No one panic...

No one panic. I'm alive. I know everyone was checking this to make sure I was still alive since it's been (gasp) 7ish days since I last posted... But now everyone can rest easy! I'm alive and well, so no worries!
Hm.
What's been new with me? Spring break is over, and now we've moved on to the last few weeks before the semester is over! So crazy that I'm almost a sophomore in College. I do not feel that old. I think I've decided that next summer/fall semester I'm going to try to study abroad in Australia, a. because it would be SO legit, and b. because I'm dying to study abroad.

Tonight I had CRU and it never ceases to amaze me how much that time encourages me so much. I just love fellowshipping and seeing other students worshiping God and yearning to make a difference on our campus as much or more so than me. It's so encouraging to see that! Oh man. I got the book Mockingjay in the mail today, haven't picked it up because the lady had left for the day, but I'm so excited to read it. For all who are wondering, it's the third book in the Hunger Games triology, which is quite excellent. But, I have a Microeconomics test that I have to study for so I keep telling myself I can only read it after Thursday. Oh thursday, get here soon! :)

Anyway, as promised I included a picture of the canvas I painted.
Till I write again! Jacks

Thought of the day: why does sunburn itch?

Beach!

I missed a day blogging... I know you all were beat up about it, but no worries! I'm back tonight! I'm sitting in a condo in Gulf Shores, AL with four friends watching Oliver & Company. (Really starting our spring break off with a bang ;)). But really though, I love this. After 11 hours in the car driving from Little Rock to here, we arrived and got settled in after shopping for groceries and getting our keys, we made dinner of spaghetti, salad and french bread. It was delicious and all of us felt so domestic and independent! haha we kept saying, "It's so weird not to have a chaperone here... we're too old." haha

I'm so ready for this week, it's going to be great. The weather is beautiful so far and the company is even better! I'll keep you posted on what happens for sure. :) Here's the thought I had tonight as we walked on the beach looking at the stars and hearing the ocean: The God I believe in and Love, is so big. He's able to create some crazy beautiful things and I love it. It makes me feel secure in his hands to know that he deals with and creates things bigger than me, so any problems I have, he's able to deal with it because nothing is too big for him!
Till next time! Jacks

Quote of the day:"It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself." 
— John Piper

What a day!

Oh spring break. I wish every other week was spring break ya know? What a relief to have a week when I have nothing better to do than shop, sleep, eat, and watch TV... Sounds like a good time to me. Today I spent with my family...getting my hair cut, shopping, going to Saturday night church service, and eating at Applebee's. But probably the best part of me day? Meeting for lunch with my good friend Khani Fravel. She's awesome, and I'm encouraged every time I talk to her. You know how those people in your life and after you hang out with them or just talk to them you feel happy and like you've found a friend who's worth getting to know? That's how I feel with Khani. I'm so glad God blessed me with her friendship. He's so good isn't he?

On another note, I leave in a day for Gulf Shores. I'm so excited. It's going to be an awesome 5 days with these 4 wonderful girls. How exciting! :) For one of the girls, I'm in the process of making her a birthday present, which I will post after I'm done! Get excited everyone... (that is...if I can figure out how to put pictures on this thing. Watch out world, if I do? It's all over...) Oh yeah. And my bracket? doing pretty well. Booyah March Madness... I'm dominating you.
Till next time! Jacks

Thought of the day: Not really a thought, just an observation... I saw a little boy polo shirt (too cute) at Dillards and in the picture was a little boy wearing a polo shirt, vest, khaki pants and little loafer looking shoes. To top it off, he had his collar popped. Can you say frat baby (or is that "fraby")?

It's good to be a (RA)zorback

Yes I know. Two posts in the same day! In my defense, the earlier post from today was meant for yesterday... if that even makes sense.
Anyway.
Currently, I'm sitting in my dorm room, Katelyn's on her way to the airport and then Dubai for Spring Break, can anyone say jealous?! But, I'm excited for my spring break. It's definitely started out amazing. I took a test (just wait, this isn't the amazing part), which I'm so glad is over, and I got the phone call I've been waiting for for so long! THE RA CALL! There I was, sitting in the sun at Starbucks reading over French stuff and I feel the vibrate of my phone on my leg. It's a Fayetteville number. That's when I knew. I talked with the woman on the other end who offered me a position in Maple Hill South as an RA next year. Let the excitement commence.

I am so glad that I heard back. I'm also EXTREMELY excited for this opportunity. Yes, I was slightly disappointed I didn't get Reid, but my very next thought after the disappointment was, Wow, God must have something crazy planned for me! I'm so ready to see what he has in store for me, and the nice digs will be a definite perk next year! It'll be an adventure for sure, I've never had that much responsibility before and I'm kinda excited and nervous just to see what happens! And of course, you, the faithful few who read this will be able to experience it right there with me. :) I'm out. Time for my Spring Break to officially start. Bring on the sun, sand, ocean, friends, laughter, memories, and sunburn that will happen!
Till next time, Jacks

Quote of the Day: "We weren't meant to be somebody--we were meant to know Somebody" 
— John Piper

Shamrock Shakes

St. Patrick's Day. One of my favorite holidays. Not because green is my favorite color. Not because I have some weird obsession with leprechauns (I spelled that right the first time...amazing), but because of one little thing offered every St. Patrick's Day- Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds. Imagine my excitement when my brother was coming down to give me a suitcase and said he would take me to get one...there was much joy and anticipation. I dutifully went to rock hard abs earlier in the day (ouch...they are not yet rock hard... more like... graphite hard), ate a nice dinner, and refrained from eating dessert.

