Missing My Southern Comfort Zone

I had been in full preparation for my week long stay at Girl Scout Camp camp for two weeks. It was my first time away from home with anyone other than family, I was 7 years old, and unbelievably excited. This was a huge step towards being a “big girl” and I was ready. We had bought camp supplies (pink towels, shower shoes, bug spray, adorable blue and green butterfly stationary etc.) and I had even corn-rowed my hair! I imagined making lifelong friends, having daring adventures, learning new things, and having the time of my life. My parents dropped me off on Sunday afternoon and we had a fun evening of camp orientation before heading to our cabins to rest up for the next day. I was so excited that I could barely sleep! The next day couldn’t come fast enough.

While I do not remember exactly what happened that day, I know I did NOT have fun. It was harder to make friends that I thought, the activities weren’t enjoyable, and I missed my mommy and daddy. The day culminated when I was going to take a shower before bed and my shampoo had spilled all over my cubby, covering everything I had in it, including my pjs. I sat down on the concrete floor next to my bed and began to bawl. I grabbed one of my blue butterfly cards and began to write a letter to my mom, describing in detail the awful day I had had and how much I wanted to come home. While I was writing/plotting my escape from that horrible horrible place our counselors came in and announced that we had mail! I was so happy to see one in my mom’s handwriting. I ripped it open and began to read.

“Darlin,

I hope you are setting in nicely at camp! I can’t believe what a big girl you’ve become. We miss you at home but I just know you are having a great time…”

My little 7 year old heart was breaking. I felt like I was disappointing my mom by not having fun. I felt like I wasn’t a big girl if I wasn’t having fun. So I did the only thing I could think of, I tearfully tore up my letter and wrote a new one, telling my mother about the great time I was having, the friends I was making, lying with every word. I didn’t write my mother another letter that week. 

I managed to make a few friends and have a fairly decent time my week away from home. Yet I never wanted to go back to that camp and didn’t venture to camp again for 3 years. I told my mom sometime later about my torn up letter. She was shocked that I felt the need to sugarcoat my experience. If I wasn’t having a good time or things weren’t turning out the way I had planned she would rather hear that then my cotton candy version. I learned my lesson (so I thought) and learned how to go away from home and have a good time. 

So why on earth did I share that story?

Because I did not learn my lesson. 

I made the decision to come to Scotland 8 months ago. I’ve spent those 8 months fluctuating between excitement, fear, joy, trepidation, giddiness and every other emotion in between. Mostly though I was pumped. I expected instagram worthy adventures, interesting people, exciting learning opportunities and the chance to really be on my own for the first time ever. I felt again like I was actually “becoming a big girl.”

I stepped off of the plane a month ago and began my adventure. Oh boy the culture shock from Texas to Scotland hit me like a tidal wave. Yet I was enthralled with my new home away from home, my new friends, and my new school. 

I was homesick, but figured that would go away in a few days. 

School started and I was still homesick, but I figured that would go away once I settled into my classes.

I settled into my classes and I was still homesick, but I figured that would go away once I found some good friends.

I found some good friends and I was still homesick, but… you get the picture.

Basically a month has gone by and I still ache for Texas, & the people there. 

Yet I didn’t want to say anything because I felt like I was supposed to be having the time of my life. My instagram should be filled with pictures of gorgeous hikes and lovely Scotland things. I should be happy. I should be soaking up every minute and not counting every minute til I was back in Texas. If I wasn’t then I was failing. What I didn’t realize was that by suppressing my homesickness I couldn’t process it and so it just festered and grew until it blew up in my face. Sunday night I wept and moaned that I wanted to go home and that I didn’t like it here. 

Obviously that isn’t an option nor do I really think I would take it if offered to me but it felt so good just to say the words! Just to tell the truth that this place wasn’t what I expected and that it was harder than I thought. Once I did that I was able to sit down with a few good people and develop a plan to combat my homesickness without just willing it away with a magic wand. I’m a huge fan of to-do lists & with my new resolutions in hand I felt more capable of conquering Scotland. What’s more, one of the girls I spoke with felt the exact same way! Empathizing with her did wonders. 

