Greek Life

So I talked myself into trying to go Greek this semester at college. As many people do, I first thought about sorority girls in a stereotypical manor: preppy and spoiled. Whereas now that I have spent a year here at school and am starting my second year, I have come to realize that many of my most genuine and kind friends I have made are sorority sisters. Not only is that great for networking, but I am excited to join a group on campus that is dedicated to philanthropy. I am avid in the campaign for Autism Awareness and guess what, there is a sorority on campus dedicated to it! How great?! I am happy and proud to say that I will be attempting to rush AZD and will let you all know how that goes!

This is the Life

I currently just moved back to college! I am very excited to start this year. As this being my second year of college, I am very proud to announce that I am actually starting my senior year! 

So far the year is going great. I have made new friends already, my room is unpacked, and I love the list of classes I am taking this semester!

Wish me luck! 

Being a Psychology major has it perks, one being that I have no 8am classes. My earliest one is 11am, and that's not even one for my major!

I currently attend Ferris State University and I have got to say, it is great to be a Bulldog!

Pageant Time!

I am proud to say that I am helping to take a part in putting on a scholarship pageant in my area! I am a co-chairman and definitely getting put to work, but all in good fun. A couple years ago I had the opportunity to be a contestant in a different scholarship pageant in my home town and was surprised to be crowned the first runner up and that began the most exciting year of my life. Now I am proud and anxious to announce that I hop to give that same opportunity to another young woman. 

What has it been like to start my own pageant from scratch?

Terrifying, exciting, and rewarding all at the same time. 

Luckily, my mom and I are doing this together. 

As the next year goes by, I will be sure to fill you in on our journey! 

What's in store

Currently I am looking into my future.

I'm not sure where I am going to go, all I know is that I want to live where there is no snow. That has always been my dream, and now that I am starting to look at my future and the countless opportunities I have for me, it seems it could come true.

I grew up in Michigan where the seasons are: winter, still winter almost winter, and construction. This is not an exaggeration either. If you are from Michigan you will most certainly agree. 

I am about to graduate from college with my bachelors degree. I am looking at where I want to go for graduate school and my internship that I need to graduate.

Where should I go?

I'm terrified to leave all of my family, but I know that this is what I want and need.

I wonder if anyone else has gone through anything similar.

What did you do?

Got my toes in the Water, Ass in the Sand

Nothing beats a warm summer day filled with sunshine, the beach, and a nice Barbeque. One of the best places in the world to experience this is in South Haven, Michigan. Not only are the views completely breathtaking, but the beaches are kept clean and the food in town in to die for. I have the pleasure of living not far and being to drive there in no time to experience this beauty everyday.

Do you still have time over the summer to experience a short vacation, or a long one? I would highly recommend renting a house close to the beach for the week, or maybe a hotel. The houses are stunning to say the least. Wouldn't it be incredible to wake up to a view like this?

What about the light house for the enthusiast out there? I know there are some unless my mom is the only person to go in search of every lighthouse in this beautiful state. The secret of the light house isn't just standing next to it watching the sunset in the winter, or leaving your name and your lovers wrote on it for the summer, the real beauty is seeing the light house in the winter. 

This picture was taken while I was standing atop the frozen water.

The downtown is definitely something to brag about. In the main part of the downtown area, you can see South Haven's rich history. Whether it be from just walking up and down the roads or stopping into a shop and seeing old newspaper clippings or pictures.

On your way down to the beach you come across the marina which holds hundreds of boats from all over. It not rare to come across somebody from every state just over one summer spent in town. Once on the beach, you have many options: swimming, walking the pier, playing volleyball, grilling in the pavilion, sitting in the sun taking in that vitamin D, or maybe playing the play ground. 

All in all, South Haven is a dream come true in the small corner of South West Michigan.

Enjoy!

(Disclosure: All pictures are pictures of mine that I took myself.)

Sorry for the Weight

Why does society only assume women are the ones with weight issues? I personally have met plenty of men that are much more self conscious about their body image than I have ever been. Now don't go assuming I am a small petite woman, because, for the record, I am not. I am average height and a size 16 for your information, and am perfectly happy with myself. It takes a lot to admit that, but I believe that no matter how you look, that statement can be uttered by anybody truthfully.

Now back to the men. Men just as easily can look in the mirror and hate their body. The media sets these outrageous images of "hot and sexy men". For instance, the idea of men that have muscles, muscles everywhere. Or the idea of insanely tall men. Have you seen images of Zac Efron lately, or The Rock? While some women find these two gentlemen attractive, each woman has her own distinct taste in men, not every woman loves her them muscles. 

