Almost done!

Howdy Friends,

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know I did! It's so hard to believe that the semester is so close to being complete! As the semester is coming to a conclusion, that means so is my personal growth project of playing Racquetball. My brother and I dedicated 3 nights to playing at least two hours of racquetball. This is a sport that you cant just spend 10-20 minutes on every so often, its much easier to commit a couple of hours at a time. It seems as if 1. the time goes by really fast and 2. you really get going when you play for a couple of hours. The last and most recent time we played was.. well, about the same for me! I truly have tried so hard at this game, but it just doesnt seem to be my cup of tea. Each time we have played, we have been so lucky to have our "Coach Drew" tag along with us to teach us techniques, rules, etc. I have found that the only way to really learn racquetball is through experience. I will say that I have probably improved a lot more than I think I have, but I am still no where near the level of Drew, or even Kirby! Those two boys really play well with each other, however I am just a girl, so I like to think of that as my excuse for not being able to keep up! :) Even though we are almost done with this project, I still think I will probably go with Kirby and Drew to play next time they go. It is a great workout and probably is a lot of fun, I just have to give myself more than 6 hours to learn how to play. I really have enjoyed the time Kirby and I have been able to spend together learning a new sport, and I most definately have had many good laughs between the three of us! Drew has taught us drills, and other little games that we have been able to play to simply master the basics of racquetball. We usually spend time doing the drills for a little while before we actually start playing a match of racquetball. Anyways, I am so glad that I took on this challenge, and more importantly, I have learned a lot more than I would have guessed I could learn from trying a new sport. Until next time, have a great week and good luck with finals!!

Blessings,
Macy

Racquetball... Part 2!

Hello Friends,

Before I even begin talking about my racquetball experiences again, I must share how happy I am to be home for Thanksgiving! What a perfect opportunity to spend time with family, eat lots of good food, and count the many blessings we have. I just got home this afternoon, and I am more than thrilled to be here! As I begin looking forward in my calender, I also realize how little we have left of the semester. It's hard to believe another semester has already come and gone!

As for racquetball, well.. Lets just say I'm not getting a whole lot better! Kirby, our "coach" Drew, and I all made another appearance to the Rec Center to once again try to master the skill of racquetball. I feel as if everytime I play, I get worse and worse! Well, probably not worse, but I sure don't feel as if I am improving much! It's truly so hard for me to not be good at something in the slightest form. I am just having a really hard time catching in on the game. It seems as if Kirby is getting really good, and I'm lucky to score even a few points. Despite the fact that I am not good at this sport, I will say that I do at least enjoy the company of my fellow players. Kirby and I have been able to spend some great quality time together and laugh and have a good time, if nothing else. He is really excited about playing and getting better, because apparently all of his friends play and they are all really good. Which brings up a good point, maybe I am having such a difficult time because they are boys and are naturally going to be a lot better at certain sports. Maybe if I played with girls, they would actually be more on my level. Regardless of the situation, I really have enjoyed learning this game and figuring out that I should probably not quit my day job! Until next time, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Blessings,
Macy

Racquetball... Oh MY!

Hello Friends,

I am required to blog about a Personal Growth project I am partaking in this semester, so therefore I wanted to share with you my new experience! When I began searching and thinking of different options for a personal growth project, I really wanted to try something new, that might also be able to benefit me in the future. I didnt just want to stress myself out about something I had to accomplish, I truly wanted to learn a new skill. Soooo.... After much thought and deliberation, I decided I was going to learn to play RACQUETBALL!!! This sounds fun right? Lots of people play it at the Rec... so I figured it would be a good skill to learn in case friends ever asked me to go play with them! Well, I can honestly say, that after my first attempt at playing, NO ONE should or would want me to play with them!! I had no idea racquetball could be so hard. I have played tennis a couple of times, and we used to always play wall-ball as a kid, and I thought racquetball was just a combination of the two?? Not so much! This is truly one of the most difficult sports I have ever tried to play. The ball just comes flying so fast at you that I am scared to death it is going to hit me! In addition to that, I cant seem to keep my racquet straight in order to bounce it off the wall. I felt like everyone was probably looking at me thinking, this girl is nuts! One of my brothers friends completed an entire year of racquetball classes, so he is pretty good to say the least. He has taken the role of our racquetball coach, so I would say it's a really good thing he is patient and willing to help Kirby and I learn. He was trying to teach us both all of the proper techniques and rules, I told him I just needed to hit the ball for a while to get a feel for the sport! Needless to say, I am going to need LOTS more time and practice to master racquetball. My brother on the other hand, picked it up pretty quickly. This was a little difficult for me because I am probably one of the most competitive people in the world! Whatever I do, I want to be good at it and be able to win! Obviously, Kirby is so much better than I, but I'm at least hoping I can beat him one time, Maybe! :)


-Macy

Life in the Exciting Lane!

