i'm still here.

so I haven't blogged in a while...or called anyone back in weeks...I have been SO busy with school! We have started to get our writing assignments on top of our normal reading for classes...a tiny bit overwhelming, but so far, I have remained strangely calm. I remember Steven telling me one time this summer (when I was super stressed and overwhelmed about camp/lake stuff-which seemed to be ALOT) that God was just preparing me this summer so that I wouldn't freak totally out when the stress hit in Law School. One of the most insightful comments I've ever heard...he was so right.
I still can't believe I am about to start the FIFTH week of Law School...the material is PILING on fast, and I must admit, I couldn't be more confused about what it takes to form a contract!! However, I LOVE my Civil Procedure, Torts, and Christian Foundations classes...and property is becoming bearable at least. So that's good. I feel like the weeks have been flying by...I live for the weekends these days- and they have NOT disappointed so far!! I never really have known what it means to be "workin' for the weekend"...until now. Admittedly, there wasn't much pressure on ANYTHING in undergrad-academically at least- and even "school-nights" usually felt like the weekend. If anyone is reading this that is still in undergrad....DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED!! I barely have time to run errands or do laundry anymore...it's a crazy life I am living these days, but I wouldn't want it any other way. One good thing about working so hard during the week to get to the weekends is that we try to make the weekends as fun as possible. That means our HUGE 1L group of friends going out to dance, sing karaoke, etc. and doing anything BUT talk about law for a few hours. Saturdays are not technically weekends for me- I have to use that day to study and make my outlines for classes- but I take Saturday nights off and Sunday is usually a pretty chill day too...speaking of Sundays...we are moving into our NEW BUILDING tomorrow for church!! There is a massive prayer meeting tonight in the new bldg. and I am SO excited about seeing it..it may be overwhelming at first, but I am ready for something bigger- it just means more room for God to move.

Since I seem to be using this to update many of y'all rather than call/email like a good friend would, I have a few other quick updates since talking to many of you. I have FINALLY found a wonderful group of GIRL friends! Since I moved here, I have really been praying for God to connect me with some other strong and Godly girls here, and he has (of course) been so faithful! I have a very close group of girls at school and another group of girls that are my guy friends' wives/gfs/friends and they are all SO awesome and uplifting...and we have all started hanging out together on the weekends, which is so fun! Also, about the "boy situation"...well, I guess you will just have to call me for that information. ;)

On an ending note, I can't believe the weather here lately. It feels like straight up FALL. No, not Mississippi fall, where if you blink you miss it all together...but more of a constant breeze that lasts all day and all night. Everyday has been BEAUTIFUL this week...it makes studying inside almost impossible. Hopefully it will stay around awhile.

back to the books now...I have a theory about Law School that I will share with everyone as soon as I get another free minute to post...I know you are on the edge of your seat about it already....

several updates.

1. First and foremost..Sarah Palin is my freaking ROLE MODEL. now, I know women all over the world are saying this, but having the extreme amount of confidence that I do (some would say its a fault of mine...whatever.) I REALLY honestly believe I could do what she is doing!! (one day, far down the road of course) I have an immense love for [conservative] politics and I want to eventually run for public office, AS WELL as having a big ole' happy family (imperfections and all..because we all know, NO family is perfect) at the same time. But until my day comes, I will live vicariously through my girl Palin....you go, girl. She's sassy, classy, and a true conservative CHRISTIAN leader. Who wouldn't want to be her? Good job, McCain. A true Dream Team if you ask me. A strong and steady grandfather and a hot mom running the Country. Call me crazy, but I am totally ok with that.

2. Law School is getting way harder....fast. But I am still taking it one day at a time...so far, so good. I just have to remember to breathe every once in a while. Thank the LORD for my wonderful boys (my law school buddies) that keep me sane. I wish everyone could meet them. They are freaking amazing....and their girlfriends/wives are even cooler. score.