While I cannot report that the few days since my melt down have alleviated the problem I can say that I feel better. I feel less burdened with the need to have a good time. I feel more productive because when I am doing the things on my list I am doing something to acclimate myself here. 

Had I just used my experience 13 years ago and come clean about my study abroad from the beginning I could have avoided the last four weeks of faking it. How nice would that have been! I hope this lesson sticks this time. 

When we fake life we miss out. 

Sometimes the struggles are beautiful things. They allow us to rely on others who are stumbling through just like we are. They allow us to rely on The Lord because we actually cannot do anything without Him. My plea to you is that if you are faking something in this life right now to let it go. Find someone who can help you. But more importantly find Jesus. Let him pick you up and carry you where you need to go. He wants to. We just have to let him. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28

The St. Andrew's Uniform

Walking around the streets of St. Andrews is akin to browsing Pinterest or a recent issue of Vogue. Everyone here looks like a model. Not the American standard but a model nonetheless. What I mean is that the people here carry themselves with confidence like they are walking down a runway. There is every variety of shape, every variety of style, yet all is appreciated! It was amazing to step off the plane at Heathrow and be immersed in this new sense of beauty. It isn't at all about conforming to what everyone else looks like, rather being as you as only you can be. How wonderful to fulfill that standard. How wonderful to be utterly yourself. 

I decided to be more subdued and academic today. Back in the States there is so much color in everyone's wardrobe but here the neutrals rule the palette. I remember putting on a button down under my red plaid jumper (which would probably work so well here) every Mass dress day in elementary school and HATING it. 9 years later I do not loathe it quite as much and the familiar look reminded me of home. You can take the girl out of the uniform, but (after 14 years of wearing one) you can't quite take the uniform out of the girl. 

Stories from Scotland: The Bucket List.

*For those of you who don't know, I am spending the semester abroad in St. Andrews, Scotland*

(Which is basically Hogwarts.) 

I've been in Scotland a full week at this point. In some ways I feel like I hopped off the plane at Heathrow and in others I feel settled in quite nicely here, adjusting to a new routine, new food, and of course new accents without too many hitches. While it hasn't been exactly smooth sailing (homesickness can be rough... but more on that in a day or so), I have been overwhelmingly blessed thus far on my trip. Hopefully, this blog will become sort of a travel diary these four months while I'm abroad, a place to mark my adventures, funny moments, aspirations, and lessons learned along the way.

To start off, I want to share the Bucket List my friend Suzanne and I made for this semester.

1) Visit a church in every city we visit. (If you don't do this while in Europe you are doing something wrong.)

2)Learn to say 'I Love You' in 25 different languages. (<3)

3)Try haggis (Already done!! and I'm alive. Miracles happen.)

4)Learn to like black coffee. (Just to say that I can!)

5)Start a blog (or continue one) and post at least 2x a week.

6)Take pictures. (I have 7500 on my phone from America. I need at least 2000 from Europe.)

7)Take a walk on the beach. (My school is a 20 minute walk from the ocean)

8)May Dip (St. Andrews tradition where everyone runs into the frigid ocean on May 1st. Sounds cool! Get it? Cool?? Cuz it's cold?? Okay I'll stop now.)

9)Join a club. (Disney club? Competitive life saving club? Haggis lovers club?)

10)Do one thing every week that scares you. (BOO!)

11)Send two letters/postcards a week. (I'll send one to you if you give me your address!)

12)Ask and answer one question per class. (Does "I'm sorry can you repeat that because I am having trouble making out which words you're actually saying"? Count?)

13)Try a new drink a week. (In the works of Bon Qui Qui "But DONT get crazy.")

14)Have a meal with a random stranger. (Think less 'Taken' more 'Knight and Day')

15) Make one new friend a day. (Not hard... everyone here is so nice!)

16) Read one book for fun a month. (Open to suggestions!)

17)Go to a ball. (Each dorm has one!)

18)Develop a convincing Scottish accent. ("Ef ya haad thuh chaance to chenge ya feht whouldya??"

19)Buy and sell something at a secondhand shop. (Most of them go to charity which is really quite nice)

20)Many friends from at least 10 different countries. (I've got Italy, Czech Republic, Scotland, and Brazil so far)

Boom. 20 things. Epic Adventures await. Follow along if you wish! I'll post something each time I complete a task. I've got virtually 120 days to do all of these. Wish me luck!!

