friday thought

"People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for..."

"They don't find it," I answered.

"And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..."

"Of course," I answered.

And the little prince added, "But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart." 

-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I want to read this book again...perhaps during Thanksgiving or Christmas break- not too far away now...

going vertical

Isn't it amazing how you can hear something hundred times and understand it one way and then, on that 101st time, your entire comprehension shifts. But I don't know if amazing is the right word to describe the feeling you're left with- it's more like shock, confusion, disbelief, astonishment, even an uncomfortableness. You've thought one way about something your whole life and then, someone explains it in a way that breaks through to you in a way nothing else could.

Allow me to explain.

This Monday, approximately 1,000 students nearly packed out the downtown Hippodrome in attendance of something new called Vertical. A group of students became convicted this last summer to start something new to bring Baylor students from every group and organization together to as one body and one unit. Ashfin Ziafat, the weekly speaker for Vertical Ministries spoke this Monday on knowing God and knowing the plan God has for our lives. He described living for God in such a way that it felt like a blindfold was being pulled off my face.

I've believed for a long time that God should be our first love, that we were created to be in a relationship Him, and that we are to be Christ like. But what about this (and I'm paraphrasing):

"God's will is so much more about what He's doing in us that what we're doing for Him. Marriage, kids, jobs- these are all wonderful things in life, but they're really things that God uses to shape us into being more like Him. What if instead of wondering and waiting for a wife/husband, you concern yourself with becoming a Godly husband/wife?"

Think about it, everything in life, everything, is to make us more like Christ and thus draw us closer to our God. Y'all, it's not about us. At all.

a full heart

My heart is incredibly full and joyful after a week of Baylor Homecoming. Throughout the weekend, several people asked me how it felt to be in the middle of my final homecoming as a student. Today, in the quiet and rest from chaos of activity, I have realized that this was the best homecoming I have ever had. Naturally there were moments when my heart twinged with sadness, but as often as I could, I reminded myself to soak it in: dancing on the front row of a Tri Delt First Place Pigskin act, standing at the parade with some of my favorite people in life, cheering for our team (even as they lose), laughing with friends that have become family. Yes, my heart is a little sad today, but also incredibly full and thankful. Baylor will always be home and the memories will last forever.

celebrating writers

David Chelsea * New York Times

"When we offer our heart to others, we do not know what will happen to it. It may break. It may grow. It may take us places we never imagined. But isn’t that the risk of love? To be willing to stand on the stern on a beautiful summer day and, not knowing the outcome, to leap?" - Ann Hood



This quote is an execerpt from the Modern Love column of this last Sunday's New York Times. Not only is it beautifully written, but beautifully honest because this writer bared her heart and soul while writing.
To read the article, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/fashion/18Love.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=modern%20love&st=cse&scp=3

the most wonderful time of the year (warning: a semtimental entry)

Baylor Homecoming. There's nothing like it. It seriously is the most wonderful time of the year.

For freshman, it's a time for discovering the traditions. Gathering in Waco Hall, they learn the story of the Immortal Ten and then guard the eternal flame night and day until the pep rally on Friday. This tradition included very little sleep and a few touch and go moments for our dear eternal flame. Freshman year, I also carried the giant bear balloon in the homecoming parade. That memory is absolutely incredible and one that I will always, always remember and love. What a way to spend my first homecoming as a student.

Sophomore and junior years brought PIGSKIN and FLOAT! I've often said that I would be a lady bug from Tri Delt's Bugs SING act any day and it's true. There is absolutely nothing else like your first moments in the spotlight on Waco Hall stage. Even if I was in the very back row for most of the bugs act, it didn't matter- I reveled in every second on that stage and still do.

Baylor Homecoming is not complete without its parade. (It is afterall, the largest collegiate parade in the world.) Groups start working on their floats months in advance and often times, while sewing grass or painting leaves, it's easy to ask why in the world you're spending time doing this...It's because the float is so much more than an art project on steroids. It's hours and hours of the talent, creativity, and cooperation of a group. It's hours spent with friends sewing, hours spent with friends laughing. It's hours and friends that aren't going to come around ever again.

As much as I am in love with Baylor homecoming, it's terrifing to know that this is my last homecoming as a student. But I only have two choices of what to do with this fear: swallow it or sit in it. I choose to soak in every fiber of Pigskin practice and float hours, late nights and Baylor tradition.

For one hundred years, Baylor students have celebrated homecoming. That is amazing. Sic'em Baylor and Sic'em Homecoming. You are my favorite.

door number 1

The following are just a few reasons why I want to move to Paris- oui oui!
All pictures found at the lovelyhttp://sunday-suppers.blogspot.com/

wrestling with worry

I've never considered myself much of a worrier. However, lately I've been struggling with worries that a few certain things will never happen in my life and that others things that I don't care to ever deal with will come knocking. I know I'm being quite cryptic here, but the point is that I've let worry creep in where faith should reign.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

One verse puts things all into perspective. There's no use in worrying- I can't make things happen or not happen not compared to God. And why even worry I fully know that being the faithful and steadfastly loving God that He is, God will give me the desires of my heart, all in good time, all in His time. So I'm going to try to let go and live. Live the abundant life He wants to give and stop asking when or how.. because somewhere along the way, my dreams will find me.

Isn't His love the best?

moments to last.

One night this week, I was at the library until 2 a.m. The next morning, a professor emailed me back about a question I had sent her the night before while I was still at the library. She commented back that I had been up late...little does she know that upon coming home, instead of going to bed, I had eaten cheesecake and watched Glee with my roommate.

Another night this week, I camped out in the back of an SUV with a few friends and a mountain of blankets to watch a movie.

And lately, I spend two hours almost every night practicing dance moves to the point of perfection.

These are a few of the moments that make college what it's suppose to be- four, or in some cases, five years of moments that rock- moments that I'll remember a hundred thousand moments from now.

I love college. and these moments.

fall 2008 * one of my favorite pictures of my college experience.

a prayer

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings

Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
lyrics to "Set the World on Fire" by Nicole Britt

love for lonny

I'm in love with this new magazine, Lonny.

http://www.lonnymag.com/

Its design is creative, fresh, and all together lovely- everything we're learning about in my Writing for the Workplace class. It's something unique.

If this magazine was in print and not just online, I'd probably never recycle an issue! This magazine has got it going on.

P.S. Lonny, if you're hiring, please oh please give me a calll!

bonjour october

I think October may be my favorite month. Things I’m looking forward to this October 2009:

Football games. Birthdays. Dances. Pigskin. Float. The 100th Anniversary of Homecoming! Fright Night. Tri Delt taking fruit on the road. Fall Break. Falling foliage in brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Fires and smores. Being at Baylor during my favorite time of the year.

p.s. something tells me November won’t be too shabby either :)