Baby It's Cold Outside...

So technically right now I should be studying for my huge spanish final at 2:00 that I have yet to really sit down and study for.... but being the procrastinator I am, I'm putting it off for another hour or so.
I'm sitting here at my desk shift, drinking hot chocolate and listening to Yiruma on the piano... and it's freezing outside. Not the normal, run of the mill cold... no, this is biting, frigid cold. The wind in Abilene is making it that much colder... it claws its' way through your clothes, freezing everything! People run because they can't stand how cold it is.... the sidewalks on campus are practically empty, partially because it's finals week, but also partially because of this weather. The people that stick it out are the ones who really have someplace they NEED to be.
That's kind of how my life's been this semester. Gusts of cold, freezing air, permeating my heart and my life. But I've been keeping myself so busy that, while I'm miserable at times in the frigid cold... I don't notice so much. And slowly, bit by bit, it's started to get warmer. The sun's coming out. Granted, it's taken a LONG time... this winter has been long and dark. But I'm finally starting to feel the sunlight, and it feels so great. God's blessed me abundantly this year. He gave me incredible friends who have stood beside me through one of the darkest seasons of my life. He's brought activities and things into my life to just plain distract me when necessary. He's even worked in my heart.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to thank you, whoever reads this, although I'm pretty sure it might just be a few people. Thank you for taking this journey with me. Thank you for being present in my life.

Anyways... enough of that. Again, it's finals week and everyone is living in the library.... pretty sure it took me close to ten minutes to find a parking spot on campus today. While I have few actual tests (since most of my classes just make me write huge papers), the ones I do have will be challenging, and I honestly really should be studying for Spanish. Oh well. I'll survive.

Rumor has it that my little sister, Maggie, is a beast on the basketball court. Superproud of her and excited to watch her play when I get home.

Anyways... that's about all I have to say. I hope that you're having such a blessed day.... Love you.

Little Bitty Pretty One...

So I know that all I do is post pickies these days, but things are so busy and I want to keep them well documented! :) So anyways... this is life lately...


Me and Lopes at Homecoming Breakfast... a little while ago but I think she looks so pretty.... couldn't help posting it.

Me and my precious lamb Shelby at Christmas social... so pretty!

Maggie, Me, and Abby over Thanksgiving break. Mom went on a picture kick, and this is what we turned out...

Joy to the world... or to the McAdams house... love my sisters. Aren't they beautiful?

My and Caroline at Christmas Social. Love you so much.

Social Work friends at Christmas Social....

The Crew... Some of my best friends in the world.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Destroying in the shallow end.... yes please

J'Lyn taking down that girl. Look at her!

Shelbs doing her thing in the shallow end

AWESOME fans

Getting ready to take off

You are reading the words of a waterball champion. THATS RIGHT. Last night SIGMA THETA CHI won the Intramural waterball championship. So I thought I'd document this with pictures from Waterball this season. Enjoy. ;)

Christmas bells are ringing....

preparation...

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21

Recently I've become increasingly thankful for the friends that I have in my life. I was sitting with one of the biggest blessings to my life, Mickey McCloud, last night, talking about things that God has done in my life. So often I find myself complaining.... about school, disappointments, and struggles. I question God and ask Him what He could possibly be thinking. Then I look back on the past year.
I had such a need for good friends in my life. I remember sitting alone sometimes, praying so fervently that God would bring good, loving people to surround me and affirm me. Last night I realized that He has far surpassed that prayer.
My life is full. It's filled with incredible people who are God-fearing, and who serve as constant encouragements to me. I look at the friendships that I have cultivated over the past year, and especially the past six months, and I realize that so many things in my life have been preparing me for these relationships. On so many levels, I am able to connect with others through shared pain, through experiences, and through passions that we share in our lives. I am blessed so abundantly more than I could ask or imagine. So tonight I'm just thanking Him for how good He's been.
Katie Fin, Jen, Emily, and Caroline

"I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you. And it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new. And you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade"- THE HOLIDAY

So last night I was sick. I got kicked in the ear during waterball practice, and while it might not have been a big deal in normal situations, I've had big problems with my ears and hearing throughout life, so it's something we have to watch. So I sat at home, on a night when I would normally have been out having fun. And I made the HUGE mistake of watching The Holiday. Now don't get me wrong. LOVE this movie... love the music, the message, the actors... I might be a tad bit obsessed. But for some reason, I'd never paid attention to this line before. Maybe it was because I was always focusing on the soundtrack in the background, or this might be the part of the movie where I usually run to the bathroom because I've had to go the entire movie long. Either way... this line had gone unnoticed by me before.
I wrote it down in my journal... because that's what I want. I want those pieces of my soul to come back. The me that was so happy and open before... I want to meet her again. I let so many things over the past year just drag me down... farther and farther until I eventually couldn't take it anymore.

What a mighty God we serve. I am so excited to feel worthwhile again.. to do things that are worthwhile. I'm excited to see where God's going to lead me.... and while that thought still terrifies me, I'm looking forward to the journey.

What happens underwater...

This, ladies and gentlemen, is waterball. My new favorite activity in the entire world. My team started on Monday, and so far, Siggies are DOMINATING. :)
Granted, this is a video of boys playing, but I can tell you that girls are much dirtier... kicking, pinching... it is EPIC. And I love it.

So this is my life these days. We have our second game today, and we are beyond excited. So if you've got nothing to do, come to the pool at 8 and support SIGMA THETA CHI.

In other news...
I've been super busy these days... with waterball, spanish document translations, papers, and projects, I barely have time to breathe these days. It is awesome. :)
Got my schedule done for next semester... superexciting because I only have classes on MWF, and it's a pretty exciting semester for me course-wise.

Anyways... i just wanted to introduce my large group of devoted readers to the best sport in the entire world... and to let them know that I'll try not to drown... although I can't make any promises :) LOVE YOU!