DNow 2010

Hey guys! I truly apologize for my lack of blogging the past couple weeks. I know everybody cried, but it's okay now. Right now I am waiting on my Ethic class to start. English ended an hour early, so I'm just sitting in the Student Center wasting time. Anyways, I don't have much to write about, but I think I will give you a little summary of my weekend.

Throughout high school, I always went to Disciple Now with my church (FBC Montgomery yay!). These retreats were always so much fun to me! For the first few years, we, like most churches, spent the weekend at houses around Montgomery. But a couple of years ago, Stuart and the crew decided that Disciple Now would be better at the 4-H center in Clanton. This took some time to get used to, but I really do love having DNow up there. It's so pretty, and gives you a chance to get out of the city for a little while (with no cell service for AT&T... oh well).

This year, I was a leader. I can't believe I'm actually old enough to be one! Crazy. It really was weird being on the other side of things, but I'm pretty sure I liked it better. It's nice to be able to be a leader while still feeling like a part of Disciple Now.

The speaker this year was Robert Mullins, and worship was led by Chuck Hooten. The theme was "Genesis." In our small groups (Oh, I had 9th grade girls along with Brittany Finch. I looooved having them!! They're so fun!) we talked a lot about the creation of the world. The Bible tells us exactly how it happens. God gives us all the details, yet people still refuse to believe it, and try to come up with crazy and senseless ways that the world was created. I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that random things can just bump together and everything that has ever existed can be formed.... whatever. We also talked about how God placed us on earth to worship Him. We have no excuse not to serve Him! Romans 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." He created us in His image and likeness, and we should praise Him for that. (Ok, I need to cut this short because my class is going to be starting soon.) In his messages, Robert talked a lot about the word "shalom." It simply means peace, perfectness, tranquility, completeness..... This is what God gives us when we have a relationship with Him. He wants us to have such an amazing life with Him, and we are so so so so blessed to have Him.

So I just published this blog, but realized I left out a bunch of random details.

- First of all, I hung out with Laurel a whole lot! It was so much fun! We took lots of pictures and just had fun walking around the 4-H center. I was reminded of the good old days of church trips, and really really miss them!

- The 9th grade girls are hilarious. (This year consisted of E.A., Trent, Bailey, Caroline, Candler, Samantha, Kennon, Krisie, Alicia, and Courtney) We had to do a "trust fall," and they fell backwards off of a chair at the top of 4 or 5 steps for everybody to catch them. VERY SCARY! To everyone's surprise I'm sure, I did not participate in falling. Just catching. It was so much fun though!

- Each grade had to do a skit. The 10th grade was soooo funny. I mean of course I wanted the freshmen to win, but the sophomores definitely deserved it! Poor little Anna Webb sprained her ankle during the junior's skit. Hope you're doing okay Anna!

- I can honestly say I have never participated in a free time sport on any FBC trip. Not once. Never played soccer, basketball, football, and definitely not ultimate frisbee. Oh no. I feel like everybody is athletic EXCEPT me. But there's nothing I can do about it now.

- Alex Wolf is just plain amazing. During worship on Saturday night, she did what they call "worship art." She painted a picture of Jesus (above) with different names for Him in the background. It was great! Go AL!!

Here's some of the pictures that Laurel and I took. Well, she took them and I just watched.

BJ, Sidney, Chris, Logan, Lucy, and Allison swinging.

Mirror

My Eye

Alex's Jesus

Worship

Tree and Sky

Some Kids and Me

Some Cute Girls Playing Soccer

9th Grade Skit

Anna Preparing for the 11th Grade Skit

A Flower

Ok I think that is all I have to say. Sorry it's so long and boring!

Byeeeeeeeeee

Can't Waste A Second!

This one may be a little bit deeper than the first two... But I'm not a very deep person so it's not going to blow your mind or anything, don't worry.

Anyways, as I am laying in bed, thinking about what to blog about tonight, I am starting to realize that my life really isn't all that outstanding because of me. The only things that make every day special for me are my friends, family, and the people I surround myself with day after day. I guess God too... Just kidding! Of course God makes it special! My friends are so great! I can laugh for hours and hours and never get tired. Gosh, I am just so glad God gave me friends. I started getting really sad the other day thinking about how college will only last 4 years (well at least I hope so). After these 4 years, all of the amazing, wonderful, hilarious, great people I have spent this special time in my life with will all be separated from me. Some will move back to their home towns, some will move off far away to Italy or somewhere, and some just might stay here in good ole Auburn. I mean, you obviously think about separating from High School friends after graduation, but not college friends. At least I don't. Also, ever since starting college I have learned to appreciate my family and my time with them so much more. I absolutely love going home and being able to be around them again. I love being at Auburn SO much, but I can't say I'm not super thankful for the short 45 minute drive home. I love being with my friends and family, and I want to cherish every moment I have here. You never know, it could all end tomorrow. No matter what, this time will be over in the blink of an eye, and I know I'll be asking myself where the time disappeared to. Of course grades and focusing on school is vitally important, but this time of making lasting memories with people that will hopefully be in my life 'til I'm an old lady can't be replaced. I just pray that I will make the most of my time here at Auburn: To take advantage of every second that God has given me on this earth to live for Him and love all the people around me. Matthew 6:34 says "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough worry of its own." It's cliche, I know, but I just want to live every day like it's my last.

P.S. I cannot wait for this album to come out!! Passion 2010 was amazing!!! (I will blog about it at a later date)

Team Owen, Still Goin'

Oh my goodness. Today was possibly the most fun/funniest day I have had in quite a while! Where to begin...

