tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27994139962497283522024-03-19T00:39:42.024-04:00I'd Rather Be Traveling...My adventures--abroad and at homeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-17181169433546394422016-04-30T00:01:00.002-04:002016-04-30T00:02:58.258-04:00A letter to my dear friend: <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
[and perhaps, a letter to myself]<br />
I've been thinking a lot about the ocean this week.<br />
It's this constantly changing, very much living, thing. Its power is limitless. It lets no one pass through it without demonstrating its strength and immense beauty, its vastness & depth.<br />
Your immense beauty, the depth of your compassion, the vastness of your strength--these are things that you deserve to show. Don't withhold them from anyone.<br />
Be fearlessly yourself. Swim into the depths of your own dreams, knowing that when you come back to the top, things will be so clear, so fresh, and so beautiful.<br />
Don't be afraid to change. Day to day, you will experience high & low tides. This is called being human. The water will go in and out. Some days, the tide will be lower than others, but don't worry. It will always rise. It rises because of the constant pull of the moon; the constant pull of the things you value and love--those things will keep you afloat. They will pull you in the best direction of yourself.<br />
Know that you hold beauty inside you. Beautiful things make their home inside your heart & mind, just like the beauty hidden beneath the waves of every ocean.<br />
And love--you don't have to go very far or even very deep to find that beauty. It's there, just below the surface. It's aching to be seen, to be put on display.<br />
Treasure that beauty like a prize everyone should want. Your compassion, your love for the world. Your creativity, your perspective, your selflessness--these are things that you should value.<br />
You are vast & deep, strong & calm, bold & beautiful. Remember the ocean. Give yourself grace to plunge into your own depths. The things you will find there will surprise you, but they will not shock anyone who has already seen your own true & unique beauty. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-620181362595747862016-03-30T11:37:00.001-04:002016-03-30T12:36:00.102-04:00Irish Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The site we were seeing lay yards behind me, but I wanted to be alone on my last day in Ireland. Away from the crowd on my bus as they wandered through Glencree.<br />
I saw an old Irishman with a cane walking toward the bend in the road.<br />
Naturally, I decided to follow him.<br />
He kept walking past the bend--he knew where he was going. I stopped just before it though because frankly, I was too overwhelmed to go any further.<br />
The beauty of the view below me, the meaning of my solo Ireland trip, Holy Spirit's presence and goodness, the gratitude for my life, and the knowledge that the beauty in the land around me was something akin to the beauty inside of me. I felt all of it and more when I looked out at the countryside.<br />
It was too much to keep going, so I stopped. I climbed onto the top of the fence behind me, sat down, and cried. I cried for the hardships I've pressed through, for the bravery that has pushed me further up and into grace, for the beauty I've been fortunate to see and experience.<br />
I didn't have much time to cry or to be overwhelmed though because I had to get back to the bus. I had to keep moving. There was more ahead for us. More wonder to see that day.<br />
Once everyone was on the bus, we set out on the same road I had just walked.<br />
We passed the bend.<br />
I remember being so disappointed as the bus turned the curve. I was so mad because the view beyond that bend? God, was it marvellous.<br />
Why couldn't I have just kept walking? Why didn't I believe for beauty on the other side?<br />
I can't help but think about that day now as I am walking toward another bend in my life. My life, which has basically been one long transition since graduating high school.<br />
The thing is, the past months, the past year--they've held some overwhelming things for me. So much beauty, so much growth, so many realisations of my worth and my gifts. I've been able to see a really stunning view.<br />
There's a bend ahead though, and I just know that I have to keep going. Because there's even more beauty on the other side. I want so badly to sit on the fence here and cry because of all the wonderful, hard things I've seen and done the past year. I'm so proud. So excited and nervous and eager and terrified.<br />
I am overwhelmed.<br />
But I have to keep going forward. I have to, like the old Irishman, trust that what I'm hoping for, what I'm expecting, what I know to be more beautiful, will be waiting just past the bend for me.<br />
It will shock me, it will move me, it will be more and less than everything and all that I expect from it.<br />
Here's to the road ahead. May it rise up to meet me.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-32853235391946219302011-12-31T02:03:00.001-05:002011-12-31T02:04:16.967-05:00Harder Lessons, Deeper Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been awhile since I posted something. School and life just consume me and my time. I've had too much fun goofing off with Maggie to find/write meaningful things.<br />
That said, the past month has been incredibly difficult. Full of struggles and confusion, weariness and heavy boots (<i>Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</i> reference. Go read it. Now.).<br />
I am still doubting and questioning. But so much of my doubt these days is directed at myself.<br />
I am constantly asking whether or not I am good enough. For Davidson. For my family. For my friends. For anyone to love.<br />
It consumes me. And I become fearful and anxious.<br />
In the midst of a lot of turmoil this week (the details of which I will spare you), my heart was wrung and broken and frustrated and angry and so many different things. Old wounds and new wounds, opened and torn, exposed and ugly, hurting and bleeding.<br />
I told a friend that these wounds never really seem to heal.<br />
I probably sound really dramatic right now (which I am), but this is my heart, and it's the best way I know how to describe what I feel.<br />
In times like this when I am so vulnerable and am just aching for some reassurance of hope and love, I am so hesitant to run toward Christ.<br />
What is that about?<br />
I won't ever understand it, except to say that my broken and sinful heart is untrusting and unfaithful. I cling to the hope that <i style="font-weight: bold;">I</i> will be good enough to fix things.<br />
Tonight I grieved over my inadequacy, and that before everyone, and especially before God I will never be good enough.<br />
And yet--as inadequate as I am--<b>He loves me.</b><br />
Purely. Simply. Completely. Perfectly. He knows I cannot return this love. Not in this life. But He loves me anyway. Beyond my comprehension.<br />
And in Christ, I am made perfect. My inadequacy, my shortcomings are no longer a thought because He makes me righteous.<br />
