no need to settle...

I found this picture from a girl's blog and I knew I needed to pass it on!

How many times a day do we settle???

We settle with wearing comfortable clothes instead of something that's cute but might take some time to iron.

We settle with leaving in the earrings from yesterday instead of taking the effort to find a pair in the mess of the jewelry box.

We settle for whatever cereal is the easiest to get out instead of searching for those elusive rice crispies.

We settle for being slightly cold instead of going back inside to get a jacket.

We settle for whatever song plays next on our iPod instead of finding the one we want.

We settle for just smiling at people we pass by instead of saying hello.

We settle for being 2 minutes late to class... it doesn't count that you're late if the professor hasn't walked in yet.

We settle for the quick option for lunch instead of waiting in line for the hot Chik-fil-A fries at the campus food court.

We settle for parking the bike wherever is closest instead of putting it back where it's usually parked... and then spend ten minutes trying to find it the next day.

We settle for going to a church that has a later service instead of good Bible teaching... that extra 2 hours of sleep is more important.

We settle for friends who make us feel good instead of friends who will tell us the truth to our face.

We settle for 3rd deck football tickets instead of getting up early and waiting in line to pull a good seat for the game.

We settle for wearing stuff that the mall sells instead of clothes that are modest as well as cute... even though we know it makes it harder for our Christian brothers.

We settle into casual dating relationships with no intention of real commitment instead of holding out for God's best--our Prince Charming.

There's no need to be satisfied with second-rate, second-best options! Stay strong! God wants to give you His best! Girls, I beg you not to settle!

Friends, friends, and more friends...

Well, I thought it was about time to introduce the people that I spend most of my time with! :-) So, here are a few of my random friends from college!

Sarah (left) and Melody (right) are two of the girls that I spend the most time with! They're roommates whom I met in Bible study our first semester here at A&M. Over the last year we've developed a circle of mutual friends and we spend a lot of late-nights in the library together. Sarah and I laugh over the craziest things and at times "fight" over the stupidest stuff! Our late-night guy talks and monologues on life are a total God-send and I can't imagine life without her! :-)

This is the group from my "second church." I am only able to attend the Sunday night college group hangouts, but they totally welcome me! We get together at the Sunday School leaders' home for a homemade dinner, Uno, movies, and random talks standing in the kitchen. These people are so much fun to hang out with!

Cameron and Sonia lead the Navigators ministry here at A&M. My parents have been involved with the Navs for several years, as was my oldest brother, Peter. Last year I didn't get to hang out with the Navs much, but this year I have come to love both of them and totally appreciate their way of connecting with us while still keeping up a high standard for us leaders. Last semester a few of us girls invited Sonia to watch "Twilight" with us and now she is a fellow junkie! She was almost more excited than I was to get tickets to see "New Moon" at the midnight showing! :-)

This is the entire Servant-Leader team for this year. All of these Navigators are so awesome and I love seeing their passion for life and their love for the Lord! Before school started we all got to spend some time planning for this school year and it was great to get to know them all better! Sadly, this picture was taken after I had to head back to campus early from the retreat.

Hannah (middle) is like my big sister. She led the Navigators Bible study that I was in last semester and she has been discipling me as well. She and I have a lot of laughs together, share stories from the week, encourage each other to keep going, pray for each other, and are there for each other to cry or vent or get advice about school, life, or guys. I think this picture was snapped at the Navs end of the year slip-n-slide party where I decided that she needed to get muddy before changing to go down the slide... I think it turned into a tickle fight, though!

Elana led my Bible Study with Hannah last semester, and is my co-leader this semester. She has a fresh look at the Scriptures and brings a joy to life that is super-refreshing! She makes me laugh and keeps me on my toes spiritually... two awesome things in a friend!

This is the entire Sophomore Advisor team for my freshman Honors dorm. The 13 sophomores and 1 junior are the best people to work with, stress with, and laugh with! We've been through a lot ever since February when we found out we made this year's team, but I am so glad they are there to keep me sane and allow me to vent after a crazy Honors event or difficult week of studying!