3. I have some VERY EXCITING things to look forward to coming up! My friend BALEIGH is coming to see me the first weekend in October (I plan on convincing her to move here next semester and live with me, we'll see how that goes over) and then the very next weekend, all of my Regent friends and I are going to DC to a Christian Legal Society Nat'l Conference...we even get to skip class for it...YAY! I already can't sleep I'm so excited about it. AND I plan on meeting my husband while there. Keep your fingers crossed for me. ;) Then a couple of weeks later, I am coming HOME for a whole week!!!!

4. I started Weight Watchers last week. Keeping track of stupid points SUCKS, and I am ALWAYS hungry it seems, but I needed to get in a habit of eating better to stay healthy for school, and I have had heard great things about this program. We'll see.

5. Welp, thats all I got time for. I miss everyone SO much. (Had a small breakdown Saturday when I thought about everyone celebrating in the Junction after State's victory over who-knows-what team. But I got over it eventually. I'll be home for Homecoming AND The Egg Bowl...so I guess I can hold out until then!)

"the mind is a terrible thing to waste"

I should definitely be catching up on some much needed sleep right now, but due to the fact that I do not have to go to school tomorrow (YAY for Labor Day!) means that I have some extra time to catch up on here while I wait on some new songs to download and laundry to finish drying.

I want to share with you something God has been stirring in my life since I moved to Virginia and it is truly a revelation that has yet again, changed my life. Life with God just keeps getting BETTER and BETTER for me. I spent way too many years of my life without this intimate relationship with Him, unfortunately, so I am definitely making up for lost time these days!! Let me just say first and foremost that being a Christian is SO much more than a religion. I am amazed everyday when I talk to (and about) God at the DEPTH of the relationship that there is to be had with Him, and how much of that I completely MISSED- even growing up in church and with amazing spiritual influences all around me my entire life. It wasn't until I had an indescribable ENCOUNTER with God a year ago in California (visiting Jack at Bethel) that I truly begin to realize the depth of God's LOVE and purpose for my life and what He wanted to be to me...which was everything. After that realization, I have never been the same. My desires have changed, my relationships have changed, my plans for my life even changed...and what amazing plans those are turning out to be!!! All that being said...I will move on to the point of what I want all of my wonderful friends/readers to realize, something that is transforming me lately.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IS EVERYTHING.

I have realized that 90% of my problems lie not in situations themselves, but what I am THINKING about those situations. Our thoughts have the power of life or death, and Solomon says it best when he sums up thinking: "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." (proverbs 27:3) I have found that when I am thinking positive thoughts about myself, situations, other people, etc...my attitude improves drastically. Thinking positively, to me, means focusing on things that God says about me. It is important to remember...The voice of God ALWAYS encourages. (and the voice of the devil ALWAYS discourages) I have been reading Joyce Meyer's book, Battlefield of the Mind, and she talks a great deal about this principle in her book, as well as her ministry in general. As if God wasn't speaking to me enough through the book, a visiting pastor spoke on this very subject tonight at church! I KNOW God is revealing all of this to me because he knows that my mind is where my struggle has been the majority of my life. I am being set free of so much spiritual bondage in this area of my life, and I just want everyone to feel as liberated as I do about this subject!! One important thing that the pastor I heard tonight say is that God gives each of us a "thought-monitor" within us...and that is our feelings and emotions. HOW TRUE! It is impossible to be thinking good and positive thoughts, and be feeling bad. Likewise, it is impossible to be thinking depressing and negative thoughts..about yourself, situations, whatever..and be feeling GOOD! I have seen direct results in my life the past couple of weeks... in my outlook on law school and this new chapter of life away from everything I have ever known and loved...by changing my attitude about it all- beginning with how I think about this new chapter. It IS God's plan for me, and it WILL be a good and fruitful season. Has it been easy? of course not. Anything good takes work. But OH FRIENDS, it is so worth it!! This is the first time in my life that I truly feel CONTENT...something I have ALWAYS longed for...and it has come largely just by changing what I choose to think about on a DAILY basis.
As Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to do, so I encourage you to do when negative thoughts start to manifest themselves in your life..

