rachel's birthday, etcetera.

This past week, my friends and I celebrated our dear friend, Rachel's, 21st birthday. My, oh my. What a week. The celebration began on Wednesday and hasn't officially ended as of today, considering each one of our friends brings over a new batch of brownies every day post-her official party on Thursday night. Score.

Rage-el's celebration took place in "The Cave," the appropriate nickname for our suite, which is generally dark and involves snuggling at all times of the day. However, on that wild Thursday night our suite turned into "The Rave," as we danced (solely on elevated surfaces) to "Bottoms Up" and "All the Above," had delicious punch prepared by Lizzy and celebrated with 60 plus of Rachel's friends. Thanks to the girls of 406, everyone had a great time...and we have plenty of evidence pictures to share with Rachel's friends and family!

On Friday night, Rachel's sweet family hosted us at their farm in Chattanooga. They have a beautiful home situated among radiant sunflower fields and wooded mountains in eastern Tennessee that reminded me of how amazing an artist God truly is. It was absolutely breathtaking. In addition to letting us escape Vandy's campus for the weekend, Rachel's precious parents cooked us a delectable meal on Friday evening that consisted of yummy BBQ-ed meats, a rich squash casserole and mouthwatering mushroom appetizers. Nom-nom. We're not really sure what's in them (we are probably better off not knowing), but they were a hit. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Dyer for a restful weekend in Chat Town!

As much as I wanted to stay at the farm all weekend long, I had to drive back on Saturday afternoon to get some work done because I have three midterms this week. That's right, three. I know it will all get done. I know in the end, grades don't really matter - it's our character and our hearts that count...right? Well, that's what I tell myself when I start to get overwhelmed. I'm working on de-perfecting my talent of worrying. I guess it's a product of my genes, the educational environment I grew up around and my natural tendencies to want to control everything around me. Ah. Like I said, I'm working on it...

This past weekend, my best friend's mom had a very serious and extremely painful surgery that thankfully went well. She didn't have any serious complications, but the idea of watching a loved one suffer helplessly in a hospital bed makes me cringe with an unfamiliar fear. I've never experienced it, but I know I won't leave this world without at least an introduction. She and I talked about worry. We talked about control, or lack there of, and I found that the advice I was giving her has such relevance in my life at the moment. Well, in all of our lives - at whatever stage. I reminded her that worrying gets us nowhere in life. That God has a plan for all of us, and no matter how unclear it may seem at times, things do work out. All we can do is breathe and hold onto our faith. And that's the mantra I plan to repeat over and over in my head this week, as I cram study for my exams.

Of course, what would a crazy week of exams be without the occasional dance party? Off to rage with AL and Lizzy..."Is that a thunderstorm I hear?" It's raining men!

Lots of love to all! Sorry for my epic failure to blog more regularly!

september 11th

I spent this past week getting back into the swing of things. After two weeks of struggling with Oasis, loads of emails back and forth between teachers and advisors and deans and endless hours deciding which classes to take, I’ve finally figured out my schedule and am ready to dive into my second-to-last fall semester here at Vandy. Who knew that coming back to school would be so stressful? Luckily, I live with five lovely souls who comfort me at all times of the day. Morning or night, they’re always here for me. And I cannot thank them enough for their love and support.

Last Thursday, Elizabeth cooked us all a scrumptious Mexican meal. On the menu? Delicious chicken tacos that eerily tasted like home, along with queso and guacamole to top off her yummy dish. We’re hoping to start a trend: suite dinner/bonding time once a month (or sooner perhaps? :) Chefs and meals to alternate. Brilliant idea, right? Thank you, Lizzie, for the best meal I’ve eaten since I left home a month ago.

After dinner, all six of us watched Father of the Bride and literally quoted throughout the entire movie. Among our favorites were, “Forty-eight hours later, the wedding was still on,” and “Oh-oh, hahllo! Five months naht mah-ch.” I’m actually laughing out loud as I revisit the script. Oh man. We snuggled, we laughed -- we even trekked 100 steps down to the Munchie to purchase Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream because we can and that’s what you do when you practice the girls’ equivalent of “bro-ing out.” We’re still trying to come up with a better term for that, by the way. Thank you, girls, for a fantastic night of friends and fun.

Last semester was a hard season for me for many reasons that I probably shouldn’t talk about via blog. However, to refer to Shauna Niequist’s chapter in Cold Tangerines, I placed far too many eggs in my relationship basket and fell apart once it was over. Broken and undone, I spent the first few weeks of my summer grunting around the house, reading, regretting, wishing, hoping, pleading with God for a new start. I clung to His promise that my life would eventually find normalcy even though it seemed absolutely uncertain at the time. Little did I know, there was so much more out there waiting for me, inviting me to live and love and be loved in return. So, one steamy June morning, I got out of bed, gratefully accepted lunch and dinner invitations from kind friends, old and new, and finally began to live out the fleeting moments of my time at home. I know it sounds a little cliché, but this past summer taught me so much about myself. About life, God, love and the necessity to rejoice every single day. No matter what.

One of the things I learned at Ecclesia this summer was the term “Eucharistia,” or simply, thankfulness. As today is obviously September 11th, I am thankful for the brave men and women who lost their lives exactly eight years ago. I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my faith in God that somehow manages to keep me alive each day, even during the most unforeseeable and heart-wrenching events of my life.

Next up on my list? T-Swift in concert. Tomorrow night. I’ll be there. Ya, you know you’re jealous.

God bless you all.