You should join me on my journey through life...

Healthy Egg McMuffin

2011-09-21T17:45:00.002-05:00

So, remember that Key Lime Pie I mentioned in the last post? Well, it calls for 4 egg yolks and I started feeling bad for throwing out the egg whites, before I even cracked the eggs. So I quickly googled whether or not I could keep the whites. Well, lo and behold, the answer is YES! So I kept them in a tupperware and figured I would eat them this week.

I finally decided to use half one morning and half the next. So, I put half of the egg whites in a ramekin, along with turkey sausage and a little cheese. Baked it on 350 for 25 minutes. Toast an English Muffin while the ramekin cools. And voila! You have a delicious and healthy breakfast :)

Egg white Egg McMuffin

Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

2011-09-19T09:49:00.003-05:00

My new obsession :)

Broccoli and Cheese Casserole (from Food.com)! Jose had a few people over for dinner the other night and I've learned over the past year that that normally means there will be meat and that's it. So, I took it upon myself to make a side and of course my final Key Lime pie of the year :) As for the side, I wanted to make something different and that ended up being a Broccoli and Cheese casserole...who knew though that it would be tough to find one that didn't include Velvetta or Cheez Whiz! Finally, thanks to food.com, I found one!

It was so easy and I think all of you should try it as well! Here are the EASY steps below, in the second batch I made for someone for dinner, I added 3 cups of an already roasted chicken!

1. Let Broccoli Thaw. Cook rice. Add all ingredients to a pan.

2. Cover with cheese.

3. Mix all ingredients together and let the cheese melt.

4. Put all ingredients in a casserole dish.

5. Voila! Bake an hour at 350 and you are done!

Enjoy!!

Homemade Pizza

2011-08-25T19:45:00.004-05:00

Some days I get crazy cravings and want to create my own food. This happened a few weeks ago and I had actually planned to make this for Jose's birthday, then we went to Chuy's. I did make it last week though and it is so good. Meet my most recent craving: Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Pizza!It's so easy, here are the directions:

1. I cheated and used pre-made pesto, but feel free to use your own. Same goes for the pizza crust, but this was great, but not as great as the cheap frozen dough I found once and can't find again...I also found this Mozzarella with prosciutto and basil wrapped in it! Yum!

2. Slice your mozzarella

3. Spread the pesto on the crust thinly. Lay out mozzarella and crumble goat cheese! Bake for 9 minutes and viola!

I slice it in 8ths and eat 2 slices at 4 different meals throughout the week! Enjoy!

Cake Balls 101

2011-08-22T20:58:00.009-05:00

After watching both of my roommates make cake balls effortlessly, I decided it was my turn...two weeks in a row. (Hence why the cake batter changes in the middle of my blog :) It is definitely not as effortlessly as it seemed :)

My co-worker Jennifer was due September 19 with a little girl, who decided to surprise everyone 2 weeks ago. She is doing great though! With that aside, the week before Jen actually had little Reagen, we threw her her one and only shower that she was able to have :) Per Jen's request, I made cake balls...of course they had to be pink inside for a girl...so I chose strawberry. A few days later I made another round for Jose's birthday and for my other co-workers...this time funfetti. Enjoy the pics below:

1. Start by making the cake either from scratch or from the box. Cook as directed and let cool completely. (Sorry no picture of the cake)

2. After the cake has completely cooled, crumble it in a bowl with either pre-made icing or your homemade icing. Mix together.

3. Next I roll out all of the cake balls. Let me tell you...this was the most tedious part. I had to rinse my hands about every 8-12 cake ball. They started falling apart if I didn't. After that, I then put them in the fridge for a few hours (my second batch I left in there overnight and just covered with foil).

4. This is where the pictures change from one dough to another...after I pulled the cake balls out of the fridge and laid down wax paper/foil, I melted my candy coating a few blocks at a time and started dipping! (I melt only a few blocks at a time because the candy coating hardens quickly, so you have to work quickly!) This takes quite awhile, but they dry quickly so it makes it that much more worth it.

5. Decorate as you wish. I had the funfetti sprinkles that I put on top. You HAVE to do this while the chocolate is still in the process of hardening. In the last picture, I ran out of candy coating, but had enough to dip the top in and add sprinkles!

Enjoy!

What Happened to Me?!

2011-08-20T14:27:00.006-05:00

I've been reading friends blogs lately and have wanted to pick it back up. I will slowly though, I have a lot I want to blog, but don't want to overwhelm everyone on day 1! So much has happened since I last blogged...I don't even know where to start. First and foremost, I moved into a house with the amazing Kristin and Kelly in May 2010. Of course we had to re-sign our lease when May rolled around this year because we enjoyed each other so much. Here we are at Kristin's bday this past year, for some reason it's only one of three photos we have together...

There is so much more, but I won't bore you right now. Be watching for food blog updates as well!

2009 in Review.

2010-01-01T10:40:00.002-06:00

Here's my annual review of the year. This one has had it's ups and downs, but I wouldn't ask for it any other way.

