Thanksgiving Reflections

So, a few of you know the horrors I suffered today at the airport in my journey back to Oklahoma. To be honest, it took all I had to not break down and cry in the airport. This was an emotional week for in general, but today seemed even more so. I was not ready to say goodbye to my dear friends or my precious grandparents... then all the stress of my day at the airport and my utter exhaustion made it all the worse. While on one of my 3 flights today, I just started praying and asking God for peace. I was so upset and so negative about my situation, which frankly, I had a right to be... it was a pretty lame one. BUT I didn't want to let it get me down, and I knew I didn't have it in me to find any good in this situation, so, while on my final flight I pulled out my bible and journal. I read through various things, then I started journaling. I decided to make a list (of course) of the things that stood out to this break (spiritually speaking). I wanted to put my focus on all the amazing work God has done in my life this past week, rather than the not so good stuff that happened today, so I made a list. This may not make any sense to anyone else other than me, but I just wanted to share where my thoughts are and what God has been doing in my heart. This week truly was incredible. Much of this list stems from Tuesday night, but God totally took it from there. So, I wanted to share, even though there is no flow to this. I literally wrote things as they came to my mind in terms of what God has been doing in my heart and revealing to me over the past week! And I must say, turning my attention to the Work of the Lord really did brighten my day and change my mood. :) Here we go (this is how it is written out in my journal- the raw goods! ;)

[Psalm 119: 36-37]

"Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways."

1. Your word gives me hope.

2. I delight in Your law.

3. Steadfast love.

4. Teach me Your statutes, that I may abide in Your word.

5. The world is temporary- it does NOT satisfy.

6. Turn my heart toward Holy things.

7. Protect my eyes that I may guard my heart.

8. Take captive my thoughts.

9. Your word is ALIVE!

10. The power of the Holy Spirit is real- and very powerful.

11. Prayer, prayer, prayer.

12. Include other believers in my spiritual journey.

13. Allow Christ to love through me.

14. No more white washed tomb.

15. Never stop repenting.

16. Forgiven and loved.

17. Pray through scripture- meditate on the word- hide it in my heart.

18. Do not love the world.

19. Conviction --> brokenness --> godly sorrow and repentance --> FREEDOM!

20. Christ conquered the grave- HALLELUJAH!

21. Bended knee.

22. Discuss, seek truth, strive to know more- never stop learning.

23. Faith in God, not circumstances.

24. What is my main pursuit?

25. Righteousness, peace, faith not marriage, education, career.

26. Be vulnerable, be real.

27. Sin has lost its power, death has lost its sting!

28. Provider and Sustainer.

29. Joy, not happiness (Christ, not circumstance).

30. I can face tomorrow!

So there ya have it. No organization or method, just thoughts and things God has put on my heart, either about who He is or who I need to be/what I need to change.

God is good.... all the time.

Thankful.

I feel like it is only right to make a list of what I am thankful for on such a holiday as this.

1. Christ died for me.

2. Conviction and the subsequent brokenness.

3. Joy.

4. My health. (for the most part ;))

5. My grandmother for teaching me how to make thanksgiving dinner.

6. My aunt for being so loud and full of life.

7. My grandpa for always telling me I am his favorite.

8. My uncle for his sarcasm.

9. My cousin for being so young and joyful.

10. Skype so I could see my dad today.

11. Campfires on the back porch.

12. Smores.

13. Learning to cook a thanksgiving feast.

14. Pictures.

15. Football.

16. Napping in my grandma's bed.

17. Yahtzee.

18. Hot chocolate.

19. Bottled rootbeer, dr pepper and ginger ale.

20. Cypress, Texas.

21. Wonderful friends.

22. Great conversation.

23. Life lessons.

24. Incredible encouragement.

25. Mexican food.

26. Hope.

27. BFFAE.

28. Gift giving.

29. Desserts. Lots of desserts.

30. Beautiful friendship.

31. Houston Northwest.

32. A comfortable and peaceful home.

33. Peace.

34. Faith.

35. Excitement.

There is so much more I am thankful for... but these just came to my mind in thinking about the events of the day. God is good... so very good!

