Happy Monday

Will you let me drown?

Hey now this is my desire

Consume me like a fire

Cause I just want something beautiful to touch me

I know now that I'm in reach

Cause I am down on my knees

Waiting for something beautiful

Something Beautiful by Needtobreathe.

I could spend hours and hours listening to this band. And I am so so excited to be dancing to this song for CStyle this semester. Makes my Sunday afternoons that much better. After looking up the lyrics though, I found this song completely relatable to what I'm going through. Like I'm waiting for something to come along, something that makes me feel alive, something that makes me feel beautiful. Maybe God is preparing me for that something, but in all honesty, it's draining to wait. College life, with the craziness that it entails, still can't fill this void. But whatever that something is, whenever it comes, it will be worth the wait.

Image via Darling Chic

Laughter

"Laughter which cannot be suppressed is catching. Sooner or later it washes away our defences, and undermines our dignity, and we join in it -- ashamed of our weakness, and embittered against the cause of its exposure, but no matter, we have to join in, there is no help for it." Mark Twain.

Matchbook Mag & Other Ramblings

A friend mentioned this online magazine to me, and I'm quite possibly obsessed. Excuse the ramble, but I've really missed graphic design and layouts and editing and proof reading and interviewing and news articles. Sometimes I wish I could go back to high school just for a day to do nothing but sit in class and revise papers. Yes I said it, I wish I could go back to high school. But just for a day, mind you. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any internships this summer to do just that, what I love. It's making me antsy just thinking about it.

Anyway, let's see. What has been going on this week you ask? Plenty. It's been a long week, my first full week of classes for this semester. I'm feeling the load of my schedule, been feeling a little down in the hum-drum of it all. But God's been teaching me to rest in His grace as my source of encouragement (i.e. "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope..." 2 Thessalonians 2:16"). Friends will let you down, parents will even let you down, but Christ will never let you down.

Other tidbits of the week:

I found out a couple days ago that I'm living in ADPi next year! So thrilled, and so thankful.

ANDDD...

Here's the link to my suitemate's blog that you most definitely should check out. She has a great story of getting a speeding ticket on the way to church. Epic morning.

JOMC 101 Introduction.

Journalism 101 Section 951

My name is Julie Mayo, and I'm a freshman here at Carolina. Only a skip and a hop away, Raleigh is my hometown, and I have lived there, in the same house, all my life. From the moment I could read, I've been hooked to all types of media, and now I can hardly go a day without reading or writing something. After serving as Editor-In-Chief of my high school newspaper, I fell in love with both print news and graphic design. I plan to major in Public Relations and Advertising in the J School as of now -- I am memorized by the flexibility and uniqueness this field has to offer. Whether this means designing an ad or interacting with clients, PR holds the power to influence while also still allowing for creativity. I ultimately hope to work in publicity for a ballet company, but who knows what the future holds. Having a friend that works for CBS news in New York City, I also desire to explore broadcast television more in depth, specifically reporting positions. Through this class, I wish to gain insight and an appreciation for all the forms of media. Media influxes my life daily; I am constantly bombarded with e-mails and the Internet, I can find news stories at the click of a mouse, and I can even create my own radio station at my fingertips. Even though I have the freedom to choose what I want to watch, read, or listen to on a daily basis, it's no secret that the media affects how I perceive American society as well as other cultures.

Mondays call for ibuprofen and coffee.

And lots of it. In the past three hours, I've successfully researched study abroad programs, browsed about twenty blogs, and I've hardly read half a chapter in my PR book. I've done anything but actual work. But you know what, I think everyone needs an afternoon like this once in awhile. An afternoon of sitting in a Caribou, talking to friends, looking at pictures of things you like and reading stories that make you smile. And perhaps getting some reading done in between. So happy Monday, everyone. You have the rest of the week to worry about what has to be accomplished, so why not just take a few hours to detox and have a little time to yourself?

All Dave All Day,

or at least for the afternoon.

"Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters." Dave Matthews.

You know that feeling when you're completely drained? Mentally, physically, emotionally? That's been my week. Or really the past month for that matter. It's hardly been two full weeks of classes and I already feel this way, already looking forward to next year. I'm ready to move north campus, ready to be closer to ADPi, ready to meet a whole new group of people. But this glut I've been seeming to be in for this past month or so hasn't been all negative. I'm so thankful for the people that have helped lift my spirits, specifically two girls that I can spill my heart to, no judgment included. I'm thankful for the afternoons we spend listening to music, unwinding from a long day of classes. I'm thankful for God's unending love in times of stress, I'm thankful for His presence and the Holy Spirit's still small voice.

