Howdy. My friends call me "B"!
The scoop: Several months ago, I approached the dean of my school, Michael Patrick, about a language program offered by Hebrew University. What was once intended as a five-week vacation has turned into a three-month adventure of a lifetime. My fellow Texan and Regent student, Kim, will be traveling with me as we complete an exciting internship and an incredible life journey in Israel. We will be working for CBN, producing news packages, doing a community service project or two, and best of all, living in the Holy Land!
The details: I was born to amazing and loving parents Bob & Sharon Shelton, but I have to split my parents' love and affection with my awesome brother and delightful sister-in-law, Ben & Deena Shelton. My daddy fixes teeth, and my mom does a little bit of everything, including work for my dad. My parents have two dogs, which have deposed Ben & I of any existing priority in the household. It’s cool though. We are a true Southern family with true Southern hospitality, drink real sweet tea in mason jars, and know how to kick back and relax on a lazy afternoon.
Page 2 of my story: I attended Lee University, where I graduated with a B.A. in History and a minor in Political Science. And like many of my fellow colleagues with history majors, I’m enjoying a career in graduate school. I’m currently pursuing joint-masters degrees in Journalism and Government at Regent and hope to graduate sooner than later. Each summer since 11th grade, I’ve taken classes, but this summer I’m not. So, this is my first summer without homework (not counting the internship, of course); and to be quite honest, I’m really not sure what to do with myself. I’m really looking forward to catching up on the pleasure reading and have formed a unique book club with Deena. The current reading list includes the classic authors and those soon to be classics, including Herman Melville, Khalid Hosseini, Harper Lee, and Oscar Wilde.
Spare times: My favorite hobbies usually include the activities that I never have time to do, like fishing, hunting, cooking, and of course, shopping. When I’m not on the water reeling in a big bass, I can usually be found darkening the doorways of Gap and TJ Maxx. Other days I love playing hostess and cooking for friends. I love Mayfield milk, which you can only buy in the Tennessee tri-state area, and Blue Bell ice cream which is a Texas commodity. Bonnie 101:
- I don't have a favorite color.
- I don't like boxed chocolates. Seriously, please never give these to me.
- I'm a very outdoorsy girl who knows how to hunt, trail, and skin a deer, bait her own hook and identify poison ivy. I'm not allergic to poison ivy by the way.
- I love pedicures and manicures. The first deer I shot and skinned, I did all with a French tip manicure and artificial nails. I get pedicures regularly throughout flip-flop season.
- My mother is continuously encouraging me to embrace my feminine side and practice the poise and grace of a true lady. I can’t imagine why.
A Lagniappe more: Life is wonderful, but the best part about life are those "opportunities" God provides to grow and mature into the person He's made us. Lately, I keep getting more and more of these opportunities (case in point: Israel). I'm not perfect, and I'll be the first one to tell you that. But I am incredibly thankful for my friends and family that cause me to dig deeper and be a stronger woman. As Kim & I journey through Israel this summer, I ask that you keep us in your prayers and pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to us in new ways.
Shalom Ya’ll.