For those (including me) that need a little bit of hope tonight

When I don't work up to my full potential and my grades aren't what they should be....

...Jesus still loves me and helps me try harder. 

When I put other things before Him...

...Jesus still gives me his undivided attention. 

When I am impatient...

...Jesus waits patiently. 

When I am judgmental...

...Jesus reminds me that He alone is Judge. 

When I care too much about my appearance...

...Jesus looks inside at my heart.

When I can't...

...Jesus can. 

When...

...Jesus. 

No matter what, I fall back on Jesus. Does this mean that I give up and submit to my undisciplined self? No. It means I get up and try again knowing that if (when) I fall again I have a Lord who is gracious enough to over compensate for my shortcomings. And that sure gives me a whole lot of hope.

(via pinterest)

It's Great to Be Back in the Wack

For some reason I really dreaded going back to school. Not so much the classes, but being back in Waco. I'd spent the summer in Houston and Los Angeles, two of the biggest cities in the United States, so returning to a small town seemed like taking a step backwards almost. I finally moved in on Saturday and have spent the weekend unpacking and seeing friends.

Y'all, I am so glad to be back here.

These past 48 hours have been a constant reaffirmation that I am exactly where I need to be. How wonderful and fruitful this weekend was and how marvelous and beautiful today has been! My first day of sophomore year started early, yet it didn't feel too long. In fact, the day is almost up and I am sad to see it go.

I started my "new" life today as a Great Texts Major. My class schedule is a whole heckuva lot different (oh how I will miss 6 hours a week devoted to Scenic Crew......or maybe not) and I have so much more time on my hands.

I'm filling that time with jobs, friends, St. Peter's, & Tri Delta. It's shaping up to be a wonderful semester, and I cannot wait to experience every moment of it.

First day outfit :) it's my favorite color combo AND it has bears on it! #baylorswag 

Sick Day

Sorry y'all I don't have much to report...

I spent the day in bed, blowing my nose, and trying to breathe through all the congestion.

Being sick is fun.

I can only allow one day for illness because the rest of the week is BUSY. Goodness gracious I get back into town and have one million things to do. It's gonna be a heck of a few weeks before I go back to school! 

The Day My Life Changed Forever

Three years ago today I got into a car accident that could have ended my life. 

Three years ago today I decided to change the way I'd been living. 

Three years ago today I started to live for The Lord. 

Since then I've fallen so head over heels in love with my God. He's shown me that His plans are better than mine, that His ways are better that mine, and that His love is better than anything that this world can offer. 

I'm so glad that I got that second chance. It's been an amazing adventure and I look forward to many many more years living life to the absolute fullest. 

 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

1 lost suitcase.

2 to-go meals.

1 heckuva plane nap.

14 hours of travel from start to finish. 

This month has been absolutely incredible. The people were outstanding. The opportunities vast. The scenery gorgeous. The mission imperative. & I loved every single moment of it. 

I don't know how the month went by so quickly! But now I'm back, laying in my own bed, reminiscing about every fun moment shared in California. It was one amazing adventure and I am so thankful that I got to experience it. 

The Joy of Trying Something New

I don't really remember blushing as I was growing up. I guess with all the time on stage I just was used to making a fool out of myself and I was okay with that. The adrenaline was addicting, and hearing people laugh (whether with me or at me) was fun! I don't know what happened, but my blush-less existence ended in April. 

I was beginning a retreat at my church one Friday afternoon, and we were going around a huge circle of 30-40 people saying who we were and why we were there. Most people seemed pretty uncomfortable, so I decided to throw a joke into my answer. When my turn came I slapped a huge smile on my face, stepped forward, and exclaimed "Hi my name is Rachel and I am here because I need some energy and I want this retreat to be a Red Bull for my soul!" (Yes. It's cheesy. That's beside the point. Focus people.) Everyone laughed, and something weird happened. My face got hotter than the surface of the sun, and I immediately couldn't look anyone in the eye. The moment seemed to go on forever, and I have never been more grateful to step back in line. What was that??? 

I figured it was just a fluke, but the rest of the weekend was a hot faced mess. I could barely answer a question without blushing. What was wrong with me??? I had said a prayer for humility a few weeks ago, but this seemed like a very strange way to get it!

