season of blessings.

Wow, it's definitely been awhile since I've updated my life via blogger. And much has definitely happened since this summer!!

Fall semester of my 4th year of college is winding down.... but not slowing down. It has been a fast-paced, pretty busy semester-- and not what I expected at all. Allow me to give you a quick run-down:

August: BFF Nicole Prince marries stud, Graham Davis, on August 5th, in a most stunning wedding. Camp Meeting begins and ends. My classes at UNCC start up. I find out I am leading 3 amazing girls in a Bible study (Danielle Vaccaro, Kate Biggs, and Kristen Humphreys). I am also being mentored by Amy Alexander, a great friend of mine who is on staff for Campus Outreach.

September: I hurt my knee playing ultimate frisbee, get x-rays, and nothing is broken. This month is pretty normal otherwise.... a bunch of schoolwork, hanging out with friends, and loving learning new things.

October: I made a decision to go back to Summer Beach Project as Women's Coordinator. I was honestly so set on not going after this past summer, just because I was sure the Lord had something different for me to do. However, after talking with past women's coordinators and enjoying a day of prayer at Reedy Creek Park, I felt the Lord's pull to go back to Myrtle Beach for a fourth summer in a hotel! Sounds absolutely absurd, but I know it's the best thing for me and my growth as a follower of Christ. I found out that I tore both my ACL and miniscus from my frisbee incident after getting an MRI. Surgery's planned for December 12th. Another significant thing in October was the women's retreat in Albemarle on Lake Tillery. It was really fun to combine both Wingate's and UNCC's campuses into a house for a weekend. I also was able to meet a couple of girls who I'll be rooming with this summer, so that was exciting!!!! Also, I went to a halloween party on halloween night at some guys' house. It was pretty relaxed; I dressed up as Audrey Hepburn, and I must admit that I could've done better, but I threw toegether an outfit in a hour, so I was proud of myself for that. I also bought a dress for the part from Goodwill for like $5. Incredible.

November: This month has just begun, and I've attended one wedding.... Clint and Rachel (Nelson) Darst are now married! I had the privilege of helping take photos for their wedding, and it went so smoothly. The wedding was gorgeous, and Rachel did a great job planning it in just a few months!

So, where am I now? I am in the midst of exam-taking, presentation-planning, project-finishing, as well as loving spending time with people and soaking up college life.... late nights doing work and talking to other students; dreaming up what the Lord could do on UNCC's campus; planning the next couple of years I'll still be at UNCC. :) Right now, I am in the process of finding new housing for next semester. My roommate is awesome, but I am crowding her out of our 14'x10' dorm room. It's pretty tiny!!

I'll write more specifics on stuff later, but I wanted to post a general update...

third's a charm.

The Summer Beach Project 2k6 literally just ended. Craziness, I know. Although I've been a part of SBP for three summers now, the third was absolutely the best. Having a little more responsibility stretched me. Did you ever pull your Stretch Armstrong doll so far apart that the little beans inside of him all came out? I felt like I was going to rip at the seams sometimes, but quickly learned that the Lord was just stretching me really well. In Spain, Renee and I would stretch almost every night, and each day I got more flexible. In the same way, I feel that's what God does... He continues to stretch me a little more each day, in order that He could teach me more, and to realize my need for Him. Reminds me of a verse we studied, found in Colossians 1:17: "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." I'm not going to rip ever, even if it seems that way. Christ holds me together, and for that I am thankful. Col. 1:29 has also been a pivotal verse in my life, speaking of Christ's power working mightily through me.... so not only does He hold me together, He is going to work within me to achieve His purpose for my life.

Another reason this summer has been the best was that God chose this season of my life to break down walls of spiritual pride. It took a few weeks into the summer for me to comply with this destruction of the walls I've been building my whole life, but I am so grateful for it. He's been preparing for a transforming summer all year, beginning with the end of last summer beach project, and His timing has once again proven to be perfect. I've learned that I, too, can be changed by His Word, by people, by His voice, and I actually want to be changed this summer. It was hard for me to admit at first that I needed Him, people, and to acknowledge that I don't know everything and to see my sin clearly. Thank you, Jesus.

God has also chosen this summer to show me a great example of a godly man. There have been godly men in and out of my life, but not as closely as a few guys this summer. He has increased my trust in men, as well as showing me the Biblical role of a godly woman. With the right leadership, ladies, you will love your role in the kingdom as a woman of God.... I didn't think so before this summer, but I do now. I am joyfully reminiscing all the little moments I saw God showing me what a gentle and quiet spirit really looked like. This is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

There is so much more from this summer. I came out with more friendships, and better yet, deeper friendships. I am so thankful for all of those who pushed me more towards Christ this summer, and I will not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in ann respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Colossians 1: 9-12).

espana.

