Mmmm.....finals........

Well, today I took my next to last final. It was for Graphic Design, and I actually had fun with it. We had to redesign the cover of our textbook. The attached photo is my finished version. Tomorrow I have New Testament, and after that, I'm technically done. I will, however, be here for 2 1/2 more weeks for May Term...yeah, it kinda sucks, but it was my choice because I need to get science credits in, but that's so hard during the regular school year because of all the studio hours I have. Ahh...the life of a busy college student. I truly do love it.

I can't believe my first year of college is coming to a close. Really, that's still a surreal thought to me. I have honestly loved being here, making the best friends I've made, and learning more about the person God intends for me to be. Brad and I have made it through what I think would be the roughest year for a couple, and every day I am learning new things about him that no one else knows - it's rather rewarding. I'm looking forward to being home this summer, but I can't help but expectantly look forward to move-in day in August. There are people here that I cannot see myself ever living without, and I feel like I've know them for a lifetime. God has been so good to me.

In closing, how am I honoring God with my life? How are you? Questions to ponder on...

Weekend Update

Well, I guess it's about time that I update on what's going on in my life. The semester is nearing its end (GASP), and then after that I'll be doing May Term until about the end of May. Big news - I talked with my parents, and they're going to help me fulfill my dream of studying abroad!!! Next summer, I'll be going to Florence and Rome, Italy for a month!! The summer after that, I'll be going to Africa for 2 weeks! I'll be getting 12 hours credit total from those 2 trips, and with those hours freed up in my regular school year schedule, I can add a religion minor! God is so good! I'm so excited about this. I pray that God will use all of this for his glory. I don't want to get tied up in the logistics of it - I want to praise him always.
One of my good friends Holly always inspires me. She's a fountain of wisdom, truly. She was telling me about this tattoo she wants to get on the inside part of her sole - one foot says, "God saves" and the other, "God pursues." She told me this message changed her life, and she wanted to bring that to other people (hence the writing on the feet). I've never really thought of God as a pursuer. I see Him as almighty, but I don't see Him as running after me. But He does. He pursues us with more passion than any lover and more heart than any saint. I love that about God. Our acceptance of Christ as our Lord does not come as a shock to God, but as a fulfillment of His love that He pours out on us. He is on the move.

"The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails."

Minding my own business

I've got a lot on my mind. A LOT. I keep trying to tell myself a religion minor can't be done, but it keeps popping up in my head. I don't want to think that is coincidence. It is possible, but it would require a lot of time and money, the former being the most burdensome. I want to do it so badly - I'm going to keep working and see what doors are opened. If they lead me down the path of adding another minor, then wonderful. If not, then that's okay, too.

Snow and Tests ...

It snowed a lot today. It was nice, and I hope it will hold over long enough to get us out of school tomorrow. That would be absolutely splendid because I have a New Testament test on Wednesday that would must definitely facilitate an entire Tuesday of studying. Okay, so it would also be nice to sleep in a bit.
I have something that I've been thinking about lately that I am now seriously considering - double majoring. I had planned on minoring in English, but the more I think about it the more I realize that I would really enjoy higher level Literature classes. I was looking in the catalog today, and some of the upper level classes sound so wonderful to me - Literature & Film, in particular. If I double majored, that means I would need to take two Graphic Design/Art classes per semester and two English classes per semester until graduation. That puts me at twelve semester hours, and when you factor in other necessary hours (such as Speech), I think it could work. Dr. Crutchley mentioned something to me today - he said I should think about minoring in religion. If I did that, I'd have to take one religion course per semester until graduation, which puts me at fifteen hours already plus the other stuff I would need. I don't think I could handle that, because it would put me at at least eighteen hours per semester until I graduate. No, thank you. So, for now, I am seriously considering adding that major. For anyone who may read this, keep that in your prayers.
Speaking of prayers, I've noticed that I've been praying a lot more throughout the day. Just little prayers, nothing long or eloquent, which I think is okay. I don't think God likes formalities - the veil's already been torn. I was also talking to a friend recently who said that she has been asking God specifically for things that are His - ie, His grace, His love, His mercy, rather than "Grant me grace, love, and mercy." Now I don't think it's always right to get wrapped up in the syntax of something, but this really struck me. We can come to God, freely ask for something that is His, and then He gives it to us - amazing. It is easy to forget that Jesus tells us to ask God for our heart's desire (Matthew 7), but the key is that our hearts must first be in line with God's Word and will.
I pray today for God's peace during the times of stress, His mercy to those that seem harder to love, and His love that allows me to look at the world through His eyes, if just for a moment.

Dear Editor ...

So - big news. I'm getting a letter published in People Magazine!! I was thanking them for including Brad Renfro in their "Farewells 2008" edition. Renfro was an actor from Knoxville who was in many big Hollywood films (Tom & Huck, anyone??). He had a big drug problem, though, and ended up overdosing this past year. At last year's Oscars, when they had a tribute to all the different Hollywood people who had passed away, Renfro was snubbed for the sake of many lesser-known actors and "Hollywood people." Despite all his problems, he was still a great actor and worthy of recognition, so that was kinda rude on the part of the Oscar committee.
So look out for the January 26 edition of People!

on the road again ...

Well I'm back at CN now. I came back on Sunday around 5:30 and spent the rest of the night unpacking. Honestly, I was excited to come back ... and then when I got here, I was just ecstatic! This place feels so much like home to me now. And seeing all of the friends I hadn't seen in 3 1/2 weeks ... ah, it was amazing!
Yesterday I went with that Anna and that Lindsay to visit Alex in Johnson City. It was so much fun. Especially seeing Alex and her a m a z i n g condo! I really love that girl. Well, all those girls. :)
Today I've just moseyed around. Raining a lot. I went with Megan to Subway today and got a flatbread sandwich. I hadn't gotten one of those from there before, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
Speaking of surprises, I am actually really looking forward to school starting. I guess after a while, laying around, sleeping, & eating sporadically every day gets kind of old. I'm ready to be back on a schedule. And I'm also very excited about my classes! All of them are very interesting to me, especially my first official graphic design class!! I picked up my books yesterday, and the graphic design typography book is mind-blowing. I love it.
Now for one of my favorite activities: organizing (seriously)! Classes start tomorrow, so I'm going to get everything in order and try to get to bed early.