Rung in the New Year playing Rockband with my best friends. Started my last semester ever of college, with no clue where I was going to be. Continued Children's stuff at UBC. Gained a few new friends through it and couldn't ask for more. Learning and growing. Worked on a project for PBS Waco. Spent Spring Break in Waco and couldn't have wanted it any other way. Made life-long friends. Got a job in Austin, TX. Graduated May 16, 2009. Moved to Austin May 17. Started working a few days later. Met amazing people. Moved into a new apartment, which is home. Gained Stupecki baby #6, my 3rd nephew! My parents moved to Quincy, Washington. Learned about transition after college. Struggled. Spent most of September and October going to Waco. Still loving, embracing, and living. Blessed by the community I've found in Austin even if I work every Sunday morning. Great 23rd birthday with old and new friends! New Thanksgiving traditions with my immediate family in Houston. Random trip to Fredericksburg for a day. Gained an internship. New Christmas traditions. Random trip to Amarillo to see 6 amazing girls. Lost the internship I hadn't even started. Completely encourage and loved by my Soma community. Finished 2009 at work and then with a few great people.

What to look forward to in 2010:
-TRIP TO WASHINGTON!!!!
-Hopeful prospects of jobs
-Learning more
-Loving, embracing, and living
-Watching one of my best friends get married and being part of it
-Continued growth with the Soma community
-Hopeful trip to Ohio to meet the newest addition and see my sisters!

Ephesians 4

2009-08-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was quite possibly one of the most blessed days I've had in a while. Below is what I read yesterday morning and it's all my heart could focus on all day. It turned out I got to spend the afternoon with two great friends on two separate adventures. I then followed it up with my love for the game of volleyball. Followed by a good time with a few more friends. God's funny sometimes in His timing, but I guess He knows best right? I'm going to leave you with Ephesians 4, I think it sums up an end to a few hard weeks.

Unity in the Body of Christ

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The New Life

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

When did I become emotional?

2009-08-19T10:52:00.002-05:00

So it's been awhile since I last wrote anything. Like 3 months almost to the day. I love Austin and life here and the people here and the church I've found. Today is 90 days at my job and I was given the day off to relax. I don't know if relaxing is something that I'm really able to comprehend right now. There has been so much that's been going on in my life in the past week and a half it has just turned me to an emotional wreck, which isn't normal. I don't cry, but I have been and I'm ok with it. This morning I thought I would go for a run out at Town Lake to just release all frustrations and emotions...I didn't make it very far. I made it about a mile to a little sitting area on the Zilker park side that faces downtown. I sat down and thought oh I will sit here for a few minutes...a few minutes turned into 20. I just sat and overlooked downtown and just let my emotions go. Of all songs that came on I just listened to Ray Lamontagne's words in his song "Be Here Now". Who would think Ray Lamontagne would have words of wisdom for me today...not me. I posted the lyrics below. It's what I need to know today...I can't continue to let myself get more and more weary.

Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies

Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places
It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Don't lose your faith in me
And I will try not to lose faith in you
Don't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Home.

2009-05-30T17:37:00.002-05:00

Well here I sit at my new home in Austin, TX. This is something I never expected to be doing or really saying. I got a job down here that I started a few days after graduation. No it's not something that I went to Baylor University and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do, but it's a job and it's a foot in the door in the hotel/resort industry.

I also didn't know very many people moving down here, I knew a few guys and that was about it. So, my first week of living here was weird, I knew nobody. Thankfully Sunday morning came quicker than expected and I met some more than amazing people and am for sure amazed at how easily they accepted me.

Here are a few pictures of some of the amazing girls I met a week ago...

Austin.

2009-05-09T10:57:00.002-05:00

Well. As of 10 a.m. yesterday morning I had taken my last final ever in college. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, so I celebrated by going to an Italian lunch buffet and getting my haircut. By 2 p.m. I had been offered a job (yes a real job) in Austin! Stress? I don't know that word anymore. I told them I would call them back on Monday and let them know my official decision. (pretty sure it's going to be a yes though :) I also have an event planner that I can shadow in Austin...which is a plus. And I have a church that wants me to do kids stuff? And I know someone that needs a subleaser?

Can we talk about how perfect God's timing is....not mine.

That's my life and I don't know what more to say, other than this is the weirdest feeling ever.

School?

2009-04-18T18:17:00.003-05:00

Well, I have officially done everything I can to not be doing school work. I have hand washed clothes that needed to be, I have sorted and washed all of my other clothes, cleaned my room, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the living room, perused facebook, my most read blogs, caught up on the news....and now I'm blogging. My roommate should watch out, her room might be my next chore. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm just not motivated to do school work anymore. I mean I have 5 official days left of class. And I have 4 full weeks left in Waco.

Then what you ask...good question. As of right now I have a pending interview with Banana Republic in Dallas and a pending internship with an Event Coordinator in Dallas. Now that my hectic week is over, I can actually catch back up with the people in charge of both of those and move them from pending to official :)

Other than school, I've just been busy with the usual, church, school, and meetings for school. I hope that you all are all doing well...

Where do I begin?

2009-04-05T16:40:00.003-05:00

So maybe it's been a while, as in months. Really where do I begin? Do I begin with rejections, new friends, frustrations, excitements, thoughts, feelings, what?

What has happened since 2008 ended and 2009 began? Well, I started my final semester of school?!?! Wow! It has been a good semester though, with little complaints. Maybe it's just so busy I don't have time to complain?