Call me a nerd

I LOVE making to-do lists. Seriously. I made one the other night when I should have been studying for civ and physiology ;). This list entailed all the homework and other various tasks I wanted to complete before I left for thanksgiving break, so that I could have the maximum time possible to have fun/relax while at home. Initially, I was completely overwhelmed by all the stuff I had to do and seriously considered crying right then and there. But, I decided to just focus on one thing at a time until I got it all done. I think one of my favorite feelings in the world is being able to cross things off of a list. I feel so completely accomplished, and with each slash I feel a weight being lifted. Man... what a great feeling! :)

As soon as I finished my civ test Friday, I went to the library and checked out 9 different books about Martin Luther and his life for my research paper. I came back to my room and got to work looking through them all. It took about 4 hours... but I made my way through them and typed up all the possible quotes I could use in my paper and such. I don't plan on looking at the paper again until after break, but it is nice to know that I got most of the hard part done. Then I did my civ homework for Mondays class. Victory. Another item crossed off the list. After my workout (yep... that means yet another slash!) I did some laundry. Oh what a great feeling that was. I woke up this morning and did my civ homework that is due the Monday we get back from break (yeah... I am that much ahead... be proud). All that is left on my list today is: meeting with my group about our nutrition presentation, writing a fake sociology paper*, Thanksgiving dinner with the same group as last year, physiology reading and a workout. I am making some serious progress...and man am I glad I made a list to keep track of it all! :)

*In regards to this "fake" sociology paper: you see, we write 3 papers during the semester. If we complete all 3 we qualify to do the extra credit paper at the end of the semester... which entails watching a movie from a list she gave us and relating it to sociology. Our professor drops our lowest paper grade of the 3. Whether we make a 100 (which no one does) on all three... only 2 get counted. So, she suggested to us (since paper number 3, the fake one I will write today, is due the Monday we get back from thanksgiving) that we simply turn a piece of paper in with our names on it and a few sentences and let that be the dropped grade. Considering I made A's on my other 2 papers... I am totally doing this. Basically, I am just going to pick one of the prompts and write an opinion paper... no research or anything... just so I can have something to turn in and qualify for extra credit. This is kind of stressing me out, because I can't imagine not trying on something... but then again, our professor did encourage that! Ha.

Strange Days.

This week has been pretty chill... for once. I only had one test, so it felt like I had nothing but free time. Ha. I got to catch up/store up on some sleep... which is always wonderful. Friday, however, was a rather strange day, but in a good way. Here is what took place:

1. My evil physiology professor baked us cookies and brought them to class! This really threw us all off because, well, this guy is a total jerk. Come to find out though, we had a lady sitting in our class observing/evaluating him and the next class had to fill out evaluations for him. Apparently he is up for a promotion. I feel like the cookies were a total manipulation... but good nonetheless! ha.

2. No chapel! So I went back to my room to hang out a bit before my next class. While walking past the GC (our student union thing) I realized that there was a limo parked in front of it. I have never seen a limo at OBU before... it really threw me off, but was kind of cool!

3. In sociology I drew my friend Amy this awesome hand turkey. She loved it.

4. In Civ, my history professor brought her long haired doxin (sp?) to class. She said that we could all use the stress reliever. So, when we all got into class, she took her leash off and let her wander around the room and we played with her if she came near our desk. It was so random... but pretty awesome!

5. It's our homecoming weekend... meaning OBU is infested with old people.

I guess that really isn't a lot of strange things... but it felt like a lot more while I was experiencing the day. Ha.

Sorry my life is so boring these days. I am so ready for thanksgiving break.

Spring 2010

I registered for classes today. Here is what next semester holds for me:

Monday: 9:00-9:50 Microbiology

10:00-10:50 Chapel

11:00-11:50 Wellness lifestyles

1:00-1:50 Lit of the Western World

2:00-5:00 Microbiology Lab

Tuesday: 8:00-9:15 Arts and Ideas

1:00-2:50 Intro to Nursing Lab

6:30-8:00 Jazz and Hip-Hop

Wednesday: 9:00-9:50 Microbiology

10:00-10:50 Chapel

11:00-11:50 Wellness lifestyles

1:00-1:50 Lit of the Western World

2:00-4:50 Intro to Nursing (this is a 4 hour class... its not as easy as the title makes it sound. just saying)

Thursday: 8:00-9:15 Arts and Ideas

Friday: 9:00-9:50 Microbiology

10:00-10:50 Chapel

1:00-1:50 Lit of the Western World

I don't know what I got myself into... but it should be an interesting semester!