mi mamá

this morning mom woke me up early because she forgets that my church starts an hour later than hers. all she wanted to know what my blog address, but her phone call woke me up a good half hour earlier than i needed to be up. its all good though mom. because this one is for you!

meet brenda:

mom has been with me for twenty one years now. thats twenty one million "mammmmaaaa"s and three times as many hugs (you know the exact ones im talking about). she has been there for me every step of the way just being so incredible. she is not only my mom but probably the best friend anyone could ask for. she answers her phone no matter how many times i call during the day and will always be willing to come tuck me in at night. and oh yes, she will completely let me know when im just tired and need to go to bed. she encourages me everyday and never lets me forget that she is proud of who i am.

so mom, i just wanted to say thanks. thanks for being you. thanks for loving me. and thanks for everything that has yet to come.

love.

un día sin zapatos

internationally, today was TOMS shoes "one day without shoes" awareness day. basically, today was a day for anyone and everyone to leave the shoes at home and experience what its like to be a child or adult in a third world country that does not own a pair of shoes, and to also raise awareness of what the organization really stands for...not just "trendy" shoes that everyone owns, but the giving behind it. for every pair you buy, they give a pair to another person in need. such an incredible idea and organization!

so today, i walked barefoot. on the bus, all over campus, in my classrooms, in the rain, driving to blowing rock (to have small group with my wyldlife girls), to the grocery, and it was hard! i absolutely love being barefoot, but only

at my chosen time. not necessary in the bathrooms, nor on the hard cement sidewalks. as i was walking around all i could do was send prayers of thanksgiving for the simplest blessing of a pair of shoes to wear everyday of my life. i will never have to get cuts and sores day after day that will be infected to the point that it could lead to amputation. but i will tell you this. we have a beautiful sunny morning with and afternoon rain and oh boy that water felt so great. probably the best puddle jumping ive ever done. the stares and weird looks i got were fun. but worth it.

one day without shoes was a great experience and i loved being joined by friends all over. heres a fun video i found on the TOMS website. well i cant figure out how to upload a youtube video so just copy and paste and check it out :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlz3QKHJBac

love.

joy.

i really need to get better at this whole blogging thing...

these past couple of weeks have been absolutely insane. im in my last month of junior year and the most busiest person in the world. i have so much school work, wyldlife, summer plans to be made, projects, and the list is never ending. not meaning to complain, but im exhausted! and very much ready for april to be over with (excluding that 19th. hello birthday!). but enough complaining. life is flowing.

the weather this past week has been BEAUTIFUL! i never thought i was one of those people that got so much joy from the weather, but i am a completely different person when the sun is shining! i have had the chance to go hiking, rollerblading, taking pictures and just playing outside. but oh the pictures! im new at this whole photography thing, and i dont try to take artsy pictures, but i simply love to capture the joy of my friends for them! some people say "why are you never in pictures?" but in all honesty i am so happy to be taking them that i dont care one bit that im not in them. here is one from when 2 of my best friends from high school came to boone to play with me and anna (kindergarten buddy!) love them way too much.

and this past weekend was easter. oh what joy it was to have a few days off. i picked my sister up in charlotte and road tripped on down to st simons island to be with

the rest of the fam. i think i lost my voice after screaming random songs for 7 hours straight. krista wanted to kill me, as i wanted to break her finger after she tried to drive from the passenger seat for too many hours. shes the worst passenger! but she will be the first to admit it. dad is the ONLY person in the world she will not tell how to drive. she is a mini mike.

but easter. i have no idea why, but for the first time easter really sunk in this year. friday i found myself truly thinking of what that day was supposed to me. good friday is such a bitter sweet thing. most people just say, oh its friday, but as i drove in the car by myself for 2 hours on my way to get krista, i seriously could not get a grip of my emotions. i was listening to my jesus tunes playlist because i really wanted to understand this whole thing. i like to listen to christian music when im thinking a lot. just because.

anywho, the song "in christ alone" came on the playlist and wholly moly. i seriously started sobbing. out of no where. i was driving with the windows down, sun shining, and crying. people thought i was a fool. but i was so thankful. it was a joyful cry, out of thanksgiving, knowing that i did not deserve anything, but was given everything. and on sunday, i was in church and that was one of the songs we sang, and welp there i was, tears again. jesus is incredible, and i know its different, but its appropriate at the same time. if you think about the cross and the resurrection, to be overwhelmed with emotions of joy and sorrow. the cross would have been nothing had he not risen, had he not defeated death, and had he not done this all for us, out of love. this may not make sense, but i felt the need to share that. easter is incredible not because of the easter bunny or easter egg hunts, but for what it truly symbolizes. so i guess ill end with the lyrics of the song. enjoy!

in Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
this Cornerstone, this solid ground
firm through the fiercest drought and storm
what heights of love, what depths of peace
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease
my Comforter, my All in All
here in the love of Christ i stand

in Christ alone, who took on flesh
fullness of God in helpless babe
this gift of love and righteousness
scorned by the ones He came to save
‘til on that cross as Jesus died
the wrath of God was satisfied
for every sin on Him was laid
here in the death of Christ i live

there in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
then bursting forth in glorious Day
up from the grave He rose again
and as He stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
for i am His and He is mine
bought with the precious blood of Christ

no guilt in life, no fear in death
this is the power of Christ in me
from life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
no power of hell, no scheme of man
can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
here in the power of Christ i’ll stand

love.