{Habakkuk 1:5}

 “Look at the nations and watch—

and be utterly amazed. 

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told."

One of our Deltas, Jess, tweeted this scripture reference earlier today, and I think it is just so... exciting! The concept of never really being able to fathom the things that God can and will do is mind-blowing--I think largely because we live in a culture where we are so used to being able to find out anything and everything with a Google search or text to ChaCha. Either way, God is mighty! He can do all things, even those things that lie beyond our comprehension :) We will be amazed, and we should be amazed by the miracles and blessings that are taking place every day. His hand is in it all, and it is worthy of our praise.

Probably the most unproductive day ever...

And it's totally my own fault. Literally, I spent six hours in TDU today (I repeat, SIX HOURS!) and did not do a single item of homework. What did I do instead? Watched Once Upon a Time on hulu and socialized with my SAO sisters. I convinced myself that was okay, since I'm normally more productive at night anyways. Well, I went to Carrier after small group, but I was sitting at a table with my sisters... Problem. I was there for approximately 4 hours and only typed about 4 sentences worth of stuff. Granted, I did read/find the articles I needed for my oceanography assignment, but I have yet to type it. Woops... The worst part is that I don't care that much. My motivation level right now to do anything school related is zero. Christmas break, you cannot come soon enough! GCN cannot come soon enough! I was looking at pictures from rehearsals and wanted to be home right then and there. I miss my Richmond loves! Eleven days, Stephanie, eleven days...

And I just have to put this on here because it came up in the same search results as the picture above...

(Heather, for some reason, this made me think of you.... Haha!)

Bahahaha! YES :) Goodnight all!

A beautiful revelation :)

As I was singing in church this morning, a wonderful thought struck me for what I believe was the first time ever!

I get to spend forever with everyone I love!

Ahh! In that moment, my heart was filled with so much joy! Every sister. Every friend. Every family member. Every youth. Every single beloved brother and sister in Christ! Just take a moment to think about that. Forever! Amazing, right?! (Now, of course, this is based on the assumption that I myself am going to Heaven, which I certainly hope I will be!) Oh my goodness, to never have to leave the people I love.... It will be so divine! And, even better still, we will all be in the constant presence of God! WHAT?!?! To be able to physically hug and tough and dance beside Jesus... It's going to blow my mind, I'm telling you.

I also had a verse that popped into my head during prayer time...

"And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more."
{1 Thessalonians 4:10}

Now, I have never read this book of the Bible through, and I've only read passages from it during the occasional Bible study or sermon, so I wasn't sure why that verse came to mind. But, after looking it up, it made sense. I need to love more, and I mean genuinely and wholeheartedly-- without condition or restriction. It's true, I love a lot of people, but my quality of love can go further and deeper. Noted!

Other reasons today was lovely:

• Scoob was home!
• These crazy boys (Josh, Ben, and Tyler) driving beside me and jamming out to Christmas music on the way to lunch!

• Enjoying Chipotle with a large group of people I love :)
• My ponytail is all ready to be shipped!

• Dinner with my padre.
• Visiting Steph in Carrier.
• An hour-long skype date with Jenn :)

Sort of somewhat bittersweet note:

• Thanksgiving break is officially over.
• I am back at JMU.
• Back to work, studying, homework, and stress.
• But hey, I have lovely friends here too!

Gotta look on the bright side, right? YES! There is always something to praise God for! Goodnight loves :)

Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Well, today I got my hair cut for donation for the second time! Last time, I sent my ponytail off to Locks of Love. This time, it's going to Pantene Beautiful Lengths :)

Soakin' up my final hours of Rapunzel-status hair!

I got my hair done at Flirt salon in Carytown by my lovely friend Shelly! If you ever want to get your hair done, hit her up! She's wonderful :)

There's my 12 inches!

Tahdah!!!

I'm SO happy with how Shelly did my hair! There are lots of layers and it looks classy; I really do love it! Only one of my JMU friends knows that I cut my hair, so I cannot wait to see all of their reactions! Haha. That's half the fun of doing something different, seeing other people take it in :) Well, that was the biggest happening of my day today, so I think I'll leave it at that :) I love you all! Goodnight!

Thanksgiving Eve/Day 2011

Well, as you all know, today was the annual "day of giving thanks!" I for one consider my holiday celebration last night, which I enjoyed with the lovely Tobey family, whom I love sincerely with all of my heart! After a lovely meal prepared by Heather, we drank tea and sat in the living room (with fireplace in full force!) while we watched a movie :) Granted, the quality of Super 8 was questionable, but I enjoyed the movie time nonetheless :) Follow that up with a little bit of Annemarie's Amish bread and some convo time in Heather's room, and that was my night in a nutshell :) Now some of you may wonder how that fits into my "Thanksgiving." Well, words cannot begin to express how thankful I am for both Heather and her family. They show me more love and support than my own family does sometimes, and they truly do make me feel like an "honorary daughter" as Papa Tobz sometimes calls me :) As for Heather, I could go on for quite some time. Not once has she failed to help me out in times of struggle, and I know that I can trust her with anything and everything :) She has been such a blessing in my life, and I love her whole-heartedly and unconditionally!

