All Saint's Day & My Saints

Happy Feast Day friends! For those that don't know, today is All Saint's Day, where Catholics celebrate all the saints in heaven. We believe that everyone who goes to heaven becomes a saint, which is really very cool. Definitely a good goal to strive for :)

In honor of today, I thought I would honor four very special people in my family who I am very confident are up in heaven right now partying it up!

1. Great Grandmother 

Such an inspiring lady. My Dad's grandmother went to the Lord my freshman year and I have no doubt she has been a constant prayer warrior for my family. Great Grandmother is remembered for her amazing blessings over meals at family reunions. We would all stand there, holding hands, while she praised and thanked... and maybe called a few family members out. "And Lord..." usually preceded that. To this day, we will sometimes pray over meals and say "And Lord..." to remember her. 

2. Uncle Bill 

Uncle Bill passed on surprisingly this past April. He is my Dad's brother and an incredible man after the Lord's own heart. We still desperately miss him and all the light he added to the family. A devoted Baptist, he held prayer meetings every week and was known to never ever cancel them. Uncle Bill was a huge supporter to me in Theatre and tried to attend as many shows as he could. Handel's Messiah, our annual Christmas concert, was his favorite. He was always late, always loud, and always there. Rest in Peace Uncle Bill, and please pray for us!

3. Paw Paw

Mom's Dad left us right after I graduated from high school. He was the most epic man. A WW2 veteran, engineer, devoted husband, loving father, avid gardener, amazing grandfather, & a wonderful great grandfather. He and my Grandma still flirted even after being married over 50 years, and they have given me the greatest example follow in my own relationships. Paw Paw even told me what a virgin was! At four, I was watching a movie and the word virgin came up. I asked Paw Paw what that was and after thinking about it he said "a person who isn't married." That satisfied my curiosity for a good long while! We miss you bunches and bunches Paw Paw. 

4. Lulu

Momma's great aunt lived with my Grandma and Paw Paw and was a fixture in Simenton my whole life. She left us this past July. Lulu loved her Soap Opera's and crossword puzzles. As children, she would always have lemon drops for us in her room. She watched Mass on her TV every single day. For graduation, Lulu gave me the duvet cover I had been wanting since October of the previous year. It is probably my favorite part of my dorm room, and I feel like Lulu keeps me warm and comfortable every night. 

These are my Saints and role models. They taught me so much and I strive everyday to live up to their standard. The bar is set pretty high. I am confident though that with their prayers I can do it. Thank the Lord that we will one day be together again and are connected through Him. 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Goodness gracious I love this holiday. Back in middle school and high school, we got to dress up for school each Halloween. It was always so fun coming up with a witty idea and taking pictures! This is the first year I haven't dressed up for school and I am just a tad bit sad :( 

For the party on Saturday I was a preppy pig in a blanket (I wore a pink polo, pink bow, jeans, penny loafers, a snuggie, a tail, and a pig nose) but unfortunately I didn't get a good picture at all! :( sad day. 

Even though I am sans costume (do I really really have to grow up?) this year, I can still relive some of my old ones! 

Years 1&2: Lady Bug 

Year 3: Clown. I loved em. The Little Bro was Simba. Hakuna Matata!

Year 4: Witch. Funny Story... Mom asked me what I wanted to be and I told her that I wanted to be "wich" which she took to mean witch. But I actually meant rich. I guess this was an easier costume though. 

Year 5: Esmeralda 

Year 6: Bride

Year 7: Movie Star

Halloween is a very special part of my childhood. My wonderful Mother always made it super special for us and we always had a great time. I will definitely strive to follow her example when I have my own kids someday :) 

Maybe I'll dress one up like this:

So. Cute. Happy Halloween! 

Look what I did!

Quick post today y'all, I have a mound of homework to get to (such is college). At least its a gorgeous day and I have a nice table outside :)

This weekend I got crafty! I really shouldn't be allowed on the Martha Stewart aisle at Michael's. Its dangerous. There is so much glitter everywhere, my little girl self goes a bit insane. This time I stuck with two colors. Choosing which two was a little bit like choosing a favorite song. Impossible. And I didn't even need them for this project!

Okay enough about glitter. Remember when I was in Alabama a few weeks ago? Well the Bestie and I decided her wall needed some beautification. Oh dorm rooms. Sigh. So we went to Michaels and got the makings for three pictures: one for Louisiana (her home state), one for Bama (her home for the next 4 years), and Texas (because that's where she lives when she's not at school and boy oh boy is it great).

