And so junior year begins...

I am currently sitting in my apartment eating breakfast on the eve before the first day of classes of my junior year in college. (I'm sorry for the amount of prepositional phrases I just used!) That sentence scares me a little. I remember being a freshman like it was yesterday...even though, at the same time it feels like it was so long ago. It is beautiful to look back and see the work the Lord has done over the past two years.

I apologize for my absence on this blog over the summer! I don't know what happened...but thank you to Sara Beth for making me find my inspiration again :) Summer was long and difficult at times, but really great at others. Looking back on it, God was teaching me a lot...more than I thought He was. He is always working! But it is so good to be back at school. I never really realize until I come back after the summer how much I have missed everyone here. And so far, junior year has been pretty wonderful. I had the opportunity last week to lead a pre-orientation trip for nine freshman girls. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better w

ay to start the year. We were able to work with Triune Mercy Center, learning about their ministry to the homeless and began work on a vegetable garden. We had a blast and we all learned a lot about what God is doing in our city.

our group at Triune

Sara Beth came to visit on Friday and Saturday to help move her god-brother in! It was so great to have her here and in the apartment after not seeing each other all summer! Letting her leave wasn't easy but I know she is going to have a blast in Brussels :) Since then, there have been a lot of us just hanging out on campus, which has been a lot of fun. It's nice to be here without any responsibility. Except, the type A part of me is excited that classes are starting tomorrow. Typical Furman student, I know.

Our delicious first meal in the apt!

I know the Lord has big plans for this year. He always does. I'm excited to see what He has in store for me and especially for the people around me. I am reminded every day that I am here of how much my life has been blessed by the people here and the community that God has provided.

I promise to be a more faithful blogger this semester. But absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Just kidding. Make someone smile today :)

Awe.

This past Saturday, I took David on a "birthday adventure," if you will. The plans had been in the works for a while and I was more than excited for them to actually happen. A few weeks ago, my dad sent me an article that appeared in our school's alumni magazine about a man named Don Lewis. Mr. Lewis is an incredibly skilled potter who owns a gallery in Cleveland, SC. If you are ever anywhere close to Cleveland, plan a trip to the Wildwood Gallery. It would be worth your time. If you can make the trip at night in April (to be extremely specific), it would be even more worthwhile. The reason being that Mr. Lewis' land is home to some pretty rare critters- blue ghost fireflies. They only show up in certain places and come out during the month of April. So, I planned for David and I to visit Mr. Lewis' land. I put together a picnic dinner with the help of my wonderful grandmother, threw some blankets in my car, and we were off. The entire ride up, I was praying that I had the right address and that we would actually make it there while David tried to deduce where we were going. Thankfully, we made it. Also thankfully, we found a spot to hang out and eat dinner. And we got to meet Mr. Lewis! Which was cool. We also made friends with his dog. David fed him chicken.

Then it started to get dark so we meandered over closer to Don's house and began to follow the trails. We picked a bench and sat in hopeful expectation. Slowly, one by one, the forest began to light up with small and steady blue lights. Blue ghost fireflies don't blink like normal fireflies. Their light is steady and they hover slightly above the ground. We sat and watched the forest come to life. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. Being there was a moment you can't capture (and believe me, I tried). The best description I can give you is: you know in Avatar (the James Cameron movie, not the TV cartoon) when they're in the forest towards the beginning before things get ugly? Basically, that's where we were. It felt like we were surrounded by stars. It was so peaceful. And such a beautiful reminder of the awesome wonder of our God. I was in complete awe. It was a wonderful way to spend an evening in the midst of finals and be reminded of God's power and love.

Precious.

Hymn.

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather 'til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee

-Brooke Fraser

April.

Seven days of class left. Easter Break. Finals. Guatemala.

Woah.

