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.

Where have I been the past...oh I don't know, month and ahalf?

Nowhere. I'm just a slacker.

I feel like I could just copy and paste Charlotte's post about a recap and apologizing for being MIA the past few weeks. But here I am now!!

A quick recap of what I've been up to....hm, alright, these will be randos for sure:

-Changed my major from TESL to Spanish, but I still have the TESL minor. This was a big deal
-Been running lately to prepare myself for the race on Dec. 5th....and I've actually enjoyed running and improved! It gives me energy.
-Dressed up with my friend Kimberlee as our friends Alli and Gentry for Halloween
- built a LEGIT fort. I mean, it was awesome and took up my whole room.

-Spent a beautiful weekend in Chattanooga (love of my life) with some great camp friends. I got to see Anna, Kristin, Rachel, Drex, Greyson, and others. It was really a great weekend. Being at camp during the fall just made me realize how great life is and the amount of blessings we have from the Lord. Just the beauty of His creation is blessing enough, then He lavishes more on us. How wonderful!
It's been a good fall so far. I am loving the weather lately and the things that fall brings- scarves, pumpkin spice latte, jeans, bonfires. You know, the regulars.

Enjoy this weather! Be joyful today and show someone love, because we have been filled with love and grace from the Lord- let's pour that back out on someone else. Be joyful today and realize the blessings you have. I know I don't do this near enough. Thank you Lord for fun and friends and the little things about life.

Roadtrip: Because it's what college kids do.

Last Thursday night, Kimberlee, India, and I made our way out of town to enjoy some of the greater things in life: Nashville, shopping, Dave Barnes.

It was an epic trip. I love just being able to decide that day or a few days before to do something random with no schedule. Love it.

We headed to Nashville around 4 so that we would have time to shop before Dave played. Of course we hit up Gap, gosh I just love that store. And thankfully so do Indi and Kim cause we spent over an hour in there. After visiting a few more stores, we grabbed dinner real quick (as quick as one can when they are craving chilis and must go there), then realized that it was 8:45 and the concert starts at 9.... We then proceeded to run, yes RUN through the mall to make it to our car on time to get there.

Success.

The show was great. Dave was lookin good, and singing good, as usual. Matt Wertz made a surprise appearance- no complaints about that.

AND on top of that I saw great friends! Allison Little, JT, Jordan, Katie Lewis, and J Paul. It was a BIG DEAL seeing Katie. Gosh it had been over a year! How crazy is that. Dave Barnes just brings people together- that's all there is to it!

Tribute to my little sister

You may or may not now that I have a little sister, who I probably shouldn't call little anymore because she is 16 years old and looks older than me. But, in my eyes she is still my little sister. Now, when we were growing up, we each had things that we loved. Things that we collected. Mine was teddy bears. Figurines, stuffed animals, everything. I loved bears. Now Meredith, my little sister, loved pigs. I know, i thought it was weird too, but she loved them. Until she was probably 11, she had pig things all over her room and everything. I think this love of pigs stemmed from her love of Charlotte's Web, with Wilbur the pig in it. Anyways.

(Don't think this is going to be a sappy blog...just wait)

So she loves pigs. Alot. Here's where the irony starts. We all know about the sickness that is going around seemingly everywhere. SWINE FLUE. Swine, as we know, is another name for pig. So this could be called pig flu. Well, my little sister who spent so many childhood years being obsessed with pigs......HAS NOW BECOME ONE!!

Yes, that's right. After two visits to the doctor, days of a temperature, and im sure lots of grumpy behavior (that I thankfuly didn't witness because i was in Jackson) she has been diagnosed with swine flu.

I LOVE the irony of life. Absolutely love it.



*Note: I know that swine flu is not a joke. But this is funny. Don't be offended anyone!

Pictures from Honduras

I have definitely slacked off when it comes to updating this. Forgive me! I was sick over Labor Day Weekend and this last week of school has been pretty busy. But Sunday afternoons are good at being open for me. I told myself that if I finished my homework for Monday and cleaned the kitchen that I could update. So here I am!

I had promised this post would be dedicated to pictures. So without further adieu, here we go!