Cheers!

Yesterday was my twenty-first birthday, yeah that's right, 21! Whoa! It was a great day. The weather was cold and gloomy, and I spent most of the day studying for my physics test that I had this morning, but in spite of all this I was in a great mood. I think a few things could have contributed to this. a) Listening to my Christmas station on Pandora, b) Striving to live with the intensity of Sophia Grace, c) Another movie to add to a growing list of things to see, d) A trip to Chill and Walmart with Emily, Lauren, and Nicole, or e) all of the above. For a true to life account of my last minutes as a twenty year old, we watched Mean Girls, and I was going to go to bed, but Lauren and Nicole encouraged me to live my last 17 minutes being 20 on the edge. So I stayed up, Nicole and I played Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia on my new ABBA dance game I got for my birthday, and then midnight hit, and I began the rest of my adult life. TO bring in my new year, I took a shot of coconut rum that I got from Sally and celebrated for a few more minutes before calling it a night. And that's all I got to say about that. Here's to all the people in my life that have given me the best experiences and memories, and to God for blessing me beyond measure these past 21 years and to many more!

Death Into Life

Today for our Ecology lab we had to go to a cemetery to record birth and death years for human life tables. Blah, blah, blah, science you probably don't care about. But anyway, just the thoughts that being in a graveyard can bring up are amazing to me. Death knows no bounds. We recorded a woman that died 100 years old, while we also recorded a baby that did not even live one day. Life is so precious and we sometimes take our existence for granted. We don't know when that last date will be recorded for our own lives, so we need to take what God has given us and make the most of it in the present. We shouldn't wait to do great things until tomorrow because we're not promised tomorrow. There was also an eerie feeling being that close to human remains, but the thing is, they're not there anymore. They're in eternity, in Heaven or Hell, and they know the vital importance of what it means to make the most of what God has given us. Each person was given exactly the amount of time that God intended and it's up to us to do with it what He intends. It was a sort of reality check for me and I'm glad that even in the midst of death, God shows us the way to everlasting life.

"He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life." Job 33:30

Whoa. So busy lately I haven't had much time to think for myself. I have a lot going on this week with tests, a speech, lab practical and paper, school consumes me. But for as much as I am working for school, God is working in me. He is speaking to me and teaching me new things every day. Lately I've had my mind on the future a lot and what will happen after graduation. I registered yesterday and that always brings a different brand of anxiety that doesn't seem to change even after doing it so many times. Thankfully, I got most of the classes I wanted and a schedule that is pretty close to perfect for me. But having to plan my classes and all that screamed to me, whoa! You only have three semesters left! (Hopefully) And I think to myself, where has the time gone and how much more quickly will this next year and a half pass? Am I ready for it to be over? What happens if my plans don't work out? Which is when God says, they're not your plans, they're my plans. I cast my cares and worries upon Him because He knows how things are going to work, therefore I believe it's kinda impossible for Him to worry. His control allows us to be guided knowing that what He has planned is what is best for us. As these plans proceed, that's when we will know about them. It is a day by day revelation, not something that He will give us all at one time. This is why we must take up our cross daily following after Him. We have to decide that what He has given us is what we will believe in and pursue. We'll never have all the answers, but we will have faith that what God is doing is shaping us to be all that we can be to give Him the glory.
Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28

Clear the Stage

This is a great song, I hadn't heard before that our Bible study teacher emailed us. I'd like to remember it from time to time so I'm posting it on here!

God's Broom

God has been speaking to me in the most random of ways lately. Yesterday I was sweeping the floor, not really because I thought it really needed it, but there were a few things I could see. The more I swept though, the more I noticed that we must not have swept in a while because there was a lot more than I originally thought. Through this, and somewhat combined with what we discussed at Bible study Monday, I realized how much dirt and sin we have in our own lives that we don't even realize is there until we start "sweeping" our hearts up and are left with a pile of grossness. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what other people are doing wrong and how it annoys me, and just want to shake them and be like, "Don't you get the picture?" But that's exactly what God is doing to me, He's shaking me and saying the same thing. We may trick ourselves into thinking our floors are pretty clean, or even worse, become comfortable with the filth that has settled into our hearts like a three inch dust layer on the hardwoods. Then we come before God and say, "Oh it's not that bad, it's not that dirty in here." We try to justify our sins without confessing them specifically. God sees through these lies and asks us, "Really? You seriously want to go there?" (I sort of picture The Rock with his one eyebrow up look) The past couple of weeks God has revealed to me my masks and dirt layers, and now I'm trusting Him to dustbuster my heart into a right relationship with Him.

"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults." Psalm 19:12

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Lately

Some pretty cool things have been going on around here lately, and I'm so grateful for them all. Tonight, I just got back from spending the weekend in Valdosta. Tulley is already bigger, but still just as sweet and cuddly to hold. Cutter too :) I can't wait to go back and spend more time with them! Tonight we also had a small get together with our Bible study girls to get to know each other better and that went great as well. I'm really loving this semester's group and the things I've already learned. God is speaking to me loud and clear and I am so thankful for that and thankful for the opportunity to be able to share that with these girls. The weather has turned and it is finally feeling like Fall. I love the crisp air and the warm sunshine, it's perfect to enjoy being outside. On Friday I was trying to work out my schedule for next semester and just looking at my curriculum I wondered where has the time gone? I only have three semesters left, and it seems like yesterday I was wondering how in the world am I going to tackle these classes? Life is getting real pretty quickly, I'm just hoping I can keep up!

