Day 23: Someone you miss

It's finals week and I am exhausted.  I had two finals today: one at 7:45 in the morning and one at 10:15.  So tiring!  I have one more tomorrow and then I'll be finished with my first semester of college.  Hooray! 

Right now, I miss so many people.  I've been away from home since my birthday in mid-October, so I'm craving some family time right now.  Also, I'm really, really, really missing my friends.  Here's a list of SOME of my friends I'm missing so much right now.

Rebekah, my love, my fellow-Lost-fanatic, my partner in pranking, my former next door neighbor...

Zeek, the tallest and most talented and funniest person I know!

Muber... without him, who do I have to torment?!

Brently, one of the sweetest and most Christlike people I know.

And of course I desperately miss Ali, who I haven't seen since October as well.  Sadly, Ali has to work, so I won't see her for another week and a half!  But soon.  We will be together again soon.

Only two more days and I will be HOME.

Do you know what's different from the last time I went home?  This time, I'll really, really, really, really, reallllllly miss my friends here in college too.  When I come back in January, I'll have something to look forward to.

Day 20: What you are looking for in a significant other.

You know, I've posted lists about what I'm looking for in a guy before and not a whole lot has changed. 

I'm really looking for someone who loves the Lord more than he'll ever love me.  He'll have high standards.  He won't cuss with his friends, just because it's the thing to do.  He'll stand up for what he believes.  He'll not back down from conversations about his faith.  He'll have integrity.

He'll respect me: my physical boundaries, my beliefs and opinions, even when we disagree.  He'll respect his mom and my friends and his sisters (if he has any).  He'll be a gentleman, willing to give his seat up for a girl or hold the door open for a lady.

If he doesn't play any instruments of his own (which would be preferable), he'll have a deep appreciation and a love for music.

He won't only see beauty in outward appearances.  I won't feel pressured to wear a lot of makeup or fancy clothing all the time when I am around him.  I'll feel comfortable being myself when we're together. 

He'll be protective.  Not the "Edward Cullen" kind of protective where I'm protected obsessively like an object or a child rather than a human being, but he'll make sure I'm safe.

He'll know how to laugh, but he can also talk about serious things.

He'll have a passion for helping the needy and traveling, like me.  I want to be able to travel the world with whoever I end up with, so I'm looking for someone with a similar love.

This might be silly, but I'd like someone who appreciates the things I write, someone I'm not hesitant to show a new song or story and who'll enjoy getting a chance to see them, even if they're not always the best.

He'll be eager to spend time with me.  Not every moment of every day, but when we do spend time together, it won't be because he feels pressured to do so.  It'll be because we're friends and like to be around each other. 

What are you looking for in a significant other?

Day 17 and 18: Describe yesterday and an embarrassing picture of yourself.

First comes the describing yesterday part. 

7:30 - I reluctantly wake up... I stayed up late studying the night before and don't want to get up for the day!  But I must, so I check my phone and Facebook for new messages and then climb out of bed and start to get ready for the day by getting dressed, fixing my hair, eating a bowl of cereal, and putting on some makeup. 

8:30 - After I finish getting ready, I gather my backpack and books and leave for school.

8:50 - I arrive on campus a little early and go to the computer lab to work on an essay for ASL. 

9:10 - My first class of the day, ASL, begins.  Today we watch a wonderful documentary called "Through Deaf Eyes."  I learn a lot.  I also get an evaluation by my professor.  He says my biggest strength in signing is sentence structure and ASL GLOSS and my biggest weakness is my facial expressions.

11:25 - Class is over. I run back to the computer lab and quickly write a few paragraphs over group efficacy due in an hour.  I print it out and slip it under my professor's door, which he told me previously that I could do if he wasn't there. 

12:00 - Government class begins.  We are given the assignment of writing a typed essay by the end of class.  Panic ensues. 

1:15 - Somehow we manage to write the essays and turn them in and class is over.

1:30 - I meet with a professor about an interest group some classmates and I have formed.  The first thing he says to me is, "I don't mean to be sexist, but are you the leader of your interest group or are you their secretary?"  Oh dear...

2:30 - I grab some Rosa's (one of my favorite fast food restaurants) and head back to my dorm to eat lunch.

3:00 - After eating lunch and watching an episode of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," I take a much-needed nap.  I've been sick the last few days, so I need the rest. 