How quickly I forget these truths. I actually run away from them. But like the perfect Father, Husband, and Spirit that He is, God pursues me. I know that He loves me as a Father--I am a beautiful daughter, one whom He created lovingly. I know He loves me as a husband should--I am part of the beautiful body of Christ, His bride. And I know that His Spirit, that Being which knows God's innermost thoughts, loves me and interceded for me tonight when I could not move my heart to pray. He spoke to me in my weakness and reminded me of the immeasurable, unrestrained grace and love of God. A dear friend reminded me tonight (praise God for faithful friends!) that <b>"the love of God is stronger."</b> He is stronger than my weakness, His grace is sufficient in my weakness, and His love <i>preserves</i> me.<br />
So humbled and grateful.<br />
<br />
"As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;<br />
Your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!"<br />
--Psalm 40:11</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-16120592814226837172011-12-11T15:01:00.000-05:002011-12-11T15:01:33.005-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="quote-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Nothing so clears the vision and lifts up the life, as a decision to move forward in what you know to be entirely the will of the Lord."</div><div class="quote-source" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—John Paton</div></span></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks, <a href="http://kristinmartin.tumblr.com/post/14076955502">Kristin</a>.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-47952900038219171862011-11-29T21:28:00.000-05:002011-11-29T21:28:29.951-05:00Today I am grateful....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">...that my bestie has a car. And that we can get out of Davidson when we need to.<div><br />
</div><div>It's the little things, right?</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-90101438779264785282011-11-20T20:34:00.000-05:002011-11-20T20:34:32.199-05:00The Spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."<br />
--1 Corinthians 2:11-12<br />
<br />
I rediscovered this passage on Friday, and it blew me away. The past month or so I have been reminded that my God is three persons--the holy Trinity. I feel like I focus so much on God as my Father and Christ as my Savior, and I just sort of acknowledge that the Spirit is there, but don't really pay much attention to what He does or is doing.<br />
Praise God for grace and that He reveals himself to us.<br />
I am seeing the Spirit work in so many ways in my life and in others. I am seeing people lead Spirit-filled lives. Every sermon at church has talked about the Spirit and His work in us, His presence in us.<br />
So when I reread these verses in 1 Corinthians, the Spirit had already prepared my heart. I was so encouraged. Who knows a person's thoughts and heart but his own spirit? So God's spirit knows all of his thoughts, his whole heart. And God graciously, mercifully, lovingly gives us His Spirit--the One who knows Him best. He gives us the Spirit, and He lives in us, revealing the Father's heart to us.<br />
What a glorious gift! And I know that is just the surface of the power of the Spirit.<br />
Grateful to be learning.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-75898326623306443212011-11-16T12:05:00.000-05:002011-11-16T12:05:41.596-05:00"Terrible and Beautiful"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“‘Who are you?’ asked Shasta. ‘Myself,’ said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again ‘Myself,’ loud and clear and gay: and then the third time ‘Myself,’ whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Shasta was no longer afraid that the Voice belonged to something that would eat him, nor that it was the voice of a ghost. But a new and different sort of trembling came over him. Yet he felt glad too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The mist was turning from black to gray and from gray </span>to white. This must have begun to happen some time ago, but while he had been talking to the Thing he had not been noticing anything else. Now, the whiteness around him became a shining whiteness; his eyes began to blink.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Somewhere ahead he could hear birds singing. He knew the night was over at last. He could see the mane and ears and head of his horse quite easily now. A golden light fell on them from the left. He thought it was the sun.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He turned and saw, pacing beside him, taller than the horse, a Lion. The horse did not seem to be afraid of it or else could not see it. <b>It was from the Lion that the light came. No one ever saw anything more terrible or beautiful.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily Shasta had lived all his life too far south in Calormen to have heard the tales that were whispered in Tashbaan about a dreadful Narnian demon that appeared in the form of a lion.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And of course he knew none of the true stories about Aslan, the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-over-the-sea, the King above all High Kings in Narnia.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But after one glance at the Lion’s face he slipped out of the saddle and <i>fell at its feet</i>. He couldn’t say anything but then he didn’t want to say anything, and he knew he needn’t say anything. <u>The High King above all kings stooped toward him</u>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Its mane, and some strange and solemn perfume that hung about the mane, was all round him. It touched his forehead with its tongue. He lifted his face and their eyes met.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then instantly the pale brightness of the mist and the fiery brightness of the Lion rolled themselves together into a swirling glory and gathered themselves up and disappeared.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He was alone with the horse on a grassy hillside under a blue sky. And there were birds singing.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">–C.S. Lewis, <em><a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7368/nm/The+Chronicles+of+Narnia+%287+Volume+Box+Set%29+%5BPaperback%5D_?utm_source=nroark&utm_medium=blogpartners" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Horse and His Boy</a> </em>in <em><a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7368/nm/The+Chronicles+of+Narnia+%287+Volume+Box+Set%29+%5BPaperback%5D_?utm_source=nroark&utm_medium=blogpartners" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Chronicles of Narnia</a></em> (New York: HarperCollins, 1954/1994), 281-282.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks, <a href="http://tollelege.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/terrible-and-beautiful-by-c-s-lewis/">Nick Roark</a> for this post.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We serve an awesome God.</span><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-71923503783040013532011-11-15T18:19:00.005-05:002011-11-15T18:24:31.632-05:00Confession<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The <a href="http://www.christcentralchurch.com/">church</a> I've been going to here always has a confession of sin that we read together as a congregation. I've really valued this in my experience at this church--I cannot hide my sins from those around me. They cannot hide their sins from me. We confess publicly; we confess together. And after we confess, we read an assurance of pardon--we have abundant grace and the constant promise of forgiveness from Christ. It is such an encouragement, and I love that I am able to go through this process of confession and assurance with my congregation.<br />