I've been applying like crazy to jobs and getting rejected like crazy by those same companies. It's a vicious cycle, but I know that somewhere out there is the perfect job! :) I am waiting to hear back from two interviews that were a few weeks ago...I'm hoping for the best!

I'm also still doing 13 hours of school, plus meetings for every class, plus 10.5 hours of work, and on top of that 10ish hours a week to the UBC Children's ministry. I've thoroughly enjoyed my semester though. I've gotten to know a lot of people better and am sad to be leaving Waco soon. (that is if I find a job :) It is a weird place to be right now, Waco has become home and leaving seems like such a weird thought...can I just stay in college forever without the school or work part? I like my friends here...

As for the most exciting recent news, I have a newly engaged best friend! :) It is really exciting, but yet a little weird (are we actually old enough?!). She has found from what I hear an amazing guy...maybe one day we will meet, hopefully before the big day! Love you Schmissy!
Well, as for now that's all I can think of, in short. If you want to know more you should call me or something. I promise to update before my big day...May 16...graduation!

2008 in Review

2008-12-31T19:09:00.003-06:00

Life seemed to be a rollercoaster at the start of 2008. I learned a lot. I lost 2 people close to some I truly love. My sister and her family had to learn to get along without having Joe's parents around. I had to learn how to let myself grow. I finally saw where I had fallen and had to learn to pick myself up. I found myself again amongst a group of friends I've been blessed to have since my freshman year at Baylor. I got a new job and truly met some great people and do miss working with them, just not working at the store. I moved to a new apartment. What a blessing!!! I let myself live life to the fullest and not have any worries. I grew closer to some people in Waco and learned to love the city itself. I met new people and started wondering why in the world it took me until my SENIOR year to meet them. I started a new job on campus and really am blessed by the people I work with. I am honored to be the interim Children's director at UBC. It has taught me a lot. Of course I am blessed by my best friends from home, I don't know anyone else that is as lucky as I am. I have started to finally learn that maybe I should be an event planner, maybe I should listen to those that know me well better? I got to be there when two of my good friends finally tied that knot. It was such a blessed day.

Things to look forward to in 2009:
-Graduation?
-A real job?
-Moving away from Waco?
-Becoming a real adult?
-Living my life to the fullest everyday!

Life as of recent

2008-11-20T12:50:00.004-06:00

The fall semester is coming to a close, I have one more day this week, one day next week, a full week, and then one final day. Then it's time for finals and the wedding of the century. Hahaha, ok maybe not of the century, but it feels like it :)

I never knew how time consuming and even slightly frustrating it would be to be put in charge of the children's ministry at UBC. It's been a learning process that is for sure. I now understand why we normally have someone last a year or two at the most. It is A LOT of work. More than anyone could imagine. I was blessed to fill the shoes of an incredible woman who had lessons already planned out for me for the whole semester. Even with that though, it's been tough making sure I have teachers every week, have the supplies needed every week, have lessons, etc. etc. etc. Next semester should be interesting, but thankfully I have more free time on my hands (I think and hope).

Speaking of next semester...only 13 more hours and I'm a graduate of Baylor University!? Sic 'em. The time I have spent here I wouldn't change for anything. I wouldn't go anywhere else or do anything else. I have been blessed with some amazing friends here and I hope that I can continue those friendships even a year from now when we all start parting ways. I have learned a lot about myself while I've been here too. I feel like what I'm saying is what Erin said to me the other night at dinner, but the more I think about it, the more she was right. We really have grown and learned a lot about ourselves in the 4 years we have devoted to our respective schools. I have tried new things (maybe some weren't for the better) and I have fallen and learned to pick myself up. I have grown in faith and even struggled with faith. I have learned things about myself I would have never known without trying new things. I definitely wouldn't change the past 4 years at all.

Love God. Embrace Beauty. Live Life to the Fullest.

2008-10-30T08:43:00.005-05:00

Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.
-Kyle Lake (6.12.72-10.30.05)

Something new

2008-09-30T23:01:00.002-05:00

So, it's been a while since I updated my life. Not much has been going on, other than just the busy school stuff you know. Can you all believe it's October already!?! Because I can't, it's crazy that it's already this far into the semester.

I have a little update though for you all. I've been thinking about and wanting to help out with the children's ministry more at UBC. Our director is pregnant and she is due in about 8 weeks. So I've wanted to email her and try to help her with things so she has less stress. Well, I keep forgetting to email her.

So tonight I was in the drive-thru line at Starbucks and I get a phone call from our Community Pastor at UBC. He is talking about wanting Blueberry donuts, etc. from the Donut Stop then says he has an important question for me. He is talking about how Amanda (our children's director) is about to "retire" when she has Everett in a few weeks. So they are looking for an interim and they were wondering if I wanted to do it. All I could say was wow. It's something I've been thinking about a lot and it's just crazy that it all happened before I did anything.

Gosh it's so crazy. I'm pretty excited for this! Maybe not as excited as I am about us planning a roadtrip!

Best Birthday Ever.

2008-09-22T14:15:00.005-05:00

Seriously, 22 might have actually been my favorite birthday ever. Here are a few pictures from it.

The flowers my parents sent me:

The rest are of the photo book from you all :) 64 pages of goodness, these are just a few...

