vacation: round two

as if my summer in austin wasn't "vacation" enough, i am leaving bright and early tomorrow morning (6 am. really Bo? is this necessary?!) for the white sandy beaches of Sandestin, Florida, for a week with the whole family. pretty excited about it, although i don't know how much time i will spend oiling up to bask in the sun- the way i have every year in the past. call me crazy, but i am starting to realize the effects too much sun can have on your skin in the long-run. that, and i LIVE on the beach (granted, it may not be as pretty as Florida...but there is still plenty of sunlight in Virginia) so i know this wont be the last chance i have to catch some cosmos this summer. i will, however, fully partake in any and all events that involve food and beverages. that's what vacation is all about, right!? 

it's a hard drive...but someone's gotta do it...

home sweet home

this is one of my favorite sights in the entire world. and after two months of seeing and experiencing nothing but Texas scenery, it was a refreshing feeling being back in the true South...to know that this is, and will always be, my HOME. 

My last weekend in Texas was eventful, to say the least. As soon as Jack flew in, we went for drinks with some friends on a rooftop bar downtown; Friday was fun-filled with a shopping "experience" at Whole Foods, all day at Barton Springs, happy hour at Hula Hut on the lake, dinner at Trudy's with the boys, and out on 6th street...whew! As if that night wasn't eventful enough, Saturday was spent floating the Komal River and finishing off the day with dinner at the Salt Lick. *Let me just interject right here--if you are ever planning on taking a trip to Austin, you MUST put the Salt Lick on your agenda. In the middle of no-where Texas, it is an outdoor restaurant with A-mazing BBQ....brisket, ribs, sausage, turkey...all cooked over a huge open fire-pit right inside. It's b.y.o.b and there is always LIVE MUSIC.* 

So today's drive home- which we did in only 10.5 hours actually- was a long one, needless to say. But to see that Starkville City Limit sign made me forget about the cramping feeling my legs were experiencing by that point, and all I could think about was pulling into my driveway, giving my mom and dad a big hug, and sitting in my kitchen...drinking multiple diet cokes and hanging out with the fam. Which is exactly what I have done. There really is no place like HOME. 

capitol city

what do you do when you can't sleep? blog of course. 

as i was laying in my bed, trying desperately to fall asleep after eating about 18 cookies and drinking mountain dew (not recommended right before bedtime), all i could think about was this summer and what a different kind of summer it has been than any i've ever had before. it's my last night to sleep in this bed in my "summer house" and maybe that is what has spurred the sudden moment of reflection; or maybe it was the constant activity of the week in trying to see as many friends as possible before i head back...whatever the case, i cant help but pause and be thankful for the amazing summer i've experienced in austin, texas, and reflect on the things i will miss most. but first, let me start with the things i will NOT miss about the ATX.

things i will NOT miss:

1. the 100+ degree temperatures EVERY SINGLE DAY this summer. try running in that...fyi: it sucks. 

2. the approximately 7 lbs. i've managed to pack on. i blame it solely on the chips and queso (or "cheese dip" as we like to refer to it in the South)...it literally comes with every meal in Texas...and it's oh so good. 

3. working 9-4. although it's not as bad as an 8-5, it's more than i care to clock-in for no pay. 

4. not being near my girl friends. i never realized how much i thrive off of girl-time until i was surrounded by almost ALL guy friends. 

and now, onto happier memories....although there are WAY too many things to list, i chose the top 10 things I will miss most about Austin. (in no certain order)

1. My summer house. I lived in Hyde Park (for all you Austin locals out there that know where this is) and it was a GREAT location...I also had an awesome roommate, the house is adorable, and my bed was super comfortable. what more could you ask for in a summer home?!

                                  my living room...sweet longhorns, huh. 

2. Mozart's. A coffee shop on Lake Austin...many nights were spent reading, emailing, and conversing with friends at that place. love it. i miss it and the hibiscus-mint tea already. 

3. THE FOOD. There are way too many amazing restaurants in Austin to even begin to describe- all of which are local places, and most have outdoor patios (which usually doesn't become enjoyable until around 9:30pm because of the heat)...but the FOOD....wow. 

4. The Austin Stone. (my church). Chris Tomlin started this church when he lived in Austin, and it is everything I have ever wanted in a church- feels like a true community and not a "corporate service" (if that makes sense), really good worship, small groups that are very easy to get involved in, and awesome teaching in the services. I left every week refreshed and wanting more. what a great thing to be able to say about church.

5. The Water. There are so many lakes, natural springs/pools, rivers, etc. in and around the city. As obsessed as I am with water and water activities...this place is like heaven for me.