They turned out really well!

Louisiana:

She mightttt just be the biggest Saints fan in the world. 

Alabama:

(the final one had sweet home written on it in cursive)

"But wait," you cry. "Where is Texas?"

Ah yes. well. uh. you see I was having a very off day so my Texas one looked horrible. I am ashamed to call it mine. So I promised the Bestie I would paint her a new one this weekend.

Here it is!

The canvas was white which I painted to look like the Texas flag, and then I used cardstock cut in the shape of Texas which I filled with all of her favorite things about our home!

Some favorites:
-Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
-Escalantes
-Long car rides to David
-DASH
-Y'all
and of course, Rachel!

And that is the tale of my Texas picture! The canvas came in a two pack, so I most likely will be doing something else crafty so prepare for more crafty-ness in the near future!

Coming Back to the Heart of Worship

Source: google.com via Etta on Pinterest

Have you ever forgotten what it's all about?

Been so stressed out learning vocab for a spanish test that you forgot how beautiful the language is?

Been so concerned about eating healthy that food becomes a burden?

Been so aprehensive about doing the right thing that you don't do anything at all?

Been so filled with trepidation about your future that you stay stuck in the past?

I've been there y'all.

This past week was rough for me. It started out wonderfully, but I strayed from the meaning and without the meaning, life got hard. I didn't read the Word, I didn't go to Daily Mass, my prayers were spur of the moment and rushed. There were times I was so concerned with talking about Him, that I forgot about Him. And without the Lord guiding me through the week, I became so very very lost. Life is hard without His guidence.

Thank the Lord for new chances. Thank the Lord for Monday's. Thank the Lord for forgiveness, and mercy, and grace.

Source: chasingafterjesus.wordpress.com via Meleah on Pinterest

Here's my prayer for the week...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the blessings you have bestowed on me, even when I fail to recognize them. Thank you for the path, even when I stray. Thank you for the morning, for the chance to love you more. Father, please guide me this week. Keep my eyes, mind, heart, and soul fixed upon You alone. Show me the path that I should walk, for to you I entrust my life. I'm running to Your arms Father. Please catch me and hold me and walk with me this week. It's all about You. Help me remember that it is all about You.

In Jesus's Name,
Amen.

Week 10: What I Wore

I had some new pieces to work with this week thanks to the shopping trip I took with the bestie. It was a lot of fun to get dressed this week that's for sure :)

This weekend has a couple Halloween-ed themed events. I'm really pumped for my costume!!

Have a great weekend!

We're Breaking Free!

(We're soaring!!! Flying!!! Sorry I couldn't resist.)

I'm pretty sure I have the desires of a four year old. I always want to stay up late, eat junk food, play instead of work, take a nap, and be pink and sparkly.

On the other hand, my concious is somewhere between a 19 year old and an 80 year old. I strive to  be productive, a morning person, eat well, exercise, learn, and inspire.

They fight a lot.

Yesterday at bible study, we talked about how typically we are slaves to our passions. If it feels good, do it! At least that's what society tells us. The media constantly shows the stuggle, yet 9 times out of 10, the desires win out.

If it feels good to eat the chocolate cake, you should definitely eat it. Nevermind the fact that your pants might not fit as well, you deserve that cake.

Source: Uploaded by user via Kris on Pinterest

If you want to stay up until 3 watching old episodes of One Tree Hill on Netflix instead of going to sleep, you should do it! Nevermind the fact that you have a class at 9 am and if you don't get 7 hours of sleep you are cranky all day.

Source: quid-est-veritas.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

The list goes on and on. We put off the things we should do, that will benefit us in the long run, for the instant gratification.

I fought this last night, and I am sorry to say that I lost. I had a really hard spanish essay to prepare for, 2 assignments for costume design, a philosophy essay to write, and a long list of other to-do's. 

Source: oddee.com via Rachel on Pinterest

I quit in the middle of my spanish essay.

It was hard! And it was late, I was tired, cranky, and all I wanted was my bed. I still went to sleep late, and now I have to spend today playing catch up. Y'all, I have to quit that. I cannot let the four year old win. I have a to-do list, and it must get done.

Growing up is hard.

Stationery

Something I love: Handwritten notes. Such a dying art and it's a shame! I think that when someone takes the time to pen a note, thank you, birthday, or otherwise, it is one of the nicest gestures to receive. My father and I actually were just talking about this as he was driving me to the airport Thursday. That, and the thank you note/birthday notes I wrote today have me wanting some cute new stationery! I would definitely write more notes if I wrote on these:

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: katespade.com via Rachel on Pinterest

They are all pink....tee hee I'm not surprised! I will most likely be adding these to my collection soon. Which are your favorites? Hope your day is going well!