Complacency

2008-09-14T14:59:00.002-05:00

I've become somewhat complacent to the fact that David Crowder is my worship pastor at church. Anymore I don't really listen to what Dave is singing, I just sing and go on my way. Today though, something different happened. I was sitting in the hall alone during worship and really just started listening to and thinking about the words Dave was singing and it become real to me.

The first song I started paying attention to was "You Are My Joy." I mean just the title alone really says it all. You are my JOY Father. There are plenty of times though that I don't allow Him to be my joy. I just need to follow the lyrics of the song and let myself go and let Father be my joy.

The next song he sang was "Wholly Yours." The word wholly isn't one we see often or really hear often. The definition of wholly from Merriam-Webster is: to the full or entire extent; to the exclusion of other things. Holy on the other hand is something we hear and use often, maybe even overuse. The definition of Holy from my Life Application Study Bible is: worthy of worship or veneration; sacred; divine; consecrated or set apart of sacred use; living according to a highly moral spiritual system.

1 Kings 8:61 says: "Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."

Why can't I just wholly devote myself to God, because He is my joy? This is something that played through my mind this morning while I was sitting there. Not only do I want to be holy but I also want to be wholly devoted to the one that is my joy.

22.

2008-09-09T23:17:00.003-05:00

22 years old. I'm an adult. I go into the real world in May. Where did the days of playing house and pretending to be grown up go? Those days are all slowly becoming a reality now. I have done a lot and seen a lot in the short 22 years I have been around. I have done more than some can even imagine and I take it all for granted sometimes. I have been so blessed in my short life and I also take that for granted too.

Over the past year I have experienced things in life that I never have before, hurt like I never before, and regret things like never before. All of those things are in the past though and they are things to learn from, not dwell on. A phrase that I have kept very tight to me through everything over the past year is "Live, Love, Learn." To me I just need to live my life to the fullest everyday. I need to love all. And learn so much from the Lord and about life.

I am thankful for the friends I have been blessed with for the past 22 years. The friends from home and from college. I can't even put to words what my friends have meant to me. They have been there for words of encouragement and for the few tears I've shed and for heartbreak and of course for the best laughter ever. They can never know how much they mean to me.

The past 22 years have been amazing and I'm excited to see what the Lord has for me for the next 22 years.

Just another little blessing in my life:

1 week down

2008-09-01T10:40:00.003-05:00

Life recently has been well, I don't really know how to describe it. Confusing? Exciting? Busy? I guess all of those are words that have described this past week. As I sit here and watch CNN this morning about Mr. Gustav, I can only think about what I read last night and ended up re-reading this morning. Last night I read 1 Peter and something I noticed throughout this book was how it talks about loving EVERYONE. He says in 1 Peter 2:17 to "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." No only to the brotherhood of believers though, because in 4:8 it says: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

I think loving others even if they are not in the "brotherhood of believers" comes from what else this book is talking about, which is self-control. In 1:13 it says, "therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." At the end it is reiterated pretty strongly in saying, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

I think without any of this and being reminded of this we can fall in such a trap. And I think that's where I was for so long. I was not self-controlled and standing firm in my faith. I was not loving others deeply like I should. Maybe that's why I am ok with being friendly to people that have hurt me. I just want to fall more in love with people this year and more in love with our amazing Father that has so much mercy and grace towards us, even when I don't feel I deserve it.

I miss you all and hope that being back in real life at school, etc. is going well for you! Keelie and Kristin best of luck this week as you go into the real world. Erin, I hope your second week goes well...not many more left for you! Shayla, freakin write something and update us on your life. As for the others that have come across this, I miss you all too and hope you are having fun on your adventures! :)

2 1/2 years ago...

2008-08-23T23:42:00.003-05:00

So on my long boring drive today I realized that 2 1/2 years ago we were all in Dallas together and we watched the Winter Olympics together. I'm pretty sure that's where this came from: "Hey honey during the last winter olympics one of my friends said she ate crap."

I'm glad we can all be entertained so easily, especially by the Olympics. Maybe for our reunions later in life we should consider planning them during the Olympics every two years for sure. Maybe we can find a new puzzle every time too....
I have the first day jitters also...or maybe it's just the fact that I don't want to go back. I'm a little intimidated by the fact that I'm a senior, what am I even going to do when I graduate? I have no answer to that...

Family

2008-08-18T23:19:00.004-05:00

I just spent the past week in Cleveland with my sisters, nieces, and nephews. It really makes me want to move up there when I graduate, I feel like I'm missing something you know? Who knows, we will see, but here are a few pictures:Cleveland from Lakewood Park boardwalk

My sisters and I, oh and little peep got in the pic

Marissa, she hit the teen years pretty hard, she doesn't want to be associated with her family, etc.

Katie (14) and Michael (6), just take note of Michael's face, it's pure joy

Cassandra (3) and Stephen (18 months)...this family loves to swing, try to take Steve out and he will scream his head off

I should be asleep right now...

2008-08-07T00:55:00.002-05:00

I'm like a little kid sometimes, mainly because I can't wait for 2:30 tomorrow to come around. Why you ask? I mean I would like to say I'm going to New York with Erin and Keelie but it's not that easy. Although, I am going to Austin with Kristin and can't wait! It's going to be so nice to get away from Waco and everything here. We are so lucky to have each other, because like Keelie always says nobody else really has a group of friends like us.