"we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up AGAINST the knowledge of God. We take EVERY thought captive to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5)

God created us with PURE thoughts about ourselves and who we are in Him. My desire is to get back to that mindset that I was originally created with, so that I can be emotionally healthy and productive for the kingdom of God. God is calling me to a higher standard...one that I believe we are ALL being called to...and the only way I can get there is to BELIEVE that I belong there, as a daughter of the King, and to take captive every thought along the way that would try to tell me otherwise. I hope you will join me in this EXCITING journey, as we renew our minds everyday to align them with the word of God. I will leave you with a verse-mix from J.M.'s book that will begin to get our minds on the right track of what we should be thinking/believing:

I believe God.
I believe He is working in me, no matter how I feel or how the situation may look.
The Lord has begun a good work in my and He will bring it to full completion!
(philippeans 1:6, 2:13)

procrastinating.

i should SO be studying right now. but golly, i have been in class/studying since 7:30 this morning...I need a little break! I am waiting on dinner to be ready (yes. that is right...i am learning how to COOK! spaghetti tonight...not too exciting, but definitely one of my FAVORITES) so while I patiently await my noodles to be ready, I will copy one of LT's latest blog posts and try this little one word game. As you well know, lists are my favorite. so i am pretty pumped about this. (I will also note that as I write this, I am listening to the new Hillsong United CD..."This is Our God"...which is freaking amazing. I don't know if it has come out in the United States yet- seeing as I have the hookup b/c I go to a Hillsong church- but if it is, i HIGHLY recommend buying it!!)

ok. the point is to answer all the following with ONLY one word. this could be interesting....

1. Where is your cell phone? desk.

2. Where is your significant other? stop.
3. Your hair? curly.
4. Your mother? role-model.
5. Your father? manly.
6. Your favorite thing? laughter.
7. Your dream last night? ryan.
8. Your dream/goal? nation-changer.
9. The room you're in? kitchen.
10. Your hobby? wakeboarding.
11. Your fear? loneliness.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? texas.
13. Where were you last night? church.
14. What you're not? shy.
15. One of your wish list items? mac.
16. Where you grew up? Starkville.
17. The last thing you did? class.
18. What are you wearing? tshirt.
19. Your TV? off.
20.Your pet? allergic.
21. Your computer? necessity.
22. Your mood? fulfilled.
23. Missing someone? everyone.
24. Your car? awesome.
25. Something you're not wearing? pants.
26. Favorite store? forever21.
27. Love someone? friends.
28. Your favorite color/shade? brown.
29. Last thing you ate? trailmix.
30. When is the last time you laughed? today!
31. Last time you cried? saturday.

one day down.

well, after my first REAL day of law school, I am still alive and kicking...and surprisingly really enjoying myself! I came into the week very prepared for classes, so I feel ready for anything. i LOVE that Regent has prepared me so well to begin my classes! I have decided that the KEY to my success this year is going to be keeping a positive attitude and outlook of my study-load and circumstances. In celebration of getting preparation for class tomorrow done early, I have decided to write one of those bandwagon posts about things I can't live without...and since I have been doing alot of "figuring out" who I am lately, I think I could be pretty exact with this list. Here goes!

1. my phone. i just got a new blackberry. i am obsessed. that may be an understatement. i do not go anywhere without it. (i do NOT however, believe in using it at restaurants or in the car with other people...because that is just rude. but that will be for another post, another day) i can't say enough about the goodness of blackberry messenger, getting emails instantly, and of course the good ole' text messaging and phone capabilities. the only downside: i have NO reception in my apartment. therefore, i HATE at&t (at least in virginia). but when it DOES work..it is a glorious thing.

2. diet carbonation. pretty much any kind. here are my favorites, in order. 1. diet sunkist (in a 20 oz. bottle preferably) 2. diet coke (fountain drink. duh) 3. diet dr. pepper (the can version wins here) 4. diet mountain dew (bottle) 5. diet sprite (last resort...but still a good one)
i am trying to limit myself to one of these a day (one total..not one of each. i wish.) and today was actually successful. we'll see how long that one lasts. (haven't i said this MULTIPLE times before??)

