Blogging...

For the past year and a half, I have been a self-proclaimed blogger. I am not sure what qualifies someone has a blogger (Do you have to post a certain number of times a week? Do you have to have a certain number of followers? Do you have to be insightful?). I could go on with this list for a while.


My point is, in continuation with my technological timeline, blogging has given me the ability to grow as a writer and even as a reader. The process of writing a blog post is not as extensive as writing academically, but it is a process nonetheless. I would say that the biggest lesson learned through blogging is to just type what is on my mind and not be wary of messing up, making a bad grade, or falling somewhere below perfection. Blogging has given me writing freedom, and I am thankful for it. 


From Read-Along books all the way to Blogger, my technological timeline proves that I did not obtain literacy from published hard-copy books and pen/paper alone. They had help from "talking" books, a magical purple dinosaur, and even a dusty old chalkboard. 

Beauty...

My beautiful friend, Jamie... <3

Happy Birthday Merika...

For comic relief.. try saying America with your most Southern and/or Cajun accent. It's pretty fun. Merika. God bless Merika. Merika the beautiful. And as of recently, Happy Birthday Merika!! (This is the result of listening to the Swamp People, because my boyfriend cannot get enough of that show..)

Here are my firework shots! 

The glimmer of light on the lake's surface...

I apologize for the length of this post! I can rarely find time to blog and when I do I have a lot to share! 

Now time for a funny story... My little brother was supposed to get a dirt bike for Christmas in six months. The dirt bike was sitting in our storage unit so he wouldn't find it. 

Well, my daddy accidentally took him over there one day and Nathaniel saw the bike. Instantly, it was all he could think about! As a result, my daddy had to make up a story about how somebody from his work asked him to hold it in the storage unit. 

My brother decides he is going to write a sweet letter asking if my dad could buy it from him (even though it is really ours..) 

Long story short, my dad continued to play along with the fake story of the dirt bike and eventually gave in. So, as I write this, I can hear the vroom vroom of his dirt bike driving past our house (six months early!!!). :)

"Did you see how fast I was going?!?!?!" -Nathaniel

For a good read check out my dear friend Lisa's recent post: Caregiver

Finding the words...

I just wanted to write a quick post to say that I am still here. I know I haven't posted in a while. I just haven't found the words yet to blog about Africa. I trust God's timing, even in something as simple as blogging, and the words will come when He plans for them to. Likewise, I will get a letter sent out to everyone who sponsored me on my trip, but I am just not ready yet. Hope you all understand. :) 

Photo Contest...

This is sweet baby Desiree and her mommy. :)

Entry #1

Entry #2

It was hard to get a bad photograph of this little girl! She seriously would not stop smiling. :) It should be a crime to be this cute!

Like a yo-yo...

Today has been an interesting day. It's been a lot like a yo-yo... 


The morning was good. I went to class, lunch, and ran errands with a good friend. As I pulled back into the dorm parking lot after purchasing some linen pants for Africa, I received a very exciting email. I am going to be the Student Mission Team leader for the 11-12 school year! I am so very excited about the opportunities to glorify God through this position! I'm so excited that you will probably find me daydreaming about it at any given moment. 


Next, I logged on to my global expeditions account to find that I have reached 100% of fundraising! This is incredible. I'm truly speechless. But God is incredible, beyond description really. 


I am constantly in awe of this life He has decided for me to live. Every straight line, exciting turn, uncomfortable fork, or hill he has me travel on this dynamic road called life I am grateful for. Had you asked me this last semester, I wouldn't have told you the same answer. I wasn't content. But I also wasn't fully giving my everyday over to His will. And now I am. 


Here's the sudden snap back of the yo-yo... I just found out a dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer. How is it possible for all this in one day? I'm not really sure. I do know, however, that my friend, we'll call her E, is beautiful. I don't mean the worldly definition. I mean you cannot be around her without feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a beautiful experience. Something that is unfortunately hard to come by. I love to be around her, to pray with her, to be in bible study with her, and just to be friends with her. I strive to be more like her. Her gift with remembering scripture is amazing. Really, I sit amazed as she remembers verses that relate to what we happen to be talking about that night in bible study. She has the entire Lord's army behind her. She has the power to fight because she dwells in God's love, God's mercy, and God's strength. 


It's confusing, but God is in control. All I can do is try my puny human best to glorify Him. Because with days like today, with such incredible joyous news and devastating news, I must stand in awe of the Lord who gives and takes away. Blessed be His name through it all. 

Heather / College Senior Portraits

Heather is one of my new sisters (I'm the new one :P) in the Delta Sigma chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at Lamar University. She asked me to take a few senior portraits for her. She is graduating very very soon, in May, and will be entering the real world... scary!! But she is so ready, and I know she will be a great nurse!! Here are her beautiful portraits: 

Uhhh, gorgeous eyes!!

Freddy / Class of 2011

Freddy is a good friend from high school, and I had the privilege of taking his senior portraits. We went downtown and hit some really cool spots around Jones Hall! 

Robin / Class of 2011 Sneak Peek!

Desiree / 6-Months Sneak Peak #2