I have gotten to the point in my life where I don't want to do anything, but sit at home and spend quality time with people. Recently that's really all I've done, actually that's pretty much all I've done this summer. It's weird, but it hasn't bothered me one bit. I mean I've hung out with all of my friends here, but when it comes to going out places I would rather just stay home and save money. I think God is preparing me for life after college, it's not all party after this and I'm ok with that. It was a waste of time to some extent...

Also, I think I have found a semi-answer to my question a few posts again...the one about what I'm going to do when I graduate. Well, this past weekend my cousin got married and I did the whole reception, I did the lay out, I hosted it, whatever you can think I probably did. It was so fun and I enjoyed doing it. So...event planner? Ha me...I know, I know... Who would have ever thought I could possibly professionally plan things some day...

Can we all just live in the same city again please?

Too Nice?

2008-07-29T16:50:00.005-05:00

I've been told I'm a really nice person to pretty much anyone. Although, because I am I tend to let people walk all over me. And by people I mean friends, and by friends I mean ones I'm pretty close to and spend time with daily. So why does this always seem to happen to me? It's so frustrating, because I never know what I do, but sometimes people that I thought I was good friends with just stop talking to me. What did I do? It hurts. But then the next time someone decides to come around again and be friends, I'm just too nice and feel bad for them. Why is it so hard for me just to say no and let that person know I've been hurt. Am I too nice?

I guess so, but then when I hit this point I realize I've been lucky to have amazing best friends from home. They are the ones that you can go a year without seeing but seem to always pick up right where you left off the last time. I love that. I love them. I mean I guess I should say I love you all, because you are probably the only ones to read this. I also miss you all!

Where do you find joy?

2008-07-20T22:48:00.002-05:00

This morning at church we had a question posed before us. Where do you find joy? Then Josh said, "ok, discuss this with your neighbor."

So at first I thought, I'm too good for this, but then Tricia and I were talking about this thought and knew Josh could call on us any second to share our thoughts. So, I thought about it and I truly find joy in God's beauty outside. I LOVE sunsets, they are the most gorgeous thing ever, it's a little gift from God everyday. I truly just enjoy sitting outside and being in God's precious land. He created such beauty and sometimes we take it for granted. I find the most joy when I'm just sitting in the company of my friends outside, maybe on Shayla's porch, or maybe just someone's backyard. It could be day or night, daytime I like just watching everything in action and seeing the beautiful colors. At night I just enjoy watching the sunset and the stars come out. It's so beautiful.

Where do you find your joy? It's not something we think about everyday, but what truly makes us happy and where do we find God?

What are you going to do?

2008-07-13T14:40:00.003-05:00

3 years ago when I graduated high school I was about sick of the question: "What's your major going to be?"
Well, now that I am starting my senior year of college the answer is: "Marketing with an emphasis in Non-Profit Organizations."
Now the question I am about sick of hearing is: "What are you going to do when you graduate in May?"
Answer: "Ask me again in May." or "Honestly, I have no clue."

In all honesty, I am just letting the Lord guide me in that, I have full faith that something will fall into my lap at the perfect time. Not saying I'm not going to look, because I for sure will search for something that makes me completely happy. Who knows, it could be me moving overseas for a few years and finding a job there? After talking with a pretty wise person a few weeks ago he suggested, why not go back? When else will you have the chance, other than when you graduate? It's for sure a consideration now.

Other than that, life is good. Things are good. God is good. His unfailing love is good. And I'm still living, loving, and learning. Oh and I have amazing friends, I just wish we could all be together:
So I haven't seen Erin yet this summer, but this picture is my tribute to her:

2008-07-13T00:33:00.003-05:00

"God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them."
-Bono

living. loving. learning.

2008-02-26T22:01:00.001-06:00

living life regardless of the many downfalls i have incurred. loving people regardless of how hurt i have been by them. learning about the Lord's UNFAILING LOVE.

Out with the old, in with the new

2007-07-07T12:28:00.001-05:00

I thought I would miss "home" more than I do this summer. Maybe for the mere fact that I know I'm not the only not there. No summer can compare to last summer, but I'm slowly forgetting about it. There are new interns there and they are experiencing new things everyday and seeing what Dad has in store for them there. I'm seeing it for me here? There is slight disappointment here with a few, but for the most part it's been amazing and fast. Two classes already behind me and I actually enjoyed accounting...it could possibly be my major if I didn't hate financial so much. New friends of some sorts made thus far. All in all no summer can compare to last summer but each summer can hold a joy of its own.

