Summer in November?

One of these days I am going to be caught up on blogging. Maybe. But this summer was too good not to blog about.

This summer started by spending over a month back in Portland! I think that is the longest I have been home since graduating from GP. My mom said its the longest I have been home since the summer before my junior year since athletic training took over my last 2 years of high school...either way I was home for a LONG time! It was nice to have a summer that wasn't jam packed, but I could relax and pretty much do whatever. 

Ashley and Jack got married June 29th and Gabe flew down to be my date! That whole weekend was so fun! Ashley and I have been friends for as long as I can remember so it was a really exciting weekend celebrating her and Jack!

Rehearsal Dinner!

Waiting for the ceremony to start!

Reception time!

The traditional trio picture!

It was such a fun weekend! The morning after the wedding Gabe and I went to church and then drove back to Waco! I have wanted to work with Line Camp (Baylor's incoming freshman summer camp) since I have been at Baylor, but I was already working at Zephyr over the summer. Somehow I was able to work with NSP after graduating and I am so thankful for my experience! It was so much fun welcoming the new students, but also just getting to reflect on my four years at Baylor. 

Learning how to be a part of the line!

Crazy eyes...but this girl is now a Bear!! 

My favorite part of working Line Camp was going to Independence, which is where Baylor started. That was also my favorite part of Line Camp when I was a student. Worshiping at the columns was when I truly realized Baylor was where I was supposed to be. It is only right that my time at Baylor ended with some reflection time in front of those same columns and you can bet there were some tears shed. 

The beautiful columns!!

4 years later! 

Worship at the columns

The reason tears were shed was because I am thankful for every good, bad, easy and hard moment at Baylor. I know there was a purpose for everything. I grew up at Baylor, I traveled to a foreign country while at Baylor, I made many good friends at Baylor and I lost one too. It was the best of times and the worst of times. But really many laughs were had and many tears where shed during my 4 years as a student. I wouldn't change a thing though. God had a reason for it all and as always to Him be the glory.

After Line Camp I headed home to pack my suitcase to go abroad with my family! We were headed to London for a few days before hoping on a cruise and visiting Wales, Ireland and Scotland! 

Welcome to London!

This place was AWESOME!!

The picture does not do it justice!

About to see the Lion King!

AHH!! Take me back!

Lots of connect time with this guy!

A Wales Castle for you!

Legal tagging in Ireland!

And some Scottish ice cream!

An adventure we had in Scotland...

But we made it back to the trusty ship!

Thankful for 2 weeks solid with this guy!

This summer was a breath of fresh air. It was relaxing and full of lots of family time! It was needed. I am so thankful for my family! They have been my constant support and I loved finally getting decent time with them! 

The day after we got back I drove to Waco then the next day I moved into my new house! The relaxation was done as the craziness that is this year started. Antioch Discipleship School, Panther Kids at Woodway Elementary, living with a family and dating! My life has little relaxation time, but I love the season that I am in right now!! 

Have a great day y'all!!!

Let Me Catch You Up...

Let me catch you up on my life. 

I graduated from THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY!! What? How in the world am I already an alum?? I don't understand. I was always told college would fly by, but I had no idea it would fly by this fast! I miss being a student at Baylor! Which I never thought I would really miss going to class, but I do! I miss my professors, I miss walking around that gorgeous campus and I miss all the ways I was involved. But I am so thankful for my 4 years at Baylor and I wouldn't trade them for anything! Baylor, with the friends it gave me, the experiences and the amazing faculty and staff, was an important part in making me who I am today. A Baylor Alum. Here is a glimpse into the day I graduated from the best school on the planet Earth!

 I was so ready to walk that stage!

Then the nerves hit.

But I got a hug from Kenny!!!

And this traditional picture!

So many people came to support me!

And I wouldn't have walked without them!

This girl played a HUGE role in my life.

And these 3 were my constant support.

I am so grateful for each person that drove to Waco, or just to my house after, because without each one of them my college career would have looked different, and I do not want to change any piece of it! I know even the hard parts of college happened for a reason and I am thankful for each season I experienced during the last four years!

Now what am I doing you ask? I am attending Antioch Discipleship School and I love it! The school is teaching me how to become a better disciple of Jesus! My class is INCREDIBLE! We have been vulnerable with each other, challenged each other and encouraged each other! And to think it is only the end of September! I cannot wait to see how my life has changed by May! Want to know more? Ask me questions!! I would love to talk more about it!