Music

A bit into my background, I have been singing my whole life. I remember singing along to Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in the car with my mom, singing along to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" with my daddy as he rocked me to sleep as a child, and singing along to Radio Disney with my long time friend Madelyn. I first joined church choir when I was 7, and have been singing in some sort of choir ever since. My senior year of high school I sang in our varsity choir, Triple Trio, in which I had the privilege of performing at the Texas Rennaisance Festival.

(A few of the guys from the varsity boy's choir with Spencer and I. Together we made the Double Triple Trio. Quick! How many people are in the Double Triple Trio?)

So it's safe to say that music is a huge part of my life. I love all types, with my two favorites being Country and Christian. I got into Christian Music my Sophomore year, when our church challenged us to only listen to that genre for 40 days. Long story short, I was hooked. 

It's intreresting to me to see how my music tastes have changed throughout the years. I am able to see chronologically the music I've bought thanks to iTunes (I'm also able to see how much money I have spent... yikes). From 2006 to now it has gone from mostly disney, to pop, to rap, to country, to christian. Now that's the majority of what I listen to. I think that music can express things that we have trouble speaking. It adds a new layer to prayer, after all, singing is praying twice. 

With that, I thought that I would share with you my top ten Christian songs of the moment: 

10: The Proof of Your Love by King and Country

"Let my life be the proof, the proof of Your love. Let my love look like You and what You're made of. How You lived, how You died, love of sacrifice. Let my life be the proof, the proof of Your love."

9:Hosanna by Hillsong Live

"Heal my heart and make it clean. Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like You have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause as I go from earth into eternity"

8: Running by Claus (feat. Kari Jobe)

"I am running, running after You. You've become my soul's delight. I am running, running after You. Here with You I find my life."

7:Sing over Your Children by Matt Maher

"Out of the depths You cry 'Come and be satisfied.' Father You sing, Father You sing, over Your children. Let us see through Your eyes. We are Your great delight. Father You sing, Father You sing, over Your children."

6:Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Cultures

"You stay the same through the ages. Your love never changes. There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. And when the oceans rage, I don't have to be afraid because I know that You love me. Your love never fails"

5: He Said by Group 1 Crew

"Don't forget what He said. He said 'I won't give you more, more than you can take and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break. You know I'm never ever letting go.' Don't you forget what He said."

4:Forever Reign by Hillsong Live

"Oh, I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace. Light of the world forever reign!"

3:Satisfy by Mark Swayze Band

"Satisfy my soul. Be the air I breathe. Satisfy my soul. You are all I need."

2:Here with Us by Joy Willams

"Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Heaven's love reaching down to save the world. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Son of God, Servant, King, here with us!"

1: With Everything by Hillsong Live

"Jesus our God, great and mighty to be praised! God of all things, glorious in all of Your ways. Your majesty, the wonder and grace, in the light of Your name."

Fall Break Recap

One of the greatest weekends of this semester!! The one complaint I had was that it was far. too. short.

grr.

1)REUNITED! I have never hugged someone so hard. Annie (my friend I was traveling with) and I's hands were shaking so badly on the plane because we were so excited. Gosh it was so good to see her!

2)While Lex was in class I sat at the largest Starbucks in the country! It was massive. This was my view. People watching ftw!

3)Lex and I in front of some pretty fountains. Just wanted a cute pic :)

4)Friday night we went to Pitch Perfect and ate at the Olive Garden! yummmmmmy breadsticks

5)Saturday we did some major shopping damage in Birmingham. It was very successful. 

6)After shopping we crafted up a storm. Lex now has two paintings and her monogram for her room!

7)We tend to match outfits (we are sort of the same person) and Sunday we were both in polo. Prep time.

8)Annie and I on the plane. We got to sit next to each other!

9)Annie's food for the journey. Pizzaaaa

Other fun tidbits:

-Over the course of our 6 hour round trip between Houston and Waco, Annie and I listened to every single Taylor Swift song ever released in order. Say what you will, I love me some T Swift and her new album is awesome. 

-The trees in Alabama are GORGEOUS. OMG. 

-UA and Baylor are as different as night and day. They are both wonderful schools, but Baylor is definitely the place for me. Its nice to get reaffirmation of that because UA was a top choice of mine.  

