Holly Jolly Exams

All that separate me now from a beautiful month-long holly jolly break are four looming exams. In the past few years, exam week has not always been full of my shining moments. Many a nutter-butter has been consumed, washed down with a chilly diet coke before 8 am. My apologies, body. You put up with so much. 

However this year, I am determined for things to change. The plan is to keep vending machines out of site, if at all possible, and plan now for the things I will need in the upcoming days. And obviously, you'd love for me to share this list with you. 

So when you feel like this will describe your week:

Surround yourself with these:

striped sweatshirt

burgundy scarf
clipboard notebooks

Happy test taking! May the curve be ever in your favor.

Shout Out To: French Press Mornings

I'm a self-proclaimed Pinterest addict. One of the positive things that has come from my addiction is the lovely French Press Mornings.

This sweet blog provides weekly encouragement in the form of a free downloadable print for you to hang around your home and keep on your heart for the coming week. And they are beautiful!

Here are a few of my favorites:

They also have an etsy shop where you can purchase a larger version of her prints. These would make excellent gifts framed! Happy Shopping!

Monday Thanksgiving

It's time again for a Monday full of thanks!

1. Football

I'm thankful not only for a weekend full of incredibly entertaining games (War Eagle!), but also for the fact that its a sport that brings the people I love together. I cherished the hours spent this weekend all together cheering on our teams or rooting for fantasy league players. 

2. Reunions

Not only did Thanksgiving allow me to see the family members I've missed, this is the week that so many of my dear friends are returning to campus from studying abroad. 

I CANNOT WAIT TO HUG IT OUT. 

3. Thanksgiving

Particularly since I shipped off to college, thanksgiving has been one of my favorite holidays. Returning home to welcoming arms and second helpings of pumpkin pie always hits the spot. My favorite thing about this holiday, however, is the reminder it gives us in the busyness and stress of life: 

Stop. Think. Praise. 

I have been so incredibly blessed by the people in my life and the constant support of the ones I love, and I praise the Lord for His hand in every bit of my joy. It all stems from Him. I'm thankful for the lessons He has taught me since the last Thanksgiving which have broken me, reshaped me, and built me back up again. And I am thankful for a holiday which reminds us all just how life-giving it can be to truly be thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Fall Fest

This fall semester has without a doubt been my favorite semester at Furman so far. It certainly has its challenges, particularly that so many of my dear friends have been studying abroad. However, I have found that apartment life suits me very well, that being an upperclassman means that I can take an entire schedule of courses I actually love, and that the Lord has blessed me immensely with the friends who stuck around in the good ol' US of A. 

Here are a few highlights from my junior year so far:

This was how I was greeted back to school in August. I'll take it.

Boorito bowls at Chipotle for Halloween with these fabulous friends

Our pride and joy: Rocky Homecoming float.

Just a regular walk home from class.

My snazzy date at Semiformal!

My beautiful travel companion

And there are plenty more memories to be made! So thankful.

What does the world think of college students?

Several times each year, the student activities board brings in a comedian, entertainer, or celebrity for a unique and fun event on campus. Recently, we were visited by a comedian who, rather than make me laugh, opened my eyes to what the world thinks of college students.

Every one of his jokes referenced casual sex, drunkenness, the objectification of women or homosexuality. He literally seemed to just rotate between the four categories each time he opened his mouth. But I know he isn't alone in feeling that we, as college students, are his subject audience for such humor.

It seems that all throughout media, be it movies, tv shows, or music, college seems to be a time of self-discovery, pursuing pleasure, and being pretty careless before you are shoved out in the real world. I think that following this path would deprive us of four years of true joy and life-giving experiences.

Now, I know that sin is inevitable, both in our college years and the years that follow. No one is going to graduate with a record of perfect behavior. Temptation and insecurity are so strong during this time of life, especially being surrounded by thousands of peers. There is grace for the decisions we make, and sometimes it is through our mistakes that we learn life lessons that we wouldn't have fully grasped any other way.

However, what if we strove for the accomplishments of our four years in college to be shown not only in the form of a diploma, but also in advancing the Kingdom of God?

This was the perspective that I had when entering my college experience. There have been times when this has been easier said than done. There have been times when my stress, exhaustion, and longings have completely clouded my vision of this goal. But, in those moments of calm, of peace and typically of solitude, He reveals to me that my life is not meant to be lived for my own glory, but for His.

It truly hurts my heart that the world thinks we are the target audience for these crude jokes because we are between the ages of 18 and 22. The expectation is that we engage in promiscuity and unhealthy habits. That's likely a huge reason why is truly is so common among young adults: society says its what we do.

But I want to challenge the people who use such strong stereotypes when communicating with us. And challenge the students who feel that they must live out a "typical college experience" in order to enjoy those four years.

 There is true joy to be grasped in life that gives glimpses of the eternal love and peace of God. And college doesn't have to be a time where we put that pursuit on hold to explore the other options and lifestyles.