It's getting a little scary. And I'm feeling...overwhelmed...to say the least. Side story: one time, I was at dinner with my sorority "family" and my big asked my little how she was feeling, "Overwhelmed? Underwhelmed?" To which, my little replied, "I'm just whelmed." Easily one of the most unexpected and hilarious things I've heard in a while. Anyways, things are always busy this time of year. So many tests, so many assignments, so little time. But in the midst of all of this, I'm trying to really take advantage of these last couple of weeks and enjoy them. Trying to find the balance between my social life and getting all of my schoolwork done...that is the hard part. There have been moments where I feel like I'm drowning in everything.

But, God is good and uses other people to wake me up when I start having these feelings. On Thursday at RUF (Reformed University Fellowship...an on-campus ministry), the seniors were given the chance to say whatever they desired at the large group gathering. Some shared testimonies, some shared what RUF means to them, and others shared advice. Lots of wisdom was spread throughout that room. A few of the seniors in particular cautioned us against falling into the "norm" here at school; that norm being to be constantly stressed/busy, going to the PAC (which is a wonderful thing...until it becomes a matter of "I have to because..."), and making better grades than everyone around you. One senior put it in "good enough" terms, saying that she didn't feel "good enough" until she had accomplished a certain amount of things. This is a wonderful place and I am so thankful to be here, but it changes your mindset in subtle ways, as does any environment. Thursday night challenged me to examine my heart and see where it lies. I was also challenged to look up. Yes, I have a busy week ahead of me. But I will conquer it. The Lord will lead me through and I will continue to look up at Him. He will be my mindset and my peace.

What a beautiful world...

It's spring! Let's all give a big HOORAY!

Oh how I wish this past weekend could have lasted forever. Yesterday was the first time in a while that I have been in complete denial that today would be Monday. To say that waking up this morning was difficult would be a gigantic understatement.

Will you re-live this weekend with me for a few minutes?

Thank you :)

It started off bright and early on Friday morning at about 7:00 as Katharine and I headed to a bagel restaurant to have breakfast with some of our middle school girls. Despite the earliness and lack of caffeine in my system, Friday morning is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the week. Time with those girls is always filled with laughter...usually about absolutely nothing. So much fun.

Moving forward... classes were cancelled on Friday due to this thing the university does where students present research all day long. Students are encouraged to attend the presentations throughout the day. So, naturally, David and I went hiking. It was beautiful and so much fun.

I really couldn't have asked for a better way to spend a day. Then (after a much needed shower), itwas baseball game time! Our sorority has an "informal" the night before formal and this year it was a trip to our city's baseball game. I honestly think that was the first time I have stayed the entire time at a baseball game and enjoyed every second of it. Tons of fun. And then it was movie night time. This week's flick: Wall-E. Quality.

On to Saturday! Chain of events: breakfast with some of my favorite people, haircut, target run, getting ready and then FORMAL! Aka my favorite event of the year. A night full of good food, great people, and swing dancing...I mean, what more could you ask for? Basically all of my favorite things in one place. Because Jesus was there too, which is really cool. So yeah, all of my favorite things were there. We danced the night away (still reaping those consequences...but totally worth it) and it was a blast. Sunday was relaxing and beautiful. It felt like summer.

Basically one of the best weekends to date. I am so blessed. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

This is me swallowing my pride...

I guess really I should title this blog, "Well, this is awkward (part 3)" because I am semi-embarrassingly returning to Blogger with my tail between my legs. Tumblr and I had a great run but it just didn't work out between the two of us.

I hope Blogger will take me back.

(Did you catch the TSwift reference?)

So moving on. Today is the last day of March. I'm sorry...what? Over the past couple of weeks, I have talked with quite a few people about how quickly the time is going. And how incredibly scary that is. My college career is almost halfway over. I turn twenty years old this year. This summer, almost all of my friends are either getting "real" jobs that will someday affect their career or doing incredible things abroad. In the fall, I will be living in my first apartment (granted it's campus housing but still...I feel like I'm not old enough to live in an apartment). I guess I'm just being constantly reminded to take advantage of every single opportunity that I am given and to cherish every moment. That sounds so cheesy. Unfortunately, I mean it with everything in me. Just call me a Hallmark card.