In Case You Were Wondering...

I've been getting a lot of FAQ lately and thought I would just save some people the trouble and answer them all here:

(The pictures have literally nothing to do with the questions or answers.)

• No. I did not graduate. I will graduate in December. 

• Yes. It did take me longer than 4 years to complete my degree. 

• Yes. I am living at home. With my parents. And no. I don't know when I will move out. 

• No. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I graduate. 

• No. I am not dating anyone, engaged, or married.

I understand that these are perfectly normal questions to ask... 

I'm just weary of answering them. 

Actually. 

I'm weary of the sympathetic looks that 

come with most of my answers. 

I may not have graduated or know specifically what I'm going to do with the rest of my life, but I have time to figure that out. In the meantime, I'm going to answer these questions at least 50 more times and try my best to live in this beautiful moment God has given me.

This is so my mom will quit pestering me to update

Eventually I'll write a real post.

Maybe tomorrow.

Most likely next week. 

But, in the meantime, here are some 

highlights from my summer so far:

Chorale Tour and Adrienne's wedding. 

Better, Mom? 

Savor Change

This past weekend at LTC, my hotel key had

 the words "Savor Change" on it.

How fortunate.

Because times they are a-changing. 

These two are graduating, getting married (one's already married), and getting real jobs and houses. 

These two are getting married and possibly moving far, far away.

This one is definitely moving far, far away. To Phoenix. After she graduates and gets married. 

Far away tends to be a theme. This one's going to Atlanta.

And these two are hitting the road. 

This picture will be worth big bucks one day. 

Change is everywhere. I guess that's what usually comes at the end of your 4th year of college. But I'm not sure if the words "savor change" are right for me today. While they're all growing up and moving on, I'm staying here. Living it up at my parents' house.

 (Unexpected change of plans.) 

I'm beyond excited for all of my great friends 

and all the amazing things they're about to experience.

But I would be lying if I said I was savoring the change. 

More like... 

"wishing the change would stop and we could just freeze this moment for a little while longer or at least all live in Edmond til I leave." 

That definitely sounds like what I'm experiencing. 

Birthday, Basketball, and Banquet

 "There will come a time,  

 you'll see, 

 with no more tears  

 and love will not break your heart, 

 but dismiss your fears. 

 Get over your hill and 

 see what you find there

 with grace in your heart 

 and flowers in your hair."

"After the Storm" - Mumford and Sons 

When my word is difficult

Remember that word God chose for me to represent my entire year?

Oh yeah. Trust. That's the one.

I was thinking the other day about trust. We trust in a lot of things: God, our country, the bank, medicine. And then we trust other things: friends, parents, doctors. It's weird to say you trust in your mom. Although I guess it semi makes sense - it's still weird. So, at least for me, I trust in objects and I trust people.

Objects and people. Notice in which category my Lord was placed?

I often say I trust in God. But rarely do I say I trust God. And there's a difference. When I use that little two-letter word in between trust and God - it lets me off the hook. It means I trust in the idea of God and the idea that His way will prevail eventually, but it also means that I am not trusting Him with my day-to-day. I'm not giving Him everything. I'm letting Him take care of big picture things and I'll go ahead and take care of everything else.

Want to know why?

Because I'm scared. 

I'm scared that once I trust God instead of just trusting in God I'll lose control. I'm scared that once I trust Him with my day-to-day, He'll make my day-to-day something I can't handle. I'm scared that if I give Him everything He'll make me give up everything. I'm scared scared scared.

That's why my word is difficult today. Because change has come and is still coming my way. And I'll let you in on a secret:

I don't want to trust God. 

Tonight I am like Moses in the desert striking the rock. I am like Gideon asking for sign after sign. I am like Sarai giving Abram my servant. I am like Peter denying my Lord.

But Moses saw Canaan. 300 men defeated thousands. Sarah conceived. And the rooster crowed.

I may be scared - but I'm in good company. 

Life Goes On...

I bet you forgot what it was like for me to blog 

about something other than Spring Sing! 

But to prove it can be done...

Here is the classic Spring Break post:

It was absolutely everything a Spring Break should be.

It started off watching these two wonderful people tie the knot. 

Holly looked BEAUTIFUL and the wedding was wonderful. 

 Then I drove 15 hours with 15 girls to this...

Destin, Florida. 

 It. Was. Amazing. 

I laid on the beach every day.

I read two books for fun.

And I slept a lot.

 It was just what this Spring-Sing-worn-out body needed. 

So now it's back to school. And papers. And tests. 

And stressful situations. 

Lots and lots of change is happening in life - most of it incredibly wonderful. I'm sure I'll be blogging about it soon.

For now, I'll let you in on a little part of the change. 

I'm moving into a house! 

No more apartment life for me, which will be so strange.

But.

I can't wait to live with this girl:

We're growing up! 

Spring Sing 2011

Did Spring Sing happen almost 3 weeks ago?

Yes.

Did I "forget" to blog about it because I was recovering?

Yes.

Did I take a minimal amount of pictures because I was super stressed that week?

Yes.

Am I glad it's over?

Yes.

Am I so glad I did it in the first place?

Absolutely.