Day 1- Packing

Destination: Guanajuato, Mexico
Intended Goal: Become a Spanish genius and experience life
Plan: Speak the language, get good grades, have FUN, make memories, not wanna come home......but first off..PACK!!

I am beginning my study abroad experience in Guanajuato today by packing. I leave in 4 days for a great adventure in Mexico, but I gotta get myself packed up first! Over the course of the month I'm gonna do better about updating. Hopefully I can become such a faithful blogger that I can write around 3-4 times a week (let's keep our fingers crossed). This all depends on the amount of free time I have, my internet connection, and whether or not I actually have cool things to say (let's be honest though, I'll be in Mexico for a month being carefree and spontaneous- there's bound to be something good).

Hasta luego mis amigos!

Disclaimer- I will be using some Spanish on here throughout the course of the month- I'll try to be considerate of those that don't speak it, but no promises! I guess if you wanna know about my life, learn Spanish. Jokes.


Love and tequila,

(i couldn't think of how I wanted to sign these for my time in Mexico and all that came to mind was tequila. So I'm using it- though most likely not drinking it. Don't worry baptists/moms/anyone else who might judge me for that statement.)

Amy

New addiction:

Well it is spring break.

And I am in Memphis at home. Which means lots of free time (unfortunately boring free time). Later in the week I will have more going on but it's only Saturday night, and my spring break started...yesterday... So there isn't much going on yet.

As i await the arrival of my long desired Felicity season 3 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I get my show fix by watching "My life as Liz"

EVERYONE should watch this. It takes a while til you warm up to it, but it's good. So funny and so highschool. The girl in it is a mix between Haley Williams (of Paramore), Juno, and the coolest person you know- whoever that may be.

Charlotte, I feel like you would like this for some reason. Check it out, or don't. It's whatever.

Gotta love friends

I have the best college friends ever. Let that be said first off. Now that we are all juniors, things are changing, people are growing up, making plans, going places. You know how it goes. Well this past fall was actually the last semester we would all have together before a of all) Kimberlee goes to Washington DC for the semester (our own little city girl journalist) and b of all) ALLI GETS ENGAGED. yea. a big deal.

So how did we celebrate? Oh you know, just a little best friend photoshoot. Check them out!




















Katie is the tallest brunette, Alli is the tallest blonde, Ruth is the middle brunette, India middle blonde, I am the shortest brunette, and Kimberlee is the tallest blonde.

We are friends.
The end.

Business in the front

Chartown. This is for you.




Business bump. A classic. A sheek eye-catching hairstyle. The only way to go to make a A+ first impression with the profs on the first day of classes.


You taught me how.

Party in the back (commonly known as party poof) will be debuting sometime this weeked most likely.

Thank goodness for 5 make up days

I don't do New Years resolutions. Partially because I feel like they're cheesy and partially (probably the bigger part) because I try to be a realist and expect things to maybe not work out so that if they don't work out, I won't get upset, but if they do work out, well great news! SO, I wouldn't call this a New Year's resolution, but just something I've been needing for a while. Structure in my time with the Lord. It was so easy (and "baby food-ish) for me to just alternate my favorite passages that I like to read, and use those as my time with the Lord. But, I wasn't consistent. And I wasn't spending good quality time, it was more like a checklist (so easy to fall into that sort of time with Him right?).

I came across the reading plan through Charlotte and also through a friend from school's twitter (ironic, yes. Twitter does have benefits). It is a discipleship bible reading journal and it takes you through the whole Bible in a year! Which is something, as a 20 year old that has grown up in the church (ish, I have actually never done. So I'm doing it now!

The best part is that it leaves 5 days of make up or catch up in case you don't get to all of it, which honestly who could? It's been a challenge for sure for me. But I've really enjoyed it! January led me through half of Matthew, half of Acts, part of Psalms and all of Genesis. I really enjoyed reading parts of Acts. I honestly don't think I have ever looked into Acts until this month. Seeing how the church was meant to be set up and how the disciples did ministry makes me realize how bad of a job I do at what the Lord has called us as Christ-followers to do.

Two things I wanted to share.

1.First, is a verse I promise you I read for the first time, but am so thankful to have been shown.

"He said to them (aka each one of us even now), It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you."
Acts 1:7-8

I feel like the Lord just took my face in His hands, turned it directly towards Him and said "Hey, fool! Quit trying to figure out what's up and when things are going to happen. I've already decided and picked things out for you, but I don't wanna tell you yet! So just have faith and trust me, You're strong enough to wait and be patient, cause I've given you the Holy Spirit! So don't be afraid, and quit freaking out. I've got it under control."

Legit.

2. Second is the differences that THE BIBLE , in Acts, gives between the pharisees and the disciples.

Pharisees-jealous(5:17), stiff-necked with impure hearts(7:51), resist the Holy Spirt(7:52),receive the law but do not obey it(7:53),boasted that he was someone great(8:9),
Disciples- God-fearing (2:5), cut to the heart in response to hearing the truth(2:37), courageous(4:13),could not help speaking about what they had seen and heard(4:20), one in heart and mind with other believers(4:32), rejoiced after persecution(5:41),

There is more to come I'm sure. Reading those definitions of pharisees and disciples doesn't make me feel great. I am truly truly more like a Pharisee than a follower of Christ. But grace abounds! I can strive to be like Christ, like his disciples were. I can strive to be God-fearing, and courageous, and truth speaking. I can put off impurity and resistance to the Holy Spirit and pride. The Lord makes that possible.

The truths I have found just in one month makes me excited about digging deeper into the Scriptures.

More to come! I have been in a blogging drought lately, my apologies. I will attempt to do better. Maybe a picture post coming up? That could be refreshing.

Welcome Kimchee dear

Shout outs are a pretty standard trad for my blogs, and most peoples I would venture to say. Tonight I have a special person in mind as I begin this celebratory shout out.

KIMBERLEE HAUSS
My close friend, dare I say one of the closest, has begun a blog. And I am SO excited about it! She is THE BEST (nacho libre voice). But really. She is an adventurer, a scholar, a beauty, a great gal. We've been friends since she came to ECS(our highschool) in 9th grade, and now, thankfully, we are at the same college. She is a very big, though small in size, person in my life. So, welcome Kimberlee. I look forward to reading about (and hearing straight over the phone and skype of course) all about your adventures while you are in D.C. AND I cannot wait to visit you my presh! I won't make too many mems without you here and I will hold off on Felic til you return to me safe in my arms.

I love this

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/2009_in_photos_part_1_of_3.html

Check these out. They are really great.