This was the confession from last week. The Lord used it to convict me of what I've been struggling with lately:<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Heavenly Father, we lack faith. Our faith in your will drifts.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We doubt the perfection of your plan for the world and for our lives. We grow skeptical of the goodness of your will. We struggle to believe you truly have a good purpose, [working through] every evil thing that has happened, or ever will.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Holy Spirit, we lack faith. Our faith in your power wanes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We doubt your ability to make real change in the world and in our lives. We grow skeptical of your ability to work miraculously. We struggle to believe you can penetrate the hearts of our lost friends and family.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Christ Jesus, we lack faith. Our faith in your grace fades.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We doubt the scope of your redemptive work in the world and in our lives. We grow skeptical of your real and present intercession on our behalf. We struggle to believe that you will return for us.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Forgive us, God, for we lack faith."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I would emphasize that I doubt God's goodness. Constantly. As I consider the struggles of my life, the struggles of the people I have met around the world, God's goodness, His perfect love become less and less real. Less tangible, less true. I wonder if I am placing my faith in empty words and promises. I desire to simply run, to hide, to cling to <i>my</i> efforts to be something and do good things.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I lack faith. I am faithless.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But I was so encouraged by the assurance of pardon. It comes from part of 2 Timothy 2:13. Normally, I'm not a fan of pulling parts of verses out of context, but there is so much truth in this statement:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God is constantly pursuing my doubting heart, running after me, even as I run away from Him. He waits patiently, even when I am impatient with Him. He loves even when I do not love him. He loves perfectly, as my Father, my Savior, my Rock, the Founder, the Perfecter of my faith. A sweet friend has been encouraging me that He will be faithful to complete the good work that he began in my life (Philippians 1:6).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am grateful for this today.<br />
Praying for grace to be continually thankful and to remember God's constant goodness and love toward me.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-38197608557615881372011-11-03T21:09:00.000-04:002011-11-03T21:09:26.492-04:00Children of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/V6jO7xhU_Pw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V6jO7xhU_Pw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V6jO7xhU_Pw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>I love Third Day. Classic stuff.<br />
Grateful for this truth today.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-89475882464122654132011-10-25T00:34:00.000-04:002011-10-25T00:34:21.490-04:00College Adventures and Pictures.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">So here are some silly/fun pictures of college. (There's a lot. I couldn't choose just a few.) Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztMEams_4YMoSTuQ5uDxtGqQd32UXWV7VC92w_s9gU1O3DPQ4ELz89cfcw7il30eLMC8UA0dlSCFZLRDNoh326jUu4z70dED2KwE-QkhKK5fGPGa-0PUZCJK2xK4O0TXSAHcVhyv4QGiH/s1600/IMG_9413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztMEams_4YMoSTuQ5uDxtGqQd32UXWV7VC92w_s9gU1O3DPQ4ELz89cfcw7il30eLMC8UA0dlSCFZLRDNoh326jUu4z70dED2KwE-QkhKK5fGPGa-0PUZCJK2xK4O0TXSAHcVhyv4QGiH/s320/IMG_9413.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Making Flickerball Tshirts! We are the crazy crayons. Slash Rosie's ducklings. :)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGm52IL8wDaDH65QhG58vU_imvZ2QxcGqadAPofQ33JbXgY4Z7UZmBMiplIyCTO1AuH8bevzpnNFZn3P3q9umtBTcCPPFVgnJjLUE6maOyYDIz45yJLapdBXpxkFUEOIb3bm4cAQUwmlk/s1600/IMG_9421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGm52IL8wDaDH65QhG58vU_imvZ2QxcGqadAPofQ33JbXgY4Z7UZmBMiplIyCTO1AuH8bevzpnNFZn3P3q9umtBTcCPPFVgnJjLUE6maOyYDIz45yJLapdBXpxkFUEOIb3bm4cAQUwmlk/s320/IMG_9421.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Every good southern girl needs a monogrammed Flickerball shirt.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tLretZrW2o-FF7D4VmNm1jxMfjxsc2RFP0vK4PspQ2BC3x_UpZETA2XW_P5LhfWNj6E2PhMKyZksBejhvv7fAUOgxMgHmLyKdzQ3F_IFbSFXbkxqaE6U8M2buk2J2gRgasGF-pe6dewU/s1600/IMG_9446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tLretZrW2o-FF7D4VmNm1jxMfjxsc2RFP0vK4PspQ2BC3x_UpZETA2XW_P5LhfWNj6E2PhMKyZksBejhvv7fAUOgxMgHmLyKdzQ3F_IFbSFXbkxqaE6U8M2buk2J2gRgasGF-pe6dewU/s320/IMG_9446.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Field trip to the <a href="http://www.mintmuseum.org/">Mint Museum</a> for Writing 101. We were looking the Romaire Bearden exhibit....but stumbled upon this amazing piece!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHDtb0BA-UQ6Jkh67r-tV_imWw_oS7zP_zZIFOSdBCS9kS6HD9mO7ALiqIrW3vmLNG3mYpyjsxO1w4JdTut20pMQFvUUQTUpWDCh99HIyUrh4cfCnXWnEAwvcWWdVajNN2Skw-9PK_q3W/s1600/IMG_9480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHDtb0BA-UQ6Jkh67r-tV_imWw_oS7zP_zZIFOSdBCS9kS6HD9mO7ALiqIrW3vmLNG3mYpyjsxO1w4JdTut20pMQFvUUQTUpWDCh99HIyUrh4cfCnXWnEAwvcWWdVajNN2Skw-9PK_q3W/s320/IMG_9480.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> "PLEASE, Ian, PLEASE buy me this $150 leather cow!?"</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Girl, you crazy."</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMSqNN5JxqaBp3YO7MxpHjCHRYC5Qfj71h-6TZ0g6H0ZecAbgdUxLvQQke8hNXADB-BmgdLBGSbiA1Mov7aEewKcJzyPqm14dnP3DzhD6mfVUlmHpqYZbbJP30xbU6XUoVMtlpznVZ3-Z/s1600/IMG_9492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMSqNN5JxqaBp3YO7MxpHjCHRYC5Qfj71h-6TZ0g6H0ZecAbgdUxLvQQke8hNXADB-BmgdLBGSbiA1Mov7aEewKcJzyPqm14dnP3DzhD6mfVUlmHpqYZbbJP30xbU6XUoVMtlpznVZ3-Z/s320/IMG_9492.