went and saw the VOW!! It was amazing.  I also had my lifegroup over to my house and I collaged an art clipbaord.  I have been wanting to do it forever, and so now I ahve finally done it.  I have heard mixed reviews from the VOW.  But I am here to tell you that it is favulous!  I loved it.  The part that really got me was the scene where her mother tells her why she stayed with her dad all of these years, she says...

"I chose to forgive him for the one thing he did wrong and love him for all of the things that he did right."

WOW.  On Sunday we talked about the Covenant Marriage and how God calls us to forgive.  And we looked at Hosea's love for Gomar.  WOW>  this love was represented in the Vow.  Now yes, the Vow is a secular movie and was probably not even trying to mirror Hosea's love - but as divorce becomes more prevalent in our society we need to push ourselves to mirror this Hosea-like love.  It's quite challenging I think.

So I have been overeating this delicious meal lately... I think I make it like twice a week!  It is amazing! 

It is called the Vegetable Pot.  I wanted to share it with you!

ENJOY THIS!!!!  It is not fattening and it is actualyl pretty healthy! 

Hope you have a great weekend!  I am headed to the Baseball Games!!!

SIC EM BEARS

Abby



Blissfully Happy... it's been a while

I took this picture a week or so ago while I was still in the book room.  I had taken a bite of my apple and to my surprise the inside was molded and abslutely repulsive.  Rewind to 5 minutes previous, I pulled my apple out of my bag and glanced at it - I hate apples, I don't like how the apple skin gets in between your teeth or the texture of the apple is sometimes mushy (you know the almost bad apples - the ones I always get).  So as I pulled my apple out I took a small and cautious bite. However, it was surprisingly amazing.  It was crunnchy, delicious, and super sweet.  I was shocked.  So the next bite was huge!  I mean I opened up WIDE, and those of you who know me - know that my mouth is pretty big, so I got a chunk outta this thing.  I don't usually look at my food especially when I am doing something else, you know multitasking!, haha but this time I did... Oh my gosh!  I literally threw up!  I was disgusted by what I saw.  By what had just taken occupance in my mouth!  I ran to the bathroom and washed my mouth out with soap.  I know you can already see the analogy... So let's dive in:

Galations 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

How many times have we fallen to these works of the flesh?  How many times have we been the "christian" on the outside, yet on the inside we are no different then the athiest or the sinner who constantly lives in sin and denies God.  Everytime we sin, we forsake the Lord, and fall AWAY from Him.  Galations says if we do these things we will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.  How serious is this!  It's serious.  Just like I spit out that apple and sprinted to the bathroom - that's how we should react to sin.  Satan will try and mask it, he will try and make the sin look so pretty...

Let's take drinking for instance.  How pretty and appealing does alcohol look?  I mean seriuosly - the girls that drink in the commercials are soo pretty.  I want to look just like them - so how can I look like them?  Put a bud in my hand, I will be cool then.  Are you kidding me?  Not Cool!  Above in the verse:  Drunkenness is a SIN - however, Satan makes it look so cool and appealing. 

Whenever we are attacked by the devil to sin and tempted to do something that does not bear fruit - we should spit it out and sprint to Jesus and ask him to cleanse us.  But is that what we do? 

Matthew 18:20

Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every HEALTHY tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ...

This is serious.  If we do not bear good fruit we will be thrown away - just like I threw that apple away.  It was repulsive.  No repulsive thing will make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.  I pray for you today that just like I realized this truth - that you realize it as well.  Be encouraged!  Just because we bear bad fruit everyday - we sin.  We are human, sin will happen.  We pray to God that he will help us not be tempted - but it's going to happen.  But that is why Jesus died for us.  He went through a painful death so that we could be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven even though we bear bad fruit.  Thank God today for the price he made.  He gives new life to our bad branches - he makes them healthy and fruit bearing. 

BE FRUIT BEARING TODAY!!!


MY TRIP TO HOUSTON!!

Last week I drove to Houston to spend the night and quality time with my "Big Sis" Laura.  She is such an inspiration and I love her so much!!  We are so similar in so many different ways.  I probably kept her up way to late chit chatting, but she just has so much wisdom to impart into my life. 