I am living with an incredible family and an awesome roommate! My roommate is Piper and she is also attending ADS! She just graduated from HS so we are in different stages of life, but that makes it fun! I am so so thankful for the opportunity to live life with these 5!

These are the precious children I live with!

And this is my awesome roommate Piper!

Life is going to be so fun this year! Another big part of my life is my stud of a boyfriend Gabe! We started dating this summer and the past 2 and a half months have been so fun! He loves Jesus and from that place honors me so well! He has been such a blessing in my life and I cannot wait to see what the coming months hold!

We met in STUFU!

He came to be my date for Ashley and Jack's wedding!

And now we are dating! So fun!!

Well y'all thats a quick update on my life! This summer was incredible and that deserves a post of its own, so that will be coming soon! 

Have a great day y'all!!!

The End of an Era.

Wow. This last semester has FLOWN by. People always said college flies by, but I did not realize how fast! ha It seems I haven't written since the last time I was coming up on the last week of classes. This time, though, these are my last classes at Baylor :( I cannot believe my time at Baylor is almost over. I LOVE this school and the community that is here. I know I will forever be apart of Baylor Nation, and I cannot wait to come back and visit as an alumni!

Just for fun, lets go back to the beginning of my time at Baylor...

At campus for orientation! 

This is where I lived freshman year!

Line Camp group in Independence getting our line jerseys!

One of many football games with these friends!!

Building the Homecoming bonfire freshman year!

Freshman year was full of tons of new things: new friends, new school, new way of life, new church, new, new, new. But that newness required me to really figure out who I was, and what I was about. Then the next 3 years, I worked hard on making the most out of college, and getting experiences to really shape who I have become.

Sophomore I started living with Lauren, and we still live together! 

I am so thankful for her and the 3 years we have lived together.

It snowed!! 

This community has really helped shape me into who I am.

And Africa!! What a way to end my sophomore year!

Literally, these last 4 years have been full of adventure! Adventure in the classroom, adventure in Waco, adventure in my heart and spirit, adventure, adventure, adventure. Baylor will always hold a special place in my life, and I will always love thinking back on memories I made while being a student.

I LOVE when Baylor and Zephyr mix!

Roommates!! Love these girls!

Celebrating the bling!

You cannot forget this!...I tossed the football with him freshman year!

Still so challenged and loved by this community!

I have had AMAZING professors teach and guide me!

Late night shenanigans. 

Roomie nights!!

There is no way to truly go back and remember each and every moment. There are so many memories that I have from these last four years, it would take another four years to remember them all. These last four years have been full of memories, and these next 19 days will be full of many, many more! 

Of course Lauren is a huge part of senior year!

This year I was blessed with being apart of Student Foundation!

Roommates getting ready for Halloween!

I had to get a picture with Bruiser, and why not get one in my stripes?

We have a picture like this one from every year!

This community! I love these people!

This hotel allowed a lot of reflection and decisions to be made.

West Explosion: Never thought I would experience a tragedy this close to home.

Baylor has blessed me extremely. I am not the same person who started here in the fall of 2009. The girl who is about to walk across a stage on May 17th is someone who has learned numerous things, and had many life experiences, some great, some bad. I am very thankful for the things I have learned at Baylor, but I am so excited for what is next. But first let me wrap up my Baylor life...

The President himself: Mr. Ken Starr!!

How am I wearing this??

Sadly, this part of my life is over, but one thing I have learned is to live in the moment, not in the past. So of course I will miss Baylor, but I know God has fantastic things in store for me. I have learned that trusting him is the best thing I can do. He has my best in mine, and his plans are always better, and always work out. 

So what is next you ask? Antioch Discipleship School! I will be staying in Waco and attending the training school at my church here. I will take this year to focus on my relationship with God, and grow spiritually, before I go out and pour out into children and their families. I do not know what church I will be at next year, but God does and that is all that matters. 

Baylor was so good to me, I love this place, and I will always and forever cherish the memories I made these last four years. But I am so excited for next year and the chance to fall more in love with my Creator before going out and teaching children about him! 

There is so much that God has in store for me and I cannot wait to experience it all.