the abundant life

i try to get a run in everyday. i hate running, actually. but i do love how it makes me feel after i finish...and more importantly, i love that God likes to talk to me about all kinds of stuff when i run. yesterday was no exception, and i wanted to share a part of our conversation with you. (I'm sure He won't mind). 

first, i should note that i have been more content/happy, since being back in Virginia Beach than i have in a very long time. it is also important to know that in all my plans and hopes of going to law school, i never dreamed i would end up in Virginia- esp. Virginia Beach- for three years to pursue that degree. i have been trying to figure out just what it is that has given me so much joy these past two weeks that was somewhat missing before...not that i was depressed in Texas by any means (i had a GREAT and fun summer!) but something has been different (more peaceful) in my spirit lately, and I desperately wanted to know why. So I asked God while we were running, and sure enough- He let me know. 

I feel like God revealed to me that Virginia Beach (and specifically Regent) was COMPLETELY His idea/plan...i couldn't have dreamed up a school and place like this even if i would have tried (and we all know the size of my imagination)...my idea of a "good law school" looked a lot different than what Regent seemed to be upon first glance. But I trusted in where I heard God calling me, and I came to Va Beach, knowing no one and almost nothing about the school, city, etc. (i can still say it was the scariest thing i've ever done!) One year later, here I am...happier than i have ever been, with deeper spiritual friendships than i've ever experienced, and more in love with God than I ever thought could be possible. I can honestly say those blessings are ALL because I  was obedient to God's will for me to be here...and I am quickly realizing that His plan is always the most fulfilling! God has already been doing so much in and through me since I have been back, and I know He will continue to do so in the next two years (and who knows, maybe even longer!?)

Since that revelation, my desires/plans have quickly changed. I have been saying for a long time now that I would only move to Texas or back to the South after law school and I would only practice certain types of law, and I would only date/marry a certain type of guy. Now, I want my next move, career path, and relationship to be completely God's plan for me and in no way my own. No restrictions. I know that God puts desires in our hearts to pursue, but I want to be able to discern which desires are truly HIS and which desires are my own selfish desires. I do know this- I now fully know how it feels to be living out God's plan, and I know how it feels to be living out my own desires...and although God can work through and bless either path, I want to maximize the peace and contentment in my life whenever possible. amen!

finish the sentence...

i saw this on LT's blog. the point of it is to fill in the blank of each question to finish a sentence. i can never decide if i want to post these kinds of things on here, on facebook, or neither...sometimes i feel like i am opening up myself to be majorly stalked by some creeper out there. but for now, i will post it. if it gets deleted soon, just know that i re-gained some sense of wanting privacy. but never less, enjoy while it's here. 

 

1.Maybe I should......go for a run instead of wasting time blogging. nah. 

2. My ex is......forgiven.

3.I love......wakeboarding, law school, my family and friends, and my mac.

4.People would say that I am......passionate. about every aspect of my life.

5. I don't understand......how to have self control with food.

6.When I wake up in the morning......hit the snooze button at LEAST five times.

7.I have lost....too many items to try to list.

8.Life is full of.....heart-to-hearts.

9.My past taught me....how to really love people, even when they don't know how to love me back. 

10. I get annoyed......easily.

11.Parties are....wonderful, as long as I'm not in charge or responsible for messes/accidents.

12.I wish.....I knew what kind of law God wants me to practice. 

13.Dogs .....are fine with me, as long as they don't bite me or make me sneeze. i want one....someday.

14.Cats....make me sneeze; therefore i hate them.

15.Tomorrow is....Sunday- my absolute favorite day of the week.

16.I have a low tolerance for......parents that think their screaming baby doesn't need to leave the service at church.

17.If I had a million dollars....I would sponsor (or adopt) as many kids in Africa as possible.

18.I am terrified....of losing anyone close to me.

19.I've come to realize that my last kiss....makes my stomach hurt to think about.

20.I am listening to....Hillsong United.

21.I talk....too much, probably. 

22.My friend(s).....mean everything to me.

23.My first real kiss.....makes me laugh to think about. it was definitely awkward. 

24.Love is.....a choice.

25.Marriage is...something i am trying not to focus on too much right now.

26.Somewhere, someone is thinking.... "Jesus really did that for me?! that's awesome!"

27.I'll always....keep in touch with my best friends.

28.The last time I really cried......was during a heart-to-heart with Sarah about our futures. 

29.My cell phone is....quite handy for twitter and facebook...notsomuch for getting calls and texts.

30.Before I go to bed........ I need to remember to make sure my alarm is set. 

31.Right now I am thinking about.....what I should eat for a snack.

32.Babies....are precious. I just don't want/need one anytime soon.

33.Today I.....want to cross everything off my to-do list. 

34.I really want to.....be a judge one day.

tattoo

i am 90.2% set on getting a tattoo. i have been thinking/praying about it so much lately.....this is what i want. on my foot (left foot- right below my last three toes) and pretty small.

X:XV

It stands for Romans 10:15. "how beautiful the feet of those who bring the good news."

I have a heart for GOING and doing God's work somewhere- and at this point, i don't even care where as long as God is in it and wants me there. I want this to remind me of why I am here...on Earth, in Virginia, at Regent Law, in this classroom.  Thoughts?

a new distraction

my attention span is officially in major trouble. from reading some friends' blogs, i have discovered a new website that is SO MUCH FUN. granted, i am not a fashionista like mk, ktac, and mo...but i do what i can with the little fashion sense that i have. this website is like paperdolls on steroids...and in virtual form of course. i've only made a few outfits so far...most of which aren't that great, but i am pretty certain the more i do, the better i will get. 

this is one that i did called the "first day of school"...i actually have this outfit (minus the shoes and handbag) and i very well may wear it one of the first days when school does start back...although i dont know that i will pull it off as well as it looks on "virtual" paper...and the second one (below it) is just a summer outfit i put together. that's what i wish i could wear to class everyday!

first day of school by annholland featuring Forever21

summer swing by annholland featuring Juicy Couture accessories

a lot in a little.

so much to update...so little time or desire to post. i blame it on the busyness that has taken my life by storm the past week or so...but in attempt to keep my promise to myself to blog more this year, here we are. 

family vacation was a BLAST. we stayed in a great condo with an oceanfront balcony/view (i put all the pictures on facebook- i don't have the energy to re-post them here at the moment, sorry) and wow, i had forgotten how beautiful Florida beaches are compared to, well, anywhere else in the States.  we rented a golf cart to get to and from Baytowne (where all the cute shops/restaurants are in Sandestin) and boy, was that an experience in itself. One night after dinner- all SIX of us piled onto the golf cart- as we were driving back to the condo, the cart began to lose "juice" since it hadnt been charged in a while. All of the boys jumped off to lighten it up- not sure if that really helped THAT much- but it definitely didnt hurt. However, that left mom, me, and emily to get it back (at that point, it was still running faster than the boys could walk to keep up with it) and our little all-girl-excursion took us through spewing fire hydrants-which completely drenched us, having to be pushed by a random guy across the street to avoid being slammed by on-coming traffic, and eventually pushing the cart the rest of the way....in heels and dresses. it was definitely one of those nights we will always remember- those are my favorite kind of nights anyway. the rest of the week was not quite so eventful....just ALOT of eating, laying out, and riding skis. 

a week later, me and mom packed up my life-again- to move me back to Virginia Beach. We spent the weekend roaming around Va Beach- mostly eating and shopping....our specialty. Although I could have done without the 16-hr car ride, I was so glad to be back! I feel more at home in Virginia Beach right now than I ever have before...it has been SO good to catch up with friends here that I haven't seen all summer, and I already feel very "settled"....which is something i have come to realize is VERY important to me. 

ASP started Monday- so far, so good! I like all the new students, and I am trying to make them feel as comfortable and encouraged as possible....I remember so well how scared I was when I first started law school last year, and I don't want anyone else to have to feel that way if I can help it! Friends, please be praying for me that I can be a good "advisor" and friend to these incoming students through this program! 

like I said, many updates....and I am officially tired of blogging for the night. I love you, friends, and I miss you..I know I have missed a lot of calls and messages lately (please forgive me) but I will call you back soon I promise! 

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.