4:30 - I wake up and finish reading a novel for my English Literature class.  It's called "Never Let Me Go" by Ishiguro.  Although sad, it's a great story and I enjoy it, even if the ending is sad. 

6:15 - I go to have dinner in the cafeteria.  I sit and talk with friends for over an hour, even after I finish my grilled cheese sandwich and salad. 

8:00 - I meet Stephanie at our favorite coffee shop.  Every Thursday, we have a Bible study/together-time together.  We figure out Stephanie's love language and talk about other things as well.  We pray together, share stories from the previous week since school was too hectic (and I was too sick) for us to spend time together. 

11:00 - We've talked for a few hours and decide to start looking for adventure.  About this time, a friend calls and asks if we can pick him up and help him look for his wallet at a movie theatre.  We pick him up, sadly do not find the wallet, and take him back to his dorm.

1:00 - Stephanie and I spend a little more time together... and then see a shockingly scantily-clad girl (lingerie and fluffy boots only) walking by our car... and then a strangely hooded man passes by three times.  We decide it's too dangerous to be talking in a sketchy parking lot after midnight, in a car our not, so we leave for the night and plan to see a movie together tomorrow. 

2:30 - After showering, checking Facebook, and texting Stephanie to let her know I arrived back in my room safely, I go to bed, tired and ready to start the next day. 

Now after that long description of yesterday, here is the embarrassing picture.  Enjoy. 

Yes, I was a strange child who loved my pet rats and had interesting fashion choices.  Oh, eighth grade, I do not miss you. 

Day 16: Three fears.

I don't have time to write today.  I would appreciate your prayers, as this is an incredibly stressful and overwhelming week for me.  Finals don't begin until next Friday, but I am finishing my last classes over the next few days, which means I am turning in final projects and taking my last tests.  A lot of work to do today, tomorrow, and up until Thursday.  (And then on Friday, my first final begins.  Oh, joy!) 

In the meanwhile, here are three of my worst fears:

1.  Sharks.  I don't know why.  I know it doesn't make sense.  Sharks are my worst fear in the entire world.  I can't even bring myself to look at photographs of them without my heart racing and a sickening feeling overwhelming me.  I hate sharks.  If you could pick the death I would want the least, it would be by shark, simply because of the sheer terror involved.

2.  Looking at myself in the mirror in the dark.  Am I the only one who is creeped out by this?  If I'm in a dark room and I catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror, I always feel a little startled and a bit frightened.  It isn't a terrifying moment... it's just a little scary.  Maybe I'm insane.

3.  Schizophrenia.  The idea of hearing voices and having paranoia and being insane scares me.

Thankfully, as silly or as real as these fears might be, I have One who I can turn to for peace.

Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?

Day 14: Something you always think "what if" about.

Okay, I thought of a lot of deep ones, like "what if" my friend Gatlin had not died or "what if" I went to a school other than Texas A&M or "what if" I was born in a third world country... but I don't feel like writing any of those today.

My "what if" is kind of silly, but it's something I've said "what if" about for a few years now.

It all began during my sophomore year in high school.  I'm not sure exactly what brought up this topic, but my friend Rebecca and I began to talk about "what if" we were actually mentally retarded and no one would tell us.  What if our high school was actually a "special" school where we learned things that seemed hard to us but were actually quite silly?  What if our long and deep conversations were actually babbling?  What if our whole lives, everyone had told us, "You are special," but they didn't mean it in the way we'd always thought?

Of course, this entire thought process was quite silly, but for some reason, it lingered.  As silly as it seemed, we couldn't get the idea out of our heads.  What if it was true?  What if we were mentally handicapped? 

Pretty soon, Ali got in on this little "what if" paranoia and began to worry (most sincerely out of all of us) that we were all unstable.

This "what if" conversation lasted for several weeks, half-joking and half-disturbed.  My dad didn't make things any better by joking and agreeing with us all. 

Of course, we weren't mentally handicapped and we went to a normal high school, learned normal things, and soon began to drive like normal students... but even today, we'll still nervously joke around about the possibility.

(I'm not sure why I'm even admitting this.)

Day 12 and 13: Attempt to describe your personality... and a baby picture.

