Sophomore?!

Okay can we please take a moment to think about the idea that I'm going to be a sophomore in college next year?! I can't believe it. I never imagined myself past my first year of college, and now I'm about to start my second year. Where did time go? I'm about to move into a house (my very first :)) with my five best friends and take charge of my own life...scary! It's amazing to see what God can do with people. I never would've guessed that my life would be where it is right now; that I would have the friends I do, that I would be able to survive more than two weeks away from home, that I could handle rejection from Professors, that I could accept a C as a 'good' grade. Maybe some of these things are petty to you, but they are huge for me. I have my own life and I absolutely love my life! Let's hope this summer is as wonderful as this school year was, and that the next four years of school are as great as my freshman year.

LOVELOVE :)

"The One"

I know, typical, I'm going to talk about the ever-vague idea of "The One." But it's really been on my mind lately, not because I'm thinking about marriage or have picked out my wedding song or anything weird like that...

Anyway, I was thinking about the whole concept. I am a complete believer that God has a specific person picked out for everyone, either that or it is His plan that you don't marry. It may be frustrating/shocking/incomprehensible for us but WE are not God and we can't pick out The One for ourselves. (I capitalize it because I think it holds that amount of importance in our minds. Sidenote: I'm assuming that the majority of people reading this are girls). It's especially tough when we see those really drop dead gorgeous people and we REALLY want them to be the one, but nonetheless, God will provide the perfect person, and looks can be a bonus, right? :)

Still, what if The One is in my GHIST class right now? (If you are in my GHIST class and you're reading this, please do not think I'm planning our wedding). What if The One isn't at JMU? What if I don't meet The One for another 10 years? Will I be able to handle that? I guess it all boils down to the concept of wholeheartedly trusting God and His perfect plan for my life. I'm trying to wait patiently, but let's just remember that patience is not one of my strongest virtues. It's one of the hardest things to have no clue what the future holds...but I'm learning day by day that it's okay to not control every minute detail of my life. God is so much better at handling it, anyway.

So that's my little message of the day: stop sitting, wishing, and waiting, because your time will come. Just because you don't know the future doesn't mean it's not bright. Place it in God's hands and let it go, because if you do that, it's guaranteed to turn out perfectly.

Song of the WEEEEEK!

This is becoming a tradition :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-wC9UWWJcY

and one extra this week...don't judge me for liking him, he's weird, but he's talented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Fqn9du7xo

Blogging...

Okay I'm completely aware I never update this thing, but I was thinking about it in the shower (if you didn't already know this about me, that's when I do my best thinking) and I decided I'm going to try to regularly update this thing from now on! GET STOKED. (Whether or not this will actually happen is debatable, I wouldn't bet on myself.)

I really like the idea of blogging though. I mean really, how many other opportunities do you get to say everything you want to say with no interruption? Uh, probably none unless you're talking to Jesus or a stuffed animal...in which case you're weird. Anyways...I like to talk. I like to write. What better way to do both than through this nifty little internet creation. So if you're reading this, thanks for listening to my "ramblings," I apologize in advance if any of them sound scatterbrained or random, I promise to do the best I can to sound sane and educated.

xoxo :)

Songs of the Week!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h97JQNgzDY8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFDl-KWu-XQ

And I feel the need to type the lyrics to "Perfect People" by Natalie Grant because they are so powerful and they touch me everytime I hear them :)

Never let Him see you when you're breaking
Never let Him see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

[CHORUS:]
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scared
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again

[CHORUS]

Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see out let grace be enough

[CHORUS]

By a perfect God [5x]

Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed

I love college.

Okay, it's a famous song by Asher Roth, but if you're reading this thinking I'm going to be all funny and witty, you should stop reading now. Just to set the record straight: college is nothing like Mr. Roth claims. Correction, sure, if you'd like to get kicked out within a semester for drinking all night and sleeping all day and never going to class, be my guest. Seems like such a waste to me. Anyway, back to the topic at hand...I've been thinking a lot lately about the past year and how much college has truly changed my life. Obviously I knew that when I left, things would change, but little did I know my whole world would be different. I'm a completely different person than I was in August, and I'm so grateful for that.

