Monday Mornings

Don't you hate it when you force yourself out of bed in the morning in order to get to class and then realizing you could have skipped? That would be my current situation as I am sitting here in my computer lab this morning with absolutely nothing to do because I finished all the assigned work last time and even if I wanted to take some kind of initiative and work ahead I can't because it's a project and he hasn't given us the details on it yet. I look around, however, and realize I am not the only one in the same situation. In fact I only see about 2 people actually working on assignments for this class, but I digress.

My weekend, I would say, was an enjoyable one, lot of quality hanging out and relaxation was accomplished, not at all productive on the academic level, but you know. I will get around to all that stuff at a later date.

You know, I would have to say that I am definitely in the right major because people fascinate me. Not that I really want to do anything in the field of psychology, but I like to watch people see how they carry themselves, interact with others, and so on.

Hehe...I remember when I was younger I wanted to be like Harriet the Spy, go around town following people and writing down what they do. I pretty much do that now, minus the cool belt of spy tools. You can get a lot of insight by just watching and listening to people.

Ahh, the glory of sports bras

Tonight we had an adventure...the girls in Margaret Nance know what all it entails but in order to protect everyone's identity and spare everyone some embarrassment, I shall not go into detail, but I do praise God for the sisterhood I have found here (in a very Beta Kappa 3.14, non sorority kind of way ::wink::). There was a round up, girlish giggling, prancing, and an escape from the deathy heat that has overtaken the Nance.

And I will say this: sometimes you just need to lie down on some cold cement to get some perspective.

Lately I have not felt very inspired, I haven't had much to say on anything. I have had plenty of opportunities and encounters with things that normally inspire great things in me such as sunshine, good spiritual conversation, and Crazy Bread from Little Ceasars, but I don't feel like I have had much to say; but plenty to think about. I guess the mood has just been quiet and reflective, pensive I suppose, as of late. I have tried to write, but just didn't feel called, even when I tried to pray it's like nothing would really come out, I have felt so blocked.

But...I think God is trying to have me hear something, and I am not listening to Him well enough, so He's putting a temporary block on a few things so I will just stop for awhile, stop trying to feel inspired, stop trying to hard and reaching so far to hear Him, but to just "be still" and know that He is God.

I Think...

The first coherent thing Maggie said to me this morning were the lyrics:

"Here we go, one more time, everybody's feelin' fine, Here we go
Yes Yes Yes Here we go, N*Sync has got the flow"

That's right ladies and gentlemen, thats N*Sync's "Here We Go" off of their self-titled debut album that came out in what 1998 or something. But you know what? I liked it.

It was upon realizing that that particular song could still bring a smile to my face after not listening to it in well over 4 or 5 years, that I came to my glorious revelation.

I think that everyone should be willing to embrace the dork they once were, or still are, and stop pretending like you didn't enjoy the things we all know you did as a child.

I'm a dork, and I embrace that because even though it sometimes makes me cringe when I read through old diaries, flip through the unplayed CD section, or go through boxes of collected junk like TigerBeat and Bop, there was a very happy child in all that. It is that kind of stuff that allows you when your older to look back and laugh at yourself, get a little embarassed then thank God for the person you've grown up to become.

So today I challenge you to take pleasure in something slightly embarrassing that you enjoyed as a child, and share it with a friend, chances are they secretly still like it too.

I have to post this beautiful and encouraging message because Crystal (whom I love dearly and suffer with in studying ::wink::) sent it to me when I was having a very crappy day Sunday and I am so thankful. I love how God always sends little nuggets of encouragement when we need them most and least expect it.

Giorno di Amor

Ahh...Valentines Day, the day of love...it's kind of sad that people hate it so much or allow it to get them so depressed. Yes, maybe it is a bit commercialized and yeah sometimes watchings all the couples in restuarants can me annoying, but man I love this day.

And what a great day it was...

I have always been a fan of giving Valentines, you know, the silly little cards with cartoons on them that say fun things like "I'm falling for you" or "You're a great Val Pal." Ahh they are little pieces of cardboard that can bring such joy to people's lives. Sure, most people stopped giving them out in like 5th grade when teachers stopped requiring it, but it's something I have continued to do and plan on doing in the future.

I got all kinds of Valentines love today, most of which is nicely posted on my wall for my constant admiration...I've met good people here at school, and build some really great friendships...Thanks God.

And because today is a day worthy of celebration, what is better than getting all dressed up (which includes pretending like I know how to use a curling iron) and going out with a bunch of equally well dressed kids to IHOP...thats right, the International House of Pancakes. There were 9 of us and only 7 other people in the entire place. It was fun though...pigs in a blanket and hashbrowns...mmmmmm.

