In my skin

This week so far has been spectacular. I can't say for sure what it is but it doesn't really matter. The sun has been shining and my insides hurt from laughing so much. I just don't think there's anything wrong with that!
I am also finding a peace with myself and I can’t tell you how good that feels! Sometimes it is easy to lose yourself or find yourself when you are surrounded by many different age groups, because with that, generally comes different stages of life and you find yourself trying to adapt yet maintain a balance. It’s tricky business and I don’t think I’m a huge fan. Fortunately I have met a couple of people my own age (which is WAY exciting) and they have unknowingly helped me to find a balance and peace. It is so nice and relaxing to find people I can relate to and who take me as I am. I don’t feel I have to do any adapting and it is so wonderful! They are such nice people and inspiring too! I am so excited about new found friendship(s) and can’t wait to get to know them better.
I am especially excited about this because as I said, they have helped me to find a peace and balance. I am finally feeling comfortable in my own skin again. I think it helps that I met these fine folk during the 80’s dance… so they know I have style! I feel really comfortable around them and in turn, comfortable with myself.
It is kind of sad that I am just now meeting these people – because the year is rounding off – but they are in my life now and I hope it stays that way!

Those Crazy College Kids

So now that I am finally adjusting and finding my groove, school is almost out. That’s right, this is the last month of school! That is so crazy to me! Where on earth has the time gone? I bet you’re wondering too! Or more, wondering what I have been doing. Let me try to update you as best I can. .
So I entered school in January. I knew right away that this time would be different; this time I would get involved. My involvement started by going on a fellowship retreat. Fellowships are like a club/sorority kind of thing (it’s hard to explain). I am in the Pandas and the brother fellowship is the Trojans. We all gathered together for a overnight trip to the beach where we would stay at a church. A highlight from that is when we played sardines and Rob hid in the rafters with all the insulation. Nice one Rob! Then a couple of girls and myself decided to block the boys upstairs. Such shinanagins! Here are a couple of pictures from the trip:



Next up was Winter Formal. Because I came in the middle of the year and no one really knows me, I didn’t expect to be asked to go with anyone. That would not stop me! A chance to get dressed up, heck yes! I’m in! So I went with a friend. It was A LOT of fun!! Seriously. We were all kind of mixing it up and doing silly things so I threw in my crazy-let your limbs fly as they will-dance that I like The Seizure and there was a small group of people that started doing it!! It was so amazing! I also danced with a guy who dipped me (Exciting!) and another fella who was just a very smooth dancer so he gets special mention for that. The night was also really fun because several times we all coordinated while dancing. It was really cool! Just like in the movies!! People (Cody!) always says that sruff never happens but it totally does! :D



The next “big event” was Spring Break. Woooo. Parrtaaaay! Just kidding..Here’s how I spent the first part:




Then I got to feeling a little better and hung out with my new friend Kyrsten:

After Spring Break I had “Roomies” to look forward to. Roomies is an event where you are to set up your roommate on a mystery date (assuming you live in the dorms). Then you and your date are tied together (at the legs) for an evening of games. Since I don’t have a roommate and wanted to go I had to ask around. If you didn’t already know, Corban has a ratio of 3 to 1.. Not in my favor. It was a challenge to find someone but fortunately, the day before I did. I asked Bart and he agreed. Next we had to pick a decade to dress up as. We picked the 70’s. (This is not far from Bart’s usual attire.) The evening was pretty fun. At the end, after we untied ourselves Bart and I kept looking for each other when we wanted to walk away because we weren’t used to being by ourselves anymore!! It was really funny! The part of the evening I DIDN’T like was the goldfish eating. No, no. You read right. Eating goldfish. Yes, live ones. I didn’t do it but Bart did. It took him awhile to get one and he kept instinctively spitting in the water. When he finally did get one he spit it out and then was told he had to actually eat it. “But look! I chewed it! See?”
“No, you have to swallow it!”
This is the time I almost untied myself and walked away. It was causing me great anxiety. I told him: “Just chew it and get it over with or let’s walk away and move on!” – I really couldn’t handle it anymore.. I couldn’t really handle it to begin with. So other than that – and Bart apparently not knowing how to bend his knees when he walks! – The evening was a good one:

That about wraps it up for now, but do stay tuned in for more (not that I know when I'll get around to it again!) My future plans include staying busy with an indapendent study course and in June heading off to CA to work a snack bar/gift shop at a Christian summer camp. I am very excited and will do my best to keep ya'll posted!

I have a dream. . .

Of updating everyone on everything that's going on in my life but I just can't do it right now. I can't. I've tried and I've tried but my head is full of. . .
I just can't think straight. I can't breathe. I can't sleep. I'm bored. And I've been wearing the same clothes for 3 days now. I don't mean to put on a "whoa as me" performance here, but I want you all to know I have tried to let you know what is going on with me. What my plans are. I have plans. Dreams. Big ones! And I'd really like to share them with you. But right now I need to blow my nose, wash my hands. Maybe take a bath. Take a nap. Blow my nose..Definetely need to blow my nose.
I will up date soon. Really. I will.

