If you only knew...

Oh if only you knew...

This past weekend I attended the Texas Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values in Austin. There about 70 students from twenty different universities in Texas came together for the weekend to discuss our thoughts and ideas on finding our purpose, building relationships, commending in acts of service, as well as participating in forgiveness and reconciliation. 

During the weekend I was able to meet fellow students from across Texas who share the same passion and desire as I do to help make our community a greater place. My most rewarding experience from the weekend was during my small group's community service project. Saturday afternoon, we made our way to Dell's Children's Hospital where we were given time to interact with the children. During those few hours of play, I realized that those kids did not want our sympathy, they just wanted someone to play with. Whether it was us creating foam door knobs and picture frames or drawing beautiful master pieces, it was an awesome feeling to see their faces bright up. There was a little girl named Sarah who just made my day hands down. We were drawing together and she found a stencil of a dog and began tracing it. She started coloring this dog and she told her father and I that this dog looks like "Chance" their dog. Then we continued talking about the movie BOLT and I shared with her the fact that I wished I had a hamster so I could name him "Rhino" like the hamster in BOLT. She giggled and told me about her awesome guinea pig named "Squeaky". Apparently "Squeaky" looks like "Bugsy" from Bedtime Stories, except he has smaller eyes of course. =)

The whole time that Sarah and I were talking, I just saw how happy she was drawing, laughing, and playing with her sisters, who also came to visit her that day. It made me realize that no matter what cards in life that you are dealt with, you can always maintain a positive attitude because things happen for a reason. Everything happens exactly the way it's suppose to happen. Now, whether that's to your standards or not, it'll happen, good or bad. You see, Sarah was not dealt the best hand of cards but has made the best of her situation and I think that her and I were meant to have a goofy conversation that would brighten both of our days. Who knows, maybe even that short amount of time we spent together, changed both of our outlooks on everything. My advice to you is always to expect the unexpected. After all, you never know who you are going to meet and what you will be doing once you meet them. Initiating a simple conversation with someone may not be something you plan to do on a day to day basis but ultimately, when it comes down to it, it was suppose to happen for a reason. I'll leave you with these two little questions...

People always say, "everything happens for a reason", right? 

Well wouldn't it be nice to know what that reason was?

I wish I knew exactly what to tell you, 

Mai Lee

Spring Fever!!!

Over the past week I have visited two local chapters who had the heart in it to win it but, somewhere along the way, they got a little side tracked. Oh boy do I know the feeling! It's that time of year where the weather is pretty, the end is near, and Spring Fever is infecting us all! There are many days where I find myself daydreaming at the library or at my desk just thinking of events to come but then realize an hour later that I have homework and other chores that must be done before the night's end. I remember that I have responsibility which, is so easy to give up. This past week has been interesting to say the least. Making those presentations at those chapters was extremely rewarding in the end just as going to the school show back home. I was able to have a weekend, go home, and just relax, or so I thought. On the bright side, I was able to see hundreds of members from the six different high schools in my school district take their spot in the spotlight, exhibiting their projects and showing off their hard work. I know what it takes to get there, I've been there, I've done that for four years, but every year was a little different. I went from bawling my eyes out over my first hog "Sunshine", to crying my senior year over the fact that I was never going to be able to show in Official Dress again. And that weekend was nothing different. I saw younger members learning the ways of the show to the older members rejoicing over the fact that their hard work had paid off. 

 

Two of my agricultural science teachers really shined the light on my best friend and I. They showed us no special treatment and expected nothing less than our natural willingness to work, and that's exactly what we gave them. Whether it was us setting up and helping with the Buyer pictures to marking animals the last night for the processing plants, we were there with a smile on our face, bundled up in our jackets. The last night after we spent a majority of our night marking animals and getting things ready for the next morning, we helped them unload a hog back at the barns. Well, while my best friend and I were unloading the gilt, our two teachers were inside prepping the pen. After all of that was said and done, we went back to the other barns, unloaded the trailer and sat around and talked for hours upon hours. After we all shared HILARIOUS stories, one of our teachers brought us back to a serious note. He told us that while my best friend and I were unloading that gilt, he turned to his teaching partner and told him, "Man, we had it good didn't we?". Our other teacher replied, "Yeah, yeah we did." He late goes on and explains to us that my best friend and I were the reason to why they had it so good. He tells us that out of all of the kids they have taught, we were the only ones who come back and without even being asked get right to work, helping whomever and wherever we can. They said that they were so grateful to have two great kids here with them and after that, all bets were off! I was sitting there, trying to hide it, even though I was not successful, the tears just streaming down my face. 

Those two men touched my heart and made me realize why I do the things I do. After my teachers left to go home, my best friend and I realized that we were the lucky ones. We both knew that we would do anything for those two men at the drop of a hat, just as they would do anything for us. They said it's kids like us that make it all worth it. Well, it's teachers like them that keep us going. Going back, seeing my old friends and teachers really gave me that extra push to keep going to the end of the tunnel. It was a refreshing experience that renewed my spirits and revived me. Maybe next time you have a chance, do something just for you. Take some "me" time and relax. Go out and watch a movie with your friends, make dinner with your family, or just sit around and talk to those who you love the most. Who knows, maybe you need to do something for yourself for a change to keep up your efforts of serving others? So overcome that awful fever and know that you can and will get things done! 

Peace and Love, 

Mai Lee 

I'm just hog wild about San Antonio!!!

