A prayer of Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

Repeat

This summer has provided a lot of time to catch up on some wonderful podcasts. I'm currently working through The Village Church. (If you have not subscribed, shame on you. Do it now.) I was just looking through the list (correction: LONG list) of sermons yet to be listened to. As I was reading the titles, one stood out: "Sincere Love".
I listened to it.
I listened to it again.
I'll probably listen to it a third time. Maybe more.
It's an awesome, kick-you-in-the-face sermon.

The big questions: Are living in a way that shows non-believers that you could only love that way because there truly is a God? Have you realized that God gave us love that is gospel-centered, a self-sacrificing love? Are you so filled with the love of God so much that you can't help but sing the praises of Christ? Is your hatred for others blocking your encounter with the Living God? Do you want to be a sincere lover of others and of God? Are you growing in love daily? Are you making to time to be loved by God in order that you can translate that to others?

Listen to it. See what the Lord wants to teach you.

Rare Artist

There are a lot of things left to do for my apartment decoration wise. Whether it is to make a blank wall interesting, or to cover something I don't like. One of these things is an ugly medicine cabinet in my bathroom. It's ugly. I mean really ugly. So, tonight I was artsy, which if you know me, isn't the case.





So, in honor of the rarity that is my artsy nature, I thought I would share:

1 Thes. 5:17

60 Sweaty Hours

Last weekend's project: Move furniture into college apartment.

Task: Hauling my furniture from Nashville, help Lara move her furniture from old apartment to new apartment, and assembling apartment so it actually looks like an apartment.

People: Lara, Mrs. Jane (her mom), Dad, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Mary, and me

Time: 12 hours driving to Waco, 60 hours moving and unpacking, 12 hours driving back to Nashville

Other Items: Show the aunt and uncle Baylor, stop by Campus Visits, eat lunch with TK, and kidnap some guys to help move furniture

Results: The apartment is all set up.

Well, when I say set up, I mean I have furniture and there aren't boxes lying around making it a cardboard jungle. I still have pictures to hang up and other little decorations to put in different places, but I'll wait until I'm back in a few weeks.

Summer in Nashville is rapidly coming to a close. I have three weeks left, one of them being spent at camp. I've been getting a lot of questions lately about missing Nashville, missing "home", but Nashville doesn't feel like home anymore. It's where I grew up, where I went to high school, where my dad lives, where the church that taught me to be a woman of the Lord is, where I met great friends, and have tons of memories, but it's not home. Home is Waco. Home is Baylor. I still have amazing friends that I am able to see and spend time with family, but after being gone for two years, everything has changed, including myself.

Since being back in Nashville, I have only wanted to go back to Waco. The 60 hours that was spent was not even close to enough. I just wanted to stay. Well, that, obviously, didn't happen. Here I am in Nashville, counting down the days. Until my drive back, I want to spend my time with close friends and family, working at church, and making memories with my not-so-little-anymore youth girls.

Sounds like a plan.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...
Ecc. 3:1

How 'bout that update...

Yeah,'bout that...

Well, here it is:

Easter: Can be summed up in one word: WONDERFUL. Why you ask?

A. I love the drive. It is a perfect time to think things through. It's pretty wonderful. I get more things done driving for 12 hours than sitting at my desk.
Subnote: Traffic in Memphis leads to a dance party which leads to creepy 18-wheeler drivers staring which leads to way to much laughter. Oh, life. You're funny.
B. I love, I mean, I LOVE my friends back home. They are some of the best people I know. You should meet them, you'd be hooked too.
C. Inglewood Baptist. Just walking in the door puts a big smile on my face. I love my church family. I love hearing RevKev preach. LOVE IT!
D. I got to take the roomie around Nashville and play tourist. It's just fun to go in all the tourist shops. There are some crazy, funny lookin' things in them.

That's basically all for Easter.

After getting back to the wonderful world of Baylor, I went to class, went to work, had Highland Leadership Retreat, went to church, had youth Bible study, went to my Connection Group. Basically, I stayed busy. I'm still busy. I think I'll be busy for the rest of my life. Is that good? bad? indifferent? *tap tap* this thing on? anyone out there? HELLO??!!

My sincerest apologies...

Anyways... for now, I like being busy. We'll see what happens when finals come around. DEAR GOODNESS! Finals are NEXT week?!?!?! How in the world did this semester go by this fast? I mean, it was fun, a hoot, a joyous adventure. However, I'm ready to be back in a school teaching. I think that is why I didn't care for this semester. I wasn't in a classroom doing what I love. Next semester is going to be a crazy adventure, but I'm ready. I'm ready to see what the Lord is going to do this next year, this summer, my life in general. I'm ready. I'm excited. Let's get the show on the road y'all.