Her knowledge is vast and deep and her love for the Lord is evident - her marriage is inspiring and the way she loves her kids and others is contagious.  I want to learn from her!  So I drove the 2.5 hours south east and made it in time for dinner.  Her daughters Hannah and Meagan are precious!!  At the dinner table Hannah insisted that I pray - so of course I did.  No big deal!  She was just so cute I couldn't refuse! 

She was also dressed in her pretty princess outfit and gave me like 10 hugs before she could go to bed!  I love that little girl. 

The nextday we went to Sprinkles - and I follow them on Twitter... And I have always gotten their tweets that say "first 50 people to whisper... get a free cupcake"  So at lunch I looked it up and sure enough they had tweeted if you whisper "all roads lead to Sprinkles" you get a free Hazelnut Vanilla Cupcake! It worked! i got a free cupcakes!

WOOOO.  I love sprinkles and CUPCAKES!!!

Sweet Meagan (left) and Hannah (right)

I can't wait until the next time I can see them!!

Thought I would introduce you to the wonderful outside seating at Common Grounds.  This morning it was a great 64 degrees!  It was beautiful!  God's earth is amazing!

I think the different seating is unique and makes common grounds a homey place.  Some place that I can really enjoy my coffee and feel like I am at home! 

I like all of the windows on the wall!  If you want a shabby chic look - this is definitely a cool idea!

I also think the tree through the middle of the outside area is a nice touch!  Makes it feel like we are in a tree house!

Took the liberty of sort of decorating my office last week - so now it feels a little more homey!  I like it I like it alot!  Hope you enjoy!

I can't have an office without MICKEY!! haha and a SCENTSY! which I brough Simply Irresistible on Friday and everybody made fun of me saying it smelt like a baby's diaper - so today I brough Skinny Dippin' and they love it. However, Bart said it smelt like Chocolate -the woman don't agree. 

Dad came in for the BAYLOR/TCU game on Friday - and if you didn't see it... we knocked off No. 14!  WOOO Go BEARS!

We went and ate dinner first at Ninfa's (poor service and disappointing Mexcian food :( oh well!)

Great seats!!!!  WE had a blast!  There is the stadium!  Very underwhelming picture but it is a huge stadium!

That is the Baylor Line.  The Freshman girls get yellow jersey's that say Baylor Line on the front and their nickname on the back!  They get to make the tunnel that the guys run out of. President Judge Starr said that it was the biggest Baylor Line ever!! how cool!

Me and Dad at the game! We had such a good time! :) and of course the military men for my little sister!!! Thought that would make her day

Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend!  My class got cancelled... so maybe you will see a pinterest or Youtube post later today!  I don't have to tutor until 11.  What to do what to do!

Enjoy and Be Charmed today!

Abby

P.S. Thanks for the prayers - obviously you can tell that I love Baylor and the Lord is blessing me here for my patience and perserverance.  Now if Taylor could only be closer - my life would be complete.  But he is being the best and most encouraging BOYFRIEND ever!  I am so thankful for him.  I am just going to brag for just a moment.  ( I am only saying this because I want you to know how great guys can be and that you should NEVER settle for less - I am so thankful and blessed to have such a strong leader and man of God in my life - be encouraged by this!) 

"I mess up but I love you.  Forgive when we mess up encourage when we fall congratulate in the good and follow the Lord!  I love you!"

How encouraging is that text!  I get those all of the time :)  I am the luckiest girl in the world!!

I am blissfully happy.

It's been a while! So here it comes.

1 Thess 5:13 "Praise God in every situation for that is what is glorying to him."

That is hard to do.  Especially in a place like Waco.  That is my prayer - that I would be able to praise and thank God even in the hard times.  This is a hard time for me.  I do not see what I need to be thankful for or what I should praise God for.  However, Taylor encouraged me through that and God showed me through the movie Soul Surfer that I have a lot to be thankful for!  Be encouraged!

Oh how I love this boy.  Johnathan Taylor Clark.






More fun times in the red truck with Taylor!  This boy is so encouraging!  He text me the other day and told me

"Have a great day.  The path of the Lord is straight keep your eyes and heart on target so that when you take the wrong step your neck will hurt and you will have to straighten back out.  Gods plan for you involves me and I'm super excited.  I love you baby."

