Remember me?

Oh, hey there!

I don't have a good reason for not blogging all year, except for the fact that I just didn't feel like it. Also, because I truly value the art of writing, I felt like I couldn't blog unless I had something especially meaningful to write about, and that scared me. 

But then I remembered why I started this blog: to keep people from home updated on my new adventures in college. Last year this Texas girl was scared out of her mind in Tennessee, and I guess writing made home feel closer.

Then a funny thing happened: I got used to Tennessee, and Tennessee got used to me. As much as I will always love Texas, Tennessee is where I'm at right now, and I'm more than okay with it. I still cherish my home and my relationships there, but I've found other ways to stay connected to them. Writing quick updates on my life just didn't seem necessary anymore.

Yet, this week, as I've been enjoying a few calmer moments in the craziest season of my life, I realized that I still have a lot to write about. 

I can't always promise meaningful posts, or even anything on a regular basis, but I can promise that I will try. I've been wandering around quite a bit since last May, and I'd love to catch you up.

Coffee Road trip!

Hey everyone! Follow my roomate, Caroline, and I as we embark on a roadtrip from Tennessee to Texas, with random coffee shop stops along the way! We're going to be rating each shop and sharing our experiences with you! It's going to be an adventure, and we can't wait to document it! :) Click here to check us out!

If we were children I would bake you a mudpie

"Oh what I wouldn't do

If I had you, babe, if I had you,"

What I wouldn't do - A Fine Frenzy

Hello friends :) I can't believe the end of the semester is so close! In just 10 days my roommate Caroline and I will be starting our "coffee road trip" all the way HOME to Texas. I can explain that more later. 

The Caroline's Coffee Road trip, coming May 2012

I just wanted to stop in and send out a quick update, since this next week I'll be crazy busy with finals, moving out, and getting everything ready to go HOME. Did I mention I'm going HOME soon?! I really can't wait.

When I reflect on this semester I'm overwhelmed by how much God has revealed to me. I'm exhausted, but I'm thankful. Things are already in place for next semester, which makes me excited to be back here! But, not without Summer first. 

But anyways, in the next few days, this will be me:

I promise I get some studying done...sometimes. 

Texas friends, I can't wait to see you! Contact me soon and we'll figure out a way to hang out this summer :)

Tennessee friends, I've been so blessed to get to know each and every one of you, and I can't wait for round two this fall.

Love always. 

When the Blue Bonnets Bloom, I'll Think of You

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday with your families. I hope you were renewed and refreshed by the gift of the Christ's sacrifice, and strengthened by the promise of the resurrection. It's such a beautiful gift, isn't it?

I'm happy to be back in Tennessee for three weeks, counting off each day until school is out. Spring has officially set it, and even though I'm not in Texas I can celebrate the fact that Blue Bonnets are blooming everywhere in my home state. (if you haven't noticed, my blog is celebrating too!) 

"Say your prayers, say my name

keep it fresh on your brain,

and don't forget that I love you this much."

"Blue Bonnets" - Cross Canadian Ragweed

Since I've been obsessed with springtime, blue bonnets, and home lately, this song will be on repeat for awhile. This video is decent quality, but I would recommend getting the song on Itunes.

Enjoy the springtime, friends. Find a place outside to relax, and notice the beauty that is blooming all around you. Life is beautiful. 

10 reasons why I love coming home

The thing about going to school 900 miles from everything you know is that going home doesn't happen very much. If you're like me and embrace independence, being in a new place is an exciting adventure. However, even independent people get homesick, and long for the place that they know and love.

I'm currently home for Easter break satisfying my Sugar Land crave, so I thought I'd share with you why I love coming home to sweet Sugar Land, Texas, as much as I do.  

Here are the 10 reasons I love coming home:

1. Mexican food. 

When it comes to Mexican food, Tennessee tries. But nothing quite compares to an enchilada in Texas (except for maybe an enchilada in Mexico...)

2. My backyard smells like Carolina Jasmines, and I love it. 

I've never been one to get swept away by smell association, but Carolina Jasmines always bring me home. 

3. Less school, less stress, more shopping. 

Does that really need explanation?