Hakuna Matata

Yesterday evening Lauren, Madison, and I stepped back into childhood and went to see Lion King 3D. If there was any possible way to make Lion King better, that was it! It was so amazing and such a timeless movie. There are funny jokes for kids, but when you get older you can recognize the deeper meaning in the story and actually be able to appreciate it. Don't think there aren't any funny parts for adults either because we were laughing the whole time! When we were kids, who would've thought that seventeen years later we'd get to see it again in 3D and love it just as much, if not more? I can't wait to get to share the classic Disney movies with my kids and I hope that they will enjoy them as much as I did and do. I think it's nice to not take ourselves too seriously, to be able to go watch an animated movie and have no shame in enjoying it (and maybe even shedding a small tear). Maybe it convinced me that all the world needs is a little bit more Disney in their life. And I'm going to stop there before I think about it too much and blow my mind with all the great things about it and things that lead up to the making of such an empire.

Death of Me

This next week is going to be the death of me and throughout my day today I was making a mental note of the things that over this semester will be the death of me. I'd like to look back in December and say I was victorious over everything on this list.
1. Snails
2. Excel
3. Chipmunks
4. Field notes
5. Scientific names
6. Bus/transit issues
7. Time management
8. Early mornings
9. Lunch schedule
10. Electric Fields
There are some things that I have to look forward to, and I think of these things to make the others not so bad.
1. The next time I can see Tulley
2. Breaking Dawn, The Muppets, New Year's Eve
3. Birthday celebrations
4. Thanksgiving and Christmas Break
5. Football games

Tulley Ann Hall

She has arrived! I wish I could tell everything about the experience, but I'm still in Auburn. I have a Physics test tomorrow and have yet to study for it. After a long night of debate and tears, I decided to stay, with a little comfort from Sally saying she has a test Monday too. I can't believe that I'm actually an aunt! New life has entered the world and I just don't even know how to think. Today is a day to be thankful for many reasons, and now September 11 can be a happy reminder of the way God works in our lives, and how he loves us through all things. I will never forget this day for the rest of my life.

She Will Be Loved

The past 24-48 hours have been full of unforgettable experiences. Yesterday was a lab first for me, going out into the "field" to seine for fish (basically using a net to catch them). That's not so bad you might think. Au contraire mon ami! We were at an Oxbow pond filled with mud and lily pads that literally came up to my shoulders with no visibility underneath. Talk about adrenaline rush with every step because you could step on a sturdy branch and stay pretty stable, or take a plunge deeper into the murky water. Heebie jeebies can only begin to explain it. So while it was bad, it was also a good learning experience and something that I will never forget. Here's a picture of what I looked like when I got home.

As soon as I got home I began to prepare for one of the greatest nights in my life! Rachel came in from Tuscaloosa and then the two of us and Nicole road tripped to Alpharetta for Matt Nathanson/ Maroon 5/Train concert. I want to live that over and over again. Maroon 5 was flawless, words can't describe how amazing they were. And thank goodness for the Georgia heat because it made Adam Levine take his cardigan right off, displaying tattoos and sexy all over! At one point he also said, "If the people in the grass are happy, you're doing something right." We were those people in the grass, and we were certainly more than happy! Here are a  few videos and pictures that I will watch ad nauseam.

Train was so great! I thought I didn't really know a lot of their songs other than what was mainstream, but it turns out that I knew a lot of their songs, I just didn't know they were the ones that sang it. Pat Monahan interacted with the crowd and brought girls onstage and signed beach balls, everything was so exciting and fun! But on a sad note, my phone was almost dead and my camera only takes video on 7 second intervals (not sure why) so I don't have any videos of them, but I would definitely go back to another Train concert! Overall it was a great experience, and I want to be a groupie, and follow them all forever!

Barefoot Cinderellas

I Stumbled Upon this, and while it's rather long, I think most girls and young women should give it a read. The way you look and appear to other people may surprise you. The effect your appearance has on other people may surprise you. How your appearance makes you feel may surprise you. Today I was watching What Not to Wear and a 40-something year old woman could not recall a time that she had ever felt beautiful. I feel that this is the world we live in today and something must be done to change our perspectives about ourselves. And it's not just sex appeal, it's self-esteem and knowing that you are valuable and worth more than anything if only based on the fact that God created you. Trade in the glass slippers for some flats, and learn to love yourself the way God intended you to be.

Sex Appeal of Plain Women

"You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:13-16

Victory in Jesus

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
— J.R.R. Tolkien (The Fellowship of the Ring)

I came across this and it sounded familiar, but having never read any of the LOTR books I knew I was mistaken. I'm not as complete a nerd as I could be, I have seen the movies and enjoyed them, maybe one day I'll have the time on my hands to read the series. That's not the point of this though. I've heard that there's a lot of symbolism in Lord of the Rings to Christianity, and while I haven't seen the movies in a good bit, I do like the reminder that I get from this quote. When looking at it from a Christian perspective, the truthfulness and reality of it are obvious. The things we pursue as Christians may not be flashy and fabulous like the fortunes of this world, but they still hold importance and are more valuable than anything the earth can offer. When we doubt and lose our way, maybe we backslide for a period, this doesn't mean we're lost. Once you have declared that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will always be one of His children. That is a promise. Having a strong relationship with God over a long period of time will keep you from succumbing to the outside forces that try to destroy that bond. Does this mean that there won't be any adversity? No, and just as the frost comes every winter, we can be positive of the obstacles that we will face. In the second stanza, I just see the coming of Jesus and the reassurance of our eternity. Just reading it over and over again, and wow. It amazes me! We have the victory because Jesus will be king and He will be the light to this present darkness. I didn't mean to write an essay's worth of thoughts on this short passage, but God spoke to me through it, and I didn't want to forget any of it.

