sprung

I was doing fine
on my own--
and then you came along
and shook that.

I never knew
what it felt like
to burn
for a person
until i burned
for you.

I didn't know it
was possible for
a human
to make me
walk on sunshine.
but you do.

no one has ever
consumed
my thoughts
my time
my prayers
my heart
the way you are
right this moment.

I've never wanted
anything so badly
the way I want you.

i am
head
over
heels.

sprung.

and now,
it hits me:
this is how You feel
about me,
O Lord.

You are
in love with,
obessesd with,
crazy about
me.

You are
jealous.

and so I return--
all of me--
to the strong arms
of my first Love.

drop everything and read!

Why I tolerate being a Middle Level Education major:

assignments like this one.

to everything there is a season (turn turn turn)

It feels like autumn outside! Today I have worked with my windows open, letting the fall flood in. I love fall tremendously. Yesterday, my roommate and I watched the band assemble from our third floor window; it's football season again! What a beautiful and magical time of year! Today I got excited to break out my "Autumn Leaves" playlist. It includes close to 100 songs that remind of me of fall in some way or another (naturally, as years go by, the list gets longer). Some of the songs are:
-Landslide--Fleetwood Mac
-(*fin)--Anberlin
-Anything but Ordinary--Avril Lavigne
-Vienna--Billy Joel
-Daydream Believer--The Monkees
-Jesse's Girl--Rick Springfield
-Revolutionaries--Bethany Dillon
-The Best Day--Taylor Swift
-It's Not Easy (Superman)--Five for Fighting
-Left with Alabis and Lying Eyes--Emery
and the ultimate Fall Song,
-Pinch Me--Barenaked Ladies

As excited as I was to play my Fall Music this afternoon, I realized that this meant it was time to put away the Songs of Summer playlist (you see, you have to play season playlists sparingly throughout the year so they won't lose their season's feel). This makes me slightly sad, because I love summer tremendously. It is a beautiful and magical time of year. But somehow, it has slipped away. I'm not sure how I was driving down old Delta roads to visit my grandparents in May, and moments later I'm celebrating Labor Day. Please make it slow down before I'm in the nursing home.

You come like the rain

"Keep on asking, and you will recieve what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks recieves. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

You parents--if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?"

Matthew 7:7-11

Open up the sky

fall down like rain;

we don't want blessings,

we want You!

Open up the sky

fall down like fire;

we don't want anything but You.

-deluge

Eh Tea You

"A day...is a miniature eternity." - Raplh Waldo Emerson

Well said, Ralphie. I haven't even been back in Russellville for a week, but I feel like I've been here forever. I love being back! Life has been so encouraging lately. I've realized how much I have been blessed here with great friends and a phenominal church. Of course, classes will soon become overbearing, and I'm already overcommitting to things, but I've never lived my life any other way. Although I thought about taking a year off and going to LA (it's an internship called Leader's Academy. Not Las Angeles.), I am confident that returning to Tech was the right decision. I feel right where I need to be, and I know that God is here and moving! I've got a feeling (whooo hooo) that this year's gonna be a good good year!

Completely un-realted thoughts that have crossed my mind today:

-I love birthdays. My older sister and I share a birthday, and it happens to be tomorrow. I've already started celebrating. I think it's great that we give presents and love and attention to people on their birthdays...but what about their mothers? I didn't do anything on August 28, 1989 to deserve celebration. My mom, on the other hand, did A LOT. I guess that's what Mother's Day is for. Nonetheless, tomorrow I'll be calling my mom and thanking her for pushing.

-I'm a polite person. And I try to be a servant. For example, I always open the door for other people. However, when guys walk through my open door, I feel slightly awkward, and I wonder if I'm making them feel slightly awkward because they feel like it's their job to do such things for me. If we get their first, should girls open the door for guys? I feel like I am neglecting my gender role.

-I like to listen to my iPod when I walk around campus. Many students do. But why are we expected to stay composed when listening to music? Why can't I do a little jig, or pretend to drum, or sing along? Why is it acceptable while driving, but not while walking? I'm not embarassed. I just feel like society is telling me that I should be embarassed, so I refrain. Lame.

junior year eve

I want to be a better blogger, I really do. However, when it comes down to it...I'm lousy at it.

Life after camp has been slow, and yet I can't believe I move back to Russellville in two days! It's been nice to have three weeks of carefree summer. I was able to visit my sister, Dixie, in Kansas City for a few days, as well as catch up and spend time with several friends from all the spheres of my life...

-Camp Friends: Refreshing get-together in Conway. I am so blessed with great relationships.
-High School Friends: Weird. It's interesting to see how we've all gone our different ways. Oh, and one of my closest friends from high school just got engaged. What else is knew?
-College Friends: They're all engaged. If not engaged, in a serious relationship. I think I'll start a club for the few single people left at ATU. Wait, there's not enough to form a group? Rats.

I really am excited to see what's in store for the next year. There will be lots of changes this year, but change is for the better. I know that God is going to do great things through His people...we just have to put forth the effort it will take!

--------

My room is a wreck, and instead of packing, I'm on the internet, and it's almost midnight. Welcome back, reality! I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

an unforgettable mark

so it's been a while...

I don't even know where to begin. the past two months have been a remarkable period of growth and transformation in my life. Brookhill 2010 was incredible. God did mighty things and many young people were set free from the lies of the world. Hearts were set right with God, and minds were encouraged to dig deeper. The kids had a blast, and I successfully made it through another year of horseback without knowing anything about horses (praise God for Linda!). The relationships I built with the staff this summer are indescribable. I am so grateful for my camp family, but I miss them so much!

It's odd being "home," because I feel like I left home. The ranch has felt like home to me for the past decade of my life, and it's strange to think that my time as a Brookhill counselor may be done. If that is that, I will be at peace with it. Being a counselor has molded me into the person that I am: three years as a Junior Counselor--boy did that teach me some life lessons. And two as a Senior Counselor taught me not only to walk in leadership, but also in confidence, influence, teamwork, humility, spiritual discipline, and limitless love that can be fueled only through Christ. Our theme for the summer was "Leaving and Unforgettable Mark." I can honestly say that while I left a mark on the kids, a mark was left on me as well!

Whether this was my last summer at camp or not, I truly feel that this summer has closed one chapter in my life to make room for a new one. In three weeks, I will turn 21 years old. I thought the awkward ages were done once you made it through Junior High. Wrong. What am I? Dependent on my parents or independent? Collge kid or adult? Crazy camp counselor or mature teacher-in-training? Student or leader? All of the above? I have no idea. I guess we'll find out. Come whatever may, am I excited to see what God has in store for the upcoming year of my life.