A Little Bit of Clarity

I'm addicted yall. I didn't think it was a problem... but when I was forced to quit cold turkey for 48 hours I realized how bad the problem really is.

I'm addicted to my phone.

I had no idea! I don't spend all of my time texting or playing Angry Birds. Yet, when my phone randomly broke on Saturday I sort of felt like someone had chopped off my leg.

Suddenly I realized with such clarity it smacked me in the face that my phone is a huuuge part of my life.

Examples:

1)I couldn't get into contact... with anyone. Not when I was going to meet my parents at their seats to watch the footballgame, not when I did something dumb and needed to ask my mom what to do, not when I wanted to ask a classmate a question about Spanish, and not even when I wanted to go eat with friends!

2)Instagram. :(

3)MUSIC... my world for the past two days has been quite quiet. I need my T Swift and David Crowder back.

4)Maps: It was even worse than the new Apple Map App...

And as each hour went by I realized a new use that I associated with my phone that I hadn't ever thought about. Turns out I spend a lot more time looking at the little retina display that I thought.

How bad is that? Because I don't think I am the only one. How many times, instead of experiencing the world around us, do we look at our phones? How many times to we play angry birds instead of reading a book. Can you imagine if we spend all of those moments praying? If we sent a "text" to God instead of reading those old messages? I imagine it would be like when in Elf the Christmas Spirit meter sky rocketed and Santa's sleigh took off (if you haven't seen that movie shame on you. Go watch it. Right now. I'll wait.). Wouldn't it be cool?

My phone is currently in the shop getting repaired, but when I get it back I think I am going to try something new. I'm going to spend some time away from my phone. When I am studying, or walking to class, or hanging out with friends, I am going to try to be present. That means I have to put the phone away. It will be hard at first, but life is far too short to live it through my iphone. 

Week 8: What I Wore

Started out the week in the 50's (first column)... and ended it in the 80's (last three)... bi polar Texas weather never fails!! 

It's parents weekend and there is a game tomorrow! I can't wait :) 

Have a lovely weekend! 

Beating the Devil

Guys... I fought against the devil today. And it ROCKED.

Here's the story:

I was having lunch with a dear friend Maddie and we decided to go and make some new friends! We walked around and asked people if they had 5 minutes to chat. They said yes and we began to have a conversations. After the first one turned to God, and was super fantastically amazing, the others started to as well!

It was spectacular.

Yet something else happened after the first convo... things started to get difficult.

First, when barely beginning to talk to one girl, it started to rain where we were. The thing was... it was sunny! But we went into the SUB, and had an awesome chat.

With the next girl, we were standing on a street that isn't accessible to cars, when a street sweeper came! They are only supposed to be there at night.

It continued with the next girl! As soon as the subject turned toward the Lord, we were distracted by gnats that wouldn't leave us alone, as well as 2 edge cutters going full speed randomly. We kept going each time and saw the fruits of our labor.

Maddie and I made 5 new friends and perhaps made them think.

You know what's fun? Beating the devil. Because he cannot win. One myth commonly believed is that God and the devil are equals... but that is not true. The Lord made the devil. He isn't even a fraction of the Great that God is.

Fight Satan off... you'll win.

"Saint Michael the Archangel defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray. And do thou, oh prince of the heavenly host, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls."
-Prayer to St. Michael 

The Future

"I am oppressed by the uncertainty of my future...but I cherish the lively hope of seeing my dreams fulfilled because the Lord cannot place desires in a person's heart unless He intends to fulfill them, to gratify those longings that He alone has created." -St. Padre Pio 

Anyone ever think about the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side"? I'm experiencing it right now. I just get back from my advising session for the spring semester and my head is in a tailspin. There are so many possibilities! 

That's my green grass... I am at the point in my life where I could head down about 89 gagillion (Yes thats a number) different paths. It's the beauty of going to such a great school. Yet it's also so difficult because I don't know which one there is to choose. The grass seems a little bit more green on the side of the person who has one path and will stick to it. For awhile I thought I had that... I have been acting since I was four and thought that was the path. But suppose it isn't? Well that leaves me with zero idea of what I am supposed to do with my life. 

Here's the thing: It's not about what I want to do anymore. That's what I have been slowly learning the past year or so. I have a purpose and a reason for why I am here. It no longer matters what my ambitions are. If they don't coincide with the Father's, well then the thing that I thought would make me happy will instead make me miserable. 

So I am trying to discern His will. And boy it's tough! A dear mentor of mine named Mama Lynch once told me that if I get out of bed every morning and tell the Lord "Thy will be done." then even if I don't know what His will is, I will do it. As the bible says 

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given unto you" Matthew 6:33

 So there's the plan. There's the path. It's a scary path, because the unknown is frightening to us humans. It's scary to me to just trust that He has a plan and that it is perfect, but that's what I am going to do.