Whoop!

This has been one fun filled, exiting week! The semester is quickly approaching and I definately find myself in the fast lane... the exciting fast lane that is! Let’s see… where to start? Parents Weekend! This past weekend was nothing short of amazing.

Event 1. On Friday, my roommates and I got to take part in Aggie Ring Day. Our fourth roommate Kristen, got her fightin’ Texas Aggie Ring! Personally, this was my very first experience of this special Aggie Tradition. It was so neat to see everyone’s face light up as they put that shiny piece of gold on their finger for the very first time.

Event 2. After Ring Day, my mom finally arrived in Aggieland! I had been so anxious and excited all week, it actually didn’t seem like Friday would ever get here. We had such a great weekend together and I was sad when she had to leave. Parents Weekend is another neat tradition because there are so many different events and activities going on throughout the weekend. The campus of Texas A&M truly rolls out the red carpet for each and every parent.

Event 3. Here’s is where the WHOOP comes in! It was official, on Tuesday, I and the entire class of 2010 was officially able to WHOOP all we so desired. Pull-out day is yet again, another awesome tradition.

Event 4. I bet you are wondering, is this going to be a tradition also? Well of course it is! However this tradition is far less fun and upbeat, yet one of my all time favorite parts of being considered a member of the Aggie Family… Muster. How awesome it is to see thousands of people gather together to honor and reflect on the lives of those individuals who are no longer with us in flesh, but present in spirit. This was my second year to have the opportunity to serve as a Muster Host. I love Muster, and even more than that, I love getting to meet and visit with the families. Whether grieving or at peace, it just makes Muster that much more memorable. Also a fun event is attending the Barbeque with all of the members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1960. Each year, a class celebrates their 50th reunion during the time of Muster. It is so neat visiting with Former Students and comparing the differences of their Aggie Experience as compared to mine.

Event 5. Well… good question! I am trying to wrap up classes, get summer plans squared away, and enjoy the last few days of school. I will officially be done with classes on April 28th because I lucked out and have no finals! I can’t wait for a very much needed break, and I hope each of you have a great rest of the semester!

Be Blessed,
Macy

Simply Sweet and Deserving Says It All

You know you are tired when it is still extremely difficult to get up in the morning after sleeping a full 12 hours the night before! I just got back into College Station yesterday evening from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This past week I had the great opportunity to serve as an Aggie Student Intern for the 2010 HLSR Steer Show. After arriving on Sunday afternoon, we began the race of a very exciting and exhausting week! With more than 1,600 steer exhibitors, we definitely had our work cut out for us. As tired as I was (and still am), I had such a great week and wouldn’t have traded it for anything!

Looking back, the highlight of the internship was every moment that I was able to work and interact with the exhibitors. I was able to see a lot of old friends and I especially adored watching the little kids work so hard to show such a large animal! After three long days of the steer show, Friday night was it… the selection of the 2010 Grand Champion Steer of the Show. As all of the nervous kids anxiously walked their Champion steer to the rodeo, one young ladies life was about to be greatly impacted. Mackenzie Elrod was the blessed 15 year old owner of this year’s Grand Champion Steer. I realize that you could probably search the web for more about Mackenzie and her steer, but the most important part about this young lady will likely not be mentioned in any news release you might read.

I remember giggling when Judge Randy Daniels originally put Mackenzie in the first place position and she asked me “Is this good?” Of course I told her it was, and tried to explain where she would lead her steer next. At the conclusion of the class I made sure she realized that she had just won the class when in a surprised tone she replied “Really??” The next time I was able to talk to Mackenzie was Saturday morning before she would sell her beautiful black and white steer. She came up to me and thanked and hugged me for helping her in the ring. As we talked a little about her previous show experiences, she explained that in the five years she has shown she has been last every time. Her first time to show at Houston and she was selected as the Grand Champion Steer. Of course I am always happy for anyone who wins a show, but this time was a special exception. It doesn’t get much better than a great steer coupled with an absolute precious young lady, who was so genuinely thankful of her experience. When the auctioneer asked Mackenzie who she wanted to thank, God was at the top of her list.