The internet at the ranch went out entirely yesterday, so I was unable to blog.  However, I was able to spend time with my family, so the day was a great day.  I'm back in Aggieland now, somewhat ready to survive the next two weeks of studying and finals. 

I thought I'd go ahead and knock out both yesterday and today's blogging challenge in one post.  Here's a baby picture:

I don't think I can accurately describe my own personality, but I'll give it a go.

• I revel in solitude, but crave people if I'm alone for too long. 
• According to Ali, I pretend to be tougher than I am, emotionally not physically. 
• I scare easily, often jumping to the worst conclusions if there is a bind, but scary movies rarely scare me at all.  In fact, I love horror movies. 
• I love to read, but I don't read nearly as much as I once did. 
• I used to be incredibly shy, but I'm not shy much at all these days.  I'm quiet sometimes, but I wouldn't say shy. 
• I'm passionate about many, many things, although in day-to-day decision-making, I tend to be unruffled and easy-going. 
• I'd much rather have a friend pick out where we're going to eat than have to make the decision myself and potentially disappoint someone. 
• I like to do well when I attempt something. 
• I'm often teased by acquaintances for smiling too much, but I like smiling. 
• Physical touch is the last of my love languages.  I can easily go days without being touched and not notice. 
• It's difficult for me to give every part of my life to the Lord sometimes.  It feels like leaping off the side of a swimming pool to your daddy's waiting arms... in total darkness.  I have no idea where I'm going, but I feel confident that He's got me. 
• I have more guy friends than I do girl friends--our personalities work well together, I suppose--but my friendships with girls tend to be closest.
• I'm often incredibly oblivious to things going on around me.  However, I'm usually "in the loop." ;)
• I love warm weather and rain.
• I'm a picture hoarder.  I love photographs. 

And that's all I can think of right now.  I'm sorry if that was a lame list, but it really is quite difficult to attempt to describe your own personality.  Try for yourself.

Day 10: What you wore today.

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones.  Remember to thank the Lord for all of your blessings today.  I'm thankful for so many things... and one of the biggest things I'm thankful for is the fact that my family is here for Thanksgiving!  Thank You, Jesus, for family, food, and safe travel.

Oh, and I almost forgot...

Thank You, Lord, for football!  (I never thought I would say that.)

Today we are watching the Cowboys game... and then we'll be off to Kyle Field to watch the big Texas A&M/t.u. game!  This will be the last game between these two rivalries until at least 2018.  Ahh! 

So although this is a fairly fancy holiday, I am wearing...

- A MAROON OUT shirt.

- Jeans.

- A pearl necklace.

- Unmatching socks.

- Sperry's.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

You have blessed me so much these last two years.  I thank God for YOU. 

Day 7: Things you want to say to someone who is no longer your friend.

I think part of the reason that I allowed our friendship to end as suddenly as it did was that I was so eager to shake off my old self that I pushed you away as well.  A piece of me was certain that you would only remind me of that dark place I had finally been able to overcome.  At the time, I wanted every part of my life to be brand new and unshadowed, but I handled this situation the wrong way and I'm sorry for that.

Sometimes I do wonder what life would be like if we were still good friends today, but what happened back then is already said and done, and I definitely think the Lord has worked for the good in both of our lives.  I'm not angry at you anymore, not at all, and I am pretty sure you aren't angry at me either.  We've exchanged some kind words since the friendship ended so many years ago and I'm glad time has helped to heal things between us. 

I will always care about you and think about you.  Thank you for the impact you made on my life.

Day 6: Instruments you play (or want to play).

I love music, but unfortunately, being a musician isn't a strong talent the Lord has given me.  However, I know how to play a couple of instruments and I even write some music, which you can check out here. 

I play the acoustic guitar.  It is my favorite instrument.  I brought my precious acoustic guitar to college and play it every day I'm free.  I'm not great at it and I don't know all the chords, but it soothes my soul.  I think my favorite instrument of all times would have to be the acoustic guitar. 

I also play the piano.  I'm really, really not good at this instrument, but I know bits and pieces.  For example, I can play "Never Alone" by Barlowgirl, which is my proudest accomplishment, I think.  Mostly, I can play chords, so I know how to play most of the songs I've written on piano.  My parents got me a keyboard a while back, which sits proudly in my room back at home.  I'm sure I'm very shabby at it now since I haven't touched the thing for months.  But I do love the sound of piano.