It was just nice being able to hang out, laugh, sing, and enjoy people's company, that is what I believe Valentines Day should be about, being with people you love, which doesn't mean you have to be romantically involved.

I for one enjoy spreading love.

Ok its late and I really ought to be scooting to bed, but I hope you all had a wonderful day full of love, smiles and encouragement.

God is love, fool. So if today is the day of love, then I guess it's the day of God too.

Bling Ring!

Me and Andrew (man we looked hot)

Me and Lil Katie

Silly Kids

All Smiles

The Ladies

ARG!!

That's all.

Go Ahead, Feel Inspired

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal."

-Pope John Paul II

The Notebook

Curse good chick flicks!

I don't usually cry in movies, and I am not usually one to enjoy sappy little chick flicks, but man, if you havent seen The Notebook, I recommend you do.

Katie told me it would be good...she was right, thanks lady.

I will be the first to admit that I am a hopeless romantic. I long for the fairy tale romance right along with the rest of the world. Well, perhaps fairy tale isn't the right description because I am not looking for that perfectly wrapped little package of love, weighed down with some illusion of easiness and perfection. No, I want the kind that takes my breath away, tells me when I'm wrong, kicks me in the butt, pushes me to be something better than what I'm doing, and demands hard work. The stuff that makes you cry, laugh, melt, scream, whatever, but at the end of the day you wouldn't have it any other way.

That's kind of how the movie is.

But how can you think about love and NOT think about the author and perfector of love. No, the movie has absolutely no spiritual context, it wasn't any form of Christian message, but God is love and I can't see love without turning my thoughts to God.

God doesn't let go of us, He doesn't give up on us, and His love for us will do miracles. His love is fully sustaining and perfect, bigger than anything we deserve, but He goes further than that in providing us people to love and to love us. He has a perfect love story waiting for all (whether it be of the marriage sort or not), and of course our relationship with Him.

There is a reason why people are so attracted to romance and love. God is love and deep down we are all yearning for God.

I can't wait to be married. Just imagining the kind of person God will bless me with. It exciting, something so worth waiting for and something I definitely don't want to taint with a bunch of other relationships-not at all. I'm just not interested, when God's ready He'll send me the memo.

Ok, I have unleashed the emo kid for long enough, please don't leave any ridiculous, sappy comments. I have done enough of that. Just seek God kids, His love with bless you more and fill you more than any relationship ever could...that whole relationship stuff, just a lovely side blessing He choses to send our way.

In a way I feel sorta dumb for writing this. Don't comment on that either.

Tan Left Arm

If I had to narrow down the list of things I love to three I would say they are:

1. Jesus
2. time well spent with good friends
3. and spending time basking in the sunshine

In reality, the list is much longer than that, but I think that narrows it down pretty well.

I can't even describe how beautiful it was today (I'm sure you people are getting tired of beautiful day entries, but hey sunshine is my drug). It was so warm, warm enough for a t-shirt, capris, AND sandals. It's nice to bust out the brown sandals again. I've been everywhere in those shoes.

But anywho, yes, it was beautiful. I spent two and a half hours out in the sunshine today and it was glorious. I had the shoes off, the David Crowder blasting on the MP3 player, and the Word of God right in front of me. I did some school work too, but mainly, just wrote and took in the beauty of it all.

AND the smell of dirt was on the air. That is such a beautiful smell.

Thugs I tell you

THEE MN girls!

Silly

Don't put your foot in the Tillman fountain Katie

Katie B and Amy all bundled up

Cute kids

Fun in the "snow"

Happy

Guess who is absolutely NOT paying the least bit of attention in her computer lab this morning?

Heh.

You know, sometimes it absolutely amazes me how adamantly against coming to Winthrop I was, when here I am, at Winthrop, and insanely happy. Not just content, but happy, really happy.

I mean seriously, I practically (ok literally) came here kicking and crying (I didn't scream, it's not ladylike), swearing up and down that I would be miserable, yet God provided for me in more ways than I can count. I've grown so much and come to understand things about God I'd never realized. I have an AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING group of people to surround and support me. I'm learning and enjoying what I'm doing. Ahh, it's all kind of hard to describe but I guess that just goes to show that God really does know what He's doing.

I don't think that I would be nearly as happy or have grown so much if I had ended up going to NC State (not that waking up to the beautiful Miss Jordan McCoy and getting to see Lukas, the love of my heart, everyday wouldn't of made me happy). I think the combination of it being SO BIG and already knowing people there wouldn't have forced me to branch out and get to know new and wonderful people like I have here.

And I have decided, it is perhaps one of the greatest compliments when people ask you what you're on just because your happy, in a way its kind of sad though, but still, it means joy is radiating and I hope others will catch the fever.