Slacker

That's how I have been feeling lately, especially in regards to school. I have loved just being with friends, whether at work, church, small group, late night games, impromptu tortilla tossing, the usual. I have four weeks left in my Sophomore year, and I simply do not care about my classes anymore. Awful, right? Hopefully, Easter break will be a nice little breather before I come back...finishing strong...hopefully. Obviously, I am not just slacking with school..."hello, non-updated blog".

So, let's recap the last two months, shall we?

1. I believe February was an incredibly slow month. It's the shortest month in the year, but it felt as if it would never end. Nothing exciting happened. Of course with it being Texas, it was in the 70s. I have tan lines from January/February. This weather still throws me off. You can proceed to be jealous now.


2. March went by lightning speed. I think this is because I was SUPER busy.

a. Spring Break Ski Trip. This was super fun. I mean, doesn't this look like a postcard? The line at the bottom is a joke from the trip. Walking in ski boots takes talent, and ends in a lot of pain. My toes were bruised for awhile.

I think this picture is just plain funny. Thank you, Lara, for documenting my graceful nature.


Needless to say, the trip was eventful. Not only with my gracefulness, but Lara injured her knee pretty badly. Sweet little thing is on crutches and has a knee brace. She's still waiting to see if she'll need surgery this summer.


After the ski trip, I came back to good ol' Waco to work for the rest of Spring Break. It was only Lara, Matt, JStep, and I along with all the adults. It was probably the best week of work.

b. The week following Spring Break was complete madness. I worked 27 hours at Campus Visits. It seemed like the whole state of Texas was on Spring Break and all the students came to Baylor. We gave 5 tours a day with 68 people, and there were still more coming into our office. Admissions and Financial Aid set up a tent outside the Visitor's Center. It was a complete circus. Work as well as having 17 hours of school along with all of my other activities, who knows how I made it through that week.


c. March also brought six of Lara's friends from home to visit. It was a lot of fun to hang out with all of them. I'll get to see some of them again when I got to Birmingham this summer.










d.The rest of March was filled with studying (kind of...), hanging out with friends, work...


3. In other news, a lot of opportunities have been opening up for me and other opportunities have been closing, but I have seen how the Lord is working through it all. I'm just glad He is in control and not me because I have no idea even where to begin. I'll update more once some opportunities are more than opportunities and more realities. You know how it is.


4. Thursday, my roommate and I will be making the twelve hour drive to Nashville for Easter break. It'll be nice to be back for a little while to see everyone. I promise pictures and good stories (hopefully, around the same time the trip is...not a month later. oops).


That's a condensed version of what has been happening right now in my life. Some things are funny, others are serious. As good ol' Forest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."


Welcome to the party, make yourself at home. But, please, don't eat the chocolate.

Please Turn Red

I'm sitting in my room listening to Andy Davis' song "Please Turn Red" on Pandora Radio (it's a pretty ballin' free radio on the internet p.s.). Even though Andy is definitely speaking about traffic lights turning red so he can spend a few more moments with a girl, I feel like I want my life to come to a "red light" if only for a moment. I can't believe it is already February 2009. I keep myself so busy that time flies and wham it's February! What in the world....

So, to catch up on the past month of life:
1. I made the journey back at the good 'ol Baylor. Oh, how I missed it. I came back early, so I was able to get everything organized and ready for classes on the 12th. I picked up the roomie from DFW. That is story unto itself. Let's just say I have never been more confused in my life. I'm avoiding that airport for the rest of my life.

2. I started classes. 17 hours, woo!
The Breakdown:
-Aerobics: Two thumbs up for Human Performance classes! 7a.m. MWF. It's intense, but good.
-American Educational Thought: Basically, an educational philosophy class. It is about as exciting as it sounds. 1.5 hours of sheer torture. Kevin, Lissa, Rachel, Steven, and I in the back wondering if the clock is broken or if we really have 1 hour left.
-Genetics: I have a funny Korean teacher. I don't really understand him, but that's o.k. He wants us to read the book and do the problems; it's more effective than listening to him. I can agree with that statement.
-Genetics Lab: Someone please show me the nearest wall so I can bang my head against it. Yep, that's how I feel about this class.
-Golf: Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for Human Performance classes! I've always wanted to learn, and the class opened up. It also means after this semester I'm done with all my HP credits, woo! Also, golfing with the uncle this summer, pumped!
-Intro to Music: Requirement for all Education Majors. It's boring. Music histoy is not the most intriguing subject.
-Political Science: I have a nerdy, adorable, young couple teaching this class, and it's with Lara. I also have funny frat guys behind me. They always provide amusement.
-Spanish 3: I want my teacher to be my grandma, no lie. She winks at everyone. It's hilarious. It's my last semester of Spanish (Hallelujah!).