Blue Like Jazz

2007-06-11T11:59:00.001-05:00

"Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will. The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is all the fuel we need to obey Him in return. Accepting God's kindness and free love is something the devil does not want us to do. If we hear, in our inner ear, a voice saying we are failures, we are losers, we will never amount to anything, this is the voice of Satan trying to convince the bride that the groom does not love her. This is not the voice of God. God woos us with kindness, He changes our character with the passion of His love."
Donald Miller-Blue Like Jazz

So, I'm re-reading Blue Like Jazz and it's amazing...I recommend it, even re-reading it.

iGosia

2007-06-10T23:02:00.001-05:00

Why is it every time I go to iGosia I come back different? There is no way to describe the past 24 hours...I mean I wasn't even there a full 24 hours, but it was the most well spent time I could have asked for. On my way to Rockwall, I saw a crazy man run across I-30, there were seriously angels protecting him all the way across, because I-30 was insane yesterday. Then I start across the lake and kept just wanting to stop and not go to iGosia, but when I got there it was totally worth it. So I finally get out to the ranch and see some long lost friends and a long lost brother. They were all getting ready to head to Japan and Germany...how weird that a year ago that was me. So I got dressed up in iGosian custom wear (ok, just old dresses and stuff from other countries like Ethiopia and China). So we sent the 53 students and adults through customs, train stations, bus stations, etc. and it was great getting to be on the other side. Later that night after the disgusting dinner they had to eat, I just sat outside in Father's presence and read more than maybe I have this whole past semester. I also got to spend some time with Nat town which was great, because how often do I see her and get to have her wisdom poured into me? I love it! I love the life-long friends I have from iGosia and beyond. Here's a few iGo pics:Oh and if you are confused about iGosia, it's for sure made up, it's base camp for students going overseas through iWitness Ministries...

Summer '07

2007-05-21T00:17:00.000-05:00

Well here I sit at home in Amarillo...summer has hit yet again. But, this time it looks a little different. I will be in Waco doing summer school ALL summer...I was supposed to work at Kanakuk this summer, but unfortunately things haven't fallen that way for me. But, I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me this summer in Waco, TX. I have friends in Kenya right now and I can't wait until they get back and I get to hear their stories. My best friend Kristin is heading back to Japan yet again this summer and I can't wait to hear her stories. Kate is in Yosemite all summer and I know she is going to be blessed enormously. This summer is a summer of growth in so many different areas and I'm excited to see what's in store.

The start of a glorious summer...

You know summer has begun when you see Chacos and bracelets from Hills!
Also when you get to see some of your best friends...
And when faces like these are made numerous times...

2007-01-10T22:00:00.000-06:00

silence. i watched rob bell's nooma noise today for the first time since this summer and wow did God wow me. how easy is it to put so much more in front of him than we should. i have a cell phone, ipod, laptop, tv, cable, etc. and i get so easily distracted. i don't just sit in silence in front of the Lord, what am i doing with my life? i feel that sometimes it is even more important to just sit with Father than to even dive into the word, the Lord speaks to us in the silence when we allow him to, when we are distraction free. how often are we distraction free? silence.

2006 in Review

2007-01-03T11:24:00.000-06:00

Wonderful friends. Common Grounds. Eden. Hot Hearts in Lubbock. Chonko project :(. Random Austin trips. Dallas trip with the best friends. Kill the Mammoth. The Bear Pit. Spring Break in South Carolina with the girls I babysat in high school. Baseball games. JSI Retreat. Island Party times two. Smoking receipts. Emo Park. Snow in April (that was a bust). X's all over campus in one night. Global Night Commute. Chi chi prom. Tornadoes in Waco. End of a great freshmen year. Home. 4 girls and their luggage packed in the backseat and trunk of a Jeep. Base Camp. LONG flight overseas. Jordan. Kelli. Linley. Chelsie. Tara. Damaris. Laura. Sara. Anna. Gina. Taylor. Lara. Jenn. Jessica. Caleb. Josh. Wes. Matt. Spenser. Tony. Pops. Rassi. Kat. Marcus. Jeff. Chris. Shannon. Julie. Julia. Rainey. Doak. Germany. No sleep. Artesia, NM. Prague. Falls Creek Oklahoma. Super Summer Global. Belgium. Postcards from Edgeu. Living room/Kitchen/dining room talks in our two bedroom/one bath apartment for 5 girls. Weltmeister (World Cup). Kyoto. Weird talks in the bathroom with all 5 girls. Weber. Waack. Moradi. Has anyone seen the key to Kyoto?. Bucheim Herler Strasse. Köln Deutz Hostel. Duisburg. Aachen. Sandwhiches everyday. Mulheim. Aachener Weiher. St. Gereon's. Goodbyes in a rush. Culture Shock. Back to Baylor. Eden. Football games. God's grace. Visits from Jordan like every other day. I hate Accounting. iGosia Reunion. Surprise Birthday Dinner. New Frienships. A&M with the best friends. Mexican Parade on 12th Street. Floods right after it. Chi chi shirts. Suprise Party for 3 great friends. Bike rides to campus and around Waco. Product (Red). Love God, embrace beauty, Live life to the Fullest. Halloween. UBC Fall Retreat. Dallas with Tara to eat at Chick-fil-A. Starbucks. Shane and Shane. Bethany Dillon. Random pictures in front of the tree on campus. Finals. Snow in Amarillo. Cult Christmas Party!. Good times. Best Friends. Yummy Christmas meals. New Years Cocktail Style. Spending the end of 2006 watching the Da Vinci Code?.

HELLO AGAIN

2006-10-19T12:27:00.000-05:00

Um Hello World!!!! I don't know where I have gone other than Waco, TX to a place where I have fallen into studying. I have fallen far away from everything I knew this summer, but yet I seem so close sometimes. It's been 2 and a half months since I have been back, wow longer than I was there. But, being back has been really good. It's been hard, but good, God has revealed a lot to me while I have been here.

In other news....it looks like China is somewhere I will be heading next in my journey I like to call life....hmmm China? Christmas time? Love it!

