So close to the end...

From College Station

It has been quite some time since I have posted, and for that I apologize. Well as the title indicates, this semester is almost over. The last full week of classes is halfway through, and then "dead" week and then finals. I wouldn't exactly say that "dead" week is an appropriate name, seeing as it is the time when everyone stuffs their brains so full of information that dying wouldn't even be an option. I just thought I would share some of my summer plans :)

-I will be working at Central as a youth intern alongside my dear friends Allen Frans and Justin Kellough, and I simply can NOT wait. It's something I have been praying about ever since Allen asked me back in October, and I feel like it's exactly what God wants for me the summer.
-Because of this fabulous job, I will have the opportunity to go to North Pole, Alaska, on the annual World Changers mission trip. I have always wanted to go to Alaska, but it will be even cooler getting to go and serve others rather than just for a vacation.
-Since Kristen E. will be staying in Denton this summer, I'm sure I will be making many trips up there to visit her as well!
-Almost every year, my family goes to a place in Hunt, TX, called River Inn. It is probably my favorite place in the world, simply because it is so peaceful and beautiful. I haven't been in a few years, so needless to say I have been more than ready to go back.
-My sister, Kerry, will be graduating in May. I am so excited for her and even more excited because in the Fall she will be joining me at Texas A&M as my new roommate! This summer will be filled with trips to Target and Bed Bath & Beyond I'm sure...

That's pretty much what my summer will look like. As for next Fall, I am very much looking forward to what God has in store. Have an awesome day :)

God is Merciful

From Denton...

Today I was reading my weekly e-mail from James McDonald, which is a small devotional sent out once a week. Today's was over the Lord's mercy and his Holiness- truly understanding how Holy Christ is, as we continue to grow in an intimate relationship with Him . Something that James McDonald said was a great illustration of a growing relationship, growing in understanding and in knowledge and I wanted to share!

"The bigger the trials get, the more I know I need God.

The more I need God, the closer I am drawn to Him.

The closer I get to Him, the more I sense His holiness.

The more I sense His holiness, the More I realize my own sinfulness."

That illustration is something that I have truly been experiencing this semester as the Lord has been challenging me through different trials and situations. I am so grateful for His mercy as He breaks me down and shows me how much i truly need Him and the grace only He can give. God has shown himself to be bigger than anything here on this earth and I can't wait to continue getting to know my Savior more and more each day. The Lord is so good!

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." -Philippians 3:10-11

Road Trip to Round Rock!

From Denton...

Since last semester I had been wanting to take a trip home and bring a bunch of my friends with me to meet my family (if they hadn't already) and to experience the lovely Round Rock/Austin area! I finally found a time to do so and ended up taking seven of my WONDERFUL friends with me back to RR last weekend and we had a blast!

Five of my friends (Michaella, AJ, Lizzy, Corey, and Kip)met me at my apartment around 12:30 on friday and we decided that we all wanted to ride together so we all crammed in my little, but comfortable, honda civic. I rode comfortably for the 3 hour trip because I was driving but the rest of them enjoyed snuggling up in the back seat and we had a great time jamming out and all the road trip type things that you do. Once we got to RR we stopped by the house, said visited with my parents, then headed off to CHUYS...yumm :). Chuys was the first place I wanted to take everyone because it is a well known tex-mex restaurant which originated in downtown Austin and is so very delicious. After that, we hung out at the house played pool, and had a dance contest until catching a movie at the dollar theater. We decided to see The Book of Eli which was very good. I was not sure how i felt about it at the beginning but once it got going i was hooked. Late friday night, Kelsey and Seth finally got in and then we crashed!

Saturday morning we slept in until about 10:00 or so with RR Donuts (arguably, the best donuts in the world) , pigs-in-the-blankets, and fresh strawberries sitting in the kitchen waiting for us.

Around noon we all left the house and headed to our first stop in Austin which was the 360 bridge look out! We hiked up the cliff took some pictures, hiked a little bit more to take more pictures then finally headed back down. It turned out to be such a beautiful day and the view was just awesome!

After 360 bridge, we made our way to Mt. Bonnell...we hiked up the concrete stairs and hiked around for a little bit and enjoyed the incredible Austin view! Around 2:30 we made our way to South Congress, downtown, to eat lunch at Home Slice Pizza then stopped to get a cupcake at Hey Cupcake...DELICIOUS!! We strolled around south congress to stop in some thrift stores then made our last stop to the drag to go to Toy Joy and Buffalo exchange!! We ended the night with a fantastic dinner at the house...my parents grilled fajitas!

Sunday, we all woke up and went to church, had sushi for lunch, took blue bonnet pictures, then headed back to Denton. On the way home we stopped in Waco to eat dinner and my best friend blake and his good friend jaclyn joined us since they go to Baylor! It ended up being such an amazing weekend! The Lord has blessed me with such incredible friends who have hearts to serve the Lord and love others...God is so good!