chocolate cake and party hats.

My Birthday was last Wednesday: The big TWO-ZERO. Woke up to find cupcakes waiting for me from my awesome roomie Kali (YUMMY), went to class (unfortunately), and then spent the day in the park soaking up the sunshine (i ♥ spring). After chapter that night, we got some friends together for my birthday dinner at Niffer's (EAT THERE).

roomies

my cake that Jani made!

the whole group :) way to cut Pierce out of the picture, Michel.

I am so thankful for all of my friends and all of the sweet letters and presents I received. Y'all made it the best birthday ever!

Proverbs 3

1My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

2for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you prosperity.

3Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.^a

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and shun evil.

8This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline

and do not resent his rebuke,

12because the LORD disciplines those he loves,

as a father^b the son he delights in.

13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

the man who gains understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

15She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

16Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

19By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,

by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20by his knowledge the deeps were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

21My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,

do not let them out of your sight;

22they will be life for you,

an ornament to grace your neck.

23Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble;

24when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25Have no fear of sudden disaster

or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26for the LORD will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from being snared.

27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

when it is in your power to act.

28Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—

when you now have it with you.

29Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

who lives trustfully near you.

30Do not accuse a man for no reason—

when he has done you no harm.

31Do not envy a violent man

or choose any of his ways,

32for the LORD detests a perverse man

but takes the upright into his confidence.

33The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34He mocks proud mockers

but gives grace to the humble.

35The wise inherit honor,

but fools he holds up to shame.

spring break take 2

After getting picked up from Port St. Joe on Thursday, my mom, my sister, and I headed to Apalachicola to take pictures of the cute little town (Go here to see pictures!) and then drove to the beach house in Panama City.

At the beach...

A third grader asks me if I play any sports. I explain to her that I played soccer in high school but now I don't. She responds: "Oh. Well, you look like a cheerleader." The same girl also said that I looked like I was 12. Cool. 

We go to Pier Park to eat lunch and shop. Isabelle wants to separate so she can buy me a birthday present. I tell her not to waste any money by getting me something useless. 15 minutes later, Mom and Isabelle come out of the store with 2 huge wooden sticks. Responding to the expression on my face, Isabelle looks at me and says, "Rain sticks are NOT useless." Wow. 

Isabelle finds a starfish and names it Psyche. Despite my objection, they decide to try and bring the starfish back to Birmingham and raise it. BAD IDEA. Rest In Peace, Psyche. 

To top off a wonderful spring break, I come home to find a princess balloon and an Ariel cake waiting for me (Thanks Daddy!) which proves my point that one should ever have to grow up.  

Last Week

So, as you probably already know, last week was Spring Break.

I miss last week already.

My week: Amplify {Port St. Joe, new friends, painting, roofing, worship, driving, beach, sunrises} and Home {old friends, movies, frisbee golf, family, too much food}.

Regretfully, I shunned my camera this week and took a grand total of TWO pictures.  I need to work on this.

46 days until the semester is over.  Let's go.

Sunrise in Port St. Joe

Amplify 2011

Spring Break Part One.
Saturday through Thursday of Spring Break consisted of:
hours and hours of driving.
very little sleep (Dear Time Change, I hate thee).
learning how to roof (complete with sack lunches, tar stains, and a farmer's tan).
playing with kids.
sugar overload.
making lots of new friends.


And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ROMANS 10:15

my work crew!

AOII

The girls in our house minus Caroline

Spring Break Mode

sunscreen? check. bathing suit? check. sunglasses? check. book? check. absolutely positively no thinking about school? check. chacos? check. work gloves? check???

After many long and draining weeks of school...It's finally spring breakkkk!!! This year, Caroline and I are going on AMPLIFY, First Baptist Opelika's college mission trip to Port St. Joe, FL. Not only will we get to go to the beach, but we will be serving the community and spreading Christ's love while we are there.  I am so excited and can't wait to see what God has in store.

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:17

HAPPY SPRING BREAK. P.S.-Don't forget to appreciate the sunsets.

Sweet

I love sweets.  And ice cream and chocolate are at the top of my sweets list.  Unfortunately (for my taste buds; fortunately, for my waist), I'm lactose intolerant.  This hiccup has forced me to become a little bit more creative with my diet.  

