last week

I've been a little absent in this place lately. I tend to shy away from writing whenever I'm overwhelmed and I've experienced a lot in the last week to say the least. Please allow me to play a little catch-up.

My last week in Waco can be summed up in food and friends. Unwilling to forget anything, my roommates and made of list of our favorite things and places in Waco and scheduled them all into days. Staying true to form, we of course didn't exactly stay with the schedule. But no matter what we did, the bottom line of last week is that we were always together; Cupps, the zoo, George's, Lolita's, What About Cupcakes, frolicking on campus, the Suspension Bridge, late night hangouts- sharing our last Waco moments together was what really mattered.

I'm a firm believer in full circle stories and beautiful, sweet, tiny details. I love them and because God knows that I love them, He filled my week with them:
Last week, I ran into almost all of my freshman year friends- some of which I haven't spoken to since the end of my freshman year. We got to catch-up and revel a little in how far we have come. From my off off campus house, I heard the campus bell tower chime in the new day, graduation day. Many lasts, many conversations- all of which were centered around love and friendship- just the way I wanted to leave it all.

one week

We've made a list of our favorite Waco dives and things to do and we're checkin it twice.

If you had only one week left in your city, what would you spend your time doing?

kinda ready.

image

Yesterday, while prepping for a final, I had a realization. In the warmness of a perfect spring day, while sitting under the shade of mammoth trees in the heart of campus, feeling the wind flit across my face, I understood that I am ready to leave school. Baylor has done what it was meant to do; it has challenged and changed me. I understand that to stay, would be to linger in a world that has become all too comfortable. To stay would mean sinking down, instead of rising up to new challenges and adventures. Therefore, for all of those reasons, I'm ready to leave college.

However, that doesn't mean that I'm not grappling with the brittle truth that I am about to leave many dearly loved people. Knowing that I won't get to experience certain people in my day to day life after graduation is basically heart-wrenching. I wish I had a positive spin to add on, but I don't...except that friendships don't end just because people move. They end when people stop making a place for them in their lives. Friends, there's always space enough for you in my life. You don't have to tell me twice.

baylor flash mob

Reason #398 why I love Baylor:

l.p.

Happy Birthday to LP!

Roommate of three years,

friend for four.

She'll have you laughing
until you're crying.

She'll outwit you,
creep better than you,
and love hot dogs more than you.
She has a closet any girl would envy,
and the tenacity any boy would.
She has the best stories,
no fear,
and all the ginger qualities.
More than anything,
she's wholly and solely herself at all times,

the loyal friend everyone hopes to have,
and I'm so glad I count her among my own.
I couldn't imagine the last four years with out her.

Happy Birthday Laura!

a fratty affair

Phi Chi Formal in Austin = lots of jokes, lots of laughing, friendship, formal wear, eating donuts at 1 a.m., the good things in life, the best things in college life.

pat: baylor dreams come true

I've basically had a love affair with the Pat Neff building on Baylor's campus since I moved into my freshman year dormitory. The big white columns, the bells that not only chime the time but songs as well, and the fact that the tower is lit green at night- Pat, in a word (or two) is so Baylor. Last week I had the priviledge to go up in the bell tower and even play the bells! So cool! Seriously, it was a Baylor dream come true.

practically blissful

Do you ever have a moment where in the middle of everything you pause and realize how incredible it is? Dancing, laughing, yelling the words to favorite songs with friends and a hundred other people? It's practically blissful. I'm going to miss college functions, there's no doubt about that.

At Tri Delt Formal...one last time.

Good Friends.


Date.


Family. Please note the lack of shoes, I think this is only possible at college functions. In grown-up world they probably tell you that shoes are required at all times...

Little.

And then they make you become alumni. Trading my pine for a pansy- I still can't believe it happened.

an elite sunday

It wasn't the way we hoped it would end, but what a ride it has been. A sea of 40,000+ Baylor fans in Houston to cheer on a team and program that has been on a magnificient journey of restoration- not just this season, but for the last seven years. What a pleasure its been to watch it all- not always pretty, not always successful- but always overflowing with incredible heart. That's something to always cheer for.


At lunch before the game, I couldn't help noticing the various groups of Baylor fans dining: not just college students and families, but also groups of old friends. People who graduated two and ten years ago, meeting up to catch up on life and cheer on their Bears. Years after leaving campus, the bond that started there has continued on- something I'm so glad to see is possible. Friends, let's make this us next year, in ten years, and forty more.

lately...

Image found here

Lately...
-the weather is lovely- thanks, God.
-I find myself doing lots of "Baylor things"
-men's basketball team is playing in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time everrr
-I have to close my ears to avoid hearing sophomores and juniors countdown to summer
-I find my group of friends reveling in simply one another's company
-I may have finished a big, important application
-however unwilling I am to part with Baylor, I've realized that many, or actually most of the things I have dreamed about for my whole life are still to come somewhere up the road. I'm realizing how liberating and thrilling that is; the adventure has only barley begun and the best is yet to come.

sb recap

Reasons SB10 will be remembered:
1) It gave me the chance to rediscover my best friends. Opportunities to recognize the things that make them uniquely them, the things that I love about them, and the things that make us all fit together.

2)The mountains. Every heart needs the quiet peace and restoration they offer. How they make you feel so tiny in comparison to their grandeur and how they make you slow down and stop- even if it's only for just a few minutes.

3) Sitting around the fire reading; enjoying the peaceful comfortableness we have being together all while the snow falls outside.

4)Sitting around the huge wooden kitchen table talking for hours. "Remember when" conversations that last for hours and span years- friendship is a sweet thing.

P.S. I use this blog as a place to be honest and open with my heart and thoughts. Therefore, I'm going to admit that last night, I was terrified of class this morning. I knew that when I got up, things, normal life, would start again and go. Run actually, until it's over and my heart simply isn't ready. But, I can't stop moving because I'm afraid. On the contrary, I have to push harder, breathe deeper, and make more of today than I did of yesterday. A lofty goal, but I shall try. That's all I can do.

sb10

Where I'm going: Frisco, CO

**Photography by Todd Powell

Who is going:

The heart and soul of every person needs time away from the world and in the mountains from time to time. It's been too long for this heart- I can't wait for the mountains!

I can only imagine the adventures coming our way and the stories we're going to have...did I mention we'll be in cars together for 16 hours...times 2?

What I'll be reading:

I'm so excited for free time to read what I want instead of books for school!

SB 2010- here we come!