January in a Nutshell

I have been informed that I need to blog. My apologies.

January has FLOWN by. School kicked off with a bang, and I've left Auburn the last three weekends in a row. I can already tell it's going to be a very, very busy semester (but hopefully very, very fun!). Here is my month in a few pictures.

MLK weekend, I went with my dear friends Mike and Katherine Motta and their youth group to the Strength to Stand conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The worship leader for our venue, Matt Papa, had a very "Christian" piano.

I will never understand why people think that wearing tshirts that say "Ninjas for Jesus" is a good idea. You look like a freak. It's embarrassing.

I stumbled upon red velvet coffee while perusing the outlets in Pigeon Forge. HOLY SMOKES get in my tummy.

I bought this cute little travel kit at the brand, spanking new Family Dollar that's only 0.4 miles from my apartment. I needed a new travel toothbrush.

A mystery sock. I found this straggler in my clean clothes straight out of the dryer; Alex and Liz had to do some extreme detective work to determine who was the true owner of the stowaway.

This past weekend I helped with DNow at Shades. I genuinely can't figure out what a tape ministry is. I'm guessing it's probably audio recordings, but for such a tech-savvy place it seems like (video)cassettes (tapes-film-whatever) would be a little out of date. Maybe it should be renamed the Flashdrive Ministry. Or the Digital Ministry. Or better yet just steer away from the device and call it the Recording Ministry. In my head, I can just see adults teaching children how to appropriately make masking tape figurines. Okay, I'm getting carried away (and a little sacreligious). Sorry.

Cuties. My wonderful group of senior girls at DNow introduced me to Cuties. "Cuties are made for kids." They're easy to peel and yummy to eat. Win!

Loved catching up with my sweet friends.

I got an insanely small amount of sleep the weekend of DNow. In the picture below, I'd been awake for 4+ hours, and my eyes still don't look fully open.  Thankfully Sunday night I clocked in 11.5 hours of glorious shut-eye.

The ironing board has found its new home in my room in Birmingham. Not sure how I feel about this or what type of message Mama is trying to tell me.

Self-timer alert! On my way back to Auburn, I stopped by Dadeville to see my grandparents. I broke out my camera to document our time together.  I don't do that enough.

Grammy has been working on a hand-stitched quilt for me for a long time, and I finally got to see it. So pretty!

Finally, today is my other roommate's, Liz's, birthday. She's really not that many candles old, but I thought the image was funny.

That's all folks.

our mission field.

i look down at my left wrist and adjust the bracelets. one sticks out to me more than the others. its faded orange fabric reminds me of a spanish speaking country and it reminds me to pray for the people there. and i realize that guatemala is not so different from here. i think of R, who gave his life to Christ and invited us to eat his birthday cake with him. i'm reminded of the meeting between him and a godly professor at the university. it wasn't a cordial meeting between a student and a teacher. it was much more than that. there was a hardy embrace, the professor welcoming the newly-professed follower as his brother in Christ. the Lord unites his followers. and i think of A, i think of her callous heart, so put off by our faith and so obviously hurt by the people of the church. i pray for her, and for others like her: Lord, soften her heart. may you bring growth to the seed planted and remove the searing pain of what has hurt her. draw her to yourself. 

many more stories flood my mind, but i stop reminiscing and start thinking about my current mission field. the Lord constantly reminds me that i can go on mission trips, but my life should consist of one unifying mission.  and it's the same underlying mission that should dictate our everyday lives: make his Name famous. it's not about me; it never was, and it never will be.

please join me in praying for boldness & focus in Christ's followers around the world and around our neighborhood. pray for the hearts of those who hear his Word and have not accepted it as truth. also join in praying for my sweet roomie, who is pouring into the lives of highschool students this weekend. may God speak through her and impact those girls.

yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,

we wait for you;

your name and your renown

are the desire of our hearts.

Isaiah 26:8

yesterday {in black&white}

We wore matching boots, braved the brief downpour, watched the sun set over the lake, and successfully caught a few bass.  

A spontaneous fishing trip is the best way to spend an afternoon.

The Christmas Bucket List -Debriefing

For better or for worse, I managed to accomplish almost everything on my bucket list.

1.  Go to the Alabama Theater

Elf

2.  See Skyfall, Argo, and The Hobbit

I never made it to Argo, but I did go see Les Miserables!

3.  Go hiking (Oak Mtn or Cheaha)

FAIL.  Didn't happen.  And I owe Macie Champion a hiking date.

4.  Bake cake and cookies

5.  Drive around and look at Christmas lights

6.  Go shopping and finish with a week to spare

December Saturdays at the Galleria - always a mistake

7.  Have a fire (weather pending)

The first scheduled fire got rained out, but we made it happen!

8.  Meet a friend for coffee

Starbucks with Ms. Tami!

9.  Eat at a "new" restaurant

I actually ate at two "new restaurants" (I know, I'm really getting crazy), Another Broken Egg Cafe and Over Easy.

10.  Go to a concert at Workplay

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

11.  Read 3 books

I read The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien), Skipping Christmas (John Grisham), and Nikon D5100 (David Busch).

I read this thing cover to cover.

12.  Make the most of every opportunity.

Somewhat subjective, but I'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt.

Christmas Break Update #2

This past weekend we made our Christmastime trip to Abbeville, filled with:

~ friends ~

~ family ~

~ pets ~

Teddy having too much fun

Judith - the pig who sits for a treat, and Punk - the dog who taught Judith to sit

Judith's glamor shot

~ cows ~ 

~ wide open spaces ~

~ lots of photo ops ~