Looong Day

It has been a looong day, but fulfilling. It's the days that have the most crammed into them that seem to have the most reward. Class started bright and early as usual, which it's 9:30 right now and I'm in bed. 8 am's are beginning to take their toll slowly and steadily, but I'm still determined to win this race of waking earlier than most students would prefer. Straight after class I embarked on my job hunt. This in itself can be so draining, but I prepared pretty well with a list of the vets to visit and directions for the quickest way to get to all of them, and some extra resumes. I left these at some, filled out applications at others, but one vet asked me to come back today to go ahead and start with volunteer work! Talk about instant gratification. I had to run and buy a scrub top, eat a quick lunch, and head back over there. It was a great experience already. The environment is laid back and they are very eager to teach us what we need to know to help them out. I doubt it will be long before I'll be doing some important things by myself. The situation is exactly what I needed and God answers prayers one step at a time. We'll see how things work out, but I like this deal for now. When I got home we made a dinner of Italian chicken, pasta salad, regular salad, black eyed pea dip and rolls. It was so good, and fun. Our little family all grown up making dinner and eating at the table. Little moments like that are what make me love the college life. This is our time together and we need to make the most of it before reality takes hold of us even more than it already has. I'm getting a little long winded, but overall today was a good day and I ended up conquering about as much as I could have hoped.

Conquer All

School is off to a great start! I love my classes and find that time passes quickly when you're actually interested in course work. We'll see how long this lasts, hopefully until December! Tomorrow I'm going to kick butt and take names in my search for a job. I have 13 places to tackle, and then I'll move on from there. We'll cross fingers for good luck. I'm super excited to be back in the swing of things and am optimistic about how much I'll hopefully accomplish this semester. How many years does it take to get the whole college thing down? Probably four, and by that time you're about to leave anyway. Maybe that's why people stay for longer, maybe that's a good excuse. But I'm on my way to conquering all, at least that's how I feel at this moment. Also at this moment, I'm pretty into my Pandora and some new stations I've discovered, or rather they've discovered for me. What was the world before the internet? Quiet, I don't know. Speculation goes on forever and a generation slowly fades away. I'm thankful for it now though, and speaking of I need to do some homework, so until later!

First Day

Another first day under my belt and it feels nice to have the jitters and nervous anxiety over with! To start the day off, I missed the first bus I should have been on and had to wait too long to make me late for my first class. And of course once I get to the class the only doors to enter are on the front side of the classroom and the only seat left is on the very front row. Can you make this stuff up? Classes were good though and I think I will enjoy what I've gone to so far. My physics professor is Scottish and I know that I will never get bored in that class. His voice is entertainment enough. It will be a good semester and I will learn lots of cool things. On another note, the transit situation coming back from campus is... not preferable to say the least. The bus doesn't come into our complex at all so we had to hike from the road all the way back to our house. I know, at little drama queen, but at least we learned our lesson on that one! I'm looking forward to see what my second first day will bring and hopefully it will be better than the first!

Fall Beginnings

So Summer is circling the drain and I figured it was about time to write a new post. I've made it back to Auburn and can't be more excited about the new year that's ahead! I have my new room all set up in our new place and we're mostly settled except for a few small details. Thanks to some secondhand stores I got some pretty cool things to fit in my new room and I love the fact that they add "character" to what I already have. Classes start back tomorrow so I'm sure there will be more than enough stories to fill another post, and I'll be getting back on the bandwagon to post more often. But for now I'm just thankful for the time I had this summer to spend with family and relax and recharge and to remember what's important to me. Here's to the new Fall beginnings!

Post Time

I guess it's about time to post again. Kids camp was last week! We had such a good time. I was with first grade girls and they are so precious. The hearts of children are the most eye opening thing to experience. Their innocence and energy are gifts that I'm not sure where we lose along the way. They open up to anyone willing to listen and will trust anyone that they feel confident in. Although I didn't get much sleep and always had someone clinging to me or asking for a piggy back ride, it was a great week with a great ministry that is building eternal rewards in the Kingdom. Today, I went shopping with Mama and Rachel and got new things for my bedroom and bathroom in Auburn. I love to decorate and organize and I was blessed with so much. Big thanks to the moms. Class starts on Monday... boo! Ethics of some sort that I pray God will give me the endurance to get through. I've never had a class over 90 minutes and this is two hours and fifteen minutes. AHH! Sarah Roye will join me though and I'm very grateful for her company and knowledge of the campus. Oh, we went to the beach the week before kids camp to vacation with Sally and Jody and the Hall's. It was a great time! We had a surprise baby shower and did other fun things. I read three books, all of which I recommend. The Help, Something Borrowed, and Safe Haven. Being able to have time to read was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. Not much else has been going on, hopefully I'll have more to write soon!

Don't Quit Your Day Job

We've gone to sing karaoke twice within a week and it has inspired me to make a list of things that I would like to do for a living if I flunk out of college or if nothing stood in my way (like awful vocals). Here goes! And in no certain order.

1. Rockstar- I love to sing and even though I'm not good, when I sing in the shower I am and that's all that matters.
2. Writer- I love to read in my free time and it's always been a dream of mine to write a book, and maybe I can one day, but don't hold your breath.
3. Movie Critic- I love to watch movies. I don't know if anyone cares about my opinion, but if I could watch movies and get paid for it, that doesn't seem all that bad to me!
4. Subject in a sleep study- I don't know if I could make a career out of this, but who doesn't want to get paid to sleep?
5. PR- This is hard to describe, and I don't know if PR is the right term, but I'd like to give stars advice about their image when they're looking for a specific message to send. Kind of styling, maybe, I'm not really sure how to put it.
6. Athletic Trainer- Sometimes little parts of me wish I were still in sports medicine, then I snap out of it.
7. Whatever Samantha Brown is- I don't know her job title, but if the Travel Channel ever needs a new host to travel the world and stay in fancy hotels and eat delicious food, I'm there.
8.  Chef-Nothing too extensive, I just love to cook. I don't have to be formally trained or anything, as long as I have recipes to go by I'm good.
9. Rancher- Someday, maybe, this is a possibility. I'd love to live on a lot of land and have a lot of horses and a farm. Maybe in Nebraska ;)
10. Socialite in NYC- I just want to live in New York for a while and have a lot of money to live off of while I'm there. As long as we're not being realistic, hey! Why not?