-I met my friend Katherine's cat Sunday night. Fattest cat in America I am pretty sure. 

-Due to my distress over my hometown Starbucks's lack of Pumpkin Spice Latte, I got a free brownie.

The break was fantastic and much needed. It was spectacular seeing Lex again and getting to spend time with her. Spending time with your best friend is like chicken soup for the soul, a bubble bath, a good book, a reeces peanut butter cup, and an amazing sale combined. After two monthes apart, we definitely needed it. I feel very blessed because the following indeed rang true:

I love you Lex! Thanks for a wonderful weekend :) 

Shoebox Saturday: The Closet

One of my favorite parts about my little shoebox is my closet. It is thankfully very spacious and has just the right amount of room for all of my clothes. I just added my winter clothes to it and they juuuuust fit.

The outside of my closet door is decked out with pictures from home. I'm planning on getting a lot more and covering all of the white spaces. 

Inside my closet. As lovely to the eye as color coordinated closets are, it's not feasible for the college lifestyle. So mine is organized by style. I have from left-right: coats, maxi dresses & skirts, dresses, long  sleeved tops, short sleeved tops, cami's, & scarves.

My shoes live on a shoe rack from target. I assembled it myself :) 

The two cloth bins are from the container store. They have various stuff in them such as my first aid kit (the white bag sticking up in the picture), my tool kit (its adorable and pink), and my beach towel. 

Over the door hooks have belts, hats, my apron, and my robe. 

The show may not be but the quote is awesome. 

Don't Be Discouraged. We Win!

It's the reason why so many love sports movies and war tributes... classic good vs. evil. We love to watch the battle, to watch the team coming together against a huge rival, the underdogs defeating their opponents. We watch because we want to see good win. In a world where thousands of children are killed daily, the marriage has become a joke, and rights have become wrongs, it's nice to see good overcoming evil for a change.

I tend to get discouraged easily. I am heartbroken for our world... a world divided, wounded, and bleeding. I hear people speaking untruths and wince. The enemy is vast and unyielding- I have trouble seeing hope. This happened on the airplane last night. I had begun to read Winning the Culture Wars by Peter Kreeft and was saddened because the devil has been winning lately. I finally had to take a break and delve into the Word. God provided me with the biggest confidence booster ever:

Revelation 12:7 And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels.

12:8 And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven.

12:9 And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world.  And he was cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.

12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.

12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.

12:12a Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. 

We win! Hallelujah! I almost teared up at the thought. Overcoming the devil once and for all...that's a battle I would love to fight in... wouldn't you? 

I'm going to leave y'all with some modivation from one of my favorite movies of all time, Remember the Titans:

Fight on friends... I'm praying for you! 

  

Jet Setting

My thoughts this week have not been profound in the slightest. Honestly I think I haven't been thinking right because 1) the phone debacle and 2)

I AM GOING TO SEE MY BEST FRIEND TOMORROW!

This is huge y'all. Epic. I am as excited as I would be if I got to perform on Broadway. It's that big.

My bestie is the greatest. And I cannot comprehend that in just 22 hours we will be reunited.

In honor of that occasion, and my impending flight to get to Alabama, I thought I would talk for the next few days about traveling.

First:

Looking jet set.

I don't think it will come as a shock to you that I really enjoy dressing up. I suscribe to the notion that we should live life excellently and intentionally. To me, part of that means putting some time into the clothes that I wear. Back in the day, traveling, especially by plane, was a special occasion, and a time to look one's best. Unfortunately that is not the case anymore. I think that's a shame!

Here's some inspiration to looking your best when traveling east... or west!
(please ignore how cheesy that was)

Source: atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com via Fleming on Pinterest

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Anna on Pinterest

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: milestostyle.com via Design Loft on Pinterest

Source: thepreppytimes.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Well there you have it!!!! My inspiration for traveling chic :) Any tips or tricks?

How about a laugh?

Because sometimes, that's all you can do.

I still don't have a phone, because mine is irreparable, and getting a new one here in Waco that is covered by my insurance is proving to be an incredibly sticky situation.

I have spent so many hours trying to figure this out, trying to get a temp. phone, trying not to get overly frustrated, and it is really weighing down on me.

So why don't we just look at some funny stuff??

Source: weknowmemes.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.tastefullyoffensive.com via Chelsie on Pinterest

Source: imgfave.com via Madeline on Pinterest

Source: themetapicture.com via Alisha on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

I hope y'all's weeks are going better than mine!

Countdown to Alabama: 48 hours!!!!!!!!