            Barton Springs- a natural spring in the middle of the downtown

6. Town Lake. a great place to run- miles and miles of trails that are all right along the lake in the middle of the City. Austin is super healthy and apparently everyone in this city loves to be active- I'm just sad they all didn't rub off on me more...I guess the heat got to me first.

7. My Job. As much as I didn't like working all day everyday for free, I did love the people I worked with and the things I got to do/experience. I learned so much this summer and I couldn't imagine a nicer environment to work in than the Texas Court of Appeals. loved it. 

8. My Community Group. I got involved with a co-ed singles bible study group through The Stone early this summer (in a desperate search for girl friends!) and I made some really great friends and learned a lot through conversations and some Louie Giglio videos we all watched together throughout the summer. 

9. Free Events. Example: I went to "Blues on the Green" tonight, a free outdoor concert in one of the parks in downtown Austin. Last week I went to an outdoor symphony at another park. The week before that, I went to a restaurant for dinner two different nights and there was a live band playing at both places both nights- both bands were awesome. I mean, you can't experience this stuff just anywhere. 

10. The PEOPLE. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have made some amazing friends here, and deepened friendships with those I already knew. I am going to be the saddest to leave those friendships behind, but the good part is that I now have numerous places to stay when i come back to visit! 

When i first got to Austin for the summer, I was pursuing a friendship (for lack of a better term) with someone back home and I wasn't super-hyped on being in Austin for the entire summer...for numerous reasons. But shortly after that friendship came to an end in early June,  I heard a Matt Wertz song on my Pandora station that really hit home for me in dealing with trying to really be ALL here and not second-guessing my decision to come to Texas for the summer, etc.  I felt like God was speaking to me through this song about being in Austin. Looking back, I can see that this truly was right where I needed to be. 

I'll miss you, Austin. But don't worry....I'll be back soon.

"And as you go your own way, remember do not be afraid. 

Because you're right where you should be...in Capitol City." -MW

dreams

"Remember...God dreams bigger than you do...."

[i saw this on Margaret's twitter this morning (her awesome little sister, Grace, originally said it to her i think) and i have been thinking about it all day. so much that i thought it deserved a blog post, even though i have already blogged once today! go me.]

this quote was a HUGE revelation for me. you know, like when that you could have seen or heard something similar a million times before, but for some reason the Holy Spirit chooses to pump some meaning to it that 1,000,001 time and rock your world with relevance and clarity. that is where i have found myself today. 

To think that God could have something even greater in mind for me to do with my law degree than just practicing law?! To think that he could have someone greater than the "man of my dreams" i have envisioned in my mind, with a passion for God even greater than my own?!? To think that he could have a place for me to move after law school with even more activities and opportunities to advance His kingdom and purposes than Virginia Beach or Austin, Tx?! 

could it be true??? yes, my friends, I believe it could!

 I do know this- I was born a dreamer...from hours upon hours of playing dress-up and barbies as a little girl to daydreaming most of my college classes away, it is safe to assume I have one of the largest imaginations around. So to think that God takes my large-scale imagination and magnifies it with HIS dreams that He has just for me...well, I just can't top that. What a beautiful feeling.  Dream on, God. I'm ready for it. :)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21

home stretch

one week from today, i will be back in mississippi. well, on the way there...we plan on making the trip in one day (from austin to starkville) but that will require waking up early, very few bathroom breaks, and eating drive-through for every meal. none of which i prefer, but as long as i am not the one driving i think i can make some sacrifices to make it home by that night. Jack is flying to Austin on Thursday night to hang out for the weekend and drive with me home. what a great little brother. I have an itinerary of fun planned for us, including, but not limited to...lots of mexican food (you haven't experienced true mexican food until you have eaten it in texas- i will forever be a mexi-food snob after this summer), a trip to Barton Springs to see the Austin locals, a float trip on the Komal with my texas friends, and some good clean fun on 6th Street. Although i know i cant give him the full Austin experience in just one weekend, i am going to attempt to hit the highlights of my own experiences and hopefully leave him wanting more. because everyone should leave wanting more of this city. I know I will. 