That was 3 months ago and I think my body is trying to make up for a lifetime of un-Tomato-ness. There are evenings where I am pretty sure I look like I am permanently sunburnt. 

While I haven't warmed up (pun intended) to my new blushing habit, I have accepted it a little bit more. I can't control it, so why worry?? 

Last night was a perfect example of accepting my new rosy demeanor. I was invited to go salsa dancing with a friend of mine at a bar nearby. Have I been salsa dancing before?? Nope. Was I going to be bad? Most definitely. Did I say yes? You bet your Texas summer heat I did. 

We got to the club and I felt a little bit like the inner voice of Lizzie as she shrieked "RUUUUUUUUUN" in the Lizzie McGuire Movie. 

{if you caught that reference- gold star! If you didn't- here's what I mean}

{While you should watch the whole video, the part I'm talking about is at 2:45} 

But I didn't drive myself, hence I was stuck. I watched from the side of the dance floor, trying desperately to memorize the moves and praying no guy asked me to dance. 

1 song in, I was approached by a nice looking guy and asked to dance. 

"I'm really bad," I warned him. "I've never salsa'd before."

He said that was alright and that he would teach me.

I wish I could say that I am a natural talent... I'm not. Oh well. But instead of fleeing the scene and hiding in the bathroom, I gritted my teeth and tried to look at least a little bit normal. Luckily, my dance partners were very kind and gracious to the fact that I was a newcomer to their world. Also luckily, the dance floor was dark, and no one could see the heat that stubbornly refused to go away. 

It took 3 or 4 songs, but lo and behold, I began to enjoy myself! There were nice guys and good music.  Each dancer taught me something new, and I loved all of the variety in this style of dancing! I was so glad that I forced myself to try again.

The evening was a lesson in humility. Every time I missed a step, I laughed at myself and moved on. Allowing the embarrassment to stay but not letting it affect my time really changed the nature of the evening. I was having a blast, and chose not to notice the other things. 

Wouldn't it be great if we could do that with all things? We could speak up without worrying what others think? Act a certain way and like certain things without getting anxiety over the acceptance of others around us? Try new things and not freak out about looking like a dork? 

It's a challenge to be sure, but I gather it would be worth it. 

Is there something you have always wanted to try but haven't yet? What's holding you back?? 

Finding Your Passion

So I've shared that I am no longer a theatre major. (You can check that out here if you're catching up) While it is exhilarating being apart from that lifestyle for the first time in my life, it's also scary as heck. 

I've been following one path for 15 years. Fifteen years. Now that I have stepped off, I have an infinite number to choose from. But the problem is that there are an infinite number to choose from. Before I got all bent out of shape, I recalled Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "Plans for your welfare and not for woe, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Oh yea. Forgot about that. I don't have to choose which way to go based on myself alone. I get to discern that road with God, who created the whole pathway system, standing right beside me. What a relief! 

Better than that, the Lord gave us clues pointing to the mission He prepared for us. These clues are the tools we will need to achieve our mission. Our talents. What are those things that you are really good at?? What would you like to spend the most time doing?? God gave you gifts for a reason and it is our duty to use them well. 

I've been discovering some of my own more fully this summer. Being out in California for a month as a writing intern has really challenged me to hone my skills, and I have been able to see the types of writing that I am good at, as well as some that challenge me. I love writing editorially (and people wonder why I have a blog) as well as writing movie reviews. I'm not very good at news pieces though. I've also learned how to interview people, and how to successfully communicate myself to fellow employees. 

It ain't much, but it's a start and I am fully confident that the Lord will use those things for His will. 

Who knows what will happen?? 

Prayer for the Week: Trust during the Walk

There are days where God is so very visible. Days where every step seems Divinely planned and the path is paved and the journey is easy.

But then there are others. Days where things go wrong. Days where I embarrass myself. When I am inconsiderate, unloving, weak, or rude. When there is incredibly bad traffic (which is enough to make me turn into Goliath), or someone hurts my feelings. When I fail to remember the simple "Behold I AM with thee until the end of time". It is during those days that I get frustrated with the Lord. I complain that I cannot feel Him near me and sarcastically comment "anytime now!"