3. I started work at the Campus Visits office. It's the best. I work with some of the funniest people, and I have great bosses. I also get to tell everyone how ballin' Baylor is. This weekend we had Winter Premiere (more like Spring Premiere considering it was 75 and I got a farmer's tan). It was great helping all the high schoolers find their way around campus and answer parent's questions about majors and admissions. Needless to say, I talked and stood for about 9 hours. I had no voice at 5 p.m. I LOVED it!

4. Cubbies and Youth Bible study started back up. I missed all my little kids. They're the best.

5. Disciple Now at Highland. A great start not only for the youth, but for all of the leaders as well. I loved being with my ninth grade girls. They always provide amusement.

6. CG started again. I missed the group. It's a great way to start the week, taking a break for 2 hours on Monday night just to get in the Word with other believers.

7. College ministry at Highland. Oh, Kyle Dunn, how I love you and your sensitivity to the Spirit and the hearts of college students.

8. Prayer and Host Ministries in the College Ministry. I was elected to be on both of these teams. I'm pretty pumped. The first is obviously involving prayer. I'll be one of the ones that you can pray with during our prayer time on Sunday morning. The second is basically a welcome-wagon group. I get to go around and just talk to people. Fits me, right???



As, you can see, I keep myself busy. I like it. I'm never bored and life is always an adventure! However, it would be nice to slow down for bit once in awhile. I guess that is what Sunday afternoon is for. A nap outside sounds nice, anyone got a hammock???

I'm Back!

Christmas break is over. It was good. I was able to catch up with old friends and just relax for awhile. However, despite it being a good break, I was ready to be back in Waco. I was actually ready after about a week. Nashville is becoming more and more like a vacation (I lived out of a suitcase over break, I mean really...) and Waco is becoming more and more like home. I'm not the only one with this feeling though. Lara, great friend, co-worker, sister in Christ, and future roommate came to visit over the break and she shared the same feelings. Waco is wonderful despite its interesting past (interesting...yeah...'bout that...) and Baylor is the best university to be at. Many may object to this, however, it is the truth, and the truth hurts. Why do I love Baylor and Waco so much?

1. Campus- It is B-E-A-UTIFUL. No, really...it is.
2. Church Family- Highland's love of God, Christ, His Word, and His people, whether here in Waco or in a foreign land, is why I go and serve there.
3. People- I have met some of my best friends in the last 3 semesters. We not only have fun and enjoy the time we have in college, but we look for ways to help spur each other on in our walks with the Lord. What can be better than that?!?
4. Professors- Many colleges have huge classes where students are a mere name on a list. Not here. I have spent countless hours going and talking to my professors about anything and everything. They truly care about their students and want to get to know them as a person. Dr. Holmes, my biology professor last semester, is a prime example. He loved when we came by whether to ask a question or have a chat, which would usually last atleast an hour just because you would get so caught up in the conversation. Angeli and I even baked brownies for him because he was that wonderful.
5. Suspension Bridge and Tortilla Tossing- I LOVE tortilla tossing off the bridge. Did you know, that a tortilla is much like a frisbee? Combine 1 part tortilla with 1 part bridge and 2 parts random concrete stands in the river add 85 ducks and you get a whole lot of fun. (Welcome to Waco, we throw tortilla frisbees off bridges and call it a sport)
6. Taco Stands- mmm... $1 fresh tacos made when you order. So stinkin' good. All you need is a little Spanish knowledge (atleast enough to order food: Dos tacos. Carne asada con todo. See, not that bad, right?) and you are good to go.
7. Teriyaki Park- spicy california rolls 10 for $5. 'nuff said.
8. My bed- 2 foam pads, 4 pillows, and a down comforter. Sheer bliss.
9. Story time with the roomie- It always ends up in large amounts of laughter.
10. Library- You always find someone to study with...or get distracted with. Even in the wee hours of the morning.

That is only the tip of the iceberg.

Oh, Waco, how I love thee, let me count the ways...

Oh, dear, I have lost it and it's only the first day of classes...