And finally, I wish I could play the electric guitar.  I have one and I love it to pieces, but I struggle with it.  It's on my bucket list, however, to learn how to play it one day.  So I will.  Someday.  The Newsboys signed my electric guitar, so it's one of my most treasured possessions now. 

All of these pictures are so old...

About a week ago, I got the chance to see someone I haven't seen in a very long time.  In fact, I hadn't seen this person in over two months.

She was only passing through, but we had the opportunity to eat lunch together, hug, and even take a few pictures.

I got to see Rebekah!

She had just gone to see Lecrae in concert and happened to be driving through Rebecca's and my town at the same time that Ali was visiting!  It was like old times.  All of us together again, hugging, laughing, telling inside jokes... it was like nothing had ever changed.

It was so good to see everyone.

Rebekah coming to visit was such a fantastic gift because I was sure I wouldn't see her until mid-December.  And since the last time I had seen her was August 16, that would make our time away from each other almost exactly four months!  Far, far too long for as close of friends as we are. 

We could hardly bring ourselves to say goodbye when Rebekah had to leave again.  She was on a tight schedule, so we only got about twenty minutes together.  The time was painfully short, but it was wonderful.

What was especially nice was how comfortable it was to be around Rebekah, even after two months of separation.  Not a moment passed before we were being silly and dorky around each other again.  We still fit together the same way, even if we've both changed here and there from our experiences at college.

We've been friends since we were seven years old.

I think we'll be friends forever.

(And the dorky thing probably won't ever change.)

Ali and I were sad when Rebekah drove away in her familiar car and then Rebecca also hugged Ali goodbye and drove back to her dorm.  This meant that in only thirty minutes, Ali and I would have to say farewell.

For twenty beautiful minutes, I got to see my friends together... and then just like that, we were all saying goodbye.

It just makes me all the more excited for Christmas.

I wrote a song a few days ago on a day when my emotions and frustration felt nearly overwhelming.  Over the last couple of weeks, I have been dealing with some things that have broken my heart again and again.  This experience continues to show me how small I am and how big God is. 

I really want to write a whole post about this, but unfortunately, I do not have the time today to truly write out my heart, so instead, I will be sharing the song I wrote, temporarily titled "College Life."  Perhaps in a few days, I will be able to set aside the time to spill out my heart and describe how the Lord has encouraged me so much these last couple of weeks.

The song is on YouTube, so you can check it out here.

College Life

I've been away for quite a while.

I'm living life with a brand new smile.

I've made some friends. I've learned some things.

It's true.

I'm finding myself. I'm growing up.

I've learned to live on Your sweet love.

Your presence, God, is just enough.

Just You. All I need is You.

'Cause when I'm lonely, You lift me up,

When I'm empty, You fill my cup,

When I'm broken, You're just enough for me.

When my family is far away, You lead me to a brighter day.

It's true. The One I need is You.

You're the only constant that remains.

You see me through my every day.

The good, the bad, the in-between,

It's true.

Sometimes I miss my life back home,

While living here outside my comfort zone.

I know I'm not alone. I've got You.

All I need is You.

'Cause when I'm lonely, You lift me up.

When I'm empty, You fill my cup.

When I'm broken, You're just enough for me.

When my family is far away, You bring me to a brighter day.

It's true. The One I need is You.

College life is not the easiest.

Your love means so much more than this.

You hold each precious tear.

And with You at my side,

There's no need for me to ever hide.

You take my every fear.

'Cause when I'm lonely, You lift me up.

When I'm empty, You fill my cup.

When I'm broken, You're just enough for me.

When my family is far away, You bring me to a brighter day.

It's true. The One I need is You.

It's true. All I need is You.

If you've been reading my blog the last week, then I'm sure you probably already guessed that my friends and I got the opportunity to go to a corn maze this year after all, continuing our tradition for the fifth year in a row.  Not everyone could come this year.  Rebekah was in Houston for a big Lecrae concert and Brently was ten hours away at home, but Rebecca, Ali, and I were able to make it... and we added a brand new friend to our tradition this year!  Stephanie.

The corn maze outside of our town was about twenty minutes away.  We parked in the parking lot and were given a hayride over to the entrance of the corn maze.

