Back to School...

I find that after a long break (whether it be summer break or Christmas break), I'm very ready for the comforts of a my regular, though often chaotic, schedule. I like to be busy. I like the feeling of contentment after my hard work has been well completed. (Will someone please remind me I said this about halfway through the semester when I'm nearly drowning in schoolwork?!)

Over this break though, I've a lot of time for reflection and rejuvenation. I've had a ton of time to read and visit with family (some that I haven't spent real quality time with in a LONG time) and play. But now it's time for work again. For everything there is a season--a time to rest and a time to work. I'm so so so thankful that it's my junior year of college, I'm on track, have a solid major, and plans for grad school. But I'm open to any possibilities. In fact, when people ask me about my future career, I want to laugh in their face (no offense). Because it will be another 3 1/2 years until I finish my schooling, and I don't know where the Lord will lead me along the way or after that. I merely have "plans" but the Lord will determine my steps (I am so thankful for such intimate care and guidance).

I will be very busy this semester, with 17-19 credit hours, supervised research, Bible study, church, and possibly a part time job. This leaves very little time for a social life! haha. But I've asked the Lord to balance my mindset and my schedule, so that I can have friends and be a good friend to the ones I have. :-) Friendship requires effort and sacrifice and risk. This I have learned but have not mastered. I fear I need forgiveness for not being a good friend at times. The work of friendship is SO worth the benefits. Proverbs and Ecclesiates talks about how two are better than one, to keep warm and help one another. We are made for community. I pray this over my group of friends, my roommates, and my church.

Let me be the kind of friend Jesus was to his disciples--a servant. Not needy or demanding but serving and loving. Let me the kind of student that exemplifies Christ.

New years resolution #11: Balance.

'09 Baby!!

Happy, happy new year!!

I make new year's resolutions every single year. I like to write down my goals (both realistic and non). Some of them are the same every year and some change. Some are funny, and others are grave.

But as I glance backward into 2008, I see a lot of growth. The Lord has taught me much. I can hardly believe where I was this time last year... spiritually, mentally, emotionally. I was in a very different place than this year, praise the Lord. haha.

Paul understood goal-setting. He calls us to be goal-oriented with Christ as our goal. Throughout the New Testament, he stated "set your mind on things above" "pressing on toward the goal to which Christ calls us heavenward." He urges us to "run in such a way as to win a prize..."and to live "worthy of the calling"

These are my goals. These are the goals that recurr every year--every day to be exact. It's a daily choice, sometimes moment by moment. It's our choice... to choose life over death, light over darkness, Him over ourselves. Acknowledging Him as Lord. We do not "make" Him Lord.

I'm always grateful for a new year, but many times I have a hard time thinking so broadly. Let me explain. I can't think about this year as a whole... there's too many possibilities, too many days, too many moments to account for. I like to look at each day that seems much more manageable to my meager mind. Taking each morning being grateful for His renewed Mercy, His unfailing, neverending Love and the joy found in His presence.

Let us learn from 2008, and strive for a better 2009. "Forgetting what is behind, and straining towards what is ahead, the prize for which Christ calls us heavenward."

Some '09 resolutions:

1. Get in shape! Working-out, eathing healthy, getting sleep.
2. Do well in school. Do the very best that I can. A's please! :)
3. Pray about grad school, and make decisions as to where to apply and go.
4. Do volunteer work.... somewhere, anywhere. Maybe w/ homeless, ASP, tutoring.
5. Paint more often.
6. Make regular family visits...w/parents, Dad, Austin, Douglas, Tracy, Carrie, Zach.
7. Get a "job" on campus... maybe with the school newspaper or magazine publication.
8. Be more hospitable/social. Sometimes I become a recluse when my schedule gets crazy.
9. Bake & decorate cakes. I want to refine this skill, in case my other career options plummit
10. Take more photographs. (Also a backup career option) :)

Peace and Love....

The Colors of Fall

So, first let me state my apologies.  I haven't posted a new blog since August!  Geez.  Here we go:

I love fall--the cooler weather, the coloring of the leaves, the candied/caramel apples (my favorite is caramel).  It's simply a great time of year, and I have to admit, it's a gateway to an even better time of year: Christmas.  But don't worry, I'm not a retail store, and will NOT gracefully SKIP over Thanksgiving.  It's a wonderful holiday, in its own right.  Thankfulness is something we all can work on.  Contentment is bred within a thankful heart.  Remember that old hymn "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God hath done."  Do that. Actually count them.  It will be a huge list.  There's no way discontentment could breed with such a list. :-)

One thing I'm very thankful for is the window in my room.  It has a great view of the trees that line the small wood behind our townhouse.  There's a very tall, huge maple that stands right in front of my window, and every time I open my window, it stares back at me.  I've watched all the seasons with this tree--pale green, the beginnings of spring, deep bright green, the middle of summer, and the bareness of winter.   But my favorite... now.  The rich golden yellow brings a smile to my face every single time.  I love the Lord, and His artistic perfection.