I only have ONE MORE DAY of work left...I am going in tomorrow because my Judge wanted to take me to lunch before I left Texas and tomorrow was the only day she could go...and I need to finish up some work on my second opinion I am working on for the Judge before I peace out. I was hoping I could have the second one done before I finished my internship, but it turned out to be a more complicated issue than I originally thought it would be. oh well. After tomorrow, I will have the rest of the week to pack up and hang out and say my good-byes. I am always sad to leave places/people behind, but I have been moving around so much the past few years that it really is getting easier every time. 

going to church in a little while. For the second time today. I went this morning, but my friend Wes wanted to go tonight so I told him I would go back with him. It's my last week to get to go to the Stone, so I figured I might as well go out with a bang. Besides, it's Communion Day at church. My favorite. 

friends and float trips

it is a fact that i rarely meet a stranger. at least, strangers that appear to be having as much fun or more than i am at the moment. i cant help passing up a good opportunity to make a new friend and join in on the fun...which is exactly the condition upon which this story begins. 

earlier this summer, me and some friends decided one weekend to float the river for the day (a very popular summer activity in Austin) so we loaded up in two cars and headed for San Marcos for some fun. now, floating the river with SEVEN boys (and no girls) may seem like Heaven to some girls...but not this girl. I was down in the dumps this particular day because of the apparent lack of good girl friends I had in Austin this summer, and although my guy friends are truly amazing, they just aren't the same...you know what i mean, girls?! 

SO, as I am moping around on the river and half-listening to the guys talk about golf, girls, and whatever else a group of guys talk about when together on the river, I get an idea....why not MAKE some new girl friends while I have this 6+ hours out on the river?? so i set off on my new mission....and it didnt take very long. Before long, I was floating next to huge groups of people, getting free drinks and chatting it up with everyone in sight. loving life. Then....bam...i bump into a group of like EIGHT or so girls floating all together and being super fun. I immediately knew I had to stay with their group....they looked classy (rare for the San Marcos river) and were super friendly to me right away. I spent the rest of the day attached to their tubes, talking about life, laughing at the not-so-classy people on the river, and introducing them to "my boys" so our groups could merge together. At the end of the day, we all managed to memorize each other's phone numbers long enough to make it back to our respective cars and put them in our phones. We all called each other shortly thereafter, and our friendships were officially confirmed! 

We have spent the rest of the summer texting/facebook chatting at work, going to church together, eating downtown on our lunch breaks, going out...and we are going to the lake tomorrow! we're planning on wrapping the summer up with one last float trip next weekend...it only seems appropriate to end right where we started. So it's true...you can make friends ANYWHERE as long as you're willing to make a little effort! 

me and the girls (natalie, jehan and bonnie) at dinner downtown

usa day

i love birthdays, and the celebration of America's birthday (freedom....birth, same thing) is no exception. From hanging out with kids, to wearing American flag apparel, singing patriotic songs, watching fireworks, and eating BBQ...I had a very eventful weekend.

I have floated the river a few times, but my river experience this weekend was quite different than any I've had before. I went with my friend Erica and her parents and a big group of their family's friends early Saturday morning to the Guadalupe River. We rented big rafts (4-person rafts... we had 7 rafts total) and set off down the river armed with huge water guns in each raft. The chaos began immediately. The only rules regarding the water guns were that there WERE NO rules. Every man for himself. We spent about 5 hours floating/paddling down the river, stealing other boat's paddles, guns, and anything else we could grab...I'm sure the innocent floating bystanders LOVED being caught in our cross-fire. I'm pretty sure I used a 7-year old in my raft to shield myself at one point...it was everything a Fourth of July activity should have been.

To polish off a successful 4th, I spent the remainder of the day/night with my roommate* and his nine friends from Nashville who were our house-guests for the weekend. After catching part of the fireworks downtown, we headed to E. 6th street (a slightly cleaner version of Bourbon St.) where we hung out and danced all night. The best part of the night HAD to be when some random frat guys walked onto the dance floor in the bar where we were at closing time (3 am) and started belting out, at the top of their lungs...."and I'm proud to be an American...." and no lie, the entire bar (if not the entire 6th Street) joined in. I was amazed at how many people knew every word to that song...the display of patriotism was impressive. It was a day and night to remember, that's for sure. God bless America.

they really got into it for "across the plains of Texas"...if you can imagine.

*i don't actually live with said roommate all the time, i am just living in his house while I am in Austin...therefore we call each other "roommate".

one month

one month from today i will be in Virginia again. reunited with my law school besties, who i miss dearly. i cant wait to be back and hit up the beach every day and eat every meal at panera and/or jason's deli. i cant wait for sleepovers and bible studies and long runs with sarah at lake james. i cant wait to go back to my CHURCH. i cant wait to start YoungLife and get involved in that ministry. i cant believe i'm saying this...but i can't wait to see the halls of Regent again!

my besties. they really miss me too.

but for NOW...i only have 19 days left in Texas. And as much as i love and miss Virginia...i REALLY love Texas (as everyone knows). I have THREE float trips planned in the next three weekends, I will be making trips back to Krause Springs and Hamilton Pool (both are natural springs outside of Austin...with waterfalls and everything), and I have to cram in as much hang-time with all my new friends as possible. It's going to be a glorious 19 days, to say the least. Let the games begin.