My prayer is that students, myself included, who enter college with a relationship with the Lord will be strengthened to continue to seek Him, and His plan for our lives. That the temptations and stress surrounding us will not steer us towards anything but His loving arms: the source of true comfort and peace. I pray that young adults will reject society's label on us, and will live in a way which proves the stereotypes to be incorrect. I pray that we will experience life-giving relationships, inspiration, hope and unconditional love, and the blessings of people who will share in these gifts with us.

Thanks Mon

Here's to another day of thankfulness:

Panera Bread

Where do I begin? I frequented Panera on roughly 100% of afternoons in high school. My myPanera card is probably the reason they seemed to cut down on the freebies. I kid you not, and I apologize to all out there who have not received a free bakery treat in MONTHS. When I moved to college and learned of the 20 minute drive to Panera, I came close to tears. But then I realized the actual blessing of that drive and distance from campus. I could go and truly find rest from the hectic days and college environment that still seems to settle around restaurants and coffee shops near campus. When home is a 10 hour drive away, 20 minutes jamming to Ben Rector on the way to a bowl of mac and cheese sounds pretty darn good.

Love

I am thankful to be continuing to grow in my understanding of what love looks like and how to glorify the Lord by loving those around me. I was shown this quote by CS Lewis by a dear friend and thought I would share it here:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."

-The Four Loves

Officially adding that book to the reading list.

Birthdays

While it was not my birthday, I absolutely love celebrating the days on which my favorite people entered this world and changed my life as I know it. This weekend, I was able to make a quick visit (<48 hours) home in order to celebrate the special day of my favorite boy whom I missed too much for words. It's beautiful to me when being in the presence of someone else is far more restful than any "lazy day" imaginable. I'm thankful to have experienced that restful joy this weekend and to have celebrated the life that the Lord has given him. 

What are you thankful for today?

In a Barbie world

As a high school student, I was constantly told how competitive the college application process would be. This reminder pushed me towards taking 13 AP classes, accepting several board positions on various clubs, and gathering service hours wherever I could find them, while trying to balance a social life and involvement in my church community. 

I was in no way unique in feeling this pressure. 

My peers cooperated in the same way I did, attempting to build the strongest resume we could, in the hopes of receiving a letter of acceptance to a school that would impress. 

My work with high schoolers since my graduation has confirmed that little has changed: 

work yourself silly, because the application process is uber-competitive.

But they don't tell you how competitive the college experience can be.

And I'm not just talking about academic competitiveness. Classes are still hard and you need to take a lot of them. Especially if you realize that your dream job takes several more years of time in a classroom. 

What I'm talking about is this constant state of comparison that we immerse ourselves in. 

If you've never been tempted to compare yourself to others (please teach me your ways...), just wait until you are surrounded both day and night with 3,000+ intelligent, successful 18-22 year olds.

When we compare ourselves with others who seem to "have it all together", we fool ourselves into believing, "If I just...
go to the gym twice a day,
lose these pounds,
was more social,
could find a date,
was better looking,
can get invited to fraternity functions,
dress exclusively in Jcrew's new arrivals,
then I'll be happy,
then I will have the kind of college experience I want."

These comparisons, and the lies they produce, rob us of joy, of confidence, and of exploring and discovering who we are in God's eyes. We see the things of this world that others have as able to bring us the peace, contentment, love, hope, and happiness that only God can truly provide in our lives.

Truthfully, no one has it all together. Every single one of us falls short of the standard, the perfection, the way we were supposed to be, the glory of God. We all will search to fill the void in our lives caused by separation from our Creator, and the things of this world simply cannot satisfy or sustain us. But thankfully, the story doesn't end there. He valued us enough, even in our failings, to bring us back to Himself, to pay the price for our sins, to call us from death into life.

That inherently means that you are of great worth to the One whose opinion and love matter most.

One of my favorite verses, and often one of the most convicting verses for me in the Epistles, reads

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Galatians 1:10

I find that, in my heart, my comparisons stem from my desire to illicit a positive response from others in all circumstances. I'm by nature, and most certainly to a fault, a people-pleaser. And thankfully, this verse speaks directly into my stubborn heart and gives me encouragement to return to feet of Jesus.
I need reminders so often that what makes me valuable is the fact that I am valued by God.

I am not valuable because I have a high GPA, a tiny waist, a good sense of humor, and a wonderful boyfriend.
In the same way, I am not worthless because I struggle with complaining and negativity, I often feel homesick and guilty for wanting what I don't have, I spend basically every Friday night "in", I went to every high school dance (yes, even prom) date-less, I have a super weak resume and I sometimes eat my weight in ranch Pringles.

Those things are fleeting when looking towards eternity.

My value, identity, confidence, and strength can only truly come from the fact that I am cherished by the God of the universe. Then, they are secure. Then, they cannot be touched by the unpredictable nature of this world, and people's ever-changing opinions. Such freedom!

So friends, I pray that you will see yourself in this same light. I know I have to constantly remind myself of these truths about who I am in Christ. And there are also many times when I forget to remind myself, and the lies get louder. But eventually, thanks to Jesus, we can come back to this point of being humbled by His love and knowing who we are through Him.


"But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine."
Isaiah 43:1