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Some fun times were had at the museum and in the gift shop. :)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge21cTFsG8TdLOTo64EnpIn9q3dgAzTSp9v5j_Ak0XocHPkC0Eau0YS-KkwZBId0fb4TPvh2aQMzGXRYawZm0x5p915Fgs_YoJmNDpT21mtwYsE1JfVEICkSfHIsox6B5o4gCDqT8FPjN0/s1600/IMG_9511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge21cTFsG8TdLOTo64EnpIn9q3dgAzTSp9v5j_Ak0XocHPkC0Eau0YS-KkwZBId0fb4TPvh2aQMzGXRYawZm0x5p915Fgs_YoJmNDpT21mtwYsE1JfVEICkSfHIsox6B5o4gCDqT8FPjN0/s320/IMG_9511.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> 3rd Cannon's resident models.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXeoknPeqfooh9nwzdEvqh19xCrT9bbUVHkTIxgybg3mKWzd75uNsmOd-AcuDexC0slPPfXGFFUDQYqfJCfqJ5GhVfWmYMwTVA5b3eq29cc_gmqAGJqaOGwdhBCtOtPF-JzxmOPi6sUEv/s1600/IMG_9517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXeoknPeqfooh9nwzdEvqh19xCrT9bbUVHkTIxgybg3mKWzd75uNsmOd-AcuDexC0slPPfXGFFUDQYqfJCfqJ5GhVfWmYMwTVA5b3eq29cc_gmqAGJqaOGwdhBCtOtPF-JzxmOPi6sUEv/s320/IMG_9517.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Spencer and Alex.</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Classy guys.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8RDhLCUxRP5IMiERlo-QnOEKx0L_SIQuBjhO6RXHoGiksvDhgJwSss5-Mvglz7J1WQNOzigbNlvQ5wlrV8NmDx2XBZF2sU9X2ZzqPtCBPUI-jpYWOrDTvJ7mrJx6m63zjK8cxVlNDzD1/s1600/IMG_9544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8RDhLCUxRP5IMiERlo-QnOEKx0L_SIQuBjhO6RXHoGiksvDhgJwSss5-Mvglz7J1WQNOzigbNlvQ5wlrV8NmDx2XBZF2sU9X2ZzqPtCBPUI-jpYWOrDTvJ7mrJx6m63zjK8cxVlNDzD1/s320/IMG_9544.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Just a late night Cookout run--which of course involved Maggie clambering onto the Wildcat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L-OVD9LEk8v_n82isFlVuRz9ayyed66DnWxfDSMIMYgGr843j1kLEQ-jEyppehKjT0mhwAO0G7zGVC8Tu6iVzo-AkFWUh-mOrB80NdunLdeNjNzrOBYVWawViyjQTTi5vAmicALIX4wb/s1600/IMG_9557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L-OVD9LEk8v_n82isFlVuRz9ayyed66DnWxfDSMIMYgGr843j1kLEQ-jEyppehKjT0mhwAO0G7zGVC8Tu6iVzo-AkFWUh-mOrB80NdunLdeNjNzrOBYVWawViyjQTTi5vAmicALIX4wb/s320/IMG_9557.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Cat thangs on Rosie's door.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We needed her.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And this seemed like the most logical way of getting her...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyeScYefi_0h9mn5P_jnLddd5k7pXbvcn-wcERzlrhpjvb7h0IqS_2YR49kIX-h9ZIhqLUM-jbJtp7gFDGOtfEMr-vSK0_B1f45UDo5AODQ6Gi3zCGrVR4yh3B9DOuDosb8nY7DtF3H2w/s1600/IMG_9587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyeScYefi_0h9mn5P_jnLddd5k7pXbvcn-wcERzlrhpjvb7h0IqS_2YR49kIX-h9ZIhqLUM-jbJtp7gFDGOtfEMr-vSK0_B1f45UDo5AODQ6Gi3zCGrVR4yh3B9DOuDosb8nY7DtF3H2w/s320/IMG_9587.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> India pants romper???</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbkQzrbcjwQzXqZQrcZkNRqBWRA1x3p71msnwxHnGN6OPl1nF7eW-ipcDOe_MLZ9DF7ofzTQG9iZqMjqJR1RtliYvTmMc_Gl8l5K7TFOKNaFz3GvY7SqSG1mXHlnBqTt44Ln64CBs7mss/s1600/IMG_9684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbkQzrbcjwQzXqZQrcZkNRqBWRA1x3p71msnwxHnGN6OPl1nF7eW-ipcDOe_MLZ9DF7ofzTQG9iZqMjqJR1RtliYvTmMc_Gl8l5K7TFOKNaFz3GvY7SqSG1mXHlnBqTt44Ln64CBs7mss/s320/IMG_9684.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> So I basically have the best friends in the world. These three drove all the way to Davidson for my birthday weekend. I am so blessed to have them.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkN7-oH8lURUkdj3fQaN_2MWTqKECzDCYCMb1RQ2qKqV25C1v6Fx0BOrqvuB-nJMCO1EHjYlgTXSOcUdpmnSSyGLvMejokGsy5rR7TcuRXO0VGB-4aoNezPxhC4G8mCHTSFZI4B9IihY7/s1600/IMG_9717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkN7-oH8lURUkdj3fQaN_2MWTqKECzDCYCMb1RQ2qKqV25C1v6Fx0BOrqvuB-nJMCO1EHjYlgTXSOcUdpmnSSyGLvMejokGsy5rR7TcuRXO0VGB-4aoNezPxhC4G8mCHTSFZI4B9IihY7/s320/IMG_9717.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> I'd say this is fairly typical.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yKCv_z3li1_cjaL23XTJ-VyKYumgEBAmblx0xBZ_wSQyvlBA9aHORDNG7OeL_Ap014RIYco3KZAEJ2ONUB8_nwJ2Je3nR_lFZ69Yt6PUf0q3LyhT7J3w1yhP4FOTaYKwHiphZ_-FZFcj/s1600/323955_2138465269914_1494600323_32269021_94136472_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yKCv_z3li1_cjaL23XTJ-VyKYumgEBAmblx0xBZ_wSQyvlBA9aHORDNG7OeL_Ap014RIYco3KZAEJ2ONUB8_nwJ2Je3nR_lFZ69Yt6PUf0q3LyhT7J3w1yhP4FOTaYKwHiphZ_-FZFcj/s320/323955_2138465269914_1494600323_32269021_94136472_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Maggie just takin pictures of me being ridiculous.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Oao2VY8Jj_jDNBJbgYnJPHo28cOSc1KPEdTW9m45sQuJesvupRtifuqayiidVktkLDixVaZLhYPdKfCVpDBomq_nvHHtvmhTUg_4N9PZKWt0FdX_49Et_21w7AvgF5AMheOO1sLGhq4s/s1600/Birthday+Besties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Oao2VY8Jj_jDNBJbgYnJPHo28cOSc1KPEdTW9m45sQuJesvupRtifuqayiidVktkLDixVaZLhYPdKfCVpDBomq_nvHHtvmhTUg_4N9PZKWt0FdX_49Et_21w7AvgF5AMheOO1sLGhq4s/s320/Birthday+Besties.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> This was on my birthday. We had a bestie date and she bought me dinner.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwGr0B4PxmN7Jm2crWZe2zuIDcfK4_IgnG2reFR8l0uhM1verky3b4rjOadY-eZfEumFcNwqwec5m3KDfJpB-5Dw8wsvRXzbibyMKZ59t5IjbcIJgL4pUouwsu8ucKo3H9rBOoq92PTRS/s1600/Giggles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwGr0B4PxmN7Jm2crWZe2zuIDcfK4_IgnG2reFR8l0uhM1verky3b4rjOadY-eZfEumFcNwqwec5m3KDfJpB-5Dw8wsvRXzbibyMKZ59t5IjbcIJgL4pUouwsu8ucKo3H9rBOoq92PTRS/s320/Giggles.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> We lead such foolish lives.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGgmNbcnI_13AzFA3YClZWKTWw-Ykmd8mVPdD5opfbtQ2-iV8M3LTOfY1kHBSfP5XOvplIMS0zFTUYpMUjp-xaB5sSgGjOnxBwimObJHIJR3GZTajFzrus9dsudKLHJRtzj5N87v6OkT-/s1600/Goofy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGgmNbcnI_13AzFA3YClZWKTWw-Ykmd8mVPdD5opfbtQ2-iV8M3LTOfY1kHBSfP5XOvplIMS0zFTUYpMUjp-xaB5sSgGjOnxBwimObJHIJR3GZTajFzrus9dsudKLHJRtzj5N87v6OkT-/s320/Goofy.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Hello. We were made for each other.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Also this picture was at Davidson's club rugby game. Good times.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOu40vpL460OcaHamSnOOb_hxhRCDJ-WRx_Uf7BOk7HYc3Hyod1tV6jj0L116P2zfSXvpnDt7YKZnaG8ROz1i3Prw2a1ZNltnA_9uUoFJqbhRJZ2GLyBlnkiEHtbkKOoqs9n_9fC6EPQQ/s1600/NC-SC+Frandss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOu40vpL460OcaHamSnOOb_hxhRCDJ-WRx_Uf7BOk7HYc3Hyod1tV6jj0L116P2zfSXvpnDt7YKZnaG8ROz1i3Prw2a1ZNltnA_9uUoFJqbhRJZ2GLyBlnkiEHtbkKOoqs9n_9fC6EPQQ/s320/NC-SC+Frandss.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Taken on an absurd, but fabulous trip to Winston-Salem. Thanks to Daniel Padgett for this photooo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Loving life.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-26586868629605916952011-10-23T11:54:00.004-04:002011-10-23T12:15:54.081-04:00Bosom Friends & College Adventures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So.</div>College.<br />
Here we go.<br />
It is so strange to think that I have been at college for over two months now. I am now two decades old, a freshman....I'm pretty much out of the house. It's just bizarre. (Don't worry, Mom. I know I'm not <i>really</i> out of the house yet.)<br />