Temptation

I've been reading Jane Eyre for the first time and I feel like I've just passed one of the most important parts of the story. If you haven't read it, I don't want to spoil anything, but it is kind of a long story so it doesn't really matter. Anywho, Jane finds out that Mr. Rochester is not the unblemished man she believed him to be and has to make the decision of whether she will stay with him at Thornfield or start a new life elsewhere. Of course he pleads with her and tells the truth about his story that he had been hiding from her and pours out his heart in hopes that she will stay. Jane has some profound thoughts that I think we could learn a lesson from. She doesn't have anyone in her life that would suffer the consequences and fallen reputations from her staying with him. Jane asks herself, "Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?" And she stands resolute with a confident, "I care for myself." Sometimes we don't give ourselves enough say in what is best for our life, we let others dictate our goals, plans, and even self-esteem. Satan tries to cloud our mind with what we don't have and long for rather than focusing on what is most important, our own well-being. God cares for us so we should care for us.
Jane goes on to say, "Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour... If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?... Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot." This is such a great reminder and encouragement to me. We all have standards and sometimes in a desperate hour think about the compromise to lower these for personal satisfaction. Why have standards and values if you don't regard them as the law for your life? In times of temptation, all we have to remember are the Words that God has given us as a guide and that should be where we have our foundation.

"Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees." Job 4:4
"You are my refuge and shield; your word is my source of hope." Psalm 119:114

Paradise

With a lot of free time on my hands lately, I've been looking at rental houses in Eleuthera in the hopes of one day going back. And hopefully sooner than later. Have you ever heard of pink sand? They've got it, and it's the most awesome sand in the world if there could ever be such a thing. Have you ever had the best pineapple tart life has to offer? It's waiting for you in Eleuthera too. Have you ever been the only family on the beach? You can be in Eleuthera! I'm hesitant to write about my favorite island because I don't want the tourists to take over, but who really reads my blog anyway, lol! I'm craving that Bahamian breeze and much much more. Listening to Jimmy Buffett and soaking up the sun. That's my kind of paradise.

Be Still and KNOW

More things are happening these days! Not too much, but here goes. VBS this week! I help Amy out in the missions area and count the money that the kids give for offering to go towards trips and projects that our church takes part in. The generous hearts of the kids are so inspiring. They have bags of change and even though it might not seem like much to us, it's all they have and it's everything to them. They get so excited and it just melts my heart. There is also another girl that helps out and she's in high school. Oh the joys of high school. Please pray for her, she has such a genuine heart and is struggling with peer pressure. We got the chance to talk and I hope that I was able to encourage her to stay true to herself and not lower her standards to what the world and her friends may want her to do. Last night we also had an old family friend in town on business for the night. We went to dinner and got to spend time catching up and laughing about old memories. It's so great to have friends that you haven't seen in so long, but can still pick up right where you left off. I also talked to my Kentucky cousins yesterday, they were in Auburn buying National Championship gear and I wish I could have been there! Hopefully it won't be too long before I get to see them again. More babysitting still to come and other than that, there's not a lot to tell. God is teaching me that He is in control and my plans are not His plans. Even though I wish I was busier maybe this is my time to "Be still and know that I am God."  I'm pretty good at being physically still, it's just that knowing part that trips me up. Until next time, that's what I'll be working on.

Slow Day

I haven't blogged since I've been back in Texas! Shame on me! Not a lot has been going on though, I spent most of my first week here babysitting, or maybe that was the second? I'm still on a job hunt for some vet experience, but I've a few other things I want to accomplish. I want to get a library card. I'm in the process of watching the HBO series Band of Brothers. I let you know how it turns out. I want to keep trying out new recipes. So all of these things are definitely attainable probably by next week. Then I'll just make some new goals! Life in the summer is a little slower, so it may be fewer and farther between posts, but I'll be here and do my best to do interesting things for you to read about!

Edibility

Today I have accomplished a few things on the to do list in preparation for the summer since I've come to the conclusion that I'll be going to Texas. I can't complain about this, I haven't been home since Christmas and honestly am excited about getting to go back. I will miss the friends I'm leaving behind here in Auburn and what we might have done, but it gives me something to look forward to in coming back. One thing I'm not looking forward to is all the packing. Probably my least favorite thing in the world, and over the past couple of years I've gotten to do this more than I would have preferred to. We are upgrading this time though, so it's ok! Tonight for dinner I tried a new recipe. It's pesto chicken stuffed shells and they were delicious and super easy to make. Also I made a cookie cake pie to take to Georgia tomorrow when I head to visit Sally and Jody and my parents will be joining us soon too! But I didn't try the cake yet, so I'm not quite sure how it turned out, hopefully well! Really I just wanted and excuse to use my new Paula Deen pie dish :) I've learned that cooking is pretty easy, you just have to believe in yourself that what you're doing is the right thing, and usually you'll end up with something edible.

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

Cookie Cake Pie

Opportunity

This weekend and yesterday has been a fun time for the first few days of summer. Emily and I went to see Something Borrowed and it was a great movie! Not your typical love story/romcom. The story goes to show how you should never hold back because you can spend your whole life regretting a single moment that you know would have changed it all. Take opportunities because you don't know when they may rise again, if ever. And another plus, the movie had John Krasinski in it and he's one of my faves :) Yesterday, I joined the Riley family for Ashley's graduation from the Auburn School of Nursing! What an exciting time! I can't believe how fast time is flying, that in two years (hopefully) that will be me. And while at the time classes seem to drag on, take forever, cause long and drawn out amounts of suffering, college really goes by in the blink of an eye. So you have to take opportunities here too. The speaker said he didn't agree with the saying that opportunity only knocks once, he believed that with education you have many opportunities. I somewhat agree with this, but I think that an individual opportunity will only knock once and you have to decide if you want to take it or not. He also made another good point that with education you have many doors opened for you, so make use of your education and build doors that will open for other people. Seeing that diploma yesterday gave me so much motivation and determination to power through so that one day that will be me walking across the stage, fully realizing that my opportunity to succeed in college was fulfilled.