This particular corn maze was very difficult.  The one back home had numbers 1-10 and a piece of paper with ten clues that led you to the eventual end of the maze... and we'd usually get lost in that one!  This maze had no clues and no numbers.

Actually, we never did find the way out.  Seriously.  We never did.  We eventually (after about two hours) find our way back to the entrance, but we never did find the exit. 

However, the night was still a blast. 

About halfway through the maze was a clearing with a large hay bale in the middle.  Rebecca and I managed to climb atop the hay bale and we stood and surveyed the maze to see if we could glimpse the exit.

No luck.

We made some great memories together and had a blast running through the dark corn maze with only our tiny flashlights and the light of the moon to help us see the way. 

Most of all, it was such a wonderful feeling to be able to continue on with a tradition that has lasted for years.  I was so worried that college would end the tradition abruptly and painfully, that we wouldn't be able to share this moment again since we live so far away from each other.  Running through the corn maze for the fifth year in the row was so much fun and such a relief.

I was able to continue a tradition with old friends and begin a tradition with a new friend who I love dearly.

The night was so much fun.

It was so special to have.

The longer I'm at college, the more I realize that being far away from home doesn't have to change everything.  A lot has changed, sure, but I still have my friendships, even if I don't get to see the same friends every day.  I can keep my traditions and definitely keep my memories.  And wherever I am in the world, I can still manage to have a wonderful, wonderful time.

And to shake things up a bit, here is a very creepy picture of Ali and myself.

Every year since we were freshmen in high school, my friends and I have gone to a corn maze in October.  There is always a fantastic corn maze about an hour outside of my hometown (and we're always sure to take hundreds of pictures from this occasion). 

One thing that depressed me extremely about being away from most of my friends this year was that we wouldn't be able to go on our annual trip to the corn maze.  After all, we went every year.

Here are some pictures from the past few years of corn mazes.

2007 (Freshman Year):

Don't get corn-victed!  We look so young here...

This was the original corn maze group: Rebekah, Rebecca, and me.  We got Ring Pops and baby pumpkins if we made up a song and sang it for the workers at the corn maze.  How fun!

2008 (Sophomore Year):

Here is our second corn maze group in this very blurry picture: Brently, Rebekah, Rebecca, Whitney, and me.

I feel like we had already changed appearance-wise so much since our freshman year of high school!

Almost every year, Rebecca and I would take a picture "hugging corn."

2009 (Junior Year):

Have we grown up at all?  Do we look any older?  I think we have! 

Unfortunately, Rebecca couldn't make it this particular year, as you can see.  This year's group was Rebekah, me, Whitney, and Brently.

We got lost a few times this year.

2010 (Senior Year):

This was the first year Ali got to join us at the corn maze because this was after we adopted her!  This year, we had such a large group (Ali, me, Brently, Michelle, Rebekah, Rebecca, and Whitney) that we split up into two teams and raced each other through the corn maze.

We gave our teams names.  My team was "The Gimps" since Ali had a hurt knee and Michelle (to the right) had a hurt ankle... and I'm not a fast runner. 

The second team was called "The Jocks" because all three of them are very athletic.

If you compare these pictures to Freshman Year, I would definitely say we've grown up quite a bit physically.  It's so weird to see how much we've changed!

And finally, the Corn Maze Adventure of 2010 led to the infamous Mud Fight that Brently and I eagerly managed to avoid by hiding in the corn for thirty minutes.

Notice the mud in Ali's teeth!

I love traditions... and our adventures through the Corn Maze is something I look forward to every single year.  Sadly, this year, only Rebecca and I live in the same town. 

How could we possibly continue our tradition with only two people?

(Part 2 to come on Thursday)

Rebecca's nineteenth birthday was on October 22.  To help celebrate her birthday, Ali came and stayed with us for the weekend!

It was good to see her face again.  Although we've managed to see each other about once or twice a month since we've left, we're still not used to spending more than a few days apart from each other.

For Rebecca's birthday, we all dressed up... and then went to the Puppy Store.  There is a store in my town that keeps about fifteen puppies at a time and the owners will let you hold them if you ask.  Every week or so, Rebecca, Stephanie, and I make trips to the Puppy Store because 1.) they're puppies and thus adorable, and 2.) I miss my puppy Jack from back home.