This morning, I attended the Thanksgiving service with the Tobeys :) As it has before, it reminded me that there are blessings to be grateful for regardless of how grim the scenario may seem. Perhaps I do have family tension, and maybe they don't exactly understand me all that well. But you know, I'm thankful that I have a family to sit around the dinner table with on holidays like this (even if it is at two separate houses). Yes, my financial situation is unfortunate, but I am thankful to have a job at school and parents and friends who are more than willing to help me out when I need it. As for my friends, they are my constant in regards to giving thanks.

Every night, before I lay down to sleep, I thank God for blessing me with the most incredible friends in the entire world! They have contributed more to my spiritual, emotional, and personal growth than anyone may every truly realize. If I ever need anything, I know from experience that they would go to any length to give me their help and support. They always keep me grounded in the Lord, and lift me up in my lowest times. They are the greatest testament to what it means to love and serve God, and they have been with me in every step of my Christian walk. Friends, I love you-- more than you may ever realize. My thankfulness for you goes beyond words, and it goes far beyond a single day of recognition. Though I may never be able to adequately express my gratitude, please just know that I care about you more than anything in this world :)

Wondering what I spent my day doing post-church? Run-down time!

• Meal time at my mom's.
• Mealtime at my dad's.
• Football viewing with dad, Jenn, Candice, and David.
• The legals drank beer, the family can be exhausting...
• Hang out with Kelly for a short while.
• Currently watching Elf :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope yours was simply wonderful!

Sweet potato roll, icing writing, and celebration with friends :)

The first part of today was slow-paced yet slightly productive. I cleaned the downstairs bathroom like I was asked to, and I ended up napping on the downstairs sofa without really meaning to. You know, this whole "I guess it's cool to get pitch black by 5 PM" nonsense is not cool at all. It makes me very sleepy! I suppose it didn't help that it was raining.... Womp! At any rate, it didn't affect my evening plans. I woke up with time to spare before meeting Elizabeth for dinner :) Yay sushi dates! I enjoyed myself very much, between the dancing at out table, delicious food, and excellent company :)

After our meal, we ventured over to Carvel to pick up a cake as a celebratory gesture for Julie's recent birthday and Kathryn's acceptance into VCU! It was a wonderful experience. The guy let us write on the cake!

First he let us practice.

And this was our finished product! It was tricky to make both messages fit, but hey, we did the best we could! Plus, personal is always better, I think :)

We took it back to Elizabeth's and then started on some cupcakes! We realized that we needed eggs though, so we ended up taking a trip to the dollar tree for eggs, balloons, and blowpops. Haha :) Everyone got to Elizabeth's around 9, and not long after was when we decided to present the goodies!

Dawwww!

They loved it :) The cupcakes (not pictured) were devoured, and the cake was almost completely eaten! Julie named her balloon "Norman." :) We proceeded to watch Tosh.0, catch a majority of Eurotrip, and just hang out while enjoying each other's company :) I do love my friends! SO very much! Tonight was like a repeat of our summer hangouts, and it made me very happy. Break, you have been good to me! Goodnight loves :)

"Should we go back?"

To pick up and/or potentially help our friend whose car broke down? I'm thinking yes, Eric... Haha!

Oh Monday, I find it much easier to enjoy you when I'm on break :) Today was rather relaxing and also quite productive, which is good. This is going to be in run-down form.

• Paid my court fees and turned in the proof of my driving school completion.
• Got lunch with Kathryn at El Cap :)
• Cleaned the bunny cage.
• Took a Social Work test.
• Watched an episode of Once Upon a Time.
• I'm all caught up now! And I really like the show!
• Went to my padre's for dinner.
• Talked to madre for a little while.
• Operation "Beach Week for birthday present" is a go! YAY!
• Hung out at Kim's apartment with Elsbeth, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Eric, and Houston.
• Complete with Cookout run and long conversation in Kim's room :)
• We had a conversation about people who fall in love (legitimately) with inanimate objects... It's crazy, and mildly disturbing.
• I accidentally fell asleep for a few minutes while laying in the floor. Woops.
• I spent at least ten minutes cutting split ends after I got home.
• It's like they all hide once I bust out the scissors!

