2009

Is it just me, or did 2008 fly by? 2008, you were good to me. Thanks!

It's been a while since I've written, but I'll give you a brief recap of the past few weeks.

- Dec. 19th-30th were spent in Leon, Guanajuato with my family! It was a glorious 10 days seriously doing nothing but relaxing, catching up on sleep from the semester, and enjoying hanging out with my family. I couldn't have asked for a better 10 days. Seriously, it was wonderful.

- Dec. 31st- I made it back to Austin, TX just in time to catch dinner with some friends, and then go on a party barge on Lady Bird Lake overlooking DT Austin. It was a fundraiser for our team for Egypt and it was a huge success. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and it was a great night with friends!

-Jan 2nd- I got to see one of my best friends in the world get married to the love of his life! My dear friend, Barrett Raven married the beautiful Kristen Camp in a small ceremony here in Austin. The whole MAK family was back together to celebrate their marriage. Even though I don't get to see this group of people often. They will forever hold a very special place in my heart. That summer I learned more about the beauty of community than any other season in my life. I know that we will be friends for a lifetime. I love these guys SO dang much.

-Jan. 5th- Back to work. Blah. It's work, and it's nothing spectacular, nor nothing horrible. This was also the day that the amazing Texas Longhorns put up another win for the season. We were playing in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, and with seconds to go in the game Quan Cosby did this...

Remember that time we are so awesome? We should have played for the national championship, but that's a whole other argument that I don't feel like getting into right now.
- Jan. 8th- Bob Stoops and the OU (sucks) Sooners yet AGAIN blew a BCS bowl game. That's five in a row. Way to reprsent the Big 12.... not. GATOR CHOMP GATOR CHOMP GATOR CHOMP. I, of course, was rooting for Florida to win. And Tebow came through :) He's beautiful by the way.

I leave for Egypt in TWENTY DAYS. 20 days. Holy stinkin cow. Please pray for me, and my team. It's going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm beyond excited, and nervous at the same time. The Lord is good. I'm so thankful and humbled to be a part of this team, and very much looking forward to everything He has in store for our time in this country.

That's the jist of what's been going on lately. Things are going well.

Over and out.

Whatever You're Doing...

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

This song sums up a lot of my life right now. Christ is moving my heart in more ways that I can even begin to comprehend. His will for my life has been made so evident to me, it's almost scary. I have a lot of huge decisions to make over the next couple of months. Please pray for me. And before you ask, no, I am not moving to the D.R.

Life is good and the Lord is so so so great.

Countdown:
Last day of semester: 4 days
Vacation to Leon, Guanajuato: 5 days
NORTH AFRICA: 45 days.

Happy Graduation!

This past Saturday I attended the school of Nursing graduation at UT. I went to cheer on my friend, Heather! If there is one person that was ready to be done with college it's Heather. This girl has worked hard. Really really hard in school. She's been through so much, and at the end of the day continues to seek and follow the Lord's will in her life. Heather lost her dad earlier this semester in an accident, and she's proven to be so strong through everything that life has thrown her way. Walking through that tragic experience with Heather, and praying for her has brought so much hope in my life. She amazes me, and I'm so thankful to call this girl my friend. She's one of those people who brings much joy into my life. Her love for the Lord is absolutely contagious, and her love for her family and friends is so wonderful to see and feel. On Sunday she moves to Dallas, TX. I will miss this girl in more ways than I can explain, but I know the Lord will be faithful to her in this next season of her life. She's one of those friends that don't come along that often. I've been blessed and will cherish her friendship forever.

Happy Graduation, Heather! I love you!

December...

I love NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!!

In other news I've been listening to this song on repeat all morning at my desk:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart(X's2)

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
(Yes Lord, Thank You Lord)

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

I really really like this song a lot! We sang it last night at church. I love my church. I love the truth spoken week in and out. I missed last Sunday since were in NYC, and it's crazy how much I miss the Stone when I'm away.

NYC was great. It was really really cold, but other than that it was really great to hang out and be away. I love NYC. We went to see a show, did a ton of shopping, ate some really good food, and I got to spend time with girls who mean a lot to me. Ya!

My birthday is NINE DAYS AWAY. I can't believe I'm about to be 25. I'm having a birthday bash on Friday at my house. If you are in town come by!

Work is work. I'm so glad it's December. Three weeks of work and then I'm off for two whole weeks!

I almost can't believe it's December 1st. This year has flown by so fast. So many changes have occurred in my life over the past year. Some that were harder than others, but at the end of the day I say that the Lord has been good to me through and through.

Here are some pics from my mini-vacay to NYC:

Remember that time we met "Jenny Humphries" from GOSSIP GIRL?!?!

Tanya and I on the plane! We're almost there!!! I love this woman.


Us in front of Serendipity. Best MINT frozen hot chocolate ever!

I sure do love that roommate of mine. We've just finished some great NYC pizza!

Two of the greatest ladies I've ever met. This is us freezing in Times Square waiting for Broadway tickets!!! We saw Phantom of the Opera.

I love countdowns...

I love seeing the number of days that I have left to something exciting in my life. Here's a list of my current favorites:

Trip to NYC!!!!!!! - 3 days
Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday besides my birthday)- 10 days
My 25th Birthday- 23 days
Last day of school for the semester- 32 days
Vacation to Mexico with my parents- 33 days
Christmas- 38 days!
Barrett's wedding!- 46 days!
Trip to North Africa with 10 AMAZING women- 73 days

Ok, that's all for now!!!!

What a great weekend I had. I got to meet the team I'm serving with this coming Jan/February. I got to watch Texas get another win this season, Hook'em!! I got to hang out with some old friends, and new friends on Saturday night and eat some delicious food. I got to get up at the crack of dawn to serve the children of the austin stone through kidstuff! I got to worship a God that I love bringing praise to. I got to eat a great dinner with my wonderful roommate, Laurin. I got to rest and enjoy all that the Lord has blessed me with. Here's to a great weekend... and a great week to come.

over and out.

Guanajuato, Mexico

These are my roots! I'm going to spend 10 awesome days there this Christmas break with my parents! VIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!! I'm actually from Texas, but this is where my parents are from. It's always nice to go back there. They feel very at home there... as they should.

I love it!

Some great things going on...

1. I've gotten a TON of rest the past five or so days. The Lord is faithful to provide rest. I just gotta keep remembering this. I gotta slow down.
2. I got to put up my friend, Paik's, Christmas tree last Thursday!!! I love Christmas! i can't wait to get our tree up! We have the perfect window!
3. I got to celebrate my dear friend, Summer's 25th Birthday on Friday night! Yay cheese and wine, and catchphrase!!!!
4. I got to cheer on my HORNS in person on Saturday! It was so great to be back at the DKR stadium and sing Texas Fight about 50 times! And afterwards got to eat a delcious hamburger at my favorite on campus spot, Player's!
5. My parents came in town and bought me some stuff for my trip to NYC!!!!! :)
6. And the last, probabaly most EXCITING THING OF MY LIFE, is that I'm going here in JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Message me and I'll tell you why I'm going there and what I'll be doing. I'm so excited.

Christ is faithful to provide for His children. I'm blessed.