Weekend catch-up!

Hello lovelies!

Okay, so here is what I've been up to this weekend! Starting with yesterday, Saturday the 28th:

Bright and early, we had our SAO photo-shoot on the quad!

(© Jessica Elin Photography)

I love how big we're getting, and I just love these girls in general :) Oh, and this was taken about two weeks ago, but here's my individual shot!

(© Jessica Elin Photography)

After the photo shoot, I got to have lunch with my Big AND my Little! I was so happy to be spending time with Hannah and also getting to see Kelly for the first time in a long while! Plus, it was the first time that Hannah and Kelly had met, so that too was exciting! They definitely hit it off :) Eeep! I cannot wait for Kelly's wedding this summer! Oh! And Kelly gave me a belated Christmas gift; LOOK!

I have wanted new letters for SUCH a long time now! I love them so much, and I also love that she has matching ones :)

After lunch, I went to Steph's to try on some dresses, and then skyped my dear love, Heather. I love her and I miss her and I cannot tell you how excited I am to go home and attack hug her! I don't even care about the fact that that sentence was a run-on; that is how excited I am.

For dinner, it was off to Jalisco to celebrate Brandi and Alex's 21st birthdays :) Twas a fun time indeed! I love my little Brandito (as the Fishbowl has come to call her). She is so precious and, I might add, a classy drinker. She keeps her cool; true $nob fashion ;)

Night time meant IV Spring Fling semi-formal!

 Hands in the air, don't care! Paige<3

 Samantha :)

Mina and I :) Doing the Bernie, of course!

Please disregard the fact that I'm looking at the wrong camera...

It was a fun night of dancing and craziness with my small group :) My sincerest "thank you" to Lauren for getting me a ticket!

I spent the night at Steph's apartment. Her hospitality never ceases to astound me, and she always makes me feel loved and at home. I love her! (And, her bed is a gift from God; just saying.)

Moving on to today, Sunday the 29th!

Stephanie and I both slept in, and it was glorious! After waking up and doing our morning routine, Steph made us both cinnamon toast and hot tea :) We then proceeded to talk and procrastinate studying for a bit until it was time to see our beloved sister, Kirsten, get baptized!

I am so incredibly proud this girl; you don't even know :) She truly is an amazing daughter of God, and I know He has amazing plans for her! I'm so glad that myself, and several other sisters, got to witness this moment. Truly, "one in Christ through unity in sisterhood!"

The rest of my day consisted of packing, sending a bunch of stuff home with my mom, picking up Hannah from the Fishbowl, grabbing dinner, trying to study in Carrier, Kline's with my small group, and more studying in Carrier. I am so tired right now; I really do not know how I stayed up until 2 AM in that library ever night last year.... I was crazy!

Goodnight my loves!

A very productive and enjoyable day :)

Although my original plan was to sleep in this morning, I actually ended up having a Starbuck's date with the lovely Nicole at 10:30 :) For a little over an hour we chatted over fancy beverages and cakes about various aspects of life. Twas wonderful indeed :)

Now, cue the productivity! I opened a second checking account today (YAY!) for rent purposes :) This is going to be great for me, because if it's not linked to my debit card, I won't be inclined/able to spend it! Huzzah! Oh! And I'm getting a checkbook! Fancy, right?! Haha. I'm getting old :P

I visited some of my sisters at our SAO car wash that we had today! Although I did not personally wash any cars, I helped advertise with our sign on the sidewalk! Oh, and they were gracious enough to wash my car as well!

This is the first time since I bought the car that it has been washed, so I'm sure it appreciated it :) I know I did! So shiny!

More productivity! Upon returning to my dorm room, I applied for three summer nannying jobs! I really do hope one of them works out, or I hear something from somewhere soon. Summer is quickly approaching, and I am still unemployed... I'm getting a little anxious, but I know that something will work out!

It was Senior Night at IV large group, and I decided to stand up in front of our chapter (approximately 500 students) and tell all of them how wonderful, beautiful, and exemplary Melissa and Jenn are as women of God.

These girls truly mean so much to me. Their love, compassion, leadership, wisdom, boldness, and sincere hearts have made such an impact on me as a Christian, and I can honestly say that they have aided me in my walk with Christ. They are women to be admired and emulated :)

Goodnight my loves. Tomorrow comes early, and it's best to be prepared!

Thank you, Thursday!

Both presentations are done! My last science homework is done! Just TWO finals stand in the way of me and Summer! Wait, what? I'm going to be a... a... JUNIOR?! Holla fo a dolla upperclassmen!!! Haha :) Sorry, I know that was obnoxious, but I mean it happens.