Okay, I do believe that is all :) OH! I also made a decision today that may leave quite a few people shocked on/post Friday... Teehee, stay tuned! Goodnight all :)

On a random side-note, I absolutely hate it when the streets look like this:

All the lights are being reflected and there's sitting water everywhere... It makes me really anxious, especially when you can't see the lines... Bahh! Okay I'm really done now. Haha.

I suppose one should heed their own advice...

and I am no exception. But I suppose I struggle with deciphering whether or not this is an "apple worth picking" so to speak. Were I to express raw emotions, what would result? Would confession proceed obligatory inclusion? What a rough terrain for interaction to be based upon, and hardly an ideal scenario for anyone. It seems perhaps far better to leak in private than to splurge in openness and be perceived as hypersensitive (though that possibility has not been discarded). I suppose what's saddening is the way things seem to have been altered. Perhaps for others there has remained consistency, but alas I feel an ever increasing barricade that leads me to harbor both frustration and confusion. You have not angered me, that emotion in part seems too severe, but this frustration is no result of accident or coincidence. In time I may very well be able to move past it without bitter feelings or grudge, and if this is to be continual then I hope that time comes soon. Pettiness is not an appealing quality, and for that reason I choosing to remain quiet in my own respect. I would hate to cause tension or confrontation where none is needed. If the only person who is feeling negative impact is myself, then why cause others an unnecessary disturbance? That would be selfish on my part-- a quality I never wish to embody. So instead I bite the bit and swallow pride, remembering that I am not entitled to the things I am used to. Change is constant, regardless of my perspective on it. There is silver lining beyond the opaque storm clous. Better still, there are silver clouds. Though I may be down in this respect, I have not overlooked my countless blessings that lift me up :) There is still much joy to be had, and one scenario of upset cannot eclipse that simple yet beautiful truth.

3.6 oz ice cream cups (spoon included)

Oh, dear friends, I do love being home! And truly, this is my home!

My mom woke me up, with breakfast all nice and ready for me :) Pigs-in-a-balnket! One of my absolute faves :) My mom and I sat and ate together in the living room while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie; twas lovely and relaxing. It wasn't until after noon that I actually got ready for the day, but even that was glorious in and of itself!

I met Ashlee for lunch at Panera later in the afternoon, and that was wonderful too. I was able to catch up on what was going on her life, and we talked for nearly two hours in front of the fireplace :) I do love her! And what better to do after that than to go to church and hang out with my loves! I had a wonderful time conversing and spending time with my church family; in many ways I consider them to be my true family :) One of my highlights was getting to see and talk to Chelsea, who I feel like I haven't seen in ages! I cannot begin to express to you how joyful I am that she has grown so close to some of my good friends at church. Our new mutual friends will mean that I get to spend a lot more time with her! Oh, how happy that makes my heart!

After her rehearsal, Nikki and I had a Fizzle Gizzle date! Twas wonderful indeed. I love Nikki so much. We relate on so many levels, and she is just a wonderful friend to have in my life-- truly a blessing! And after going back to church for a bit, Heather and I embarked on an ice cream endeavor! The thing is, it was 10:30. Thus, we ended up getting little baby ice creams from Kroger and enjoying them while sitting inside of my car in the parking lot :) I love my best friend, and I love getting to see her this much!

Thanksgiving break has been splendid thus far! I have countless blessings and am surrounding by the most incredible love :) All thanks be to God :) Goodnight all!

Thanksgiving Break 2011: the beginning

I didn't post last night, and that was because I went to the Breaking Dawn midnight premier!

I really enjoyed it :) And what made it even better was being there with Hannah, Brandi, Jenn, Kirsten, Rachel, and Nicole. I love them so much! Dove love, for real!

This morning came early, as I had to finish packing, pickup my paycheck, and get checked out buy 10:15. Ezara kindly drove me home, and I was back in Richmond by 12:30! By the time we got to my house, though, I was left with very little time to unload my stuff and make it to church by 1. One of my dear friends lost her mother as of recent, and I attended her funeral so as to be as much of a support as I could.

Following the reception, I deposited my check and was soon off to see my little sisters art in the CFA showcase. I absolutely love my sisters newly developed style of art! As soon as I stepped into the gallery, I knew exactly which piece was hers, and I definitely had a proud sister moment :) I saw some of my loved from the dance department (such as Fink, Tony, Rave, Kara, Jessica, Hailee) before I left with my mom and Jenn. I didn't stay for the show, because I'm a broke college student and I didn't want to have to buy my own dinner later (since my family wasn't staying for the performing arts).

I got dinner with my mom and Jenn at Casa Grande, and although the food was excellent, the conversation got tense. My mother and I simply do not see eye-to-eye on political issues. At all. I am much more of a humanitarian, wanting lookout for everyone and make sure that we are helping those who truly, truly need it. My mother, however, feels like she has enough issues of her own that she's dealing with, and that our country should just look out for #1, essentially. It was rough. This is why I don't discuss politics; it angers me too easily, and I feel like there is so little heart or sympathy that goes into people standpoints. So yeah, I was super happy to get out of there!

