A Bit of Freshman Wisdom

I can't believe it -  my first year of college is over!! I got through it, and succeeded - I came out in one piece, and, in spite of (really, because of!) everything that's happened, I am a better, new person. It's so crazy to look back on all the things I've done, people I've met and grown close to, and the lessons I've learned. I think I'll make a list here of some of the biggest things that stand out:

• The Freshman 15 is not a myth! (Especially when you stop dancing 20 hours a week after 4 years!)
• College really is when you learn who your real friends are
• Contrary to popular belief, you can't live off of ramen noodles, pop tarts, and coffee. You just can't.
• 8 o'clock classes are the devil's way of trying to make you fail.
• Except for rare, secluded corners and finals week, the main library is not, in fact, used for studying by the general population. Can you say social hour? Annoying!
• It's a smaller world that we thought.
• TV really isn't that important.
• Walt Disney and his cartoon-creating posse were quite the sarcastic bunch. They also dig innuendos. A lot.
• It's never too late for a breakfast burrito.
• Drama is more overrated than we thought.
• Sleep is MUCH more underrated than we thought.
• What you're doing doesn't make the fun - who you do it with is what really counts.
• You don't realize how much you like talking to your parents until you only get to talk to them a few times a week.
• "I don't have time" or "I'm too busy" are actually valid excuses.
• You really do have control over how you feel!
• When mentors give you advice or make suggestions, do yourself a favor: listen.
• You set up your own success or failure!

And, most importantly: Without God in the lead, life means nothing!

And with that:

SUMMER IS HERE!!!!

A Higher Agenda

Here's just a snippet of something I wrote on March 24, just after Women's Group. :)

Today at Women's Group, Michaela spoke about God's Will, and how to know what it is and how to follow it. It was an excellent discussion, and I feel like it was exactly what God is speaking into my life right now. There are so many things I'm trying to make decisions about and move forward on. Plans for my future, how that affects my major and school, housing for next year... they're all big decisions, and they're all things I need to honor God in - and they're also things I'm stressing out about.

Which, in itself, is not being honorable to God's will.

I read a few days ago in Crazy Love that worry and stress are basically ways that we tell God that we aren't trusting in His faithfulness - that WE'RE ALLOWING OUR PROBLEMS TO BECOME BIGGER THAT WHAT GOD CAN ACCOMPLISH. And that's really something I need to keep sight of. God is so much bigger than any hurdles life can throw my way, and I need to simply have faith that God is going to bless the situations I find myself in if I continue to seek after His desires. Only He can light my way -  my job is just to be faithful!

Wilder Project #2

I think my first post about the trip highlighted the gist of what we did at UCI, so I'll just put up a couple of the rest of the photos I took, because they turned out quite well! I think a lot about what went down on our little mission can be inferred from them- and you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! :)

Of course, if anyone wants to know more about what happened on our trip or wants to hear some stories about the amazing people we encountered, feel free to ask!

Poor Todd in the trunk!

 Being WILD was tiring!

 9 people... 7 seats?

Huntington Beach

 We were pretty much inseparable! Kinda. 

 Right before we "broke" the coffee table

On our nighttime adventure to worship on the beach

Charity praying for a girl we found on a treasure hunt

 Our team on campus at UCI!

 Sarah up in a tree... an event that led us to a very memorable encounter!

 On our last day on campus, and our beach day!

 Someone stole Travis' shoelaces... ahem...

 

At Gina's Pizza on our beach day for dinner!