The Lord has been faithful in so many ways, but the main demonstration of his grace has been in my dear friend, Maggie. I creepily (but not so creepily) messaged Maggie this summer because I discovered that not only was she on my hall, she was a believer! We chatted about finding a church and a campus ministry to get involved in and found that we had a lot of similar interests. We got to school and started spending time together. And in Maggie the Lord has graciously blessed me with a friend for life. We are kind of the same person--similar interests, quirks, thoughts, hopes, struggles, and joys. It's a little creepy how alike we are sometimes....<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpZblV4_8LDka1a0VxU2nsjQLFgZQyIQ-WyFeOXwu5F8em2d4C3P6irheTFD64qalYzaSyczF34sl9NGrjr5dT1qqmyDA-ZGmm0xCloLBFAtlPaEjYqTPhe2Vdno15igxzusqs4kX4GXM/s1600/Silly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpZblV4_8LDka1a0VxU2nsjQLFgZQyIQ-WyFeOXwu5F8em2d4C3P6irheTFD64qalYzaSyczF34sl9NGrjr5dT1qqmyDA-ZGmm0xCloLBFAtlPaEjYqTPhe2Vdno15igxzusqs4kX4GXM/s320/Silly.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>I have been so fortunate to have Maggie as an encouragement in my faith as she seeks to love the Lord more. A phrase we've both found so important in these couple months here is "by grace"--we have realized how every good thing is from God's grace: our friendship, life, the ability to appreciate small things, our salvation, the love we have for people and each other...<br />
We are so dependent on God's grace.<br />
Backtracking a little: Maggie is incredibly talented in so many ways (Check out her photography site: <a href="http://maggiecaltonphotography.com/">http://maggiecaltonphotography.com/</a>. She is amazing!). She is creative and original and she sees things in ways that just amaze me. She has always wanted a tattoo--something I've thought of for years, but never really thought would happen, cuz I just wasn't brave enough.<br />
Anyway from the start of the school year we have talked about tattoos. Over fall break, I was inspired with a bunch of ideas while I was home--one that was really prominent was the phrase "by grace." I told Maggie and she said she had been thinking of the same thing. So. Last week we went to NODA (our favorite area in Charlotte) to <a href="http://fustattoos.com/">Fu's Custom Tattoos</a> and got our tattoos!<br />
Now. Before you all freak out--know that I did NOT get a tattoo <i>because</i> of Maggie. These tattoos each mean something to us individually of course. But it made it that much sweeter to get this tattoo with a friend whose friendship has so amply demonstrated God's grace to me. So here's a picture of the tattoo:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwRdO53rQFiT8eRPXbrMzj9f6itf9vHVM87otykKRHJoR5eJRkjnkODndrtIHmRLz_8EKQqnP6yHhkJtnd-JB_PuSKNEXi6QdGZnkRR537cO817e_RJW9vAPAondUs7-cqMyEm2ehmaWS/s1600/Tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwRdO53rQFiT8eRPXbrMzj9f6itf9vHVM87otykKRHJoR5eJRkjnkODndrtIHmRLz_8EKQqnP6yHhkJtnd-JB_PuSKNEXi6QdGZnkRR537cO817e_RJW9vAPAondUs7-cqMyEm2ehmaWS/s320/Tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo cred: <a href="http://maggiecaltonphotography.com/">Maggie Calton</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I've enjoyed taking random adventures with Maggie around Charlotte and the area surrounding Davidson. She likes driving as much as I do and just exploring random things. So we have a grand old time together. We are trying to discover all the cool things about each exit. NODA is probably our favorite place so far--there are tons of fun restaurants and cool little stores. So far we've been to <a href="http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com/">Amelie's</a> (an amazing 24 hour French bakery--eclectic, delicious, fun hipster-watching place), the <a href="http://www.crepecellar.com/">Crepe Cellar</a>, <a href="http://www.cabofishtaco.com/">Cabo Fish Taco</a>, and....I think that's it for food. We went to a fun concert at <a href="http://www.theeveningmuse.com/">The Evening Muse</a>, and the church we've been going to, <a href="http://www.christcentralchurch.com/">Christ Central Church</a> is right down the street from all these places.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So. If you're ever wanting to explore Charlotte, NODA is a fun place to start. Good food, cool people, fun place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maggie and I love to just do foolish things around campus as well. I'm interested to know what people wonder about us as we wander loudly around campus cracking ourselves up. We go to <a href="http://toastcafeonline.com/">Toast</a> and <a href="http://www.summitcoffee.com/">Summit Coffee</a> and the cute little Main Street shop with the funky hats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Basically we're ridiculous, and I love it. I am getting to know the area, myself, and lots of different people on campus, and it's been great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am blessed to be here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">God is good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pictures of college adventures/shenanigans to come soon.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-11344854458170699112011-10-21T18:40:00.001-04:002011-10-21T18:55:28.568-04:00A Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been a terrible blogger, for those few of you who read this thang.<br />
<div>At the start of the school year, and even throughout the summer, I was able to be a resource for the students going on this year's Global Gap Year (GGY) with Thinking Beyond Borders. There are <i style="font-weight: bold;">two</i> GGY groups this year as well as a Gap Semester group in Ecuador, which is so exciting! More driven and bright students who want to learn about creating change on a local and global scale. Anyway, some students emailed me with questions and concerns, and I attempted to allay those concerns and answer their questions from my experience with TBB. It was such a neat thing, reflecting on my journey and really beginning to understand the gravity of what we did.</div><div>I did a huge thing.</div><div>I took a trip around the world! For eight months! It's amazing how quickly I make that seem like no big deal.</div><div>But anyway, I keep receiving emails and updates from Robin, and my TBB group has a thread going on Facebook that's particularly active right now. I am just realizing what a rare community I am a part of: people who genuinely care, who work and think hard, not for themselves, but for the sake of others.</div><div>What a beautiful picture of God's grace and how we are created in His image! </div><div>I am so blessed to have had this opportunity. And it just makes me more excited for whatever it is that I end up doing in life. The Lord has made it clear in the past few weeks that I can use my passions and talents as a way to give people a voice--to share their stories with the world in ways that will affect lasting change.</div><div>I don't really know the details surrounding that yet, but the Lord is gracious and he provides, so I'll figure it out eventually.