I spent a good amount of time at church during the youth choir's GCN rehearsal :) I love going to church and seeing so many of my little loves! There were hugs to be had everywhere, and lots of discussion about getting together this week :) YAY! I love them all so much!

Kelly came over for a short spell, and we just relaxed on my sofa and talked for a while. She was very, very sleepy though, so we called it a night kind of early. This will probably benefit me a great deal, since I wasn't even able to get five hours of sleep last night... Woops! Both of were dealing with sleep drizz after the midnight premier, so really this was probably best for both of us. That being said, my pillow is calling my name. Goodnight loves!

P.S.- In case you were wondering, I AM SO EXCITED THAT I AM ON THANKSGIVING BREAK RIGHT NOW! Eeeeeeep :D Make plans with me!

JMUnited

Today was truly a sad day for JMU, and perhaps the quietest I've ever experienced. But I couldn't help but feel my heart warmed as I glanced around at the purple that flooded our campus.  Students, faculty, and staff, all bleeding purple for those who are no longer here with us. Our bond here at James Madison is one that goes beyond acquaintance; we are a family, united as dukes. In the wake of tragedy, I have seen this community come together in support of one another. We are JMU, and we are all together one.

Show your colors, proud and true. We are the dukes of JMU<3

#JMUstrong

JMU experienced its fifth [I just discovered] sixth loss of the semester tonight, most of which have occurred within the past month. With the passing of four students and an administrator, our community has found it essential to stand together and be a support system that is rooted in our love for one another as dukes. We are a community, not merely a student body. And in the wake of tragedy, we will remain JMUstrong. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of all who have passed. Heaven is truly glistening purple and gold.

In this season, we are constantly being asked what it is that we are thankful for. This year, I am truly humbled and grateful to be blessed with life. That girl who was hit by the bus tonight could have been me. The girl who had the long-boarding accident could have been me. But I am alive. These breathes are not guaranteed to me, nor is prolonged physical life. So long as I am living in this world, I will praise God for being able to see another day, for having time to spend with loved ones, and for being able to soak up the richness of the glory that dwells amongst His children. Thank you, God, for giving me the time that you have. And I thank you that I am a part of a community that bands together in times of tragedy; let us all sing praises for the blessing of life.

"But I will sing of your strength, 
   in the morning I will sing of your love; 
for you are my fortress, 
   my refuge in times of trouble."
{Psalm 59:16}


"So do not fear, for I am with you; 
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you and help you; 
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

{Isaiah 41:10}

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

{Joshua 1:9}

700?!

What on earth...

Guys.... I've been at this for a while. Haha! I literally cannot believe this is my 700th time posting on here. In-sanity.

Well, my only class I had today got canceled since my professor had jury duty, so that was pretty awesome! I got lunch with Lauren, which was lovely :) I love her so very much, and I'm glad I got to spend some time with her, since spare time is hard to come by (for both of us, really). After enjoying our meal and going to make copies in the Clubhouse, I was off to Carrier. I worked on my social work project until it was time to depart for small group. Our Bible study was really awesome tonight, which was all about being thankful. I know that may sound obvious or cliche, but the way it was broken down gave us the opportunity to really go in-depth. I got a lot out of it, and I am so glad I went!

I ended up catching the end of the SAO Bible study once I was back on campus, but then realizing that I didn't necessarily have to... Haha, a little mishap occurred in regards to my RSVP, but it's no big deal. There's no such thing as too much time in the Word! From there, it was back to Carrier to finish my project. I just finished about ten minutes ago, and this thing is 10 pages long (double spaced, title page and reference page included). WHAT?! I did not realized I typed that much! Haha. I hope Josh (my professor) doesn't get overwhelmed...

Well, the bell is being rung and the lights are being flashed. You know what that means? I'm getting kicked out of Carrier.

Goodnight all!

Worth dying for.

"...the words, 'I love you' can mean, 'I love me and want to use you to love me more.'"

-Paul Ramsey

This morning in church, as part of the sermon, we were asked to turn to our neighbor(s) and tell them that they are worth dying for. We all are. If we weren't, then why would Christ have died for us? His love redeems us and makes us worthy. Our love is called to mimic the love that Jesus has for us. So consider this: Are your relationships, romantic or otherwise, in equilibrium? Do you love that person wholeheartedly, for them? Or do you have ulterior, selfish motives? Though it may seem like a silly question to ask yourself, I challenge you to do it anyway. I know that I myself have acted out of "love" while ultimately looking for more attention to be focused on myself. Though I hate that confession, I am not ashamed to admit it. I have asked for God's forgiveness on the occasions that this has occurred, and I know that Has, and is continuing to, transform my heart. I know that my friends are worth dying for, and I need to tell them that more often. The intensity of that truth is evident, yet I think it makes it all the more beautiful. Know that you are loved, and be that love in return.

" ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

{1 John 4:9-10}

Things I learned on 11/11/11:

1. Waking up early is hard for me. Not only am I tired, but it literally takes like 10 minutes for my eyes to de-blurr. It's rough. Haha.
2. You should not wear sandals when it's cold outside (especially under windy conditions), regardless of how well they match your ensemble.
3. I should feel more confident in my short-term recognition memory. I spent so long stressing out over my anthropology exam, and I actually think it went really well!
4. TDU has become a kind of go-to spot for me when I have nothing to do. After lunch with Courtney, and hanging out with Jenn and Steph, I took an hour and a half long nap in there. It was glorious. Nevermind the guys playing the piano or the countless tour groups that came through there, I was out. Naps really are a beautiful thing.
5. I GOT INTO PSYC 250! What did I learn from this? That even if you get rejected once (which I did last semester), there is hope for things to work out in the future! Also, the psyc department does show grace to students of other majors! Praise :)
6. The salad place at Festival is pretty legit. I may have to hit that up more often. (But you know, I really wish we had a salad place [other than Green's] on campus that had craisins! Is it so much to ask??? Haha.)
7. Stephanie has a lot of patience. She drove me to 5 different places to shop for a dress for tomorrow's semiformal! I love you, Steph! Thank you :)
8. I will undoubtedly be cold a good portion of the fall/winter next year. The Fishbowl is a chilly house, so I need to stock up on the sweats and blankets! Noted.
9. Brianna is probably the only person I can honestly express my hatred for shopping for things like jeans and dresses. She understands where I'm coming from, and it was actually comforting to hear that I wasn't floating alone in my canoe. I love my roomz :)
10. These darn photo lines in my room are never going to simply stay on the wall... It may be time to come up with an alternating hanging method. Womp.
11. This is kind of backtracking, but I am going to have 2.5 hours of dance every Monday and Wednesday next semester! Eeeeep! I am so excited :) I mean yes, I'm a little nervous about the fact that I haven't taken a class in over a year, but my friend Katie gave me some words of encouragement. I'm taking modern and improv :) Stoked!

I think that's good for today. Haha. Goodnight loves!

P.S.- It was not intentional that I have 11 points; that was just a coincidence. No but seriously.

Perspective.

I had never seen this music video before, and it struck me pretty intensely. I could complain about my stress and tiredness, but there are bigger issues in the world. Children, for example, are dealing with abuse all over he world. So, in reality, my low mood caused by an exam doesn't mean much of anything. I am blessed with the opportunity to receive an education in a place where I am essentially taken care of. I am okay, and that is the reality I needed to be reminded of. A dose of perspective can a do a person good.

The whole world is a stage;

perform as if there are 7 billion people watching.

   ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

   ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

{Matthew 5:13-16}

A thought: When people see you in your actions, what is it that take out of it? Do they see someone worth imitating? Do they see hope and joy? Do they see love? Do they see Jesus?

We must be mindful, dear loves, for our Father wants us to be seen and heard in the world. Are we, right now, prepared to be analyzed by all of our brothers and sisters? Would their perceptions be ones that reflect the glorification of God?

⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers."
{Luke 6:43-44}

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn..."

"... is just to love and be loved in return." -Eden Ahbez

In cliche phrases we hear that love is hard. And the more I ponder, I come to realize this popularly published truth is overlooked and perhaps even undermined. I have a theory, and it is that love is proven difficult because of the sacrificial nature it requires. In caring for others and demonstrating a sense of respect, you must give up an opportunity to gloat or gratify selfish desires. It is easy to act out of self indulgence-- to strive for the attention of others. Love holds no place for pride, and its foundation is not centered on the priority of oneself. When you act out of love, it is for the benefit of another; there should be no underlying intention of self-gratification. If you find yourself functioning under ulterior motive, consider the driving force behind your action and prompt alteration. Just love, and trust that others will reciprocate. When they do, accept it as the blessing it is and treasure it. For if we love and are yet unable to receive it in return, we are bound to develop hinderances of insecurity and fear. Allow your self to be loved, and strive always to be love's personification.

Now I lay me down to sleep...

A shout-out; a praise.
Another day to be lived;
Lived richly if so chosen.
Invisible sand
slipping through pinched glass.
Twenty-two or eighty?
Control is beyond you;
neither invincible nor immune.

A gift so precious

we often view as an entitlement.
Treasure it; be thankful.
Praise Him.
To see another rising sun
is a blessing and nothing less.
With thankfulness give praise.
Forget not your vulnerability.
Remember to sing praises,
for you are seeing another day.

