Snowwww!!!

Let's just say, I love snow. I am like a little kid when it comes to playing in the snow. Today I woke up to a treat- I didn't have to show up to work at 6:30 am because Chick-Fil-A closed for the snow. I usually jump right out of bed to look out the window when snow comes, but instead I went fast asleep and dreamed of looking outside the window only to see a little white powder mixed in with grass...the usual image of Charlotte when it snows. I didn't want to get my hopes up only to get disappointed, but somehow I managed to dream of it and believe it. I was beyond surprised when I woke up and finally looked outside and saw the snow coming down hard and a picturesque winter wonderland. I didn't immediately go outside, but later on in the afternoon I put my snow gear on that I could find around the house that would suffice since I left my snow stuff at LU. Thus, I put plastic bags over my feet, blew up my purple pool raft and ventured in my back yard. I sledded over and over again and then attempted to make a snowman, but it was too powdery to do anything with. Many times after sledding down the hill I laid back on my pool raft, since that's essentially what it's made for (I live in charlotte, why would I own a real sled?) and just admired the beauty before my eyes. I began to think about how creative God is in making snow and the different seasons. Our world is like a picture that is always changing, season to season with the main foundation still existing. The same trees were in my backyard yesterday, but I didn't stop and admire their beauty. Put a little blanket of white snowflakes on them and suddenly--it's exquisite. I love snow for the fact that it makes the familiar world I've grown accustomed to into something I stop and admire. It changes the scenery completely...this comes with the changing colors of the leaves or spring as well, but I feel as if snow is somehow one step from that somehow. I become a little kid again wanting to explore my surroundings and appreciating my creator in a new way, thankful for this gift!

B90x

Well, most new years resolutions usually involve some sort of "I'm gonna exercise more...time to lose weight!" Now this isn't a post saying that I don't have those things in mind, but I've come to realize that smaller goals such as my month of not eating meat or my previous month of doing at least a 100 sit-ups a day are more effective. Along the same lines, I want to give God more of my time this year. Now I could make a goal and say I'm gonna give God this amount of time reading His word and praying, but to be perfectly honest I think I might become too focused on the amount of time rather than the quality of time and then I life would overwhelm me and I don't actually get to daily spend significant amount of time in the word. I need structure and I want to seek God in a way that I haven't in the past. I want to jump start my walk with Him in a new, fun, challenging exciting way...much like a work-out would be shaped as if I were training to play college sports...or something of the sorts.
I was joking around with one of my co-workers the other night about Christmas presents with a typical Liberty student response of "it's about the manager, don't tell me what you got" after I asked her what she got for Christmas. The conversation had its twists and turns with much laughter mixed in. Then we got on the topic of devotions and she told me that she was thinking about doing the B90x challenge with her small group. To which I replied, "You're doing P90x with a small group? What type of church group is this?" She explained, B90x is a read through the Bible in 90 days. The Old Testament in 60 days and the New Testament in 30. This includes 2 "Grace" days or room to finish if anything happens.
I couldn't get the idea off my mind after talking about it and had to look into. Roughly 16 chapters a day. Now that's some spiritual exercise...and time and concentration. But at the same time, I would be reading through the whole Bible in 90 days. Beginning with the end in mind, I know that's a challenge that is in short enough time but long enough that I could accomplish it. I have shared it with a few friends and leadership team at school and so far there are 4 of us doing it together. I haven't read through the whole Bible in an organized way like this and I am excited to be challenged. Doing it with friends makes the challenge even better cause as a team we can encourage each other along the way. B90x. I'm ready for it!
Happy New Years!

The Hug Poem

(stole this from a friend... had to share it!! so good)


The Hug Poem

I read about how you touched them and they were healed
Or even if someone just touched your cloak they were forever changed
You let a broken women bathe your feet in her tears
And you washed your best friend’s feet
I am just wondering though did you just ever hug people

I mean I know that it is a silly question and all I am sure you would have why wouldn’t you
But its one of those things that was never mentioned that got me thinking about it

And how whenever there was a touch from you sins were forgiven and sickness fell
I think I’m caught up in my sins last time I checked all my body parts were properly working, nothing special here
I am just a kid with a heavy heart these passing sunrises and sunsets

I don’t think our encounter would have ended up in the gospels or anything
Because all I really need is a hug
That is ok for me to imagine right
That’s not going to be conflicting with any sort of theology is it
Ok good, then hug me

But not one of these side ways one arm around the neck type hugs
Or the ghetto right hand clasp fists elbows to chest pit pat on the back back
Or you put your right arm over my right arm and I put my left arm over your left arm and we make this weird sort of diagonal thing
Nah none of those

BEAR HUG ME MAN
Take your old school carpenter arms and throw them over my upper body leaving my arms dangling underneath yours somewhere and I can barely move them because your squeezing so hard
But don’t pick me up and make my back pop because I hate it when people do that

And hold me, hold me here in your arms until I start to cry because
I WANT TO CRY
But I just can’t seem to do it on my own
I have been teary eyed once recently but not even enough for a drip down my cheek
Theres just hurt in my soul that needs to be purged so hold me in this hold pose until the pain is flowing from my eyes and nose

— Bradley Hathaway

Technology. Thank you.