</div><div>Basically, I'm just thrilled to be a part of something like TBB. That trip truly changed my life in so many ways. I think differently now, I question everything--but not in a maddening way. I question the way things are done because I am always wondering if there is a <i>better</i> way. And I find that I am more willing to take on a challenge; if I believe in something, I'll stop at nothing to get it done. That is all attributed, by God's grace, to Thinking Beyond Borders. TBB stretched me, pushed me, infuriated me, and ultimately allowed me to see exactly what it is I am capable of: anything I put my mind to.</div><div>So. I'm excited to say I've found some students here at Davidson who are like-minded; they believe in the power of youth creating change and of real, grassroots level work. We are beginning a youth-service initiative here in Davidson, and things are moving fairly quickly. I don't want to spoil anything, but once we really get things up and running, I will post something more in depth about that project.</div><div>(Get excited. It's gonna be awesome.)</div><div>Also. I'll be posting soon about college in general and the adventures I've had the past couple months.</div><div>Thanks for reading this long, rambling post. And I have to say thanks to Mrs. Dougherty, who found TBB for me and encouraged me to take a gap year--I would not be where I am without you! Thanks to Robin, Chris, Andrea, and my awesome PLs for your vision and everything you do to serve all the TBB students. Just know that I am so grateful to be a part of such a passionate and inspiring community.</div><div>Blessed.<br />
<br />
Also. I was looking through pics from TBB. Here are some highlights:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdeTr90TYax3ONu0Ooqp52lwqOmZV2QcgOOeg1Rl9Hd1PwdVpl3N6JxkvjrxUllq2wiam52t3yP6H_33S7pK3Zrc8WlQ-Tm9ZvmiJZVOkkijsTbVLBiOmEzWSccf6PW1cVNe2MUj50jvg/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdeTr90TYax3ONu0Ooqp52lwqOmZV2QcgOOeg1Rl9Hd1PwdVpl3N6JxkvjrxUllq2wiam52t3yP6H_33S7pK3Zrc8WlQ-Tm9ZvmiJZVOkkijsTbVLBiOmEzWSccf6PW1cVNe2MUj50jvg/s320/IMG_0256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Colin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFW3jqmimpRC7vuvn-CWO4tCpVYPUrxW35qazZ-d2zz2EMtJGpGsIX4OJATJaGnedIu78jlTOnJo2gVKBzPIdfoAYsrezq3NR5guu6QUDhW4ccVT7OJLwdgR1NW2AN4I5TuVXs0_2ebvO/s1600/TBB+2010-2011+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFW3jqmimpRC7vuvn-CWO4tCpVYPUrxW35qazZ-d2zz2EMtJGpGsIX4OJATJaGnedIu78jlTOnJo2gVKBzPIdfoAYsrezq3NR5guu6QUDhW4ccVT7OJLwdgR1NW2AN4I5TuVXs0_2ebvO/s320/TBB+2010-2011+136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Ecuador host family and Alex</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPBcUNBXKSbIb92kj-BxH1gDZRD6UAASyNz5XTrPFj5CvP9OazVMSDbDQWxM59De6dXjHFzHZcJSzzWiHFHax83Dt5d_GFPfXrPhblohXSAFl5mXc0vRXm5SPI66PynLz6guVJwWus6o/s1600/TBB+2010-2011+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPBcUNBXKSbIb92kj-BxH1gDZRD6UAASyNz5XTrPFj5CvP9OazVMSDbDQWxM59De6dXjHFzHZcJSzzWiHFHax83Dt5d_GFPfXrPhblohXSAFl5mXc0vRXm5SPI66PynLz6guVJwWus6o/s320/TBB+2010-2011+207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Inca Trail budsss</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF-T7-SXUV5uvZOvUkTlUSd5n682tST8Xs_rVkZGYy74OolhCuG7JtP89izCiBO8EFucxX7x6RNaKJYS87IDhTkpd2Cf3wYkBDpURIarAoNXeZrkQ_8DZKMa6HTckM2aoTiLEpq7A9muv/s1600/TBB+2010-2011+772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF-T7-SXUV5uvZOvUkTlUSd5n682tST8Xs_rVkZGYy74OolhCuG7JtP89izCiBO8EFucxX7x6RNaKJYS87IDhTkpd2Cf3wYkBDpURIarAoNXeZrkQ_8DZKMa6HTckM2aoTiLEpq7A9muv/s320/TBB+2010-2011+772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This was a random Indian family who wanted a picture with us at the Taj!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZfKaJz_ETXift2ON7GF-oh5n6zvOzzCLeGbyO65OOg5ek7j2JffUj4Jg-sXonYaxDRjd6mCO2CY9coxM7IncGA52bWdOcra-Le6Dm0Hu2aB5HZxDZncnXenEuMA4GSXIuq4DAJP-wVCS/s1600/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZfKaJz_ETXift2ON7GF-oh5n6zvOzzCLeGbyO65OOg5ek7j2JffUj4Jg-sXonYaxDRjd6mCO2CY9coxM7IncGA52bWdOcra-Le6Dm0Hu2aB5HZxDZncnXenEuMA4GSXIuq4DAJP-wVCS/s320/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The girls with Scott at the top of the cathedral in Quito. I miss them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtAPniW5akKpf5r0jMjSJuOcPXxvEsCoK1f2AbsCtpgxNzZRjRWXcIDG8UEiOcsMfpqmHaiLSn6FrR8GC-n3JQW3G9cdEf5vDfL2Poj-sR_J-oc3LVXPT0PekebCId5_serVW5YQKQ__L/s1600/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtAPniW5akKpf5r0jMjSJuOcPXxvEsCoK1f2AbsCtpgxNzZRjRWXcIDG8UEiOcsMfpqmHaiLSn6FrR8GC-n3JQW3G9cdEf5vDfL2Poj-sR_J-oc3LVXPT0PekebCId5_serVW5YQKQ__L/s320/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> First ride to Los Naranjos--in the back of the truck. Yes please.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAutHoA5NtiX7GaadtSYU4PevqzdMTMcS-8iqyNh17wjHQL82B8eIqdCGFjtcVIlpNdspys2y4Wgep9k8L387iOwWXr8ao1ia2cDlbwFgxB9vnQagTemDGFu6adLb5LzFcYgxAr9ac7GtL/s1600/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAutHoA5NtiX7GaadtSYU4PevqzdMTMcS-8iqyNh17wjHQL82B8eIqdCGFjtcVIlpNdspys2y4Wgep9k8L387iOwWXr8ao1ia2cDlbwFgxB9vnQagTemDGFu6adLb5LzFcYgxAr9ac7GtL/s320/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+2583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You know, just jumping on the Great Wall with the girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwCDlhrO7SZnI4WtkYll97OBC1j2q_wfIkeUPH7wMdRGXaGnroGAz7bX6KEzqCRdKhn_p1432uYFzrKnHjJ90P1ZmkOLshGEXFcw0tYCfE-10TlEc7y3xt6yd_xZ7YZ_KAKZvSyU84RkW/s1600/TBB+2010-2011+779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwCDlhrO7SZnI4WtkYll97OBC1j2q_wfIkeUPH7wMdRGXaGnroGAz7bX6KEzqCRdKhn_p1432uYFzrKnHjJ90P1ZmkOLshGEXFcw0tYCfE-10TlEc7y3xt6yd_xZ7YZ_KAKZvSyU84RkW/s320/TBB+2010-2011+779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Laughing at a fort in India. Love these girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aDHmr9t54kFN-Gw6_eXW4HQcLHG_oECqp7RU-j6JzdCk-xxHU_Ocz_dLKSJ4ZeuqX-kCRCLzCDiZGVecCi3hKsZpoT7wsPqZYXtbCkNK52KUm4fgl4A9ARwcGgoIc1yPO9iMMfKUGqOm/s1600/TBB+2010-2011+1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aDHmr9t54kFN-Gw6_eXW4HQcLHG_oECqp7RU-j6JzdCk-xxHU_Ocz_dLKSJ4ZeuqX-kCRCLzCDiZGVecCi3hKsZpoT7wsPqZYXtbCkNK52KUm4fgl4A9ARwcGgoIc1yPO9iMMfKUGqOm/s320/TBB+2010-2011+1123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Looking ridiculous on the Inca Trail on Halloween. Raynie, I miss you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnTAtTpNcfox_gUA_xfrRJDTSPE_KLuP4_wpO7GlZQ-YVa_9zfftf0WYV5HNsM7EuN-mgMy0aj2sPC7aXNH0cnQI6s1Vr0l46RrUVA8JfTxgKt-YgjDJjjlabEPfzsT_ArBQjMo9GDDfc/s1600/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnTAtTpNcfox_gUA_xfrRJDTSPE_KLuP4_wpO7GlZQ-YVa_9zfftf0WYV5HNsM7EuN-mgMy0aj2sPC7aXNH0cnQI6s1Vr0l46RrUVA8JfTxgKt-YgjDJjjlabEPfzsT_ArBQjMo9GDDfc/s320/Mckinky+Movies+and+Pics+2588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet friends. In freezing cold China.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for stopping by! :)</div><br />