I got to stop by the SAO graduate photo shoot and take some pictures of/with Lauren, Jenna, and Jenn :) I can't believe they're graduating!!! Crazy. And even though Lauren's technically not graduating until December, it's still this year and it's still crazy!

Playing around on my phone :)

(P.S.- I don't know why Jenna's is so dark!)

I love them so much!

Work wasn't too bad, so that was good.

I led my last Bible study tonight. Well, actually, I wasn't leading it in the same capacity that I normally would. We each shared verses that were being laid on our hearts as of recent, and we shared why the scripture held value and how God was using it to speak to and impact us. This is the passage I shared:

^"1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
   ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
{John 15:1-8}


Not all of my is glorifying to God. I have several flaws, negative tendencies, and sinful traits that build up pride and selfishness within myself. These things are the branches that God wishes to remove from the vine, and I must be willing to sacrifice pride and stubborn nature to let Him do so. These branches are not bearing fruit, and truthfully they hinder the growth of fruit in other areas of my life. I am not the light I once was, at least not the same luminosity. I can feel this difference within myself; this isn't the same joy. But God wants to bring me back to that; He wants to prune me and prompt me to grow     closer to righteousness, closer to wisdom, closer to Him and who He wants me to be. If I break down everything and allow Him to work, then I can truly be a testament that bears fruit for His kingdom and His glory :)

I still can't believe my time as Bible study head is over... Truthfully, I am going to miss it. This position was a wonderful leadership experience for me, and beyond that, I have truly found the value in spiritually challenging myself. Yes, the challenge was channeled at me through the vessel of exec, but I just mean the act of me personally confronting this challenge. I grew to really enjoy doing something that initially instilled me with so much fear. This, truly, is a bittersweet departure.

After Bible study, a quick trip to Chick-fil-a, and dashing through my GSCI homework... I went to see The Vow at Grafton with Lauren, Brandi, Courtney, and Hannah. It was good, but the whole prospect just struck me as being so tragic! I was sitting there feeling terrible heartache for these fictional characters! I'm not going to spoil anything on there for those who may not have seen it yet, but I will just say that this would be one of the hardest life situations to encounter if I had to. To love someone so passionately, and for them to know but not be able to recognize that they once felt the same in return would completely devastate me! Ohhh I can't think about this!

Anyways, I am so happy that my week is over! Praise praise praise! I really do feel so much better :)

Goodnight loves!

Sigh of relief.

Well, I had both of my dance finals today, which means both of those classes are finito! It's kind of sad that dance will no longer be a part of my curriculum, but it was certainly fun while it lasted! Pretty bittersweet, really.

Work... We just won't even go there.

Small group, though emotional, was so wonderful. Betsey and Melissa left us with their departing words, and we each had an opportunity to share what small group has meant to us over the next two years. I don't think I've ever felt so humbled as I did when Melissa was presenting me with my gift. Given the personal nature of it, I'm going to keep the specifics to myself, but what she said meant the world to me. That, and in their parting advice they spoke words that convicted me right where I needed it and that very moment. I am so thankful for these girls, and all of the times they have allowed God to use them as a vessel to speak straight to my heart. I am going to miss them dearly!

Me and the curly co's :)

And tonight, I can go to bed with a sound heart and mind     feeling significantly relieved and more at peace than I have in days. I praise God that He prepared my heart the way He did, and I'm glad I stayed for small group despite not feeling well. He gave me what I needed to humbly and calmly settle my unrest. Thank you, God :)

Goodnight loves!

To say I felt unstable would be an understatement.

In short, today was pretty terrible. Emotionally drained, sleep deprived, and stresses... Stressed to the point where I constantly felt like I was shaking and the anxiety never settled. I mean, I only cried like two or three times, but my goal was not to do so at all    especially not in public...

On the plus side, I am DONE with abnormal psyc forever! I enjoyed the class, but I'm glad to have one less class to worry about. Tomorrow will require extra prayers though, because I have both of my dance finals. I am scared about improv right now... Procrastination may not have been the best favor I could have done myself.

Hopefully, tonight's sleep will be nice and restful. And maybe tomorrow will bring more peace. Here's to hoping, dear loves.

And for any JMU folk, this might just make your day.

Goodnight loves!