So, I am halfway through my study abroad journey in Spain. That´s so hard to believe; time has just flown by like the running of the bulls.... I had to do that. Anyways, I hate that I haven´t kept this blogger up, but I honestly didn´t know how to do this until I saw one made by a friend of mine.

I´m very thankful for this trip and for the sufficient funds to not only come to Spain, but to also be going to other countries in Europe. This week, God has shown me just how important community is for the uplifting of one´s soul. My time with the Lord here has been incredible. But, going from constantly being around a body of believers back home to being around a few believers and all, I have seen God´s provision daily. My birthday was yesterday, and all through the week and all day yesterday and even into today, I have been receiving cards, emails, Facebook messages (haha), and random phone calls from across the Atlantic (Miss Alexander!), I have seen just how dang blessed I am to have these lovely people in my life. My family and friends are absolutely THE BEST.

I don´t want this to come across bad, but it was honestly more meaningful when the girls I´ve been around here were amazing to me for my birthday! The reason it was more meaningful was because I didn´t expect it. My friends here are incredible and precious, but God just showed Himself more to me in the encouraging gestures from them. Five girls and I went to the beach all day yesterday (yes, we skipped class!) and had to meet early to leave and take buses, etc etc.... but, they made me cards and cookies and I didn´t have to pay for anything at the beach but the ticket there. I mean, I felt so blest to be in their company. They are all so loving. I just feel like the Lord wants me to know that He too is creative. And although He´s unchanging, He likes to use different situations in my life to show me who He is, especially when I am least expecting it.

Granted, it was sad to not be at home to celebrate my 21st. I definitely missed my family, my friends, and being in their company. I especially missed March birthday month at my grandparents´ house.... even though they are going to celebrate my birthday with me in May. Haha.... I can´t go a year without the cream cheese pound cake with my name on it!!

Once I figure out how I can get my pictures onto a disk and onto a computer, and find the 3+ hours it will take to do that, I will. I will continue to experience freedom in the Lord like I never have. I will continue to seek the Lord with all of my heart. I will continue to love people and serve them like Jesus did. And I will continue to pray for all of you.

Visados.

The updated version of our trip to DC: Renee, Meghan (a good friend of ours along for the road trip) went to Washington, DC one weekend just to turn in paperwork for our visas. We arrived Saturday evening, after a super long drive. However, we did get to see our first McCafe, which is a McDonald's with couches and a bigscreen TV. I was excited! Family friends of mine, the Brasch's, booked our hotel in Maryland, just outside of DC, but it didn't end up taking my father's "usual way" of payment. So we went hotel-hopping, finally settled into one, after many long talks between my father and the managers, and went to sleep. Waking up Sunday, we left for the city. Let me just tell you that DC is on my top 5 places in America.... I absolutely loved it. We visited sooo many places in one day, that I am still baffled at how productive we were. (The most touching place for me was the Holocaust Museum; I could've stayed there all day...) Although it was freezing and we definitely stood out with our colorful garb and cameras, peppermint mochas and friendly people kept us warm. We did every touristy thing you can do, and I can't wait to visit once more with a native, who can show me all the cool, local things to do. That night, on our way back from the metro station, I get a call from Graham Davis, my best friend's (then) boyfriend who lives in the area, and he wants to meet up. So, we meet him at Wendy's, after a lot of confusion and misdirection, and talk. We have to cut it short, because Renee and Megs are falling asleep on us. It was a great end to the day, though.
Monday morning, Renee and I get up early, walk around looking for this Spanish embassy. And, after much delay, we find it, fill out a bunch of paperwork, and turn in our pictures, forms, and passports. What a relief! Then, we take a little pit stop in the Starbuck's at the hospital, devouring some coffee and the best bran muffins we've ever had in our lives. If you ever find a Starbuck's with those muffins, please let me know!! By the way, I think that Renee and I set a record for Starbuck's trips in a 24-hour time span. We had to have gone at least 6 times! :)

me, whitney, & emily. Go heels! Since I´m missing college basketball this year, I thought I´d give my heels a shout-out! They´re going all they way, at least that´s what my bracket says.

spain?

basically, the only reason i am doing this "blogger" is because i was encouraged to create something for those who want to follow my travels in spain. which i thought would be kinda fun anyways. however, if it proves to be a hassle, i might be compelled to not publish anything as often.