What what!?

So, the past week has definitely been sensational.

I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity to get to do this camp!

Anyways,
Right now I am sitting next to Bri and we are both on facebook.

I am having Glee withdrawals because I still have not seen the season finale and I am kind of freaking out.
That's kind of a big deal.

Earlier Bri and Kalah did some p90x with me and it was pretty great.

I am excited about our next camp, especially because my fantastic UMHB friends on rec staff will be with us. Yay!

Alrighty, well, I think that's about all I have to say.


ttfn.


"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."
Psalm 19:1-2

Make a Joyful Noise

Ah!

It's time for me to blog again!

Super exciting!

Okay, well, first off, I went shopping today.

Holly pressured me into it!

Mom doesn't know I did.

....well now she does.

I only bought one dress though, because it was only $13.50!

It was such a bargain. It was so cute!

I also worked at the Pregnancy Center, ate lunch with Mimi, went tanning, and went to work out.

So, pretty much everyone knows about my intense obsession with Glee, and any song performed in that show.

So that brings me to my awesome point: MUSIC.

Music!

It is such an amazing thing.

I am pretty sure that music has got to be God's greatest gift to mankind.

...With the exception of Jesus, of course. It really doesn't even measure up to Him.

Okay,

The best parts of music:

When you get goosebumps from an amazing note, voice, or lyric.

When you realize a song summarizes EXACTLY who you are or how you're feeling.

When you sit in the audience of a musical (like Wicked), or something truly sensational and feel your entire life changing.

When you get to stand on a stage, whether you're completely alone or in front of a huge audience, and you get to completely sing your heart out.

Music is awesome.

Music is inspiring.

Music is personal.

Music is life-changing.

One time, I was at a youth service, and I remember talking about our callings and passions in life.

And someone asked if anyone knew what they were born to do.

I instantly raised my hand.

"Sing. I was born to sing."

Anyways, it has been about 4 or 5 years since then, and I still feel the same.

I have a huge passion for being a counselor and listening to people and trying to help, but there is nothing like the power of music - like the power of a great song.

Sometimes, I feel that's the best way to reach a person. Music.

Several people can testify to a song that reached them on some extreme personal level.

That being said,

Nothing ever compares to the feeling I get inside when I get to sing.

I get the same feeling no matter where I am - in my bedroom with a guitar, singing in church, performing in a play, or just getting to sing out a song on some type of stage.

The feeling is unlike any other.

I get an overwhelming sense of peace and satisfaction, knowing that this is my passion, my love, and God's gift to me.

So, basically, I know that music and singing is what I was put on this earth to do, whether it be singing with my mom and family in a small family room,

belting out show tunes on Broadway, singing in a praise band at church, or giving sold-out shows to thousands of fans.

I will always love to sing. I always will sing until I can't anymore.

"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim His Salvation day after day."

1 Chronicles 16:23

Blessed

Blessed.

That is what I am.

But what does it really mean to be "blessed?"

It means:

"divinely or supremely favored; fortunate"

or

"blissfully happy or contented"

Wow.

I am blessed.

I am blessed to have the perfect love and admiration of a my wonderful Savior.

I am blessed to have an awesome family and some awesome friends.

I am blessed to be able to attend such an amazing college.

I could go on literally forever and ever.

Why me?

I come nowhere close to deserving anything at all.

The answer is completely beyond me.

But, surely it didn't just happen for no reason.

Luke 12:48

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (NIV)

So, the best I can do is give everything I own, and everything in me to my Savior.

But, what does that even mean?

Where do I start?

Proverbs 16:20

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."

I can start by completely trusting and relying on Christ and following His ways to the best of my ability.

Then what?

LOVE.

I wrote an entire blog about it before,

and I probably could again....because it is a truly sensational thing.

Ephesians 5:1-2

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Proverbs 21:21

"He who pursues righteousness and love find life, prosperity, and honor."

Mark 12:30

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

1 John 3:11

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another."

Luke 6:35

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

John 15:17

"This is my command: love each other."

1 John 3:14

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death."

Matthew 5:44

"But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

1 John 3:23

"And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us."

Romans 13:19

"The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Awesome, awesome, awesome!

In summary:

Ephesians 5:15-20

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So, that is about all I have for now.

I hope you enjoyed this, and I apologize for it being beyond ridiculously long.

I used to sing a song in church a lot when I was younger.

"When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say,

'She's got her Father's eyes, her Father's eyes - eyes that find the good in things,

when good is not around. Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can't be found.

Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain. Knowing what you're going through, and feeling it the same. Just like my Father's eyes.'"

Now that I look back and truly read those words, I realize how powerful and meaningful they really are.

And - I can honestly, completely, and sincerely say, that is what I want in my life.