School's Out

It's been a busy time since I last posted. Studying, studying, and more studying. But now I am officially done and there is no greater feeling! I don't have any obligations for two months. Summer plans are a little up in the air at this point, but I know that God has a plan for me with whatever comes my way. I'm excited to see what's in store because I know that whatever I do is just another step to my future, and that's just exciting! I'm also excited for others' as we enter such a defining chapter of our lives. We're growing up so fast :) In celebration of the end of the semester, I decided to try a dessert recipe that I "stumbled upon". They're cookie dough cupcakes and they're delicious! They're also very easy to make, which I also love. So here's a picture and a link to the recipe!

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Royal Wedding

History has been made and I'm glad I can say that I was truly a part of it (at least in a small way). Apart from having a small nap yesterday afternoon, we stayed up all night waiting for the big moment. It was great and surprisingly I made it through! The whole spectacle of it was great. The guests arriving in all the royal pomp and circumstance with their extravagant hats and coats. And then finally William and Harry departed for the abbey and I think all of our hearts skipped a beat. A few more processions and cars later, and the real moment we'd been waiting for when Kate finally got to the car to join the rest of the wedding. It was such a sweet thing seeing her with her dad in her last moments as a commoner. Her dress was perfect, her veil and tiara were perfect, everything was perfect. As she walked down the aisle we sat in anticipation of the look on William's face when he would finally see her. It was one of the most precious things I've ever seen. The ceremony went smoothly with no noticeable mess ups, and then they were off to sign licenses and then on to the balcony. I came back to my house very quickly, got into my bed and turned the tv on. They weren't quite ready yet, and I almost missed this kisses dozing off for a few minutes, but thank goodness I woke up just in time. So sweet, and not only did they kiss once, but twice, and it was the cutest! It seems like every moment was the moment we'd all been waiting for, something that will always be remembered. People have talked about and tried to recreate Charles and Diana's wedding since it happened, and I believe this will be just as much of a historical event in time. Here's to the happy couple!

A Grateful Heart

There are so many things I have to be grateful for, but a recent answered prayer is something that I would like to remember (and probably won't forget it even if I don't write it down). My organic grade was greatly stressing me out for multiple reasons, some of which include scholarship and vet school. In all honesty I was not as optimistic as I should have been, but before going into the test I prayed and asked God to bring me through the test because He already knows the answers. He already knows the bigger picture, and if that included failing another test I asked Him to help me accept that. Thankfully I made a C, which believe it or not is such a blessing! I still have to work hard for this class and the rest of my classes, but when you cast your cares upon God and fully release them, He will uphold His end of the deal and take them from you. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 11:28 which says, "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'"
 Something else I wanted to mention was tonight I attended a discussion about diversity, truthfully for bonus points, but it was a lot better than I expected. It made me realize or remember that every group you belong to, whether religious, ethnic, racial, social whatever has stereotypes, and even though you or someone else within that group may fall within these boundaries, you don't fit every category and you can't judge someone based on a group's reputation. We are individuals and deserve to be treated that way with respect. If you don't agree with someone, respect their opinion and maybe they will respect yours enough for you to persuade them. You can at least know that you have planted a seed within their life of whatever, that they can allow it to grow or die in whichever way they wish.
And lastly, tonight there has been mind-blowingly awful weather in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and north Alabama. Cities are ruined and lives decimated. I cannot begin to imagine what people are going through and I'm so thankful that everyone I know is ok. I'm thankful that I've never had to experience anything like that. Say a prayer for these people in the rebuilding of what is their heart. These people will be carrying heavy burdens and need the rest that only God can provide.

Early Sunday Morning

This weekend has been so great after the busy week I had. Yesterday I had a bit of a movie day, ending last night with watching Pearl Harbor. It's one of my favorites and makes me cry every time. Must have something to do with Ben Affleck because Armageddon has the same effect. But it is such a great story that I think does a great job of recreating something that otherwise most people will soon never have experienced it or seen any part of it. I guess I'm no expert and didn't live then either, but that's just my opinion. Watching last night though, it really hit me how real that was, that it's not just another movie, that that really happened. And every time I start watering up at the lines, "Danny you can't die! You're gonna be a father." "No, you are.", but this time the water works started flowing much sooner. Seeing the men trapped in the Arizona was something that I cannot even imagine. I read on IMDb that Ben Affleck's granddad turned down the chance to see the movie because he didn't want to relive any part of the war. I feel like we get so desensitized by what we see day to day that something so horrific goes by as just another film. Then I also started to think about how American opinion has changed. What would America have done if the earthquake in Japan had happened shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Would there have been the same amount of support? Trust me, I think it's great that we do have the ability to help with the devastation there, but it's just a thought that occurred to me. So if you haven't seen the movie and have about three free hours on your hands, you should watch it. And don't forget some tissues!