I cannot wait

to go home and once again resume my role as "the stable one." I hate this feelings of being viewed as less mature or childishly irrational for my emotions. When under scrutiny, it is hard to stand tall when the gazes you receive make you feel so small. Anger versus upset would be easier to let settle, for it tends to abandon the disheartening regret of blatancy. To say that something small can spark a fire is indeed so, even if the logicality of it is less than sound. My inability to maintain control eats away at me, ensuing personal disappointment. Perhaps the perceived looks of judgement would have been an absent factor if I could have simply remained collected...

I crave stability and reassurance of dependability. I want nothing to do with relational conflict that I have so greatly abstained from for over three years. Why this tension even came to be, I am uncertain. I wish it hadn't, and I wish I could say that I wasn't made to feel this way; that I really am just on the fringe of emotional stability. To extinguish would be incredible, but I fear that it cannot be done without first fanning. Now is not the time, it can't be if I am to continue with a shroud of endurance. I want to say that I can simply forget, but my internal anxiety acknowledges and exposes the lie. What I need is peace, the breed that transcends my understanding...

Pressure.

Question.

Silence.

Answer.

Scowl.

Tension.

Unsettled.

Anxiety.

Shaking.

Contracting.

Handle.

Confront.

Alone.

Exclusion.

Tears.

Guilt.

Eggshells.

Facades.

Frustration.

Offense.

Upset.

Exit.

Done.

Hug.

Confide.

Listen.

Comfort.

Understanding.

Support.

Encouragement.

Smile.

Laugh.

Love.

"I see a generation rising up to take their place!"

Hello all!

Despite the rain and cold temperatures, I really enjoyed today :) I'm tellin' ya, whoever has been praying for peace to descend on me must be truly righteous, because the prayers are effective! And I know this is not by my own strength or accord! So a sincere "THANK YOU!" to those who have been helping me in that manner :) I had small group pictures this morning, and I cannot wait to see how they come out! It was nice and wet outside, but I still think they will come out cute :)

After brunch with Hannah and three of her amigos, we had tea time with out SAO alum! I had such a marvelous time conversing and laughing with my sisters; it put me in a very chipper frame of mind :) Then, after a brief period of productivity, Kirsten, Brittany, and I did some shopping for recruitment supplies to help me out for next semester. This was greatly appreciated, and I now have a trunk full of fun things!

Tonight's business meeting was full of pass-downs! Current committee heads handed over their advice, encouragement, and supplies to the future heads. Likewise, exec members passed down their materials to the new board. Here is my lovely binder that Hannah presented me with!

As excited as I am for this position, I know how bittersweet all of this is for the current exec member, my dear loves. They have served in these positions for the past two years, and for them to entrust these roles over to us is truly an honor. I love and respect those girls so much; I only hope that we can make them proud and serve them well!

Tonight, we also congratulated our two graduating seniors, Jenn and Jenna. I don't think any of us expected it to be so emotional, but it was enough to lead me to tear. To know that these two beloved sisters of mine will not be returning in the Fall is so surreal. Because, while I know that they are graduating, the real meaning of that has not truly sunken in yet. They are so wonderful, and I could try to write out what their friendship means to me, but the tangent would be of unruly length. I will settle with saying that I love them beyond words, and I will miss them with all of my heart!

We sang this song at our worship night, and Courtney specifically requested it because of the line that titles this post.



In this time of transition, our sisterhood's dependence on God is particularly vital. But in knowing that we have Him, and that we have each other, we can weather any obstacle :)

Goodnight loves :)

Exec training and Spring formal!

Today was lovely :) I had exec training from 10-4:30. And although it sounds incredibly long, I really did have a wonderful time learning more about the position I am entering and being able to work as a team with my future exec members :) I mean, please just imagine the joys of a "mute" person, "blind" person, "deaf" person, someone "with no hands," and someone who is "paralyzed from the waist down" preparing a taco lunch! Haha. No but seriously, the food actually turned out great! Teamwork makes the dream work! I am so excited for next year :)

Then, it was a pretty quick turn-around to get ready/arrive at our formal by 7! My dear friend Nathan came up just for the occasion, and we both had a marvelous time dancing, cracking jokes, and just acting like fools with my sisters :) Twas certainly a fun time! AND, TALITA CAME! I was so excited to see her, you have no idea :) Oh, and I should mention that, in addition to "Whip My Hair," I have also become personally associated with the song "Dance" (that's the edited title, many of you may know it as "A**") that features Nicki Minaj.... I wish I could say that I don't know how that happened buuuuut... Haha!

Bah! I am SO ready for bed! Tomorrow will also be quite busy! And I also will need to be productive. Wish me luck! Goodnight loves :)

We like our sushi with avocado, cream cheese, and spicy mayo!