I tell you all of this for one simple reason, its kids just like Mackenzie that my hat goes off to. I can assure you that as a family affair, this young lady deserves full credit for the success she recently earned. As a home-schooled student, she didn’t cut any corners for this highly sought title, nor was she in any way arrogant about such a HUGE honor! Not only this, but it was only out of the kindness of her heart that she felt the need to thank me like she did. I didn’t do much for her, yet she felt it was important. In the show circuit, I love love love to see sweet, deserving young people like this win. Needless to say, she absolutely made my day!

As I begin to catch up on sleep, I will head back to Houston again tomorrow to work the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest. After that… I’m headed HOME! I can hardly wait to spend the last few days of my Spring Break with the friends and family that I love the most. I hope each of you have a fun and safe week as well.

Be Blessed,

Macy

China, China, China

“Ni Hao Me Neu” were a few of the first words I heard as I stepped off the13 hour flight into the -10 degree weather in Beijing, China. Meaning hello pretty lady in English, it was at that moment I realized the next two weeks of my life were going to be fun, challenging, educational, and most importantly… unforgettable.

This January I had traveled to China for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO) which is a unique program through the National FFA Organization that gives students the opportunity to explore global agriculture through experiences that demonstrate agricultural practices and cultural traditions of other countries. As a member of the 2008-2009 Texas FFA State Officer Team, I was selected as one of 46 students from across the United State to take part in the ILSSO. I was also the first officer from Texas to have ever taken part in the ILSSO, just another reason why I was so excited.

It is very possible that I might need an entire book to be able to share all of my wonderful experiences with you; therefore I did my best to select a few of the highlights and I hope you enjoy…

To start off our time abroad, we began in the very large city of Beijing where the population is approximately 17 million people. Here we were able to try every type of food from cats & dogs, to crickets & snake at the night food market. We also got to do things like visit The Forbidden City, view the Water Cube & the Birds Nest (home of the 2008 Olympic Games), tour many farms and various sites of agriculture, and even buy real pearls & jade at their famous factories. We also visited a beef market here that supplied 70% of all beef to the Beijing markets. I do not exaggerate at all when I tell you that we witnessed meet being sold directly out of the back of someone’s van after being chopped up on the ground outside. The food conditions are nothing short of unsanitary. I think I can speak for all 46 participants when I mention that we also spent one of our best days in Beijing when we got to climb the Great Wall of China! Personally, this was one of the most challenging tasks I have ever been faced with. It is a long way to the top and the steps are extremely steep. With that said, I truly felt that I had accomplished something great when I along with several others mastered the “world’s largest stair stepper,” by climbing to the highest point of the Wall. Of course it was challenging, but it was also very rewarding seeing that it’s not very often you have the opportunity to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

We only thought the smog was bad in Beijing until we had been to Xian and Suzhou. These areas were more rural farming communities and much smaller than Beijing. The smog was so terrible that every day is a “foggy” day and the local citizens wear surgical masks to prevent themselves from breathing in such dangerous air. One of the most humbling experiences for our group took place in Xian when we visited what the government considered to be one of the most advanced farming communities around. I was very surprised to see what appeared to be dug out pits, with clay walls, and covered with straw tops. Even considering the given situation, it was still hard to fathom the fact that the farmers at this local village make 5,500 Yuan annually… this equals about $900 U.S. dollars.

Our last stop of the trip was to the even larger populated city of Shanghai with more than 19 million people. Until approximately one week before our visit, Shanghai was home to the tallest building in the world. Here, we had the chance to view the beautiful city skyline, along with the now 2nd tallest building in the world, learn and witness the entire silk making process, visit a traditional Chinese market, and even do a little shopping while being chased by the PERSISTANT “salesmen.”

Whether you think of China as being very clean and up to date with the latest technology like I did prior to the trip, or just the opposite of that and you think of a poor and dirty, undeveloped country, I can assure you that I never pictured China to be the way it is. It was an extreme culture shock being able to witness first-hand the effects of a communist government in the highly over-populated cities such as these.

When January 15th rolled around and I finally stepped back onto American soil, it was very apparent that my life had been impacted for the better. Never again will I take for granted small and ordinary things like central heating and indoor plumbing. American agriculture has taken a whole new meaning on my life, and the United States Department of Agriculture is something I will forever be thankful of. I was very humbled by this experience, I learned a tremendous amount, and I met some incredible individuals. There is absolutely no better way to sum up my experience in China than simply being unforgettable. After this trip, it has become my strong hope that everyone would have the opportunity to experience life in a foreign country at some point. I would also like to thank my parents and my Agriculture Science Instructor Mrs. Laurah Williams for supporting me along this journey and allowing me such a wonderful and unique opportunity.

Be Blessed,

Macy