The thing I have to remember is that God never promised that it would be easy. He did not say that following Him would lead to a lifetime of smooth sailing. In fact, He said the opposite.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you."

John 15:18

So when I have those days (the hard ones) I should take comfort in the fact that, while it's still a difficult road, God is walking with me the entire time. There is a song by Group 1 Crew that reminds me of this:

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

Scripture tells us to trust in His protection: 

"He will cover you with His feathers,
    and under His wings you will find refuge;
    His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you."

Psalm 91:4-7

Dear Lord,

Thank You for walking with me. Thank You for planning my pathways on the good days and even the bad ones. Father I pray that, no matter how hard the steps become, they always point towards You. Help me to move closer and closer with each step. Give me the determination to journey with integrity, faithfulness, and joy. As my time here in California comes to a close, help me to finish strong. Thank You for the opportunity to serve You out here, and please bless everyone I have met along the way. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for Your peace. Please help us to glorify You in all that we do. 

In Your Son's most precious and holy Name,

Amen. 

*Drum Roll* New Look!

Hey y'all... welcome back :) I've been working hard on some new stuff to spruce things up around here and I am so pleased to finally have it 99% done!

(the 1% is a few pictures that aren't showing up on certain posts. I'm sorry about that and am trying hard to figure out what the heck is wrong) 

But anywayssss here is the new look! More Texas, more pretty, more yay! I also am back to a regular posting schedule. Get pumped. If you've ever wanted to stalk my life now is the time to do it. I've even included handy dandy tabs at the top to help you navigate around! Hope you find what you're looking for! Also- make sure to follow/like/pin to your heart's desire so you never miss out on what's happening (just in case you aren't up to date on your FB stalking ;P).

I always love to hear from you, so if you have anything to say about the new layout, your summer, or the new royal baby I would love to chat!!

xoxo,

Rachel 

Juuuust in case you forgot what I looked like ;) #shamelessselfie #shamelesshashtag

A Little Taste of Infinity

There's this coffee shop in the Wack. It's called Common Grounds and it's one of my favorite places. There are a myraid of reasons for this: cozy furniture, the cowboy coffee, & cute baristas. But without a doubt my favorite thing about it is that sometimes when I am there, I get a taste of infinity.

A taste of infinity is when your soul swells. It's something that creates a huge smile, a clearness of thought, a lightness of being. It's those moments that you really really don't want to end. 

I get that feeling when I'm having coffee with a good friend. One Monday my Tri Delta Big (she's the greatest) met me at CG and we spent an hour catching up over some iced Cowboy's (tee hee). It was one of those hours that went by in a blink and I seriously did not want to leave. But the real world did not slow down, and we had to jump back in. The hour recharged me however and it was easier to keep up.

My lovely Big :) 

I think that's the point of those moments, those glimpses of infinity. They recharge us for dealing with the other things. All of the deadlines, the stress, the fighting, the lack of sleep, the yuck, the ick, the blah, all of it is made better after one of these encounters. 

I starting marinating on this and came up with my things that give me "moments of infinity" 

-Mass & Adoration 

-Good conversation

-Coffee

-Crafting

-Baking

-Long drives with good music

-A really good book

The great thing about having a list like this is that I know where to run when I need a power boost. When the weight of the world is too heavy, an hour doing one of these things gives me strength to lift it up a bit higher for a bit longer. 

These things make me think of Heaven. These little tastes that I want to go on forever is what I imagine heaven to be like. It's the eternal smile, light heart, clear head, and content soul. Union with God will be like that. The most wonderful thing about that is that it won't end. It's an eternity feeling perfectly content because we will be united with He from whom all content-ness flows. How enticing! Until that day comes though I will take comfort in my earthly moments of infinity.

What are your moments of infinity?? Make sure to thank Him for those moments today!

xoxo, Rachel 

Prayer for the Week: First Day of the Internship!!

This is it. I am 2 hours away from starting a month long writing internship at Movieguide.org. These plans have been in the works for 3 months, yet now that the morning is actually here it feels a bit like a dream. My father (glorious man that he is) flew down here with me on Saturday to get me situated and help with the rental car situation (Have you ever tried to rent a car at 19? It's akin to trying to rent a child. Try it. Doesn't happen as easily as one would hope). We spent the weekend traveling around my new area, discovering new restaurants, churches, shopping, & a beach or two. It's been so lovely spending this weekend with him just the two of us. 