4. I really just love my cat. 

I gave up trying to be cool a long time ago, and since we're going for full disclosure, I'm just going to say this: my cat is one of my favorite things on this earth. She's loving, she's cuddly, and when I'm not at home I miss her at the foot of my bed. Now, proceed to judge me. 

5. Being away from home makes you love it more. 

When I first come home after a few months of being away, I'm sentimental about everything. I love the busy road that I used to take every day to school, I love the june bugs that buzz around our back door in April, I love everything about Sugar Land.

6. I really do love everything about Sugar Land. 

It was the ideal place to grow up, and now it's the ideal home base to come back too. I don't ever want there to be a day when I'm not coming back to Sugar Land. I feel at home as soon as I get here, there's no awkward adjusting or reacquainting time. In my life at least, things move a little slower in Sugar Land, and I'm always able to find peace here. Everyone should have a place like that. 

7. When I'm home, I'm constantly seeing or hearing things that remind me of life at Lee. 

I think that's a good thing; getting away gives me an opportunity to step away from the stress and remember how much I love my life at school. Pretty soon I start to miss it. Even though I absolutely love being home, going back to school isn't always a challenge. 

8. Reunions. 

When you're gone for a long time and only have a few days to be home, you get the chance to have crazy, jumping around and screaming reunion moments with your friends, and it's wonderful. 

9. Friends. 

There's nothing like sitting down for coffee with a really great friend, especially when you haven't seen that friend in awhile. As much as social media let's us keep up with each other, it doesn't match the experience of actually spending time with someone. I love seeing old friends again and hearing about everything that's happened in their life since we last saw each other. 

10. Family. 

My family is my favorite thing in the world, and these days it's extremely rare that we're all in one place at one time. Any time I get a chance to see even just part of my family, I'm the happiest girl in the world. Spending time with my family is the best and easiest way to get refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the semester. 

I don't know how long I'll be away from Texas. Whether I come back and lay roots here or just float through every once in awhile, Texas will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I'll always love coming home. 

When there's no one else to love, keep me in mind

Zac Brown Band, you are wonderful. 

This will always be one of my favorite songs.

P.S. HAPPY APRIL! Hello Spring time :)

I'm here, and it's on purpose.

"Wherever you are,

 be all there." Jim Elliott 

Well, I'm right here. Hi.

Life is really great, but really busy. Right after Spring break the thick of the middle of the semester hit really hard, and for a few weeks I was lucky if I was able to stay in one place for more than an hour. Life is finally slowing down and letting me breathe a sigh of relief - the storm has passed over. 

I had an amazing Spring break with (most of) my family in Colorado. Along with my parents and Tyler, it was so awesome to see Zach at school, and see how much he's grown as a man of God in the last few months. Next week he'll be flying to Kyrgyzstan to do missionary work for 3 months, which basically means I'll be in constant prayer for him for 3 months! 

In the midst of extreme business, roommate outings make me really happy :) 

Like I said, life at Lee since Spring break has been incredibly busy, but it's been a blessing. There are so many great opportunities for me here. I'm learning to be thankful for them even though I complain about them stealing my time. 

............

I'm homesick. The hardest part about being overloaded with school these past few weeks is that I was having trouble caring. I love being at Lee, but right now my heart and mind are resting in Sugar Land, while my body is still pushing itself in Cleveland. In four days I'll be going home for the first time all semester, and I couldn't be more excited. I could hug the whole state of Texas. 

God has really been using that quote by Jim Elliott to speak to me. When I get homesick, I tend to only think about going home, and I begin going through the minimal motions just to get through the day. That's a sorry way to live.

Like it or not, I'm here.

So now I just need to be here. 

I'm here, and it's on purpose. My resolution for the rest of the semester is to fully, whole-heartedly, un-regretfully be here, and to enjoy it. I'm so fortunate to be where I am, and a stressful season should not give me a reason to complain.

It's such a beautiful truth that the joy of the Lord is not based upon circumstance or current state of mind. He is so constant, so faithful, and so good. 

As always, I'm learning, seeking, serving, and wandering.

With love.