A Tribute

To the Beluga Whale. The cutest/weirdest looking thing ever! When I was little I used to imagine myself as part of the Killer Whale show at Sea World. Whenever I got to visit Sea World I always wanted to be the one lucky kid who got chosen to be part of the show. I never got picked so I just daydreamed about what it would be like. They always seemed to pick the stupid kids that were scared of the whales and didn't know what to do. In my daydreams ( I was a very vivid daydreamer as a child and still am. This all stems from the fact that I had a hearing loss and when I couldn't hear what was being said I'd just make things up in my head to think about.) I would ride along holding onto Shamoo's fin. Then I would get out of the tank and feed him fish. It would have been awesome. That story has nothing to do with Beluga whales, but I really want to up the recognition and appreciation of the general population for the Beluga whale. Why? Pretty much because I saw a picture of one and really liked it. Beluga whales are like Manatees, you just have to love them because they're so darn cute!

Livin it Up at AU

So my creative energy has been all spent out at school and I haven't had much time to write lately. Here's a little update on me...

1. Hanging out with the roomies... in the picture. I have been blessed to have such wonderful roommates over the years and me, Shelley, and Leslie are having a lot of fun together this year. We spent all of this week with no AC and it just got fixed today!! Yes! Cool air once again!

2. Friends. Being back at Auburn I have been reunited with lots of my friends and it's been great getting to see them and just hang out with them and have fun.
3. Auburn Football! Ok, some people are in love with Auburn football. Not this girl. I mean, I like it and all that, but it's just so stressful for me. Sometimes I get too anxious to actually enjoy the games. I mean, the crowds, the parking, the getting in the gate three hours before the game starts, making sure you are sitting with all your friends...... all that is just not my idea of a relaxing weekend. It's something you gotta experience though so I'm enjoying it. After all, this is my last football season in Auburn!
4. The park. I have this little place in Auburn that I love to visit. I like to go out there and spread my blanket out and read, enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, and just think about life. (Yeah, I get made fun of for "thinking about life" but hey, it's what I do.) Since I have more free time in my schedule I've gotten to visit this little park more often and spend some time running out there with my trusty running buddy.
5. The gym. Me and the roomies, my sis, and Alli have made a few visits together out to the gym for some Body Pump, yoga, and RPM action. Let me just say that RPM kicks my butt. I mean, it is hard! The yoga experience is quite hilarious if you stop and look around at everyone in the room standing in these weird poses, but it's relaxing. Joining a gym was money well spent and I highly recommend it.
6. God. Like I said before, one of the great things about God is that you can never learn enough or be filled enough and you always have room to grow. I have gotten to go back to Encounter which is always a blessing. I am also about to join a Bible Study with some people at school on the book "Waking the Dead." I'm really looking forward to getting to know these people better and spending time with them learning about God. I think it is so cool the way that you can learn things from other Christians and be encouraged by them and the way God is working in their life. The other day I was reading a girl's facebook profile and I was just really encouraged by a verse she had written under her quotes. I think it so cool the way God can use us to touch others in ways that we may not even know!
7. School. I love school!!! Ok, I don't love school, but it is soooo much better this year. I have much more free time and I am actually learning things that will help me in my career. The fact that I get to have somewhat of a life this semester thrills me!

On Life's Mysteries

I'm in that age range where you have to make a lot of important life decisions. It's exciting and all, but let's be honest, it kind of sucks. Upon high school graduation you have to make the big decision, "Where do I go to college?" Next on the list of big decisions, "What do I major in?" I've had those two decisions down since day one. Go to Auburn. Major: Pharmacy. Awesome! I'm good to go. Not.

It wasn't long after I came to Auburn that I realized it's not all about me. I realized that I'm supposed to use my life to help others. Hmm, this is a bit of a burden, all of this life responsibility. This realization was surprising, yet exciting to me at the same time. I suddenly felt a true sense of purpose and realized what this whole "life" thing was all about. That was five years ago. Now I'm faced with other realizations and decisions. Now I'm thinking about life after college (I never thought it would come) and all that it entails: a job, a new city, marriage, children, a pay check, insurance, a house payment, buying my own car... I might go crazy! I know that all of those things don't come at once, but the "grown up days" are drawing nearer.

And now back to that lesson I learned five years ago, it's not about me. I am often asking myself, "What am I doing that really matters?" "Who am I helping?" "Where am I going?" "What does God want from me?" I think that finding the answers to these questions is all just part of growing up, but I think it's something I will never stop asking because I will never stop growing.

Growing up is sometimes difficult for me because I don't deal very well with change. I like what's familiar and I like to know the plan. However, life is full of mysteries and I just have to face the unknown with faith in my maker. Here I am now; In school, trying to keep my life balanced between friends, family, school work, God, time for myself, and life's responsibilities. I guess I'm in the midst of this crazy journey we call life. I love it, I'm thankful for it, I just want to make the most of it.