We woke up at a bright 5:15 AM to get ready for the day. It was supposed to take us 45 minutes to get to the rental place, and knowing LA traffic, we wanted to allow wriggle room. So we left at 615. And got here at 7. Maybe it's the holiday or perhaps the sun only being up for about 30 minutes but there was absolutely NO TRAFFIC. It was swell. Now we are sitting at a Starbucks relaxing. Well… he is relaxing while I am trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach that seem to be getting more hyper by the second. I am so excited for this opportunity and want to do the best that I can. Perhaps a little divine intervention will help. If you feel so inclined, please help me pray for this week. 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for opportunities. Thank You for save travels. Thank you for traffic free mornings. Thank you for butterflies and pretty weather and coffee. Creator God, you are so magnificent that we want to imitate Your creativity. Please help us this week to do just that and to do it for the glory of Your kingdom. I humbly ask that You make us worthy servants of Your will and of Your plan. Without You none of this makes sense. Keep us mindful of that as we go through this week. Father I plead that You are right beside us this week as we walk through it. Keep our paths straight and our eyes fixed upon Your face. We love you Lord. Help us to do it better. 

In Your Son Jesus's Name, through the intercession of Our Mother,

Amen.

Have a wonderful wonderful week y'all!

(Here are some pictures from this weekend) 

Airplane travel made comfy. Pilcro Jeans from Anthro are the most comfortable things ever. Buy them in every color. 

Shameless Selfies :) 

Hunnington Beach on Sunday 

The pretty mission style church St. Mary Magdalene 

This meal rocked my socks off and was totally Paleo! Balsamic Vinegar Pork Chop over sweet potato smashers and broccoli. Y. U. M. 

Some of my favorite pictures from Sunday's Church hunt :) 

Starbucks selfies this morning ;) 

Did I overpack? Yes. But the Girl Scouts always told me to be prepared! 

Kate from Lizzie McGuire would be oh so upset at me because I am outfit repeating. I wore this my first day at Anthro and it brought me luck! I hope it does the same today!

She's Baaaack (Part one of two)

So it's been a few months. How've y'all been? I've been hanging on for dear life if we're being honest. But hanging on in the best way and with the biggest smile on my face. God is SO GOOD. He's been spoiling me as of late and I'm so unbelievably blessed. Here's what's been going on:

Background: I have been acting since I was four years old and entered Baylor with an intended Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance. I made a deal with my parents that we would give it a year and then reaccess the plan in May. 

My gorgeous theatre freshman class

When January rolled around I realized just how close that conversation was and started to stress. A lot. I got cast in a really awesome Post Modern Workshop Scene with some of my closest friends and had a blast with that. Yet that sense of unrest was still there, constantly nagging at me. The non theatre classes were pulling at me, and for the first time ever, the stage wasn't where I wanted to be. It was terrifying. I spent so much time trying to figure out my future for me. Trying to plan out what was best for me. Trying to figure out where I wanted to be. (Sounds pretty selfish doncha think?) 

The Post-Modern Scene "Play" 

Awakening changed that. God changed that. 

You can read about the Awakening retreat here. God really challenged me that weekend to relax in Him. My friend Maddie pointed me to Proverbs 31 "She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future" That last part was a wake up call for me. Had I been laughing? No. Not even a little bit. It occurred to me that God knew the plan. He made it and He made it perfect. So I decided that I would sit back and let him take the reigns. 

My Awakening Family & Our "I'm Offended" Signs (You had to be there) 

The Tuesday after Awakening I remember specifically waking up and saying "Okay Lord, I'm laughing today." 

Biggest understatement I have made in awhile. 

If I were actually laughing I don't think I would have come up for air once. The Lord divinely guided that day right down to the people I interacted with on the sidewalk. My professor in my favorite class (whom I kind of want to be just like) gave me some incredible advice along with some pretty crazy opportunities, my advisor emailed me the second I got out of that meeting, I talked to an old friend for the first time in months, saw another one randomly, led a bible study where the Holy Spirit WORKED MAGIC, and basically just let God do His thing. I remember sitting in the car with my Big that evening going over how awesome that day was and finally exclaiming "Okay Lord, if this is what You want, then I am in." The most incredible tangible peace came over me. It was the first time in almost 3 months I'd felt that content with my life. 