Ali had never even heard of the Puppy Store, so we took her with us and she got to hold a baby miniature Schnauzer.  Rebecca held a Cockapoo.  I held a little Yorkie puppy (eek!) and filled my heart with memories of my own Yorkie puppy back at home.

After our trip to the Puppy Store, we went to the nice restaurant of Rebecca's choice and sat down and spent time together, talking and laughing.

Ali had brought Rebecca a cake with her from her city of residence and it was beautiful.

The icing was fluffy and not too sugary, the inside was strawberry (with bits of chilled strawberry in the center), and yes, hte roses on top were actually real. 

Is your mouth watering yet?

The cake was lovely and absolutely delicious. 

After we ate dinner and Rebecca opened her presents, we all went to go see "The Three Musketeers" (and loved it, by the way). 

Overall, the night (and weekend) was a huge success. 

We also fulfilled a yearly tradition over the weekend, but I think I'll share that story with you on Thursday...

Today I'd like to share about a bad habit I have.  Sigh... we all have bad habits and I know I have more than this, but this particular bad habit of mine has been a problem for me lately. 

My bad habit is staying up late at night.  This sounds like something easy to overcome, but it's actually quite difficult.

I'm an insomniac, so sometimes I'm simply not tired until three or four in the morning, but sometimes I'll become distracted with writing or studying or chatting with a friend and then I'll take a look at the clock a few hours later and think, "Oh no... I have to get up at seven tomorrow!"

I usually go to bed around two every night, including the times when I have a nine o'clock class the next morning, which isn't always a good idea.  But for some reason, I find it very difficult to actually convince myself to settle down and go to bed when I feel like I have so much left to do.  With studying and my college social life, I have to fit in writing and relaxation time somewhere and that tends to come at night.  (Well, except of course for the nights when I stay out late with my friends, which happen quite frequently.)

But it's so bad for me.

I know, I know... this is the college life (younger readers, prepare yourself now), but I wish this was a habit that was easier for me to break.  Some nights, it would be best if I could go to bed around eleven or even midnight.  Getting seven or eight hours of sleep sometimes would probably be a good idea.  You know, it might be kind of healthy.  Maybe a little. ;)

Life can be such a distraction.  Blogging, Facebook, Youtube, Netflix... all of these things capture my attention in the late hours so much that sleeping seems so dull.  Why sleep when I can watch a cute puppy video?  Why rest when I can blog about what I ate for dinner last night?  Why go to bed when I can creep on acquaintances on Facebook?

...I have such an interesting life, don't I?

Are you a night owl like me or do you prefer to get everything done in the mornings?

(Thank goodness for naps, right?)

As most of you know, I got to go home for my birthday weekend.  I just realized the other day that I haven't shared any pictures from that trip.  It was great.  I hadn't been home in two whole months, which is the longest I've ever been away.  I got to see my grandparents, sleep in my bed, and play with Jack for the first time in forever.  I got to eat at all of my favorite restaurants too... hooray! 

One thing I've noticed as a college student is that I've really craved all of my favorite restaurants, so it was amazing to be able to visit them all again, especially with my family.

I got a haircut, which was good.

I got birthday presents, which was fun!

I got to eat cupcakes (yum) and play boardgames with my family.

Overall, the weekend was a big success.  Check out a few pictures from my time at home.

This is a picture of my little sister Amy, my mom, and me the day I had to leave for the airport!

Me and my mom... (You can read her blog at www.optimistbychoice.blogspot.com).

This is me and my little brother Luke at Red Lobster.  Although this is not the most flattering picture of me, I still laugh at it because this pretty much describes the relationship between me and my brother.

This is me and my dad at one of my favorite restaurants on my birthday.

And of course, here is me and my precious baby Jack.  My family brought him into the airport and he was so excited to see me (and I was so excited to see him!)

It was good to be home.  Not long until December 14 (the day I get to go HOME!).

Today I am borrowing a questionairre from my mom's blog at Optimist by Choice.  If you haven't checked my mom's blog, go look at it now!  She posts something new every couple of days and shares a lot of great pictures of my family and home (and pets!).

1. How often do you go over the speed limit?

I try not to speed... ever.  I have before, I'll admit, but I've come to the realization that when I purposely speed, I'm deliberately disobeying the law and the Bible tells me in Romans 13 to obey my authorities.  So I rarely speed these days.  (And even if I didn't have this conviction, I live in a college town where cops lurk EVERYWHERE.)

2. Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking?

Not very often.  I know that makes me sound totally not fun, but I'm not much of a dancer and I'm not very hyper.  However, there are the occasional moments when I'll let loose and dance a little.  But usually I'll just sing. ;)

3. If you were going to be stuck on a desert island, which book, which movie, and which CD would you take with you?

If I couldn't take the Bible, I would probably take "Saint" by Ted Dekker because that's been my favorite book lately.  I would take "The Truman Show" because that's my favorite movie and I could watch it over and over again.  I would take... a mix CD.  Does that count?  On the mix CD would be all of my favorite songs.  If not, it would probably be Colbie Caillat because she makes good island music.

4. What did you get in trouble for when you were a kid?

I fought with my little sister Amy quite a bit.  I didn't get in trouble very often... I was that child who wanted desperately to be well-liked by adults, but when I did get in trouble, it was usually because of fighting with my sister.

5. What really gives you the creeps?

Deep water.  The ocean scares me to death.

6. What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?

Hmm, I really loved "Bear."  He was this stuffed bear that I originally purchased with my mommy to keep me from being so afraid of the dark.  I took him with me to a lot of places and even though I didn't necessarily play with him a lot, he was my companion and I remember him the most out of all of my toys.  Original name, right?

7. You run into a friend while shopping.  Where are you?

Forever 21.  My favorite store.

8. When you fall asleep, are you usually on your side, your stomach, or your back?

My left side.  Always.

9. If fat or calorie intake wasn't an issue, what one food would you eat the most?

Chips and queso.  I'm addicted to Mexican food.  Tex-Mex, at least.

10. If you could hire one of the following, which one would it be?  Driver, chef, maid, or stylist?

A driver.  I hate driving and I would love it if I had someone to drive me around everywhere.  I actually have weekly maid service (and people who cook for us) at the dorm where I'm living now, and although those things are great luxuries, I could survive without them... but a driver would be amazing.  <3

11. What movie have you watched the most?

"Pirates of the Caribbean."  I've watched the first movie in that series at least twenty times.  At least.

12. What kind of perfume do you wear?

I'm very, very picky.  I wear two different kinds: Cherry Blossom from Bath & Body Works and "beyond paradise" from Estee Lauder.  I love them so much.

13. What was your favorite sitcom growing up?

Probably "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

14. What were you doing the last time you had a really good laugh?

I was at a corn maze with Rebecca, Stephanie, and Ali.  It was so much fun.

15. What was the very first concert you ever attended?

I think it was "Plus One."  If you don't remember them, you should look them up.  They're like the Christian versions of N*SYNC.  I used to adore their song "My Life."  I remember being afraid of the loud music and plugging my ears, hugging "Bear," and trying to read a book.  I was so cool as a little kid... not.

16. Who is the fourth person on your missed call list?

At the time I'm writing this, I actually only have one person on my missed call list (an unknown caller from Arlington, Texas, wherever that is) because I just got a new phone. 

17. How long does it take you to get ready in the mornings?

About forty-five minutes, including breakfast and checking my Facebook and blog comments. :)

18. When is the last time you went to the mall and what did you buy?

On October 22... I actually didn't buy anything.  My friends and I just went to the Puppy Store to hold puppies!  They had Yorkies... eek!

19. Ever go to camp?

I've gone to Camp Electric, been a counselor at Angel Tree Camp for three years, and Impact Camp before I started college.

20. Do you collect anything?

Movie tickets.  Ted Dekker books.  Souvenirs from all of the countries I've visited.  And dead cats.  (Kidding on the last one.)

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If you enjoyed this survey and want to take it on your own blog, be sure to leave a link in the comments so I can read along!  And if you want to read my mom's answers, check them out here. 

Check out this car that I saw on campus the other day.  It was absolutely covered in bumper stickers.  Sports stickers, campaign stickers, funny stickers...  There were so many that you could hardly recognize the color of this car.

I can't even imagine what got into the owner's head to make him (or her) want to blanket their car in bumper stickers.  Wow! 

Imagine what this will look like in a year.  You won't be able to see the original paint color at all.  Only bumper stickers.  Hundreds and hundreds of bumper stickers.