Wants Needs

• a decent cup of coffee to start my mornings.
• a vacation. so what if we just got off break.
• spring break to be here. sick of the cold.
• book assignments to disappear.
• time to read books I'll actually enjoy.
• a good night's sleep. insomnia, you're just not cutting it.

Is that too much to ask?

Also, here's a Marley Lilly ring giveaway from College Prep. Check it outttt.

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?

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

And in everything there is a purpose.

Because Life is Good

First week of second semester...complete. One semester down, seven to go. And thank goodness for that! I'm sitting in Cafe Carolina, taking it all in, sipping some much needed caffeine, and I'm thankful that I'm finally back in the swing of things. My schedule has changed about five times this week, hah I really don't think I'll ever be content with any semester's schedule. But it is what it is. I signed up for my first journalism course as well as my first night class, and I absolutely fell in love. We talked about the impact of media in our lives, and how it's changed from past generations. I'm not exactly sure the field I want to study in the J School as of yet, I just know that building is the perfect place for me. So all in all, I'm happy.

Hmm, what else? I started writing down some verses from my devotional time before I go to bed, and it's been a tremendous help. My anxiety skyrockets when I take on anything new, and my sleep is totally disrupted. There's one verse I came across from Romans 8, which says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Such a wondrous promise.

LINK to this beautiful song called Carry Me by Audrey Assad. What a faithful God we have!

Inspiration Board

Need some of this in my life.

Back to the Thrill...

and my emotions are so out of whack. New semesters are exciting, yes, but I'm just not a fan of change, neither am I a fan of leaving the comforts of home and my family. Once I get into the routine of things though, I know in a week or two everything will be back to normal. Okay. Yes. This semester will be a good one. I can feel it. Alright, gotta go finish unpacking/reorganizing/studying the campus map (the freshman that I am) and stop the pep talk.

Weekend Playlist

I cannot believe this week is over! How crazy is it that tomorrow morning I'll be heading back to the hustle and bustle of everything college. It's such a bittersweet thing for me, since I can definitely be a homebody. Point is, I've hardly done anything this week except eat. sleep. occasionally work out. excessively shop. and finally, listen to my current favorite tunes on repeat. Here's the current playlist.

1) Magic / Dynamite :: Clef Hangers. LISTEN. So amazing, y'all. They are an incredible group and make my heart flutter a million times a second.

2) Firework :: Katy Perry. I don't even care, I'm obsessed.

3) Johnny and June :: Heidi Newfield. Thanks suiteemate!

4) New Morning :: Alpha Rev. Came across this artist randomly, and gosh, I love this.

5) Grenade :: Bruno Mars. His voice makes me melt.

6) Little Lion Man :: Mumford and Sons. I really like this band, like a lot. My friend Natalie introduced them to me, and it's starting an addiction.

7) Dear John :: Taylor Swift. Oh Tay Tay, you never disappoint.

8) Country Strong :: Gwyneth Paltrow. Makes me want springtime with the windows rolled down...

Finn, meet blog.

First of all, Happy New Year!

Isn't he just precious? My friend Trent and I rescued this little kitty a couple days ago. I wish I could have brought one of his brothers with me, but unfortunately, I don't think my dorm would allow me to do so.

It's less than a week before I head back to school, and I am pretty pumped. I'm ready to get back on a schedule, start new classes, dance again, attend chapter dinners, and be on my own again. Living at home sure has its benefits, don't get me wrong, but it's time for me to get back to campus. The Lord might have something incredible in store for me this semester, and I'm excited to see what the winter and spring months will bring. Although I am a perfect fit for anxiousness around this time, I know He doesn't want me to meddle through those thoughts. Classes will work themselves out, I will find my place and enjoy the rest of my time as a college freshman. (If you couldn't tell, I'm trying to retain a positive outlook. No more doubts or worries!)

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Oh goodness, so I found my new year's resolutions from last year. And since I feel like some of them still apply today, so here's my revised version.

1. To focus on the good, not the bad. See above.
2. Find things to laugh about. I need more laughter in my life.
3. To get back into ballet. For real this time. Take classes.
4. Forgive. Stop holding grudges, learn to give others second chances, even if it hurts.
5. Let it go. Stop believing that I can handle anything life throws at me, on my own.
6. Be honest; don’t hold it in. I need to start saying what’s on my mind, and say what I truly think/feel because if I don’t, if I just keep it all quiet for the sake of sparing feelings, I’m honestly going to implode and it won’t be pretty.
7. Be freeeeee. Still learning what that means.
8. Open up my heart more. Hah yes, still applies.
9. Learn to love myself better. Accept my flaws and understand who I am in God's eyes.
10. Work on my relationship with others, and Christ. Realize that these are the things that are most important.
    
11. Be happy, take risks, and have adventures. That's part of college, right?