How I am feeling. (Also how adorable is this little girl??)

So I switched my major. The Lord showed me that while I will always have a passion for theatre, it's time for me to step off the stage and go somewhere new. I am now a Great Texts (think Literature) major with a double minor in Philosophy and Creative Writing. It's a huge switch but not surprising to those closest to me. I am so very excited to see more of God's plan. 

That decision (to sit back and laugh without fear of the future) has changed everything these past two months. God has been spoiling me in the most unbelievable, wonderful ways. But that's enough for today, I'll be explaining the rest of my wonderful end of semester tomorrow :) 

Happy Summer Everyone! 

It's a Good Morning

1 Rosary

2 1/2 hours of Worship

3 Hour Drive

4 hours of Sleep

+5 shots of Expresso

------------------------------

one heck of a morning.

I am so on fire y'all! I will admit that it was insanely difficult to get out of bed this morning but once I got some coffee in me I was bright eyed and bushy tailed.

I saw George Strait last night (OMG) at the rodeo so I didn't get home until 12. Instead of driving back to the Wack then, I decided to get up before the sun and drive.
The three hour drive allowed for a whole lot of Jesus/me time. It was so lovely! Starting the day reminding myself what its all about and giving back to the one who gave it all has made such an impact on my day so far. I asked to see Him today. Y'all I have seen Him EVERYWHERE. In the nice lady who cleans my floor, in my best friend, in the chapel speaker Bob Goff, and I could go on and on.

I want every morning to be like this. I want to be excited to get up, to go and see Him everywhere. I think the big difference is how I begin each day. If I start it with the snooze button, with running late, with being annoyed at the hour, the roommate, the coffee maker, the air in the room (it's happened.), then the rest of my day will reflect those things. However, if I were to start each day remembering why I'm here, who I serve, and how I can love more, then wouldn't those things be reflected?

That is my resolution for the week. I am going to try to begin each day 30 minutes earlier and spend some time with the King of Kings. My hypothesis is that it will be a huge impact on the week and that things will go a whole lot more smoothly.

What do you think? Do you spend time in morning prayer or wait til the evening?

About Me

Hi lovely folks! Quick post today- I'm off to work a double shift at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! But more on that tomorrow.

Want to learn a bit more about me? Well aren't you sweet! Lucky for you I created a page for that :)

Check it out!

Apartment Love

So it's been a blast living in the shoebox. My roommate is awesome and I like the way it's decorated.

(See decorating posts here , here, here and here for more) 

But I am so. over. it.

Maybe it's the fact that I spend more time in my room this semester than I have last semester but I swear the walls are closing in.

Spring Break is 5 school days away and I am practically counting down the hours.

To keep me sane I have been daydreaming about next years apartment and my very own room! *sigh*

Here are some ideas I have:

1. The Desk

Inspiration: 

Gah The Everygirl gets it right again. So this is the West Elm Parsons Desk. It's simple, classic, and beautiful. It's made even more so by the awesome style. The only bad thing is that the desk is $400. Not exactly breaking the bank, but also not exactly necessary for a fully furnished apartment.

Solution?

Source: overstock.com via Rachel on Pinterest

This bad boy. 

Looks the same right?? The only difference is the finish, which is easily remedied by some DIY. And for 75% off the price, it's a simple compromise.

This needs to happen.

2. Reading Chair

I want a snuggly chair that I can curl up into with a good book and a cup of coffee. There is a nook in my future room that is just begging for a cute accent chair to call a friend.

Here are a few that I enjoy:

Source: google.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: ticonderogaa.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

3. Finally, the kitchen.

I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE A KITCHEN AGAIN!

These are some savory dishes I am planning on having next semester:

Source: pinterestwithgrace.weebly.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: twopeasandtheirpod.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Rachel on Pinterest

And that is just the tip of the iceberg my dear friends. If you want more of my inspiration (dreams) you can check out my Pinterest page.

How many days until summer?