3. splenda. what a jewel. if there is no splenda in the sugar packet container in a restaurant, i get very irritated. i cannot drink coffee without it (or "sweet" tea) and those just happen to be my two favorite drinks (besides above mentioned drinks, of course). Lucky for me, my parents get the little packets by the box (its a BIG box too) for Bops, so I have at least a years supply at my apartment right now..for all things sweet.

4. my journal. it's my release. i write in it every night before i go to bed...its more of a prayer journal, but i LOVE going back and reading past entries and being able to plainly see how God has blessed and been there for me through so many ups and downs since I began journaling. it helps alot that i love love love to write.

5. pandora. how did i EVER live without it? if you don't know about this...well I am about to introduce you to the best thing that will ever happen to you! (ok maybe not that far, but it IS good). it is an online radio station (completely FREE with no downloads attached) that lets you CHOOSE exactly the kind of music you listen to...you can sort the songs by certain artists, types of songs, genres, etc. For instance, I have a "Hillsong United" station for worship music (while getting ready for the day and at night), a "Jason Mraz/Amos Lee" station for after class when I just need to wind down for a little while, and a sweet "Rhianna/Chris Brown/Lil Wayne" station for getting ready to go out! See for yourself. It has completely changed my life. (Harris, you know what I'm talking about)

6. my camera. Have you seen my facebook profile lately? I think I have somewhere around 50 albums these days. And thats not even all the pictures I have taken, its just the ones that will fit on facebook. Thank goodness I just bought an external hard drive to back up all those precious memories. Unlike last summer when I lost ALL of pictures from freshman to mid-junior year. STUPID LAPTOP. i LOVE having my memories captured, and I have come to be known for always having a camera handy. I can't help it...all of my pictures are what have gotten me through some pretty rough nights up here by myself the past few weeks.

7. notepads. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I like to make lists. I used to get caught by my friends for making lists of boys I liked, why I liked them, pros and cons, etc. etc. (it was like high school, come ON.) Although I have pretty much grown out of that category, I still make lists about pretty much everything else. To do lists are EVERYWHERE in my apartment. Not that I will ever get to 86.4% of the items, but there is something about crossing stuff off a little at a time that just makes me feel SO PRODUCTIVE. so for that feeling, I have LOTS of note pads and notebooks (and my magnadoodle, which currently contains my "to-do" list for this week) dedicated JUST to lists.

----this list will have to be put on hold due to the fact that i was A.D.D. in making it and now its past my bedtime. will return....sometime.------

faithful.

We serve a MIGHTY God. I know most of my readers know this, but my personal experience of so much of God's faithfulness and favor has overwhelmed me this week. I will share a few (of MANY) examples just from this week.

First...my car suddenly QUIT working last Sunday night on my way home from church. Although it was a terrifying experience for me-being 15+ hours away from home-God's goodness was immediately apparent. I just HAPPENED to take a back road home from the church- one that was not very crowded-instead of taking the interstate, which I have done EVERY other time I've ever come home. Had my car just stopped like it did on the interstate...well, I would probably have gotten plowed over b/c cars go extremely fast out there. So, my being on a less crowded street was not only a blessing, but I also just HAPPENED to be on the phone with my parents so they could be there with me and help me not to totally panic. Then, two cop cars pulled up right behind me (b/c I think I may have stopped in the ghetto??) and immediately started to help me figure out what was wrong with my car. The two cops (who I swear were my age...or younger) got in my car, looked at it for a while, and got it started back up so I could get back home. The next day, my car started back up just fine and my wonderful daddy called the Volvo dealership in town and got me into their service dept to fix it right away. The service was great, and my car was fixed and ready within a few days...and in the meantime, my WONDERFUL new friends offered to give me rides anywhere I needed to go. What a blessing!

Another possible frustration that God helped me with involved my student loans and the amount of money I would be getting back. I found out at the beginning of the week that I would not be getting hardly ANY money (to eat, live on, etc.) back for this semester because I had not asked for enough. How was I supposed to know...we have never done this loan thing before!? Not only that, but my books for the semester were $1300!! WHAT!? I guess we didn't really plan on that one either. Fortunately, the financial aid lady was SO helpful and it all got worked out...just in time, because living here is WAY more expensive than good ole' Starkville, MS!

I have also been having anxiety about beginning the semester and being deligent about studying, etc. but I have been prepared through the ASP program and I know what I need to be doing to succeed..now it is just a matter of DISCIPLINE, which I have been praying for for quite a while now. And I KNOW God will help me with that if I take the step of actually sitting down and committing to studying everyday. Please keep me in your prayers as I begin on Monday! Pray that I remain DISCIPLINED in my schedule and study habits.
This verse has meant alot to me lately (thanks Will Haynie, for sharing your favorite verse with me!) and I hope it will encourage others as well.

The Lord says, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you". So I say with confidence, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. -Hebrews 13:5-6

I have been so blessed with some extra time this week to hang out with my law school friends alot and get more plugged into church. Thursday night, I went with a few people down to North Carolina to our church's youth camp and attended one of the services and stayed for baptisms at the beach-front of the camp. (It actually looked alot like the beach at Camp Ozark...made me feel kinda weird at first) It was AWESOME to see SOO many kids so passionate about God and what he is doing in this area. (the youth is HUGE at Wave...I cant wait to get involved next semester when I get the hang of school, time management, etc.) I also went BACK to the beach yesterday, and I am planning on going to a friend's house tonight right on the beach to hang out once I get all my studying done. So I guess that means I should begin practicing diligence NOW and hit the books! I will try to update on the weekends, or whenever I get some time. Until then, pray for me and don't stop being my friend just because I haven't called. I will get to everyone as soon as I get some time to talk!!

Becoming "Local"

i had my first true "beach experience" with the east coast beaches this weekend. It was predicted to rain all weekend, but me and a few other of my new friends decided to just pray that it wouldn't rain so that we could enjoy our last weekend of "freedom" before classes and studying take over our lives...and what do you know...God was faithful! (duh.) One of my friends decided he should maybe be a weatherman instead of a lawyer since we prayed for no rain both Friday (so we could go to the pool after our test) AND Saturday and it was beautiful weather,despite strong forecasts saying otherwise, on both days!I assured him that maybe it was simply God revealing his power more than us being really good at proving the current weatherman wrong.

But back to the beach. All of our group met up at dinner Friday night and then went back to my friend James' house- he has a really cool house on the river with a sweet back porch and patio that looks right out onto the water. you KNOW i spent the whole night outside...He even has a floating dock that I spent big chunk of the night sitting on and having some solid heart to hearts with some people...I have decided that there is NOTHING BETTER in life than a good conversation-especially one about God and His nature- accompanied by a good glass of wine while sitting on a dock all around the water. Perfection. But again, BACK TO THE BEACH. The next morning, we all woke up and threw on our bathing suits and after spending way more getting stuff ready than probably necessary for just a day trip, we finally headed (like 6 MILES) to the beach. One of my friends has lived in Va Beach for about 2 years now, so thankfully he knew where the less crowded beaches were in the area so that we could get some good spots on the beach. We stayed all day-I got a NICE little sunburn on my stomach because unlike the rest of my body, my stomach has been hidden from the sun ALL summer (b/c of the one-pieces I got to wear everyday for 3 months) but other than that...a VERY successful day. I can't wait to go back...I have one more weekend of semi-freedom before the study load gets rough, and I am planning on making one more trip-since i am so close now! I definitely got giddy on the walk to the water just thinking about the fact that i LIVE AT THE FREAKING BEACH! As most know, I have always had a passion for the water, but this is the first time I have lived so close to some...and I plan on taking as much advantage as possible of it. Visitors of course are welcome anytime!

lifeguard stands- new to me at the beach!?
(this was from another area of Va. Beach, but same beach)