This is my awesome roommate Shelby! She's also one of the Sophomore Advisors and together we rule the South end of 3rd floor with an iron fist, the always-on coffee pot, lots of laughs, and an open-door policy! She complains to me in the mornings entirely in Spanish... and we usually joke about doing dishes for several days before we actually do them! She's been an awesome roommate!

So that's a glimpse of my life here at school. I have a few different circles of friends (which means I can usually find someone to talk to, study with, work out with, or eat a meal with at any time of day--or night!), but it's good to have a break from different aspects of my life. I laugh a lot, cry a lot, and am completely random for great lengths of time, but they all put up with me... or may even love me for it! I can't imagine going through my years here without them all! Thank God for friends!

If you pick me a flower...

This is excerpted from a blog my friend told me about called "I Am Blessed." It's been edited some since some of my readers are younger girls. This post just totally warmed my heart and made me think about all the awesome ways we can show love to others, how important it is to affirm the guys in our lives, and the special relationship between husband and wife... enjoy!

“If you pick me a flower, I’ll wear it in my hair.

I’ll stash little notes for you where you least expect them.

We’ll make history together.

I’ll wait for you even if you’re late – and I won’t complain about it.

Kindness to cashiers, valets, waiters and maddeningly slow postal clerks who would try the patience of Gandhi is a must.

I will feel safe and most at peace in your arms.

When you’re counting aloud, I will try and mess you up.

I find you magically delicious.

I will let you be right when it doesn’t really matter.

I’ll giggle when you show off and I know it’s just for me.

I’ll hold your coffee while you drive.

I can build a fire without burning the house down.

If you wash the car with me – I promise to wear a white t-shirt for you.

I‘ll hide around corners and try to scare you in the middle of the night... of course, I’ll end up scaring myself and you’ll have to calm me down.

It’s the simple things you do that make me swoon the most.

I love it when you sing to me.

I’ll make you mickey mouse pancakes.

I’ll cover you up and kiss your forehead when you fall asleep watching TV.

I won’t make you wear silly sweaters at my family’s during Christmas.

I’ll grant you three wishes.

I’ll make you laugh.

I will marvel at your strength.

I’ll take care of you when you’re sick.

I think it’s hot when you come home all dirty from playing or working hard.

My heart will skip every time you walk through the door.

My kisses will take your breath away – seriously.

My quirks and oddities have been deemed ‘adorable’ and I will love you more everyday for all of yours.

I’ll hold you when you need it.

I will give you space when you need it.

I will let you be you.

You’ll sleep better when I’m next to you.

I’ll thank you every time you open a door for me.

I’ll never give you grief in front of your friends.

I won’t ever let you leave for work in the morning without your lunch and a kiss.

We can watch your movie first.

I’ll clean the house perfectly every time your mom comes by.

I like horror movies only when you’re with me and only as long as you hold me close.

I love it when you lay your head on my chest.

I can balance a checkbook.

I can never turn down a challenge.

I’ll fit perfectly in your arms.

I’ll understand if you get jealous – and do my best to show you that you have no reason.

I can totally keep a secret.

I’m pretty darn funny and will do anything to make you laugh.

You will always look hot to me in the morning.

I think it’s cute when you eat off my plate.

When you’re sleeping, I’ll try to stay quiet.

I’ll call when I say I will.

Treat me like a woman and I’ll treat you like a man.

To clarify: I’m not looking for a fix-up project, or anything of that sort. I’m looking for a man who quite simply adds something extraordinary and special to my life. And I to him. A fair exchange, an amazing mind, body and soul connection and a place to build something magnificent. ”

love...

What is love? Well, in the last three months I have seen someone demonstrate love in two ways that totally melted my heart--and I want to share those with you.