Hello lovelies!

Today was definitely good, and really just what I needed before entering the h-e-double hockey sticks week I have coming up! I let myself sleep in until 11:15, got up and ready for the day, and enjoed an E-hall lunch with Ginger and Lauren :) They always run into me on the days I venture in there to eat alone, but I'm certainly not complaining; they are superb company! Then, after running by Forbes to pick up my forgotten journal, it was off to Steph's apartment! We took a trip to see the land lord, I ran by the bank realy quick, and then we went dress shopping. Steph found a beautiful dress to wear to formal tomorrow, and we once again determined that Ross was an epic win when it comes to dress shopping. Huzzah! And it was from there that we both indulged in a scrumptious sushi dinner!

We each enjoyed a Japanese Bagel Roll (salmon, cream-cheese, and scallion avocado [+ spicy mayo]), and a Volcano Roll to split :) It was definitely a wonderful dining experience, and it is needless to say that we WILL be going back there in the future :) YAY!

Then, for the five-ish hours that followed, Stephanie and I spent some quality time together back at her place. Granted, I ended up falling asleep on her comfy chair for a bit while she was cleaning, but that's beside the point. We talked, enjoyed some hot raspberry tea, ate some Easter candy, and watched en episode of Sweet Home Alabama (a CMT show that Steph loves!). Literally, some of my favorite days are ones where I can just relax and hangout with Steph; she always puts me in the best mood, and I never have to worry about being judged in any way :) We are a silly pair, but I love it! Look out Richmond when we get our apartment... We aren't promising that things won't get crazy! Haha :)

And since I promised myself that I would write my improv journals today, I wrote them upon my return to my dorm. So those are completed for Monday, my nails have been re-painted for tomorrow, and now all that's left is for me to get some sleep before my exec training starts at 10am tomorrow. Bah! I'm gonna be sleep drizzed! Just a little bit though, so I'll be okay. Goodnight loves!

I am the WORST at being productive!

Well, despite my pressing insistence that I wouldn't, I went to Brittany's Starbucks social after class ;) Haha. It was fun to hang out in Carrier like old times ad spend some quality time with my sisters :) Fun fact! The kid who played Alfalfa in The Little Rascals is the same kid as Jack from Get a Clue!

Who knew?! Taylor and I were mind-blown!

Also a new discovery, Java City also has iced hazelnut soy lattes! AND(!) they taste the same as Strabucks'! What does this mean: I can save dining dollars and "punch" for one of my favorite drinks from Stizz. HOLLA!

I wil I could tell you that I was productive when I came back to my room, but instead I spent forever scrolling through one of my new favorite blogs and literally was laughing out loud. (My roommate could not handle it. Haha!) I don't know why I find it so humorous, but it just kills me every time! I was going to write my dance journals tonight for improv, but it appears I left my journal in the studio... Dumb. What did I do instead? Well, I did this:

I mean, painting my nails for formal can be considered productive, right? Maybe....? Ugh, probably not. But it's okay! I also compiled lines from previous blog posts to make my "script" for the track recording I'm going to make for my improv final. Now THAT actually counts for something!

Goodnight loves! Sleep well :)

I would like to thank my small group

for turning around my mood after being in the biggest funk ever all day today. Between being exhausted all through modern class (which translated into mistakes and frustration), too scatter-braind to truly work on my improv final, wallowing in stress in TDU basically the whole time I was there, and having to go to work (where I was left to run the deli AND the pasta bowl station for an HOUR by MYSELF, WITH a rush!)... I was not having it. To be honest, I was tempted to go back to my room and crash, but I'm really glad I didn't. Small group was wonderful tonight, full of encouragement and vulnerability. I know people have come and gone since we were established, but I really am blessed to have this group of girls and have them be as reliable and stable as they are. This is something I used to take for granted, but I have seen the effects of time on other small groups, and it makes me all the more thankful. But yes, I want to share a few verses from tonight that stuck with me.

"⁴ The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

 ⁵ 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
   before you were born I set you apart;
   I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

 ⁶ 'Ah, Sovereign LORD,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.'

 ⁷ But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD.

 ⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.'"

{Jeremiah 1:4-10}

"¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

 ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

{1 Timothy 4: 12-16}

Since small group, I have not been productive but instead have socialized and dawdled on Pottermore.... This is all I have to say:

I have no justification....

One more thing! Taylor played this in TDU for me today to temporarily cheer me up :) I do love her, and this song really does need to make a comeback!



