marchy march

in an effort to abandon responsibilities that i should be tending to on a somewhat free afternoon, i think i’d rather update my blog! as SBX approaches (spring break 2010, for those of you not familiar with hip collegiate lingo), i have a presentation and two exams staring me down... but my mind is already distracted and set on all things Rocky Top! if acing a couple tests is all that stand between me and tennessee... bring it on! 

speaking of school, i am currently standing at a fork on my academic career’s path. the way things stand, as a result of too much paperwork, ridiculous deadlines, and other administrative woes, these are my options:

1. continue to inundate myself with school work, taking a heavy load in the summer as well as fall and graduate in december.

pros: obviously, graduate in december

cons: miss out on montana in the summer, graduate with not a cent to my name other than what my parents provide me

1. be a part time student in the summer, fall, and spring and land a sweet job

pros: enjoy my summer, only taking a class or two; havin money in da bank...; maintaining relationship that i have made with friends at school

cons: missoula’s job market is less than preferable... quite dreadful actually

so... all that to say, i’m gonna need some prayer! i’m leaning towards just holding off on graduating. this will keep me alot more open, and therefore focused on and receptive to God’s voice. I have always had a hard time letting Him take control of my plans, but everytime i take them into my own hands, EVERYTHING changes (e.g. moving to montana). plus, i really have no reason to rush. He has me here and, until i feel called elsewhere, i’m hangin’ around! so might as well go with the flow and not rush things. after all, if  graduate this december, i will hardly be 21... out of college... searching for a job... applying for grad school. and that just seems silly, now that i think about it :-) mom and i were laughing about how i have always jumped the gun in life, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to breathe and enjoy the scenery for a while! if i choose to stay longer, figuring out financial aid could get a bit difficult, as i’ve already established myself a full time student thru this december. i’m applying for some part-time “big girl jobs”; one in particular that i think would be awesome... fun now and beneficial for the future. God’ll do what He wants and it will be good!! 

let’s see... these are other small things that have been on my mind:

• i’m pretty boss at snowboarding (for a Southerner at least) and let me assure you: water sports (i.e. skiing, wakeboarding, etc.) are no comparison to winter sports. i was silly to think that!
• i am training for a half marathon. i know, i hear those of you who know me laughing out loud. i’m gonna do it.... watch me....
• i am becoming increasingly more adventurous. hiking is becoming a familiar thing in my days. holly and i tried our hands at climbing (no pun intended) this weekend. i’ll just say we’re gonna have to keep up the work! also, weekly ab labs and glutes workouts from our instructor, Fabio, are keeping me rather disciplined!!
• i might start taking adult gymnastics. how sweet would it be to relive my childhood through that?! watch out olympics.
• i moved to montana for snow, and tennessee got all of it this year. yes. i’m bitter.
• i still dream of international ventures nearly every day. after watching a report on haiti last night and reading blogs of missionaries in the city in mexico where i’ve been, it’s hard not to. it’s in God’s timing, i know, but my heart beats with the orphans. we are all God’s heartbeat. their beauty is astounding, too. have you ever thought that maybe God created them to have that sparkle of genuine, pure beauty in their eyes? i always wonder about that... then thank Him for how perfectly He makes everything work.
• I’M GOING TO BE HOME IN A WEEK!!!!!! i have never been so excited about a trip, i don’t think.

rise up, oh you sleeper, awake! He makes all things new!

the snow has finally returned to missoula! and it is so beautiful! i can stay here now... i was about ready to move back home if i wasn't gonna get any good snow ;-) but, honestly, the spring weather has been completely awesome. jessie and her parents and i hiked mt helena on saturday afternoon. i know i say this every time i do something new in montana, but it really was the most beautiful things i've ever seen. of course, you could see for infinite miles, but in the distance was not a monotonous landscape. there were incredible,  individually unique, snow-covered mountain tops. there was sunshine, wispy clouds, and an unending blue sky. it was like the land went on for ever. i have seen many beautiful things in my life, but i just cannot believe i live in this beauty.

sunday afternoon, i met with the girls (well, ladies!) at zootown for a few hours. we are all reading through Captivating right now (which i very much recommend to everyone- even to the guys! and you might as well just read Wild at Heart with it- yes, even you, girls!) we got off talking about how beauty is the essence of the Lord and His love for us and how nature completely embodies that unimaginable beauty. without sounding like a tree-hugging granola here, when you are hiking out here or simply breathing the mountain air, it is calming. it is comforting, it is inviting and nourishes your soul. it is life and provides life. it is resembles abiding in the love of the Lord; it is so sweet. the most amazing thing is this: the same way that He gazed upon the wonders He had created and declared them good, He does the same thing with us every day. every day He looks at us and claims His creation is good. as if that is not enough, He pursues us, desires to love and be loved by us! He chooses us, loves us, rejoices over our beauty. and He is the Creator of beauty; He is the God of the universe. i'm humbled.

19 days until i return to hendersonville!! huzzah!!!!!!

Peace and love

being a weekender

so my favorite thing about living in montana: the weekends!!! every weekend i have done something so fun with great people-- from sledding to girls' movies to day trips to hamilton to griz bball games, my weekends are filled with laughter and relaxation.... a perfect interruption to my busy weeks! i'm headed out of town for a night or two with jessica-- a girl i've met at school. i get to explore more of mt this weekend, ski, work on papers (ew.), and get to knew her a little bit better; needless to say, i'm looking forward to it!

i have been a bit homesick this week... just really missing mom, dad, mimi, meghan, sophie, and general hendersonvilleness. i'll be there in 23 days! aside from missing tennessee life, the tease of spring weather forces me to be reminiscent of good ole samford u. no facebook wall posting can express to my friends how much i miss them and wish i was still a part of everything they do. this weekend, adpi kappa chapter is celebrating their centennial anniversary-- an event that i had been excited about since, well, rush 2007! i miss giggly nights at sonic, daily ice cream cones in ben brown, naps by the fountain and in the lib, late night tennis, walks on the trail across lakeshore, lunch at mama g's, the fierceness of spring intramurals, and the list goes on. with all that said, i NEED to get this out of my system:

highty tighty, gosh all mighty, who the heck am i?! 
bam, bam, yes ma'am, i'm an ADPI!
kappa, kapp,a best since when?! kappa, kappa, 1910.
ADPi always true to the white and azure blue.
diamonds sparkle, always shine. 
WE WERE FIRST YOU FELL IN LINE! ::insert: discreet finger pointing to chi omega ;-)::
Golden Lion, got that, too! ADPi we live for you.
A what? D what? Pi what? ADPI!
if you're wondering, i said every line as i typed it.

here's to another amazing weekend of reflecting on the prayers God has answered, the plan He has for me, and becoming prayerful about my future. can't wait to see all of you at home!

peace and love,