I'm sure it's original and attention-catching for the time being, but it also makes me wonder, how will the owner ever sell this car?  Is there anyone in the world who would ever possibly be interested in purchasing such a monstrosity? 

I mean, look at it. 

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This is a picture of Jack I took during the weekend I was home for my birthday.  I love his fluffy little face.  He'd just been groomed the day before, so his hair was cropped short, he was soft, and he smelled good. 

Every time Jack goes to the groomer, they give him a little bandana and a hair bow.  The hair bow doesn't stay on for more than a few minutes.  (Someone always takes it off because he's a boy... even though I personally think he looks adorable with it on.)  The bandana usually stays on for about two days before it finally comes off.  Buddy will keep his bandana on for a week or more, but Jack has a much wilder life than his brother does. 

That particular session, the dogs got orange hair bows and jack-o-lantern bandanas because of Halloween.  How perfect that Jack would get a "jack"-o-lantern bandana. 

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This is a cross one of my suite mates got me for my birthday.  I thought it was very sweet of her.  The main reason I'm sharing the picture here is because I like it... I think it's a pretty picture. 

I like crosses.  I think they're so pretty.  What I think is cool about that is how they used to be considered something horrible and a symbol of death.  Christ took something that symbolized death and horror and turned it into something beautiful that represented love.

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How has your week been?  Busy?  Stressful?  Relaxed?  Has something great happened or are you struggling?

Part of me is overjoyed when my family sends me pictures of Jack.  Not only is he adorable in general, but he is incredibly photogenic, so he always manages to look clever and expressive in all of his pictures.

...But then there is a part of me that aches to see him again.  I just miss the little guy so much.

Dad sent me this picture with his iPhone the other day and like always, I couldn't help but melt.

This is Jack's "PLAY WITH ME!!!!!" expression.  When he gets it into his head that he wants to play fetch, he will not think of anything else.  If my mom tries to text, Jack will put his paw on her hand to mess up her typing.  If my dad sits on the couch, Jack will sit on his arm and stare into his face and even bark softly.  When Jack wants to play, he is determined to play.

So in this picture, Jack is watching my dad expectantly as if to say, "Hello... throw the ball!"

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Another picture that made me sad was this one.  My mom sent it to me from her iPhone a few days ago with the caption, "Be jealous."  How mean is that?

These would happen to be two of my best friends from high school.  Zeek, my 6'6 super talented friend who could always bring a smile to my face (and who happened to be in town for the weekend) and Brently, my sweet and encouraging friend who used to be a missionary in Thailand.  She still lives back at home, but I haven't seen her in two months.

I miss both of them so much.

In the picture, Zeek is signing, "I love you!", which is kind of an inside joke between my friend group.

Sigh... I miss my friends.

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And as far as good news goes, I got a new air freshener!

I love car air fresheners.  I used to hate them because I'm not a big scent person.  (For example, I don't spray Febreze or anything like that in my room... and I don't like candles.)  But in my car, for some reason, I love them.  Every month, I change my air freshener, and this month, it's "Waterfall."

It smells fantastic.

I'll admit, it looks a little dorky next to my Converse shoes hanging from the mirror, but it's totally worth it.  Next month will be a Scentsy "Camu Camu" travel tin.  Yum. 

If you're already looking for stocking stuffers or little Christmas gifts for some of your friends, consider some smelly-good air fresheners.  Everyone likes their car to smell nice. 

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What is your favorite scent?

Today is my close friend Rebecca's nineteenth birthday.  We have been good friends since our freshman year of high school and we have gotten the opportunity to attend the same university as well.  If I started school here without Rebecca, I think things would have been so much more difficult. 

I enjoy the hours we spend together, visiting the Puppy Store, watching movies, experimenting new coffee shops, Midnight Yell, and simply spending time with each other.

For Rebecca's birthday, I'm sure we'll discover an exciting adventure of some sort.  Even better, Ali is coming down from her university a few hours away to spend the weekend with us.  It will be a mini-reunion!  I've missed my old group of friends so much over these last couple of months. 

Rebecca, I'm so thankful you were born.  Your sweet spirit and your obvious heart for the Lord inspire and encourage me more than words can say. I am grateful that I've been able to begin this college journey with you.  I LOVE spending time with you.  Our conversations always bring a smile to my face, and when I'm around you, I know I will always have a good time.  I love you so much!

Happy birthday, friend. :)