He arrives and we set out to McDonalds. First one? Bust. They don't have 'em. So, me in my infinite wisdom said, "I know where another one is!" so we once again pile into his car and set out for the second McDonalds. We arrive and upon me asking "do you have shamrock shakes!?" like a little kid who is eagerly awaiting Christmas presents, I receive back word-coal..."no we ran out". How do you run out of Shamrock Shakes? I suppose I should back up and say that these are mint, green colored shakes from McDonalds. Amazing if you've never had one.

So. Me and my brother settled for McFlurry's... so unsatisfying after all that anticipation. Here's the life application for this though. Sometimes in life, things don't turn out how we think they will, but we just have to trust God that it's all in his plan. No I'm not talking about shakes anymore (I'm pretty sure God doesn't care if I drink one or not haha), but I'm talking about life events, such as me hearing from the RA people tomorrow if I got the position. I'm trusting God that he knows the best, and that if it doesn't turn out how I want, he's got the big picture and the bigger plan. So. Happy St. Patrick's day you guys, hope you got a shamrock shake even if I didn't!
Till next time, Jacks

Thought of the Day: When did words such as "frat" and "fayetteville" become adjectives? Take for example: "She's wearing nike shorts, chacos and a t-shirt. That's so fayetteville." Or, "his truck was so loud and obnixious. So frat."

Spring has Sprung!

What a cliche phrase, "spring has sprung"... Who came up with that? I bet they thought they were clever, like, "wow. This is groundbreaking. People will always remember me!" and yet, we don't even know their name. That's the tragedy of life I guess. You do things, and you hope, you just know, you'll be remembered somehow by that one great thing you did that one time. Yet, it seems like the most enduring thing about you, if people do remember you, is that one time you messed up.

I don't mean to be a debbie downer, in fact, I'm so glad it's spring. Time for new life, chacos, and really bad sunburns and tan lines. That thought was just in my head. How much I want to be remembered by the impact and legacy I leave in the life of others. Not the good things I did, donated, or said, but by the way I loved people and poured into their lives. I guess it's on my mind since I'm considering being a small group leader next year and have the perfect opportunity to give of myself and my time and really see the gospel go out multiply.

On to less serious topics though. Spring. I'm glad it's here. The sun in shining, the birds are singing, kamikaze squirrels are running around campus (swear they have no idea anymore that humans are not their friends...), march madness is on TV, and I can finally buy frappuccinos without people giving me crazy looks. It's been great to see more people outside, hanging out, enjoying the day. Life is back on campus and it's exciting. Soon it'll be spring break, and then finals, and hey, summer is just around the corner!
Till Next time, Jacks.

Thought for the Day: It seems like whenever you're in a hurry, it takes you a long time to get places, yet whenever you don't want to get somewhere fast, you show up about 10 minutes early. What's up with that?

Ever have those moments...

Ever have those moments when you realllyyy don't want to do something, but you have to anyway?
Yeah.
8 a.m. Microeconomics is one of those things. Actually, at this moment I'm sitting in class, listening to my teacher talk about Average Total Cost and different types of curves (economically speaking). Not the most riveting this early. But I still come to class, I pay for it, I do it, even if it means suffering.
Which, by the way, is not something I have to do often. I live a pretty cush life here in Faytown and I'm so grateful. God's blessed me beyond anything I could ask for, and I am forever indebted to him.
Today, I challenge you all to just take a minute and really stop and think about how blessed we are. Take a moment to look around you and see that God's beauty is amazing. And it's the little moments where you think, ughh I can't do this, or is this really worth it?, that you should stop and think, I've been blessed beyond this moment, and yes, I can make it through.

Which, by the way, is something I just did. I made it through my class and get to step out into a beautiful day. :)
Till I write again! Jacks

Quote of the Day: "It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself." — John Piper (Don't Waste Your Life)

My First Post... :)

Who knows who will even read this, but hey, at least it's therapeutic to put pen to paper...err fingers to keys in this situation...and just gab about what you want.
I really have no reason to blog. In fact, I would think that 99% of what I say is useless and just straight up rambling. As I once pointed out to my friend Rachel, I think I just like to hear myself talk. But hey, people who talk a lot will sometimes spit something useful out right? That's what I tell myself anyway.

A little background on me, this blog, and what I see happening. Bear with me, I promise something exciting will be written.
I'm a freshman at the U of A, a recent Journalism Ad/PR Major with Marketing and Psychology Minors. I don't for the life of me know what I want to do with that, but I think God'll show me in his timing. I love to eat, hang out with my friends, curl up to a good book, watch t.v. (CSI and the Bachelor are just a few of my guilty pleasures), and I also love to talk (go figure). My favorite place on earth is wherever my family and friends are. No matter the place place. Guatemala changed my life, and Jesus is my everything. This blog is basically just a place for me to write what's on my heart, interesting things that happen to me, and I don't really know what else. We'll see what it turns into. :)

Who knows how many will read this, but I'm not doing this for fame or anything. I'm doing this because a.) I was bored and decided it was time, and b.) maybe in some small way I can encourage whoever reads this!

Till I write again, Jacks.

Thought for the day: In Fayetteville, we don't measure how nice a day is by the temperature, we measure it by if it's a chaco kind of day.