Goodnight loves!

Conflict.

Whether internal or external, it break you down    wears you thin. The thing that appears insurmountable taunts you, sends you plummeting into frustration. Feeling defeated, helplessness or self-pity soon ensues; either way it's knowingly unattractive and you wish to move past it. Whether the tension lies within yourself, against society, against authority, against your circumstances, or what-have-you.... an outlet must exist. Like paths, your options lie before you    surrender and defeat coupled at one end, at the other the choice to confront and overcome. Though the preference is clear, the road is rocky and full of obstacles that will break down your pride. Useless toil and emotions must be abandoned for the sake of growth    sensibility gradually correlating with strength and understanding. A helping hand to be your aid, a glimmer of hope, seizing you and propelling you forward. So it seems you are never alone. Where once you predicted tears you find comfort. A struggle bears less weight with assistance. All that may have pessimized your ability to persevere can bow to humility. Take this course and make a statement that you have faced, you have fought, and you have resolved. Conflicted and awry you entered, but refined and equipped you depart.

The Passion of the Christ

I saw this movie today for the first time; cue the cringing, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings of horror. I'm not going to lie to you, story of the crucifixion never seemed so brutal and gory as it did while I was watching this film. Whenever I read the scriptures, although I know that Christ was beaten and tortured, His interactions always seemed so collected. He literally seems like He had a level of peace and control that surpassed any normal humans capability. But seeing this portrayal reminded me that Jesus, though the Son of God was in fact human. He felt every lash of pain in that flogging. He felt the pain and exhaustion of dying. He experienced true agony with each drop of blood and ounce of strength being drained from Him. Before He rose again, Jesus died    heinously and horrifically.

(Image: I only linked it for those who can handle the graphic nature.)

Even at the worst graphic displays, I had to keep my eyes on the screen. I may think it's hard to watch, but that is what my Savior had to endure for me! Everything that happened to Jesus was for my salvation and because of my sin! I cannot turn a blind-eye to it, for I am no exception to the reasoning for His sacrifice. Truly, I am impacted. My understanding has been enhanced, and I am deeply humbled.

Mmm...

I am such an odd array of frustrated, bitter, tired, and overwhelmed. I honestly did not expect to end my day like this, but all days come with their ups and downs. I'm trying not to let everything get the best of me    holding my tongue a great deal, accepting circumstances, and swallowing my pride. Peace and contentment will settle in eventually, and I view that as my "light at the end of the tunnel." Sure, it may not fully come until I'm out of here for the semester and wasting away on a beach, but even that isn't too terribly far away... Right? Nineteen days. I can do it.

Before I part, I want to share this video that we watched during Bible study. (One of our topics was the woman at the well.)

For fear of being too much of a Debbie Downer, I'm going to stop here. I hope you all have a wonderful night's sleep full of pleasant dreams and restorative rest. Goodnight.

Relay for Life 2012

Hello all!

Since my last post, I have participated in JMU's Relay for Life to combat cancer and commemorate those who have had, died from, and survived cancer. My sorority sisters and I took this event on as a team, and what a night it was! Not only did we walk numerous laps around Hillside field, but we also fundraised at our site by selling cookies, hand-knit headbands, 50/50 raffle tickets, and tinsel hair extensions (which was definitely our hottest commodity!).

By the end of the night (or 7am, rather), we had raised approximately $330 from on-site fundraising alone. And despite the cold temperatures and lack of sleep, it was definitely a fun experience! Needless to say, though, I was exhausted today. From the time I got back to my room (around 8am), this is literally all I've done: sleep ('til 12), lunch, sleep (2:15-4:30), write my pass-down, dinner (6), business meeting/worship night (7-9:15), facebook/homework, and shower. And now, my loves, I truly am tired. But you know, this weekend has been one filled with fun and amazing bonding time with my sisters. I don't think I would have changed a thing :)

I closing, I will leave you these verses (thank you, Brandi!):

"⁹ Two are better than one, 
   because they have a good return for their work: 
¹⁰ If one falls down, 
   his friend can help him up. 
But pity the man who falls 
   and has no one to help him up! 
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. 
   But how can one keep warm alone? 
¹² Though one may be overpowered, 
   two can defend themselves. 
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
{Ecclesiastes 4:9-12}


" ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
{Romans 15:5-6}

Goodnight loves.

Mud Warriors!!!

Okay, so I'm getting ready to jet over to Relay for Life. But before I do, here's a glimpse of my Mud Warrior 8k endeavor with my sisters!