"This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it."

{Psalm 118:24}

So, I watched Burlesque last night...

...and it made me want to wear eye makeup today.

You would have thought I looked like a completely different person or something. Haha! No joke, I got so many compliments today, and I even had a guy legitimately flirt with me.... Now, I'm not saying that compliments are a foreign concept to me or anything, but sheesh! Haha. Does it seriously make that big of a difference? It was interesting, that's all I'm saying. It did make me feel a little more girly though, and that was kind of fun :)

Today didn't consist of a lot of activity. I went to RISE this morning, and that was really good :) I think that may be "my church" in Harrisonburg. About time I found one, right? Haha. But I really love the sermons, and the people there have been very nice to me :) They also have communion on a weekly basis, which is something I really missed!

After church, I went to brunch with Hannah (my Little), Renee, and James. Twas a lovely time indeed :) As for the rest of my day, I just took it easy in my room. And I may or may not have watched part of Burlesque again..... Haha. I just really love that movie! I was really excited when it came time for dinner with my SAO loves. I started getting really restless when it got dark outside so early, and I was happy for an excuse to go somewhere! Our meeting went well, which was good :) I had to present a devotional today, and tell me why my voice got all shaky and whatnot? It made no sense to me whatsoever, haha. I do not get nervous talking to my sisters... It was odd. But hey, what's done is done!

And now I think I'm ready to shower and sleep. Praise! I'm blogging and it is prior to midnight! Say whaaaaaaat?! Goodnight all :)

"I didn't fall!"

"It only counts if your hand touches the floor!" (I ended up falling twice... Minor fail.)

You may be wondering what on earth I'm talking about. Well, today was a roller skating social for SAO! Yes, Brittany, Kirsten, Jenna, and myself ventured over to Funky's where we strapped on some skates and let it roll.... along with the three birthday parties and Discipleship Now groups that were in there. Haha! It was SO FUN though! I hadn't roller skated since the field trip for my 8th grade gym class, and I suppose I didn't do too bad considering! Okay, but I already told you I fell. Well, one of those times was when I was trying to skate backwards while looking over my should to make sure there wasn't a kid behind me. The other time, the wipe out involved myself and two little girls that were probably about 4 years old, haha. They were skating towards each other in... my line of momentum. I tried to slow down and grab the little girl so she wouldn't fall, but she fell anyways. And she had grabbed on to me to hold herself up, so I went down with her. And I think her friend got so sidetracked with the two of us falling that she lost balance and toppled over also. Haha. No one was hurt. They were laughing. Everything was fine! Haha. Before we left, Brittany =, Kirsten, and I got to do the Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, and Cotten-Eyed Joe. So great :)

My little, Hannah, and I filled our Operation Christmas Child box today!

We have a lot of things in there! And it was a pretty nice mix of necessities and fun stuff considering we were working in the confines of a shoe box! From socks, to a giant Christmas pen, to glow sticks, to a travel mug, to nail polish, to headbands, to these awesome erasers that are shaped like food (they're kind of a fad these days).... I think we did alright! I hope the little girl likes it :)

We followed our shopping trip up with some dinner, which was nice :) I came back to my room and did a little school work before meeting up with Steph. We went to Duke's to utilize her punches and then raced over to Wilson to watch Jenn dance in the Asian Student Union Culture Show! She did so incredibly well! I was such a proud parent watching her up there :) When she saw that Stephanie, myself, and five of the Delta's came to see her, she was so happy her eyes leaked! She is a precious lamb, truly :) I love her so much!!!!

After mingling in Wilson for quite some time, Stephanie, Jenn, and I went to Steph's apartment and watched Burlesque :) Jenn had to leave early, but I was so happy to have her cuddle with us and take in the flick while she could! Stephanie had the exact same reactions as she did the first time we watched the movie.... Haha! She makes me smile :)

Random side-note... my Little has confessed that she is a terrible dancer. Haha! The other Deltas tonight were giving her such a hard time about the issues she was having with the dance they're creating. Even she had to laugh at herself, haha! As Jess said, "I feel like we all need rubber bracelets that say 'Save Hannah's swag!'" Bahahahaha!

(Haha! Steph was trying to help her out.)

And even though the clocks set themselves back, it really is 2:10 right now.... Oh dear. It's time for some sleep. I love you all! Goodnight!

Highs and low.

Notice the "high" part is plural. Today, overall, was very enjoyable :) Only one pesky thing put a bit of a downer in my day. So here are my day's highs and low.