So I just wanted to give a shout out to technology. Yes, a shout out for cellphones, facebook, skype, twitter etc. I like the fact that even though most of my good ol'friends from school that I am used to hanging out til wee hours of the morning are still available on these modes. It might be unhealthy to be on the phone for hours upon hours, but I like to say it's as if we are just hanging out as we normally do through this technology. Mostly, this comes in the form of skype where we have a face-to-face interaction and even if your best friend is in California, Pennsylvania, or Virginia, it's possible to be in the same room as them. I cherish these moments dearly and the memories we make just hanging out in our own houses miles a part but still somehow in the same room. Even if skype isn't working like last night, I think it's quite entertaining to be on the phone with my friend while she is ichatting someone else and we're all commenting on the same facebook video I left...complicated relationships. haha.
I also am grateful for the friends that I have that would spend that much time with me doing it...just being dumb and crazy mixed in with our serious conversations about God or life. It's one thing I actually look forward to during the break and I am thankful for it! Here's to technology!

Last Day

It's my last day here on the mountain for a month. I am so excited to go home because I don't want to do an academics of school. I can't wait to see my family and friends from home, I love them and miss them so much!
However, I am already getting homesick for Liberty...and I'm here. One my best friends can't return next semester and I honestly don't know what I'm gonna do without her. I know that sounds lame in a sense, cause yes, I will survive. But I feel like I'm gonna have to adjust to the burg without her. The best thing to describe it to is adjusting to life without family. I am no where near ready to say good-bye...the Lord is totally and completely in control and I am confident that she will be a friend for life. Well, now that I have said that I don't want to get to overwhelmed with emotion, because I can feel the tears on the rise again, before completing my next final...or next two for that matter. I'm gonna live in the present and embrace these last few moments I can spend making memories before Christmas break commences.

Thanks Lorraine

My first car, Lorraine Irene Pico, a 1990 Buick La Saber, is quite the car. She has her quirks to say the least such as how to lock the doors, the windows, not having a tape player that worked (solution- i bought speakers and plugged my i-pod in). I got her for a dollar while in high school. As much as I would have loved to have air conditioning and windows that went down (both drivers side windows don't go down, but the other ones do. however, for the passenger side in order to get the window down you have to press the down button on that side and direct it with the drivers side) she overall was amazing. For the summer I had a sweet fan that mainly blew hot air, but it was still nice to have. I also been known to drive with ice packs and lots of water.

This summer I took her into the shop for the first and last time ever when she was deemed un-fixable and un-safe to drive..oops!

We have been meaning to junk her for some cash but my parents have not gotten around to it yet. It's okay though, because honestly even though I can't drive her anywhere I like being able to look outside my window and know that she's out there. I know I use pronouns to describe her, but I feel because she's such an old car Lorraine had such a personality...she's my little Herbie.

I have had a pretty tough semester, full of ups and downs, but I don't think anyone could have warned me for the change sophomore year brings. I have had moments where I really just wanted to give up. Even last night where I said to God--really? My life is devoted to discipling 6 girls. Sometimes I feel like I don't have a social life apart from that...I'm tired, I'm stressed, I have homework, I want to give up. He gently reminded my: you gave me your life and said use it for my glory. I have you where I want you and will give you grace to do anything you need to. Come find rest in me. Psalm 62.

I think if I didn't have Thanksgiving break I don't know if I would have been able to make it to the end of the semester. I was so stressed that I was becoming physically ill, with migraine headaches, stomach problems, sleep deprived etc. I really don't know.


But Thanksgiving break did come and I am grateful for that. I had the opportunity to have some good alone time at home...On Tuesday my family was out and about and I decided to workout inside and then I went for a run outside. It was so freeing and rejuvenating to run under the blue skies in the sunshine in almost 70 degree weather in November! Ahh. I came back to my house and decided to sit on the back of Lorraine and I laid down in the sun.

I don't know how long I was there for, but it was quite sometime. I began to think about my life and count my blessings and just be thankful to the Lord for who He is, for the opportunities I have had, for the amazing people He has put in my life, for everything...I felt the tendency to sulk in self-pity as well though, but I sat up and looked at the trunk of the car where I had put bumper stickers this summer. There are three: one with a someone riding a bike, playing frisbee, and in a hot tub. Each of them read "Life is Good." I couldn't help but smile thinking about how good my life is and how much I enjoy each of those activities and how refreshing they are. I continued to lay in the sun, count my blessings, and remembered- Life is good and I have such a loving God!

Even if Lorraine isn't drivable anymore, I am grateful for the moments I can have with her still. Time of quietness and the ability to be refreshed.

Life is good.

Sweet Carolina

O North Carolina how you are on my mind. I get to sit back and relax under your blue skies for 10 days beginning tomorrow. I think since I've come to college I appreciate you so much more. I may have even embraced my way inner country because those are essentially the only songs about you. But it's okay, because Carolina you're home. I will see you soon.
Now only two more quizzes and a fun time with some friends before I see you...
*sings* going carolina in my mind.....Baby, lets take a drive, top down,Underneath the Carolina sky, We can watch the fireflies, Try to outshine the stars :) :) :)