First of all, when people told me things about college, I would always brush them off and ignore their advice, not thinking I would have any of the same experiences. That was not the case at all. People were right when they said that classes were hard and I would have to focus on my studies even more than I did in highschool. People were also right when they said that you should always go to class, I went from a C to a B because I went to every single one of my awful GHIST 101 classes. People were beyond right in saying that Professors love students who go the extra mile to say hello or drop by office hours. When you are more than a face in the crowd or a number in the class, things will honestly go better for you in the class. Also, even if you think you're wrong, speak up in classes. Professors like discussion, and they beg for your own opinions. Most of them (unless they're awful) won't even bash you if you're completely wrong. Those are just a few pointers I thought I would share!

But there are a lot of things people didn't tell me about. I didn't realize how hard the adjustment would be. I didn't realize I would lose a few friends in the process of finding my friends. I didn't really trust the saying that you find your best friends in college. I was so blessed by God to have met some amazing girls within my first few weeks here. It made survival possible and the transition a little easier. It should've been harder for me to accept the loss of friendships, but I don't feel like I should have to change who I have become because people from my past can't appreciate it. I like who I am and I don't intend to go back to they way things were before. High School is beyond over for me.

My faith has grown so much this year as well. I don't know how people live in ignorance of the Creator. He never ceases to amaze me; He's always there in my darkest hour and when nobody else appears to understand what I'm going through. I'm extremely blessed to have been involved with incredible people this year through YoungLife and to have grown so much in my faith.

I've had to make some pretty tough decisions this year, too. I believe that comes with growing up. I struggled with the decision whether or not to lead YoungLife, and I'm still contemplating it. I had to leave behind relationships that were holding me back. I had to choose between living in the past or choosing a better future. I had to choose happiness, which also caused me great pain. Needless to say, Freshman year has been an incredible year for me and I'm so excited for the future. :)

P.S. Tiffany, Rachel, Whit... you guys are the best and I love you all so so much. You will never understand how much you have changed me and I am eternally grateful to have met you and I will thank God for the rest of my life for the time I get to spend with you all.

A little (or lot) about me.

I’m terrified of clowns and people dressed up in suits (i.e. Chuck-e-Cheese, the Duke Dog). I enjoy following rules. I like flat soda and I prefer to eat ice cream out of the carton with a huge spoon. I wear my emotions on my sleeve but never my heart. Chicken Caesar salad is my favorite food and I order it almost everywhere not only because it’s my favorite but also because I’m a creature of habit and I don’t like making decisions or trying new things, even new food. Sidenote: I ramble. I like routine. I have bad days and I don’t always know why. I deal with pain by crying, sleeping, talking, cleaning, but usually not getting angry. I relate my feelings to music. I overanalyze everything, and according to my brother, it makes me crazy. I’m old fashioned to my core and I’m a sucker for the sweet talkers. I can’t sleep with socks on because I get too hot. If there were such a thing as an addiction to water, I would probably have it. I bite my nails and pick at my fingers when I’m nervous. It’ll probably take a good month of hanging out with me to get me to stop blushing incessantly when I’m around you. It takes me awhile to open up, but once I do, be prepared because it won’t stop. Daisies are my favorite flowers; I would prefer them to roses any day. Vanilla is my favorite scent. I don’t like to be put in awkward situations because I don’t adapt well. I’m not outgoing and I never will be. Outback Macaroni and Cheese is my permanent craving. Pink will always be my favorite color. I love Jesus with my whole heart. I think I’m just beginning to grasp the immense love He has for me as well. I drive when I’m upset. My family means more to me than they will ever understand, and it took coming to college to realize that they have and forever will hold my heart and be my home. My sisters are my best friends, they are the ones I want to tell all the good and bad things to, and it’s been harder than anything to not be able to talk to them every night. My friends since coming to school have changed my life more than they could ever begin to understand; I can't wait to share the next four years with them. I like rap music even though I feel guilty every single time I sing (or rap) along to it. I like running (do not laugh). The beach is probably my favorite place in the world to be, it’s the only place that you can feel completely at peace and it proves that there is an awesome God who created the beautiful world with a purpose. Early morning devotions are the best because they allow me to begin everyday realizing how incredible God is and how unworthy I am for being the receiver of His never-ending love. I absolutely hate being mean to people and therefore I am a pushover. I can’t bear to cause people pain because I can’t bear when people put me through pain. I love pictures. Giant coffee mugs make me smile. I like crime shows even though they give me nightmares, and I refuse to watch scary movies. End of rant. :)