Something Small

Yesterday I read an encouraging blog and today I came across this quote and I really like it. It encourages me to make sure I am not wasting what God has given me and that I am stretching myself to live life to God's fullest.

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would
hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left,
and could say, "I used everything you gave me."
-Erma Louise Bombeck



(A special thanks goes to the poster of both encouraging readings).

Feeling Inspired

When I entered school I was going to church every Sunday. No, I was going TWICE every Sunday. I was really excited and knew that God had the reigns. But before I knew it, I was so caught up in school work and was neglecting the One that got me there in the first place. I read a blog about a woman who had so much to do but felt she too, was neglecting God in her daily walk so she decided to have time for God before she started her day and trust that He would help her accomplish all her tasks. She wrote that she was able to get MORE done doing this. . Connecting her story with my own life, I decided I needed to get back to putting God first. So I started a prayer journal. My plan was to write in this journal before school work, because it is when I am feeling so busy and overwhelmed that is it so easy to neglect God. But it is also when I am so busy and overwhelmed, that I need God the most! For some reason, I put Him on the back burner. So I have this prayer journal that I sometimes write in but more often neglect.
I have also noticed that I am dissapointed that I am not as active in church; granted I am between churches right now, when I go to a church I don't stay as long as I could and I have missed a couple of Sunday's. I am not a fan of this.
Not having put too much thought into all this, other than thinking I need to get better at it, I came across another blog and what was it about? Time with God and putting Him first. This blog reminded me how it's easy to get caught up in the petty things of life, and get distracted by the opposite sex (have I mentioned how many attractive boys there are at school?) I was reminded that if I'm going to let God take control, I need to give Him ALL the control. It is easy for me to want to step in and do what I want, but if my desires are to meet ultimate happiness, leaving it up to myself is the wrong game plan. I can not live for myself or others, but I must live for God.
Re-realizing this is soo refreshing to me. I am so glad I came across that blog and I am so glad that there are people in my life who believe what I believe, who want the same things, and who can support my walk as I support theirs - even if it's behind the scenes of life (in forms of blogs!)
I am going to make sure I make time with God everyday and find a church to get involved in. I really miss having a church to go to all the time so hopefully that will come about soon for me. Maybe I'll go talk it over with God! :)

Anniversary

One year ago today, was a Sunday. It was a Sunday that I decided to go back to church. I decided to go alone, and not with any friends. It was a Sunday that led to many happy moments. A Sunday that led to many painful moments. It was a Sunday that in my heart I made a decision. It was the Sunday I rededicated my life to Christ.
I don't have to tell any one who's been around, that 2008 was a trying and painful year for me. It was. Through it all, I held on to that one moment that matters the most. The moment I made my decision to follow Christ. Though I was actually saved when I was about 12, I have definetely made a road map out of my walk with the Lord. And I definetly took the wheel and left Him at a few pit stops while I ventured the next town on my own. God is so gracious and merciful that when I came back, He was there, and He was forgiving.
There are a few lessons I have learned this year, and a few verses I have kept close. The first verse is 2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all"
The second is Luke 1:37 "For with God, nothing shall be impossible" - This is so true. Though I have many things in my life that prove this, I sometimes still let my doubts and fears take over. This verse keeps me in check. I have to remember: God will not leave me. If He got me here, He will get me through. And that's the truth.
Another verse I have been looking at is 1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear hear, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." - I know God has great great things planned for my future and I am so excited to see what they are! I know if I continue to follow Him, He can use me and do truly wonderful things with my life. I am pumped!
Last year was jam packed full of learning. This year I have continued on with my growth in the Lord and am learning what a "personal" relationship with Christ is. I realized I had kept mine "professional" - which seems so silly because He knows me inside and out and I shouldn't feel afraid to go to some one who has been so forgiving towards repentence. Since realizing how I was treating my relationship, and altering it to an open and honest one, I have grown closer to my Lord and have seen a real relationship form.
I still have struggles or course, as everyone always will, but now I am standing on the otherside of the line and I know that it will all be ok. When the odds aren't looking good. When optimism seems a joke, I know that it's undercontrol. And I am protected under His wing.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when the heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Double Tagged

Both Bren and Laura tagged me. SO I guess that makes me it... Again. So here we go:

Two names you go by:
Elsie
Lou
(and Burger)

Two things you are wearing right now:
Dress
Shirt

Two longest car rides:
Oregon to Tennessee
Tennessee to Oregon
(and the 4 hours lost in San Fran!)

Two of your favorite things to do:
Laugh
Play in water

Two things you want very badly at this moment:
My homework to be done accurately
Exciting weekend plans

Two animals you have or have had:
Zoey (dog)
Pez (satan)

Two People who will fill this out:
Rachel
Cody (BAM!)

Two things you ate today:
Left over mac & cheese
Brownie

Two people you last talked to:
Some guy named Jay (currently sitting next to me on my left)
Laura (via google chat)

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
Working my butt off in kickboxing
Finishing homework that's due Wednesday

Two favorite holidays:
Christmas
Thanksgiving

Two favorite beverages:
Water
Cola
(and juice)

Did you notice how this whole thing was in two's and I was tagged by TWO people.. Whoa ho ho!