</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-64636412540420361402011-08-17T02:21:00.001-04:002011-08-17T02:21:20.291-04:00Moving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/27246366?color=ffffff" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/27246366">MOVE</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/rickmereki">Rick Mereki</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
Thank you, <a href="http://hawksfromhandsaws.tumblr.com/">Mr. Moore.</a><br />
Goodbye, Raleigh.<br />
Hello, Davidson, world, and the rest of my life.<br />
(Don't judge me for being overly dramatic!)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-10884467778562380302011-08-16T02:00:00.000-04:002011-08-16T02:00:28.811-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."<br />
--Ralph Waldo Emerson</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-43951723480479601932011-08-12T21:49:00.001-04:002011-08-13T00:28:22.702-04:00As Mary Bryan would say....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDZFcDGpL4U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">....this friend speaks my mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mary went to a Quaker school, and informed all of us on TBB that when someone says something, and you agree, have nothing to add, or couldn't say it better, you say, "This friend speaks my mind."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love that phrase. So thanks, Mary. (Btdubs, you should check out <a href="http://marytbryan.wordpress.com/">Mary's blog</a>. It's awesome. I love the way she writes.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway. My good friend, <a href="http://hawksfromhandsaws.tumblr.com/">Jaron</a>, sent this video to me. So thanks, Jaron. All of that to say (again), this friend (Sir Ken Robinson) very much speaks my mind.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-23406517212694994692011-08-08T16:06:00.001-04:002011-08-08T16:15:23.455-04:00This Fall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i><b>Stuff I'll Learn:</b></i><br />
-Literary Analysis<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Designed for majors. Emphasizes theoretical approaches and critical strategies for the written analysis of poetry, fiction, and drama. Writing intensive. Required for the major.</span></span><br />
-Intensive French (101 and 102)<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Beginning French. Learn conversational French quickly. Meets every day for 6 class-hours per week plus meetings with an assistant teacher (AT). Completes two semesters of French in one semester. Equivalent to French 101 and 102. Counts as two courses and prepares for French 201.</span></span><br />
-Seeing Images, Writing Texts: Writing Studio<br />
A Writing 101 course designed to teach writing that draws upon both your intellect and your imagination. This course seeks to open up new ways of seeing and channels of creativity that will enable you to read, analyze, and communicate more effectively. Our inquiry will focus on texts that crow genres and disciplines, draw upon the arts and sciences, and combine words and images in innovative ways. Writing assignments will invite you to draw upon your own creative and critical faculties, using both words and images to create clear and compelling arguments.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Summer Reading:</b></i><br />
<i>In the Sanctuary of Outcasts</i>, by Neil White.<br />
Excellent read, totally worth it. A memoir about a prison sentence and the US's own personal leper colony in Carville, LA.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Where I'll Live:</b></i><br />
Cannon Dormitory, 4th floor<br />
<br />
<i><b>Roomie:</b></i><br />
Ellie from LA! She is interested in Biology and Art, and I am so looking forward to getting to know her.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What I'll Be Doing:</i></b><br />
Right now the only definitive plan is changing the world with my new friend Aric. We have a legitimate plan, and I'll be keeping ya'll updated on that. It's gonna be awesome.<br />
I'll hopefully be getting into a campus ministry and some sort of singing group, whether it's choir or acapella or something else.<br />
And having a blast with my new friends.<br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Excited?</b></i><br />
Absolutely!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-43298049835829443392011-08-07T01:06:00.000-04:002011-08-07T01:06:14.793-04:00Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." --Ecclesiastes 12:13</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
Thank God for friends who can understand me, affirm me, and encourage me to love Christ through everything. I am blessed.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-34624216252354310302011-08-04T23:04:00.000-04:002011-08-04T23:04:23.646-04:00Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4306i99LMXo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you, Davidson Odyssey for introducing me to this song. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I've posted a lot of music lately, so here's a few pictures for your pleasure. These are all from Odyssey which was a service trip I took as a sort of preorientation thing at Davidson. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wlymuvImnedvee62JVSAUtM5xC6ah6-ozIrgK7jBXZztihq6br8ISDz3koisaU_XFSYcZf8HpDqkjZLDGZVQu59HKwA4YdvAmweqmz171y2ZHIi5KuCyGvso2iSxeE4ItNAa_dRSBC3o/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wlymuvImnedvee62JVSAUtM5xC6ah6-ozIrgK7jBXZztihq6br8ISDz3koisaU_XFSYcZf8HpDqkjZLDGZVQu59HKwA4YdvAmweqmz171y2ZHIi5KuCyGvso2iSxeE4ItNAa_dRSBC3o/s320/IMG_9154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> All dressed up for a "night on the town." (aka a Harris Teeter run--sooooo epic.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEN1gQiLZR_U5TTMDtyRXoiC3GwCGORsWXgBGakq8xLK9dU6quoGXaCdHdxgG9-ysmGvwGzbhacT5m2pt1fiD_Oz7SD4236QSONXsljBNFoLhj_55D72I2QVf2KVv2-Is1S-6fczkS4YS/s1600/IMG_9173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEN1gQiLZR_U5TTMDtyRXoiC3GwCGORsWXgBGakq8xLK9dU6quoGXaCdHdxgG9-ysmGvwGzbhacT5m2pt1fiD_Oz7SD4236QSONXsljBNFoLhj_55D72I2QVf2KVv2-Is1S-6fczkS4YS/s320/IMG_9173.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> Aric. So fierce.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tNNqh-nGaTFR_OH0jtgTpmgeDVYvlaPspM6Qk-H32U49vAt-UlMK8Ip3Jt1VI6ON-9kaSFKlj0zShQ8aNS4cO1ENU3WLPJbBTIyPlFtkUwmxLtFv02ifZj8MskOnrDbCMCqIyW_myjpl/s1600/IMG_9196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tNNqh-nGaTFR_OH0jtgTpmgeDVYvlaPspM6Qk-H32U49vAt-UlMK8Ip3Jt1VI6ON-9kaSFKlj0zShQ8aNS4cO1ENU3WLPJbBTIyPlFtkUwmxLtFv02ifZj8MskOnrDbCMCqIyW_myjpl/s320/IMG_9196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> "There are no more hummus samples!?!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj1JETA165uvWoImnQ2nOeQSYOQrGiDeu1McTJwW9IyYj_1H7PH2EeExT4OplSga5u-aXnwBnWLkpin1DSccJjp3YgO4XEItRpTIMNGE98FDUKJ7tmYg5kDMRO3UWryV9oGij6tJEELeW/s1600/IMG_9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj1JETA165uvWoImnQ2nOeQSYOQrGiDeu1McTJwW9IyYj_1H7PH2EeExT4OplSga5u-aXnwBnWLkpin1DSccJjp3YgO4XEItRpTIMNGE98FDUKJ7tmYg5kDMRO3UWryV9oGij6tJEELeW/s320/IMG_9247.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> I'm naming my second child after him. And he'll be godfather.<br />