The day began bright and early when "Team Owen" met in the lobby to walk out to get with the entire group for Big Event. Incase you didn't read my last blog, Big Event is a huge campus-wide community service project led by the Auburn SGA. It was a little misty outside, and rather cold, so the day didn't get off to an outstanding start. To make a very long story short, 150+ groups of students piled in cars and headed out to their designated locations.

Team Owen was assigned Loachapoka Elementary School. This THRILLED us because we absolutely did not want to have to work outside! So, Team Owen jumped into our two cars (Mine was filled with Brook, the driver, Ballard, the honorary iPod changer, and Carroll Anna, Virginia, and myself in the back seat) and drove down Samford Road, following our directions perfectly. We had a slight scare when we couldn't find County Road 412, but were delighted when we realized that we had just passed it and could easily turn around. Oh wait, we almost caused a 5 car pile up because of this. Anyways, we turn down that County Road and come to find out that this leads us to a gravel road. No Loachapoka Elementary School. Just a rather large cow pasture. This was obviously a problem, so we asked a nice worker man where to go. He told us, and we drove another 30 minutes to our final destination.

(JUST A LITTLE LOST)

Our car ride group was just so much fun!! I had so much fun singing Justin Bieber and High School Musical songs with them! Good times... Ballarad. FINALLY, we arrived at the school along with a billion other girls and some guys. Our assigned job was to repaint the baseboards and door frames throughout the school. Team Owen went straight to work! We painted those baseboards and door frames with the "moca" paint like it was our job. It was I guess.

(BROOK AND ME PAINTING)

This lasted for a couple hours. We listened to and sang some fun music, had pretty hilarious conversations, and painted, painted, and painted some more! I loved it!

(TEAM OWEN)

So.... Just when we think we are ready to leave and get some much desired lunch, one of the men in charge asks us to "sweep" a room. That's all he asked. "Sweep." So we get out there and it is an oooold garage thing filled with 100 year old spider webs and dust and dirt from floor to ceiling. Um there were 3 guys there that complained the WHOLE time. It was quite annoying. They said they asked for an easy job because they're "seniors." Wooooo, cool guys.

Ok, well, we cleaned up that shed pretty quickly and were free to go eat! YAY!! We dined at the good ole Chappy's. Never fails. The problem is we ate lunch at like 3 so we were not hungry in the least bit at 7 when we went to Acapulco's for dinner.

Ok. I have never ever ever laughed as hard as I did at dinner and TCBY tonight. I would try to explain what was so funny, but it just wouldn't work out. I will just list a few things that only the people with me tonight will get.

1. "TACO, TACO, TACO!!"

2. Just gimme my rice and beans!

3. Ballarad (that one never gets old)

4. Negative Nancy

5. Matching scarves and foggy cars

6. Throw up stories

7. "Cuh"

I think I will end on that note. I know this blog does not give my hilarious day any justice. Oh well. Overall, today was such a great day! I loved participating in Big Event, and being able to help out a school that needed us so badly! Hopefully community service will become a regular thing for me!

"LYLAS!!!!" - Brook

:)

My Dear John Evening

(Side Note: I wrote this last night, not today)

So…. I’m not really the “blogging” type, but I want to be so I’m going to give it a shot!

I guess I’ll write about what is on my mind right now: Dear John. Actually, just Channing Tatum. Holy cow… He is goooood looking! Man of my dreams right there!

Anyways. Ever since I first saw the beautiful trailer for the movie when I watched New Moon in November, I have been craving the day that Dear John enters theaters. That day was today, and my anxious anticipation finally came to an end.

Let me say this first. I decided to read the book a couple months ago just to get ready for what was coming to the theaters. I REALLY loved the book. I mean the ending wasn’t what I would have picked to happen in a “dream world,” but it made sense and was more realistic than every other traditional happy ending. I won’t ruin it for all of those girls out there who are reading this blog and planning on reading the book and watching the movie (I know, I know… SO many people will be reading this!! ….. not.).

Rain, snow, tornados, or even forrest fires (in this case just a little mist) couldn’t keep me from seeing this movie tonight. Brook, Ballard, myself, and about 30 other lovely Auburn girls arrived at the Auburn Carmike Cinemas ONLY 40 minutes before we are allowed to enter the theater… No big deal. We also allowed for plenty of time to fill ourselves with delicious Panera Bread food and lots of candy from CVS before heading to the theater (Sorry your purse weighed 40 pounds, Ballard!). But it sure was a good thing we got there when we did! Once the little men told us we could come in, there was a mad rush to the seats. That theater filled up faaast with hundreds of college girls (and about 6 guys) who just couldn’t wait to watch the most beautiful man in the world on the big screen. The first preview was about another Channing Tatum movie… I’ll be seeing that one for sure! The rest were forgetable (especially the Miley movie).

Ok, I must mention this. The funniest thing ever happened right after the serious but crazy romantic “love making” scene. Somebody sneezed. VERY loudly. There was about a 3 second pause after the sneeze then everybody in the theater died laughing. Talk about killing the mood! Poor sneezer! Gosh I know that had to be super embarrassing. Good times….

All in all, Dear John the movie was great. The ending was slightly different from the book, and oddly enough, I prefer the book ending. It was just more realistic in my opinion. But for real, how can you go wrong with a movie staring the gorgeous Channing Tatum? That’s right. You can’t!

Well…. I feel that this blog is getting a little boring and lengthy and rambly (I just made that word up I think) so I’m going to cut it a little short.

I’m spending the night with my dear friend Brook Barrow tonight and I am super pumped! Both of our roomies are out of the town for the weekend, so why not spend a little time together?

Big Event, a humongous campus-wide community service project, is taking place tomorrow. A bunch of girls from Owen, my dorm, have assembled a team. We aren’t sure what we will be doing yet but we will find out first thing in the morning. Go Team Owen!!

Weeeelllll I’m off to bed! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!

Bon soir mon amis :)