Why should we only protest the media promoting stick thin females, why not that AND the overly muscled over man? I want my man to feel good about his body, no matter what. 

It's a Novel Idea

I'm a writer at heart. I'm mainly a poet, but am trying to venture out. I started this blog to try to expand my horizons in the writing world, and now I have started to expand further and start a novel. I have wrote numerous short stories and poems and articles, but never a full fledged novel.

I keep asking myself if I can do it or not.

I came up with the idea recently when I started reading a book and got upset that the story wasn't going how I wanted it, and realized I can make a book that goes exactly as I want it to go. 

So I sat there thinking and my brain did it's thinking things and voila! My novel idea begins.

I started writing what would be wrote on the back of the book to get readers interested and am going to copy and paste it here straight from my mind to your eyes. Feel free for critiques, opinions, rants, raves, questions, comments, concerns, etc.

Enjoy.

"He loved her like he had never loved anything or anyone before in his entire life. She was this  girl that showed up in the most random place, but help the most important part of his life. She was that feeling you get when you get out the shower and use a towel straight from the dryer, still warm and extra soft. She was that first flower that you saw after a long harsh winter, the hope that something better was about to come along. She was the beginning of your favorite song after a long day when you just wanted something good to finally happen. She was all that was good in life. Was.

He would swear up and down that the girl standing at the supermarket, perusing the produce with the short blonde hair was her. The girl that he joked about being so short compared to him. That same girl that squealed whenever he hugged her from behind and lifted her and spun her in circles until they were too dizzy. Until the woman would turn around to an awkward teenage boy staring at her, did he realize she was really gone and out of his life." *Written by Darcy Deckard*

It's All Alright

It is my strong belief that one of the keys to happiness is to not worry about money or anything for that matter. This says a lot coming from a person with a severe panic disorder. I consider myself to be genuinely happy person, mainly because I was raised on the concept that money isn't everything and that in the end, everything would work out.

"Everything will be alright in the end, if it's not alright, it's not the end."

This idea was especially important to me when I applied to college. At the time, my dad had just passed away and my mom was unemployed because she had been taking care of him, so honestly we had just about nothing. Prior to the passing, my mom and dad had both lost their jobs, so income went from $50,000 a year to below the poverty line. 

Drastic chance.

But throughout all of this, we never worried. We prayed each night, and everything worked out. 

When I applied to college, I was fortunate to receive a near full ride.

All-in-all, money doesn't mean everything. There is the relationships that we have and our relationship with GOD. Maybe the world would be a better place if everyone took even just one second to work on these relationships before worrying about money. 

"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"

Proverbs 17:16

"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."

Ecclesiastes 5:10

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Matthew 6:24

These are a few examples in the bible.

In all honesty, if society had not made money mean so much, maybe we as individuals would not make our world revolve around the paper and metals we pass around. What about the living beings being mre important than these materials items. 

Where is the love?

I'm Not Down with This Sickness

What is cancer? Is it merely a disease or a zodiac sign? It is much more than that.

For a survivor of the disease, it is a road bump that they have overcome. 

For someone struggling with the disease it is probably the hardest thing they are dealing with.

For some, it is what GOD planned for them to finally meet him.

What about the people that are living with someone with cancer?

When a family is affected by cancer, it is debilitating not only for the one with cancer, but also for the family. 

In 2010, my dad was diagnosed with cancer and passe away 10 months later.

Although hard, I am thankful for the time i got to spend with him.

One thing that is never really talked about is that time when someone is waiting for the results of their tests. Whether their life will change or stay the same. That terrifying time between "We think you may have cancer and would like to perform a biopsy" and "I'm sorry to tell you this, but we were right."

When I lost my dad, this was just about the only thing on my mind. It is easy to describe how I felt, but how did he? I can't imagine how scared he was... or maybe he was the opposite? Thankful? 

It's hard to know, but I like to think that when he entered through the pearly gates none of that mattered anymore. 

R.I.P. Daddy

I love you

My Beneficial Friend

No Strings Attached? 

Although one of my favorite movies, I'm not sure I could ever do that. 

I catch feelings way too fast to even try that. I am just a big bundle of feelings that don't ever stop or consult my brain. I tend to think with my heart, which is pleasant in comparison to the typical male that thinks with their "head".

 (disclosure: not all men think like that)

Luckily for me, I have somebody that I am thankful to say holds my heart.

I often wonder what others think of the arrangement of no strings attached.

I'm sure it works for those that don't catch feelings as easily as myself, I want to know though what others think or feel, or rather don't feel.

Thoughts?

Fathers' Day!