Everything about nature points to God, His death and resurrection--how death always leads to new life; how light will come in the darkness of nights, even in space, light abounds in the stars and planets.  The rising and setting of the sun, the falling of the leaves, the new life spring brings after the coldness of winter.  Everything points to Him. to Hope.  to Life. to Love.  It's a beautifully intricate story, which I am humbled to even witness.  Let us join with nature itself to worship and bring glory to the One who created us all.  Thankfulness.  It's as simple as that.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

The Cereal Aisle

I love going to the grocery store. Does that sound like a fat kid or what? The cereal aisle is my favorite...so many decisions for one box of cereal. Do I want healthy cereal? Or a sugar rush? Do I want a "lighter" cereal or GRANOLA? It's a wonderful process. I feel really bad for the people with no decision-making ability when they hit that isle... thankfully, I have favorites in all categories. Reeses Puffs (don't mock... its delish), Granola (without raisins), and good ole Cheerios.

Storytime....

I love, love, love a great story.  Simply a well written plot, a witty anecdote, or one of family's crazy stories all bring me immense satisfaction.  And it can come in any form, really... book, TV show, movie, play or musical (my favorite), even sometimes a commercial (see blog post below).

Especially, with a good novel, I really invest in the characters I'm reading about...going through their joys, their pains, their triumphs.  I love it.  

I'm currently obsessed with the Twilight series.  Yes, they are vampire novels.  But before you jump to radical conclusions about my social life, let me just say that I'm not one of the "those" people.  You know, the sci-fi creepers that vicariously live through Star Trek.  These were a first for me in the "fantasy" genre.  They are incredibly addicting and very well written!!  So I decided I needed to share my joys in these books to others, so that we could talk about them. But every single person I convinced to read them was dubious at first (to say the very least) but ended up after reading all of them, being more obsessed than me.  All of this to say... if you haven't read them.  Go get Twilight now and start.  Hop on the bandwagon.

But enough on my current reading obsession.  Let's move on before someone has me committed... 

In view of my love of stories, I'm very happy to be a part of one of the biggest stories ever.  The story of humanity.  No, wait its bigger than mere humanity. It's the story of God and His Kingdom reigning... and I still can't believe He wants me to have a part in it at all.  I'm always nervous I'm going to screw something up, and the world will spontaneously combust into flames (like my kitchen sometimes), but thankfully, I'm not that important.  (Huge bite of humility pie just taken...)  But God is.  He lives in me, and will live through me...and help me, despite my impatience for an answer, or stubbornness to concede.  

I think the Lord shares my passion for a great story, and I KNOW He cares about His characters (yep, that's you and me) more than I could ever comprehend.  He's told me some things about the end of His story:  He wins.  And those who are with him do too.  So, I guess there is such a thing as a "happy ever after..."

Clumsy Me

I seriously get "hurt" someway or another every single day. No lie. "Hurt" is in quotes cuz it's usually nothing serious. Normally it's just a result of me being my clumsy, clutsy self.

Example: recap of weekend:

Friday: kiddo rammed me with his trike. Bruise.

Saturday: scratched my arm on a hook (like where they hang the jewelry) at Express. started bleeding.

Sunday: Stubbed my toe on my dresser. Also bled.

Today: Stabbed the bottom of my foot with an upside down spiked heel.

(Good thing the Cullens weren't around... for those of you who got that... kudos.)

So, my new goal is to NOT get hurt every single day of my life.

Bouquets of Sharpened Pencils

I love the start of a new school year. Does this pass once you're out of school? I certainly hope not. The teeming of soccer moms vying for the last pencil pouch and kids meticulously picking out the perfect notebook with Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana displayed proudly across the front cover. Starting new classes with new people... so fun (hey, don't mock my excitement, because in a couple of months, or maybe weeks, I'll be dragging my sorry a to class!)

I think another part of this excited anticipation comes from the fact that fall starts along with school. Welll... kind of, in Georgia it's still piping HOT until just before Thanksgiving!! But one of my FAVORITE quotes/dialogue comes from the movie You've Got Mail, at the very beginning when they're talking about New York in the Fall.

Oo--which brings me to another one of my passions--New York City. Sorry... my mind is so rando, I know.

I want so badly to visit the city. I've never been, only dreamed of going. I want the whole experience... the crowded sidewalks, bustling streets, the Stores!, and oh, the love of my life... Broadway!!! But to make up for the sad reality of not going to NYC, I am going to see Wicked at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta.