Few and Far Between

Yes, I do realize my posts are few and far between. It's not that I haven't encountered any adventures, it's the fact that I forget that I should write about them or say i'll do it later and later never comes...

About a week ago the Chi Alpha director calls me and asks me to write a little paragraph thing about what it's like having Christ in my life and being a college student and what XA has meant to me. This is what I came up with...

Living as a committed Christ follower on a college campus is not the easiest thing I’ve ever done, however, it’s not the hardest thing I’ve done either. I can say with confidence that God has been with me every step of my college career. He has been my comfort, my provider, my strength, and has equipped me with everything I need. God has given me a sense of belonging, I am His child. He has guided and directed me down His paths and covered me with His peace, even when it was the exact opposite of what I thought needed to be done.

I transferred to Texas State a year ago and knew only 2 people in the town. Through Chi Alpha, I got involved in a small group and met some amazing people who are now some of my very close friends. The weekly large group meetings have been so encouraging to me. Being around other believers, participating in intimate worship, and hearing practical teaching has helped me fall more and more in love with my Savior and deepen my walk with the Lord.

Interesting People

First of all, I owe my friend, Brittany, an apology for my absence in blogging! Now, onto my stories...

As usual, I have a long list of things I should be doing, however, right now I think laying on my bed with Ben (my roomate's dog) who is currently growling at my closet or a shadow I can't figure out which it is, and sharing stories is more fun than cleaning or studying or grocery shopping or any of the other 34 things on my list. It's a great evening, I can finally open my window and not die of a heat stroke! Oh how I love fall!

Yesterday I rode the bus home from school, as usual. However, I saw something that was definatly very unusual... After the first stop, people shuffled around and I ended up getting a seat. Standing in front of me is a girl standing wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Her arm is raised because she's holding onto the top bar. Out of her armpit I see hair, lots and lots of hair it had to seriously be 3 or 4 inches long. No Joke! I look down and notice her leg hair is basically the same way; long and in massive amounts. I was not prepared to see this...

Also, this week was national "coming out of the closet week". Of course there were lots of people on campus celebrating this event. Thankfully, I didn't have any encounters with girls! You bet I sure did do a lot of prayer walking. Last night I went to Chi Alpha, it was so refreshing! The guy preached about almost the exact same thing I heard from God that afternoon on one of my prayer walks! :)

San Marcos Memories

I just got back into town after spending the weekend in Brenham/College Station and instead of working on my physics homework, I thought i'de share some of my favorite memories in San Marcos from the past year...Pumpkin Carving Party!

Throwing the Christmas tree of the 3rd floor balcony because it broke and we couldn't put it together and we didn't want to carry it down 3 flights of stairs to the dumpster.
Football games with one of my best friends, Rene.
My friend Allison! Coffee, Gilmore Girls, Knitting!

Brittany got married!
The River!

Those are just a few adventures from last year. I can't wait to see what's going to happen this next year!

Looking Back

You're the God of this city,

You're the King of these people,
You're the Lord of this nation, You are.
You're the light in the darkness,
You're the hope to the hopeless,
You're the peace to the restless, You are.

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come,
greater things are still to be done in this city

About 1 1/2 years ago, I clearly remember singing this song at Breakaway (a worship service in College Station) At that time in my life, I loved living in college station,I loved my job, planned to transfer to A&M that fall, pretty much all my close friends were living there, I loved my church; I couldn't imagine it anything else. Well, about a week or so before that service I felt God was going to move me away from College Station. Doors began to slowly close for me to stay there and i was getting scared. However, doors were opening for me to move to San Marcos, a place I specifically had no desire to move to. As we were singing that song I was begging God to let me stay in College Station... "greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city (College Station)" .. I couldn't move, or at least that's what I thought at the time. Slowly but surely, every door began to close for me to stay in College Station and every door was opening for me to move to San Marcos. Eventually I let go and agreed to move to San Marcos. I trusted God and was willing to obey Him and had complete peace about moving, but at the time I wasn't too keen on the whole idea of abandoning my plan for something totally unknown.

I layed down my pride and my desires and made the move. I knew only 2 people in the town, 1 of which I lived with. I ended up living off ramen noodles and mac & cheese for a majority of the first semester and still refused to be fully content with where God was bringing me; although I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Over the past few months God has really been changing my heart for the city of San Marcos. Yesterday we sang that song in church and I was finally able to say I am fully content with being here and where I am in life! I'm very excited to see how God is going to use me here. Looking back, this past year has really been an incredible journey! I've learned so much, and developed some incredible friendships. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Stories From The Bus

You can pretty much count on having some kind of bus adventure, whether good or bad, at least once a month. Since school started a week ago, i've had 2 experiences that i'll share with you...

The first one was last week. The bus was packed and i was running late for class so i didn't have time to wait for another, hopefully not so crowded bus. I squeeze in and hold on. Well, I decided to hold onto the wrong bar with the wrong girl. about halfway to campus i learned she was obviously a fan of girls in a very different way than i was. i'm pretty sure that was the longest 6 minute bus ride of my life!

Today, the bus was crowded so i had to stand, as usual. There was a guy sitting to my left. All of a sudden, he sneezes... on MY arm! He just played it off like nothing happened. Gross!

I think i'm about due for a good bus adventure... we'll see what happens with the rest of the week.

... aint life and love one big roller coaster ride...

A few days ago I met my best friend and her family at Sea World in San Antonio! So much fun! I'm a big fan of roller coasters (as long as they're not wooden), so of course we we ride the only 2 coasters in the park multiple times. I had always thought that the very front row was more adventurous; boy was i wrong! It is actually the very back row that's more adventurous! Try it out, let me know what ya think! It would not have been a Sea World visit without watching the Shamu show! Those animals are amazing! I decided I need to become friends with a whale or dolphin trainer. That way i would get to swim and have fun with them, but not have to worry about learning to train them because I don't have the slightest idea of where to start. I think i'll stick with kids instead of animals.

Well, it's my last day of freedom before school starts and I plan on soaking every bit of it up!

Praising God

About a week ago I had a sweet evening encounter with Jesus. He reminded me of the power he has and the power that's in me because he's in me. And how beautiful it is to be weak because that's when his perfect power and strength is revealed. He then reminded me how easy things can be if I trust him. And how he is the Jehovah Jireh, the provider. So, i'm praying and reading all these verses and thinking in the back of my head... He's reminding me of all this because i'm about to have money issues again because due to being on my own and being in college i always have money issues.

Little did I know all the events that would come up in the next few days, and how his word would be proven time after time...

- I un-excitedly went back to work at my old pre-school to help them get ready for the school year. If you know me well, you know how I felt about that. First of all, I was out of money and had to pay bills, well, after working there for a few weeks, I can now pay my bills! Praise God! And my boss is gave me $.25 more/hour! Praise God! And tomorrow is my last day there! Praise God!

- I was trying to register for classes, but it wouldn't let me because the gpa requirements were changed without anyone notifying me. The next morning I talked to an advisor about it and he was able to get me into the classes I needed! Praise God!

- After moving and unpacking I learned that my coat was missing. I went by my old apartment and called all my roomates and nobody had it. I assumed the worst since the last time I touched it was when I put it in the coat closet after the last cold spell, months ago. It's not like it was super sentimental or super expensive, I just got a really good deal on it and liked it a lot. My friend (and former roomate) Brittany calls a few days later and informs me it got mixed up with her coats when she was moving out! Praise God!

- Speaking of Brittany, we met up in Austin for a day of fun filled adventures. Me, being from a small town and never having my car towed, decides to leave my car at Chick-Fil-A and just drive 1 car around Austin. I look and see no "towing enforced signs" and assume it's a safe bet that my car will be there when I return later that evening. Brittany was a LITTLE more apprehensive than me, but I assured her it would be ok, and that I was trusting Jesus. Yeah, my car was definatly there when we returned later that day! Praise God!

Those are just a few things, and of course there are a few more things in the works as we speak. Praise God, for he is strong in me when i'm weak. Praise God, for he is faithful. Praise God, for he is love.