Wow!!  I hope that one day you have a guy like mine.  Every girl deserves to have a man encourage, love, and appreciate her.  He treats me with so much respect!  I am sorry I always talk about him, but this whole Long distance thing is killing me.  He is amazing and I hate that I spend Monday-Friday without him.  But that makes the weekends that much better and I know that God has a plan.

 This is just one of several carts at one of our book runs in the bookstore.  We made about 5 last week.  And this particular book run cost us of $50,000 dollars.  Books for class are so expensive!  But they are beginning to look interesting - the more I see them the more interested I become in reading and learning about the subject matter.   













After  buying the books - we put them in boxes and then on a dolly to transport them into our cars and then to the bookroom.  It is quite a process and each book run takes about 2 hours.  In this instance it took about 3.5.  This has been my job for the past 2 weeks and it is about to be finished!  I am beyond thrilled to get rid of these books!   

This is the book room.  I think we have most of the books done and finished.  It opens tomorrow from 9-5!  Woooo.  I am so ready to be finished with these books.  I have been dreaming about books.  haha - it is a scary thing!

These are over 500 athletes books.  Alphabetized and categorized by sport and last name! 








Meg came over the other night and helped me hang and decorate my room!  I love that my cousin and I are so close and are best friends!  She is amazing!  We made choc chip cookies and ate all of them.  DOn't judge.  Starting my diet and workout plan tomorrow!

Doesn't my room look good!  That is my bedside table with my pictures of Taylor on them!  And then that is my bed!  The bedding is from Target and the picture is from Target too!!  Doesn't it all look good?  I am very pleased at how it turned out.

This is our fridge door!  I love my sisters!! And that is the precious Natalie and Ben.  Their wedding is November 26 ?  The Saturday after Thanksgiving!  How precious!  He is soo in love with her!  How precious is that save the date!  It was baseball themed and it had a baseball on it.  And said we are saving you a seat for the big game! ha  Love it!  

My world in Waco is beginning to feel a little like home.  Home is where love is and where you end your day with someone you love... So it's not quite love, but it's close.  

This is where I sit every morning from 8-845.  Common Grounds. 8th street. Waco.  in front of the deer.  It reminds me of Taylor and of East Arkansas.  Have I mentioned that I miss Taylor and I love East Arkansas?  Well I do.  How relaxing is this picture.  I love sitting in front of it and praying and getting my devo on with God.  I look forward to it every morning.

It's nice to look forward to something everyday in a place I am not exactly happy with.  I still cry and I still miss home.  I don't know if I will ever like this place - but I know that I have plenty of people praying for me and wishing me the best.  I have been home every weekend thus far - so seeing taylor and my family makes me happy and is what really helps me through the week.

I am thinking about starting a morning devo/prayer time for girls at Common Grounds.  If I do this - what book should I use?  Should we just do bible stories - or should we just pray and talk about life?  Let me know what you think!















I have been reading this book by Francine Rivers.  It is such a good book and she does an excellent job at portraying some important women in the Bible.  I am reading about Bathsheba right now - and she gets a pretty negative rap about her relationship with David.   I mean she practically through herself on David and then committed adultery with him.  However, Francine writes with compassion on Bathsheba  and trys to get us to see her with more mercy from a women's perspective.  David was an amazing man of God.  We all want that right?  He was attractive and could play the harp and worship God as if God was right there with him - which is was.  All she wanted was for David to love her back and so she did what girls do best... used her looks.  She did what i took to get his attention.

I am so thankful and so blessed to have "my David" in my life.  And i understand sort of in a weird way what Bathsheba was going through.  When I first met Taylor I really did get excited and loved his fervent love for the Lord.  I wanted to be apart of it just like Bathsheba, so I understand it her passion for this man.

I hope you have/will have/or will experience this type of love for a man one day - because it's amazing.  Don't settle for less.  I am blessed to be have Taylor in my life and reading this book has helped me understand his love for the Lord and be thankful that he IS in my life.







I hope that you have enjoyed my blog post today.  
Hope that your day is better than mine.  Have a charmed day and a blissful week!
Abby