All hail the gross-looking mini-hamburger homemade ice-cream sandwich.  Aka chocolate frozen yogurt smashed between 2 cookies.

I know, I know.  It's a bit questionable looking.  The creepy heart cookies were on sale after Valentine's Day.  But I'm not going to apologize for chocolate being brown.

Now, the part you're DYING to know: THE RECIPE.

You know, believe it or not, it's really not that complicated.

Put 2 pre-formed cookies in a toaster oven for 7 minutes.

Let the cookies cool.

Put the yogurt between 2 cookies.

Enjoy!

{estimated prep time: 30 seconds}

Yum.

23 Years Ago

It's no mystery that some of the buildings on Auburn's campus are pretty old.  Parker Hall, where I have all of my math and physics classes, went up in 1963 (according to Auburn's website).  So I really shouldn't be surprised when I find stuff like this on the seat in front of me:

But I was surprised.  Fascinated actually.  It's just kind of crazy how college kids still do the same things, decade after decade.  Some kid was sitting in my exact same seat in 1988, thinking "Good grief, this circuit mess doesn't make a lick of sense.  Oh wait, maybe if they'd lay off the AC in this building I'd actually be warm enough for my brain to thaw, and I'd be able to learn something.  And wouldn't it be funny if I put this sticker [that those annoying people on the concourse gave me] on the seat in front of me?  I wonder who Bush Quayle is?"  So much is the same.  Granted the ash trays on the wall in this same classroom go largely unused, thank heavens, but you get the point.

Maybe in 2012, I'll put a cool _____, ______ 2012 sticker on the seat in front of me.  Then in 2035, some kid will think the same things I did today.  

And I sure hope that sticker has the name of our 45th president.

Call the fire department

So it's been one of those weeks where luck isn't going my way. In fact, luck is actually sprinting in the opposite direction. Here's my proof:
Monday.
After class, I come back to the dorm and decide to make some popcorn.
Put the bag in the microwave and set the timer for three minutes and walk back to my room.
Return to the kitchen after ONE minute to see smoke everywhere and smell burnt popcorn.
React.  ME "Umm i think i just set off the fire alarm." CAROLINE(from her room): "No you didn't"...(walks into the kitchen) Oh yepp."
Ridiculously high-pitched noise emerges from our room. It stopped. I begin to relax. Maybe I didn't set it off? Nope, a few seconds later the Fire Alarm Goes off. Awesome.
I admit to everyone that the cause of having to leave the dorm in the middle of prime nap time is because of me and my stupid popcorn.
Come back to the room to find the bag of popcorn gone. Maybe the firemen took it for evidence?
Still to be determined...


Today.
I finally find time to officially change my major to English. This requires me going to the office of the College of Education, getting my folder (filled with my entire college career), and taking it to the office of College of Liberal Arts. Sounds simple, right? Wrong.
11:35 AM: Go to the Ed. office and fill out the transfer form. They tell me to take it to the college I'm tranferring into. No big deal.
11:40 AM: Arrive at Liberal Arts office, only to find it closed for lunch. Cool.
A lady sees me looking in the office and sees that I'm changing my major. She proceeds to tell me that the College of Liberal Arts just stopped accepting applications on February 28th and not again until April 1st. Well that's convenient. She says that I need to take my folder back to the College of Education so I don't get kicked out of school (Not her exact words).
11:50 AM: I go back to the Education office. They close for lunch at 11:45. Typical. Starting to get a little frustrated. Go to my dorm to take a shower.
12:45 PM: Get back to the Education office as soon as they open back up. The lady tells me I need to wait to see an advisor. Apparently she's on the phone. I wait...
1:45 PM: My impatience grows. Is she really still on the phone?? I ask the lady how much longer she thinks it will be. She goes to her office to check on the progress. She comes back to tell me that my advisor will be busy the rest of the day. You could've told me that an hour ago. But okay, I JUST NEED TO GIVE YOU BACK THIS DANG FOLDER (I didn't actually use those exact words). She tells me that there's nothing she can do for me and I will need to come back tomorrow.. everything should be fine. Thanks for being so reassuring.
Currently: Instead of being tucked safely away in the College of Liberal Arts office, the folder containing my entire college career is on. my. desk.

Maybe the rest of the week will get better. Maybe.