With Fathers' Day quickly approaching it is becoming ever more apparent that I am lacking in the Father department. Not because I had a deadbeat dad or anything; my dad passed away 2 years ago. He passed when I was 16, almost 17. 

This man was the most incredible man I ever had the pleasure and opportunity of meeting. He was kind, intelligent, and so much more. His best quality was probably his humor. He had the ability to make anyone he met laugh until they cried. He had such a cheesy sense of humor, and I am thankful I inherited. 

His favorite joke was "A three legged dog walked into a bar and says 'I'm looking for the man who shot my paw(pa)'" It is a lame joke and probably would make more sense to speak it, but I laugh simply because it was his joke. 

I miss him like crazy every single day.

On March 25, 2011 my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It was devastating. 

He had been in the hospital for about a week before they actually knew what was wrong with him. On that morning I walked upstairs to his room, which had acquired a new sign on the door. It was a warning sign with a huge word on it, so I immediately looked it up. No one else knew why I mysteriously started crying. The doctor came in a few hours later to reveal the news. I think my dad knew though. I think he knew that week while in the hospital that it was cancer, I think we all knew, we just didn't say anything, as if in fear of jinxing the situation. 

Like any new thing to effect a family, we learned how to deal and how to respond as a Family.

It was hard, watching him slowly dying and yet having hope that he would pull through.

That's the hardest part. Not the death or the dying. 

The Hope. 

He fought for 10 months, countless bouts with chemo and radiation. Numerous doctors visits, lab test, you name it. By the time he passed, we were familiar with the oncology staff. They even let me in the nurses room and take ice cream as I pleased. 

We knew that when Hospice started coming that the day was going to come soon.

Hospice is a great service, but its terrifying when they become a part of your family.

My dad was a fighter. No matter what he stayed strong for everyone. 

While he was sick, he put all asie when my best friend died just to be there for me.

I love that man and admire him so much.

I miss him dearly, but I believe he is in Heaven and not hurting anymore.

"Chillin' with Jesus"

Happy Fathers' Day, Daddy.
I Love You.

My Love

Have you ever been in love? I can honestly say I have. I am very aware of the fact that I am only 19, but I am pretty certain I have met the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with. We have been together almost two years and he is my best friend. 

I mean just the way he looks at me...

I melt every single time I see him

The way he walks

His smell

That smile 

Everything. 

You want to know something? The way his mom treats me, I would have ran long ago, but something about him is different than anyone I have ever met before.

 I swear it was love at first sight.

Our love story is one that is going to die with us, and probably won't mean anything to anyone besides us, but I am perfectly alright with that. 

When we met, we each had someone in our lives that we had been dating for 2+ years, but let me tell you; when I saw him, my whole life changed. 

We met in a summer college class, we were sophomores in high school (always told we were gifted). We were friends and that was that, but I could not get him off of my mind. This friendship lasted almost 3 years before we finally pushed everyone else aside. It was time for him to be mine. I know it probably wasn't right to hurt my now ex boyfriend to be with this man, but I let my heart take control.

Now here we are, two years later, and I have never been more happy in my entire life.

We both go to separate colleges, but that hasn't stopped us. 

I know I'm young, but if I had to choose him or the sun, I'd be one nocturnal son of a gun. 

I love you.

Darcy

Darcy's the name. Not much to it you see, other than a girl trying to make it through life unscathed, although it seems quite impossible right now. Only time will tell what is in store, so I'm just enjoying life as it is. What is there to know? College student (Go Bulldogs!), blonde, ambitious, unmotivated, and most definitely not boring. 

At the moment, trying to pay for my second year of college has become nearly impossible. No matter how many scholarships I get or financial aid I am given, it just isn't enough. Does anyone else have that problem? No? Just me? It feels as if no one is willing to work with a college student to help us. Some of us going to college could be helping them one day. What happens when one of us becomes their doctor in the future? Of course we will help, because we know how much someone can really need help. 

All in all, college sucks when it comes to paying for it. 

The fun starts when you actually get in and figure the money part out. That moment at the beginning of the semester when you experience freedom for the first time, living off by yourself for the first time. The world is your oyster. That moment your parents leave from dropping you off and you can do almost anything that you want to. 

That's when it all becomes worth it. 

My first year of college, I had the privilege of meeting the people who have become the best friends I always needed during high school. That friend that was honest when needed, just down the hall from you, a friend that would help you at 3 in the morning no matter what. 

They say the friends you make in college are the ones that last a lifetime.

Friends come and go.

Elementary. 

Middle School.

High School.

College.

I'm not sure what treasures my second year will bring, but I'm so excited to find out (assuming I can pay for it). 

TBC