The "Should be snowy" day

It should have been snowing today. I walked outside and the air felt different. It smelled different. I couldn't put my finger out it. All was quiet when I left Cafe Moka with my gingerbread Americano this morning. The parking lot was still. I felt as though snow should have been on the ground, absorbing any sound.

I cannot wait for snow. The beautiful serene silence, the soft, crystalized look. Snow brings joy, it brings life. I need it.

Goal Success!

I just need to state that I completed all but one of my Thanksgiving break goals. I did not have time to grab porkroll. But it's okay, the pizza and coffee were phenomenal!

Jersey Girl

“How’s the armpit state?” “I have to take a massive New Jersey” “Jersey girls aren’t trash, trash gets picked up.”

Hey, good one! I haven’t heard that one before…

Alright, so I am in New Jersey for the week and I am so happy to be here. Despite the constant ridicule I receive while I am at school, I love this state. While I am here, I want to do some of my favorite Jersey things.

Things to Do While I am in Jersey:
1. Hit up Einstein Bagels
2. Eat REAL pizza (None of that Little Caesars, Virginia!)
3. Go to the beach
4. Run on the boardwalk
5. Eat porkroll egg and cheese
6. Grab coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts
7. Go to the tree lighting in Red Bank (While sipping Starbucks coffee :])

Rock the green and blue.

Our school registered for the conference, and in the midst of our concentration we heard "A different city every night, oh I swear the world better prepare, cause Norfolk State is here."
And that was merely the beginning of the cheers, songs, and chants we would hear throughout the weekend. Was this a cheerleading competition? No. A football rally? Nope. Some sort of youth retreat? Nah.

This past weekend, 9 of the 10 Regent RAs, Ben, Brett, Sarah, Gloria, Lauren, Stephen, Tim, Lance, and I, alongside our ring leader, Adam, packed into a 15 passenger van and ultimately engaged in the most encouraging conference I have ever attended: VACUHO Resident Assistant Conference at George Mason University. Keep in mind, it is the RA's job to be encouraging, supportive, and spirited. Now put 400 RAs in a room, dressed in their school t-shirts, and fully armed with school cheers to see what you get.

Everyone was decked out in their school apparel, shared clothespin painted in school colors, and exchanged university paraphernalia. Everyone cheered for each other, shared in the "school color cheer," and shouted "We are proud of you, say we are proud of you *clap clap*" whenever a school presented something.

Each school had to partake in a roll call, you should watch Regent's, found HERE. We won an honorable mention for that one :].

Speaking of winning things...
I was awarded Best New RA in Virginia. Ben, my partner in crime, received the award for Best Overall RA in Virginia.

Yeah, we were stoked. And I am already making plans and thinking of ideas for next year's conference!

Romans 8:28

This was my train of thought today…

-Looking at my scarves, I said “Hey, that one! I wore that to my RA interview.”
-In my RA interview I said I wanted to work with freshman girls. I wanted the opportunity to make college SO fun for them.
-When I opened my RA acceptance letter, I was assigned to upperclassmen girls. This seemed a bit more challenging to me.
-Now, almost 3 months into the school year, I realized that the Lord totally knew what He was doing in placing me on the third floor.

As this chain of events passed through my head, I instantly thought. “God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In being on the upperclassmen hall, I can be a real part of the wing. I can relate to the crazy schedule of being a junior or senior, I can understand roommate problems because I’ve been through it. I have a place of belonging because I too, am just like my girls. If I were in the freshmen hall, I do not doubt I would succeed, but I can see that I would be lonely, the lone upperclassmen on the hall. God has placed me in the exact spot He has called me to be for His purpose; the place that I will be able to best put my skills to work.

Pretty cool how things work out :].

Psalm 86:11

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

I can see it in you...

I can think of… seven people who I have really seen grow spiritually lately. It is the coolest thing to watch. I mean, naturally there are people like my parents or youth pastors who you can just see God in, but recently I have noticed a whole bunch of people step it up a notch.

Christ just shines through them. I am inspired daily by the way these people live their lives for the Lord, trust Him, obey Him, and seek Him first. It’s incredible. I am so thankful to have them in my life because they are ALWAYS influencing me. Most of these people don’t even know that they have kept me accountable, encouraged me, or provided a word for my life just by being their normal God seeking selves.

They are the kind of people that I see and just say “Wow. God is just IN them.”

It’s cool. I’m diggin’ it.