Easter

Today is Easter, a day that shouldn't just be another holiday on our calendars. This is the most important day in the year for remembrance of why Christians have the hope and assurance of the next life. Jesus conquered all and in Him, we have victory over death too. This is just so huge, it's hard to wrap my mind around. Society tries to decrease it to candy and rabbits or whatever, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Which is another story in itself. I do think it's nice to celebrate with family and do fun things, and trust me, I can throw back some Peeps, but I hope I'll never let it be just that and not what today is supposed to be about. Why do people that aren't Christians celebrate Easter? Why do we as Christians not do more to explain the meaning of it? Let's not let culture take something so sacred and turn it into another weekend we can get off work and give presents. Here is a song that I love and someone tweeted a lyric this morning, but I think it is perfect in honor of today.

Friday Friday

Wow, it's been a long week, and I am so thankful that it is over with! Some things are weighing in on me though with finals coming up. Just grades and that matter, which every semester I always get worried and then things work out fine, but this time I feel like I have a little more reason to worry than in the past, but I still know that everything will work out just the way it should. I have to cast my cares on the Lord and remove them from my mind. Today has been a perfect ending to the week though. For lunch, Drew who's in hotel restaurant management, had a lunch for one of his classes that they had to cook for and I got to join Meredith and his sister and Dad for it. The food was awesome! It was fancy too, not Chicfila or Papa John's like a normal MWF lunch. We had Caesar salad, basil crusted chicken over mozzarella and pasta with vegetables in it, and for dessert we had tiramisu and berry salad. I felt like I had traveled to Italy for the afternoon. I'd love to actually visit Europe and travel around someday, that's a kind of bucket list thing. But so is cracking an egg with one hand, and I'm getting pretty good at that! Hopefully when I have my education and career under my belt I can tackle some of my bucket list things, which I'll share at a later time. First thing's first though, and I'll keep you posted on how that goes!

I just need to see this every time I see my blog.

Post-Its

Most of you that know me know that I'm a big fan of Ashton Kutcher. Which might be an understatement, but you get the drift. Before you judge, know that I don't agree with all of his opinions, but I do think he's a pretty cool guy. Anyway, the whole purpose of this is that I was checking up on my E! news and came across an article about Ashton and Demi and I think they made some valid points and told a cute story. Kutcher says, "It's working on the relationship when it's good. As marriage goes, I think people set 'getting married' as the goal as opposed to being married." So true! A lot of times we just look for a Mr. Right, but not for someone that we imagine ourselves with for the rest of our lives. It's a constant struggle that, I assume (since I'm not married), you have to work on forever. And Demi goes on to tell about how Ashton will leave post-its around the house with different messages on them like, "You're magical." That's just so darn cute! And he says, "Post-its are much cheaper than diamonds." I read somewhere recently that hot guys may make you drool, but funny guys will make you fall in love without you even knowing it. Another little nugget of truth that I can totally agree with! And that's my two cents about this.

Grits

I know this is really weird, but I have a new found love for Grits. I just eat the instant kind for now because I don't have a lot of time on my hands, I guess I don't really know how long it takes to make un-instant grits, but I assume they take a while, and you know what assuming does. At least I do. But grits remind me of two things. My best friend Emily's old hamster that died of obesity and the popular books/t-shirts/merchandise. Girls Raised In The South for those who don't know or remember. Here's a little clip I found to describe the south that I think does it pretty good justice.

This is my South:

My South is full of honest, hard-working people. My South is colorblind. In my South, we don't put a premium on pigment. No one cares whether you are black, white, red or green with orange polka dots. My South is the birthplace of blues and jazz, and rock n' roll. It has banjo pickers and fiddle players, but it also has B.B. King, Muddy Waters, the Allman Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Elvis. My South is hot. My South smells of newly mowed grass. My South was the South of The Partridge Family, Hawaii 5-0 and kick the can. My South was creek swimming, cane-pole fishing and bird hunting. In my South, football is king, and the Southeastern Conference is the kingdom. My South is home to the most beautiful women on the planet. In my South, soul food and country cooking are the same thing. My South is full of fig preserves, cornbread, butter beans, fried chicken, grits and catfish. In my South we eat foie gras, caviar and truffles. In my South, our transistor radios introduced us to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones at the same time they were introduced to the rest of the country. In my South, grandmothers cook a big lunch every Sunday. In my South, family matters, deeply. My South is boiled shrimp, blackberry cobbler, peach ice cream, banana pudding and oatmeal cream pies. In my South people put peanuts in bottles of Coca Cola and hot sauce on almost everything. In my South the tea is iced and almost as sweet as the women. My South has air-conditioning. My South is camellias, azaleas, wisteria and hydrangeas. In my South, the only person that has to sit on the back of the bus is the last person that got on the bus. In my South, people still say "yes, ma'am," "no ma'am," "please" and "thank you." In my South, Sunday is for church. The Ten Commandments mean something. In my South, we all wear shoes & clothes....some of the time. My South is the best-kept secret in the country. Please continue to keep the secret....it keeps the idiots away.    -Robert St. John

In reading this, I found that the voice in my head read it with the most pronounced Southern drawl. Wonder why that is? Hope you enjoyed it!

Summer Lovin'

Whoa! Where has the time gone? It's been a good couple of weeks with no tests or much anything going on, but I feel like I'm at the bottom of the mountain heading up to a big couple of weeks and then to the downhill towards the end of the semester. Let me ask again, where has the time gone? Is it really this time of year again already? I'm so ready for it, that's for sure! This past weekend we had some visitors. Rachel and Randa were here, and it was such a fun time. Rachel brought the Michael Jackson dance game for the Wii and it was so much fun, but definitely made clear my apparent need to workout more often. I'm looking forward to the summer and getting to spend infinite amounts of time doing whatever like we did this weekend. What has two thumbs and is counting down to summer? THIS GIRL!