Source: tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Healthy... blah

Okay lovely people I'm about to get real with y'all...

I've gained some weight.

Yeesh that's so embarrassing to say! Yet I think a huge first step to conquering an issue is admitting there is a problem. So that is what I am doing.

Food in college is tricky... it seems like there are days when I don't eat at all and others where I eat like it is my last meal. I think that part of this is a time management issue... and another part is will power. As in, I have none. The chick fil a in the SUB is so delicious and easy, I have an incredibly hard time turning it down. Burgers and coffee and baked goods are so yummy and they always seem to end up in my tummy. I'm coming up on my 8th week here, and while this isn't a full blown issue yet (i.e. my clothes still fit well even though they are a bit more snug) I would preferably like to get it under control now.

So here is my plan:

1) EXERCISE THREE TIMES A WEEK! This is my one goal that I am having particular trouble with. Aka: haven't done it once. Not one single time. This must change people. My healthy pinterest page (check it out!) will get some use. I want to run the bear trail, take a Zumba class, and maybe even brave the workout room at the SLC. Oh boy.
*UPDATE* Ran my first 3 and half miles on the Bear Trail yesterday.... sore muscles? You betcha.



2)Plan out where and when I am going to eat each day. I know this is going to be tricky. Sometimes spontaneity happens and plans will change, but if I have a specific time to eat then I won't end up super hungry and over eat, or eat somewhere super awful for me because I am not thinking straight.


3)Only have 3 meals a day. Common sense right? Not exactly. In Waco, there isn't much to do. One of the main hang out activities is eating, so there are days when I will inadvertently have four, or even five meals! 3 is the new number. If I go hang out with friends at a dining hall, I will have to force myself not to eat just because they are.

4)Gulp... only 2 cups of coffee a day.

5)Bigger gulp... chick fil a 1 time a week. I might cry.

But I can do this!
Because I want to be healthy.
Because I want to cherish the body that the Lord gave me and use it to the fullest.
Because there's no time like the present.
Because this is life and I am going to live it.
Watch me. 

Birthday Weekend: Recap

What a whirlwind of a weekend!! I actually feel like I blinked and then it was over. Ah well, such is with fun!

Friday: It was HOTTTT!!! But my riding boots and I were stubborn, and we pretended that all was cool calm and collected. My roommate woke me up with a super adorable cupcake cake that looks like my dog, a princess card, and a birthday pin.

Isn't it cute??

I spent the day with friends hanging out (with a class or two thrown in there for good measure).
Then around 6:30 two of my bestest friends in the whole entire world came into town along with my parents, little brother, and his girlfriend.

My favorite picture of the three of us from last year .

We had the most delicious dinner at 1424. I had steak that cut like butter and melted in my mouth along with fried potatoes and broccoli. It was so yummmmmmm. Then the parents went to sleep and the kids attempted bowling... but the bowling places closed early... wamp wamp. So we stayed up late watching the avengers, playing jenga, and laughing at my idiotic little bro.

It was a great way to end my birthday :)

Saturday: (Fun fact: it was my mom's birthday! We are just a day apart... isn't that cool?) We had a lazy lazy morning! Clare (of Let Us Eat Food) and I had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel while everyone else slept in, then the whole clan (minus Miles because he had to head back to the big H-town) headed to Georges for some superb classic Waco food. It was super cold outside but the food was hot so all was well. Oh, and the boys were happy because of the football on tv. We said bye to my parents and then Clare, Kev, and I went to see Pitch Perfect!

Source: leftstudios.com via Marquise on Pinterest

Oh. So. Funny. I want to see it four more times. Kev headed back to College Station and Clare and I got some quality girl time watching silly movies and gabbing.

Sunday: Nothing too exciting... drove Clare back to Georgetown, picked up Andrea, and went back to Waco. Oh but I did have a super awesome Strike! It was so much fun :) The entire theatre department comes together to tear down the most recent show and then there are a whole bunch of traditions. I can't really explain much but it was great to come together as a big theatre family. I love those guys.

There ya have it! My birthday has come and gone, and now I get to see what 19 will bring! Whoop!!!

Week 7: What I Wore

I don't have much to say about this week... its starting to get cold here which is super exciting! 

Scarves are starting to be okay and I will finally allow myself to wear riding boots!

Fun Fact: My birthday is the day that I allow them to come out... and today is my birthday! So the Tory's are back. Woo hoo!!

Here's to being 19... it's going to be a good year :)