Resolution sounds too cliche... goals, perhaps?

I hate saying, "New Years Resolution"... nobody keeps those. I think it's important to set goals though... to have some direction in what you're aiming to accomplish over a year's time. So I've made some semester goals for myself.

1. Less stress, more laughter. Hakuna matata! I let life get me too stressed out last year... this year I'm not going to "take on the world's problems" quite as much. I'm going to enjoy myself, my life, and the wonderful people who are a part of it.

2. Start working out again. I quit soccer and took a 6 month break from regular physical activity... it's time to get back to it. I can feel my metabolism slowing--we can't be having that.

3. Ministry... to pray earnestly for the development of Young Life in Jonesboro, and to be patient but diligent in hearing God's voice and following where He leads this semester.

4. Be intentional about really pouring into the people that mean the most to me. Less small talk, more real talk. Invest in people in a deeper, richer way.

5. Memorize scripture. This is a new one as of yesterday when a friend of mine challenged me to do so. I'm excited to see how it changes my relationship with Jesus.

So there we have it... my 5 points of personal improvement this semester. I think they're pretty attainable goals. I'm excited about the 6 months ahead of me!

2009 in retrospect

I've been meaning to do this for a few days now... a reflection on 2009. Looking back, it may have been one of the hardest years of my life, but I think it was also one of the best. To recap it in the shortest way possible, I'm just going to try to hit the highlights. In January '09 I decided I was over soccer... so I started looking into transferring. As God would have it, I was in a strange period of transition where I was no longer considered a resident of Tennessee and not yet considered a resident of Texas. So I stayed at ASU, thinking maybe I should just keep playing soccer. As the spring '09 semester went on, I found community and a sort of family at First Baptist Jonesboro. It was then that I knew I was where the Lord wanted me to be. Fast forward to summer... I spent a month at YL Camp in North Carolina. It was then that I realized Jonesboro is where I'm supposed to be, but that God has something so much bigger there for me than soccer. So, long story short--I quit soccer and am focusing on ministry. Besides learning a lot about myself at camp, I made some of the best friends ever! Two girls I'm still very close with--they have become some of my very best friends, even though we never really see each other. My summer at camp was a blessing on so many levels. The rest of my summer at home was a struggle--my little sister has gone through some tough stuff this year that's been really hard on my whole family. Her pain sort of plagued all of us the whole second half of this year. On top of that I was dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety with a friend in Jonesboro. Then Christmas happened, and it was just a really sweet blessing. For the first time in a long time I purely enjoyed the company of my family, with so much laughter and absolutely no drama, and it was incredible. It was almost as if God just said, "I know it's been a tough year--but I haven't forgotten about you." Just as He promises so many times in his word, He brought me and my family out of captivity. I have been so overwhelmed with thanksgiving for that. I spent New Years in Nashville, having a summer staff reunion, which was just awesome. It was the perfect way to ring in the new year--with so many people that I love so very much, who changed my life in 2009, and who's friendships I can't wait to continue to invest in during 2010.

Praising Jesus for a year of trials and blessings. I hope your 2009 was just as wonderful!

over it.

Most of the time, this is how Leland and I "spend time together." I'm over it. Don't get me wrong, thank God for skype--it makes the long distance thing a lot easier. But GEEZ I'm ready to be with him for ten days! And all summer. :) Counting down the days until we get to spend real time together... (7 days)

no place like home for the holidays :)

I've been home a full 24 hours now, and it feels great to be here. There are so many things that I think I take for granted when I haven't been home in a while. It's so good to wake up and have coffee already made, lay around in my PJs as long as I want to, open a fully stocked refrigerator and pantry and snack all day long... gosh, what a life of luxury! Haha.

It's fun to hang out with my sisters. We have so much fun together... it really kind of sucks that we only get to all three be together a few times a year. It makes for some very special time together though! I envy people who get to be with their siblings all the time.

I spent some time with my best friend since about age 5, Ashlee, today. We're going shopping together tomorrow. She is pretty fabulous. She's that one friend that you can always count on. We've just been through life together, from the beginning until now. She's so solid in her faith, and comforting to be around. When life gets hard to handle and I feel like things are out of control, Ash always puts things into perspective for me. What a blessing that girl is. I love that I have memories of us as little bitty kids all the way until now... you don't get many of those kinds of friends in a lifetime. Time spent with her makes me realize how truly blessed I am by the relationships that I have with the people that I love the most.

Christmas break is off to a good start. I love being with my family and other loved ones. I'm enjoying the fam and Houston friends, and looking forward to some sweet time with my sweet boy over New Years in Nashville, along with some more of my very favorite people!

I hope your break is wonderful, too.

Blessings, friends! Merry Christmas.

Longest day ever.

Today I drove 548.85 miles. 9 hours. Alone.

It was a long one. I'm exhausted. Laying in bed like a zombie right now.

Glad to be home. More to come tomorrow. Just thought I'd post in honor of making it home in one piece... that was my first time to make that entire drive by myself. What an accomplishment.

what a lady

My Mom's birthday was this weekend, sad I had to miss it. According to my sister it was quite the party. In honor of sweet Trish, I wanted to post my favorite photo of all time of her. I found this in a box when we were moving two summers ago, and I have kept it ever since. Here she is, about 17 years old, sassy as ever.

Haha! Happy 41, my dear mother!

3 more days until home... can't wait to be done with the semester. I need a month of rest.

wax lips and giant cupcakes!

Today to take our minds off of finals week, my very talented friend Kelsey did a photo shoot of me and our friend Haley with some fun props that she's been wanting to do for a while. We had so much fun just goofing off with wax lips, some cardboard glasses, and a giant cupcake! Here are some of my favorites...

So there you have it... a spontaneous photo shoot that turned out to be oh so fun! Kels is pretty flippin talented... cause I definitely am NOT as great looking as these make me out to be! Haha. She's interning at Elle Magazine in NYC this summer... pretty big time. My best friend will be famous someday...