Swallowing Camels

I've been meaning to post this and it's kind of long so bear with me, but you should definitely read it. It is the appendix from Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave". I recommend you read the whole book, but the appendix at the end was the most inspiring and eye-opening part to me. I was going to type it out, but realized it's much too long, so here's a link:
"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave"
He makes the comment, "Dark and terrible as is this picture, I hold it to be strictly true of the overwhelming mass of professed Christians in America. They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Could anything be more true of our churches?" This was an inexplicably horrible time in the history of America, but I think we shouldn't believe we're so far removed from the people of this time in certain aspects. I'll speak for myself, but we will obsess over the tiniest imperfections in others and take our own with two grains of salt. (I'm not sure if that's the right analogy, I'm not very good with those) I pray that I can learn from the past to truly live the Word of God and not just interpret it to what I want to hear or what I think will fit my life. And heaven forbid I use it to justify my own sin. This is getting lengthy in spite of my efforts so please give it a read, you won't be disappointed!

After all... Tomorrow is another day

Gone With the Wind is on tv tonight. I've maybe seen it all the way through once, but I've seen multiple parts of it multiple times so I probably have seen it at least a couple times. In any case, it's such a classic that will always have my heart. I love history, American history especially and that is right up my alley. Sometimes I wish I could visit that time period, and then I remember corsets and no air conditioning and I'm content with my 21st century life. But the romance between Scarlett and Rhett is unique, and while it's not exactly what I would want, there are aspects that I believe show the reality of what real love is. I mean who wants to be with someone that's in love with their cousin? That's got to be real! In all seriousness though, it's something I look forward to, love that is. And when the day is done and I still haven't found it yet, there's always hope for the future because after all... Tomorrow is another day.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

 Today has been a great Saturday, I love the weekend! No offense to my roommates, but when both of them are out of the house I like to crank up my iPod and dance like no one's watching (because no one is, lol)! So tonight I danced and cooked white calzones. It was a new and very good recipe. I'm not the most blog savvy person and I'm trying to figure out how to have a separate page of recipes that I can post to, and when that day comes I will definitely add the calzones to it! My mom texted me tonight some lyrics to our favorite Eleutheran artist Eddie Minnis and reminded me of how much I miss it and want to go back. Here are some of my favorite pictures from past trips.

And just in case you were wondering, here is a song by Eddie Minnis :) 

And also in case you were wondering, Jimmy Buffett wrote the song Cheeseburger in Paradise after he ate at Ma Ruby's, which just so happens to be in Eleuthera :)

New Ideas

I've had a few ideas over the past few days, just some new thoughts and what not. I've also been meaning to post, but haven't gotten around to it. The first thing is that the other day I was studying for an anthropology test and was seeing what certain people groups left behind as artifacts that are now being used to identify these people. So I thought to myself, "What would I leave behind and what does that say about me?" Is it better to leave a lot of material things or a lasting impression of the good that you brought when you were alive? Just something to think about when the latest clothes come off the runway or the newest technology hits the stores. The next thing I have planned to do is once a month I will try out a recipe that I have "stumbled upon" or found on a fellow blog. There are so many good things that I'm dying to give a shot, but I'll use some self-control and limit myself to once a month. I'll get back to you on what the first recipe will be!

These are No-Bake Cookies-n-Cream Bars and they are in the run for first place thing to try out!

And then the last thing. I registered for classes this morning and am pleased with my schedule. No, I'm not happy about 8am's every day, but that's the real world isn't it? I'm really more excited about the actual classes I'm taking. Vertebrate biology, Physics II, Genetics, and Public speaking. I'm finally past chemistries and all those other basically weed out classes (other than Physics). I'm getting into what I enjoy, and I think that will make going to class all the more better. Maybe this optimism comes from the fact I don't have any tests for a couple of weeks, but I'm excited about the plans the Lord has for me!

Time Just Flies

I just realized it's been a while since I've posted. No reason really, nothing has been going on other than class and tests. However, Lauren got good news from home today. Mrs. Tammy's cancer has not spread and chemo will begin on April 8. God is so good! He gives us everything we need, including a break from bad news. But with school winding down, I know He will also provide everything I need to be prepared for the summer. There are so many things on my list, and it always seems to get longer, but somehow I've managed to make it this far and I owe it all to God. He reminds me of this every day with my own struggles. Even though it's been a pretty uneventful week for the most part, I'm thankful for that because there is always someone else in the world that has it worse than you do.

"The Lord is my strength and my song;he has given me victory.This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!" Exodus 15:2

Back to Reality

Spring break was great! So many good things packed into one week! Birmingham is always a nice trip to my old stomping grounds and to see familiar faces. Camping was so much fun! We did outdoorsy things like four-wheelers and fishing, and because of bad weather we only stayed in the tent one night. That one night though was like three nights because of how cold it was! It was honestly the first time I haven't been able to control shivers. Something to remember in December (no rhyme intended) when you have a roof over your head and others are out bearing the cold because of homelessness. Overall though, I would go back right now if I could. And then to Valdosta to visit family was also a good trip. Sally and I went to the Calico Arts and Crafts Fair (I think that's what it was called) a Christmas Village of sorts, but maybe not quite that large of a scale. I got a couple of things for some friends, but could have spent a lot more! We're going back in November, so if that's up your alley you should check it out! It gives me a little summeritis, but I'll put that in the back of my mind for now. I have a lot to do on the list before school gets out, and while it's only like six weeks away I know that time will fly! Here's to buckling down!

Mayberry

This is just going to be a quick thought because it's getting late, we're going to spring forward somewhere in the middle of the night and church is in the morning. This is just a note to my future self mostly. Riding in the car tonight with the radio on, a Darius Rucker song was playing, and I realized my kids will never know him as Hootie and the only thing called a blowfish lives in the sea. So there are a couple of things I want my kids to learn from my childhood and adolescent years. I want them to listen to the music that I enjoy now. Nicole and I discussed how when we were little our parents listened to what is now considered classic rock, but I love it and think it's great music because I grew up listening to it. What will my kids think of my taste in music? How will it have changed by the time I have kids? I want my children to appreciate other music that is not their own generation's. I also don't want to buy my kids video games (I know you're thinking I'm crazy). We never had video games growing up, not because we didn't want them but because we weren't allowed. We had to play outside and use our imaginations to have fun. Whenever we did want to play video games we could go to the neighbor's and play theirs, but that was it. I want to keep to the basics as much as possible to appreciate the little things that life has to offer, because in looking back, what seemed like little things turn out to be pretty big.