Before...

Grrrr!

I was so excited! Haha. 

(P.S.- I was tying my bandana in this pic.)

After!!!

Warriors!!!!

Today was SO fun! And it was quite the experience :) Crawling under barbed wire, swimming in mud pools, climbing up and over walls/heigh stacks, jumping over hurdles, running across balance beams, running through tunnels, leaping over burning (and I mean flaming) coals, and a mud-drenched slip-n-slide.... When else will I get to do this?!?! And we all finished together as sisters :) Twas great, friends!

Quick! The bed's a callin'!

Alrighty. This is going to be super speedy because tomorrow is going to be long and JAM-PACKED with stuff!

Today:

• Did some weeding at Sunnyside Retirement Community from 9am-11am.
• Bank trip.
• Met up with my mom and Jenn who were her for CHOICES :)
• We got lunch at E-hall and then took a lap around campus.
• Mama filled my gas tank up, which was awfully kind of her!
• Cookie baking/decorating and knitting party at Sarah's :)
• She was such a sweet hostess! I love her :)
• I may or may not have fallen asleep on her couch...
• We watched He's Just Not That Into You :)
• Dinner with the small group.
• IV large group.
• Back to the room.
• Short hangout sesh with Brittany, Brianna, and Amber.

So, what's going on tomorrow you ask?

• Mud Warrior 8k.
• We're leaving campus at 9:30am.
• Our start time is 12:30pm.
• Probs won't get back until after 5pm.
• Maybe getting to see my Big who's coming up here for her bridal shower?
• I probably won't get to, though...
• Relay for Life from 7pm-7am.

Yep, I am going to be exhausted! Goodnight loves.

I really need to become a bit more introverted.

As time goes on, I keep having encounters that remind me that some thoughts and emotions are better kept to myself. Although I've been more open about what goes on in my head, I keep noticing that these things can (and sometimes do) come back to nip me in the butt. People end up judging, belittling, or thinking less of me in one aspect or another for a prolonged period of time    even if that isn't their intention. Honestly, I hate it. I don't want others to look down on me for any reason. I am capable of being self-suffiecient, and I want others to know that. I have God on my side; I am well able to persevere through life's stresses and obstacles. With that in mind, I really should start sharing more with Him and be more mindful not to spout out rash situational thoughts and emotions that put me in this pickle. It's not that I won't share the crucial things with my loved ones in confidence, it's just the less severe tidbits that blow up and out of proportion. There's a balance, and I will surely find it.

Quick run-down:

• Class.
• Lunch/chiller in TDU.
• Brittany and I had a jam sesh listening to the top hits of 2004 and 2005.
• Gold Digger; 1, 2 Step; Lean Back; Slow Motion; Breakaway; Pimpin' All Over the World; Redneck Woman; Holiday; 1985; Take My Breathe Away; Lose Control... Good times, y'all!
• A guy from APO started singing along with "Since You've Been Gone!" Haha. It was SO great :)
• Work.
• Gluten-free cookie baking with Brandi at the Fishbowl.

• A hangout with those ladies ensued; twas fun indeed :)

OH! And I just found out that my good friend Zach has a blog! You should definitely give it a read and follow it if you so desire :) Goodnight loves!

The Gospel.

Tonight at small group, we talked about the Gospel    creation, fall, redemption, and renewal. And although it's a topic we hear about often as Christians, it is something that should never be overlooked or undermined. Not only did we talk about what the gospel is and what it says, we were also challenged to write out the Gospel in our own words. Let me give you a brief walk-through...



"So God created man in his own image, 
 in the image of God he created him; 
 male and female he created them."
{Genesis 1:27}


"¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
{Colossians 1:16-17}


{Genesis 3}


"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
{Romans 3:23}


"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."
{Ephesians 1:7}


"⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split."

{Matthew 27:50-51}

" ⁹ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

{1 Corinthians 6:9-11}

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

{Romans 12:2}

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

{2 Corinthians 5:17}

And this is how I summarized the Gospel in my own words. This is something I have never done before, and I was a little pressed for time. I want to share it, though, because this is something that actually made me quite anxious. I wasn't sure if I could honestly do it, but was amazed to see that I actually could! If you have never tried writing this out for yourself, I would highly recommend it! If nothing else, it can affirm that you are indeed capable of sharing the good news with others :) Anyways, here is what I came up with:

In the beginning, everything    including the human race    was made perfectly as God intended. He made us specifically in His image    life breathed into us through His breath. Our perfect unity with God was shattered, however, when man became thirsty for knowledge that belonged to God and God alone; they brought sin into the world. And because of sin there came separation    from God and perfection. The barricade of sin and separation became so great, that it was clear that no mere human could mend it; our debt to God was insurmountable. But God desired a relationship with us    His creation    so He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life. He lived free of sin and separation, making Jesus the perfect sacrifice to pay for all of our sins (past, present, and future). Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross so that man could re-enter into an intimate relationship with God. Just as Jesus's blood poured out, the grace of God was poured upon us; and it is done so for free. Through His love, grace, and mercy, He has given us a second chance. He wants us to accept Christ, be washed clean, and live forever with Him. God is jealous for us, and He loves us.

I know my rendition is nowhere near perfect, but for me it is most definitely a start. Perhaps when I am not limited on page space or time, I shall challenge myself to write everything out again. But I posted this on here because the Gospel does need to be shared with others, and we need to be bold enough to do so. This is a step for me, and I hope it encourages you to step out as well :)

I love you all! Goodnight :)

Silly musings of Tuesday.

Today was the usual class, lunch, TDU, more class, dinner, and back to the dorm. So really, nothing crazy or eventful took place today. Thus, I have but a few things to say tonight.

1) This is my preliminary class schedule for next semester:

Yes, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be unfortunate. No, I did NOT want a Friday class. And yes, I am signed up to take Elementary Portuguese (which could potentially be very scary and I may or may not drop it if I get the chance). I would love to learn the language, I just don't want to be graded on it! Oh, and the Monday/Wednesday/Friday class is Old Testament. A little intimidating, but it would be good for me!

2) Facebook conversations with Steph pretty much make my day :) This girl has me rolling!

Steph squared identity crisis at it's finest ;)

I do love her!

And on that note, I shall bid thee adieu! Goodnight loves :)

A delayed afterthought.

Last week, after finding out that I am going to be PR head for my sorority next year, I wrote about how I think God gets His chuckles through having the current exec board put me in charge of the committees that scare me the most. But as the days have passed, I came upon a stark realization.

If God didn't use others to challenge me, I might never be challenged.

Rarely do I ever willingly confront a challenge, especially of the spiritual nature. Although I have a constant desire to grow in my faith and understanding, I don't push myself to do things that are beyond my current means. I have heard the cliché so many times, but I never realized that it actually did apply to me: God calls us to venture outside of our comfort zones. I have been living in comfort on my own accord, and it took me this long to realize it. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude to my loves who are currently on exec, and thank them for allowing God to use them as vessels to further my growth as a Christian. I never believed that I would be able to handle leading a Bible study, much less the whole committee, but they challenged me to do so. And I have gained a deeper knowledge of scripture and new sense of confidence because of it. God saw me through it, and here I am unscathed. Rather, I have enjoyed this experience a lot :) He turned my fear into joy! Now, He is presenting me with the challenge of spearheading our recruitment endeavors    striving to find girls who share our passion for Jesus and our love for our sisterhood. Though it is a hefty task, I have reminded myself that 1) He is my strength and guidance, and 2) I am not in this alone. Not only has He blessed me with awesome committee members, but I also have my Father with me every step of the way :) And with Him, I can do all things :)

So here's to abandoning comfort and confronting challenges with confidence, for they too have a purpose in their presence! Goodnight loves :)

Easter Sunday!

He is risen indeed, loves! And praise be to God for that! He has set us free    giving us new life, new hope, and new purpose :) We can live because He lives! His power surmounts all else; His love is gloriously displayed by His eternal presence with us. Never will He leave us! PRAISE praise PRAISE!!!

“¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

 ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you."

 ⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'”

{Matthew 28:1-10}

¹ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

{Hebrews 11:1-3}

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

{Jeremiah 29:11}

Those are just a few of the verses referenced in today's services :) I attended three services today: sunrise, 9:30 sanctuary, and 11:15 gym. This is a tradition three years running with Heather, and we are both quite fond of it :) Church was definitely the highlight of my day; I just wish that I could have truly experienced that with my whole family. My dad didn't come to any of the services with me, even though I was given the impression that he would. My sisters came, but I was informed that they were there for me, not necessarily for Jesus, which hurt. My mom wasn't able to come to service, but that was because she was having a bad allergic reaction to pollen; she had every intention of coming. My point in this rant is this: More than anything, I want my family, my entire family, to want to celebrate Jesus    especially on days like this. And I don't want them to go because of a sense of obligation to me, because it's not about me! I want them to come to church and hear God's Word because they want that time with Him. They don't even need to come to my church if they don't want to! I just want them to be actively pursuing their relationship with Christ. More than anything, I want that. I hope that one day I can celebrate Easter with my whole family    singing praises and worshipping the Lord together in all of His splendor. Surely, such a thing is possible, for He has made all things possible. I have hope in that, even despite the fact that His plan is not visible to me. Nothing to be done well can be done alone. My Jesus is with me, and He is with us all :) Never forget that, friends!