Low: Dealing with the people at Sheehy. I called to check on the status of my car, and they have not touched it! Yeah. They were told not to work on it. Why? Because people are saying my warranty doesn't cover the repairs I need. Nevermind that I was told a week ago that, and I quote, "it would be taken care of."Apparently I was lied to. Well you know what, I finally ran out of people to talk to in that place, and now the General Manager has received a piece of my mind. Seriously, if this doesn't get straightened out... (I just won't even go there; this has already turned into a rant. Sorry about that!)

Highs(!): 1) I had an awesome Big/Little date with Hannah today :D We went to Earth & Tea and had our own little tea party!

She got "Moroccan Mint," and I got "Rose of the Orient." The consensus was that it was delicious! And I'm so glad we got time to just sit and talk about lots of things :) Yay bonding! On our way back to the car we stopped into this quaint place called Shank's Bakery. They have some yummy baked treats that one can definitely afford on a college budget! Hannah enjoyed some crinkle cookies while I snacked on a slice of pumpkin roll. Yummmmmm! We found our spot, haha. I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY LITTLE!

2) After large group, I got to spend some quality time with people from my small group (and a few others). A group of us went to Sweet Bee, and a bunch of us were piled up in Rhett's car. Between Alton and Stephen shaking the giant SUV with their dance party, humorous conversation being thrown around, and Alton's laugh in general (it's basically the greatest thing ever)... It was amusing to say the least :) After getting our nom nom on, I went back to the suite where quite a few of my small group girls live. Mina, Lauren, Samantha, Stephen, and myself proceeded to spend about two hours on YouTube! Haha. It was so funny, and just a really good time :) It was nice to hang out with them; it's not something I get to do very often. They put a smile on my face :)

Well, this ended up being longer than I had anticipated. Woopsies! But hey, it is me after all. Haha. Goodnight loves!

Things I wanted to share:

This video. It is hysterical (particularly the last two boys)!


This song, because I find it soothing.


And I also have a prayer request: My mother is currently in the hospital receiving three rounds of blood transfusions. My little sister had to take her to the ER this morning, and if all goes well then she should be released either today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday). Please just keep her in your prayers. Hopefully I'll be able to talk to her tomorrow.

I love you all!

{1 Peter 3:8}

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Today has shown me that what a lot of us want more than anything is to live our lives in unity as brothers/sister in Christ. Any point of division or fractions weakens us, whether emotionally, spiritually, or otherwise. Given the opportunity of vulnerability, I have expressed the burdens laying on my heart. In doing so, I had more love and support extended to me than I would have ever thought. I think that is something a lot of us struggle with, yet we desperately crave it: wanting to be vulnerable with our brothers/sisters, but not not being sure of how to break down barriers. There has to be a point in which our fear is diminished and our courage overwhelming; it is then that your community can formulate a bond that goes beyond superficiality.

I may sounds like a broken record, but my relationships are at the top of my priority list. And though I have come to find that others share in that same nature, there seems to be a disconnect in reciprocity. In other words, the love they pour out is only returned in part. When I read this verse, I see a basic guideline in how we should love and be in community with others. Be sympathetic; take time to listen to the burdens of others, and help them carry it. Do so with genuine compassion in your heart, and humble yourself so that you brother or sister realizes that you are there for them (not for self-satisfaction or gratification). Above all, love them as a brother/sister, for they are nothing less than that. God calls us to love, and to love everyone. When considering the value I place on my friendships, this verse came to mind:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
{John 15:13}

This I can honestly say: When it comes to my friends, whom I love with all of my soul, I would lay down my life for them if necessary. No questions asked. Now here is my personal challenge: Would I do the same for a brother/sister whom I do not know in such an intimate way? My answer is not as certain, and in that sparks another challenge for myself: Genuinely love everyone. I don't have to hug them or hold their hand or squeal their name every time I see them, but in my interactions I can embody the love of Christ and allow that to guide my behavior. It certainly will not be easy, some may argue it isn't even attainable, but I believe that we are called to try. Whole-hearted intention will breed results; God can use that. He will use it. Because our love plants seeds, and our Father makes those seeds flourish-- in His time, and according to His beautiful and unfathomable plan.

"³⁷ When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body."
{1 Corinthians 15:37-38} 

I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not sure what all I just wrote, but I know that what I said was on my heart. I love you all, and hopefully this made some sort of sense in a way that can be applicable to your life in some way. May your day be filled with love, joy, and peace. Farewell!

Today's stage of illness: congestion headache!

Yayyyyyy!..... Except not really. Haha. It only really bothered me when I tried to lay down for a nap (pressure!) and when I encountered loud noises. An example of both of these occurred when I tried to take a nap in TDU, and then someone put money in the jukebox so that Michael Jackson music blared through the room. That happened twice in a 20 minute time span, not even joking. But it's really okay, it only irked me because of the headache. Ibuprofen helped me out a bit :)

Work went by pretty quickly, and that was a major praise! We got pretty busy because 1) quite a few cashiers called in sick, and 2) there were people on the commons with a billboard-sized display of aborted baby pictures (hence people came to Market One to avoid them). Yeah, the pro-life display led quite a few people to borderline vomit-enducing discomfort. I for one did not want to get roped into a conversation with the people there, so I steered clear from there as much as I could.