Give Me a Break

I'm so glad today is mostly over. I'm now only a couple of classes away from spring break, which is a much needed one! The hard stuff is behind me and now it's time to relax for a bit. There are a few things on my list for this break. I'm road tripping to Birmingham with the roomie for the weekend, then we're going to join some other friends for a few days of camping, and the last half of the week I'm going to visit my pregnant sister Sally, her husband Jody, and their lovable goof of a dog Cutter. Seems like more travelling than resting, but I know it will be a good time! I love getting to go to Birmingham because I always feel like I'm going home, even if it's not "technically" home anymore and I love my new homes just as much. But that's getting into a much longer story for another time. I'm originally from Bham, so that's the main reason why it still feels like home, and so many people are still there that I love and cherish. God has blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life, I can't begin to imagine what life would have been like if even one of them wasn't in it. So I'm excited about getting to go back and the week and completely ready for my break!

On another note, Mrs. Tammy (Lauren's mom) did not get the news they were expecting yesterday after surgery. They found positive lymph nodes and will be putting off reconstruction to start radiation. Please keep them in your prayers as they embark on this hard time in their lives. Also the pink ribbon image on my profile is a link to the Susan G. Komen website, if you haven't noticed! Check it out to see what you can do for the cure! 

Ace of Cakes

Duff Goldman from Ace of Cakes
(This was the best I could get with no flash photography)

Today was a great day! I felt so productive and the night ended on a great note. Auburn is so awesome, they brought chef Duff Goldman to speak to students. His show was one of my favorites when it was still on. It never ceased to amaze me what they could do and create. He was really cool and down to earth, which is what I love about him. He talked about working with Mark Summers and being in awe of the "Double Dare" guy. He also had some pretty funny stories about Betty White, Paula Deen, and Martha Stewart. But one thing that stuck out to me that he said was that in the beginning he only started baking so that he could be in a band and go on tour. He never set out to revolutionize cake making. He just did things people asked of him no matter how crazy or over the top to be able to pay his bills. And look where he is today! He may or may not have factored God into this equation or his story, but I think in a similar situation if we want to be more like Jesus, and we do what He asks us to, we will revolutionize our own lives with what God has planned for us. We can become successful in something that we never even thought twice about in the first place!

This cake won the decorating contest! Done by
The Gourmet Tiger

       

My piece of cake from the decorating
contest. It was so good!

                                                     

Early

This morning I did something that I've never accidentally done. I set my alarm for thirty minutes too early. So now that I have all this extra time and no morning talk shows to sit and watch (I really miss watching Ellen before going to class) I thought it would be a good time to do some blogging. Today is a hard day. My roommate and oldest friend that got the bad news a few posts ago is heading home today to be with her mom, who we found out has breast cancer, before surgery on Wednesday. This was shocking to all of us, but I know that Mrs. Tammy will have the strength of 10,000 angels behind her to fight this. Lauren's passion has always been breast cancer awareness and I think this will infinitely multiply that desire for supporting the cause. Please join me in praying for Mrs. Tammy, Lauren, and the whole family as they enter this storm, that they will see the power of God and take comfort under his wings of protection.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time." Psalm 34:18-19

BFFL's

You know you're best friends when a simple phone call can turn into an hour long conversation solving the world's problems. Sometimes a couple of days go by and we get busy, but we always pick up right where we left off. I'm so blessed by my friendships and thank God every day for every single one. They teach me new things about myself and about life that I will always be eternally grateful to them for. God gives us friends as teachers, mentors, shoulders to cry on, someone to share giggles and inside jokes with. I can only hope to aspire to be as much of an inspiration to them as they are to me. God knew what  He was doing when he brought us together.

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Birthday Bash

Tonight was a night of many firsts, some I won't go into detail for the sake of friendship. But the most apparent first is that it's the first time in a long time that I've been up this late. My roommate's birthday has been quite a day and night! I'd say a fairly typical college birthday to put it in its simplest terms. Another sort of first is that I got to meet some new people and got to know others better with some hang time. As the night was coming to a close, we were sitting at Waffle House and I thought to myself that a year ago I only knew one of these people and him not even very well. It's weird to think about those you meet and become friends with that later you can't really remember life before you knew them, or you feel like even though you've only spent time together one night in your life, you've known each other for years.Tonight was also a reassurance from God that I'm doing the right thing with my life. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything because I don't drink and don't go out like others my age. I see it around me, but I just don't have any desire to take part in it. Yeah, it's fun to have people over and socialize, don't get me wrong! But I think tonight has further focused my vision into what God's will for me is. If I could take anything from this night, it would be not to second guess my own judgement if I know that what I'm doing is right. If this is the case, God will be behind me, and what can stand against?

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Something New

My roommate's birthday is this weekend, and she is one of the last of our close girl friends to not be a teenager anymore. (Woot!) Also my other roommate has received some distressing family news, and all of this has led to some thinking on my part about how we're all growing up. This is life, and baby we're living it! We're not sheltered anymore and this is reality. Over the past few years, I've learned not to take things for granted, but when circumstances get a little more comfortable, I slip back a little not truly appreciating all I have. So with this blog, my intent is to chronicle every moment of new experiences (good and bad) so later when looking back I'll be able to remember exactly how I thought and felt when life happened to me.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28