Happy Easter :)

Saturday

Let's briefly sum up today, shall we?

• Took care of Belle and the Beast (Kelly's dogs).
• Had a wonderful Starbucks date with Chelsea!
• I love her SO much!
• I want to be to my sister what she's been to her brother.
• I love how, despite our time apart, our friends ship is till so natural :)
• Another pit-stop to check on the dogs.
• Watched the season finale of Dance Moms.
• I was literally sweating with anxiety for those girls.
• I may or may not have a problem...
• Checked on the dogs again.
• Dinner at padre's, complete with Candice, David, Mommom, Grandpa, and Grandma.
• I had a major food baby after that.
• Re-pack some stuff.
• Dog check again.
• Hung out at Julie's for a while :)
• Kathryn, Kim, and Eric were there too!
• I had to leave early though, to be ready for tomorrow's Easter tradish with Heaths!

Overall, it's been a pretty good day! I need to get some sleep, though, because tomorrow comes early! Goodnight loves :)

Good Friday :)

Hello beautiful people! And Happy Good Friday to you! Now, I know some of you are probably sitting there and thinking, "Stephanie, 'happy' isn't typically a word associated with 'Good Friday,'" given what this day in history represents. But if you bear with me through this post, I will be getting back to that!

Okay, so after sleeping in and enjoying a delicious home-cooked lunch-time breakfast with the fam, I got together with my little love, Kaitlyn :) We enjoyed some Starbucks, and we eventually ended up playing on the church playground (despite the million-and-one signs that say "for elementary aged children only"). We're so rebellious ;)

Kaitlyn: "I'm telling you, inch-worms are taking over the world!!!"

(There was an inch worm in this picture, but he before I could get a picture of him... So I amy or may not have drawn one in here. Haha!)

 She's cute, and she knows it :)

I just love seeing her smile :)

In two weeks, Kaitlyn will be leaving for Denver, so I am so thankful that I was able to spend time with her before she departed :)

Before worship night, I brought Jennifer some Stizz and made sure she was registered for CHOICES. Hey, someone's gotta keep her straight! Haha.

Tonight's worship night was truly wonderful, and it was exactly what I needed to prepare my heart for Easter. During the service, Shane shared these verses:

"³⁴ Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'"
{John 8:34-35}

And it is here, dear friends, that I will elaborate on why we have cause to celebrate on Good Friday! Through the crucifixion of Jesus, we have been set free! No longer are we enslaved to the sins we bare as human beings, because Jesus was sold at the price of a slave and sent to die so that we wouldn't have to endure that agony. Through His death we have been set free, and forever been accepted into God's family as His sons and daughters. Forever. God's promise is not feeble or temporary; it is strong and sustaining! This day stands as a testament of the Father's love for us, and how gracious He is. We are not deserving of the grace, mercy, or compassion that He pours out on us, but Jesus was still sentenced to crucifixion so that we, God's children, may live with Him eternally. Jesus was sacrificed to save us all; let us not undermine the weight and severity of that. We are truly and undeniably blessed.

{Ezekiel 37:1-14}

Goodnight, loves.

Hey, I'm home!

So hang out with me, Richmonders! :D

It's weird being home on a Thursday night. I have to keep reminding myself that tomorrow's not Saturday and I have more than two days to bask in home-ness :)

Today consisted of class, taking down everything off of my walls at school and packing them up, running to the bank, work, packing lots of clothes into my hamper/suitcase, and driving home. Tonight has been really good :) I got to talk/hang out with the fam for a bit, and Kelly came over! I do love her, an awful lot! We lounged in my living room and discussed all sorts of things. I can always count on Kelly for good conversation, and lovely company as well :) She also showed me this, which I love!

(It's Twilight inspired!!!)

I love intense/emotional/dark dance pieces! I think they will forever and always be my fave :)

Well loves, I think I'm going to call it a night. I am one sleepy bear. If you're reading this and your one of my RVA loves, text me tomorrow so we can figure out a time to get together! Please and thank you :)

Goodnight loves!