How beautiful

2006-08-06T13:17:00.000-05:00

Wow, so here I sit in my own room in Amarillo, TX. As I begin to think back and process this summer it's hard, really hard. As I sat at church this morning, we sang some of our "normal" songs from the summer and read from Acts. I felt like I was back home with my brothers and sisters, except none of them were there to laugh with when we opened to Acts for about the hundreth time this summer, or to say bitte to when we were bored or couldn't focus. But, as I sat there I had to think about this family I was sitting with, a family that has seen me grow in my faith over the past 6 or so years. A family that I have grown so close to and that has supported me in everything I do. I do miss all of my brothers and sisters, but I am here NOW, not in Germany. As I talked to Tyler this morning and he asked how I was doing getting re-adjusted I almost cried, because I was telling him how hard the past few days have been without the 20 or so other inters that I spent my entire summer with, literally every waking moment with.
I miss our crazy late nights in the apartment. Linley telling everyone to leave and turn off the light in her room, Jordan coming into the bathroom with her cereal so she could talk with all of us, Chelsie talking in her sleep, and Kelli, my love, I miss all of our random conversations. I miss Tara being right downstairs and listening to everything. D and her Toby obsession. Laura and how she always would respond back to my hello love with a hey love and a hug. Sara with her beautiful smile. I miss Gina and Bew and everything she did for me this summer and every encouraging word she had for me. Lara and her winks and smiles she randomly threw across the room at me. Taylor for her encouragement and laughter. Jenn for always giving me hugs and making lovely faces at me. Jess for letting me sleep in her bed and her hugs. I miss the brothers, I miss Caleb and how I could say he was my little brother and he was always around. Josh and his mad guitar skills, especially playing us You Said a thousand times. Jerred and his role of being pops. Tony for being Tony and putting up with everything. Rassi for his crazy comments to things. Matt for just being Matt and being real. Spenser for just being there to listen to you even if he didn't want to. And Wes for always going places with me even if he didn't want to and for his lovely singing to his iPod.
What a summer, we went through some extremely hard times together, Satan tried to attack us, but in the end we prevailed through his attacks, by the grace of God. We were all placed in Koln, Germany together for a reason this summer. That reason was to bring God all glory and honor. Now as we all are spread out across the USA, I pray that we can still bring God all glory and honor in all we do. Jordan said it best in her blog, we are here now. We need to be asking God what is your will for me now?
I love all of my brothers and sisters and miss you all tons. But, we are here now for a reason, we were in Gemany for 2 months for a reason. I know we will all keep in touch, or most of us, and continue to lift each other up in prayer. I love you all! I miss you all like crazy, but we are where we are for a reason now! See some of you all soon!

I'm alive!!!

2006-07-16T03:35:00.000-05:00

So, I just realized it has been about 3 weeks or so since I last updated. I am so sorry! I don't even know where to start where I last left off....

Artesia has come and gone. Through that week I built some amazing friendships. Maybe even a possible job opportunity. We shall see!
Lets see then we had mid-term break. I headed to Prague with Tara, Gina, and Taylor. It was definitely a site to see! It was gorgeous there. The 4 of us had a lot of fun together. But, I don't know if I would ever go to Prague again. It was beautiful, but definitely a very touristy place.
We came back and started to get ready for the next group of about 120 to come. They arrived this past Sunday and all left this morning. It was a great week! We experienced a lot of different things though. I have never really experienced spiritual warfare until this week. We saw satan attacking us so many different ways. But, at the same time we saw God winning the spiritual battle. We have two new sisters and a new brother. Which is something we didn't see at all last year. How exciting is that! Three new believers! I love it! I am definitely glad this week is over and we have an off week to relax. I thought I had experienced sleep deprevation in college, but it was nothing like this week....I have never been this tired. But, I would have traded the week for anything else.
Hopefully I become better at this so I don't have people asking me where I am....sorry about that Kristin! I love all of you! Thanks for the prayers, keep them coming!

HELLO!

2006-06-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

Hello blogging world!

I know I know I have been awful about posting. But, I have a hard time understanding what things say on the computers in the internet café. Also, we aren’t supposed to be on the internet except for Fridays. But, we have now moved into our office in the Hostel, so we have more freedom to do things. So, here is a rough run down of what has been going on.

First off, I just got back Aachen, I was there doing a base camp/training for a church from Artesia, NM. There were 4 interns that went up to Aachen to lead this base camp. These students have blessed me tremendously and I am sad I don’t get to work with them during the ministry week.

Where do I even start about what God has been doing while I have been here. It is such a weird feeling. I can’t describe all of these feelings-it’s like I’m not quite comfortable here. But, we have been split from our 25 teammates into 4 or 5 teams and spread across the city. My team was placed where I was at last year. When I got to the north put of Mulheim I was never at ease. I felt that God was saying you did well last summer, but it is time for you to move on. So, my team and I started going to the park in the South part of Mulheim. It has been such a blessing to me. I have been at peace somewhat. But, I have found full peace at the University.

For now I am spending time in South Mulheim. It has been a crazy experience. That’s really all I can say about it. God is really breaking my heart for the nations, especially Germany. After sitting at a grill we had on Sunday my heart truly broke for the nations.

