Mission Arlington

This morning I went to Mission Arlington with Beth and Ana to deliver clothes we'd gathered from students in the BSM and our friends to donate. This place is unreal. They provide medical services (including dentistry), food, clothes, furniture, and basically anything people need, all day every day. Mrs. Tilly, who runs the Mission, arrives at 3:30 every morning, and people work until 11pm. The amount of donations that are poured in and out are incredible. It was such a great experience to walk around and see what goes on, and then to sort through clothes for an hour or so, some of which were ones we had donated (haha). It's a place I can definitely see myself working at more while I'm living in Dallas. God's work is being done there at Mission Arlington, and I want to be a part of that.

weekend of the movies.

okay, so I'm planning a slightly deeper post for tonight or sometime soon, but first, I thought I'd talk about the movies I went to see this weekend. It sounds incredibly odd to say that since I very rarely go to the movies. This school year I've only been to see Harry Potter and Black Swan, and then suddenly BAM! two in one weekend.

first, Friday night with my friend Cody, I went to see Rio. yes, we are small children who watch G rated movies. at least we went to a late showing, ok, so we're not twelve. ;)

I really had no expectations for this movie, and I really enjoyed it. It was cute, and Jesse Eisenberg's voice just cracks me up a little. He is great. The movie was really colorful & had birds doing the samba. What's not to love?

this afternoon I went by myself to see Water for Elephants because I had purchased a groupon a while back for Studio Movie Grill.

I was hoping this movie would be good -- I have the book, though I have yet to read it. I was doubting it though, because I'm not really a fan of Robert Pattinson and I've never actually seen a Reese Witherspoon movie (I know, I know...). However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was much less of a romance story than I expected, and I really thought it was a good movie. Now I want to read the book even more.

today I also saw a photo of the original actor cast as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings movies, in costume and everything, and I am SO much more in love with Viggo Mortensen now. It scared me a little to see what we may have had instead of that wonderful man.

it has been a very trying week.

but you know what? It's resurrection Sunday. (not that we can't/shouldn't do this everyday, but) today I celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, after he took MY sins upon himself & died to keep me from spending eternity in Hell. If that's not something to celebrate, I don't know what is. And next to death on a cross, my petty troubles are absolutely nothing. My God can bring me through anything, so no matter what physical pain I'm in, no matter what rude comments people make, no matter how frustrated I am with the world, I know that He will help me press through, and I'll do it for His glory.

on a side note, if I wasn't so dependent on facebook for communication, I'd give it up. I think what I should do is use it solely for communication, meaning if someone posts on my wall/sends me a message I'll respond, but I'm done scrolling through my news feed. too much of what comes up frustrates me, and that's not what I want to be focusing on right now. I want to be focusing on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable (Philippians 4:8).

I should update this more often.

Here's a quick one, since it's after one in the morning.
Since my last post...
Well, it definitely snowed again. But first, it iced. That's right; we had almost an entire week off of school because of icy roads. We thought we might go stir crazy; thankfully, I at least was able to get out of my apartment (if only to walk to my brother's) and enjoy a random break from classes.
Classes have gone well for the most part. 2 midterms last week & 2 this week, and then Friday or Saturday I'll go home for Spring Break! Though brother and I went home for a weekend recently, I'm excited to have time to spend with my parents and friends.
I'm really enjoying Crime and Punishment, which I'm reading for literary analysis. More on that over on tumblr.

Took a little trip to Corinth with my roomie to watch friends of mine dance last weekend; spending time with them or even just seeing them is so refreshing to my heart. 

Another thing that refreshes my heart: homegroup. Brother's roomie's fiance has been taking me with her and investing in my spiritual life and just altogether making my feel extra loved lately. I am so grateful to God for putting her in my life; I needed someone like her up here.

I will try to get better about remembering to update this!
<3 Have a happy Wednesday~

first snow 2011

should I really say 'first'? I have no proof that there will be any more; I'm just hopeful, I suppose. the snow today was very lovely; I was glad that I had no where pressing to be and could simply enjoy walking around campus with my roommate and hanging out in our warm apartment. <3

hello, 2011!

My family rang in the New Year with some dear friends. We ate delicious food (crab poppers & spinich dip with hawaiian bread: yuuuum), watched some of the festivities in NYC, played some rousing games of ping-pong and pool, toasted the New Year (those who aren't underage, anyway), and then watched a couple episodes of Psych (we started the year laughing; always a good thing). I had a great time; last minute plans are always good, right?

Now, as far as resolutions go... I don't ever really make "resolutions." Don't everyone's always get broken anyway? But this year, I did compile a list of sorts.
In 2011, I want to:
. keep a list of all the books I read (and I want there to be a lot of books)
. do a better job of keeping a prayer journal
. do a better job of keeping a journal in general (here or on paper)
. make money over the summer
. remain positive
. try to inspire others
. make good grades
. take pictures everywhere
. travel
. laugh
. love

2010 in photo review: a selection of (quite a few) photos to represent this fabulous year.

and they don't start until about March; I suppose nothing exciting happened until Spring Break.

Spring Break was spent in NYC with my dear choir friends; and mama as chaperone. (:








I went to Prom with my best friends; good friends, good food, lame dance, but I did wear my converse, which was fun.







SHOWTIME 2010 Choir Show was epic, as usual, and I sang a duet with my dear Krista.



I graduated sixth in my class.






I performed my senior solo for my dance recital to Matt Wertz's "I Will Not Take My Love Away," choreographed by my dear friend, Ashley.



My little cousins turned nine and five. <3



Arts Quest 2010 and Come to the River let me spend a week with my very dearest.



I went back to Boone, and Asheville; these are two of my favorite cities in this country.







I moved to Dallas and started my freshman year at UTD, where I met new friends, took the train into the city to visit museums and the symphony, and had a pretty thrilling four months.















I went to Camp Eagle with the Baptist Student Ministry and slept in a glorified chicken coop.







My cousin, Sarah, got married in Boerne, and I think her wedding decorations were my favorite that I've ever seen. I made the mistake of wearing one of my A&M shirts to the rehearsal dinner and had to explain many times that, "no, actually, I go to UTD, I just like A&M, too."






Our old friend Gregg got married in Round Top, which was about the best wedding location I've ever been to, and also marked my first long drive that I actually DROVE.








I performed a modern improv piece with my dance class at school, on the mall area of our campus.




I made Christmas trees to brighten up our apartment!



I packed up to head home for Christmas.




We went back to Boerne and San Antonio to visit with family who'd traveled from both North Carolina and California, including a cousin I hadn't seen in at least ten years. <3






I went out several times with various friends and my mom to look at Christmas lights.





On Christmas Eve, my family sat around the kitchen table and played Careers, one of our favorite board games.



We celebrated Christmas together! <3


Mom took Shaniqua and me to shop after-Christmas sales.



God painted the most beautiful sky for me to drive home to after babysitting.



2010 was certainly a great year, and I expect 2011 to be even better. Happy New Year!