Monday.

It's Monday.

Or, it was Monday.

I went shopping earlier today, and while I was shopping, I bought the movie Shopaholic, which I thought was pretty ideal.

Well, "I" didn't buy it, Eugene did. Thanks, Eugene.

But, I picked it out.

We got a lot of other stuff, too.

Which brings me to my point...shopping.

I love it.

It is so great.

Shopping makes me happy.

 

Anyways, on a different note, this weekend was fantastic.

It was Katie's birthday, she turned 22, and she is awesome.

Thanks Katie, for being so awesome.

And now I just want to take a moment to make this blog

worth reading and reflect on God's amazing love.

What a sensational thing, God's love. It's the best. It's perfect.

God's love is what makes life worth the while.

And for God's love, I am so thankful and blessed. We all are.

:)

Hellooooo!

Well, this week was fun and stuff.
Crusader Knights was this weekend and it was awesome!
Chris did great!

So, let me just start by saying that I am incredibly blessed.
Whenever you're up late, alone, in your favorite room, I guess you just realize how awesome God is...and life.


Sometimes when I see everything God has blessed me with, I wonder "Why?"
It's a blessing in and of itself that God pays enough attention to me to know my name...
BUT...He not only knows my name....He LOVES me! And He loves me more than anyone else ever could. On top of that....He knows absolutely everything about me. What I really think, how I really feel, my true thoughts, and my motives for everything. Now that, that is awesome.

Now, God loved me enough to give His only Son to pay for MY sins...which says more than words could ever express. So, my question again is, "Why?"

So, a fact is a fact. God knows who I am. God LOVES me (ME!). And ALLLL of me. And Jesus died so that I wouldn't have to get what I deserve (death). AWESOME!
Have you ever really and truly thought about all of this? I don't know if I ever have!

Now, how can I show my gratitude?
I can use my life to glorify my Savior! I can use my life to reach out and show Christ's AMAZING love that I still learn more about every day!

My point...(besides the obvious).....
I didn't just tattoo love on my wrist for fun!
It's there because I want people to know and to see that Christ has called me to love and to reach out to others!

Here:
John 15:9-17
"(9)As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (10)If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. (11) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (12) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command. (15) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (16) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (17) This is my command: Love each other."

Omg. Wow. Now THAT is powerful. God's command: LOVE EACH OTHER.
Wait.....it isn't "judge each other" or "be as holy as possible" or "ignore weird people!"
It says "Love each other."

And:
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
"(8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (10) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. (11) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (12) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
(13) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Wow. Again...wow. How awesome!

So.... As a disciple and friend of Christ I am called to love. Love! Love everyone!
And...who doesn't want to share the AWESOME love of Christ!

Anyways, I am saying that I am going to do my best to live in love and reach out with love just as Christ did for me! (AND YOU!) And, I know I am going to fail sometimes, but, that's the beauty of God's love and mercy....He's always there to help me back up and lead me in His path where I should be.


I have felt this message laying on my heart now for such a long time, and I just want to share with everyone how Christ is moving in my life!


If you see me sometime tomorrow, I will probably be wearing pink.
Just a heads up.

Like, OMG!

First of all, before I begin....

I would like to point out that Kayla is eating.

This is something to remember.

......even though it's tuna.....which is gross.

Okay,

I am about to take my gerontology test in about 30 minutes....so we will see how that goes.

Today was a pretty good day.

I went to weight training. Got stronger. A lot stronger.

Then, I came back and slept in bed with Kayla, migraine girl, because I did not have to go to my 11:00.

Kayla is drinking apple juice and singing.

Okay, so, after class I went to Hardy with Cody and they had chocolate and it was the best thing ever. Seriously. I had a lot of it.

 

Love you!

Whoo-hoo!

Hey everyone!

It's 1 in the morning and I have weight training tomorrow at 9:30 with Jacqueline and it is my first class.
We've already been twice and I'm pretty sure the trainer thinks I am crazy.
He said, "Wow, we should probably just bring out some 2 pound dumbells for you," after I couldn't do a single lift on any of the machines.

I pick up Charlie tomorrow too!
When I got back from the break, Kayla and I decided to go to chick-fil-a, and Charlie's window kept gowing down slowly and we couldn't get it to roll back up!
When it was about half way down, we pulled into chick-fil-a, and the remaining window just fell right into the door. Disappeared.
So, we had to take her to get her window fixed.

Earlier today Kayla decided she wanted to go to her favorite record store in Austin, so....Kayla, Jacqueline, and I decided to go.
We actually never found the record store because we got so lost, and never even got out of the car. We just decided to come back after a long time of being really lost. I personally thought it was pretty fun and exciting, even though Kayla did not believe me. Jacqueline did, too.


Love you.