All we could think of that day is that the nations were gathered under one tree-Muslims, Turks, Americans, Germans, Kenyans.... Also, we could just see a church starting right where we were. How cool would that be?! Very cool in my opinion!

Now to the University...I went over there on Monday and was not as comfortable as I had been at South Mulheim, but I was at full peace. There’s really no way to describe the feeling other than this is where I am supposed to be. I know that is where my mission field is for the summer. Although for this upcoming ministry week I will be somewhere out of Koln. I’m not quite sure where yet, but as soon as I know I will post it. There is so much in store for all of Koln this summer. Something huge is going to happen and God is just going to surprise us! Personally I can’t wait to see what is going to happen.

Please pray for the people of the park we have met. Some are so close to knowing the Father!

Thank you all for prayers!

well.....

2006-06-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

I AM SO SORRY I HAVE BEEN AWFUL AT UPDATING THIS!

So much has happened in the two weeks or so I have been here. There hasnt been enough time to send emails and update this....so the emails came first. But, things are going so well here. I plan to update this in a few days, when I can use my computer! But, God is doing such great works here. All of the plowing we did last summer is ready to be sowed and reaped this summer. God is using last summers works tremendously already this summer. We have one church group coming tomorrow for base camp and then ministry week starting Saturday. On Saturday we have two more groups coming in to start their ministry week. I am excited about finally getting one week teams in! I cant wait to see what is in store. God has huge plans for this summer and it is going to be amazing!

I am sorry this is so short. Hopefully I can update when we move into the hostel this week and while I am in Aachen for Artesias base camp!

Continue to pray for us! Thanks to everyone for the prayer and love!

One day and couting!

2006-06-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I head to Dallas for base camp and then Tuesday it's to Germany I go!! :) Woot! I can't what to get there and see God's hands already at work!

It's almost time

2006-05-20T10:53:00.000-05:00

Last night as I sat and watched one of my best friend walk away from me for the next two months all I could think about is I would see her on August 1 either at DFW or at Dallas Love Field. She walked away from her "going away" party last night as she heads to Base Camp this morning and then on Tuesday flies to Japan for two months as an intern with iWitness. It brought some excitement back into me though.

For me the past oh month or so have been long....I have not been that excited about heading to Germany for some reason. It hit me. I left the friends I have spent the past 9 months with at Baylor. I left my dorm room, and it's likely I will never see half the girls from my hall again, let alone half the people I hung out with on campus because we were on campus. And I came home. I came home to my parents, my own bed, my own room, my 6 best friends, I came home. I didn't want to leave this. Now, now I am ready to go to the edge as Katlyn would say. My youth minister is like a little kid when I talk to him about going. We went last year for a week and then another week in East Germany. He's so excited for me, and I guess the excitement has rubbed off once again. All I keep hearing from him is please go eat at El Fenix and eat eis down the street at the good place by the University. I love it. I can't wait to get back now, to experience what God has in store. To get back in the life of a German and European. To sit and take in what God has ready for me to face. I can't wait. Two weeks. Two weeks and my team will all be together for the next two months. How exciting is that? Wow.

Home

2006-05-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

This year flew by. I don't even know what to think. I am now back home for about 3 weeks, maybe a little more. And then off to Cologne, Germany I go for 2 months!

To be quite honest, coming home wasn't that exciting of a thought. I was not wanting to leave everyone, etc. And I am still sad that I don't see everyone from Baylor everyday like I did. Or the fact that I can't just walk down the hall to talk to someone or stress out to someone. But, being home has brought joy! I have gotten to see some of my best friends, yet some aren't home yet. I have also gotten to see friends from high school and kids from my youth group. It has been good! I love my friends. I have also gotten to have some good quality family time.

Summer....what a surprise it can be. I can't wait to spend the next 3 months in anticipation of God's works. Spending these 2 months in Germany is going to bring a lot of growth I feel. Spending time at home with my friends and youth group will bring some growth and even patience. I can't wait to see what this summer has in store.

One Year gone

2006-05-05T11:28:00.000-05:00

So, these are the last few days as a freshman in college. This year has flown by so fast. I don't even know how to describe it. Kate said she can't put it into words and I'm pretty much there with her.

There have been so many ups and downs this year. But, I feel like this year has been a definite growing time for me. I have learned so much about myself while I have been here. I think I have grown stronger in my faith and my heart has been broken and open to so many new things. I would definitely not trade this year in for anything. Yeah there were some times I just didn't want to be here anymore, but I would be regretting going back.

I have met some of the most amazing people ever this year. Without this group of friends, I don't know where I would be. I have gained some of the greatest friends from my trip to Germany last summer too. But, while I have been here I have had so many answered prayers, especially with my friends.

God is so good and faithful.

This summer is going to be hard without everyone from Baylor around. I sometimes start to think about how much I want to be back from Germany already. I am ready to go, but I am sad about leaving everything here....Kelsey said it so well this morning, we are home here. I love you all!

Hmmm....

2006-05-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

Well, after talking to a friend of mine tonight at dinner, I decided I was going to set up a blogspot to post on this summer instead of my Xanga.....sorry to my xanga readers, but you can still comment on here. Anyways, I actually should be studying right now, but I'm avoiding it yet again. Anyways, here I go with blogger to check it out since I enjoy posting on the JSI Hangout.