I watched the rest of Bowling for Columbine today (for my intro to social work class), and it reaffirmed my utter hatred of guns. I personally would love to see every gun around the world heaped into a pile and be burned until only dust was left. People argue that "people kill other people, not guns," but if they did not have a gun, don't you think the murder/crime would be less probable? The documentary covers the Columbine shootings, and gun crimes in general (especially interesting were the stats of the U.S. compared to other nations!). This story particularly struck me, because I had not previously heard about it. When kids as young as six become involved firearm usage, you know there's a problem. I have so much I could say on this topic, but I'll leave it at that for now. (Sorry for the tangent!)

I saw my Little multiple times today! That made me very happy :) I saw her first in Market One; she came to say hello to me while I was working :) I later saw her at the end of our SAO Bible study, where she spotted us over the APL balcony and said hello to all of us! Then, after I went and got Starbucks, I went back to APL to study with her until we were kicked out and forced to go to Carrier. She thinks that place is "crusty," but I still love it :) I also bought her some Stizz after a brief bickerment. At least I have a valid argument when she objects! Haha. I simply said "I'm your Big! I'm allowed to buy you things!" Zingggg! Haha :) But yes, I am very glad I got to spend time with her today. Oh! And she switched her major to Social Work this morning! YAY! That also made me happy :D

On a random parting note, I think my little sister is wearing the sequined pants to school tomorrow! She better. And I better get a picture darn it! Hahaha! (It's for decades day, not average day attire :P ) Goodnight all!

18 days...

...and I will officially be home for Thanksgiving break! Eeeep! SO SOON!

As much as I am loving the social aspect of school, I cannot wait to have a week away from the academics. Yes, I know that is the point of going to college, but I am in a sort of "sophomore slump." I have almost zero motivation to do anything, and although I get it done it isn't always my best work (this is mostly the case for studying.... oceanography in particular). The good news is that I am doing well in the classes that actually pertain to my major, the bad news is that I may not be able to pull off an "A" in oceanography because my exam grades have been sub-par... I really though I got a high "B" on the one I took today! Then I found out I got a 78. Needless to say, I was bummed. But enough about that!

I have some random things bouncing around in my head:

• I'm considering running for Vice President of SAO.
• Stephanie thinks I could do it ;)
• Definitely will be praying about that one! I have some time :)
• I want to make an official Big/Little to-do list! So far Hannah and I have:
• Tea date at Earth & Tea :)
• Sushi date!
• Make homemade funnel cakes!
• I'm afraid my class registration process will be stressful as per usual.
• I want to find the movie "Little Manhattan" on DVD.
• I caught the last 2 minutes of it on the Disney channel tonight... I was so upset I missed it! I literally have not seen that movie in at least four years!
• I still want to give me car a name. Feel free to share suggestions!
• Speaking of my car, I cannot wait until it's out of the shop!
• It took a week of hassling Sheehy just to get it worked on under warranty.
• I just sent an email trying to win a Feeling Stick prop from New Girl.
• Hahahaha! Dweeb alert? Maybes :)
• I SO wish I was in GCN this year! I miss it terribly!
• I'm ready for Christmas cheer to fill the air!

I can't think of anything else right now. I am very tired. Goodnight loves!

Happy Halloween?

Okay, so I know that today was Halloween, but there wasn't really any celebrating going on with this girls right here. The closest I got to Halloween festivities was 1) eating numerous pixie sticks while at the Boys & Girls Club, 2) seeing small children trick-or-treating around campus, and 3) having this guy in Carrier dressed up as the Joker borrow my pen. Haha. A lot of that had to do largely with the fact that I am still sick. Womp. I could not stop coughing in my anthro class. I felt so bad for the people around me. I was that girl. And even when I tried to hold it back, it just caused another fit. Rough, but I got through it.

I had dinner tonight with Kristina, which was nice. I haven't hung out with her in forever, so I'm gad that we finally got to catch up. We enjoyed some Chick-fil-a, and at the same time got to further support Justice Team's endeavors in building a well! Woop woop! (We're currently in a spirit week competition at Chick-fil-a to receive more money towards our goal.)

But yeah, I just now finished the stuff I needed to do for social welfare... I did do work while I was in Carrier with Steph, but I was a little distracted as you might imagine. Here's the really rough part: I haven't even started studying for my oceanography exam that I have tomorrow... I'm a little scared. Please be praying that my study efforts tomorrow are enough. Goodnight loves!