Good golly Miss Molly!! This past weekend Macy and I went to the San Antonio Livestock Show as volunteers during the first wave of the hog show and let's just say it was interesting to say the least. Now so we all have an understanding of what is about to happen, I'm a fan of hogs....I raised my fair share in high school. Macy on the other hand, not so much. They are definitely not her favorite species so for her to come along with me was a HUGE deal!!! lol 

When we first got there on Sunday, Macy was wearing flip flops and needless to say they all just laughed at her and made her go back to her car and change shoes. Once we were both in proper attire, we went back behind the show ring and began our work. Macy was in charge of opening and closing the gate for the hogs in the next class as well as keeping people from walking through....she was a hog bouncer basically and didn't really wanna get too too dirty lol....I on the other hand, being the loving friend that I am stepped up and took on the task of being in the holding pens with the hogs, getting them down the line. Let's just say that after a few days of doing that my knees have some pretty sweet looking bruises!! =) There's always a price for working hard right??? 

The hours were long, the food was great, and the experience was UNFORGETTABLE!!!! 

Stay classy Texas FFA! 

Mai Lee ;D 

Oh and I would like to thank Sidney Carter for providing me with the Texas Pledge on Monday morning!! Good looking out girl, after all, it has been a year since I've said it ;D

I'm a Fan of the Scenery

Oh man this week has been hectic....and it's ONLY Wednesday!!!! This past weekend I attended the Spring Branch FFA Livestock Show. Friday night I was lucky enough to watch members exhibit their lambs, goats, and hogs The hog show, I must say, was the event of the night. This year the hog show was split into two classes and when each class started, so did the hogs. I mean as soon as that holding pen gate was opened, they were off!!! Hogs were makings victory lap after victory lap showing EVERYONE what they are really made of. The crowd enjoyed every second of it too! 

Saturday rolled around and that was a long day for everyone as well. The Greenhands were able to leave their mark on the Spring Branch FFA. They were even gracious enough to let me join in on the fun by painting my hand and letting me leave my mark on their chapter. There
was also a delicious luncheon where all the buyers came out to eat and mingle with the members. After we were all nice and full, the highly anticipated auction began. There were 75 lots to be sold and they contained anything from a steer to a horticulture project. The coolest part of the day, to me, was not the buyers bidding and purchasing projects, or seeing the members' hard work pay off, it was how every single member of the Spring Branch FFA chapter cheered for ALL 75 of their fellow members as they were up on stage. The support that they had for each other was INCREDIBLE!! We were all sitting in the bleachers cheering for members like Jake, Hannah, Michael, Amy, Chris, Ashley, etc. , as they stood there grinning from ear to ear on stage. Half of the members lost their voices that day from screaming so much but, it was worth it. I even almost lost my voice and it takes A LOT for that to happen, so you can only imagine how loud that cheering section was ;D hahaha I had such a blast hanging out with all of the members this weekend that I cannot wait for my next opportunity! Well guys and gals have a great rest of the week!!! =D 

Chow for now! 

Mai Lee :D 

Reunited and it feels so gooood

Hey there Texas FFA! 

WOW! So it has been quite some time hasn't it? Well I hope that all of you had a great and eventful winter break. I know I did, even though I worked everyday of it and wish it was longer BUT besides that, it was great! On the bright side our new Leadership Coordinater, Mr. Blaze Currie, has found a great new way to for us to interact with you all. Now we can all keep in touch through comments, polls, pictures, etc.! I don't know about you but I am extremely excited about it!!! 

In January, our team was finally reunited in Austin where we had a chance to start planning the best State Convention ever!!! We also met Comissioner Todd Staples, Commission Scott Dewhurst, and the Lt. Govenor!!! I know, I know, you're jealous. I would be too!! =) hahaha I'm just kidding! Our team also had a great day of training done by Soderquist. That day was by far the best day of training that I have ever gone through! 

Shortly after that I had to start going to classes again. I forgot how much I loved 8 o'clock classes? Yeah, not really but thankfully this semester seems to be going great, minus the whole business calculus class but who would like that anyway? ;) hahaha Macy and I have been hitting the Student Rec Center pretty hard core trying to get into shape. Our goal is to ultimately run a marathon!! It'll be a tough goal to accomplish but so far so good...well minus that one night last week where we worked out for an hour and a half and then ate at Chicken Express. Which I would like to say was a delicious experience. After that first time, I'm hooked!!! =) Well we all just got back from San Antonio this past weekend for the Rural Youth Banquet. Reagan, Dean, and myself were fortunate enough to have lunch with the Kiwanis Club. That was probably the best luncheon I have ever been in! The President, Mr. Paul Parker, was the funniest man I have ever met! His jokes were cracking us all up. I almost choked ten times from laughing so hard! Also, before the banquet we toured James Madison High School. That program is out of control AMAZING!!!! I was in such awe of what they are doing and what they are trying to accomplish. That was a great experience and I'm really glad I got to partake in it! I was also able to see my older sister who lives San Antonio! It was soo great to see her again! She is basically the older version of me hahaha =) I already miss her but I do get to see her two weeks, so I can NOT wait! 

Some upcoming events that I get to participate in will be the Spring Branch Livestock show this upcoming Saturday. I will also be working at San Antonio from Sunday, Feb. 15 to Tuesday, Feb. 17. The even though that I am most looking forward to takes place right back home at the Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo! That's where it all began for me and now I get to come back and see all of my friends do what they do best. I will also be reunited with my ag teachers who have been busy for their "favorite" member ;) Well if any of you are going to be there at any or all of these events please let me know! It will be so great to see you all again and see that you are doing well! 

Take care and keep on SMILING! 

Mai Lee Holmes