*Scenario 1*

This summer as I was driving back and forth to jr. college I was asked to pick up a new battery for a riding lawn mower. I was already stopping by Walmart to pick up some other things, so after class I went by the store before heading to volunteer at the in-patient rehab hospital. I was so proud of myself for getting the right kind and size of battery--and that I put the battery inside the truck so that it didn't get stolen as I parked in kind of a sketchy employee parking lot behind the hospital. (FYI, for those of you who don't regularly buy automotive batteries, they can be $60+ and I didn't want it to get stolen!)

Well, four hours later I get off the shuttle bus, walk to the truck, open the door to throw my purse in the back and gasp... the battery was bubbling and had this purple liquid oozing out of the top! The cab had gotten so hot that the battery overheated and started to spill out all the wonderful acids inside...

The floor mat was almost totally destroyed. The carpet underneath the mat was completely de-fuzzed and it was a huge sticky mess covered in acid. And I knew I was busted for damaging a vehicle that wasn't even mine!

I picked up my friend from the jr. college and Peter from work and he drove home because I was upset and totally freaked out that I would be yelled at and would be forbidden to borrow the car again.

I got back and walked up to the door trying to figure out what to say. I burst into tears and could barely get the words out as I struggled to explain how sorry I was and how I didn't mean to damage the truck.

And then I found myself wrapped in a hug and told that the only thing that mattered was that I was safe and the battery hadn't exploded or the acid gotten onto me. The car would be fine, and I was way more precious. Then we got the hose, some baking soda, and tons of old rags to neutralize the acid and salvage what we could of the car mat. We stayed outside together for about an hour taking care of the mess and no one ever mentioned that I should pay for a new set of car mats or any remarks about me being stupid. Nothing. Just happiness that I was OK and that it really wasn't that big of a deal. It was just a car.

*Scenario 2*

My laptop started freaking out at the end of the spring semester--randomly shutting down for no reason. I worked with it for a few weeks, borrowed Peter's cooling stand, and shut it off when I wasn't using it. This summer as I was doing homework online and dealing with emails about college and Sophomore Advisor events with the honors dorm the laptop started flipping out again. I finally took it in to get fixed. $153 later I had a new processor and the stern warning to not set my computer on the bed or a soft surface that would block the fan air intake so I didn't overheat and fry the processor again. (Yeah, I probably should have known that... but I didn't.)

All was well and good until about a week ago. My computer started shutting down again and even when I let it cool down it wouldn't even start up enough to let me log in before shutting down. I was so frustrated and called home to get some advice. 6 hours later I got a call and decided on a new laptop. 4 days later I come back from my lab mid-term practical to find the Dell box sitting on my desk. I didn't have to complain and convince anyone that my computer was really broken. I didn't have to appeal to an authority with a proposal after doing all my research. I made my need known and found my need provided for quickly!

See, in neither of those situations did I deserve the response that I got. I deserved to pay for new car mats and have my driving privileges revoked. I deserved to pay for a new computer and have to deal with doing all the research myself and try to not get ripped off.

But love reaches out to those that know they don't deserve it. Love loves to go above and beyond--just because. Love sees the unspoken needs for acceptance and trust and lays aside the teaching moment until later. Love reaches out and gives of its own time and energy to help another person. Love acts and acts quickly. Love loves with no expectation of receiving anything back.

And that's my dad. By these two situations he has shown me incredible love. He has shown the chivalrous side of the knight coming to rescue the damsel in distress and the protective and providing side of an attentive and caring parent. He had my best interest at heart and even sought to find a pink laptop with a webcam--even without me asking! When someone noticed the car mats, he never said it was my fault, only that we had something spill and eat through part of the mat. I knew that we had taken care of it, he knew he didn't need to lecture me, and we both know it's behind us.

Love sees. Love reaches out. Love gives. And Love forgives and forgets.

This is a song that I came across a few weeks ago... if you're not into Christian techno/rap, please still give this a full listen-through!