Basically we're gonna change the world together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iC9IMf6-duZe6w4YeA89msBPVpgsdLoE6U8rFpxB8KLdk9_knWaUtkM7yMUkyyajmJ0MTDU1QNOwSrN4xybocUOiZ7vulnBtYB_gwVTwhv9bUFBGPAC_aaN7busbcmgOyZ6c3borGRBX/s1600/IMG_9256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iC9IMf6-duZe6w4YeA89msBPVpgsdLoE6U8rFpxB8KLdk9_knWaUtkM7yMUkyyajmJ0MTDU1QNOwSrN4xybocUOiZ7vulnBtYB_gwVTwhv9bUFBGPAC_aaN7busbcmgOyZ6c3borGRBX/s320/IMG_9256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> We love Erwin Lodge! (Where we stayed the whole week)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXlqRiHgFWMZDvExr7oiml990XsBmiPyy6pXMMGm3eoA6sT_FlPuLCAKnd96gHAKNU0atKkoMfloe-d3Sh93oWn0A1hYnE3Zsk56JxJroA_BkVzSYf09rfDRQWrJ9LCdfqXA8NxsF-kjc/s1600/IMG_9269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXlqRiHgFWMZDvExr7oiml990XsBmiPyy6pXMMGm3eoA6sT_FlPuLCAKnd96gHAKNU0atKkoMfloe-d3Sh93oWn0A1hYnE3Zsk56JxJroA_BkVzSYf09rfDRQWrJ9LCdfqXA8NxsF-kjc/s320/IMG_9269.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> Hampton is an epic elbow licker.<br />
He's like a ninja.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzqJ7MMDSvBxtT4Lhua5ag86HJkQLfJ7jVcwGuNjKpcXXh9EkohrY_MmdwO-i8uGxPbPa7fV9pL29b6zfUvZRWUYYfeG3P7FN9JEVk32ifY_HsLHsUOZ0is2Jir7Hj5XgaG-uh_9WD9xZ/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzqJ7MMDSvBxtT4Lhua5ag86HJkQLfJ7jVcwGuNjKpcXXh9EkohrY_MmdwO-i8uGxPbPa7fV9pL29b6zfUvZRWUYYfeG3P7FN9JEVk32ifY_HsLHsUOZ0is2Jir7Hj5XgaG-uh_9WD9xZ/s320/IMG_9319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The girls! Me, Cidney (who is on my hall!), Ana (one of my leaders), Jessica, and Christina!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhJGFBh8VNRFpfYcN6vbmj1EeIrWuC8hOZwbPLyfXOyx7mTSjYMRkqCz7s3E4k89XIQMY2pfF_uXsmTdS-HFKU1thszg1Cn08cI_cEutFuikP-Xk7i0ApFrZq0fQ1ueQJt64YEHbMGkrX/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhJGFBh8VNRFpfYcN6vbmj1EeIrWuC8hOZwbPLyfXOyx7mTSjYMRkqCz7s3E4k89XIQMY2pfF_uXsmTdS-HFKU1thszg1Cn08cI_cEutFuikP-Xk7i0ApFrZq0fQ1ueQJt64YEHbMGkrX/s320/IMG_9332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is Ian. He's from Jersey and he makes me laugh so much, I can't even handle it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKx2N8xUBqS0dPoAwvqlMp8QigzHSa8GYrAmWjtSFpmT5KlZepdY7jBTTV6FQlugK6VKy92pHEAf5D3xkOrNzACbGfKRF_j1QF0n_hMu2MnujClhMoWAGqyvvdUgApgaHlLu6J2jLQCz2/s1600/IMG_9337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKx2N8xUBqS0dPoAwvqlMp8QigzHSa8GYrAmWjtSFpmT5KlZepdY7jBTTV6FQlugK6VKy92pHEAf5D3xkOrNzACbGfKRF_j1QF0n_hMu2MnujClhMoWAGqyvvdUgApgaHlLu6J2jLQCz2/s320/IMG_9337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Crew Siete! Me, Blake (my other leader and hubby), Christina, Ian, Cidney, Jess, Hampton, Aric, and Ana.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD11gq-KcE6B-_o-osZtVykg3HJsD1amqo9zIfjuYXrADSkFtQVGiP_t1dWFc2FKDvZH_XNqpg891Cwt8OX9RqWV69_-VZMdr5GCMsFy7s5Z3EdpIWsn5EAdNrD2XYNW1D7__qpFEyFk-p/s1600/IMG_9340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD11gq-KcE6B-_o-osZtVykg3HJsD1amqo9zIfjuYXrADSkFtQVGiP_t1dWFc2FKDvZH_XNqpg891Cwt8OX9RqWV69_-VZMdr5GCMsFy7s5Z3EdpIWsn5EAdNrD2XYNW1D7__qpFEyFk-p/s320/IMG_9340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>And this is Hampton. Not Ben Folds. However, he is at least as cool as Ben Folds.<br />
<br />
But the main thing about this post is that video. Watch it. Or rather just listen to it. It's SO GOOD.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-8626099015410960602011-08-03T21:07:00.000-04:002011-08-03T21:07:16.611-04:00New Favorite<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ewwFGlNBiq8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Love.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-15521652148508338112011-07-26T16:56:00.000-04:002011-07-26T16:56:30.093-04:00This Kid Is Awesome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dAyp8iubD2I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-20899665517191867742011-07-25T16:28:00.001-04:002011-07-25T16:29:54.214-04:00Forget College...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pBOQHNbLdXDeeTlh0MElEbMX-yh0h_0qMR8wYP-zUL_SdjwytZ0gW4MGseTfBtw_RLXCI8PHCNGDsVK2u_xT0xRcEO95xwSOwNJfLxShk39pz2D3JR7_hSxTRr4OK7_ti3Gu2yTTsKvm/s1600/warwick+castle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pBOQHNbLdXDeeTlh0MElEbMX-yh0h_0qMR8wYP-zUL_SdjwytZ0gW4MGseTfBtw_RLXCI8PHCNGDsVK2u_xT0xRcEO95xwSOwNJfLxShk39pz2D3JR7_hSxTRr4OK7_ti3Gu2yTTsKvm/s320/warwick+castle.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAF_XGn3cCW7Xlpxh4jzXDrWYg8rK4Z1y0ji3wOSnrVFMoySAzc1d6urPdOrMQIjicXjHH3TZkBCiF_yeMr6BqKa6S4rSUg2tfY7cLkVdsRBnzwUxCzSfE_wdd4d4UVhryzpnkq7UdLto1/s1600/warwick+castle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
I'm going back to Warwick and living in this castle.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-39279225315108498202011-07-25T00:20:00.000-04:002011-07-25T00:20:37.950-04:00Collage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMTtPSiFMxWhD6YhhatAoyx6B2GhXD6RsSIXRAn4-ncsCZXg7hJ4YsW1ZEqbabMFIIg801pa2PtwlpcjvXc6PiH52jWZaorI9dDFKxG8joH-Fss11DBVjvgSm1EDbpl_FyhZo_uf7mIHk/s1600/POL+Pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMTtPSiFMxWhD6YhhatAoyx6B2GhXD6RsSIXRAn4-ncsCZXg7hJ4YsW1ZEqbabMFIIg801pa2PtwlpcjvXc6PiH52jWZaorI9dDFKxG8joH-Fss11DBVjvgSm1EDbpl_FyhZo_uf7mIHk/s320/POL+Pics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My kids.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-19297918459932687872011-07-22T00:06:00.000-04:002011-07-22T00:06:43.897-04:00Overheard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Waitress: So do you guys want this check separate or together?<br />
*simultaneously*<br />
Guy: Together.<br />
Girl: Separate.<br />
*awkward pause*<br />
Girl: No just make it separate, it's fine!<br />
Guy: No, no, no. <br />
I got this.<br />
*hands waitress his card*<br />
Girl: Okay well I'll get it next time.<br />
<br />
Cue me and SB laughing conspicuously two tables over. Awkwarddddd.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-68973074959233670832011-07-19T21:24:00.000-04:002011-07-19T21:24:29.208-04:00Never Let Me Go"I was weeping for an altogether different reason. When I watched you dancing that day, I saw something else. I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel world. And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old, kind world, one that she knew in heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go. That is what I saw. It wasn't really you, what you were doing, I know that. But I saw you, and it broke my heart. And I've never forgotten...<br />
You poor creatures."<br />
--Madame, <i>Never Let Me Go</i> by Kazuo IshiguroAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799413996249728352.post-25299794726505367082011-07-17T15:58:00.001-04:002011-07-17T16:00:07.776-04:00Extraneous LyricsMy friend Emma posted this on her <a href="http://ohlookemma.tumblr.com/">blog</a>--priceless.<br />
(PS If you aren't familiar with popular songs, this won't make much sense to you.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ehAR1ZYQSCk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07626357781398003069noreply@blogger.com0